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祠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
祠cíancestral temple; to sacrificen, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #46614, Very Hard
祠císhrineunknown, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #46614, Very Hard
祠cíto offer a sacrificeunknown, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #46614, Very Hard
cí(ci2)ci T2
  1. 1ancestral temple; to sacrifice
  2. 2shrine
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March 24, 2026

祠cí(ci2)

The character 祠 (cí) refers to a shrine or ancestral temple where sacrifices are made to honor ancestors. It is commonly used in the context of familial worship and cultural practices surrounding ancestor veneration in Chinese society.

Strokes9Radical礻Frequency#46614DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, ancestral worship is a deeply rooted tradition, often observed during festivals like Qingming, where families visit 祠 to honor their ancestors, showcasing respect and remembrance.

Memory tip

Think of 祠 (cí) as a 'sacred place for ancestors'. The radical 礻 (shì), meaning 'spirit' or 'sacred', combined with the phonetic component 'ci', helps you remember its association with ancestral worship. Imagine a temple where family spirits gather, echoing the reverence of their descendants.

Meanings of 祠

cí(ci2)
1ancestral temple; to sacrifice
2shrine
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 祠

祠Simplified
9Strokes
礻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 祠

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Podcast: 祠

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AI study notes for 祠

Quick Contrast

祠 (cí) vs 庙 (miào) — use 祠 for ancestral shrines specifically, while 庙 refers to temples in a broader religious context.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the formality of this term; 祠 is typically used in formal contexts related to cultural and religious practices. It often appears in phrases like '祠堂' (cí táng), meaning ancestral hall. Avoid confusing it with similar terms that refer to general temples or shrines without the ancestral aspect.

HSK Study Tips

While 祠 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with words related to family and culture. Focus on the cultural significance of ancestor worship, which is a common theme in many HSK vocabulary words related to family and traditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 祠 with the more general term for temple, 庙. Remember, 祠 emphasizes the ancestral aspect, while 庙 does not. For example, saying '我去庙' (I go to the temple) when referring to an ancestral temple would be incorrect; use '我去祠' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 祠

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Etymology of 祠

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 司 represents the sound.

Memory hint

spirit

Semantic (meaning)礻
+
Phonetic (sound)司
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

祠 = 礻 + 司. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 祠

IDS Structure⿰礻司
祠Full character
=
礻shi4
left
司Si1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 祠?

How to say ancestral temple; to sacrifice in Chinese

“ancestral temple; to sacrifice” in Chinese is祠cí

The character 祠 (cí) refers to a shrine or ancestral temple where sacrifices are made to honor ancestors. It is commonly used in the context of familial worship and cultural practices surrounding ancestor veneration in Chinese society.

When to use 祠

Be cautious with the formality of this term; 祠 is typically used in formal contexts related to cultural and religious practices. It often appears in phrases like '祠堂' (cí táng), meaning ancestral hall. Avoid confusing it with similar terms that refer to general temples or shrines without the ancestral aspect.

祠 or something close to it

祠 (cí) vs 庙 (miào) — use 祠 for ancestral shrines specifically, while 庙 refers to temples in a broader religious context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 祠 with the more general term for temple, 庙. Remember, 祠 emphasizes the ancestral aspect, while 庙 does not. For example, saying '我去庙' (I go to the temple) when referring to an ancestral temple would be incorrect; use '我去祠' instead.

Write 祠

祠

Practice writing 祠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 祠

祠 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

知名 的有瑞云禅寺 、 水母庙 、 咏归亭 、 碧霞____等.

There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.

Example sentences for 祠 (1)

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1
知名 的有瑞云禅寺 、 水母庙 、 咏归亭 、 碧霞祠等.

zhīmíng de yǒu ruì yún chán sì、 shuǐ mǔ miào、 yǒng guī tíng、 bì xiá cí děng.

There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.

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Word Family of 祠

Words containing this character6
祠císhrine
祠堂ancestral hall
武侯祠refers to tourist attraction in Chengdu 成都
祠庙ancestral hall祠廟
土谷祠local monastery土穀祠
祠墓memorial hall and tomb
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 祠

What does 祠堂 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 祠

祠 specifically refers to an ancestral temple for honoring ancestors, while 庙 (miào) is a more general term for a temple that may be dedicated to various deities.

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