Japanese word

禅

Pronunciation

Romajizen

Meaning

  • nounZen

Example

彼は禅に興味があります。kare wa zen ni kyō mi ga a ri ma su

He is interested in Zen.

Illustration for 禅 (Zen)

More examples

朝の静かな時間に、禅の教えを思い出します。asa no shizu ka na ji kan ni zen no oshi e o omo i da shi ma su

In the quiet of the morning, I reflect on Zen teachings.

Core concept

Centers on disciplined awareness in the present moment as a way to discover Buddhist insight through experience.

Common phrases

  • 禅の教えzen no oshi e

    Zen teachings

  • 禅の修行zen no shu gyō

    Zen practice

  • 禅の思想zen no shi sō

    Zen philosophy

Definition in Japanese

仏教で、坐禅を中心とする修行によって悟りを求める教えや、その修行で得られる境地。buk kyō de za zen o chū shin to su ru shu gyō ni yo tte sato ri o moto me ru oshi e ya so no shu gyō de e ra re ru kyō chi

Word origin

禅 (zen, "meditation") entered Japanese through Chinese chán from Sanskrit dhyāna ("meditation"), the Buddhist practice of meditation.

Usage tips

  • In English, Zen can refer both to the Japanese Buddhist tradition and to a calm, uncluttered quality linked to its practice.

Related words

  • 禅的zentekiZen-likena-adjective
  • 禅者zenshaZen practitionernoun

Word lists with this word