Meanings of 祠
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About 祠
Podcast: 祠
Podcast: 祠
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AI Study Notes for 祠
祠 (cí) vs 庙 (miào) — use 祠 for ancestral shrines specifically, while 庙 refers to temples in a broader religious context.
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.
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.
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.
Pronunciation of 祠
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Etymology of 祠
Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 司 represents the sound.
spirit
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 祠
Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 司 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half礻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half司 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayspirit
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 祠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 祠
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How to say ancestral temple; to sacrifice in Chinese
“ancestral temple; to sacrifice” in Chinese is祠
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
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Practice writing 祠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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.
Complete the Sentence
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)
Word Family of 祠
Compound Meaning
What does 祠 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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