thờ tự
Definition
Noun:
- Worship; religious veneration: The act of showing reverence and devotion to a deity, ancestor, or sacred object through prescribed rituals and ceremonies.
- A system or practice of worship: Refers to the organized customs and rites associated with honoring a divine being or spiritual entity.
Verb (less common):
- To worship; to venerate: To perform acts of devotion and ritual respect towards a god, ancestor, or sacred figure.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Thờ tự là một phần quan trọng trong đời sống tinh thần. (Worship is an important part of spiritual life.)
- Ngôi đền này dành cho việc thờ tự thần mặt trời. (This temple is for the worship of the sun god.)
- Verb:
- Họ thờ tự tổ tiên rất cẩn thận. (They venerate their ancestors very carefully.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often implies a formal, ritualistic, and continuous practice, typically within a family or community context, rather than a single spontaneous act.
- It is commonly associated with ancestor worship and the veneration of guardian spirits in Vietnamese folk religion.
Variants and Related Words
- Đồ thờ tự (n): Cult objects; ritual implements and items used in worship.
- Họ sắp xếp đồ thờ tự trên bàn thờ. (They arrange the ritual objects on the altar.)
- Nơi thờ tự (n): A place of worship (e.g., temple, shrine, altar).
- Nơi thờ tự chính của làng là ngôi đình cổ. (The main place of worship in the village is the old communal house.)
Synonyms
- Worship: The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration.
- Veneration: Great respect or awe directed towards a sacred figure or object.
- Cult: A system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.
Related Idioms
- While "thờ tự" itself is not typically part of idioms, the concept is central to phrases like "thờ cúng tổ tiên" (ancestor worship), which is a core cultural practice.
- Thờ cúng tổ tiên thể hiện lòng hiếu thảo. (Ancestor worship demonstrates filial piety.)