黙祷

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 黙祷, read もくとう, and it combines 黙, meaning silence, with 祷, meaning prayer.
• Basic usage: The basic sense of 黙祷 is silent prayer or a moment of silence observed while remembering victims or the deceased.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Noun and verbal use
  • The forms are 黙祷 and 黙祷した. The word can name the observance or be followed by する to describe the act of praying silently.
• Two ceremonial contexts
  • 式典の参加者は犠牲者に一分間の黙祷をささげた。 — The ceremony participants observed a minute of silence for the victims.
  • 鐘の音を合図に全員が静かに黙祷した。 — At the sound of the bell, everyone silently offered a prayer.