呗 (bài) — (bound form) to chant (in Buddhist context, from Sanskrit pāṭhaka)
Definition
呗 (bài) is a bound morpheme used only in Buddhist/chanting contexts, as in 诵呗 (sòngbài, 'to chant sutras'). It is not a stand-alone verb; English 'chant' is the closest equivalent.
bound form
to chant (in Buddhist context, from Sanskrit pāṭhaka)
Examples
- 呗。Sì miào lǐ chuán lái bài yīn.The temple came the sound of chanting.
- 呗。Tā měi tiān sòng bài xiū xíng.He chants every day as part of his practice.
- 呗。Zhè běn jīng shū yǒu fàn wén bài zàn.This sutra has Sanskrit chants.
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 唄; 呗 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
貝
貝bèi唄bei
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
For 呗, the etymology is given for the traditional form 唄: it pairs 口 (mouth) with 貝 as the sound part.
Grammar
Appears in
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