Korean word

제사

Pronunciation

Romanizationchesa

Meaning

  • nounmemorial service

Example

이번 주말에 제사에 갈 거예요.i beon chu ma re che sa e kal kkeo ye yo

I'm going to a memorial service for my ancestors this weekend.

Illustration for 제사 (memorial service)

More examples

할머니께서 제사 음식을 준비하셨어요.hal meo ni kke seo che sa eum si geul chun bi ha syeo sseo yo

Grandmother prepared food for the memorial service.

Core concept

A recurring household rite that connects remembrance of ancestors with shared offerings.

Common phrases

  • 제사 지내다che sa chi nae da

    hold a memorial service

  • 제사 음식che sa eum sik

    memorial service food

Similar words

차례charye: A family ancestor ceremony held on a traditional festival day with food and respectful offerings.
성묘seongmyo: A formal visit to an ancestor's grave for cleaning, bowing, and remembrance.
기일kiil: The annual day that marks the date of an ancestor's death.

Definition in Korean

돌아가신 조상의 기일이나 중요한 날에 가족이 모여 제물을 차려 그날을 기념하는 의식to ra ga sin cho sang ui ki i ri na chung yo han na re ka jo gi mo yeo che mu reul cha ryeo keu na reul ki nyeom ha neun ui sik

Word origin

Its Sino-Korean formation refers to offering and ritual worship, preserving the older idea of honoring the dead through a formal ceremony.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase ancestor worship can sound like a general religious belief, but 제사 (jesa, "family ancestor ceremony") often points to a specific family ceremony and occasion.

Other meanings

  • ancestor worshipnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word