禅
chán · Zen / meditation💡 How to pronounce
ch → like the 'ch' in 'chop' with curled tongue. án → like 'on' but with a rising tone.
📖 The Story
禅 is Zen — a school of Buddhism that focuses on meditation and direct experience. The character combines 'spirit' (礻) and 'single' (单) — the single spirit that sits in meditation, seeking enlightenment.
🎬 In Culture Today
Zen is originally Chinese — it was called 'Chan' before it traveled to Japan and became 'Zen'. The famous koans (riddles) like 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' come from this tradition.
📚 Words
📝 Example Sentences
他是一位禅师。
He is a Zen master.
坐禅让人平静。
Meditation brings peace.