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薩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
Buddhist diety; used in transliterationsx, 17 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
(sa4) T4
  1. 1Buddhist diety; used in transliterations
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March 24, 2026
(sa4)

薩 (sà) refers primarily to a Buddhist deity or figure, often appearing in the context of religious texts and discussions. It is commonly used in transliterations of names or terms from other languages into Chinese, especially in Buddhist contexts, which may carry specific connotations in those traditions.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese Buddhism, 薩 often appears in the names of deities or bodhisattvas, highlighting the importance of these figures in spiritual practices and beliefs. It reflects the integration of Indian Buddhist concepts into Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise monk sitting under a fragrant flower tree (薩) meditating. '薩' sounds like 'sah,' which can remind you of a serene sigh of enlightenment, connecting both the sound and the spiritual meaning.

Meanings of 薩

(sa4)
1Buddhist diety; used in transliterations
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 薩

Simplified
17Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 薩

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 薩

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise monk sitting under a fragrant flower tree (薩) meditating. '薩' sounds like 'sah,' which can remind you of a serene sigh of enlightenment, connecting both the sound and the spiritual meaning.

Usage Notes

薩 is a formal term often used in religious or scholarly contexts. Learners might confuse it with similar characters; pay attention to the context to avoid misinterpretation. It's also important to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

薩 is not included in any HSK levels; however, it connects with HSK characters related to Buddhism (like 佛 for 'Buddha'). When studying, focus on recognizing it in religious texts and understanding its transliterative function.

Cultural Note

In Chinese Buddhism, 薩 often appears in the names of deities or bodhisattvas, highlighting the importance of these figures in spiritual practices and beliefs. It reflects the integration of Indian Buddhist concepts into Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 薩 with similar characters like 萨 (sà), which is a more commonly used slang variant. Ensure you use 薩 in the correct, formal context to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 薩

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Etymology of 薩

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 薩. Origin unclear.

Memory Hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 薩?

Decomposition of 薩

IDS Structure⿱艹隡
Full Character
=
cao3
top
sa5
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 薩?

Write 薩

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 薩

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese Buddhism, 薩 often appears in the names of deities or bodhisattvas, highlighting the importance of these figures in spiritual practices and beliefs. It reflects the integration of Indian Buddhist concepts into Chinese culture.

Word Family of 薩

Words Containing This Character20
Bodhisattva
萨达姆Saddam薩達姆
拉萨Lhasa, capital city of Tibet autonomous region 西藏自治區|西藏自治区拉薩
巴萨Barca (nickname for FC Barcelona)巴薩
德克萨斯Texas德克薩斯
菩萨púsàBodhisattva (Buddhism)菩薩
哈萨克斯坦Kazakhstan哈薩克斯坦
比萨Pisa, town in Toscana, Italy比薩
佛罗伦萨Florence, city in Italy佛羅倫薩
披萨pizza (loanword)披薩
阿萨德Assad (Arabic name)阿薩德
萨尔瓦多El Salvador薩爾瓦多
马萨诸塞州Massachusetts, US state馬薩諸塞州
萨克斯sax薩克斯
萨斯SARS薩斯
得克萨斯州Texas, US state得克薩斯州
比萨饼pizza (loanword)比薩餅
哈萨克Kazakhstan哈薩克
堪萨斯州Kansas, US state堪薩斯州
萨科齐Nicolas Sarkozy (1955-), French UMP politician, President 2007-2012薩科齊
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 萨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 薩

In Buddhism, 薩 refers to deities or important figures, often signifying respect and reverence.