斋

亝/齋

zhāi

文 + 而

Definitions

zhāi (noun) study room; Buddhist temple; monastery

zhāi (verb) to fast; to maintain a vegetarian diet

zhāi (verb) to give alms to monks

Etymology phono-semantic

culture

Semantic: 文

About

The character 斋 (zhāi), the simplified form of 齋, is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical 示 (shì) relates to altars, sacrifices, and spiritual matters, while 齊 (qí) indicates the pronunciation. Originally, it denoted the religious practice of ritual purification through fasting and abstaining from meat before sacrifices or worship. As religious practices evolved, the meaning extended to the vegetarian diet typical of Buddhist monks, and it also took on an architectural sense, referring to a quiet study, private library, or scholarly retreat for contemplation and focused learning.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这顿斋饭很好吃。

Zhè dùn zhāifàn hěn hǎochī.

This vegetarian meal is very delicious.

我的书斋有很多书。

Wǒ de shūzhāi yǒu hěnduō shū.

My study room has many books.

她为了健康开始吃斋。

Tā wèile jiànkāng kāishǐ chīzhāi.

She started eating vegetarian for health reasons.

在寺庙里，人们通常吃斋饭。

Zài sìmiào lǐ, rénmen tōngcháng chī zhāifàn.

In temples, people usually eat vegetarian meals.

斋月期间他们斋戒。

Zhāiyuè qījiān tāmen zhāijiè.

During Ramadan, they fast.

斋戒不仅是一种宗教行为，也是一种养生方式。

Zhāijiè bùjǐn shì yī zhǒng zōngjiào xíngwéi, yě shì yī zhǒng yǎngshēng fāngshì.

Fasting is not only a religious act but also a way of health preservation.

每逢斋月，穆斯林信徒都会严格遵守斋戒的规定。

Měi féng zhāiyuè, mùsīlín xìntú dōu huì yángé zūnshǒu zhāijiè de guīdìng.

Every Ramadan, Muslim believers strictly adhere to the rules of fasting.

在古代，学者们常常在幽静的书斋中潜心研究经典著作。

Zài gǔdài, xuézhě men chángcháng zài yōujìng de shūzhāi zhōng qiánxīn yánjiū jīngdiǎn zhùzuò.

In ancient times, scholars often devoted themselves to studying classic works in quiet study rooms.

Related Characters

Component: 文

Component: 而

Example Words