布施 (bù shī) — (Buddhist) to give alms; to make a donation | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A Buddhist term for giving alms or donating (money, food, help) to monks, the poor, or institutions like 寺庙 or 孤儿院. It is a religious practice, not ordinary giving.

verb

(Buddhist) to give almsto make a donation

Examples

布施。
Tā měi nián dōu huì qù sì miào bù shī.
He goes to the temple every year to give alms.
布施。
bù shī Shì fó jiào xiū xíng de yí bù fen.
Almsgiving is a part of Buddhist practice.
布施。
Tā bǎ qián bù shī gěi le gū ér yuàn.
She donated the money to an orphanage.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

布bùspread

布 means spread and 施 means give, so the word means to give alms.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

巾巾jīnkerchief

Sound part声符shēngfú

父

父fù布bù

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

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

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

㫃㫃㫃

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě施shī

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

施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.

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