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Mandarin Chinese information.
Old Wade-Giles romanization used only in Taiwan.
Japanese information.
Buddhist definition. Note: May not apply to all sects.
 Definition may be different outside of Buddhism.

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Characters Pronunciation
Romanization
Simple Dictionary Definition

自古

see styles
zì gǔ
    zi4 gu3
tzu ku
(since) ancient times; (from) time immemorial

至沙

see styles
zhì shā
    zhi4 sha1
chih sha
 Shisha
帝沙 Tiṣya, an ancient Buddha. The father of Śāriputra. A son of Śuklodana.

舊書


旧书

see styles
jiù shū
    jiu4 shu1
chiu shu
second-hand book; old book; ancient book

舍人

see styles
shè rén
    she4 ren2
she jen
 toneri
    とねり
ancient office title; rich and important person
(out-dated kanji) (gikun reading) (1) servant; valet; footman; (2) (archaism) someone who works in close quarters with the emperor or imperial family; (3) (archaism) low-ranking official who works for the imperial family or nobility (under the Rituryo system); (4) (archaism) ox-tender for oxcarts; horse boy; (5) honorary junior official of the Imperial Household Department's Board of Ceremonies involved in miscellaneous duties related to ceremonies; (out-dated kanji) (1) servant; valet; footman; (2) (archaism) someone who works in close quarters with the emperor or imperial family; (3) (archaism) low-ranking official who works for the imperial family or nobility (under the Rituryo system); (4) (archaism) ox-tender for oxcarts; horse boy; (5) honorary junior official of the Imperial Household Department's Board of Ceremonies involved in miscellaneous duties related to ceremonies; (personal name) Toneri

舍衞


舍卫

see styles
shè wèi
    she4 wei4
she wei
 Shae
Śrāvastī, 舍婆提; 室羅伐 (室羅伐悉底); 尸羅跋提; 捨羅婆悉帝耶; intp as 聞物 the city of famous things, or men, or the famous city; it was a city and ancient kingdom 500 li northwest of Kapilavastu, now Rapetmapet south of Rapti River (M. W. says Sāhet-Māhet). It is said to have been in 北憍薩羅 norhern Kośala, distinct from the southern kingdom of that name. It was a favourite resort of Śākyamuni, the 祗園 Jetavana being there.

艨艟

see styles
méng chōng
    meng2 chong1
meng ch`ung
    meng chung
 moudou / modo
    もうどう
ancient leatherclad warship
warship

艨衝


艨冲

see styles
méng chōng
    meng2 chong1
meng ch`ung
    meng chung
ancient leatherclad warship; same as 艨艟

莒國


莒国

see styles
jǔ guó
    ju3 guo2
chü kuo
the state of Ju, ancient Dongyi state

華陀


华陀

see styles
huà tuó
    hua4 tuo2
hua t`o
    hua to
 kada
    かだ
Hua Tuo (c. 140-208), ancient Chinese physician from the Eastern Han period
(given name) Kada

葷粥


荤粥

see styles
xūn yù
    xun1 yu4
hsün yü
an ethnic group in ancient northern China

蒲甘

see styles
pú gān
    pu2 gan1
p`u kan
    pu kan
Bagan (Pagan), ancient capital of Myanmar (Burma)

藍摩


蓝摩

see styles
lán mó
    lan2 mo2
lan mo
 Ranma
藍莫 Rāma; Rāmagrāma, an ancient kingdom and city of Northern India between Kapilavastu and Kuśinagara.

藩鎮


藩镇

see styles
fān zhèn
    fan1 zhen4
fan chen
 hanchin
    はんちん
lit. fence town; buffer region (between enemies); Tang dynasty system of provincial administration under a provincial governor 節度使|节度使[jie2 du4 shi3]
(hist) (See 節度使) jiedushi (regional military governor in ancient China)

虎符

see styles
hǔ fú
    hu3 fu2
hu fu
tiger tally (a two-piece object made in the shape of a tiger, used in ancient China as proof of authority. One half of a tally could be issued to a military officer and this would be matched with the other half when verification was required.)

