HSK 6 多音字 · Polyphone

禅: chán (Zen) vs shàn (abdicate)

禅: chán (Zen) vs shàn (abdicate)

Readings 读音

  • chan Zen; meditation
  • shan to abdicate 禅让 · 封禅

How it works 讲解

In 禅宗 (Zen Buddhism) and 坐禅 (sitting meditation), 禅 reads chán — a loanword from Sanskrit dhyāna. In the classical history word 禅让 (to abdicate the throne to a worthy successor), it reads shàn. Same character, but the two readings never mix: religious contexts are chán, historical abdication is shàn.

Examples 例句

  1. 我Wǒ对duì禅宗Chánzōng的de历史lìshǐ很hěn感兴趣gǎnxìngqù。

    I am interested in the history of Zen Buddhism.

  2. 他Tā喜欢xǐhuan在zài周末zhōumò去qù寺院sìyuàn坐禅zuòchán。

    He likes to practice sitting meditation at the temple on weekends.

  3. 传说Chuánshuō古代gǔdài的de尧Yáo把bǎ王位wángwèi禅让shànràng给gěi了le舜Shùn。

    Legend says Yao abdicated the throne to Shun in ancient times.

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