唐捐
Chinese edit
in vain, to no avail | to relinquish, to abandon | ||
---|---|---|---|
trad. (唐捐) | 唐 | 捐 | |
simp. #(唐捐) | 唐 | 捐 |
Etymology edit
Able to be understood literally. First attested in Buddhist sutras:
- 若有眾生,恭敬禮拜觀世音菩薩,福不唐捐。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: c. 406,《妙法蓮華經·觀世音菩薩普門品》, translated by Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什 (Jiūmóluóshí))
- Ruò yǒu zhòngshēng, gōngjìng lǐbài guānshìyīnpúsà, fú bù tángjuān. [Pinyin]
- If the living beings reverently worship bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, their efforts will not be wasted.
若有众生,恭敬礼拜观世音菩萨,福不唐捐。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
唐捐
- (of one's effort, etc) to be wasted
- 佛典裏有一句話:“福不唐捐。”唐捐就是白白的丟了。我們也應該說:“功不唐捐。” [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: 1933, 胡適 (Hu Shih), 《〈獨立評論〉的一周年》
- Fódiǎn lǐ yǒu yījù huà: “Fú bù tángjuān.” Tángjuān jiùshì báibáide diūle. Wǒmen yě yìnggāi shuō: “Gōng bù tángjuān.” [Pinyin]
- In Buddhist scriptures, there is a saying: fortune should not be lost without reason. We should also say: no effort will ever have been in vain.
佛典里有一句话:“福不唐捐。”唐捐就是白白的丢了。我们也应该说:“功不唐捐。” [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
Further reading edit
- Ding, Fubao (丁福保) (1922), “唐捐” in 佛學大辭典 [A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms].