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
語 | yǔ | words; language, speech |
語 | yù | to speak to |
可 | kě | to approve, to accept |
Compare the word 語 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
設 | shè | establish, make, set out; take |
方便 | fāngbiàn | expedience, Skt. upāya; measures |
使 | shǐ | to cause to |
處 | chǔ | to place |
深 | shēn | deep, profound |
至 | zhì | to, until |
處 | 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 處 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
善枝 | Shànzhī | (personal name) lit. Good Branch |
安和 | nhé | (personal name) lit. Peaceful Harmony (P.) Sotthija (Skt.) Svāstika |
若 | ruò | if |
家 | jiā | home, household |
轉輪聖王 | zhuǎnlún shèngwáng | Wheel-turning Sagely King, Skt. Cakravartin |
天下 | Tiānxià | lit. “All under heaven”; here: continent |
王 | wáng | / wàng king / to be king of, to rule |
Compare 王 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
樂 | lè | happiness, pleasure; to please; to be happy |
苦 | kǔ | suffering |
慼 | qī | sadness, sorrow |
遇 | yù | to meet, to encounter |
欣 | xīn | to enjoy, to delight |
Compare 樂 in the following sentences.
Example 9.5
Notice the word 俱 in the following two sentences you have seen above.
Review 9
Page updated on 2019-02-09