Meaning
参拜 means to visit a religious site (temple, shrine, grave) to show respect or worship. It's a formal activity that involves bowing, offering incense, or praying. The word is commonly used for visiting Buddhist temples, Taoist shrines, ancestral graves, or other sacred places.
Usage
This is a respectful, somewhat formal term used primarily in religious or ceremonial contexts. Native speakers use it when describing visits to temples during festivals, paying respects to ancestors at graves, or formal worship activities. It's more formal than just 拜拜 (casual worship) and implies a purposeful, reverent visit.
Examples
- 01春节期间，很多人去寺庙参拜，祈求新年平安。, , .During the Spring Festival, many people visit temples to worship and pray for safety in the new year.
- 02他每年清明节都会回老家参拜祖先的墓地。.Every year during Qingming Festival, he returns to his hometown to pay respects at his ancestors' graves.
Characters
Measure words
- 次参拜一次
Common collocations
- 参拜寺庙to visit a temple
- 参拜神社to visit a shrine
- 参拜祖先to pay respects to ancestors
- 参拜仪式worship ceremony
Origin
The compound combines 参 (to participate/visit) with 拜 (to bow/worship), literally meaning to visit and bow, reflecting the physical act of bowing during worship visits.