蛇矛

see styles
shé máo
    she2 mao2
she mao
ancient spear-like weapon with a wavy spearhead like a snake's body

蝌蚪

see styles
kē dǒu
    ke1 dou3
k`o tou
    ko tou
 kato
    かと
    otamajakushi
    おたまじゃくし
tadpole; CL:隻|只[zhi1],條|条[tiao2]
(1) tadpole; (2) ancient seal-script character; (1) tadpole; (2) musical note

蝦夷


虾夷

see styles
xiā yí
    xia1 yi2
hsia i
 emishi(p); ezo; emishi
    えみし(P); えぞ; エミシ
Emishi or Ebisu, ethnic group of ancient Japan, thought to be related to modern Ainus
(1) (hist) Emishi; Ezo; non-Yamato peoples in northern Japan; (2) (えぞ only) (hist) (See 蝦夷地・1) Yezo; Hokkaido, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands; (personal name) Emishi

衣冠

see styles
yī guān
    yi1 guan1
i kuan
 ikan
    いかん
hat and clothes; attire
kimono and ancient head-dress

補陀


补陀

see styles
bǔ tuó
    bu3 tuo2
pu t`o
    pu to
 hoda
    ほだ
(surname) Hoda
補陁; 補陀落 (補陀落迦) Potala; Potalaka. (1) A sea-port on the Indus, the παταλα of the ancients, identified by some with Thaṭtha, said to be the ancient home of Śākyamuni's ancestors. (2) A mountain south-east of Malakūṭa, reputed as the home of Avalokiteśvara. (3) The island of Pootoo, east of Ningpo, the Guanyin centre. (4) The Lhasa Potala in Tibet; the seat of the Dalai Lama, an incarnation of Avalokiteśvara; cf. 普; also written補怛落迦 (or 補但落迦); 逋多 (逋多羅); 布呾洛加.

複姓


复姓

see styles
fù xìng
    fu4 xing4
fu hsing
 fukusei / fukuse
    ふくせい
two-character surname (such as 司馬|司马[Si1ma3] or 諸葛|诸葛[Zhu1ge3])
(1) two-character surname (in China); compound surname; (2) (hist) family name consisting of two combined names (in ancient Japan)

西戎

see styles
xī róng
    xi1 rong2
hsi jung
 seijuu / seju
    せいじゅう
the Xirong, an ancient ethnic group of Western China from the Zhou Dynasty onwards; Xionites (Central Asian nomads)
(hist) Xirong; Rong; inhabitants of the extremities of China as early as the Shang dynasty (1765-1122 BCE); barbarians to the west

觱慄


觱栗

see styles
bì lì
    bi4 li4
pi li
ancient bamboo reed instrument; Chinese shawm (probably related to central Asian zurna)

觱篥

see styles
bì lì
    bi4 li4
pi li
ancient bamboo reed instrument; Chinese shawm (probably related to central Asian zurna)

訪古


访古

see styles
fǎng gǔ
    fang3 gu3
fang ku
to search for ancient relics

護衛


护卫

see styles
hù wèi
    hu4 wei4
hu wei
 goei / goe
    ごえい
to guard; to protect; bodyguard (for officials in ancient times)
(noun, transitive verb) guard; convoy; escort

讓畔


让畔

see styles
ràng pàn
    rang4 pan4
jang p`an
    jang pan
to be accommodating in negotiating the boundary of one's field; (fig.) (of farmers in ancient times) to be good-hearted and honest

質子


质子

see styles
zhì zǐ
    zhi4 zi3
chih tzu
 tadako
    ただこ
proton (positively charged nuclear particle); a prince sent to be held as a hostage in a neighbouring state in ancient China
(female given name) Tadako

赤米

see styles
 akagome; akamai
    あかごめ; あかまい
(1) rice that has browned (due to age); (2) variety of low-quality foreign rice; (3) red rice (ancient variety of rice); red-kerneled rice; (personal name) Akayone

赭時


赭时

see styles
zhě shí
    zhe3 shi2
che shih
 Shaji
Tchadj or Tchāsch'; Kingdom of stone or stones. An ancient place 'in Turkestan on the Sir; the modern Tashkend'. Eitel.

赭衣

see styles
zhě yī
    zhe3 yi1
che i
convict's garb in ancient times; convict

辰星

see styles
chén xīng
    chen2 xing1
ch`en hsing
    chen hsing
 shinsei / shinse
    しんせい
Mercury in traditional Chinese astronomy; see also 水星[shui3 xing1]
(1) {astron} celestial bodies; stars; (2) {astron} bright star used for timekeeping (e.g. Sirius); (3) (hist) {astron} Mercury (in ancient Chinese astronomy); (4) {astron} Chinese "room" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)

近古

see styles
jìn gǔ
    jin4 gu3
chin ku
 kinko
    きんこ
near ancient history (often taken to mean Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing times)
early modern age

