佛
fó
The English phrase 'buddha' can be translated into Chinese as 佛 (fó). If unsure, use 佛. Wiktionary also lists 佛陀 (fótuó).
Meaning: enlightened human (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 佛 | fó |
| 佛陀 | fótuó |
The term refers to an enlightened human. It can also be used as a name for a spiritual and philosophical teacher.
Which one should you use?
佛 is a common shorthand, while 佛陀 is a more formal and complete transliteration used in religious or academic contexts to refer specifically to the historical Buddha. Additionally, the term 如来 is a term used to refer to the personage of Buddha.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, 佛公 is used to refer to Buddha.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 佛陀 is a phonetic transliteration of the Sanskrit word 'Buddha'.
How do you pronounce it?
fó
Did you know?
- Some scholars suggest that the character 佛 may have been influenced by Iranian languages like Sogdian or Middle Persian, rather than being a direct translation from Sanskrit.
- In the Hokkien dialect, the term 佛公 is used, which adds a suffix meaning 'grandfather' or 'elder' to the word for Buddha.
Examples in context
- 他用一块木头刻出一尊佛像。He carved a Buddha statue from wood.This sentence shows how to refer to a physical statue using 佛.Tatoeba #3487190 by GlossaMatik, translation #1415006 by BooMie
- 狗子還有佛性也無？Does a dog have a Buddha-nature or not?This sentence uses 佛 to discuss the concept of Buddha-nature.Tatoeba #861232 by U2FS, translation #861230 by U2FS
- 卫塞节是佛教的一个节日，纪念佛陀的诞生、成道和涅槃。Vesak is a Buddhist holiday which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.This sentence uses 佛 to discuss a Buddhist holiday and the life of the Buddha.Tatoeba #1944102 by fercheung, translation #1548458 by Adelpa
- 他崇拜佛陀的教誨。He worships the teachings of Buddha.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a statue they saw at a temple.
- 浩然 Haoran你看，这尊佛非常庄严。Nǐ kàn, zhè zūn fó fēicháng zhuāngyán.Look, this Buddha is very solemn.
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，感觉心一下子就静了。Shì de, gǎnjué xīn yīxiàzi jiù jìng le.Yes, I feel my heart calm down instantly.
- 浩然 Haoran你认为谁能成为佛？Nǐ rènwéi shéi néng chéngwéi fó?Who do you think can become a Buddha?
- 雨婷 Yuting我想每个人都有这种潜力。Wǒ xiǎng měi gèrén dōu yǒu zhèzhǒng qiánlì.I think everyone has that potential.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buddha” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 佛, 佛陀, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
