多生(たしょう)

たしょう
noun
many rebirths; many lives (Buddhist)
religion
1. many rebirths across past and future lives
A Buddhist concept referring to the many lifetimes a soul passes through in the cycle of rebirth. Used almost exclusively in the proverb 袖(そで)振(ふ)り合(あ)うも多生(たしょう)の縁(えん).
多生(たしょう)の縁(えん)を感(かん)じる。
I feel a karmic connection from past lives.
袖(そで)振(ふ)り合(あ)うも多生(たしょう)の縁(えん)と言(い)う。
They say even a brush of sleeves is a karmic bond from past lives.
偶然(ぐうぜん)出会(であ)ったように見(み)えても、実(じつ)は多生(たしょう)の縁(えん)があるのかもしれない。
Even though we seem to have met by chance, perhaps there is actually a karmic tie from past lives.

Almost never used outside the Buddhist proverb below. The word literally means "many births" — the soul being reborn many times across lifetimes.

Common expressions

  • 袖(そで)振(ふ)り合(あ)うも多生(たしょう)の縁(えん): Even brushing sleeves with a stranger is the result of a karmic bond from past lives — used to suggest that no encounter is truly random.

Usage

  • Sometimes written 他生(たしょう) with the same meaning; both forms appear in the proverb.
  • Not to be confused with the homophone 多少(たしょう) (somewhat; a little).
general
Added 2026.6.7 11:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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