Taxonomy of meanings for 學:  

  • xué (OC: ɡruuɡ MC: ɦɯɔk) 胡覺切 入 廣韻:【説文與斆同覺悟也斆今音效又姓出姓苑胡覺切九 】
    • IMITATE
      • vtoNimitate (something); emulate; study trying to become like> study to become
      • vt+prep+NimitateCH
      • admirable persons> EMULATE
        • vtoNemulate a person N; try to live up the demands of another person
      • subject-related, conative effort> STUDY
        • nabactthe systematic attempt to learn about things (typically from a teacher) study; the pursuit of intellectual/moral self-development; learning
        • vadNlearned, dedicated to the pursuit of learning 學士“learned gentlemen"
        • vi休學“work on self-cultivation"; dedicate oneself to serious study; work on one's self-development 
        • vt[oN]actpursue knowledge of things; study things; devote oneself to study of things; be devoted to study; engage in intellectual work; try to acquire more knowledge
        • vt(+V[0])conativetry to learn to perform a contextually determinate action
        • vt(oN)conativedevote oneself to learning N; devote oneself to the practice of N
        • vt(oN)perfectivestudy successfully the contextually determinate skill N
        • vt+prep+NN=topicengage in study regarding, aim to learn about
        • vt+prep+NN=humanbe a student of; study under 學於孔子
        • vt+V[0]conativetry to learn to VERB
        • vtoNN=humanemulate (somebody); try to imitate (somebody); try to live up to (somebody)
        • vtoNobject=knowledgestudy (a subject, the rules - and sometimes the facts- about something)
        • vtoNobject=skillaim to learn (a skill); learn to read (a text), recite and understand according to received interpretation (a text); devote oneself to, apply oneself to (cultural studies etc); learn from a teacher about (a subject)
        • vtoNobject=textstudy (scil. how to read correctly) (a text)
        • vtoNpassivebe studied
        • vttoN1.+prep+N2study (some skill N1) with/under (a master N2), study ( a subject N1) under (a master N2) 學射於 "study archery with"
        • vt[oN]N=humanstudy with someoneCH
        • vt(oN)study with; become a student of a contextually determinate personCH
        • nab.post-Nthe systematic study of the subject NCH
        • nab.post-Nthe study of/by the studying person NCH
        • nderived objectobjects of studyCH
        • vt+prep+NN=placebe a student in; become a student in 學於齊CH
        • vt(oN)the relevantengage in the relevant formal training/studyCH
        • vtoNN=human, pluralstudy with the Ns, become a disciple of the Ns (barbarians etc)CH
        • viinchoative,actgo to school; start formal educationCH
        • perfective> LEARN
          • vt(oN)learn the contextually determinate thing
          • vt+prep+Nlearn from
          • vtoNperfectivehave learnt as true; manage to learn (something that is true)
          • nabpsychlearnedness; learning; degree of learnednessCH
          • vtoNpassive, perfectivebe (successfully) learntCH
          • vtoNabconativeset about learning about; try to learn the skill of NabCH
          • vttoN1.+prep+N2conative(try to) learn N1 from N2CH
          • vttoN1.+prep+N2perfectiveget to learn N1 from N2CH
          • nabact, conativethe act of trying to learn thingsCH
          • vtoV[0]perfectivelearn how to VCH
          • vt[oNab]perfectivelearn somethingCH
          • vtoNN=textlearn by heartCH
          • resultative> KNOW
            • nab.post-Npsychologicalknowledge; learning; what one has learnt, what one has studied so far; "connaissances"
            • vtoNmiddle voicestudy successfully so as to know and understandCH
            • resulting feature> WISE
            • propositional object> DOCTRINE
              • nabactteaching, doctrine
          • agent> STUDENT
            • nstudent; apprenticeCH
            • advanced> SCHOLAR
              • v[adN]scholar HF 19 人主於聽學也
              • v[adN]N=humanscholarsCH
              • collective> SCHOOL
                • n(sometimes officially organised) school; college (also for seniors and retirees, as teachers)
                • vigo to schoolCH
    • xuéINVESTIGATE
      • nab.post-Nabtheoreticalthe systematic investigation of NabVK
      • vtoNinvestigateCH
    • xuéTEACH
      • vtoN=斆CH
      • vt(oN)teach the contextually determinate NCH

