衣钵 (yī bō) — (noun) [Buddhist] monk's mantle and alms-bowl (handed to a chosen disciple); (noun) legacy, mantle (of a skill, tradition, or body of knowledge)

Definition

Literally the Buddhist master's robe and alms bowl passed to a chosen disciple. Now used figuratively for the 'mantle' of a skill, craft, or tradition handed from teacher to student.

noun
[Buddhist] monk's mantle and alms-bowl (handed to a chosen disciple)legacymantle (of a skill, tradition, or body of knowledge)

Examples

  • 衣钵。
    Zhè wèi dà shī jiāng zì jǐ de yī bō chuán gěi le zuì dé yì de dì zǐ.
    The master passed on his mantle and alms-bowl to his most favored disciple.
  • 衣钵，。
    Tā jì chéng le lǎo shī de yī bō, jì xù yán jiū zhè mén xué wèn.
    He inherited his teacher's legacy and continued studying this field of knowledge.
  • 衣钵。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā zài wǎn nián jiāng zì jǐ de yī bō chuán shòu gěi le nián qīng de tú dì.
    The painter passed on his artistic legacy to his young apprentice in his later years.

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.

衣yīrobe
钵bōbowl

衣 is the monk's robe and 钵 is the alms bowl, together the inherited mantle.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

Open 衣 →

Most 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 缽; 钵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
缶缶fǒupot
Sound part声符shēngfú
本
本běn缽bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 缽 pairs 缶, a pot, with 本 for sound; this explanation is about 缽, not about the parts of 钵.

Open 钵 →

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