迦葉


迦叶

see styles
jiā shě
    jia1 she3
chia she
 kashou / kasho
    かしょう
(person) Kasyapa (Hindu sage); Kashou
(迦葉波) kāśyapa, 迦攝 (迦攝波) inter alia 'a class of divine beings similar to or equal to prajāpati'; the father 'of gods, demons, men, fish, reptiles, and all animals'; also 'a constellation'. M.W. It is intp. as 'drinking light', i.e. swallowing sun and moon, but without apparent justification. (1) One of the seven or ten ancient Indian sages. (2) Name of a tribe or race. (3) Kāśyapa Buddha, the third of the five buddhas of the present kalpa, the sixth of the seven ancient buddhas. (4) Mahākāśyapa, a brahman of Magadha, who became one of the principal disciples of Śākyamuni, and after his death became leader of the disciples, 'convoked and directed the first synod, whence his title Ārya Sthavira (上坐, lit. chairman) is derived.' Eitel. He is accounted the chief of the ascetics before the enlightenment; the first compiler of the canon and the first patriarch. (5) There were five Kāśyapas, disciples of the Buddha, Mahā-Kāśyapa, Uruvilā-Kāśyapa, Gayā-Kāśyapa, Nadī-Kāśyapa, and Daśabala-Kāśyapa; the second, third, and fourth are said to have been brothers. (6) A bodhisattva, whose name heads a chapter in the Nirvana Sutra. (7) 迦葉摩騰 Kāśyapa-Mātaṅga, the monk who with Gobharana, or Dharmarakṣa, i.e. Zhu Falan 竺法蘭, according to Buddhist statements, brought images and scriptures to China with the commissioners sent by Mingdi, arriving in Luoyang A.D. 67.

通宝

see styles
 tsuuhou / tsuho
    つうほう
(archaism) (used primarily on ancient Japanese coins) currency; (given name) Michitaka

遐跡


遐迹

see styles
xiá jì
    xia2 ji4
hsia chi
 geshaku
stories of ancient people
distant traces

道台

see styles
dào tái
    dao4 tai2
tao t`ai
    tao tai
taotai; ancient official title

達嚫


达嚫

see styles
dá chèn
    da2 chen4
ta ch`en
    ta chen
 dasshin
(達嚫拏) dakṣiṇā, a gift or fee; acknowledgment of a gift; the right hand (which receives the gift); the south. Eitel says it is an ancient name for Deccan, 'situated south of Behar,' and that it is 'often confounded with 大秦國 the eastern Roman empire'. Also 達 M036979 (or 達親 or 達櫬); 噠嚫; 大嚫; 檀嚫.

遠古


远古

see styles
yuǎn gǔ
    yuan3 gu3
yüan ku
antiquity; ancient times

遺存


遗存

see styles
yí cún
    yi2 cun2
i ts`un
    i tsun
historical remains; things that have survived since ancient times; (of such things) to survive

遺書


遗书

see styles
yí shū
    yi2 shu1
i shu
 isho
    いしょ
posomethingumous writing; testament; suicide note; ancient literature
(1) note left by a dead person; suicide note; testamentary letter; will; testament; (2) posthumous work

遺構

see styles
 ikou / iko
    いこう
(archaeological) remains; remnants (of ancient structures); ancient foundation

避諱


避讳

see styles
bì hui
    bi4 hui5
pi hui
 hiki
    ひき
to avoid a taboo word or topic; to refrain from; to avoid
(hist) avoiding using a name (naming taboo in ancient China)

那揭

see styles
nà qì
    na4 qi4
na ch`i
    na chi
 Nakei
(那揭羅喝羅) Nagara; Nagarahāra. 曩哦囉賀囉 'An ancient kingdom and city on the southern bank of the Cabool River about 30 miles west of Jellalabad (Lat. 34°28 N., Long. 70°30 E. ). The Nagara of Ptolemy.' Eitel.

郊祀

see styles
jiāo sì
    jiao1 si4
chiao ssu
pair of annual sacrificial ceremonies held by the emperor in ancient times: one in the southern suburbs of the capital (bringing offerings to Heaven) and another in the northern suburbs (with offerings to Earth)

郎中

see styles
láng zhōng
    lang2 zhong1
lang chung
doctor (Chinese medicine); ancient official title; companions (respectful)

郷学

see styles
 gougaku; kyougaku / gogaku; kyogaku
    ごうがく; きょうがく
village school (esp. in Edo-era Japan, and ancient Korea and China)

鄧析


邓析

see styles
dèng xī
    deng4 xi1
teng hsi
Deng Xi (545-501 BC), Chinese philosopher and rhetorician, the first lawyer of ancient China

