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法事 (fǎ shì) — Buddhist or Daoist ritual ceremony (often for the deceased or for blessings)

Definition

A 法事 is a Buddhist or Daoist ritual ceremony, often performed for the deceased or to pray for blessings. The word names the event itself — performed by monks (和尚) or Daoist priests (道长).

noun
Buddhist or Daoist ritual ceremony (often for the deceased or for blessings)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā men qǐng hé shàng lái zuò fǎ shì.
    They invited monks to perform the Buddhist ritual.
  • 法事。
    Míng tiān yào jǔ xíng yì chǎng fǎ shì.
    A ritual ceremony will be held tomorrow.
  • 法事。
    Zhè wèi dào zhǎng zhǔ chí de fǎ shì hěn yǒu míng.
    The Daoist ritual hosted by this priest is very famous.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

法fǎdharma
事shìaffair

法 refers to Buddhist or Daoist teachings, and 事 names an affair or ceremony, together giving a religious service.

Characters in this word

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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