caam1 baai3參拜参拜
Jyutpingcaam1 baai3
Yalechāam baai
Definition
To pay respect to a deceased person by viewing their portrait, or to visit a tomb, temple, or shrine.
neutralplacesdaily actions
How it's used
Carries a formal and solemn tone compared to the everyday word 拜. It is specifically used for religious or ancestral contexts, emphasizing the act of showing deep reverence rather than just a casual visit. When referring to visiting a grave, it is often paired with 掃墓 to describe the full process of cleaning and paying respects.
Examples
Many people go to the cemetery to pay respects to their ancestors during the Ching Ming Festival.
Have you been to that temple to pay your respects this year?
Related words
Common phrases
pay respects to ancestors
visit a temple for worship
Common mistake
Avoid using this for casual visits to tourist temples where the intent is sightseeing rather than worship. For general visits to temples, 參觀 is more appropriate if you are just looking around.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
