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阿弥陀佛 (E mí tuó Fó) — Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life in Pure Land Buddhism)

Definition

Proper name for Amitabha (Amida), the Buddha of Infinite Light central to Pure Land Buddhism. Also used as an exclamation, like 'Buddha preserve us,' when sighing, praying, or reacting to a close call.

noun
Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life in Pure Land Buddhism)

Examples

  • 阿弥陀佛。
    Tā měi tiān niàn E mí tuó Fó.
    He chants Amitabha Buddha every day.
  • 阿弥陀佛。
    E mí tuó Fó Shì xī fāng jí lè shì jiè de jiào zhǔ.
    Amitabha Buddha is the teacher of the Western Pure Land.
  • 阿弥陀佛。
    Tā xiāng xìn E mí tuó Fó huì bǎo yòu tā.
    She believes Amitabha Buddha will protect her.

Origin

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
可
可kě阿ā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The part 阜 points to a mound, and 可 gives the pronunciation; 阿 originally meant a big mound.

Open 阿 →

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
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
尔
尔ěr弥mí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 弥 pairs 弓 (bow) as its meaning part with 尔 as its sound part.

Open 弥 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 陀 →

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rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú佛Fó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

佛 is made from 亻, a person, and 弗, which gives the sound.

Open 佛 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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