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道Nihongo Path
拝

拝·worship, humble prefix

On-yomi
ハイ
Kun-yomi
おが(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

8 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
拝むおがむto pray to, worship
拝見はいけんto see, look at (humble)
参拝さんぱいvisit to a shrine or temple
拝借はいしゃくto borrow (humble)

Example sentences

  1. お写真を拝見してもよろしいですか。

    おしゃしんをはいけんしてもよろしいですか。

    May I take a look at your photograph?

  2. 正月に神社に参拝した。

    しょうがつにじんじゃにさんぱいした。

    I visited a shrine at New Year.

  3. 祖母は毎朝仏壇を拝む。

    そぼはまいあさぶつだんをおがむ。

    My grandmother prays at the family altar every morning.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 参拝 as さんはい — it is さんぱい
  • Using 拝見する for someone else's looking; it is humble, so it only describes your own act

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand (扌) held flat with the fingers lined up in neat strokes — palms together in prayer.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 拝 mean?