斎 (zhāi) - To fast & to abstain from meat, wine, etc.

斎Tone 1

zhāi ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

斎 · zhāi

To fast;

to abstain from meat, wine, etc.

;

to purify oneself before religious ceremonies or worship;

a study or room for quiet contemplation.

To fastto abstain from meat, wine, etc.to purify oneself before religious ceremonies or worship

Usage highlights

Vegetarian dietFasting hallTo fastStudy roomTo observe a fastFasting month

Synonyms

  • 素— vegetarian; plain (in dietary context)
  • 戒— to abstain; to refrain (in religious context)

Antonyms

  • 荤— meat-based dishes; non-vegetarian food

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He observes a vegetarian fast before the ceremony (吃斋).
  • The monk lives in the temple's fasting quarters (斋堂).
  • She prepared a vegetarian meal for the occasion (斋饭).
  • He has a quiet study for reading and meditation (书斋).

Collocations

  • Vegetarian diet(斋饭)
  • Fasting hall(斋堂)
  • To fast(吃斋)
  • Study room(书斋)
  • To observe a fast(持斋)
  • Fasting month(斋月)

Idioms

  • Long night of fasting and meditation(长斋绣佛)
  • Fasting and chanting Buddha's name(斋僧念佛)
  • Fasting and bathing before worship(斋戒沐浴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Buddhism and Daoism, fasting (斋) is a practice of purification before rituals or during certain periods.
  • The character also refers to a vegetarian diet, often adopted by religious practitioners or during mourning.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, a 'study' (书斋) was a private room for scholarly pursuits, reflecting the character's association with purification and contemplation.

FAQ