Chinese word

祈祷

Pronunciation

Pinyinqí dǎo

Meaning

  • verbpray

Example

他们在教堂里祈祷。tā men zài jiào táng lǐ qí dǎo

They are praying in church.

Illustration for 祈祷 (pray)

More examples

他在考前向佛像祈祷，希望能通过考试。tā zài kǎo qián xiàng fó xiàng qí dǎo xī wàng néng tōng guò kǎo shì

He prayed to a Buddha statue before the exam, hoping to pass.

Core concept

A spoken or ritual appeal to a divine or supernatural power for safety, healing, or a hoped-for result.

Common phrases

  • 向神明祈祷xiàng shén míng qí dǎo

    pray to a deity

  • 为考试祈祷wèi kǎo shì qí dǎo

    pray for success in the exam

  • 默默地祈祷mò mò dì qí dǎo

    pray silently

Similar words

祈求qí qiú: Make a strong request to a person or divine power for help or something desired.
祷告dǎo gào: Address a deity in a religious setting, aloud or silently, to express a request or thanks.
祈愿qí yuàn: Hope in one's heart that something good will happen in the future.
祝福zhù fú: Express wishes for someone's happiness or safety through words or actions.

Definition in Chinese

在宗教或民间习俗中向超自然力量祈求平安、康复或达成愿望的言行和仪式。zài zōng jiào huò mín jiān xí sú zhōng xiàng chāo zì rán lì liàng qí qiú píng ān kāng fù huò dá chéng yuàn wàng de yán xíng hé yí shì

Word origin

祈祷 (qídǎo, "pray") combines 祈 (qí, "pray for") and 祷 (dǎo, "pray"), whose shared altar-related radical connects the word with worship and ritual.

Usage tips

  • English pray can sound specifically Christian or formally religious, while this Chinese verb also covers folk customs and brief personal appeals for safety, recovery, or good fortune.

Other meanings

  • prayernoun
  • pray forverb

Related words

  • 祈祷者qí dǎo zhěperson who praysnoun
  • 祈祷声qí dǎo shēngprayer soundnoun

Word lists with this word