寺庙

• Pinyin: sì miào
• Hanzi breakdown: 寺 = 土 (earth) + 寸 (inch/measure) — originally an official court, later a Buddhist temple; 庙 = 广 (roof) + 朝 — shrine, hall for worship

Meaning

Temple; a place of religious worship and practice, particularly Buddhist or Taoist. A sacred building complex dedicated to deities or spiritual figures.

In Chinese cultural context, 寺庙 broadly refers to Buddhist temples (寺) and Taoist temples (庙), as well as shrines to local deities or ancestors. These sites serve religious, cultural, and social functions — hosting festivals, preserving art and history, and providing space for meditation and ceremony. Many are also important tourist and heritage sites.

Examples

1. 这座千年古刹是该地区保存最为完好的寺庙建筑群，每逢传统节日香客络绎不绝。 This thousand-year-old monastery is the best-preserved temple complex in the region, and on traditional holidays worshippers come in a steady stream.
2. 山间的寺庙掩映在翠绿的竹林之中，清晨的钟声随山风传至数里之外。 The mountain temple is tucked away in lush bamboo, and the morning bell carries on the wind for miles.
3. 修缮这座历史寺庙的工程历时三年，专家们力求在还原原貌的同时保护其文物价值。 Restoring this historic temple took three years, and experts worked to recreate its original appearance while protecting its cultural and historical value.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, culture, history, tourism

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这座寺庙建于唐代，历经多次修缮扩建，如今已成为研究中国宗教建筑艺术的重要实物遗存。(This temple was built during the Tang dynasty and has undergone multiple renovations and expansions; it is now an important surviving example for the study of Chinese religious architecture.)
• 每逢春节，附近居民都会前往寺庙祈福还愿，寺内香火极为旺盛，热闹非凡。(Every Chinese New Year, local residents visit the temple to pray for blessings and fulfil vows; incense burns vigorously and the atmosphere is festive and lively.)

Don't Say

• 不要将 寺庙 与 教堂 或 清真寺 混用 — 寺庙 特指中国佛道教场所，基督教场所用 教堂，伊斯兰场所用 清真寺

Origin & History

寺 (Buddhist temple, government office — ancient) + 庙 (shrine, ancestral hall) — collectively referring to places of religious worship and veneration

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal