Definitions

shrine; to offer a sacrifice

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "祠", meaning a shrine or ancestral hall, is structured with the radical "示" on the left, denoting matters related to spirits or worship, and the component "司" on the right, which historically functioned as a phonetic indicator. Its etymology points to a place for ceremonial offerings, initially referring specifically to shrines dedicated to ancestral veneration. Over time, its application broadened to include temples established for commemorating virtuous or meritorious individuals, thereby extending its meaning from a strictly familial context to a more communal and honorific one.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们去了堂。

Wǒmen qùle cítáng.

We went to the ancestral hall.

这个堂很古老。

Zhège cítáng hěn gǔlǎo.

This ancestral hall is very old.

他们在堂里祭祀。

Tāmen zài cítáng lǐ jìsì.

They are worshipping in the ancestral hall.

每年春节我们都去堂。

Měi nián chūnjié wǒmen dōu qù cítáng.

Every Spring Festival, we go to the ancestral hall.

堂的建筑风格很独特。

Cítáng de jiànzhù fēnggé hěn dútè.

The architectural style of the ancestral hall is very unique.

这座宗历史悠久。

Zhè zuò zōngcí lìshǐ yōujiǔ.

This clan ancestral hall has a long history.

为了纪念祖先我们修建了堂。

Wèile jìniàn zǔxiān wǒmen xiūjiànle cítáng.

To commemorate our ancestors, we built an ancestral hall.

堂不仅是祭祀场所也是家族聚会的中心。

Cítáng bùjǐn shì jìsì chǎngsuǒ yě shì jiāzú jùhuì de zhōngxīn.

The ancestral hall is not only a place for worship but also a center for family gatherings.