僧 (sēng) - Buddhist monk — a male member of the

僧Tone 1

sēng ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

三姗

僧 · sēng

Buddhist monk — a male member of the Buddhist monastic community who has renounced worldly life.

Buddhist monk — a male member of the

Usage highlights

Buddhist monkMonk and laypersonMonk's robeMonk's staffOrdination as a monkCommunity of monks

Synonyms

  • 和尚— Buddhist monk (more colloquial)
  • 僧人— Buddhist monk (more formal)
  • 法师— Dharma master (honorific for senior monks)

Antonyms

  • 俗— layperson; secular
  • 凡— ordinary; worldly

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The monk chanted scriptures (僧侣念经).
  • He became a Buddhist monk (出家为僧).
  • The temple housed many monks (僧寺).
  • A wandering monk (游方僧) traveled through the mountains.

Collocations

  • Buddhist monk(僧侣)
  • Monk and layperson(僧俗)
  • Monk's robe(僧衣)
  • Monk's staff(僧杖)
  • Ordination as a monk(僧籍)
  • Community of monks(僧团)

Idioms

  • A monk for a day, strike the bell for a day(做一天和尚撞一天钟)
  • The distant monk is better at chanting scriptures(远来的和尚会念经)
  • Unable to tell monk from layperson(僧俗不分)
  • Many monks, little food(僧多粥少)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese Buddhism, '僧' specifically refers to ordained monks who follow the Vinaya (monastic discipline).
  • The term carries connotations of spiritual dedication, asceticism, and detachment from worldly affairs.
  • Historically, Buddhist monks played important roles in cultural exchange and education in China.

FAQ