拝(おが)む

おがむ
godan verb
to worship, to pray, to bow in reverence
1. to worship, to pray
To show religious reverence by bowing or pressing palms together.
神社(じんじゃ)で手(て)を合(あ)わせて拝(おが)む。
I press my hands together and pray at the shrine.
仏像(ぶつぞう)の前(まえ)で静(しず)かに拝(おが)んだ。
I prayed quietly in front of the Buddha statue.
毎朝(まいあさ)、仏壇(ぶつだん)を拝(おが)むのが習慣(しゅうかん)だ。
It is my daily routine to pray at the family altar every morning.
2. to beg, to implore
To earnestly request something from someone.
どうかお願(ねが)いします、と拝(おが)んだ。
I begged, 'Please, I'm asking you.'
頼(たの)むから助(たす)けてくれ、と拝(おが)むように言(い)った。
He pleaded, almost begging, asking to be helped.
何(なん)でもしますから、と拝(おが)み倒(たお)した。
I begged with everything I had, saying I would do anything.
3. to see, to view (humble)
To have the honor of seeing something (humble expression).
初(はつ)日(ひ)の出(で)を拝(おが)む。
I view the first sunrise of the year.
富士山(ふじさん)を拝(おが)むことができた。
I had the honor of seeing Mount Fuji.
久(ひさ)しぶりにお顔(かお)を拝(おが)めてうれしいです。
I am glad to have the pleasure of seeing your face after such a long time.

拝(おが)む means to worship or show reverence by pressing palms together or bowing.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive)
  • Takes を particle: 仏(ほとけ)を拝(おが)む

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 手(て)を合(あ)わせて拝(おが)む: to pray with hands together
  • 仏(ほとけ)を拝(おが)む: to worship Buddha
  • 初(はつ)日(ひ)の出(で)を拝(おが)む: to view the first sunrise

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese people 拝(おが)む at temples and shrines. At Buddhist temples, one puts palms together; at Shinto shrines, one claps twice before praying.

general
Added 2026.1.13 9:40 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:52
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