佛寺 (Fó sì) — Buddhist temple | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

Buddhist temple

Measure word · 座

佛寺。
Wǒ men míng tiān qù Fó sì cān guān.
We'll go visit the Buddhist temple tomorrow.
佛寺。
Zhè zuò Fó sì yǒu shàng qiān nián de lì shǐ.
This Buddhist temple has a history of over a thousand years.
佛寺。
Tā zài Fó sì lǐ xué xí fó jiào zhī shi.
He studies Buddhist knowledge inside the temple.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

佛 (Buddha) and 寺 (temple) combine to mean a Buddhist temple.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻弗佛

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

弗

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

佛 is made from 亻, a person, and 弗, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

𡳿

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 寺, the top comes from 之, a footprint pointing up, and the hand part 又 later changed shape; the original picture showed grasping or holding.