sãi chùa
Definition
- Noun:
- A Buddhist monk: A man who is a member of a Buddhist religious community and lives in a pagoda (chùa). This is the primary and most respectful meaning.
- A pagoda attendant / keeper: A man who performs general duties and maintenance at a Buddhist pagoda. This meaning can sometimes imply a less formal religious role than a fully ordained monk.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Các sãi chùa đang tụng kinh. (The Buddhist monks are chanting sutras.)
- Ông cụ là một sãi chùa đã gắn bó với ngôi chùa này cả đời. (The old man is a pagoda attendant who has been devoted to this pagoda his whole life.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "sãi chùa" is traditional and can be considered slightly archaic or regional in modern Vietnamese. In contemporary, formal contexts, words like "nhà sư", "sư thầy", or "tu sĩ Phật giáo" are more commonly used for a Buddhist monk.
- It can be used in a neutral, descriptive way or, depending on context and tone, carry a slightly informal or colloquial nuance.
Variants and Related Words
- Sư (n): A common term for a monk or Buddhist priest.
- Nhà sư (n): A more formal term for a Buddhist monk.
- Tiểu (n): A novice monk.
- Sư cụ (n): A venerable, senior monk.
Synonyms
- Buddhist monk
- Bonze (an older English term derived from Portuguese, historically used for monks in East Asia)
- Pagoda keeper
Related Idioms
- "Sãi chùa nào đụng mõ sãi chùa nấy": This proverb literally means "Each pagoda attendant strikes his own wooden bell." It is used to criticize a lack of cooperation, implying everyone only minds their own business or area, similar to "Every man for himself" or "To each his own."