zen
/zen/
Japanese Origin
Philosophy
Original Word
禅
Kanji (zen)
Entered English
1950s
First recorded usage in English
The Story Behind "zen"
From Japanese 'zen' (禅), derived from Chinese 'chán', ultimately from Sanskrit 'dhyāna' (meditation). A school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition. Popularized in the West from the 1950s.
Example Usage
"She finds zen in the simple act of gardening."