(dǎo) - To pray & to invoke blessings

Tone 3

dǎo | 11 strokes | radical:

· dǎo

To pray;

to invoke blessings;

to offer prayers;

religious supplication.

To prayto invoke blessingsto offer prayers

Usage highlights

To prayPrayerPrayer textTo pray for blessingsSilent prayerTo pray for rain

Synonyms

  • To pray; to beseech
  • To request; to seek

Antonyms

  • To curse; to swear

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He prayed for good health (祈祷健康).
  • The ceremony included prayers (祷文) recited by the priest.
  • They offered prayers at the temple (在寺庙祷告).
  • She made a silent prayer (默祷) for success.

Collocations

  • To pray(祈祷)
  • Prayer(祷告)
  • Prayer text(祷文)
  • To pray for blessings(祷祝)
  • Silent prayer(默祷)
  • To pray for rain(祷雨)

Idioms

  • Sincerely pray for(至诚祈祷)
  • Pray for blessings and protection(祷福禳灾)
  • Offer prayers and make vows(祷祀祈福)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Associated with religious and spiritual practices in Chinese culture, particularly in Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religion.
  • Used in formal ceremonies and rituals to invoke divine blessings or protection.
  • Reflects the traditional Chinese practice of communicating with deities and ancestors through prayer.

FAQ