    Additional information about 學

    說文解字: 【斅(斆)】,覺悟也。从敎、从冖。冖,尚矇也。𦥑聲。 【胡覺切】 【學】,篆文斆省。

      Criteria
    • LEARN

      1. The learning of propositional knowledge is wén 聞.

      2. The learning of practical knowledge is the inchoative néng 能 "come to be able to".

      3. Xué 學 is conative and means "try to learn". See STUDY.

      4. Jìn 進 is to make progress in the process of learning.

    • METHOD

      1. The most general word for method or technique is shù 術, and the professional technique here referred is typically publicly accessible.

      2. Fāng 方 refers to a professional and often esoteric and/or recondite skill or trick.

      3. Fǎ 法 is a regular rule-governed procedure governing the proper exercise of a skill.

      4. Dào 道 is a way of being as well as a way of doing things, and this Way may be either exoteric or esoteric.

      5. Duān 端 refers to a basic method or the important features of a method.

      學有次第而後大成 "When study has method, only then will it greatly succeed." ( 宋. 歐陽修 )

    • PHILOSOPHY

      1. Xué 學 can refer to the systematic study of the fundamentals of life, which is typically taken to involve the emulation of a master.

      2. Jiā 家 can refer to the bibliographic classification of philosophical lineage or school of thought, especially from Han times onwards, as in the six schools (liù jiā 六家 ) of "philosophy" discussed by the father of Chinese historiography, Sīmǎ Tán 司馬談.

      2. Dàoxué 道學 can refer to the pursuit of Taoist or Confucian philosophy (but the term also refers to the pursuit of Taoist religious practices) from Tang times onwards.

    • TEACH

      1. The current general word for training, instructing, and disciplining others is jiào 教 (ant. xué 學 "study") and the standard main aim of jiào 教 is unquestioning obedience, professional skill, and intellectual conformity to the standard set by the teacher, and the word connotes use of authority and sometimes even coercion. The primary aim of jiào 教 is action conforming to a standard, and the word is commonly nominalised.

      2. Huì 誨 (ant. xí 習 "study persistently") refers to systematic and persistent efforts to teach and inculcate intellectual or practical skills ( 誨之琴 "taught him to play the zither") and moral understanding of students ( 誨女知之 "I will teach you so you understand"), and the word never implies coercion or any threat of force. Huì 誨 can be mutual, or refer to equals teaching equals, even subordinates teaching superiors 諫誨 "remonstrate with and instruct". The word is not commonly nominalised. The primary aim of huì 誨 is understanding.

      3. Huà 化 refers to successful disciplining and teaching, typically on a large social scale. See INFLUENCE

      4. Qǐ 啟 and fā 發 refer to the opening up of new intellectual and moral dimensions for others.

      5. Xùn 訓 refers in a rather abstract way to formal strict instruction and training aimed primarily at professional skill.

      6. Zhào 詔 refers to instruction by means of useful information or warning.

      7. Fēng 風 is occasionally used to refer to teaching by example.

      8. Liàn 練 refers specifically to military training and only occasionally to other forms of drill.

      9. Dào 道 refers to the content of what is taught, and is largely restricted to postnominal position, as in 儒道 "Confucian teaching".

    • CHINESE LANGUAGE

      1. guānhuà 官話 "Mandarin" is obsolete, and its traditional antonym was xiāngyǔ 鄉語 "local speech".

      From Míng Dynasty times, this was a current word for the common vernacular language used by administrative staff of any kind throughout China.

      DC: 明何良俊《四友齋叢說 ‧ 史十一》: " 雅宜不喜作鄉語,每發口必官話。 "

      2. báihuà 白話 "plain speech, vernacular" (as opposed to wényán 文言 )

      This is a modern word referring to an easily accessible written version of the Chinese language. In classical contexts or early vernacular contexts the expression always seems to refer to "empty talk" rather than the vernacular language.

