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観音 (かんのん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
Kannon ; Avalokiteshvara ; Guanyin ; Bodhisattva of Compassion
The Japanese name for the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion. Known as Guanyin in Chinese and Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit. Commonly worshipped in East Asian Buddhism.
観かん 音のん 経ぎょう は 般はん 若にゃ 心しん 経ぎょう と 並なら ん で よく 読よ ま れ ます 。
The Kannon Sutra is often recited along with the Heart Sutra.
Written forms 観かん 音のん Usage 99%
Standard modern spelling. The most common written form.
かんのん Usage 1%
觀かん 音のん Usage <1%
out-dated kanji form
Old character form (kyūjitai). Rarely used outside historical or traditional contexts.
カンノン Usage <1%
Kanji 観 outlook, look, appearance 觀 outlook, look, appearance Similar words 菩ぼ 薩さつ A general term for a bodhisattva; 観音 is a specific, highly revered bodhisattva.
如にょ 来らい A fully enlightened Buddha; 観音 is a bodhisattva who has postponed full enlightenment to help others.
Etymology From Chinese 觀音 (Guānyīn), a shortened form of 觀世音 (Guānshìyīn), which is a translation of Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara ('Lord who looks down'). The Japanese reading かんのん is the on'yomi of the Chinese characters.
