祈

qí

斤 + 礻

Definitions

qí to implore; to pray; to request

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 斤 represents the sound.

Semantic: 礻 Phonetic: 斤

About

祈 is a phonosemantic compound: the left side 礻 (the spirit/altar radical) marks the character as relating to religious rituals, deities, and worship, while the right side 斤 provides the pronunciation. Historically and in modern usage, it means to pray, entreat, or earnestly beseech a higher power for a desired outcome. It denotes formally seeking blessings, protection, or good fortune, and appears in many compound words expressing sincere wishes, spiritual supplications, or appeals for favorable circumstances.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她每天祈祷平安。

Tā měitiān qídǎo píng'ān.

She prays for safety every day.

我祈求明天是个好天气。

Wǒ qíqiú míngtiān shì gè hǎo tiānqì.

I pray that tomorrow will be good weather.

他在寺庙里虔诚地祈福。

Tā zài sìmiào lǐ qiánchéng de qífú.

He sincerely prays for blessings at the temple.

人们纷纷祈愿世界和平。

Rénmen fēnfēn qíyuàn shìjiè hépíng.

People fervently pray for world peace.

这场仪式是为了祈雨。

Zhè chǎng yíshì shì wèile qíyǔ.

This ceremony is held to pray for rain.

我们为他的健康祈祷。

Wǒmen wèi tā de jiànkāng qídǎo.

We pray for his health.

他的成功是众人祈盼的结果。

Tā de chénggōng shì zhòngrén qípàn de jiéguǒ.

His success is the outcome that everyone was hoping for.

如果诚心祈愿，梦想也许就会实现。

Rúguǒ chéngxīn qíyuàn, mèngxiǎng yěxǔ jiù huì shíxiàn.

If you sincerely pray and wish for it, your dream might just come true.

Related Characters

Component: 斤

Component: 礻

Example Words