Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of hand and phonetic. Worshipping with hand.
Symbolism
See, worship, adore. Represents worshipping.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents worship and reverence to deities, spiritual posture of devotion with hands together and head bowed.
Component Breakdown
hand + one + 丰
Words & Expressions
Words written with 拝
Four-Character Compounds
偶像崇拝
ぐうぞうすうはい
idolatry; idol worship
三拝九拝
さんぱいきゅうはい
kowtowing; bowing repeatedly; three kneelings and nine prostrations
祖先崇拝
そせんすうはい
ancestor worship
頓首再拝
とんしゅさいはい
respectfully yours
Proverbs & Idioms
拝む手には棒が
おがむてにはぼうが
Praying hands hide a stick
Politeness only when asking favors
Anime & Manga
拝啓…殺し屋さんと結婚しました
My Lovey-Dovey Wife is a Stone Cold Killer
A well-known work with 拝 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 拝 mean in Japanese?
拝 means worship, adore, pray to.
How do you read 拝?
On'yomi: ハイ (HAI). Kun'yomi: おが.む、おろが.む (ogamu, orogamu).
How many strokes does 拝 have?
拝 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 手 (hand).
Is 拝 a good kanji for a tattoo?
拝 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means worship, adore, pray to. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.