Bụt

See also: Appendix:Variations of "but"

Vietnamese

FWOTD – 25 July 2017

Alternative forms

• bụt

Etymology

The Buddha, the original reference of Bụt.

A depiction of Zhang Guolao, a Taoist immortal, with white hair and beard, more closely resemble the mental image of a Bụt to most Vietnamese.

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 佛 (“Buddha”, SV: Phật), from Pali buddha (“awakened; enlightened”) or Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddha). Doublet of Phật.

While originally (and still) denoted the Buddha, the popular depiction of a Bụt shifted to resemble more closely that of a stereotypical Taoist immortal instead.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓut̚˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓʊk̚˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɓʊk͡p̚˨˩˨]
• Homophone: bục

Proper noun

Bụt • (孛, 侼)

1. (religion) Buddha

   Synonym: Phật

   • 2009, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Trái tim của Bụt, NXB Tổng hợp TP. Hồ Chí Minh, page 7:

     Chúng ta biết rằng hơn 400 năm sau khi Bụt nhập diệt, kinh điển mới được chép thành văn.

     We know that it was only over 400 years after the Buddha passed away that the classics were committed to writing.

2. (folklore) a wise and kind old man, usually depicted with a white beard and white clothes, who often appears when the protagonist of a folkloric tale is crying aloud for help and who grants them wishes, comparable to the fairy godmother in Western fairy tales

   Ông Bụt bất ngờ hiện ra, hỏi: "Vì sao con khóc?"

   Mr Bụt suddenly appeared and asked, "Why are you crying, my dear child?"

Derived terms

• Bụt chùa nhà không thiêng
• bụt nhà không thiêng