thiền trai
Definition
- Noun:
- Monk's cell: A small, simple room or dwelling where a Buddhist monk or nun lives, meditates, and sleeps. This is an architectural term for a monastic living quarter.
- Monastic retreat: More broadly, it can refer to a quiet, secluded place or period dedicated to Buddhist meditation and ascetic practice.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Vị sư già trở về thiền trai sau buổi thuyết pháp. (The old monk returned to his cell after the dharma talk.)
- Anh ấy tìm đến một thiền trai ở vùng núi để tu tập. (He sought out a monastic retreat in the mountains to practice.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "thiền trai" is considered literary and somewhat archaic in modern Vietnamese. In contemporary usage, words like "phòng của sư" (monk's room) or "tịnh thất" (quiet abode) are more common.
- It specifically implies a space for "thiền" (meditation) and "trai" (which in this context relates to pure living or asceticism), not just any sleeping quarters.
Variants and Related Words
- Tịnh thất (n): A hermitage or quiet dwelling for spiritual practice.
- Thiền viện (n): A meditation monastery or a larger center for Zen practice.
- Trai phòng (n): Another term for an ascetic's or monk's simple room.
Synonyms
- Monk's cell: A small room for a monk.
- Hermitage: A secluded residence for a religious devotee.
- Ascetic's dwelling: A simple living place for someone practicing severe self-discipline.
Notes on Usage
- "Thiền trai" is primarily found in historical, literary, or religious contexts. It is not used in everyday conversation.
- The word emphasizes the function of the space for meditation (thiền) and the pure, disciplined lifestyle (trai) of the resident.