Primer

A Primer in Chinese Buddhist Writings

Volume One: Foundations

Lessons in Grammar - Lesson 9: Grammatical Flexibility

Grammatical flexibility: nouns become verbs; verbs, nouns; verbs become adjectives, etc.

Example 9.1

Vocabulary
words; language, speech
to speak to
to approve, to accept
Compare the word in the following sentences. The first describes the Buddha's response to what the devas told him. In the second, he explains how it is that he knows of the lives of Buddhas of the distant past.

Example 9.2

Vocabulary
shè establish, make, set out; take
方便 fāngbiàn expedience, Skt. upāya; measures
使 shǐ to cause to
chǔ to place
shēn deep, profound
zhì to, until
chù place
恭敬 gōngjìng to respect, venerate
四事 sìshì “the four things” (i.e. the four basic necessities: clothing, food, bedding, medicine).
供養 gòngyǎng to provide
Compare the word in the following sentences. The first describes the actions of the Bodhisattva's father, intended to prevent him from becoming a wandering ascetic. The second describes the reception of the Buddha during his period of wandering.

Example 9.3

Vocabulary
善枝 Shànzhī (personal name) lit. Good Branch
安和 nhé (personal name) lit. Peaceful Harmony (P.) Sotthija (Skt.) Svāstika
ruò if
jiā home, household
轉輪聖王 zhuǎnlún shèngwáng Wheel-turning Sagely King, Skt. Cakravartin
天下 Tiānxià lit. “All under heaven”; here: continent
wáng / wàng king / to be king of, to rule
Compare in the following passages. In the first, the text describes the names of the parents of one of the buddhas of the past:

Example 9.4

Vocabulary
happiness, pleasure; to please; to be happy
suffering
sadness, sorrow
to meet, to encounter
xīn to enjoy, to delight
Compare in the following sentences.

Example 9.5

Notice the word in the following two sentences you have seen above.

Review 9

Page updated on 2019-02-09

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