      3. guóyǔ 國語 "national language" (ant. wàiyǔ 外語 ) (pre-1950ies and Taiwan)

      A word that continues to be in increasing common use even in Mainland China today, and which is standard in places like Malaysia or Singapore, as well as in Taiwan.

      4. zhōngguóyǔ 中國語 "language of China" (ant. wàiguóyǔ 外國語 )

      Current Japanese way of writing the Japanese word for the Chinese language, but the expression has a long history in China, the first attested use being in Yáng Xióng's Model Sayings of the first century BC.

      5. pǔtōnghuà 普通話 "common language" (Mainland China) (ant. dìfāngyǔ 地方語, fāngyán 方言 "dialect (not in the ancient meaning)")

      This is a very common modern expression which corresponds to Greek koinē, and the word is always used in counterdistinction to (often mutually incomprehensible) dialects. The word has a rather political flair.

      6. Hànyǔ 漢語 "language of the Hàn people" (should include all dialects, but is often used otherwise)

      This is the most current word for the Chinese language as opposed to other 族語 "national languages". The word is very current in the Buddhist Tripitaka, but it is also attested elsewhere 庾信《奉和法筵應詔》: " 佛影胡人記,經文漢語翻。 ". The term is also attested in 世說新語.

      7. Zhōngguóhuà 中國話 "Chinese speech" (includes all dialects)

      This word is always used in counterdistinction to foreign languages. It has become current in international contexts in nineteenth century novels.

      8. Zhōngwén 中文 "Chinese (typically written) language" (ant. wàiwén 外文, often icludes speech: 會說中文 )

      This word is already attested in the medieval 搜神記, where it refers to the written language. In Modern Standard Chinese this is a very common way of referring to Chinese as opposed to foreign languages, and as a subject in school curricula.

      9. Huáyǔ 華語 "Chinese talk" (used mainly in Singapore, Hong Kong etc.)

      This word has a long history in Buddhist texts, and it is also already attested in 劉知幾《史通 ‧ 言語》: "... 必諱彼夷音,變成華語.

      10. Hànyīn 漢音 "Han-Chinese sounds" refers to the Chinese language in a poetic style. Sanskrit is currently referred to as 梵音.

      HD sub verbo 漢文: 2. 漢語;漢字。南朝梁僧祐《梵漢譯經音義同异記》: " 或善梵義而不了漢音,或明漢文而不曉梵意。 "

      HD: 2. 指漢語。南朝宋朱廣之《咨顧道士<夷夏論>》: " 想茲漢音,流入彼國。 "

      老子漢人也。

      新修科分六學僧傳 R133_p0714a04(02)║

      胡蕃國也。土地不同。則言音亦異。當其化胡成佛之際。為作漢音耶。作蕃音耶。苟以漢音。則蕃國有所不解。以蕃音。則此經之至。宜須翻譯。

      11. Hàn yán 漢言 "Hàn language, language of the Hàn Dynasty> Chinese" (ant. 胡言 or 胡語 ) is a historico-ethnographic term.

      This remained a very common way of referring to the Chinese language long after the Hàn Dynasty, as is clear from the Buddhist Tripitaka. (424 occurrences in CBETA.)

      T25n1512_p0835b29(05)║

      胡言般若波羅蜜。

      漢言智慧彼岸也

      T48n2023_p1095c25(00)║

      志曰。

      佛者。 Buddha

      漢言覺也。 is "the enlightened" in Hàn language"

      將以覺悟群生也。 He will bring enlightenment to the sentient beings.

      12. Wényán 文言 "literary Chinese" (ant. báihuà 白話 "plain vernacular") today refers to a modernised version of traditional classical Chinese, as used for example in letters. But in the Buddhist Tripitaka, for example, the phrase regularly refers to ornate Chinese, ornate formulations. Neither traditionally nor in modern times is 文言 used in counterdistinction to foreign languages: the contrast is with other varieties of Chinese.

