合掌

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 合掌, read as がっしょう. It denotes pressing the palms together in worship, greeting, or a yoga pose and functions as a noun or a する verb.
• Basic usage: Pressing the palms together before a Buddha statue appears in 仏像の前で合掌する, while referring to the palms-together pose in yoga appears in 合掌の姿勢.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference from 祈る
  • It names the physical palms-together gesture rather than prayer itself, so it can also appear outside a religious context.