奠祭

diànjì

verb

Meanings

1 to make a libation in offering
2 to pour wine on the ground as a sacrifice to the dead
3 to perform a memorial rite

Characters

to set down (an offering)

to sacrifice / make offering

Examples

他们在墓前奠祭先人。

Tāmen zài mù qián diànjì xiānrén.

They poured a libation at the grave to honor their ancestors.

古人常以酒奠祭天地。

Gǔrén cháng yǐ jiǔ diànjì tiāndì.

The ancients often poured wine in libation to Heaven and Earth.

Tips

history

奠 originally pictured a wine vessel set down on a stand — the act of placing an offering, not just any 祭 (jì, sacrifice). In a 奠祭 rite, wine is poured onto the ground or altar, symbolically given to the spirits.

Stroke Order

奠 diàn

祭 jì