      DC: 4. 別於白話的古漢語書面語。蔡元培《在國語傳習所的演說》: " 文言上還有例句,如 ' 爾無我詐,我無爾虞 ' 等。 "

      13. wényánwén 文言文 "literary Chinese writing" (ant. báihuàwén 白話文 ) refers to classical Chinese as it continues to be used in the introductions to books and in formal letter-writing.

      This is a twentieth century word, as far as I can see.

      14. báihuà-wén 白話文 "plain talk writing" (ant. wényánwén 文言文 ) is a term with a strong stylistic nuance.

      This is a twentieth century word.

      15. tōngyòngyǔ 通用語 "general use language".

      This is a twentieth century neologism designed to replace 普通話. The term has never achieved broad use.

      16. dàzhòngyǔ 大眾語 "mass language" is obsolete today.

      This is a politicised ideological concept stressing the universal use and popularity of the Chinese language as advocated by language politicians. It is a twentieth century political neologism.

      17. guówén 國文 "state writing" refers in a formal way to written Chinese.

      This is a twentieth century term mainly used in connection with educational politics.

      HD: 許地山《東野先生》: “ 這不是國文教科書底一課麼? ”

      18. Hàn wén 漢文 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Hàn (typically written) language"

      HD: 2. 漢語;漢字。南朝梁僧祐《梵漢譯經音義同异記》: " 或善梵義而不了漢音,或明漢文而不曉梵意。 "

      19. Zhōngguó wénzì 中國文字 "the Chinese (written) language"

      T49n2036_p0477a06(03)║ 

      中國文字未通。蓋不可知也。

      R110_p0542b01(05)║

      偈語原必有韻譯以中國文字。則無可協。

      R110_p0542b09(00)║

      流入東土後。以中國文字經為尊稱。故亦稱經。

      20. Huá yán 華言 is an obsolete traditional term for Chinese that comes over 1200 times in Taisho Tripitaka.

      R150_p0541a 13(00)║

      剌麻者。乃西域之尊稱。

      譯華言為無上二字。

      R149_p0695a 12(00)║

      梵語阿修羅。亦云阿素洛。

      又云阿須倫。

      華言非天。

      R149_p0718b05(03)║

      梵語袈裟華言壞色衣。

      21. dōngtǔ Huáxiàyán 東土華夏言 "Chinese language in the eastern regions" is an ad hoc periphrastic expression which one might insist was never lexicalised, but it is perhaps worth recording just as well, if only in order to

      R059_p0119b04(00)║

      梵語。西天梵國語也。

      華言。東土華夏言也。

      譯者翻也。

      謂翻梵天之語。轉成漢地之言也。

      22. Hàn'ér yányǔ 漢兒言語 "Hàn language" is a term that is current in Korean textbooks of colloquial Chinese, like the famous 老乞大 : “ 你是高麗人,卻怎麼漢兒言語說的好。 ” See also the article in 太田辰夫《漢語史通考 · 關於漢兒言語》

      23. Jìn wén 晉文 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Jìn (typically written) language" is fairly rare, but clear examples are easily found:

      T50n2059_p0326c12(02)║

      還歸中夏。

      自燉煌至長安。

      沿路傳譯寫為晉文。

      24. Jìn yán 晉言 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Language of the Jìn" is common indeed, but many examples can be read technically as "in Jìn this translates as". Not however in this example:

      於龜茲國金華祠。

      T14n0434_p0105ā6(01)║ 

      演出此經。譯梵音為晉言。

      T33n1693_p0001ā7(01)║

      斯經似安世高譯。為晉言也。 (punctuation probably wrong!)

