救苦救难
jiù kǔ jiù nàn
to deliver people from suffering and disaster
Character by character
救jiù
save
save
苦kǔ
suffering
suffering
救jiù
save
save
难nàn
distress
distress
Example
这座寺里供奉的是大慈大悲、救苦救难的观音菩萨。
The temple is dedicated to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of great mercy who delivers people from suffering and distress.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Best known from the Buddhist epithet 大慈大悲、救苦救难观世音菩萨, and used of any merciful god. Said of a person who rescues you from a fix, it is warm and a little jokey: 你真是救苦救难的活菩萨！
Learn this in Lesson 245 · HSK 9+: 妈祖 (Mazu, goddess of the sea)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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