香火

xiānghuǒ

noun #44,442

Meanings

1 incense offerings (at a temple)
2 the continuation of an ancestral line
3 temple patronage

Characters

incense / fragrant

Examples

HSK 6

老人最担心的是香火无人继承。

Lǎorén zuì dānxīn de shì xiānghuǒ wúrén jìchéng.

What the old man worries about most is having no heir to carry on the family line.

HSK 7-9

这座寺庙香火很旺，每天都人山人海。

Zhè zuò sìmiào xiānghuǒ hěn wàng, měitiān dōu rénshānrénhǎi.

This temple draws huge crowds of worshippers every day.

Tips

culture

Two linked senses: (1) literal incense burned at Buddhist/Taoist temples, with 香火旺/盛 meaning 'popular, well-patronized'; (2) by extension, the unbroken line of male descendants who maintain ancestor offerings - 传香火 = to continue the family line. A popular temple is 香火鼎盛.

Stroke Order

香 xiāng

火 huǒ