法门 (fǎ mén) — (Buddhism) gateway to enlightenment; teachings of the Buddha; a correct method or approach to achieving something; (historical) south gate (of a city or palace)

Definition

Literally 'dharma gate' — in Buddhism, the teachings or method leading to enlightenment. Extended use: a 'key' or 'way' to accomplish something.

noun
(Buddhism) gateway to enlightenmentteachings of the Buddhaa correct method or approach to achieving something(historical) south gate (of a city or palace)

Examples

  • 法门。
    Xué fó de rén yào zhǎo dào shì hé zì jǐ de fǎ mén.
    Buddhist practitioners must find a Dharma method that suits them.
  • 法门。
    Xué xí wài yǔ de fǎ mén shì duō tīng duō shuō.
    The key to learning a foreign language is to listen and speak more.
  • 法门。
    Gǔ dài huáng gōng de fǎ mén zhǐ yǒu huáng dì néng zǒu.
    In ancient times, the south gate of the imperial palace could only be used by the emperor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

法fǎdharma
门méngate

法 (dharma) and 门 (gate) form a gateway to teachings.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 門; 门 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 門 pictures a gate as two door shapes side by side; the simplified 门 is a later shorthand.

Open 门 →

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