Buddha; the Buddha
Honorific term for the Buddha, used in religious contexts or when referring to Buddhist statues and images.
I prayed to the Buddha at the temple.
deceased person; the departed
Euphemistic and respectful way to refer to someone who has passed away, often used in Buddhist contexts or when speaking of the dead with reverence.
The deceased was a very kind person in life.
仏様 is a more reverent, honorific way of saying 仏, used when praying to or speaking respectfully of the Buddha or the deceased.
Standard kanji spelling with honorific 様.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling, softer in tone.
Compound of 仏 (hotoke, 'Buddha' or 'deceased person') and the honorific suffix 様 (sama). The reading hotoke is of uncertain origin, possibly from a native Japanese word or an early borrowing.