归依 (guī yī) — to convert to (a religion, especially Buddhism); to take refuge in; (noun) refuge; mainstay; source of spiritual reliance

Definition

A formal/religious term meaning to take refuge in (a faith, especially Buddhism) — both as a verb ('to convert to') and a noun ('refuge, spiritual mainstay'). Stronger and more literary than everyday 依靠.

verb
to convert to (a religion, especially Buddhism)to take refuge in
noun
refugemainstaysource of spiritual reliance
Easily confused

Examples

  • 归依，。
    Tā zuì zhōng guī yī le fó jiào, chéng wéi yì míng qián chéng de jiào tú.
    He eventually converted to Buddhism and became a devout believer.
  • ，归依。
    Zài kùn nan shí, tā guī yī yú zì jǐ de xìn niàn.
    In times of difficulty, she relies on her own beliefs.
  • 归依。
    Xìn yǎng shì tā zuì hòu de guī yī.
    Faith is his last refuge.

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.

归guīreturn
依yīrely

归依: 归 (return) and 依 (rely) together express returning to and relying on a refuge.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
衣
衣yī依yī
Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

Open 依 →

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