Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ancestral rites" in Korean
“Ancestral rites” in Korean is 제사 (pronounced "Jesa").
제사
Jesa
Usage & Context
Ancestral rites are ceremonies honoring deceased family members. Jesa is a central practice in Korean culture, performed on important holidays and anniversaries.
Example Sentence
제사를 지냅니다.
We perform ancestral rites.
How to use 제사 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ancestral rites” is 제사, romanized as Jesa.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 제사.
Pronunciation Guide
제 (Je) sounds like 'jeh' as in 'jet'. 사 (sa) sounds like 'sa' as in 'sad'. Pronounce both syllables clearly and evenly: 'Jeh-sa'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining holiday customs to someone.
설날에는 온 가족이 모여 제사를 지내요.
On Lunar New Year, the whole family gathers to perform ancestral rites.
Complaining about holiday chores to a family member.
제사 음식 준비가 정말 힘들어요.
Preparing jesa food is really hard.
Explaining a family event to a colleague.
돌아가신 할아버지 제사 날이에요.
It's the day of my deceased grandfather's ancestral rites.
Cultural Context
제사 (Jesa) is a deeply rooted Confucian ancestral rite in Korea, performed to honor deceased family members, particularly on their death anniversaries (기일 - giil) and major holidays like Chuseok and Seollal. It involves preparing an elaborate table of food offerings and performing ritual bows. Traditionally, only male descendants participated, but modern families are increasingly including women. It's a significant family gathering, often involving extensive food preparation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 제사 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
제사를 지내다
To perform ancestral rites
제사상
Ancestral rite table (with food offerings)
제사 음식
Ancestral rite food
Related Expressions
차례
Charye
Ancestral rites performed on holidays (simpler than Jesa)
기일
Giil
Death anniversary
조상
Josang
Ancestor
성묘
Seongmyo
Visiting ancestral graves
More Religion Words
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