The Chinese word "佛跳墙" is formed through the direct combination of three characters: "佛" meaning Buddha, "跳" meaning to jump, and "墙" meaning wall, which together literally describe "Buddha jumps over the wall". This name derives from an anecdote where the dish's exceptionally enticing aroma is humorously said to be capable of making even a Buddha abandon asceticism to leap over a wall toward it.