ブッダ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In Japanese, often used in Buddhist contexts or when discussing the founder of Buddhism.

ブッダはインドで生うまれた。
The Buddha was born in India.
彼かれはブッダの教おしえに深ふかく感かん銘めいを受うけた。
He was deeply impressed by the teachings of the Buddha.

See all 22 example sentences ›

Kanji

仏Buddha, the dead, France
陀steep
佛France

Related words

法ほう王おう
仏陀 is the standard modern word for the Buddha, whereas 法王 in this sense is an old, now rarely used Buddhist term.
釈しゃ迦かN1
仏陀 is a general term for any enlightened being, while 釈迦 refers specifically to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.
仏ほとけN2
仏陀 is the more formal, technical Buddhist term for the historical Buddha, while 仏 is the everyday word used in the same sense.

Written forms

ブッダUsage55%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for the historical Buddha; usually written in kana.
仏陀Usage42%
- ぶっだ
  Kanji spelling; rarely used in modern Japanese, mostly in historical or religious contexts.
- ぶつだ
佛陀Usage3%
search-only kanji form
- ぶっだ
  Search-only kanji form; not commonly used.
- ぶつだ
ぶっだ
Hiragana variant, less common than katakana but still used.
ぶつだ

Etymology

From Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddha), meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one', via Pali and Chinese.