Guan_Yin Guanyin () is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshi'yin (觀世音, pinyinguānshì yīn, Wade-Gileskuan-shih yin) which means "Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World".It is generally accepted (in Chinese community) that Guanyin originated as the Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara (अवलोकितेश्वर), which is her male form.