buddha
buddha — noun
1. the title used for Siddhartha Gautama after his spiritual awakening, especially
the title used for Siddhartha Gautama after his spiritual awakening, especially when speaking of him as the founding teacher of Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha after years of searching for truth.
Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha
The guide said the Buddha taught beside the river before sunset.
the Buddha + teaching verb
Many families keep books about the Buddha on the living-room shelf.
In class, Hana drew the Buddha sitting calmly under a tree.
In the temple hall, Priya bowed when the monk spoke of the Buddha.
- Siddhartha Gautama
the personal name; Buddha is the title used after awakening
- Gautama Buddha
a common full form in English, especially in books
- Shakyamuni
a traditional Buddhist name, more common in religious writing
文法句型
the Buddha taught ...
a book about the Buddha
the Buddha's teachings
用法筆記
Usually written with the when it refers to Siddhartha Gautama by title. This sense names the historical teacher, not a statue or an ordinary Buddhist follower.
常見錯誤
2. a carved, painted, or cast image showing the Buddha
a carved, painted, or cast image showing the Buddha
A stone Buddha stood near the pond in the temple garden.
material + Buddha for an image
Ravi bought a small Buddha for the quiet corner upstairs.
The hotel placed a gold Buddha beside the front desk flowers.
Tourists photographed the smiling Buddha at the market entrance.
On Mei's shelf, a wooden Buddha faced the window.
- Buddha image
an explicit phrase often used in museums or catalogs
- Buddha statue
narrower because it only means a three-dimensional object
- figure
broader; it can describe many kinds of statues, not only a Buddha
文法句型
a stone Buddha
buy a Buddha
place a Buddha in ...
用法筆記
Often appears with words for material, size, or style, such as stone, wooden, bronze, small, or smiling. Distinguish this sense from noun/1, which refers to the teacher himself.
3. in Buddhism, someone with complete spiritual understanding
in Buddhism, someone with complete spiritual understanding
The monk said a buddha has no fear of death.
a buddha + description
During the lecture, Professor Lin showed paintings of many buddhas.
plural: many buddhas
Children asked if anyone today could become a buddha.
At the shrine, monks praised a buddha during the evening chant.
Our reading group discussed whether compassion helps someone become a buddha.
- enlightened one
a loose English explanation rather than a strict technical term
- awakened being
a literal-style explanatory phrase often seen in translations
文法句型
become a buddha
many buddhas
a buddha who ...
用法筆記
Common in religious discussion and translation, not in ordinary small talk. Distinguish it from noun/1, which points to Siddhartha Gautama in particular.