baai3 zai3拜祭
Jyutpingbaai3 zai3
Yalebaai jai
Definition
To worship, pay respect to, or make offerings to ancestors, deities, or spirits through a ritual.
neutralfamilyfestival
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the ritual act of showing respect to the deceased or deities through offerings. It carries a formal and solemn tone, often involving specific items like incense or food. While it can be used for deities, it is most frequently associated with ancestral rites.
Examples
Many people go to pay respects to their ancestors during the Ching Ming Festival.
Did you go to pay your respects this year?
Related words
Common phrases
to worship ancestors
to pay respects to the deceased
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 拜年, which is the festive act of visiting relatives during the Lunar New Year to exchange greetings. Using 拜祭 in a celebratory context is highly inappropriate as it implies the recipient is deceased.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
