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.
仏壇に供え物を置いた。
I placed an offering on the Buddhist altar.
供え物の果物を下げてから食べた。
I took down the fruit offering and then ate it.
お盆には先祖の霊のために供え物を用意するのが日本の習慣だ。
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 供え物を下げる. The word is used for both Buddhist altars (仏壇) and Shinto shrines (神棚).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 供え物を供える (to make an offering)
- 供え物を下げる (to take down an offering)
- 神への供え物 (an offering to the gods)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- お{供え}: the same word with the polite prefix お, commonly used in everyday speech
- 奉納: dedication — more formal, refers to dedicating items to a shrine or temple