釋讀


释读

see styles
shì dú
    shi4 du2
shih tu
to read and interpret ancient texts; to decipher

重農


重农

see styles
zhòng nóng
    zhong4 nong2
chung nung
to stress the importance of agriculture (in ancient philosophy)

針砭


针砭

see styles
zhēn biān
    zhen1 bian1
chen pien
to critique; to voice concerns about; ancient form of acupuncture using sharp stones as needles

鋼叉


钢叉

see styles
gāng chā
    gang1 cha1
kang ch`a
    kang cha
pitchfork; garden fork; restraining pole (used by police); military fork (of ancient times)

錦囊


锦囊

see styles
jǐn náng
    jin3 nang2
chin nang
silk brocade bag, used in ancient times to hold poetry manuscripts and other precious items; (fig.) tip (a piece of practical advice)

鐵菱


铁菱

see styles
tiě líng
    tie3 ling2
t`ieh ling
    tieh ling
(military) caltrop (spiky metal device laid on the ground to create a hazard for enemy horses or troops in ancient times)

鑊沙


镬沙

see styles
huò shā
    huo4 sha1
huo sha
 Washa
烏鎩 Ōsh, or Ūsh, 'an ancient kingdom north of the Śītā, probably the present Ingachar'; possibly Uch-Turfān or Yangishahr, 依耐 or 英吉沙爾.

長安


长安

see styles
cháng ān
    chang2 an1
ch`ang an
    chang an
 nagayasu
    ながやす
Chang'an (ancient name of Xi'an 西安[Xi1 an1]) capital of China during Tang Dynasty 唐朝[Tang2 chao2]; now 長安區|长安区[Chang2 an1 Qu1], a district of Xi'an
(place-name, surname) Nagayasu

防人

see styles
 sakimori; boujin / sakimori; bojin
    さきもり; ぼうじん
(1) (hist) soldiers garrisoned at strategic posts in Kyushu in ancient times; (2) (ぼうじん only) (hist) Chinese soldiers stationed to protect remote regions of the country during the Tang dynasty; (given name) Sakimori

陀歷


陀历

see styles
tuó lì
    tuo2 li4
t`o li
    to li
 Dareki
Darada, 'the country of the ancient Dardae mentioned by Strabo and Pliny. The region near Dardu Lat. 35° 11 N., Long. 73° 54 E.' Eitel.

陣笠

see styles
 jingasa
    じんがさ
(1) ancient soldier's hat; (2) (abbreviation) (See 陣笠連・1) common soldier; (3) (abbreviation) (See 陣笠連・2) rank and file (of a political party)

陳倉


陈仓

see styles
chén cāng
    chen2 cang1
ch`en ts`ang
    chen tsang
ancient name of Baoji City 寶雞市|宝鸡市[Bao3 ji1 Shi4], Shaanxi; Chencang district of Baoji City

隷書

see styles
 reisho / resho
    れいしょ
clerical script (ancient, highly angular style of kanji)

隼人

see styles
 hayahito; hayato; haito
    はやひと; はやと; はいと
people who lived in Kyushu in ancient times, and who opposed the state of Yamato; (personal name) Hayahito

雑家

see styles
 zakka
    ざっか
(hist) syncretism (in ancient Chinese philosophy); syncretist

離婁

see styles
 rirou / riro
    りろう
(personal name) Lilou (character with superior eyesight that appears in ancient Chinese folklore); Lizhu

離朱

see styles
 rishu
    りしゅ
(personal name) Lizhu (character with superior eyesight that appears in ancient Chinese folklore); Lilou

露臺


露台

see styles
lù tái
    lu4 tai2
lu t`ai
    lu tai
balcony; patio; flat roof; terrace; deck (unroofed platform); outdoor stage; ancient imperial celestial observation terrace
See: 露台

韃靼


鞑靼

see styles
dá dá
    da2 da2
ta ta
 dattan
    だったん
Tartar (various northern tribes in ancient China); Tatar (Turkic ethnic group in central Asia)
(hist) Tartary (various tribes that historically inhabited the area north of China); (place-name) Tartary

韓衣

see styles
 karakoromo
    からころも
ancient Chinese clothes

韻書


韵书

see styles
yùn shū
    yun4 shu1
yün shu
 insho
    いんしょ
rime dictionary (ancient type of Chinese dictionary that collates characters by tone and rhyme rather than by radical)
rime dictionary; rhyme dictionary; Chinese dictionary arranged by finals

