祀 (sì) - To offer sacrifices & to worship

祀Tone 4

sì ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 礻

树檀

祀 · sì

To offer sacrifices;

to worship;

ancestral rites;

year (archaic).

To offer sacrificesto worshipancestral rites

Usage highlights

To offer sacrificesSacrificial ritesTo worship heavenAncestral worshipSacrificial vesselTo cease sacrifices

Synonyms

  • 祭— to sacrifice; to worship
  • 祷— to pray
  • 拜— to worship; to bow

Antonyms

  • 渎— to blaspheme; to profane
  • 废— to abolish; to discard (as in 废祀)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They perform ancestral worship (祭祀).
  • This is a sacrificial altar (祭坛).
  • The ceremony honors the gods (祀神).
  • In ancient texts, '祀' could mean a year (载祀).

Collocations

  • To offer sacrifices(祭祀)
  • Sacrificial rites(祀典)
  • To worship heaven(祀天)
  • Ancestral worship(祀祖)
  • Sacrificial vessel(祀器)
  • To cease sacrifices(废祀)

Idioms

  • To offer sacrifices to heaven and earth(祀天祭地)
  • To continue the family sacrifices(嗣祀不绝)
  • To worship ancestors and gods(祀神祭祖)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Deeply rooted in ancient Chinese ancestral worship traditions, reflecting the importance of filial piety and continuity of family lineage.
  • In oracle bone inscriptions, it represented rituals to spirits and ancestors, central to Shang dynasty religious practices.
  • The character originally depicted a person kneeling before a sacrificial altar, emphasizing the reverence in ritual ceremonies.

FAQ