cư sĩ
Definition
- Noun:
- A lay Buddhist practitioner: A person who follows Buddhist teachings and practices at home, without becoming a monk or nun. They often observe certain precepts and participate in religious activities.
- (Archaic) A recluse scholar; a hermit: A learned person who lives in seclusion, away from society and official life.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy là một cư sĩ thuần thành, thường xuyên đến chùa tụng kinh. (He is a devout lay Buddhist who often goes to the pagoda to chant sutras.)
- Trong lịch sử, nhiều nhà thơ sống đời cư sĩ, xa lánh chốn quan trường. (In history, many poets lived as reclusive scholars, far from the official court.)
Advanced Usage
- "Cư sĩ tại gia": A householder lay Buddhist; emphasizes practicing Buddhism while living a normal family life.
- Phật giáo có hai đối tượng chính: tăng ni và cư sĩ tại gia. (Buddhism has two main groups: monastics and lay householders.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tại gia cư sĩ: Another term for a lay Buddhist practitioner living at home.
- Phật tử: A Buddhist follower; a broader term that includes both monastics and laypeople ().
- Ẩn sĩ: A hermit; a person who lives in solitude, often for spiritual or scholarly reasons. This is close to the archaic meaning of .
Synonyms
- Layperson (in a religious context): A non-ordained member of a religious community.
- Oblate (in some Christian contexts): A person dedicated to religious life without taking full monastic vows. (Note: This is a conceptual parallel from the reference, not a direct translation for Buddhism.)
Related Phrases
- Quy y Tam Bảo: To take refuge in the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha); an essential ceremony for becoming a Buddhist, including .
- Sau khi quy y Tam Bảo, anh ấy chính thức trở thành một cư sĩ. (After taking refuge in the Three Jewels, he officially became a lay Buddhist.)
Related Idioms
- "Sống đời cư sĩ": To live the life of a lay practitioner/hermit. It describes a lifestyle choice focused on simple living, study, or spiritual practice.
- Về hưu, cụ muốn sống đời cư sĩ nơi thôn dã. (After retiring, he wanted to live a hermit's life in the countryside.)