Meaning
拝 covers two distinct territories in Japanese: religious reverence and formal humility. At shrines and temples, it describes the act of worshipping or bowing deeply before something sacred. In correspondence and business speech, it functions as a humble prefix in keigo (敬語) — a signal that the speaker is deferring to someone of higher status. Both uses grow from the same root: lowering oneself before something greater.
The structure of 拝 tells its own story. On the left is 扌, the hand radical. The right side historically depicted clasping hands or bowing low in reverence. Together they capture the gesture of pressing palms forward toward something sacred — the same posture you'd see before a Shinto shrine gate or a Buddhist altar. Eight strokes, and each one counts.
拝 is a Grade 6 Jōyō kanji with 8 strokes, taught in the sixth year of Japanese elementary school. Despite arriving late in the curriculum, it appears constantly in adult Japanese — shrine visits, formal letters, and business keigo. Its radical is 扌 (hand), connecting it to other kanji built around physical gestures of respect.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
One on'yomi reading: ハイ. This reading runs through most compound words — religious, ceremonial, or keigo. It entered Japanese via classical Chinese texts and Buddhist literature, where bowing and veneration were central practices.
- 参拝 (sanpai) — visiting a shrine or temple to pray; unavoidable during hatsumode (初詣) season
- 礼拝 (reihai) — a worship service; used across Shinto, Buddhist, and Christian contexts
- 崇拝 (sūhai) — deep veneration of a deity, or intense admiration of a person or ideal
- 拝観 (haikan) — humbly visiting a temple or cultural site; 拝観料 (admission fee) appears on signs at most historic sites
- 拝啓 (haikei) — "Dear Sir/Madam"; the standard humble salutation in formal Japanese letters
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
One kun'yomi: おが・む (ogamu), written 拝む. The verb describes pressing hands together in prayer, bowing to someone in deep supplication, or even gazing in reverence — watching a sunrise, say, or pleading with a person you desperately need a favor from.
- 拝む (ogamu) — to pray with hands pressed together; to bow in deep respect; to beg earnestly
- 手を拝む (te wo ogamu) — to press hands together in prayer or supplication
- お日様を拝む (ohisama wo ogamu) — to gaze reverently at the sun (a traditional morning practice)
Common Words & Compounds
拝 runs through formal Japanese at every level — shrine visits, business email, polite requests, and classical correspondence. The compounds below are grouped by context.
Religious & Ceremonial
- 参拝 (sanpai) — visiting a shrine or temple to offer prayers; peaks during New Year's (初詣)
- 礼拝 (reihai) — a worship service across Buddhist, Christian, and Shinto traditions
- 崇拝 (sūhai) — veneration of a deity, or intense admiration of a person or ideal
- 拝観 (haikan) — a humble visit to view a temple, garden, or artwork; 拝観料 means admission fee
- 遥拝 (yōhai) — worshipping from a distance, bowing toward a distant shrine or the imperial palace
Humble Keigo Prefix (謙譲語)
- 拝見 (haiken) — humble equivalent of 見る/読む; used when you are the one looking at something belonging to another person
- 拝読 (haidoku) — humble reading; standard in formal letters ("I have read your message")
- 拝借 (haishaku) — a very polite way to say 借りる (to borrow)
- 拝命 (haimei) — humbly receiving an appointment or instruction from a superior
- 拝領 (hairyō) — humbly receiving a gift or honor from someone of higher status
Correspondence
- 拝啓 (haikei) — "Dear Sir/Madam"; opens formal letters, paired with 敬具 (keigu) at the close
- 拝復 (haifuku) — "In reply to your letter"; opens a formal written response
- 拝趨 (haisū) — paying a humble visit to someone (very formal, literary register)
Other Uses
- 拝顔 (haigan) — the honor of seeing someone's face; a formal way to say "meeting you in person"
- 拝謝 (haisha) — expressing deep, humble gratitude
Example Sentences
初詣で神社に参拝しました。
Hatsumōde de jinja ni sanpai shimashita.
I visited the shrine to pray for the New Year (hatsumode).
祖母は毎朝仏壇の前で手を合わせて拝んでいます。
Sobo wa maiasa butsudan no mae de te wo awasete ogande imasu.
My grandmother presses her hands together and prays at the Buddhist altar every morning.
お手紙を拝読いたしました。
Otegami wo haidoku itashimashita.
I have humbly read your letter. (formal written Japanese)
資料を拝見させていただいてもよろしいでしょうか。
Shiryō wo haiken sasete itadaite mo yoroshii deshō ka.
May I humbly take a look at your materials?
京都の金閣寺を拝観するために長い列に並びました。
Kyōto no Kinkakuji wo haikan suru tame ni nagai retsu ni narabimashita.
I queued in a long line to visit Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto.
彼は有名なアーティストを崇拝しています。
Kare wa yūmei na ātisuto wo sūhai shite imasu.
He idolizes that famous artist.
拝啓、先日はお世話になりました。
Haikei, senjitsu wa o-sewa ni narimashita.
Dear Sir/Madam, thank you for your kind assistance the other day.
子供たちが両手を合わせて神様に拝んでいる姿は微笑ましいです。
Kodomotachi ga ryōte wo awasete kamisama ni ogande iru sugata wa hohoemashii desu.
Watching children press their hands together and pray to the gods is heartwarming.
部長のご意見を拝聴したく、お時間をいただけますでしょうか。
Buchō no go-iken wo haichō shitaku, o-jikan wo itadakemasu deshō ka.
I would humbly like to hear your thoughts, Department Head — could you spare a moment?
Memory Tip
The hand radical 扌 is the key to 拝. Spot it on the left and you know the kanji involves something you do with your hands in a gesture of respect — pressing palms together at a shrine, reaching forward in supplication, or holding a document you are "humbly reading." Every time 拝 appears as a keigo prefix, the same logic holds: the speaker is metaphorically extending their hands in deference. 拝見, 拝読, 拝聴 — all say, in effect, "I receive this with both hands."