      25. Jìn yǔ 晉語 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Speech of the Jìn"

      T50n2059_p0329ā2(00)║

      手執梵文口宣晉語。

      T55n2145_p0072b24(03)║

      先誦本文。

      然後乃譯為晉語。

      26. Jìn yīn 晉音 "Jìn Dynasty speech"

      T14n0434_p0105á1(00)║

      沙門慧海者。通龜茲語。

      善解晉音。

      林復命使譯龜茲語為晉音。

      T50n2060_p0634á6(02)║

      外國語云阿耨菩提。

      晉音翻之無上大道。

      27. Qín yán 秦言 "Qín language> Chinese" is the standard way of providing Chinese translations for Sanskrit words in the Buddhist Tripitaka. (No less than 1132 examples in CBETA, but mostly formulaic, as in the following examples.)

      答曰。摩訶秦言大。 "maha is "big"in Chinese"

      T25n1509_p0383á2(03)║

      今問摩訶薩義。摩訶者秦言大。

      28. Qín yǔ 秦語 "Speech of the Qín > Chinese"

      In the Buddhist Tripitaka, this is a very formal term for Chinese, not very common. (Only 22 occurrences in CBETA)

      T26n1543_p0771b02(08)║

      梵本十五千七十二首盧 ( 四十八萬二千五百四言 ) 。

      秦語十九萬五千二百五十言。

      T51n2068_p0053c09(05)║

      什自手執胡經。

      口譯秦語曲從方言而趣不乖本。

      T51n2068_p0054á9(07)║

      什自執梵本口譯秦語。

      T55n2145_p0072b07(28)║

      胡本十五千七十二首盧 ( 四十八萬二千三百四言 ) 秦語十九萬五千二百五十言

      T55n2145_p0073c09(02)║

      胡本一萬一千七百五十二首盧長五字也。

      凡三十七萬六千六十四言也。

      秦語為十六五千九百七十五字。

      29. Táng wén 唐文 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Táng (typically written) language"

      This is the standard way of referring to the written Chinese language in Buddhist texts of the Táng dynasty.

      R130_p0664b06(02)║

      以華言唐文刻釋氏經典

      T39n1797_p0803b21(10)║

      不得梵文依唐文得意亦同。

      T48n2025_p1160a24(08)║

      唐文多對偶當盡翻譯。

      T50n2060_p0614c17(05)║

      有天竺三藏大齎梵本擬譯唐文。

      R024_p0177a16(02)║ 

      語精梵言。

      雖亦兼美唐文。

      乍來恐未盡善。

      30. Táng yán 唐言 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Language of the Táng".

      1523 occurrences in CBETA. Occasionally, one wonders whether this does refer to Táng time Chinese whereas Hànyīn 漢音 does not:

      T20n1177Ap0724c02(01)║

      遂將得舊翻譯唐言漢音經本在寺。

      31. Táng yǔ 唐語 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Speech of the Táng"

      A fairly rare way of referring to the Chinese language in Táng Buddhist texts. (Only 18 occurrences in CBETA)

      R014_p0563a14(02)║

      印度罽賓皆未詳唐語。

      R036_p0985a16(18)║    

      又多兩重怗文當知初依梵文後釋唐語

      T30n1579_p0283c07(05)║

      三藏法師玄奘。

      敬執梵文譯為唐語。

      32. Táng yīn 唐音 "Táng speech" is a regular expression for Táng Dynasty Chinese in the Buddhist Tripitaka.

      R036_p0584b13600)

      梵語本是兩名唐音無以甄別

      R066_p0717b08(01)║

      此偈乃是梵語訛言。

      傳者將為唐音正字。

      33. Tánghuà 唐話 "Táng talk" is a current Cantonese term for Chinese, and the famous intellectual 許地山 writes: 他說的雖是唐話,但是語格和腔調全是不對的。 But in this phrase, I am instructed by my teacher and friend Jiǎng Shàoyú, Táng refers not to the dynasty but to 唐山.

      34. Dà Táng yǔ 大唐語 "Speech of the Great Táng Dynasty" is rarely attested, but the word does exist:

      R150_p1055b17(00)║

      若僧雖是新羅人。却會大唐語。 Monk Ruò was a person from Xīnluó, but he spoke the language of the Great Táng Dynasty.

