Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Buddhist monk (of intermediate rank or seniority): A man who has been ordained into the Buddhist monastic community, often implying a level of experience, age, or status above a novice but not necessarily the highest leadership (like an abbot).
   • A respectful term for a monk: A term of address or reference for a Buddhist monk, carrying connotations of respect and veneration, similar to "venerable monk."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sư ông đang tụng kinh trong chính điện. (The venerable monk is chanting sutras in the main hall.)
  • Ngôi chùa này do một vị sư ông có đạo hạnh lớn trụ trì. (This pagoda is presided over by a monk of great virtue.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "sư ông" is more specific and respectful than the general word for monk ("sư" or "nhà sư"). It often suggests a monk who is a teacher or an elder figure within the monastic community.

Variants and Related Words

• Sư (n): A general term for a (Buddhist) monk.
• Nhà sư (n): A more formal term for a Buddhist monk.
• Sư cụ (n): A term for a very old, highly venerable monk, indicating greater seniority than "sư ông."
• Sư thầy (n): A term for a monk who is one's teacher or master.

Synonyms

• Buddhist monk: A male member of the Buddhist clergy.
• Bonze: An older English term for a Buddhist monk, especially in East Asia, which corresponds closely to the historical use of "sư ông."

Related Idioms

• While there are no direct idioms with "sư ông," it appears in cultural and literary contexts to denote a wise, respected monastic figure, often in folk tales or historical narratives.

1. Bonzedom