One of the most common negatives is bù 不. In declarative sentences, it comes before the word it negates.
Example 4.1
Vocabulary
| 毘婆尸 |
Pípóshī |
(Skt.) Vipaśyin |
| 菩薩 |
púsà |
bodhisattva |
| 母 |
mǔ |
mother |
| 胎 |
tāi |
womb |
| 專 |
zhuān |
to concentrate |
| 念 |
niàn |
to think, to ponder |
| 亂 |
luàn |
chaos, confusion |
Note: Grammatically,
專念不亂 could refer to either the bodhisattva or to his mother. The
implicit subject is usually carried over from the previous sentence. From the context of the
larger passage that we see that it refers to the bodhisattva.
Example 4.2
In questions, bù 不 can come at the very end of a sentence, and can be translated “or not”. This construction
is particularly common in Buddhist texts.
Vocabulary
| 吾 |
wú |
I, me |
| 今 |
jīn |
today, now |
| 欲 |
yù |
to want, to desire |
| 以 |
yǐ |
(以 is a co-verb, meaning it works in conjunction with another verb. We will look at this word more closely in a later lesson). To use, to employ; with, by means of |
| 宿命智 |
sùmìngzhì |
knowledge of past lives (lit. past-destinies-wisdom) |
| 說 |
shuō |
say, expound, relate, explain |
| 事 |
shì |
thing, event |
| 汝 |
rǔ |
you |
Example 4.3
Wú 無 normally indicates non-existence (often negating “to have” yǒu 有), meaning “there is no...” In these
cases, it takes a noun as its object. It is also used, as below, in double negatives.
Immediately upon the Buddha's birth, a great light fills the universe. The light is so great that...
Vocabulary
| 處 |
chù |
place |
| 闇冥 |
ànmíng |
darkness |
| 無 |
wú |
not, none |
| 蒙 |
méng |
to receive |
| 明 |
míng |
brightness |
Example 4.4
Example 4.5
Vocabulary
| 毘婆尸 |
Pípóshī |
(Skt.) Vipaśyin (a Buddha of the Past) |
| 從 |
cóng |
from |
| 兜率 |
Dōushuài |
Tuṣita |
| 天 |
tiān |
Heaven; god, deva |
| 降 |
jiàng |
to descend |
| 神 |
shén |
divine; spirit |
| 胎 |
tāi |
womb |
| 身 |
shēn |
body; physically |
| 安隱 |
ānyǐn |
serene, at peace |
| 惱患 |
nǎohuàn |
troubles, difficulties |
Note: Grammatically, the phrase
降神母胎 could be read either as “he descended in spirit into his mother’s
womb” or “he descended into the divine mother’s womb.” We know from context (and that fact that
神母 is
not a common term for a Buddha’s mother) that the former is correct.
Example 4.6: fēi 非
非 is the “negative copula” meaning “is not.” Normally, it is itself a verb and takes a noun as object. In the
following passage, the text describes how the gods protect the newly born Bodhisattva from various sorts of
beings, including both 人 and 非人。
Vocabulary
| 四 |
sì |
four |
| 天子 |
tiānzǐ |
lit. children of heaven, heavenly beings, minor deities |
| 執 |
zhí |
to hold |
| 戈 |
gé |
halberd |
| 矛 |
máo |
spear |
| 侍 |
shì |
to attend |
| 護 |
hù |
to protect |
| 其 |
qí |
his [grammatical particle] |
| 得 |
dé |
to be able to |
| 侵嬈 |
qīnrǎo |
to harass |
Example 4.7
Vocabulary
| 間jiān |
between, |
among |
| 憒閙 |
kuìnào |
hubub, noise |
| 此 |
cǐ |
this, these |
| 宜 |
yí |
appropriate |
Before leaving the palace, the bodhisattva determines that...
Example 4.8: wù 勿
wù 勿 is imperative, “do not”.
Vocabulary
| 天 |
tiān |
heavenly, celestial |
| 母 |
mǔ |
mother |
| 天母 |
tiānmǔ |
here: queen |
| 生 |
shēng |
to be born |
| 聖 |
shèng |
holy |
| 子 |
zǐ |
child; son |
| 懷 |
huái |
to harbor |
| 憂慼 |
yōuqī |
worries and sadness |
Just before the bodhisattva's mother gives birth, four deities tell her:
Example 4.9
Vocabulary
| 使 |
shǐ |
to cause, to make |
| 眾生 |
zhòngshēng |
all beings |
| 墜落 |
zhuìluò |
to fall, to descend to |
| 餘 |
yú |
other, remaining |
| 趣 |
qù |
destination, realm, path of existence |
When the Buddha hesitates to preach the Dharma, Brahma pleads with him to do so, saying:
Example 4.10: wèi 未, not yet
Vocabulary
| 去 |
qù |
to leave |
| 久 |
jiǔ |
long (duration) |
Review 4