Word Meaning 念仏

ねんぶつ nembutsu

念仏 is read as ねんぶつ (nembutsu) and means visualizing a Buddha (in one's mind).

Meaning

English

visualizing a Buddha (in one's mind)
nembutsu
nianfo
the three-word invocation "Namu Amida Butsu" dedicated to the Amitabha Buddha

Reading

Kana

ねんぶつ

Romaji

nembutsu

Stroke Sequence

2 Characters • 12 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N2 Jōyō Grade 5 Kanken 6級 Rank 8815 Priority B

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

念持仏

ねんじぶつ

Buddhist image used as jewellery or to decorate one's home

念仏踊り

ねんぶつおどり

Buddhist incantation using chanting, drumbeating, and dancing

別時念仏

べつじねんぶつ

recitation of Amida Buddha's name on a specified day and time period (practice of Pure Land Buddhists)

大念仏

だいねんぶつ

loudly reciting Amithaba's name

空念仏

そらねんぶつ

empty words

観念念仏

かんねんねんぶつ

contemplation (on Amida Buddha, the Pure Land, etc.)

馬の耳に念仏

うまのみみにねんぶつ

preaching to the deaf

踊り念仏

おどりねんぶつ

Buddhist incantation using chanting, drumbeating, and dancing

念仏往生

ねんぶつおうじょう

being reborn in the Pure Land through the invocation of the nembutsu

念仏を唱える

ねんぶつをとなえる

to chant the nembutsu

念仏三昧

ねんぶつざんまい

being deep in prayer

専修念仏

せんじゅねんぶつ

intently praying to Buddha (esp. Amitabha)

Example Sentences

彼に忠告したところで、馬の耳に念仏だよ。

Giving advice to him is like talking to a brick wall.