Korean Dictionary
How to say "Charye (Holiday Ancestral Rites)" in Korean
“Charye (Holiday Ancestral Rites)” in Korean is 차례 (pronounced "charye").
차례
charye
Usage & Context
차례 is a simplified form of 제사 performed on major Korean holidays especially 설날 and 추석. The 차례 table is set with seasonal foods and offerings placed before the ancestors' photographs or memorial tablets. After 차례 the family bows to elders and shares the food as a communal meal called 음복.
Example Sentence
추석 아침에 온 가족이 모여 차례를 지냈어요.
On Chuseok morning the whole family gathered to perform charye.
How to use 차례 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Charye (Holiday Ancestral Rites)” is 차례, romanized as charye.
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 차례.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 차 (cha), sounds like 'cha' in 'chai'. The second syllable, 례 (rye), sounds similar to 'rye' in 'rye bread', but with a softer 'r' sound and the 'ye' vowel. Think 'CHAH-ryeh'.
More Example Sentences
Describing a typical Lunar New Year morning tradition.
설날 아침에 가족들이 모여 차례를 지냈어요.
On Seollal morning, the family gathered and performed charye.
Someone preparing for a holiday ancestral rite.
차례상에 올릴 과일을 사러 시장에 가야 해요.
I need to go to the market to buy fruit for the charye table.
Describing the communal meal after the ancestral rites.
차례 후에는 다 같이 음복을 했어요.
After charye, we all shared the ritual food.
Cultural Context
차례 (charye) is a simplified form of ancestral rites performed on major Korean holidays like 설날 (Seollal, Lunar New Year) and 추석 (Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving). Unlike the more elaborate 제사 (jesa) for death anniversaries, charye is typically performed in the morning, often standing, and with fewer dishes. It emphasizes family gathering and sharing the food offerings (음복, eumbok) as a communal meal, symbolizing blessings from ancestors. Many K-dramas feature families performing charye, showcasing the importance of these holiday traditions.
Editorial note
We review entries like 차례 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
차례를 지내다
To perform charye
차례상
Charye table (food offerings)
명절 차례
Holiday charye
Related Expressions
제사
jesa
Ancestral rites (more formal/complex)
설날
seollal
Lunar New Year
추석
chuseok
Korean Thanksgiving
음복
eumbok
Sharing ritual food after ancestral rites
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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