suǒ 所 is a common relative pronoun, normally meaning “where,” “which,” “that which,” or “what” depending
on context. As a noun it means “place,” “location.”
Example 6.1
When placed before a verb or verb phrase, 所 turns it into a noun. 所 indicates that the noun receives the
action of the verb. Below, it is not that the monks hear the Buddha speak, but that they hear that which the
Buddha spoke. The distinction here isn't that important, but in other contexts it is.
Example 6.2
This is a noun phrase rather than a complete sentence.
Example 6.3
Vocabulary
| 治 |
zhì |
to govern |
| 城 |
chéng |
city |
This is a noun phrase rather than a complete sentence.
Example 6.4
Vocabulary
| 日 |
rì |
sun |
| 月 |
yuè |
moon |
| 及 |
jí |
to reach |
| 處 |
chù |
place, location |
This is a noun phrase rather than a complete sentence.
Example 6.5
Vocabulary
| 因緣 |
yīnyuán |
lit. causes and conditions; story; here: “circumstances” |
| 名號 |
mínghào |
lit. name and “style name”; here: “name” |
| 種族 |
zhǒngzú |
class |
Example 6.6
Vocabulary
| 相 |
xiàng |
characteristic, mark (this is why 相師 lit. “master of marks” means fortune teller). |
| 子 |
zǐ |
son; child |
Example 6.7
Vocabulary
| 何 |
hé |
what |
| 語 |
yǔ |
to speak (yù); words, language, speech |
Example 6.8
Vocabulary
| 梵 |
Fàn |
Brahma |
| 天 |
tiān |
deity, Skt. deva; heaven |
| 知 |
zhī |
to know, to recognize |
| 毘婆尸 |
Pípóshī |
(Skt.) Vipaśyin (a Buddha of the Past) |
Example 6.9
Vocabulary
| 清淨 |
qīngjìng |
clear and pure |
| 欲 |
yù |
desire; desirous |
| 想 |
xiǎng |
to think; thoughts |
| 為 |
wéi |
(we have already seen 為 as meaning “to be” – here it marks the verb as passive) by |
| 婬 |
yín |
lasciviousness; lust |
| 火 |
huǒ |
fire |
| 燒然 |
shāorán |
to burn |
Example 6.10
Vocabulary
| 乃 |
nǎi |
to the extent that |
| 多少 |
duōshǎo |
lit. “many and few”; amount |
| 又 |
yòu |
further, moreover |
| 彼 |
bǐ |
that (pronoun) |
| 名號 |
mínghào |
name and “style name” |
| 姓字 |
xìngzì |
surname and cognomen |
Review 6