      35. Hàn 漢 is an abbreviation for Hànyǔ 漢語 currently used in Buddhist translation theory, but the word is not in itself a term for the Chinese language outside such technical contexts.

      T21n1293_p0378c15(02)║ 

      翻梵為漢 Translate the Sanskrit into Chinese.

      R068_p0353b05(05)║

      梵是天竺之言。

      漢是此土之語。

      R133_p0623b09(07)║

      序以條列梵漢旨義。

      R005_p0007b03(02)║

      翻譯之家自有規准。 The specialists in translation have their own standards.

      若名梵漢共有。 If a term exists both in Sanskrit and in Chinese

      則敵對而翻。 than they just match the terms up in translation.

      36. Táng 唐 "language of the Táng Dynsasty.

      梵唐

      T54n2133Ap1196b12(02)║ 

      一曰義淨撰梵語千字文。

      或名梵唐千字文。

      T55n2176_p1118a01(00)║ 

      梵唐對譯阿彌陀經一卷 ( 仁 )

      This is the same as 梵唐語:

      T55n2176_p1118b20(00)║ 

      梵唐語對註譯大佛頂真言一卷

      T55n2176_p1119c19(18)║

      梵唐對譯法花二十八品

      T55n2176_p1120a05(00)║ 

      梵唐對譯金剛般若經二卷

      T55n2176_p1131a06(00)║ 

      梵唐文字一卷

      37. Jìn 晉 "the language of the Jìn Dynasty.

      The term is rarely used to refer directly to the language, unlike the common Táng 唐. But examples do exist:

      T55n2157_p0795c08(08)║

      既學兼梵晉故譯義精允。

      38. nèidìhuà 內地話 refers to the language spoken on the Mainland, and the word is mostly used on Taiwan. This term represents an outsider's view on the Chinese language. (2.9 million hits in Google! This important word was brought to my attention by Jens Østergaard Petersen.)

      39. shénzhōu yǔ 神州語 "the language of our divine land" is quaint, nationalistically sentimental, and a rare way of referring to the Chinese language.

      beijing.kijiji.cn/á1221463.html:

      心中一暖,想到他居然會說神州語,正要說些甚麼,但一開口,嘴部動作牽動喉嚨,...

      40. zúyǔ 族語 "the national language (of the Chinese) is a borderline case because the term refers to national languages in general, and only by extension to Chinese in particular.

      42. Hàn dì zhī yán 漢地之言 "language of the Ha4n territory" is a marginal periphrastic expression which one should probably not regard as a lexicalised item. One could study such periphrastic expressions separately from the lexicalised vocabulary.

      R059_p0119b06(06)║

      謂翻梵天之語。轉成漢地之言也。

      [43. jīngpiànzi 京片子 "Chinese as spoken in Peking" is a borderline case because it does refer to Peking speech, but not insofar as it is the standard for the whole of China. Colloquial examples of this sort could be multiplied...]

    • BUDDHISM

      佛學

    • STUDY

      1. The dominant word is xué 學 (ant. jiào 教 "train teach")which refers to the acquisition of existing knowledge or virtues, typically under another person. Often, the word retains a tinge of immitation.

      2. Shī 師 and cóng 從 refer to deciding to study under someone and treating him as one's teacher.

      3. Kǎo 考 refers to an investigation of a subject in a "scientific" spirit with the aim of finding the truth about something.

      4. Jiū 究 and yán 研 refers to an in-depth study of a subject, typically involving a fair amount of reflection.

      5. Zhì 治 and gōng 攻 refer to the systematic and specialised study, typically of a certain text.

      6. Xí 習 refers to rehearsing and application in practice of what one has learnt, through repetition of text and/or through enactment in practice.

    • ACADEMY

      太學

    • IMITATE

      1. The current general word for imitation is xiào 效.

      2. Xué 學 refers to a systematic attempt to imitate an admired model, often as a method of self-cultivation.

      3. Fǎ 法 refers to modelling oneself on distant ideals, typical abstract, or historically placed in the distant mythical past.

