僧人

• Pinyin: sēng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 僧 = 亻(person) + 曾 (phonetic, formerly/already) = one who has renounced worldly life; 人 = person, human being

Meaning

Buddhist monk; a male monastic who has taken religious vows and renounced worldly life.

A more formal and literary term than 和尚. Used in historical, academic, religious, and literary contexts. Female monastics are referred to as 尼姑 or 比丘尼. Often appears in Tang and Song poetry, Buddhist scriptures, and historical texts describing religious life, pilgrimage, and meditation.

Examples

1. 那位年迈的僧人在山间古刹中静修数十载，他的言谈举止散发出一种超然物外、淡泊宁静的气息。 That elderly monk has lived in quiet retreat at an ancient mountain temple for decades, and the way he speaks and carries himself radiates a detached, calm, and tranquil presence.
2. 玄奘法师以一介僧人之身，历经万里艰途前往天竺取经，其坚韧意志与虔诚信仰令后世无数人敬仰不已。 Master Xuanzang, as a lone monk, endured a journey of thousands of miles to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures; his tenacity and devout faith have earned the admiration of countless people ever since.
3. 画家以细腻的笔触描绘了一群僧人在晨雾中沿着曲折的山路前往禅堂做早课的静谧场景。 With delicate brushwork, the painter depicted a serene scene of a group of monks walking along a winding mountain path through the morning mist to the meditation hall for morning prayers.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, history, literature, culture

Tone: reverent

Do Say

• 这座千年古寺至今仍有数十位僧人在此修行，他们每日按照严格的寺规作息，诵经坐禅，不问世事。(This thousand-year-old ancient temple still houses dozens of monks in practice today; they follow the strict monastic schedule each day, chanting sutras and sitting in meditation, undisturbed by worldly affairs.)
• 文献记载，古代丝绸之路上往来频繁的僧人不仅传播了佛教教义，更促进了不同文明之间在艺术、科学与哲学层面的深度交流。(Historical records show that monks who travelled frequently on the ancient Silk Road not only propagated Buddhist teachings but also facilitated profound exchanges in art, science, and philosophy between different civilisations.)

Don't Say

• 他有一种僧人性格 — 僧人 refers to a literal monastic, not a personality type; use 性格淡泊 or 心如止水 to describe a monk-like temperament without implying monastic vows

Origin & History

僧 = 亻(person) + 曾 (already/formerly, phonetic sēng) = one who has already renounced the world; 人 = person — a monastic person

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal