Definition
香火 literally means 'incense fire' — the incense burned in temples or ancestral halls. Beyond that, it carries two important cultural meanings: (1) the offerings, donations, or patronage that a temple receives (often called 'incense money'), and (2) the continuation of a family line (延续香火), because keeping incense burning for ancestors symbolizes having descendants to carry on the family name. In modern usage, it also appears in phrases about religious tourism and temple financial support.
n.
burning incense (as an offering in temples or ancestral halls)incense offerings / temple donations (often in the form of money)(figurative) continuation of the family line
Examples
- 香火，。Zhè zuò sìmiào de xiāng huǒ hěn wàng, měitiān dōu yǒu hěn duō rén lái shāo xiāng.This temple's incense is very strong — many people come to burn incense every day.
- 香火。xiāng huǒ qián shì sìmiào zhòngyào de shōurù láiyuán.Incense money is an important source of income for the temple.
- ，香火。Tā shēng le yí gè érzi, zhōngyú kěyǐ yánxù xiāng huǒ le.He had a son, and finally can continue the family line.
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