廟 (miào) - Temple — a building for religious worship, especially & also refers to imperial ancestral temples and certain

廟Tone 4

miào ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

妙慕

廟 · miào

Temple — a building for religious worship, especially in Chinese folk religion, Buddhism, or Taoism;

also refers to imperial ancestral temples and certain government offices in ancient China.

Temple — a building for religious worship, especiallyalso refers to imperial ancestral temples and certain

Usage highlights

TempleTemple fairAncestral templeImperial templeTemple gateTemple hall

Synonyms

  • 寺— temple, monastery (often Buddhist)
  • 宫— palace, temple (especially Taoist)
  • 庵— nunnery, small temple

Antonyms

  • 俗— secular, worldly (as opposed to religious/temple space)
  • 家— home, household (private vs. public worship space)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We visited the local temple (寺庙) during the festival.
  • The imperial ancestral temple (太庙) was where emperors worshipped their ancestors.
  • This temple (庙宇) was built during the Ming dynasty.
  • The temple fair (庙会) attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Collocations

  • Temple(寺庙)
  • Temple fair(庙会)
  • Ancestral temple(宗庙)
  • Imperial temple(太庙)
  • Temple gate(庙门)
  • Temple hall(庙堂)

Idioms

  • Enter the wrong temple and worship the wrong god(跑庙拜错神)
  • No monk in the temple — disorderly(庙里没和尚 — 乱套)
  • The temple is small but the gods are powerful(庙小神灵大)
  • Run into a temple when it rains — you've found the right place(下雨跑进庙 — 找对门了)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Temples served as centers of religious, social, and community life in traditional China.
  • Imperial ancestral temples were among the most important state institutions, where rulers performed ceremonies to honor ancestors.
  • Temple fairs evolved from religious ceremonies into vibrant marketplaces and entertainment venues.
  • The term 庙堂 (temple hall) metaphorically refers to the imperial court or central government.

FAQ