สงฆ์
Buddhist monk
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 Buddhist monk、Buddhist monastic community
- 2 conducted by Buddhist monks、monastic
This word refers to Buddhist monks, especially when viewed as a community or religious order. It is also used in expressions for rites conducted by monks.
Buddhist monk、Buddhist monastic community
Refers to a Buddhist monk or, more characteristically, Buddhist monks considered collectively as a monastic community or order.
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คณะสงฆ์ไทย khaná sǒŋ thay the Thai Buddhist monastic order คณะสงฆ์ไทย details
conducted by Buddhist monks、monastic
Describes a rite or activity as belonging to or being conducted by Buddhist monks, mainly in established expressions.
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พิธีสงฆ์และพิธีพราหมณ์ phíthii sǒŋ lɛ́ phíthii phraam a ceremony involving both Buddhist and Brahmin rites พิธีสงฆ์และพิธีพราหมณ์ details
Learning notes
Explanation
สงฆ์ is a formal Buddhist term of Pali-Sanskrit origin and carries a respectful tone. Its central image is not merely one monk but Buddhist monks viewed as a religious community or order. In พระพุทธ พระธรรม พระสงฆ์, it represents the Sangha, the third of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the monastic community. The word commonly appears as พระสงฆ์ for a monk or group of monks and คณะสงฆ์ for the organized monastic order. Monks are normally counted with the respectful classifier รูป, as in พระสงฆ์สามรูป, “three monks.”
Usage
The word is common in discussions of temple offerings, Buddhist ceremonies, religious education, and news about monastic organizations. In everyday conversation, พระ is more usual for an individual monk, while พระสงฆ์ is common in respectful or formal contexts.
Caution
Because สงฆ์ has a formal and often collective sense, พระ is usually more natural for an individual monk in everyday speech. พระสงฆ์ can nevertheless refer to one monk, as in พระสงฆ์หนึ่งรูป. Use the respectful classifier รูป rather than the general human classifier คน.
Differences from similar words
1 Buddhist monk synonyms
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พระ is the usual everyday word for an individual monk. สงฆ์ is more formal and more strongly suggests monks as a community or religious order.
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ภิกษุ specifically means a fully ordained male Buddhist monk. สงฆ์ can refer to a monk, but more often emphasizes the clergy or monastic community collectively.