shave one's head; tonsure
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to shave one's head (especially to become a monk or nun); to take the tonsure
formalTraditionally associated with Buddhist monastic practice. Often used in the phrases 削发为僧 or 削发为尼.
Tā他
jué决
dìng定
xuē削
fà发
wéi为
sēng僧
，
yǐn隐
jū居
shān山
lín林
。
He decided to shave his head and become a monk, living in seclusion in the mountains.
Nà那
wèi位
nǚ女
zǐ子
xuē削
fà发
wéi为
ní尼
，
zài在
ān庵
zhōng中
xiū修
xíng行
le了
èr二
shí十
nián年
。
That woman took the tonsure to become a nun and practiced meditation in the temple for twenty years.
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Gǔ古
dài代
xǔ许
duō多
wén文
rén人
shī失
yì意
hòu后
huì会
xuǎn选
zé择
xuē削
fà发
yǐ以
míng明
zhì志
。
In ancient times, many scholars would choose to shave their heads to demonstrate their resolve after suffering setbacks.