迦梨
Jiālí
The English name Kali can be translated into Chinese as 迦梨 (Jiālí). If unsure, use 迦梨. Wiktionary also lists 時母 / 时母 (Shímǔ).
Meaning: goddess (name)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 迦梨 | Jiālí |
| 時母 / 时母 | Shímǔ |
迦梨 is the name used for the goddess Kali.
How do you pronounce it?
Jiālí
Did you know?
- The word 梨 (lí) in 迦梨 is also the Chinese word for 'pear'. This is purely a phonetic coincidence in the transcription, as the goddess has no connection to the fruit.
- In Chinese Buddhist contexts, the term 時母 (Shímǔ) is often used to refer to her. This translates to 'Time Mother', which directly reflects the Sanskrit root 'kāla' meaning 'time'.
- Unlike many Chinese deities who are depicted with serene expressions, 迦梨 is uniquely represented with a protruding tongue in traditional art.
Examples in context
- 迦梨是印度教中的女神。Jiālí shì Yìndùjiào zhōng de nǚshén.Kali is a goddess in Hinduism.
- 他在画迦梨的画像。Tā zài huà Jiālí de huàxiàng.He is painting a portrait of Kali.
- 关于迦梨的神话很多。Guānyú Jiālí de shénhuà hěnduō.There are many myths about Kali.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing an art history book in a library.
- 雨婷 Yuting这本书里提到了迦梨吗？Zhè běn shū lǐ tí dào le Jiālí ma?Does this book mention Kali?
- 伟 Wei有的，她在第三章。Yǒu de, tā zài dì sān zhāng.Yes, she is in the third chapter.
- 雨婷 Yuting伟，你能帮我找找吗？Wěi, nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo zhǎo ma?Wei, can you help me look for it?
- 伟 Wei没问题，我这就看。Méi wèntí, wǒ zhè jiù kàn.No problem, I'll look right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kali” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
