Classical Words of the Day: March 23rd, 2015

非fei1
Not

也ye3
(An end particle with no meaning)

Typical form:  A 非 B 也。

非我也，兵也。
It was not I, it was the weapon.  (Mencius 1A/B)

是不為也， 非不能也。
This is not doing, it is not not-being-able. (Mencius 1A/7)


Reference:  Pulleyblank, Edwin G. Outline of Classical Chinese Grammar. Vancouver [B.C.: UBC, 1995. Print.