gung3 fung6供奉
Jyutpinggung3 fung6
Yalegung fuhng
Definition
To enshrine or pay homage to ancestors or deities.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of maintaining a shrine or altar for deities or ancestors, often involving the regular placement of food offerings like fruit or tea. It carries a sense of solemnity and long-term commitment rather than a one-off act of worship. While it can be used for religious contexts, it is also used metaphorically to describe someone who treats a person with extreme, almost servile, care.
Examples
There is a statue of Guanyin enshrined on the home altar.
What do you usually offer to your ancestors?
Related words
Common phrases
to enshrine a deity
to pay homage to ancestors
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 供養, which specifically refers to providing material support or sustenance to monks or religious figures. Using 供奉 for a person can sound sarcastic, implying they are being pampered like a deity on an altar.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
