刹
temple
Readings
On'yomi
- セチ
- セツ
- サツ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
刹 centers on a Buddhist temple or monastery, often used in compounds referring to temple grounds or a moment of stillness within a temple setting.
Most common words using 刹
- 刹那せつな
moment; instant
- 羅刹らせつ
rakshasa; man-eating demon in Hinduism and Buddhism
- 刹さつ
temple (Buddhist)
- 古刹こさつ
ancient temple
- 名刹めいさつ
famous temple
- 一刹那いっせつな
(a) moment; an instant
- 仏刹ぶっさつ
Buddhist temple
- 刹帝利せっていり
Kshatriya (member of India's military caste)
- 刹那主義せつなしゅぎ
principle of living only for the moment
- 刹那的せつなてき
ephemeral; transitory
- 十刹じっせつ
ten important Rinzai temples, second in significance to the Kyoto Gozan
- 寺刹じさつ
Buddhist temple
- 巨刹きょさつ
large temple
- 悪鬼羅刹あっきらせつ
man-eating fiend
- 梵刹ぼんさつ
temple
- 禅刹ぜんさつ
Zen temple
Study
Etymology
刹 is a Buddhist term derived from Sanskrit 'kṣetra' (field, land). The character combines 杀 (historically related to cutting or a phonetic element) with 刂 (knife), but the exact historical component development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 杀 looks like a stylized temple roof with hanging banners, and the right side 刂 is a knife used to cut incense or offerings. Together they form a temple.
Reading mnemonic
For セチ, imagine a temple where a monk carefully sets a tea ceremony: 'set tea' -> セチ, and the temple is the place for this ritual.