拜佛 (bài Fó) — to worship Buddha; to prostrate before a Buddha image

Definition

拜佛 is a religious action verb meaning to worship or prostrate before Buddha/Buddha images, typically done at a temple. It pairs with 去 (go to worship) and takes a measure-word count of bows (拜了三拜).

verb
to worship Buddhato prostrate before a Buddha image

Examples

  • 拜佛。
    Měi nián chūn jié tā dōu huì qù sì miào bài Fó.
    Every Spring Festival she goes to the temple to worship Buddha.
  • ，。
    Tā zài fó qián bài le sān bài, qí qiú píng ān.
    He bowed three times before the Buddha, praying for safety.
  • ，。
    Wǒ cóng lái méi yǒu bài guò fó, dàn hěn xiǎng qù kàn kàn.
    I've never worshipped Buddha, but I really want to go see it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

拜bàiworship
佛fóBuddha

拜 means worship, and 佛 is the Buddha worshipped.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

拜 combines 扌 (hand, written fully as 手) with 𠦪 (herbs), showing a hand holding herbs as a gift.

Open 拜 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú佛Fó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

佛 is made from 亻, a person, and 弗, which gives the sound.

Open 佛 →

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