joss paper; spirit money; hell money
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
joss paper; paper money burned as offerings to the dead or spirits
Traditionally circular with a square hole in the center, resembling ancient Chinese copper coins (方孔钱). Used in funeral rites and festivals like Qingming (清明节) and the Hungry Ghost Festival. Also pronounced with erhua suffix as 'zhǐ qián r' (纸钱儿) in some dialects.
Qīng清
míng明
jié节
de的
shí时
hou候
，
rén人
men们
huì会
zài在
zǔ祖
xiān先
de的
mù墓
qián前
shāo烧
zhǐ纸
qián钱
。
During the Qingming Festival, people burn joss paper in front of their ancestors' graves.
Tā他
mǎi买
le了
jǐ几
kǔn捆
zhǐ纸
qián钱
qù去
jì祭
diàn奠
yǐ已
gù故
de的
qīn亲
rén人
。
He bought several bundles of joss paper to pay respects to his deceased relatives.
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Chuán传
tǒng统
zhǐ纸
qián钱
shì是
tóng铜
qián钱
xíng形
zhuàng状
de的
，
zhōng中
jiān间
yǒu有
gè个
fāng方
kǒng孔
。
Traditional joss paper is shaped like copper coins with a square hole in the middle.
Yǒu有
xiē些
dì地
fāng方
xiàn现
zài在
yòng用
yìn印
shuā刷
hǎo好
de的
míng冥
bì币
dài代
tì替
chuán传
tǒng统
de的
zhǐ纸
qián钱
。
In some places, printed hell banknotes are now used instead of traditional joss paper.