baai3 zou2 sin1拜祖先
Jyutpingbaai3 zou2 sin1
Yalebaai jóu sīn
Definition
To worship ancestors; to pay respects to one's ancestors.
colloquialfamilyfestival
How it's used
This term specifically refers to the act of paying respects to ancestors, often involving burning incense or offering food at a grave or a home altar. It is deeply tied to filial piety and traditional Chinese festivals like Ching Ming or Chung Yeung. While it can imply visiting a physical graveyard, it is also used for rituals performed at home shrines.
Examples
Many people go to visit their ancestors' graves during the Ching Ming Festival.
Did you go to visit your ancestors' graves this year?
Related words
Common phrases
visiting ancestors' graves during Ching Ming
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 掃墓, which specifically refers to the act of cleaning the grave site. While 拜祖先 is the broader act of worship, 掃墓 is a specific task often performed during the same visit.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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Particle
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
