बौद्ध (bauddh)
adjective/noun
This word covers both the adjective 'Buddhist' and the noun 'a Buddhist (person)'; it derives from बुद्ध (buddh, the Buddha) plus a vriddhi-derivation pattern common in Sanskrit-based words meaning 'relating to.'
Sense
1
:
Buddhist (relating to Buddhism)
adjective
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see this word constantly around Delhi-NCR in contexts like बौद्ध धर्म (bauddh dharm, 'Buddhism') or बौद्ध विहार (bauddh vihaar, 'Buddhist monastery') -- the latter is a real place name category, since Delhi has several, including one near Mehrauli. The root बुद्ध (buddh) itself means 'the awakened one,' so बौद्ध (bauddh) literally means 'of/belonging to the awakened one.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse बौद्ध (bauddh, 'Buddhist') with बुद्ध (buddh, 'the Buddha') because of the near-identical spelling; the vowel-length/diphthong on the first syllable is the only difference and it changes the meaning from the person to the religion/adjective. 2) Do not confuse with बुद्धि (buddhi, 'intellect'), which shares the same root but means something unrelated in everyday use.
Sample Sentences:
दिल्ली में कई बौद्ध विहार हैं जहाँ लोग शांति से ध्यान कर सकते हैं।
There are several Buddhist monasteries in Delhi where people can meditate in peace.
(dillii men kaii bauddh vihaar hain jahaan log shaanti se dhyaan kar sakte hain।)
मेहरौली के पास वाला बौद्ध विहार बहुत पुराना है।
The Buddhist monastery near Mehrauli is very old.
(mehraulii ke paas vaalaa bauddh vihaar bahut puraanaa hai।)
बौद्ध धर्म का जन्म भारत में हुआ था।
Buddhism was born in India.
(bauddh dharm kaa janm bhaarat men huaa thaa।)
क्या तुमने कभी बौद्ध ग्रंथ पढ़े हैं?
Have you ever read Buddhist scriptures?
(kyaa tumne kabhii bauddh granth padhe hain?)
अगर सरकार इस जगह को बौद्ध स्थल के रूप में विकसित करे, तो पर्यटन बढ़ेगा।
If the government develops this place as a Buddhist site, tourism will increase.
(agar sarkaar is jagah ko bauddh sthal ke roop men viksit kare, to parytan badhegaa।)
बौद्ध स्थापत्य कला की झलक इन स्तूपों में साफ़ दिखाई देती है।
A glimpse of Buddhist architecture is clearly visible in these stupas.
(bauddh sthaapaty kalaa kii jhalak in stoopon men saaf dikhaaii detii hai।)
उस बौद्ध मंदिर में हर शाम प्रार्थना हो रही है।
Prayers are being held every evening at that Buddhist temple.
(us bauddh mandir men har shaam praarthnaa ho rahii hai।)
बौद्ध दर्शन में करुणा को सबसे बड़ा गुण माना जाता है।
In Buddhist philosophy, compassion is considered the greatest virtue.
(bauddh darshan men karunaa ko sabse badaa gun maanaa jaataa hai।)
काश हमारे स्कूल में बौद्ध इतिहास पढ़ाया जाता।
I wish Buddhist history were taught in our school.
(kaash hamaare skool men bauddh itihaas padhaayaa jaataa।)
Sense
2
:
a Buddhist person
noun, masculine/feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Used just like English 'a Buddhist' -- वह बौद्ध है (vah bauddh hai, 'he/she is a Buddhist'). In India this word is also tied to modern history: many Dalits who followed B. R. Ambedkar's mass conversion in 1956 identify as बौद्ध (bauddh), so the word carries social and political resonance beyond pure religious affiliation.
Sample Sentences:
वह बौद्ध है।
He is a Buddhist.
(vah bauddh hai।)
मेरी दादी एक बौद्ध थीं।
My grandmother was a Buddhist.
(merii daadii ek bauddh thiin।)
1956 के बाद लाखों दलितों ने बौद्ध बनकर अंबेडकर का अनुसरण किया।
After 1956, lakhs of Dalits became Buddhists and followed Ambedkar.
(1956 ke baad laakhon daliton ne bauddh bankar ambedkar kaa anusran kiyaa।)
क्या तुम बौद्ध हो या हिंदू?
Are you a Buddhist or a Hindu?
(kyaa tum bauddh ho yaa hindoo?)
अगर वह बौद्ध होता तो मांस नहीं खाता।
If he were a Buddhist, he wouldn't eat meat.
(agar vah bauddh hotaa to maans nahiin khaataa।)
इस गाँव में कई परिवार बौद्ध बन चुके हैं।
Many families in this village have already become Buddhists.
(is gaanv men kaii parivaar bauddh ban chuke hain।)
वह चाहता है कि उसका बेटा भी बौद्ध बने और अंबेडकर के रास्ते पर चले।
He wants his son to also become a Buddhist and follow Ambedkar's path.
(vah chaahtaa hai ki uskaa betaa bhii bauddh bane aur ambedkar ke raaste par chale।)
इस इलाके में बौद्धों की एक बड़ी आबादी रहती है।
A large population of Buddhists lives in this area.
(is ilaake men bauddhon kii ek badii aabaadii rahtii hai।)
समारोह में कई बौद्धों को धम्म दीक्षा दी गई।
At the ceremony, many Buddhists were given the initiation into Dhamma.
(samaaroh men kaii bauddhon ko dhamm diikshaa dii gaii।)
बौद्ध होकर भी वह हर त्योहार में अपने पुराने रीति-रिवाज़ नहीं भूला।
Even after becoming a Buddhist, he didn't forget his old customs at every festival.
(bauddh hokar bhii vah har tyohaar men apne puraane riiti-rivaaz nahiin bhoolaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
बौद्ध
(bauddh)
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
बौद्ध
(bauddh)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
बौद्ध
(bauddh)
(pl.m/f.direct):
बौद्धें
(bauddhen)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
बौद्धों
(bauddhon)