発ほつ願がん

ほ

つ

が

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb, transitive verb

Buddhist vow; arousing the aspiration for enlightenment

Buddhism

Buddhist term for making a vow to attain enlightenment and save all beings. Often used in the context of bodhisattva practice.

菩ぼ薩さつは衆しゅ生じょうを救すくうために発ほつ願がんした。
The bodhisattva made a vow to save all sentient beings.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb, transitive verb

prayer; making a vow; praying

General, non-Buddhist use for making a heartfelt wish or vow, often to a deity or in a personal commitment.

彼かれは合ごう格かくを発ほつ願がんして神じん社じゃに参まいった。
He visited the shrine to pray for passing the exam.
彼かの女じょは禁きん煙えんを発ほつ願がんした。
She made a vow to quit smoking.

Kanji

発departure, discharge, publish
願petition, request, vow

Similar words

誓せい願がん
誓願 is a more common word for a vow or oath, often used in both religious and secular contexts. 発願 emphasizes the act of arousing the aspiration or making the initial vow, especially in Buddhist practice.
祈き願がん
祈願 means a prayer or supplication, typically directed to a deity. 発願 can include the nuance of a self-motivated vow or resolution, not necessarily directed outward.

Etymology

Compound of 発 (hatsu, 'to arise, to start') and 願 (gan, 'wish, vow'). The reading ほつがん is a regular on'yomi combination. Originally a Buddhist term, later extended to general use.