Phrase guide

Eight Precepts

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Eight rules that are observed by lay Buddhists on observance days and festivals: to abstain from (i) taking life, (ii) taking what is not given, (iii) unchastity, (iv) false speech, (v) intoxicants which cause a careless frame of mind, (vi) taking food at the wrong time, (vii) dancing, music, visiting shows, flowers, make-up, the wearing of ornaments and decorations, and (viii) a tall, high sleeping place.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

Topics: Buddhism, lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque of Pali aṭṭha-sīla, aṭṭhaṅga-sīla or Calque of Sanskrit अष्टा-सील (aṣṭā-sīla), अष्टाण्ग-शील (aṣṭāṇga-śīla).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Burmese: သီတင်းသီလ (sitang:sila.) — Eight Precepts
  • Burmese: ရှစ်ပါးသီလ (hracpa:sila.) — Eight Precepts
  • Burmese: အဋ္ဌင်္ဂသီလ (athtangga.sila.) — Eight Precepts
  • Chinese Mandarin: 八關齋 /八关斋 — Eight Precepts
  • Chinese Mandarin: 八關齋戒 /八关斋戒 — Eight Precepts
  • Japanese: 八斎戒 — Eight Precepts
  • Thai: ศีลแปด — Eight Precepts