醍醐

tíhú
noun

Meanings

  1. 1 ghee
  2. 2 clarified butter
  3. 3 the highest Buddhist teaching

Examples

HSK 7-9
Tíhú shì cóng niúnǎi zhōng tíliàn chūlai de jīnghuá.
Ghee is the finest essence refined from milk.
HSK 7-9
Fójīng cháng yòng tíhú bǐyù zuìgāo de fófǎ.
Buddhist scriptures often use ghee as a metaphor for the highest teaching.

Tips

usage
Today it lives on in 醍醐灌顶 'ghee poured on the crown of the head', said of a sudden flash of understanding, such as a teacher's remark that makes everything clear.
history
Buddhist scriptures list five stages of refining milk, from milk through curds and butter, and 醍醐 is the last and purest, so it stands for the highest teaching.

Stroke Order

醍 tí
醐 hú