soeng5 hoeng1上香

Jyutpingsoeng5 hoeng1

Yaleséuhng hēung

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To offer incense; to light and place incense sticks in a burner to show respect to deities or ancestors.

colloquialdaily actionsother

How it's used

This term is specific to the ritual act of placing incense sticks into a burner as an offering. It carries a sense of solemnity and is deeply tied to ancestral worship and temple culture. While it literally involves the action of placing incense, it is often used as a shorthand for the entire act of paying respects to the deceased or deities.

Examples

cing1清ming4明zit3節hou2好do1多jan4人heoi3去fan4墳coeng4場soeng5上hoeng1香。

Many people go to the cemetery to burn incense during the Ching Ming Festival.

nei5你gei3記dak1得bong1幫ngo5我喺hai2神san4枱toi4上soeng5香hoeng1呀。

Remember to burn incense at the altar for me.

Common phrases

soeng5上hoeng1香baai3拜san4神

burn incense and worship deities

sing4誠sam1心soeng5上hoeng1香

burn incense with sincerity

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply lighting incense. The term specifically implies the act of offering it to a spiritual entity, so it is not used for lighting incense just for the scent or to repel mosquitoes.