供(そな)え物(もの)

そなえもの
noun
offering; oblation
1. offering; oblation
Food, flowers, or other items placed before a deity, Buddha, or the spirits of the deceased as a religious or commemorative offering.
仏壇(ぶつだん)に供(そな)え物(もの)を置(お)いた。
I placed an offering on the Buddhist altar.
供(そな)え物(もの)の果物(くだもの)を下(さ)げてから食(た)べた。
I took down the fruit offering and then ate it.
お盆(ぼん)には先祖(せんぞ)の霊(れい)のために供(そな)え物(もの)を用意(ようい)するのが日本(にほん)の習慣(しゅうかん)だ。
It is a Japanese custom to prepare offerings for the spirits of one's ancestors during Obon.

Usage

Typical offerings include fruit, rice, sweets, flowers, and incense. After being offered, food items are often taken down and eaten by the family — this is called 供(そな)え物(もの)を下(さ)げる. The word is used for both Buddhist altars (仏壇(ぶつだん)) and Shinto shrines (神棚(かみだな)).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • お供(そな)え: the same word with the polite prefix お, commonly used in everyday speech
  • 奉納(ほうのう): dedication — more formal, refers to dedicating items to a shrine or temple

Related Words

Related: 奉納(ほうのう) (formal shrine dedication)
Compare: お供(そな)え (the same word with the polite prefix…)
Compare: 捧(ささ)げ物(もの) (offering)
general
Added 2026.3.20 17:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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