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

这座寺庙香火很旺,每天都人山人海。

Zhè zuò sìmiào xiānghuǒ hěn wàng, měi tiān dōu rénshānrénhǎi.

This temple draws huge crowds of worshippers every day.

老人最担心的是香火无人继承。

Lǎorén zuì dānxīn de shì xiānghuǒ wú rén jìchéng.

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

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