尼姑

Chinese

	Buddhist nun; (often used in phonetic spellings)	paternal aunt
trad. (尼姑)	尼	姑
simp. ^#(尼姑)	尼	姑
alternative forms	妮姑

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “比丘尼+姑？”)

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): nígū

(Zhuyin): ㄋㄧˊ ㄍㄨ

(Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): nyi² gu¹
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): nei⁴ gu¹

(Taishan, Wiktionary): nai³ gu¹
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): nì-kû

(Hailu, HRS): ni gu^ˋ
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): nî-ko͘ / lî-ko͘ / lûi-ko͘

(Teochew, Peng'im): ni⁵ gou¹
Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶gni-ku
Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): nyi² gu¹

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: nígū
  - Zhuyin: ㄋㄧˊ ㄍㄨ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: nígu
  - Wade–Giles: ni²-ku¹
  - Yale: ní-gū
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: nigu
  - Palladius: нигу (nigu)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ni³⁵ ku⁵⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: nyi² gu¹
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: nigu
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /nʲi²¹ ku⁵⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: nei⁴ gu¹
  - Yale: nèih gū
  - Cantonese Pinyin: nei⁴ gu¹
  - Guangdong Romanization: néi⁴ gu¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /nei̯²¹ kuː⁵⁵/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: nai³ gu¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ⁿdai²² ku³³/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: nì-kû
  - Hakka Romanization System: ni^ˇ gu^ˊ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: ni² gu¹
  - Sinological IPA: /ni¹¹ ku²⁴/
- (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
  - Hakka Romanization System: ni gu^ˋ
  - Sinological IPA: /ni⁵⁵ ku⁵³/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Tainan, Lukang, Sanxia, Yilan, Taichung)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: nî-ko͘
  - Tâi-lô: nî-koo
  - Phofsit Daibuun: ni'kof
  - IPA (Tainan, Yilan): /nĩ²⁴⁻³³ kɔ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Lukang): /nĩ²⁴⁻²² kɔ³³/
  - IPA (Xiamen): /nĩ²⁴⁻²² kɔ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /nĩ¹³⁻²² kɔ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Taipei): /nĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔ⁴⁴/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Lukang, Kinmen, Hsinchu)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lî-ko͘
  - Tâi-lô: lî-koo
  - Phofsit Daibuun: li'kof
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Lukang): /li²⁴⁻²² kɔ³³/
  - IPA (Kinmen): /li²⁴⁻¹² kɔ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /li²³⁻³³ kɔ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Tainan): /li²⁴⁻³³ kɔ⁴⁴/
- (Hokkien: Taipei, Magong)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lûi-ko͘
  - Tâi-lô: luî-koo
  - Phofsit Daibuun: lui'kof
  - IPA (Taipei): /lui²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔ⁴⁴/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: ni⁵ gou¹
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: nî kou
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ni⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kou³³/
Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁶gni-ku
  - MiniDict: nyi^去 ku
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³nyi-ku
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /n̠ʲi²² ku⁴⁴/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: nyi² gu¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲi¹³ ku³³/

Noun

尼姑

Buddhist nun

Usage notes

Although this term is the most common way to refer to Buddhist nuns, some people consider it offensive because of connotations with 三姑六婆 (sāngūliùpó). Terms like 比丘尼 (bǐqiūní), 尼師 / 尼师 and 女尼 are recommended.

