About
The character "寺" originally conveyed the idea of holding or serving, derived from an early pictorial representation that emphasized manual action. Its structure, now composed of "土" and "寸", once graphically suggested this sense of control or service, though the components have become conventionalized over time. By the Han dynasty, the term had shifted to designate specific government bureaus, reflecting its association with official administration. Following the introduction of Buddhism to China, many such administrative buildings were adapted to house monastic communities, which led to the character's subsequent meaning as a Buddhist temple, marking a semantic evolution from a secular institution to a religious one.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我去寺庙拜佛。
这座寺很古老。
寺庙里有很多和尚。
早上我去寺里散步。
寺院周围很安静。
我们计划参观那座著名的寺。
为了祈福，他们经常去寺庙。
虽然下雨，但我们还是决定去寺里参加活动。