莲 (lián) — lotus (Nelumbo nucifera); (Buddhism) the Pure Land sect
Definition
Short for 莲花 (lotus flower) and 莲宗, the Chinese name for the Pure Land school of Buddhism. In Buddhist contexts, the plant symbolizes purity.
noun
lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)(Buddhism) the Pure Land sect
Measure word · 朵
Examples
- 莲。Xià tiān chí táng lǐ de lián kāi dé fēi cháng měi lì.The lotuses in the pond bloom very beautifully in summer.
- 莲。Zhè fú huà shàng de lián xiàng zhēng zhe chún jié.The lotus in this painting symbolizes purity.
- 莲，。Tā xìn yǎng lián zōng, měi tiān niàn fó.He follows the Pure Land sect and chants Buddha's name every day.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 蓮; 莲 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
連
連lián蓮lián
Same sound today
The traditional form 蓮 puts the plant mark 艹 above 連, which gives the sound. The simplified 莲 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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