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祭祀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
祭祀jìsìto offer sacrifices to the gods or ancestorsHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #17988, Very Hard
jìsì(ji4si4)ji si T4
  1. 1to offer sacrifices to the gods or ancestors
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March 24, 2026

祭祀jìsì(ji4si4)

祭祀 (jìsì) refers to the practice of offering sacrifices to deities or ancestors in Chinese culture. This term is commonly used in religious and cultural contexts, especially during festivals, memorials, or family gatherings where respect and reverence are shown through offerings.

Strokes18Frequency#17988DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, 祭祀 is often performed during Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) and the Mid-Autumn Festival, where families honor their ancestors with offerings, showcasing the deep-rooted respect for familial lineage.

Memory tip

Think of 祭 (jì) as a 'sacrifice' where you 'offer' something up, and 祀 (sì) as 'ancestors' watching over you. Visualize a table laden with food and incense, as you pay homage to your ancestors, making it easier to remember the connection between both characters.

Meanings of 祭祀

jìsì(ji4si4)
1to offer sacrifices to the gods or ancestors
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About 祭祀

祭祀Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 祭祀

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AI study notes for 祭祀

Quick Contrast

祭典 (jìdiǎn) refers to a festival or ceremony that may include rituals but is broader in scope than 祭祀, which specifically denotes the act of making sacrifices.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone of 祭 (jì) and 祀 (sì); both must be pronounced with the correct fourth tone. This term is more formal and often appears in religious texts, so it may not be used in casual conversations. Common collocations include 祭祀活动 (sacrificial activities) and 祭祀仪式 (sacrificial ceremonies).

HSK Study Tips

While not specifically listed in HSK levels, students should be aware of its cultural significance, particularly in HSK 4-5 materials where discussions on traditions and cultural practices arise. Focus on using it in context related to festivals or family heritage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 祭祀 with similar terms like 祭典 (jìdiǎn, festival) and mispronounce it with incorrect tones. For example, saying 'ji1 si1' instead of 'ji4 si4' changes the meaning and can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 祭祀

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Component characters

祭jìto sacrifice to, to worship
HSK 711 strokes示
View full entry
祀sìto sacrifice, to worship
HSK 67 strokes礻
View full entry

How to say to offer sacrifices to the gods or ancestors in Chinese

“to offer sacrifices to the gods or ancestors” in Chinese is祭祀jìsì

祭祀 (jìsì) refers to the practice of offering sacrifices to deities or ancestors in Chinese culture. This term is commonly used in religious and cultural contexts, especially during festivals, memorials, or family gatherings where respect and reverence are shown through offerings.

When to use 祭祀

Be cautious with the tone of 祭 (jì) and 祀 (sì); both must be pronounced with the correct fourth tone. This term is more formal and often appears in religious texts, so it may not be used in casual conversations. Common collocations include 祭祀活动 (sacrificial activities) and 祭祀仪式 (sacrificial ceremonies).

祭祀 or something close to it

祭典 (jìdiǎn) refers to a festival or ceremony that may include rituals but is broader in scope than 祭祀, which specifically denotes the act of making sacrifices.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 祭祀 with similar terms like 祭典 (jìdiǎn, festival) and mispronounce it with incorrect tones. For example, saying 'ji1 si1' instead of 'ji4 si4' changes the meaning and can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 祭祀

祭
祀

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Cultural Notes for 祭祀

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of honoring ancestors through offerings is more emphasized in Chinese culture compared to Western cultures, where memorial practices may not involve tangible sacrifices.

Frequently asked questions about 祭祀

Common offerings include food, incense, and paper money, which are believed to provide for the ancestors in the afterlife.

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