Where does “摩尼” come from?
摩尼 (Chinese) comes from Sanskrit मणि, from Proto-Indo-Aryan maníṣ, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maníš, from Proto-Indo-European mon-is, from Proto-Indo-European mon- — man, human being.
Ancestry of “摩尼”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Sanskrit | मणि | jewel, gem, pearl; any ornament or amulet,... |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | maníṣ | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | maníš | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mon-is | ornament, jewel |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mon- | man, human being |