nei4 lak6彌勒弥勒
Jyutpingnei4 lak6
Yalenèih lahk
Definition
Maitreya; the future Buddha, often depicted with a large belly and long earlobes.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the iconic laughing Buddha figure often found in Chinese temples. The portrayal is distinct from other Buddhas due to the prominent belly and earlobes, which are culturally associated with wealth and happiness. It is common to see statues of this figure at the entrance of monasteries.
Measure word
zyun1尊jyūnExamples
Maitreya Buddha looks very kind and benevolent.
Have you seen the big belly of Maitreya Buddha?
Related words
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



