noun, noun, used as a prefix
greatness; maha
Buddhist term for greatness or superiority, often used as a prefix in compounds like 摩訶不思議 (mysterious and wondrous). The standalone noun use is rare; it mainly appears in religious or literary contexts.
from Sanskrit mahā
「摩訶」はサンスクリット語の「マハー」に由来し、偉大さを表す。
摩訶 comes from the Sanskrit 'mahā' and expresses greatness.
摩訶不思議な出来事に遭遇した。
I encountered a mysterious and wondrous event.
大 is a common prefix for 'big' or 'great' in everyday words, while 摩訶 is a specialized Buddhist term with a more profound, religious nuance.
Borrowed from Sanskrit mahā (महा), meaning 'great' or 'mighty', via Buddhist texts.