Kanji 観 outlook, look, appearance 觀 outlook, look, appearance Related words 菩薩 is the general term for any bodhisattva, while 観音 refers specifically to the beloved bodhisattva of compassion.
如来 denotes a fully enlightened Buddha, whereas 観音 is a bodhisattva who has chosen to remain in the world to help others.
Counted with Used for statues or images of Buddhist deities like Kannon, e.g. 観音三尊 (three Kannon statues).
Used when counting 観音 (Kannon) as a statue or image, e.g. 観音像 .
Word family· 8 thousand-armed Kannon; thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara
Kannon hall; temple dedicated to Kannon
double doors; double-opening from the centre · butterfly fillet; centre-cut filleting
the seven forms of Avalokitesvara · the seven Avalokitesvaras of Kyoto
the Six Forms of Avalokitesvara
Show 3 more Show fewer double doors opening from the centre
Koyasu Kannon; Avalokitesvara as guardian of children and childbirth
eleven-faced Kannon; eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara
Written forms 観かん 音のん Usage 99%
Standard modern spelling. The most common written form.
かんのん Usage 1%
觀かん 音のん Usage <1%
out-dated kanji form
Old character form (kyūjitai). Rarely used outside historical or traditional contexts.
カンノン Usage <1%
Etymology From Chinese 觀音 (Guānyīn), a shortened form of 觀世音 (Guānshìyīn), which is a translation of Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara ('Lord who looks down'). The Japanese reading かんのん is the on'yomi of the Chinese characters.
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