nam mô

See also: nằm mơ and nấm mồ

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• nam-mô, na mô, nam vô

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 南無, from Chinese 南無／南无, from Sanskrit नमो (namo).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [naːm˧˧ mo˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [naːm˧˧ mow˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [naːm˧˧ mow˧˧]

Verb

nam mô

1. (Buddhism, only in fixed expressions) to salute, to homage or to take refuge (a Buddha or a Bodhisattva)

   nam mô A Di Đà Phật

   Homage to Amitābha Buddha

   nam mô Quan/Quán Thế Âm Bồ Tát

   Homage to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva

   nam-mô Bổn sư Thích-ca Mâu-ni Phật

   Homage to Lord Shakyamuni Buddha

   miệng nam mô, bụng một bồ dao găm

   the person mentioned pretends to preach Buddhist teachings, but they are secretly evil

Derived terms

• Nam mô A Di Đà Phật