      4. Zé 則 refers to taking something abstract and authoritative as one's fixed obligatory guideline.

      5. Xiàng 象 refers to an abstract, almost metaphysical making oneself into a living icon of a higher authoritative model, typically of an abstract or cosmological kind.

      6. Nǐ 擬 and fǎng 倣 / 仿 refer to an attempt to produce a true copy or a true representation of another representation.

      7. Xiě 寫 refers primarily to the production of a true pictorial representation of another representation. See COPY

      Word relations
    • Conv: (STUDY)誨/TEACH Huì 誨 (ant. xí 習 "study persistently") refers to systematic and persistent efforts to teach and inculcate intellectual or practical skills (誨之琴 "taught him to play the zither") and moral understanding of students (誨女知之 "I will teach you so you understand"), and the word never implies coercion or any threat of force. Huì 誨 can be mutual, or refer to equals teaching equals, even subordinates teaching superiors 諫誨 "remonstrate with and instruct". The word is not commonly nominalised. The primary aim of huì 誨 is understanding.
    • Conv: (STUDY)教/TEACH The current general word for training, instructing, and disciplining others is jiào 教 (ant. xué 學 "study") and the standard main aim of jiào 教 is unquestioning obedience, professional skill, and intellectual conformity to the standard set by the teacher, and the word connotes use of authority and sometimes even coercion. The primary aim of jiào 教 is action conforming to a standard, and the word is commonly nominalised.
    • Conv: (STUDENT)師/TEACHER The current general word for a (revered) teacher of one's choice is shī 師.
    • Inconsist: (STUDY)固 / 故/STUBBORN The current general word referring to stubbornness in a positive or in the positive sense of unswerving determination is gù 固.
    • Inconsist: (SCHOLAR)愚/STUPID The dominant word is yú 愚 (ant. zhì 智 "clever; wise"), and the word refers to intellectual obtuseness as well as practical ineptitude.
    • Result: (STUDY)成/ACHIEVE The current general word for successful action on one's own behalf or on someone else's behalf is chéng 成 (ant. bài 敗 "fail to achieve; botch up"). [GENERAL], [LARGE-SCALE]; [VERB]
    • Result: (LEARN)能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING
    • Result: (STUDY)能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING
    • Result: (STUDY)明/UNDERSTAND Míng 明 (ant. měng 蒙 "have very confused notions about") refers to incisive clarity of insight.
    • Result: (STUDY)行/ACT The current general word for any deliberate action one may be held morally and/or administratively responsible for is xíng 行 (ant. zhǐ 止 "decide not to take action"). The nominal entries have the old reading xìng. [COMMENDATORY!], [GENERAL], [HABITUAL], [RESPONSIBLE]
    • Result: (STUDY)博/BROAD Bó 博 (ant. yuē 約 "confined") is primarily metaphorical in application, and its concrete senses applied to physical objects are derived senses of the word only.
    • Ant: (STUDY)未之聞/IGNORANT
    • Ant: (STUDY)思/THINK The most current general word for thought or reflection of any kind is perhaps sī 思 (ant. hū 忽 "fail to pay detailed attention to"), but this word tends to refer specifically to reflection.
    • Object: (DOCTRINE)古/ANCIENT
    • Object: (STUDY)射/ARCHERY The dominant general term is shè 射and this word refers to all kinds of shooting with a bow, particularly ritualised archery. [GENERAL]
    • Object: (LEARN)禮/RITUAL The current general term for everything relating to the system of ritual propriety is lǐ 禮. However the term can also be used to refer to individual prescribed rituals.
    • Object: (STUDY)悅 / 說/DELIGHT The general current word referring to the purely psychological notion of a transitory or temporary feeling of pleasure or delight is yuè 悅 (ant. yùn 慍 "feel intensely dissatisfied with, feel offended by").
