唯我獨尊

Chinese

		yes; only; alone	I; me	to respect one thing alone; to revere only
trad. (唯我獨尊)		唯	我	獨尊
simp. (唯我独尊)		唯	我	独尊
alternative forms		唯吾獨尊／唯吾独尊

Etymology

From the first words the Buddha is supposed to have uttered upon his birth: "In the heavens above and below, I alone am honored."

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): wéiwǒdúzūn

  (Zhuyin): ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): wai⁴ ngo⁵ duk⁶ zyun¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: wéiwǒdúzūn
    • Zhuyin: ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: wéiwǒdúzun
    • Wade–Giles: wei²-wo³-tu²-tsun¹
    • Yale: wéi-wǒ-dú-dzwūn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: weiwoodwutzuen
    • Palladius: вэйводуцзунь (vɛjvoduczunʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: wai⁴ ngo⁵ duk⁶ zyun¹
    • Yale: wàih ngóh duhk jyūn
    • Cantonese Pinyin: wai⁴ ngo⁵ duk⁹ dzyn¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: wei⁴ ngo⁵ dug⁶ jun¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /wɐi̯²¹ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

Idiom

唯我獨尊

1. to be extremely conceited; to be very egotistical, holier-than-thou
2. (Buddhism) "I alone am honored"; the first words of the Buddha

   • 菩薩生已，不扶而行，於四方各七步，而自言曰：「天上、天下，唯我獨尊。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     菩萨生已，不扶而行，于四方各七步，而自言曰：「天上、天下，唯我独尊。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Great Tang Records on the Western Regions)

     Púsà shēng yǐ, bù fú ér xíng, yú sìfāng gè qī bù, ér zì yán yuē: “Tiānshàng, tiānxià, wéiwǒdúzūn.” [Pinyin]

     Having been born, the Bodhisattva walked seven steps towards each of the four directions without assistance, and said: "In the heavens above and below, I alone am honored."