bless

Compared meaning: to make sacred through a religious act (verb).

比较义项：使……神圣、奉献于宗教用途（动词）。

• bless 本词

  A common, general verb for invoking God's favor or making someone or something holy; used broadly in everyday and religious contexts, including informal expressions not compared here.

  这是一个常见、泛用的词，指祈求神的眷顾或使人、物变得神圣；既可用于日常场合，也可用于宗教场合，还有一些非正式用法（此处不比较）。

  The priest asked God to bless the newly married couple.

  神父祈求上帝保佑这对新婚夫妇。

• consecrate

  A formal, ceremonial verb used specifically for officially dedicating a building, place, or object to religious use through a ritual; not used casually or for blessing people directly.

  这是一个正式、仪式性较强的词，专指通过某种宗教仪式，把建筑、场所或器物正式奉献给宗教用途；不用于随意的场合，也不直接用于为人祝福。

  The priests gathered to consecrate the new church building today.

  神父们今天聚集在一起，为这座新教堂举行奉献仪式使其神圣化。

Both mean making something holy through a religious act, but differently. Bless is common and warmer, used broadly for people, objects, or occasions, invoking God's favor. Consecrate is more formal and ceremonial, for officially dedicating a building or object through a ritual.

这两个词都表示通过某种宗教行为使人或物变得神圣，但 bless 更常见、语气更亲切，可用于人、物或场合；consecrate 更正式、仪式性更强，专指以正式典礼把建筑、场所或器物奉献给宗教用途。这里不比较 bless 的其他用法，例如打喷嚏后说的“bless you”。