sãi
[saːj˦ˀ˥]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) Buddhist monk, bonze
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
sãi chùaBuddhist monk
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(noun) Buddhist temple's warden
Examples
Lắm / Nhiều sãi không ai đóng cửa chùa.Everybody's business is nobody's business (literally, “[There are] many wardens [yet] none closes the temple's door”).
Con vua thì lại làm vua;
Con sãi ở chùa lại quét lá đa.A monarch's son shall become a monarch;
A son of a temple's warden shall sweep banyan leaves.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(noun) warden, caretaker (in general)
Examples
sãi nhà thờchurch's warden
sãi mõwooden fish striker, temple block striker
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sense 4
Meaning · English
(noun) short for sãi đò (“pilot, riverboatman, ferryman (possibly obsolete)”)
Common questions
What does “sãi” mean?
(noun) Buddhist monk, bonze
Is “sãi” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.