Standard Lemma guide

suchness

noun · 2 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

The natural state of a person or thing; quality; character or worth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Existence per se.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: Buddhism, human-sciences, lifestyle, philosophy, religion, sciences

Examples

  • ca. 1928, Hans Driesch, "Philosophy of Nature", in, 1928, Edward Leroy Schaub, ed., Philosophy Today: Essays on Recent Developments in the Field of Philosophy, page 431, The same relation may prevail between the suchness of willing in men and the realization of that willing.
  • 1955, J. D. Salinger, "Franny", in, 1961, Franny and Zooey, 1991 LB Books edition, page 22, Without any apparent regard for the suchness of her environment, she sat down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tathata, thusness

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From English dialect, from Middle English swichnesse (“the quality or nature of a thing”), from Old English swilċnes (“quality”), equivalent to such + -ness. Reinforced also as a calque of Sanskrit तथाता (tathātā).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 真如 (zhēnrú) — existence per se
  • Chinese Mandarin: 如如 (rúrú) — existence per se
  • Finnish: sellaisuus — existence per se
  • French: talité — existence per se
  • Japanese: 真如 (shinnyo) — existence per se
  • Japanese: 実性 (jisshō) — existence per se
  • Korean: 진여 (jinyeo) — existence per se
  • Vietnamese: chân như — existence per se