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Japanese
阿
あ
Meaning: a rare Buddhist syllable associated with the beginning of things; the character used in related transliterations
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Example
阿は、物事の始まりを表す音で、仏教で使われる。
In Buddhism, it is used as a sound representing the beginning of things.
Usage Notes
This is a rare, literary, and Buddhist noun. It commonly appears in compounds such as 阿形 and 阿吽, where it represents the open-mouth initial sound contrasted with 吽.
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