Korean Dictionary
How to say "Jesa (Ancestral Rites)" in Korean
“Jesa (Ancestral Rites)” in Korean is 제사 (pronounced "jesa").
제사
jesa
Usage & Context
제사 is a Korean Confucian ritual held to honor deceased ancestors by offering food, bowing, and praying. Korean families hold 제사 on the anniversary of an ancestor's death and on major holidays like 설날 and 추석. The elaborate preparation of 제사 food follows traditional protocols with specific dishes arranged in a precise order.
Example Sentence
오늘 밤 할아버지 제삿날이라 제사를 지내야 해요.
Tonight is my grandfather's ancestral rite anniversary so we must perform jesa.
How to use 제사 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Jesa (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
The first syllable, 제 (je), sounds like 'je' in 'jet'. The second syllable, 사 (sa), sounds like 'sa' in 'sad'. Combine them as 'JE-sa'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the distinction between different ancestral rites.
명절에는 차례를 지내고 기일에는 제사를 지내요.
On holidays, we perform charye, and on death anniversaries, we perform jesa.
A family member expressing the effort involved in jesa preparations.
제사상 차리는 게 정말 힘들어요.
Setting up the jesa table is really hard.
Discussing modern trends in ancestral rites.
요즘은 간소하게 제사를 지내는 집도 많아요.
These days, many families perform jesa in a simpler way.
Cultural Context
제사 (jesa) is a deeply rooted Confucian ancestral rite in Korea, traditionally performed on the anniversary of an ancestor's death (기일, giil). It involves elaborate food preparation and a specific arrangement of dishes on a 'jesasang' (제사상), followed by bowing and prayers. While traditionally a significant family event, especially for the eldest son's family, modern families often simplify the rituals or opt for alternatives due to changing lifestyles and beliefs, though respect for ancestors remains a core value.
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 jesa
제사 음식
Jesa food
제사 준비
Jesa preparation
Related Expressions
차례
charye
Holiday ancestral rites (simplified jesa)
기일
giil
Death anniversary
제사상
jesasang
Jesa table (food offerings)
성묘
seongmyo
Visiting ancestral graves
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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