Readings: ぶつ, ふつ (Onyomi), ほとけ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Buddha, France, Buddhist
The kanji 仏 is formed from 人 (person) and 弗 (not, to turn over, to reject). It originally depicted a person turning over or in reverse, symbolizing a transformation or transcendence. This concept later became associated with spiritual transformation and the figure of Buddha. It is also used as an abbreviation for France due to its sound similarity.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 仏 has 4 strokes. It starts with the radical 人 (にんべん) on the left, followed by the component 弗 on the right. The stroke order is as follows: 1. The vertical stroke on the left (人). 2. The diagonal stroke crossing the first one (人). 3. The horizontal stroke on the right. 4. The diagonal stroke extending downwards to the left.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 人 (にんべん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ぶつ (butsu)
- ふつ (futsu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ほとけ (hotoke)
Common Words Using 仏
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 仏教 | ぶっきょう | Buddhism |
| 仏像 | ぶつぞう | Buddha statue |
| 仏壇 | ぶつだん | Buddhist altar |
| 仏語 | ふつご | French language |
| 大仏 | だいぶつ | Great Buddha |
| 仏文学 | ぶつぶんがく | French literature |
| 仏式 | ぶっしき | Buddhist style/ceremony |
| 仏画 | ぶつが | Buddhist painting |
| 仏法 | ぶっぽう | Buddhist law/dharma |
| 日仏 | にちふつ | Japan and France |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 仏 | ほとけ | Buddha; deceased person |
| 石仏 | いしぼとけ | stone Buddha |
| 仏心 | ほとけごころ | compassionate heart, Buddha’s heart |
| 仏顔 | ほとけがお | benevolent face, kind face |
| 生き仏 | いきぼとけ | living Buddha (person) |
| 死に仏 | しにぼとけ | deceased person |
| 水子仏 | みずこぼとけ | Ksitigarbha statue for stillborn children |
| 仏様 | ほとけさま | Buddha (respectful); deceased person (respectful) |
| 仏作って魂入れず | ほとけつくってたましいいれず | making a Buddha statue without putting a soul in it (meaning something is incomplete or superficial) |
| 仏の顔も三度 | ほとけのかおもさんど | even Buddha’s face three times (meaning even the most patient person will get angry if pushed too far) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この寺には大きな仏像があります。
Kana: このてらにはおおきなぶつぞうがあります。
Romaji: Kono tera ni wa ookina butsuzou ga arimasu.
English: This temple has a large Buddha statue.
Japanese: 彼の家には毎日拝む仏壇がある。
Kana: かれのいえにはまいにちおがむぶつだんがある。
Romaji: Kare no ie ni wa mainichi ogamu butsudan ga aru.
English: He has a Buddhist altar at his house that he prays to every day.
Japanese: フランス語は仏語とも言います。
Kana: フランスごはふつごともいいます。
Romaji: Furansugo wa futsugo tomo iimasu.
English: French language is also called ‘Futsugo’.
Japanese: 祖父は昨年亡くなり、今は仏になりました。
Kana: そふはさくねんなくなり、いまはほとけになりました。
Romaji: Sofu wa sakunen nakunari, ima wa hotoke ni narimashita.
English: My grandfather passed away last year and is now a Buddha (deceased).
Japanese: 奈良の大仏はとても有名です。
Kana: ならのだいぶつはとてもゆうめいです。
Romaji: Nara no Daibutsu wa totemo yuumei desu.
English: The Great Buddha in Nara is very famous.
Japanese: 彼女は仏様のような優しい心の持ち主だ。
Kana: かのじょはほとけさまのようなやさしいこころのもちぬしだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hotokesama no you na yasashii kokoro no mochinushi da.
English: She has a kind heart like a Buddha.
Japanese: 日仏の文化交流が盛んに行われています。
Kana: にちふつのぶんかこうりゅうがさかんにおこなわれています。
Romaji: Nichifutsu no bunka kouryuu ga sakan ni okonawareteimasu.
English: Cultural exchange between Japan and France is actively taking place.
Japanese: 仏教はアジアで広く信仰されています。
Kana: ぶっきょうはアジアでひろくしんこうされています。
Romaji: Bukkyou wa Ajia de hiroku shinkou sareteimasu.
English: Buddhism is widely practiced in Asia.
Japanese: お盆には仏壇にお供え物をします。
Kana: おぼんにはぶつだんにおそなえものをします。
Romaji: Obon ni wa butsudan ni osonaemono o shimasu.
English: During Obon, offerings are made to the Buddhist altar.
Japanese: この村には古い石仏が点在している。
Kana: このむらにはふるいいしぼとけがてんざいしている。
Romaji: Kono mura ni wa furui ishibotoke ga tenzai shiteiru.
English: Old stone Buddhas are scattered throughout this village.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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