my dear; my beloved
An old-fashioned, deeply affectionate term of endearment, literally 'my Buddha'. Used to address someone cherished as if they were a Buddha. Rare in modern conversation; mostly found in classical literature, poetry, or historical drama.
"My dear, please forgive me," he said tearfully.
古い和歌に「我が仏」という呼びかけがよく見られる。
The address 'my Buddha' is often seen in old waka poems.
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
From 我が (my) + 仏 (Buddha). The expression equates the beloved person with a Buddha, reflecting deep reverence and affection rooted in Buddhist culture. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it appears in classical Japanese literature.