祢 (mí) - Ancestral shrine or temple & refers to the spirit tablet of a deceased

祢Tone 2

mí ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 礻

伦妙

祢 · mí

Ancestral shrine or temple;

refers to the spirit tablet of a deceased father when enshrined in the ancestral temple;

also used as a surname.

Ancestral shrine or templerefers to the spirit tablet of a deceasedalso used as a surname.

Usage highlights

Ancestral shrineFather's spirit tabletMi surnameEnshrine in templeAncestral templeWorship ancestors

Synonyms

  • 庙— temple, shrine (broader term)
  • 祠— ancestral hall, shrine

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancestral shrine (祢庙) is where family ancestors are worshipped.
  • He inherited his father's spirit tablet (祢主) in the family temple.
  • The surname Mi (祢) is relatively rare in China.

Collocations

  • Ancestral shrine(祢庙)
  • Father's spirit tablet(祢主)
  • Mi surname(祢姓)
  • Enshrine in temple(祢祀)
  • Ancestral temple(祢宫)
  • Worship ancestors(祢祭)

Idioms

  • To inherit the ancestral temple(承祢)
  • To establish the father's shrine(立祢)
  • The shrine of the deceased father(考祢)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese ancestral worship, '祢' specifically referred to the spirit tablet of a deceased father when placed in the ancestral temple.
  • The character reflects the importance of patrilineal succession and ancestor veneration in traditional Chinese culture.
  • As a surname, 祢 is quite rare and carries historical significance from ancient times.

FAQ