    • Object: (STUDY)禮/RITUAL The current general term for everything relating to the system of ritual propriety is lǐ 禮. However the term can also be used to refer to individual prescribed rituals.
    • Object: (STUDY)行/WALK The current general word for walking is xíng 行(ant. zhǐ 止 "stay put").
    • Object: (STUDY)操/WIELD
    • Object: (STUDY)生/LIFE
    • Object: (STUDY)道/METHOD Dào 道 is a way of being, of functioning, as well as a way of doing things, and this Way may be either exoteric or esoteric.
    • Object: (STUDY)言/WORD On the relatively rare occasions when words rather than characters are referred to, the current general term to use is yán 言.
    • Object: (STUDY)詩/SONG Shī 詩 refers to a regularly rhymed song with a generally regular number of syllables per line.
    • Object: (STUDY)詩書/CLASSIC
    • Object: (STUDY)樂 / 樂/ENJOY The current general word for active enjoyment and delighting in something is lè 樂 (ant. bēi 悲 "be saddened by"), as in 與民同樂 "share one's enjoyings/enjoyments with the people". In the transitive usage the reading yào is suggested by WGZ.
    • Object: (STUDY)干戈/WARFARE Gān gē 干戈 (ant. yù bó 玉帛 "jade and silk") is a periphrastic way of referring to military affairs.
    • Object: (SCHOOL)立/ESTABLISH The current general word for setting up anything abstract or concrete is lì 立 and the almost equally common shè 設.
    • Object: (STUDY)書/WRITE The standard current word for writing something down or noting it down is shū 書, and this word can never refer to an act of literary creation.
    • Object: (STUDY)計/CALCULATE The commonest general term for counting objects is jì 計.
    • Object: (STUDY)御 / 馭/DRIVE Yù 御 refers to the driving and steering of a carriage.
    • Epithet: (STUDY)博/BROAD Bó 博 (ant. yuē 約 "confined") is primarily metaphorical in application, and its concrete senses applied to physical objects are derived senses of the word only.
    • Epithet: (STUDY)遊 / 游/TRAVEL Yóu 遊/游 refers specifically to travelling for pleasure.
    • Epithet: (STUDY)士/GENTLEMAN The current general term for a person of a certain social standing is shì 士 and this word often connotes specifically a certain level of education, particularly literacy. See INTELLECTUAL.
    • Epithet: (STUDY)俗/COMMON
    • Epithet: (LEARN)世/GENERATION The dominant general word for a generation is shì 世, and this word has strong temporal connotations referring to the period of one generation, and the word has a certain syntactic flexibility. Sān shì 三世 refers to three generations.
    • Epithet: (KNOW)世/GENERATION The dominant general word for a generation is shì 世, and this word has strong temporal connotations referring to the period of one generation, and the word has a certain syntactic flexibility. Sān shì 三世 refers to three generations.
    • Contrast: (STUDY)思/THINK The most current general word for thought or reflection of any kind is perhaps sī 思 (ant. hū 忽 "fail to pay detailed attention to"), but this word tends to refer specifically to reflection.
    • Assoc: (STUDY)文/ARTS Wén 文 (ant. wǔ 武 "martial arts) refers to higher literary fine arts including belles lettres as well as ritual. [AESTHETIC], [ELEVATED], [SPECIALISED]; [[CURRENT]]
    • Assoc: (STUDY)勸/ENCOURAGE The dominant current word is quàn 勸 (ant. jǔ 沮 "try to stop") which refers to all kinds of encouragement, both from inferiors and from superiors.
    • Relat: (STUDY)講/DISCUSS 4444Jiǎng 講 refers to discussing something as an important subject and in a systematic manner. 4444Jiǎng 講 refers to discussing something as an important subject and in a systematic manner.
    • Oppos: (STUDY)教/TEACH The current general word for training, instructing, and disciplining others is jiào 教 (ant. xué 學 "study") and the standard main aim of jiào 教 is unquestioning obedience, professional skill, and intellectual conformity to the standard set by the teacher, and the word connotes use of authority and sometimes even coercion. The primary aim of jiào 教 is action conforming to a standard, and the word is commonly nominalised.