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 尼姑 (“Buddhist nun”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		尼姑, 比丘尼
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	尼姑兒, 姑子
	Taiwan	尼姑
	Chengde	尼姑, 姑子
	Chifeng	尼姑, 姑子
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	姑子
	Heihe	尼姑, 姑子
	Qiqihar	尼姑, 姑子
	Harbin	尼姑, 姑子
	Jiamusi	尼姑, 姑子
	Baicheng	尼姑, 姑子
	Changchun	姑子
	Tonghua	姑子
	Shenyang	尼姑, 姑子
	Jinzhou	尼姑兒, 姑子
	Singapore	尼姑, 師父
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	姑子
	Tangshan	尼姑, 姑子
	Cangzhou	姑子
	Baoding	尼姑, 姑子
	Shijiazhuang	姑子
	Lijin	姑子
	Jinan	尼姑, 姑子
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Dalian	姑子
	Dandong	尼姑, 姑子
	Yantai	姑子
	Yantai (Muping)	姑子
	Qingdao	姑姑子
	Zhucheng	姑子
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	尼姑, 姑姑兒
	Lingbao	尼姑, 姑姑
	Jining	姑子, 姑姑
	Wanrong	姑姑子
	Linfen	姑姑子
	Shangqiu	尼姑, 姑子
	Yuanyang	尼姑
	Zhengzhou	尼姑, 姑姑
	Xinyang	尼姑, 姑子
	Baihe	尼姑
	Xi'an	尼姑, 姑姑子
	Baoji	尼姑, 姑姑
	Tianshui	姑姑子
	Xining	尼姑, 女姑姑
	Xuzhou	姑子, 尼姑, 二僧
	Fuyang	尼姑, 姑子
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	尼姑, 姑姑
	Lanzhou	尼姑, 姑姑, 姑姑子
	Dunhuang	尼姑
	Hami	尼姑
	Ürümqi	尼姑, 姑子
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	尼姑
	Nanchong	尼姑
	Dazhou	尼姑
	Hanyuan	尼姑
	Xichang	尼姑
	Zigong	尼姑
	Chongqing	尼姑
	Wuhan	尼姑, 姑子
	Yichang	尼姑
	Xiangyang	尼姑, 姑姑子
	Tianmen	尼姑
	Guiyang	尼姑, 師公
	Zunyi	尼姑
	Bijie	尼姑
	Liping	尼姑
	Zhaotong	尼姑
	Dali	尼姑
	Kunming	尼姑
	Mengzi	尼姑
	Guilin	尼姑
	Guilin (Lingui)	尼姑
	Liuzhou	尼姑, 師姑, 師父
	Liuzhou (Luorong)	尼姑
	Nanning (Wuming)	尼姑
	Jishou	女和尚
	Changde	尼姑
	Hanzhong	尼姑, 姑姑子
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	師姑, 尼姑
	Yangzhou	師姑, 尼姑, 二僧
	Lianyungang	尼姑, 姑子
	Lianshui	尼姑
	Nantong	尼姑
	Anqing	尼姑
	Wuhu	尼姑
	Hefei	尼姑
	Hong'an	尼姑
Cantonese	Guangzhou	師姑
	Hong Kong	師姑, 尼姑, 阿傅
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	尼姑
	Macau	師姑
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	師姑
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	師姑
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	師姑
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	師姑
	Foshan	師姑
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	師姑
	Foshan (Shunde)	師姑
	Foshan (Sanshui)	師姑
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	尼姑
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	師姑
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	師姑
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	仙姑仔
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	師姑, 尼姑
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	師姑
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	尼姑
	Taishan	尼姑, 師姑, 齋姑
	Kaiping (Chikan)	尼姑
	Enping (Niujiang)	尼姑
	Heshan (Yayao)	師姑
	Dongguan	師姑
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	師姑
	Qingyuan	師姑
	Fogang	師姑
	Yingde (Hanguang)	尼姑
	Yangshan	尼姑
	Lianshan (Butian)	尼姑
	Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui)	尼姑
	Shaoguan	師姑
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	師姑
	Renhua	師姑
	Lechang	尼姑, 師姑
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	尼姑
	Sihui	師姑
	Guangning	師姑
	Deqing	尼姑
	Huaiji	仙姑
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	尼姑
	Yunfu	師姑
	Xinxing	尼姑
	Luoding	尼姑
	Yunan (Pingtai)	尼姑
	Xinyi	尼姑
	Lianjiang	尼姑
	Nanning	尼姑
	Wuzhou	尼姑, 師姑
	Yulin	尼姑
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	尼姑
	Guiping	尼姑
	Mengshan (Xihe)	尼姑
	Guigang (Nanjiang)	尼姑
	Beiliu (Tangliao)	尼姑
	Baise	尼姑
	Bobai	尼姑
	Lingshan	尼姑
	Pubei	尼姑
	Qinzhou	尼姑
	Beihai	尼姑
	Ningming	尼姑
	Hengzhou	尼姑
	Hezhou (Pumen, Babu)	尼姑
