English

Alternative forms

• zen

Related terms

• Zen garden
• Zenji

Usage notes

Usually capitalized in all senses, almost always when talking about the denomination proper (compare Catholicism), usually but less often when referring to a looser sense of the philosophy or calm: “That’s very zen.” versus “She studies Zen Buddhism.”

Translations

Adjective

Zen ‎(comparative more Zen, superlative most Zen)

1. (colloquial) Extremely relaxed and collected.

Anagrams

• NZE

German

Noun

Zen m

1. (Buddhism) zen (denomination of Buddhism)

Irish

Proper noun

Zen m

1. (Buddhism) Zen

Synonyms

• Búdachas Zen

Japanese

Romanization

Zen

1. rōmaji reading of ぜん

English

Alternative forms

• Zen

Noun

zen ‎(uncountable)

1. (religion) A denomination of Buddhism
2. (religion) profound meditation within that denomination of Buddhism

Usage notes

Often capitalized, similar to a proper noun, when talking about the denomination proper (compare Catholicism), rather than the philosophy or calm: “That’s very zen.” versus “She studies Zen Buddhism.”

Adjective

zen ‎(comparative more zen, superlative most zen)

1. (religion) Pertaining to this denomination of Buddhism
2. (colloquial) enlightened, unburdened and free of worries; chill, extremely relaxed and collected

Translations

Anagrams

• NZE

Aynu

Etymology

Related to Persian زن ‎(zan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zɛn/

Noun

zen

1. woman

References

• Otto Ladstätter, Andreas Tietze, Die Abdal (Äynu) in Xinjiang (1994)

Finnish

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -en

Noun

zen

1. zen

Declension

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zɛn/

Noun

zen m ‎(plural zen)

1. zen

Adjective

zen m, f ‎(invariable)

1. pertaining to zen.
2. (colloquial) extremely relaxed and collected.

Anagrams

• nez

Japanese

Romanization

zen

1. rōmaji reading of ぜん

Lojban

Rafsi

zen

1. rafsi of zenba.

Mandarin

Romanization

zen

1. Nonstandard spelling of zěn.
2. Nonstandard spelling of zèn.

Usage notes

• English transcriptions of Mandarin speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.

Portuguese

Noun

zen m (uncountable)

1. (religion) Zen (denomination of Buddhism)
2. (informal) Zen (philosophy)

Adjective

zen ‎(plural zen, comparable)

1. (religion) zen (pertaining to the Zen denomination of Buddhism)
2. (informal) zen (extremely relaxing)

Volapük

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡sen/

Etymology

Borrowing from German Zinder, French cendre and English cinder.

Noun

zen ‎(plural zens)

1. ash, cinder
   • 1952, Epistle to the Hebrews, 9.13,14, translated by Arie de Jong.

     If ya blud toras e hikaparas, e zen kunüla, kel pagifülon ad klinükön koapi, saludükon profenanis,

     vio mödikumo blud Kristusa, kel ededietom oki dub Lanal laidüpik nenmiotädiko Gode, oklinükon konsieni obsik de vobots deadik, ad kultön Godi liföl.

     If the blood of bulls and billies, and the ashes of heifers, which is sprinkled to clean the body, already sanctifies profane people,

     how much more will the blood of Christ, who gave himself unblemished to God because of the eternal Spirit, clean our conscience from dead deeds to worship the living God.

Declension