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🏯 Tibetan capital 🐶 A small dog
Lhasa

Lhasa

10 6.4
Capital city of Tibet and a holy center of Tibetan Buddhism
  • proper noun
: Lhasa
  • The most holy place in Tibet is the Jokhang Temple, located in the old part of Lhasa.
  • Lhasa, Tibet's capital
  • Tibetan capital, Lhasa

Examples

  • The flight from Chengdu to Lhasa offers a spectacular view of some of the most awesome mountain ranges in the world.

    Academic text (1995)

  • At least half of the several hundred thousand residents of Lhasa now appear to be non-Tibetan.

    Academic text (1998)

  • We could go to Lhasa, the capital.

    The Way Back (2010)

  • And we can discuss our plans with you in Lhasa, when you return.

    Kundun (1997)

  • Clearly, Lhasa and other towns had been built up significantly over this period.

    Academic text (1997)

  • I'm certain you wish to return to Lhasa.

    Kundun (1997)

  • And today, we have reached the gates of the forbidden city of Lhasa.

    Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

  • In the center of Lhasa, Tibet's capital, stands the Potala, the Dalai Lama's palace.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The plane lands on an airstrip at Gonggar, a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Lhasa on the only paved road in Tibet.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Tenzin and his family moved to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet's capital city.

Synonyms

Lassa
vsLhasa
1 9.5

The capital city of Tibet that is a religious center with sacred monasteries and old palaces

is the same place name but spelled differently

Compounds

Lhasa apso
2 8.1

A small dog from Tibet with a long heavy coat kept as a companion or watchdog

Surface Forms

Lhasa main

Etymology

Lhasa comes from the Tibetan words lha ('god') and sa ('place'), so it literally means 'place of gods'. That is why Lhasa is a holy capital of Tibetan Buddhism and was long closed to outsiders.