彼岸

bǐ'àn

noun #32,268

Meanings

1 the other shore
2 (Buddhism) the far shore — Nirvana, paramita
3 (figurative) the goal one is striving toward

Characters

that / the other

Examples

他望着河的彼岸。

Tā wàng zhe hé de bǐ'àn.

He gazed at the far shore of the river.

佛教讲究到达彼岸。

Fójiào jiǎngjiu dàodá bǐ'àn.

Buddhism emphasizes reaching the other shore.

理想的彼岸并不遥远。

Lǐxiǎng de bǐ'àn bìng bù yáoyuǎn.

The far shore of one's ideals is not so distant.

Tips

culture

彼岸 translates the Sanskrit pāramitā — the 'far shore' of enlightenment, opposite 此岸 (cǐ'àn, 'this shore' — the world of suffering). The metaphor of a river crossing is central to Mahayana Buddhism and runs through East Asian poetry. The red spider lily is called 彼岸花 (bǐ'ànhuā) because it blooms around the autumn equinox 彼岸 festival in Japan.

Stroke Order

彼 bǐ

岸 àn