Gan	Nanchang	尼姑
	Pengze	尼姑
	Lichuan	尼姑, 女和尚
	Pingxiang	尼姑, 齋婆
Hakka	Meixian	尼姑, 齋嫲
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	尼姑, 師姑, 師父
	Huizhou (Shuikou; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Huizhou (Hengli; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Huidong (Pingshan; Bendihua)	尼姑婆
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	尼姑嫲
	Longmen (Pingling; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Longmen (Luxi; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Boluo (Bendihua)	師姑
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	尼姑嫲
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	師姑
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	尼姑, 齋婆
	Zijin (Guzhu; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Longchuan (Tuocheng; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Longchuan (Sidu; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Heping (Linzhai; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Lianping (Zhongxin; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Lianping (Longjie; Bendihua)	姐婆
	Xinfeng (Matou; Bendihua)	尼姑
	Xinfeng (Daxi; Bendihua)	猜嫲
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	尼姑
	Yudu	尼姑
	Ruijin	尼姑
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	尼姑, 齋婆, 齋姑
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	尼姑, 齋姑
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	尼姑, 齋婆, 齋姑
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	尼姑, 齋姑
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	尼姑, 齋婆, 齋姑
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	尼姑
	Luchuan (Daqiao)	尼姑
	Beiliu (Tang'an)	尼姑
	Mashan (Pianlian)	尼姑
Huizhou	Jixi	尼姑
Huizhou	Shexian	尼姑
Jin	Taiyuan	姑子
	Pingyao	姑子
	Yangyuan	尼姑, 姑子
	Datong	尼姑, 姑子
	Xinzhou	姑子
	Lüliang (Lishi)	尼姑, 姑子
	Changzhi	姑子
	Linhe	姑子
	Jining	尼姑
	Hohhot	姑子
	Erenhot	姑子
	Pingshan	姑子
	Zhangjiakou	姑子
	Handan	尼姑, 姑子
	Linzhou	姑哦
	Suide	姑子
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	尼姑, 尼姑囝 derogatory, 菜婆
Eastern Min	Fuqing	尼姑, 師姑
Southern Min	Xiamen	尼姑
	Quanzhou	尼姑
	Zhangzhou	尼姑
	Zhao'an	尼姑
	Taipei	尼姑
	New Taipei (Tamsui)	尼姑
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	尼姑
	New Taipei (Pingxi)	尼姑
	Kaohsiung	尼姑, 菜姑
	Kaohsiung (Cijin)	尼姑
	Kaohsiung (Hongmaogang, Siaogang)	尼姑, 菜姑仔
	Kaohsiung (Dalinpu, Siaogang)	尼姑, 菜姑
	Kaohsiung (Tianliao)	尼姑
	Yilan	尼姑, 菜姑
	Yilan (Toucheng)	尼姑, 菜姑
	Changhua (Lukang)	尼姑
	Taichung	尼姑
	Tainan	尼姑, 菜姑
	Tainan (Anping)	尼姑, 菜姑
	Hsinchu	尼姑
	Kinmen	尼姑
	Penghu (Magong)	尼姑
	Penghu (Xiyu)	尼姑, 菜姑
	Penang (Hokkien)	尼姑, 菜姑
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	尼姑
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	尼姑
	Raoping	尼姑
	Shantou	尼姑, 師姑
	Jieyang	齋姨, 師傅
	Haikou	尼姑
Puxian Min	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	師姑
Puxian Min	Xianyou	師姑
Central Min	Yong'an	尼姑
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	師姑
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Sanxiang)	師姑
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	尼姑
	Nanning (Shajing)	尼姑
	Binyang (Xinqiao)	尼姑
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	尼姑
	Guilin (Chaoyang)	尼姑
	Guilin (Zhuyuan)	尼姑
	Lingchuan (Tanxia)	尼姑
Wu	Shanghai	師姑, 尼姑
	Shanghai (Songjiang)	師姑, 師太
	Shanghai (Jiading)	尼姑
	Shanghai (Chongming)	尼姑
	Suzhou	師姑, 師太
	Danyang	尼姑, 師姑
	Hangzhou	尼姑, 師姑
	Ningbo	尼姑
	Wenzhou	師姑娘
	Jinhua	尼姑
Xiang	Changsha	尼姑
	Loudi	齋婆
	Hengyang	尼姑婆
	Quanzhou	尼姑婆
	Guanyang (Wenshi)	尼姑

Derived terms

尼姑庵 (nígū'ān)