拜
bài
to bow to; to pay one's respects
(bound form) to extend greetings (on a specific occasion); to make a courtesy call; (bound form) (of a monarch) to appoint sb to (a position) by performing a ceremony; to acknowledge sb as one's (master, godfather etc); (used before some verbs to indicate politeness)
hand (手) + hand (手) = bow with both hands pressed together
The ancient form shows two hands pressed together and lowered — the universal gesture of reverence and deference. Both hands working in unison signal that this is a full-body, wholehearted act of respect.
过年时，我们去奶奶家拜年。
guò nián shí，wǒ men qù nǎi nai jiā bài nián。
During the New Year, we go to grandma's house to pay our New Year's respects.
他决定正式拜这位老师为师。
tā jué dìng zhèng shì bài zhè wèi lǎo shī wéi shī。
He decided to formally acknowledge this teacher as his master.
Words with 拜
拜金
bài jīn
to worship money
礼拜二
lǐ bài èr
Tuesday
个人崇拜
gè rén chóng bài
personality cult
参拜
cān bài
to formally call on
拜会
bài huì
(often used in the context of diplomacy) to meet with; to pay a visit to; to call on
拜堂
bài táng
ritual kneeling to heaven and earth by bride and groom in a old-fashioned wedding ceremony
迪拜
dí bài
Dubai
阿塞拜疆
ā sài bài jiāng
Azerbaijan
顶礼膜拜
dǐng lǐ mó bài
to prostrate oneself in worship (idiom)
黄鼠狼给鸡拜年
huáng shǔ láng gěi jī bài nián
Beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, they are sure to be ill-intentioned. (idiom)
黄鼠狼给鸡拜年，没安好心
huáng shǔ láng gěi jī bài nián , méi ān hǎo xīn
see 黃鼠狼給雞拜年|黄鼠狼给鸡拜年[huang2 shu3 lang2 gei3 ji1 bai4 nian2]
下拜
xià bài
to bow down low