響箭


响箭

see styles
xiǎng jiàn
    xiang3 jian4
hsiang chien
whistling arrow (used in ancient times as a signal)

頌古

see styles
sòng gǔ
    song4 gu3
sung ku
to attach one's own verse to an ancient precedent

頭巾


头巾

see styles
tóu jīn
    tou2 jin1
t`ou chin
    tou chin
 zukin
    ずきん
cloth head covering worn by men in ancient times; headscarf (typically worn by women); kerchief; turban
(1) headgear (esp. one made of cloth); hood; kerchief; cap; skullcap; hat; (2) (See 頭襟) tokin (headgear worn by yamabushi); (surname) Zukin

飛撾


飞挝

see styles
fēi wō
    fei1 wo1
fei wo
ancient weapon with a tip like a grappling hook, thrown at enemy combatants in order to capture them

餶飿


馉饳

see styles
gǔ duò
    gu3 duo4
ku to
a kind of wonton made in ancient times

駢體


骈体

see styles
pián tǐ
    pian2 ti3
p`ien t`i
    pien ti
parallel prose (ancient literary style)

驊騮

see styles
 karyuu / karyu
    かりゅう
(rare) (from a famous horse in ancient China) fine horse; swift horse

骨朵

see styles
gǔ duǒ
    gu3 duo3
ku to
club (ancient stick-like weapon with a melon-shaped enlargement at the tip); (flower) bud

高昌

see styles
gāo chāng
    gao1 chang1
kao ch`ang
    kao chang
 takamasa
    たかまさ
(given name) Takamasa
高車Karakhojo, the ancient town of Kao-ch'ang, which lay 30 li east of Turfan in Turkestan, formerly an important Buddhist centre, whence came scriptures and monks to China.

魚麗


鱼丽

see styles
yú lì
    yu2 li4
yü li
"fish" battle formation in ancient times: chariots in front, infantry behind; The Fish Enter the Trap (title of Ode 170 in the Shijing)

鮮卑


鲜卑

see styles
xiān bēi
    xian1 bei1
hsien pei
 senpi
    せんぴ
Xianbei or Xianbi, group of northern nomadic peoples
Xianbei (ancient nomadic tribe of northern Asia)

鳧鐘

see styles
 fushou / fusho
    ふしょう
(1) temple bell; (2) (See すい賓,十二律) (in Japan) 7th note of the ancient chromatic scale (approx. G sharp)

鴻溝


鸿沟

see styles
hóng gōu
    hong2 gou1
hung kou
(fig.) gulf; chasm; wide gap; (originally) the Hong Canal in Henan, which in ancient times formed the border between enemies Chu 楚[Chu3] and Han 漢|汉[Han4]

鸞鏡

see styles
 rankyou; rankei / rankyo; ranke
    らんきょう; らんけい
(1) (See 鸞鳥) mirror with a mythical Chinese bird carved into the back; (2) (らんけい only) (See 夷則,十二律) (in Japan) 9th note of the ancient chromatic scale (approx. A sharp)

黥く

see styles
 mesaku
    めさく
(v4k) (archaism) to tattoo a criminal around the eye (form of punishment in ancient Japan)

黥面

see styles
qíng miàn
    qing2 mian4
ch`ing mien
    ching mien
 geimen / gemen
    げいめん
to tattoo the face (punishment in ancient times)
face tattoo; facial tattoo

黨項


党项

see styles
dǎng xiàng
    dang3 xiang4
tang hsiang
Tangut branch of the Qiang 羌 ethnic group; ancient ethnic group who made up the Xixia dynasty 西夏 1038-1227

鼓噪

see styles
gǔ zào
    gu3 zao4
ku tsao
(in ancient times) to beat the drums and yell (at the moment of launching into battle); to create a clamor; to make a din; to kick up a fuss about

龐貝


庞贝

see styles
páng bèi
    pang2 bei4
p`ang pei
    pang pei
Pompeii, ancient Roman town near Naples, Italy

龜玆


龟玆

see styles
guī zī
    gui1 zi1
kuei tzu
Kuchā, also 庫車; 屈支 (or屈茨); 丘玆; 倶支 An ancient kingdom and city in Eastern Turkestan, 41°45' N., 83°E. It is recorded as the native place of Kumārajīva.

