Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [koh-ahn]
- /ˈkoʊ ɑn/
- /kˈəʊɑːn/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [koh-ahn]
- /ˈkoʊ ɑn/
Definitions of koan word
- noun plural koan a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating. 1
- noun koan A paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment. 1
- noun koan (in Zen Buddhism) a problem or riddle that admits no logical solution 0
- noun koan in Zen Buddhism, a verbal puzzle put to a student as a means to enlightenment 0
Information block about the term
Origin of koan
First appearance:
before 1945 One of the 6% newest English words
1945-50; < Japanese kōan, earlier koũ-an < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese gōngàn public proposal
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Koan
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
koan popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 80% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
koan usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerTop questions with koan
- what is koan?
- what is a koan?
- what is koan in buddhism?
- what is a koan in zen buddhism?
- what is a zen koan?
- what is zen koan?
- what does koan mean?