daogao: 祷告 - To Pray, Prayer

• Keywords: daogao, dǎogào, 祷告, Chinese word for pray, how to say prayer in Chinese, 祷告 meaning, Christian prayer in Chinese, spiritual terms in Mandarin, dǎogào vs qídǎo
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 祷告 (dǎogào), the primary Chinese word for “to pray” or “prayer.” This page explores its strong connection to Abrahamic religions like Christianity in modern China, contrasts it with traditional practices like `拜拜 (bàibai)`, and explains the crucial difference between 祷告 (dǎogào) and the more general term `祈祷 (qídǎo)`. Through detailed examples and cultural analysis, you'll understand how to use this important spiritual term correctly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎogào
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To address a deity or higher power with a request, praise, or confession; the act of praying.
• In a Nutshell: 祷告 (dǎogào) is the most direct translation of the English word “to pray” in a religious, particularly monotheistic, context. It describes the act of communicating directly with God or a divine being—speaking to them, listening, making requests, or giving thanks. Think of it as a personal, focused conversation with a higher power.

• 祷 (dǎo): This character is made of two parts. The radical on the left, `礻(shì)`, is the “spirit” or “altar” radical, indicating a connection to spiritual or religious matters. The right side, `寿 (shòu)`, means “longevity.” Originally, this character represented praying to the gods for a long life.
• 告 (gào): This character means “to tell,” “to inform,” or “to announce.” It depicts a mouth (`口`) under an ox horn (`牛`), suggesting a public proclamation.
• The characters combine to mean “to tell the spirits/God.” This beautifully captures the essence of 祷告: a direct, verbal, or mental report to a divine entity.

In modern China, 祷告 (dǎogào) is most strongly associated with Abrahamic religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. When someone mentions 祷告, the immediate image is often of a person with hands clasped or head bowed, speaking to God (上帝, Shàngdì). This contrasts sharply with traditional Chinese spiritual practices. The common term for worship in folk religion or Buddhism is not 祷告, but 拜拜 (bàibai).

• 祷告 (dǎogào): This is a *conversational* act. It's about personal communication, confession, and supplication directed at a specific, personified deity. It emphasizes the inner relationship between the individual and God.
• 拜拜 (bàibai): This is a *ritualistic* act. It involves physical gestures like bowing, kowtowing, and offering incense to deities, spirits, or ancestors. It's more about showing respect, performing a ritual correctly, and seeking blessings or protection, rather than engaging in a personal conversation.

For a Western learner, understanding this distinction is key. While “pray” in English can sometimes be used loosely, 祷告 (dǎogào) in Chinese carries a much more specific, often Christian, connotation. Using it to describe an activity in a Buddhist temple, while not technically wrong, might sound slightly out of place to a native speaker, who would more likely use terms like `祈福 (qífú)` (to pray for blessings) or `拜佛 (bàifó)` (to worship the Buddha).

• In a Religious Context: This is the primary and most appropriate usage. It is used among religious communities to describe the act of prayer.
  • `基督徒每天都会祷告。` (Jīdūtú měitiān dūhuì dǎogào.) - Christians pray every day.
• As a Noun: It can refer to the prayer itself.
  • `这是一个有力量的祷告。` (Zhè shì yīgè yǒu lìliàng de dǎogào.) - This is a powerful prayer.
• In a Figurative or Formal Sense: While less common than the more general term `祈祷 (qídǎo)`, it can be used outside of a strictly religious context to express a very deep, solemn hope, almost as if appealing to a higher power. However, this usage is quite formal and can sound dramatic in casual conversation.
  • `我们只能为他祷告，希望奇迹发生。` (Wǒmen zhǐ néng wèi tā dǎogào, xīwàng qíjì fāshēng.) - We can only pray for him and hope for a miracle.

The connotation of 祷告 is generally serious, formal, and reverent. It is not typically used in a lighthearted or joking manner.