龜茲


龟兹

see styles
qiū cí
    qiu1 ci2
ch`iu tz`u
    chiu tzu
 Kyūji
ancient Central Asian city state, flourished in first millennium AD, in modern Aksu 阿克蘇地區|阿克苏地区, Xinjiang
Kucha

アコラ

see styles
 agora
    アゴラ
(1) agora (public open space in ancient Greece) (grc:); (2) {comp} Agora (programming language); (place-name) Akola (India)

キタラ

see styles
 kitara
    キタラ
kithara (ancient Greek musical instrument) (gre:); cithara; (personal name) Ghitalla

き鳳鏡

see styles
 kihoukyou / kihokyo
    きほうきょう
(obscure) intricately inscribed ancient bronze or iron mirror featuring a pair of firebirds

すい賓

see styles
 suihin
    すいひん
(1) (in China) 7th note of the ancient chromatic scale (approx. G sharp); (2) fifth lunar month

セネト

see styles
 seneto
    セネト
senet (ancient Egyptian board game); senat

ラテン

see styles
 raten
    ラテン
(1) (abbreviation) (kana only) Latin (language); (can act as adjective) (2) (abbreviation) (kana only) Latin-American; Latin; Latino; (3) (kana only) Latin; Roman; relating to the literature, culture, etc. of ancient Rome

丈夫國


丈夫国

see styles
zhàng fū guó
    zhang4 fu1 guo2
chang fu kuo
 Jōbu koku
The country of virile men, Puruṣapura 富婁沙富羅, ancient capital of Gandhāra, the modern Peshawar; birthplace of 天親 Vasubandhu.

三伐持

see styles
sān fá chí
    san1 fa2 chi2
san fa ch`ih
    san fa chih
 Sanbaji
Saṃvaji; the heretical people of Vṛji, an ancient kingdom north of the Ganges, south-east of Nepal. (Eitel.).

三菩伽

see styles
sān pú qié
    san1 pu2 qie2
san p`u ch`ieh
    san pu chieh
 Sanboga
Saṃbhoga or Saṃbhūta. An ancient ṛṣi of Mathurā.

三角琴

see styles
 sankakugoto
    さんかくごと
trigon (ancient triangular harp); sambuca

上代語

see styles
 joudaigo / jodaigo
    じょうだいご
(1) ancient language; ancient word; (2) {ling} Old Japanese; Japanese as spoken from the end of the 6th century to the end of the Nara period

Entries with 2nd row of characters: The 2nd row is Simplified Chinese.

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This page contains 100 results for "ancient" in Chinese and/or Japanese.



Information about this dictionary:

Apparently, we were the first ones who were crazy enough to think that western people might want a combined Chinese, Japanese, and Buddhist dictionary.

A lot of westerners can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese - and there is a reason for that. Chinese characters and even whole words were borrowed by Japan from the Chinese language in the 5th century. Much of the time, if a word or character is used in both languages, it will have the same or a similar meaning. However, this is not always true. Language evolves, and meanings independently change in each language.

Example: The Chinese character 湯 for soup (hot water) has come to mean bath (hot water) in Japanese. They have the same root meaning of "hot water", but a 湯屋 sign on a bathhouse in Japan would lead a Chinese person to think it was a "soup house" or a place to get a bowl of soup. See this: Japanese Bath House

This dictionary uses the EDICT and CC-CEDICT dictionary files.
EDICT data is the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and is used in conformance with the Group's license.

Chinese Buddhist terms come from Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms by William Edward Soothill and Lewis Hodous. This is commonly referred to as "Soothill's'". It was first published in 1937 (and is now off copyright so we can use it here). Some of these definitions may be misleading, incomplete, or dated, but 95% of it is good information. Every professor who teaches Buddhism or Eastern Religion has a copy of this on their bookshelf. We incorporated these 16,850 entries into our dictionary database ourselves (it was lot of work).



Combined, these cover 1,007,753 Japanese, Chinese, and Buddhist characters, words, idioms, names, placenames, and short phrases.

Just because a word appears here does not mean it is appropriate for a tattoo, your business name, etc. Please consult a professional before doing anything stupid with this data.

We do offer Chinese and Japanese Tattoo Services. We'll also be happy to help you translate something for other purposes.

No warranty as to the correctness, potential vulgarity, or clarity is expressed or implied. We did not write any of these definitions (though we occasionally act as a contributor/editor to the CC-CEDICT project). You are using this dictionary for free, and you get what you pay for.

The following titles are just to help people who are searching for an Asian dictionary to find this page.

Japanese Kanji Dictionary

Free Asian Dictionary

Chinese Kanji Dictionary

Chinese Words Dictionary

Chinese Language Dictionary

Japanese Chinese Dictionary