顿悟

頓悟

dùnwù

verb #24,188

Meanings

1 sudden enlightenment
2 to have a flash of insight
3 to awaken suddenly (Buddhist concept)

Characters

sudden, immediately; to pause

to awaken, to comprehend, enlightenment

Examples

他在冥想中顿悟，找到了答案。

Tā zài míngxiǎng zhōng dùnwù, zhǎodàole dá'àn.

He had a sudden enlightenment during meditation and found the answer.

禅宗强调通过顿悟达到觉悟。

Chánzōng qiángdiào tōngguò dùnwù dádào juéwù.

Chan Buddhism emphasizes achieving awakening through sudden enlightenment.

Tips

culture

顿悟 is a central concept in Chan (Zen) Buddhism — the idea that enlightenment can happen in a single sudden moment, as opposed to 渐悟 (gradual enlightenment). This debate between the Southern School (顿悟, championed by Huineng) and the Northern School (渐悟) shaped the development of Chan Buddhism in the 7th–8th centuries.

Stroke Order

顿 dùn

悟 wù