pray

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 祈 has 8 strokes and concerns praying or wishing for something to happen.
• Basic usage: 祈る is read いのる, and 祈願 is read きがん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The wish and the verb form
  • 家族の無事を祈る means to pray for one's family's safety.
  • を marks what is wished for.
  • The connective form of 祈る is 祈って.
  • The 祈 in 祈願 is read き.
  • 必勝祈願 means a prayer for certain victory.