庵 (ān) — (noun) small Buddhist or Taoist temple, especially a nunnery; (noun) hut, hermitage

Definition

A literary word for a small Buddhist or Taoist temple — especially a nunnery — or a thatched hut where a person lives in seclusion. Almost always appears as a bound form in set nouns like 尼姑庵.

noun
small Buddhist or Taoist templeespecially a nunneryhuthermitage
Easily confused

Examples

  • 庵，。
    Zhè zuò ān zài shān lǐ, huán jìng hěn ān jìng.
    This small temple is in the mountains, and the environment is very quiet.
  • 庵。
    Tā tuì xiū hòu zhù zài yí gè xiǎo ān lǐ xiū xíng.
    After retiring, she lived in a small hermitage to practice cultivation.
  • 庵。
    Cūn lǐ yǒu yí zuò gǔ lǎo de ní gū ān.
    There is an ancient nunnery in the village.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
广广guǎnghouse
Sound part声符shēngfú
奄
奄yǎn庵
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

庵 is built from 广, a house, and 奄, which gives the sound.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.