Definition

1. Noun:
   • Deities and Buddhas: A compound term referring collectively to divine beings in Vietnamese folk religion and Buddhism. It encompasses both indigenous spirits ("thần") and Buddhist enlightened beings ("phật").

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người dân đến đền thờ cầu khấn thần phật phù hộ. (People go to the temple to pray for the blessings of the deities and Buddhas.)
  • Trong tín ngưỡng dân gian, thần phật có mặt ở khắp nơi. (In folk belief, deities and Buddhas are present everywhere.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a general, inclusive sense to refer to the entire pantheon of benevolent supernatural forces that can be appealed to for help, protection, or good fortune.

Variants and Related Words

• Thần thánh (n): deities, gods; a similar collective term often emphasizing divine or saintly figures.
• Phật thánh (n): Buddhas and saints; a collective term with a stronger Buddhist connotation.

Synonyms

• Divinities: gods or deities.
• Celestial beings: supernatural beings from the spiritual realm.

Related Idioms

• Thề thốt thần phật: to swear an oath by invoking deities and Buddhas.
  • Anh ta thề thốt thần phật rằng mình nói thật. (He swore by all the deities and Buddhas that he was telling the truth.)
• Cầu khấn thần phật: to pray earnestly to deities and Buddhas.
  • Dân làng cầu khấn thần phật cho mưa thuận gió hòa. (The villagers prayed to the deities and Buddhas for favorable weather.)