Chinese word

寺

Pronunciation

Pinyinsì

Meaning

  • nountemple

Example

那座寺很有名。nà zuò sì hěn yǒu míng

That temple is well known.

Illustration for 寺 (temple)

More examples

这座寺保存完好，是研究历史的好地方。zhè zuò sì bǎo cún wán hǎo shì yán jiū lì shǐ de hǎo dì fāng

This temple is well preserved, making it a good place to study history.

Core concept

A religious center built around Buddhist monastic life, ritual, and worship.

Common phrases

  • 寺院sì yuàn

    temple

  • 附近的寺fù jìn de sì

    temple nearby

  • 在寺门口zài sì mén kǒu

    at the temple gate

Similar words

寺庙sì miào: A Buddhist temple or sacred site used for worship and offerings.
寺院sì yuàn: A formal Buddhist institution where monks live and Buddhist practices take place.
庙miào: A shrine or temple where folk believers honor ancestors or gods and hold festivals.
道观dào guàn: A Taoist temple where worship and religious rituals take place.

Definition in Chinese

供僧侣居住并用于举行佛事、礼拜和修行的场所或机构，亦可指该处的宗教团体或建筑群。gōng sēng lǚ jū zhù bìng yòng yú jǔ xíng fó shì lǐ bài hé xiū xíng de cháng suǒ huò jī gòu yì kě zhǐ gāi chù de zōng jiào tuán tǐ huò jiàn zhù qún

Word origin

寺 (sì, "temple") began as a word for an official institution in ancient China and later became a name for Buddhist monasteries.

Usage tips

  • The word can refer to the temple organization as well as its buildings, so a sentence about a temple may concern its community or activities rather than its architecture.

Related words

Word lists with this word