phóng sinh

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• phóng sanh

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 放生, composed of 放 (“to release”) and 生 (“life”)

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [fawŋ͡m˧˦ sïŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [fawŋ͡m˦˧˥ ʂɨn˧˧] ~ [fɔŋ˦˧˥ sɨn˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [fawŋ͡m˦˥ ʂɨn˧˧] ~ [fawŋ͡m˦˥ sɨn˧˧]

Verb

phóng sinh

1. (chiefly Buddhism) to "release" captive animals into the wild

Usage notes

• phóng sinh means "to release captive animals into the wild," but this is done symbolically for good fortune nowadays rather than for genuine purposes in good faith. Buddhist enthusiasts often buy, usually preemptively caged pigeons, and "release" them into the wild. "Releasing" carp to provide one's Kitchen God with a "ride to heaven" (Kitchen Gods are thought to ride carp to heaven) before Lunar New Year could also be considered phóng sinh.