burn incense; bribe
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to burn incense (in religious worship)
Refers to the traditional religious practice of lighting incense sticks as an offering to deities, Buddhas, or ancestors.
Měi每
nián年
chūn春
jié节
，
tā他
dōu都
qù去
miào庙
lǐ里
shāo烧
xiāng香
。
Every Spring Festival, he goes to the temple to burn incense.
Mā妈
ma妈
zài在
fó佛
xiàng像
qián前
shāo烧
xiāng香
qí祈
dǎo祷
jiā家
rén人
píng平
ān安
。
Mom burned incense and prayed before the Buddha statue for the family's safety.
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Zhè这
zuò座
sì寺
miào庙
měi每
tiān天
dōu都
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
xìn信
tú徒
lái来
shāo烧
xiāng香
bài拜
fó佛
。
Every day, many believers come to this temple to burn incense and worship Buddha.
verb
to bribe; to curry favor by giving gifts
Figurative usage implying the use of gifts, money, or favors to gain preferential treatment, often in business or bureaucratic contexts.
Wèi为
le了
ná拿
dào到
hé合
tóng同
，
tā他
gěi给
fù负
zé责
rén人
shāo烧
xiāng香
sòng送
lǐ礼
。
To get the contract, he bribed the person in charge with gifts.
Bié别
zǒng总
xiǎng想
zhe着
kào靠
shāo烧
xiāng香
zǒu走
jié捷
jìng径
，
hái还
shi是
tā踏
shi实
gōng工
zuò作
ba吧
。
Don't always think of currying favor to take shortcuts; just work diligently.
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Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
kào靠
gěi给
guān官
yuán员
shāo烧
xiāng香
lái来
ná拿
xiàng项
mù目
，
zuì最
zhōng终
bèi被
chá查
le了
。
This company relied on bribing officials to get projects and was eventually investigated.