Friday, April 4, 2008

拝 - Pray with OFFERINGS in Hand


Readings & Meanings:

おが(む)

ハイ

worship, humbly

Common Usage:

拝啓/敬具

拝み倒す

礼拝

Examples:

拝啓 新緑の美しい季節となりましたが、伊藤先生はいかがお過ごしですか。
...
それではお近くにお越しの際はぜひご連絡ください。
近々お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。
敬具

祖父を拝み倒して着物を買ってもらった。

日曜日に教会へ礼拝に行く。

Translations:

Greetings, Professor Ito.
The season of beautiful green leaves has come. How are you?
...
If you are coming by, please let me know.
I look forward to seeing you in the near future.
Sincerely yours,

After wearing my grandfather down with entreaties, he bought me a kimono.

On Sunday we go to the church to worship.

Radical:

拝 contains the 手 (hand) radical, indicating an action.

The element on the right shows offerings presented to the gods.

Bonus:

There are sets of words to use in letters. If you start a letter with 拝啓, you have to end it with the corresponding term, 敬具. These are formal, and should be used for someone you respect, in a more formal letter. Leading into the body of the message with something seasonal is very common and highly recommended.

Another set is 前略 and 草々. This one is more businesslike, and you probably wouldn't mention seasonal things.

References:

http://www.kanjinetworks.com/indices/radindex.html
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/node/kanji/o.htm

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