• Example 1:
  • 她每天睡觉前都会祷告。
  • Pinyin: Tā měitiān shuìjiào qián dōuhuì dǎogào.
  • English: She prays every day before going to sleep.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct sentence showing the use of 祷告 as a routine verb.
• Example 2:
  • 牧师带领大家一起做祷告。
  • Pinyin: Mùshī dàilǐng dàjiā yīqǐ zuò dǎogào.
  • English: The pastor led everyone in prayer.
  • Analysis: Here, `做祷告 (zuò dǎogào)` means “to say a prayer” or “to pray.” `做 (zuò)` is often paired with nouns to form a verb phrase.
• Example 3:
  • 在祷告中，她感受到了内心的平静。
  • Pinyin: Zài dǎogào zhōng, tā gǎnshòu dàole nèixīn de píngjìng.
  • English: In prayer, she felt an inner peace.
  • Analysis: This example uses 祷告 as a noun, meaning “the act/state of prayer.”
• Example 4:
  • 我们应该为世界和平而祷告。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi wèi shìjiè hépíng ér dǎogào.
  • English: We should pray for world peace.
  • Analysis: The structure `为 (wèi)… 而 (ér)…` means “for the purpose of…” This shows how to state the reason for the prayer.
• Example 5:
  • 饭前祷告是他们家的习惯。
  • Pinyin: Fànqián dǎogào shì tāmen jiā de xíguàn.
  • English: Saying grace (praying before a meal) is a habit in their family.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates a specific cultural practice where 祷告 is used.
• Example 6:
  • 你的祷告上帝听到了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de dǎogào Shàngdì tīngdào le ma?
  • English: Did God hear your prayer?
  • Analysis: A direct question using 祷告 as a noun, linking it explicitly with `上帝 (Shàngdì)`, the Christian God.
• Example 7:
  • 他在祷告中请求上帝的原谅。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài dǎogào zhōng qǐngqiú Shàngdì de yuánliàng.
  • English: In his prayer, he asked for God's forgiveness.
  • Analysis: This shows the content of a prayer, specifically asking for something (`请求, qǐngqiú`).
• Example 8:
  • 无论遇到什么困难，她都坚持祷告。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn yùdào shénme kùnnán, tā dōu jiānchí dǎogào.
  • English: No matter what difficulties she encounters, she persists in praying.
  • Analysis: `坚持 (jiānchí)` means “to persist” or “to insist on,” showing 祷告 as a continuous practice.
• Example 9:
  • 这本书记载了很多感人的祷告词。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū jìzǎi le hěn duō gǎnrén de dǎogàocí.
  • English: This book records many moving prayers (written prayers).
  • Analysis: `祷告词 (dǎogàocí)` is a compound word meaning “the text of a prayer.”
• Example 10:
  • 他闭上眼睛，开始默默地祷告。
  • Pinyin: Tā bì shàng yǎnjīng, kāishǐ mòmò de dǎogào.
  • English: He closed his eyes and began to pray silently.
  • Analysis: `默默地 (mòmò de)` means “silently,” showing that 祷告 doesn't have to be out loud.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 祷告 (dǎogào) and 祈祷 (qídǎo).

• 祷告 (dǎogào): Specific. Primarily used for prayer in an organized religious context, especially Abrahamic faiths. It implies a direct conversation with a specific deity.
• 祈祷 (qídǎo): General. Means “to pray” but also “to wish earnestly” or “to hope for.” It can be used secularly. You can `祈祷` for good weather or `祈祷` that you pass an exam. It doesn't require a specific religious framework.

Common Mistake: Using 祷告 in a non-religious or traditional Chinese religious context.

• Incorrect: `我祷告明天不要下雨。` (Wǒ dǎogào míngtiān bùyào xiàyǔ.)
• Why it's awkward: This sounds overly dramatic, as if you're formally appealing to God about the weather.
• Correct: `我祈祷明天不要下雨。` (Wǒ qídǎo míngtiān bùyào xiàyǔ.) or more simply `我希望明天不要下雨。` (Wǒ xīwàng míngtiān bùyào xiàyǔ.)
• Incorrect: `我奶奶去寺庙祷告。` (Wǒ nǎinai qù sìmiào dǎogào.)
• Why it's awkward: This mixes the vocabulary of Christianity (`祷告`) with the location of Buddhism/folk religion (`寺庙`, temple).
• Correct: `我奶奶去寺庙拜拜。` (Wǒ nǎinai qù sìmiào bàibai.) or `我奶奶去寺庙烧香祈福。` (Wǒ nǎinai qù sìmiào shāoxiāng qífú.)

• 祈祷 (qídǎo) - A more general term for “to pray” or “to wish for”; can be used in secular contexts.
• 拜拜 (bàibai) - To worship through physical rituals (bowing, incense), common in Chinese folk religion and Buddhism.
• 上帝 (Shàngdì) - God; specifically the term used in Abrahamic faiths. The being one would 祷告 to.
• 教堂 (jiàotáng) - Church; a common place for Christians to 祷告.
• 基督徒 (Jīdūtú) - Christian; a person who regularly performs 祷告.
• 祈求 (qíqiú) - To implore, to beseech. A stronger word than 祷告, emphasizing a desperate request.
• 祝福 (zhùfú) - To bless; a blessing. Often the desired outcome of a prayer.
• 信仰 (xìnyǎng) - Faith, belief. The foundation for the act of 祷告.
• 念经 (niànjīng) - To chant scriptures or sutras. A meditative vocal practice in Buddhism, distinct from the conversational nature of 祷告.
• 许愿 (xǔyuàn) - To make a wish. Often done at a temple or on one's birthday; more of a stated hope than a conversation with a deity.