Within the word "Nen" there are meanings such as 'okunen' (something one always remembers), 'shinen' (thoughts), 'shinnen' (thoughts and concentration), 'kannen' (observation and contemplation) and 'shonen' (shomyo and nenbutsu; literally: "naming the Buddha"), and within the word "butsu" there is the meaning of busshin (the body of the Buddha) and butsumyo (the name of the Buddha).
念とは「憶念」「思念」「心念」「観念」「称念」などの意味があり、仏には仏身、仏名の意味づけがなされている。