Time is expressed through time words and in some cases grammatical particles. We will look at grammatical
particles later.
Example 3.1
shí 時, “time” or “when,” is probably the most common word indicating time.
Vocabulary
| 一 |
yī |
one |
| 時 |
shí |
time |
| 舍衛 |
Shèwèi |
(Skt.) Śrāvastī |
| 國 |
guó |
kingdom |
| 祇樹 |
Qíshù |
Jeta Grove, an abbreviation of 祇樹給孤獨園 (Skt. Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma), 樹 = grove |
| 花林窟 |
Huālínkū |
Flower Copse Grotto (Skt. Kareri-kuṭikā), 窟 = grotto |
Example 3.2
Vocabulary
| 頌 |
sòng |
in verse |
| 曰 |
yuē |
to say |
Example 3.3
Vocabulary
| 爾 |
ěr |
that |
| 閑靜 |
xiánjìng |
peaceful and quiet |
| 處 |
chù |
place |
Example 3.4
Vocabulary
| 受 |
shòu |
to receive |
| 教 |
jiào |
teaching |
| 而 |
ér |
[verbal connector] and, but; [adverbial connector, with the preceding word or phrase modifying the verb that follows] |
| 聽 |
tīng |
to listen |
Example 3.5
過去 is a common compound, meaning “in the past.”
Vocabulary
| 過去 |
guòqù |
the past |
| 無數 |
wúshù |
without number, limitless |
| 入 |
rù |
to enter |
| 涅槃 |
nièpán |
nirvana |
| 斷 |
duàn |
to cut off |
| 結使 |
jiéshǐ |
lit. “bounds and manipulations”; afflictions, defilements |
| 消滅 |
xiāomiè |
to destroy |
| 戱 |
xì |
funny, playful, absurd, fanciful |
| 論 |
lùn |
discourse, theory, deliberations |
Example 3.6
Vocabulary
| 三 |
sān |
three |
| 劫 |
jié |
aeon (transliteration of kalpa) |
| 尸棄 |
Shīqì |
(Skt.) Śikhin |
| 如來rúlái |
Thus-Come-One, |
Skt. tathāgata (we have already seen 如 as “thus” in 如是我聞) |
| 至 |
zhì |
utmost; extreme, most |
| 真 |
zhēn |
true |
| 至真 |
zhìzhēn |
“most-true-one” (a translation of arhat). |
Example 3.7
Vocabulary
| 即 |
jí |
then, next, thereupon |
| 從 |
cóng |
from |
| 座 |
zuò |
seat |
| 起 |
qǐ |
to arise, get up |
The Buddha, sitting apart from the bhikṣus, uses his supernormal powers to hear them converse.
Then...
Example 3.8
Vocabulary
| 相師 |
xiàngshī |
fortune teller, master of physiognomy |
| 白 |
bái |
white; to address |
| 王 |
wáng |
king |
| 言 |
yán |
to say |
Example 3.9
Vocabulary
| 於 |
yú |
multi-purpose particle (see note below). |
| 乞 |
qǐ |
to beg |
| 食 |
shí |
food; to eat |
| 集 |
jí |
to gather |
| 花林 |
Huālín |
Flower Copse |
| 堂 |
táng |
hall |
hòu
後, “after,” appears in the middle of sentences, between verbs. Here hòu is working together
with the particle yú. Yú
於 is a preposition which can be used for space (i.e. “at”) or, as here, for
time.
Example 3.10
Vocabulary
| 太子 |
tàizǐ |
prince |
| 剃除 |
tìchú |
to cut off |
| 鬚髮 |
xūfǎ |
hair and beard |
Review 3