Where does “Zen” come from?

Zen derives from Japanese ぜん, from Sanskrit ध्यान, from Sanskrit ध्यै, a root meaning to meditate or contemplate.

Zen (English): A denomination of Buddhism elaborated in Japan;...

Definitions

  1. A denomination of Buddhism elaborated in Japan;...

Ancestry of “Zen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japaneseぜん全 entire, complete, overall; 前 the previous; 善...
2Sanskritध्यानmeditation, thought, reflection, profound and...
3Sanskritध्यैto contemplate, meditate, think of
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeyh₂-mind, thought

Words derived from “Zen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰeyh₂- →Every word from Sanskrit ध्यै →Every word from Sanskrit ध्यान →