Table Of ContentA TIBETAN-ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
WITH SPECIAL EEFERENCE TO THE PREVAILING DIALECTS.
TO WHICH ADDED
IS
AN ENGLISH-TIBETAN VOCABULARY.
BY
;>
HfVjASCHKE,
LATE MORAVIAN MISSIONARY AT KYELANG, BRITISH LAHOUL.
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED AT THE CHARGE OF THE SECRETARY
OF STATE FOR INDIA IN COUNCIL.
LONDON
1881.
PREFACE.
This work represents a new and thoroughly revised edition of a Tibetan-German
Dictionary, which appeared in a lithographed form between the years 1871 and 1876.
During a residence, which commenced in 1857 and extended over a number of
years, on the borders of Tibet and among Tibetan tribes, I and my colleagues gathered
the materials for this Dictionary.
We had to take primarily into account the needs ofmissionaries entering upon new
regions, and then ofthose who might hereafter follow into the same field of enterprize.
The chiefmotive ofall our exertions lay always in the desire to facilitate and to hasten
the spread ofthe Christian religion and of Christian civilization, among the millions of
Buddhists, who inhabit Central Asia, and who speak and read in Tibetan idioms.
A yet more definite object influenced my own personal linguistic researches, in as
much as I had undertaken to make preparations for the translation of the Holy Scrip-
tures into the Tibetan speech. I approached and carried forward this task by way of
a careful examination of the full sense and exact range of words in their ordinary and
common usage. For it seemed to me that, if Buddhist readers were to be brought into
contact with Biblical and Christian ideas, the introduction to so foreign and strange a
train ofthought, and one making the largest demands upon the character andthe imagi-
nation, had best be made through the medium ofa phraseology and diction as simple,
as clear, and as popular as possible. My instrument must be, as in the case of every
successful translator ofthe Bible, so to say, not a technical, but the vulgar tongue.
Thus, in contrast to the business of the European philologist, engaged in the same
domain, who quite rightly occupies himself with the analysis and commentary ofa lite-
rary language, the vocabulary and terminology of which he finds mainly deposited in
the speculative writings of the Buddhist philosophers, it became my duty to embrace
every opportunity, with which my presence on the spot favoured me, to trace the living
powers of words and ofexpressions through their consecutive historical applications, till
I reached their last signification in their modern equivalents, as these are embodied in
the provincial dialects of the native tribes of our own time.
These circumstances, it is hoped, will excuse and explain the system ofmy work.
As an inventory ofthe whole treasure of the language, as a finished key to its lite-
rature, this Dictionary, when judged by the high standard ofmodern lexicography, may
seem inadequate; I have,forinstance, been unable to consult, muchasI could havewished
to have done so^all the original and translated treatises in Tibetan which, down to the
present, have appeared in Europe, and the reader of aTibetan work may thus, here and
there, lookin vainfor the assistance he expects. On the other hand, a consistent attempt
is here made for the first time, 1. to give a rational account of the development ofthe
values and meanings of words in this language; 2. to distinguish precisely the various
IV
transitions in periods of literature and varieties of dialect; 3. to make sure ofeach step
by the help of accurate and copious illustrations and examples. I. have done my utmost
to arrive at certainty where, heretofore, much was mere guess-work, and I cherish the
hope that, from this point of view, my contributionwill be welcomed bythe comparative
philologist, and will be serviceable to the general cause of learning, as well as a useful
volume within that narrower circle, whose requirements I was specially bound not to
overlook, of persons whosemain purpose is to be taught how to write and speak the mo-
dern Tibetan tongue.
There are two chief periods of literary activity to be noticed in studying the origin
and growth of Tibetan literature and the landmarks in the history of the language. The
first is the Period of Translations which, however, might also be entitled the Classical
Period, for the sanctity of the religious message conferred a corresponding reputation
and tradition of excellence upon the form, in which it was conveyed. This period be-
gins in the first half of the seventh century, when Thonmi Sambhota, the minister of
king Srongtsangampo, was sent to India to learn Sanskrit. His invention oftheTibetan
alphabet gave a twofold impulse: for several centuries the wisdom of India and the in-
genuity of Tibet laboured in unison and with the greatest industry and enthusiasm atthe
work oftranslation. The tribute dueto realgeniusmust beawardedto theseearlypioneers
of Tibetan grammar. They had to grapple with the infinite wealth and refinement of
Sanskrit, they had to save the independence of their own tongue, while they strove to
subject itto the rule of scientific principles, anditismost remarkable, how they managed
to produce translations at once literal and faithful to the spirit ofthe original. The first
masters had made for their later disciples a comparatively easy road, for the style and
contexts ofthe writings, withwhich the translators hadto deal, presentvery uniform fea-
tures. When once typical patterns had been furnished, it was possible for the literary
manufacture to be extended by a sort ofmechanical process.
A
considerabletime elapsed beforenatives ofTibet began toindulgein compositions
of their own. When they did so, the subject matter, chosen by them to operate upon,
was either of anhistorical or alegendarykind. Inthis SecondPeriodthelanguageshows
much resemblanWceeto the modern tongue, approaching most closely the present idiom of
Central Tibet. find a greaterfreedom in construction, a tendency to use abbreviated
forms (thus the mere verbal root is often inflected in the place of a complete infinitive),
and a certain number ofnew grammatical combinations.
Thepresentlanguage ofthepeoplehas asmanydialects, asthe countryhasprovinces.
Indeed, as in most geographically similar districts, well nigh every separate mountain
valleyhasitsown singularitiesastomodes ofutterance andfavouritecollocations ofwords.
Especially is it interesting to note, in respect to pronunciation, how the old consonants,
which would seemtohave been generally sounded andspokentwelve centuries ago, when
the Tibetan written character came into existence, andwhich, atanyrate, aremarkedby
theprimitive system ofwriting, remainstill extant; everyoneofthemcan stillbe disinterr-
ed, somewhere or other, from some local peculiarity oflanguage, and thus even the very
diversity of modern practice can be made to bear testimony to thestandards imposed by
whatwastermed above the ClassicalPeriod. (Compare myEssayonthePhoneticSystem
of the Tibetan language in the Monthly Reports of the Royal Academy of Science at
Berlin 1867, p. 148 etc.)
I have already adverted to the circumstances which, especially in the case of the
student,who hasforimmediate objecttolearnhowtoread andwritethe Tibetanlanguage,
render existing dictionaries almost if not quite useless. Theygive butscanty information
concerning modes of construction, variations and limits of actual application, shades of
meaning etc. In my own case, I was forced from the beginning to compile my own
German-Tibetan dictionary, and foundmyselffor allpracticalpurposesthrown back upon
my ONvii ivxnirces. But the cause of truth appears to require a further word or two in
regard to the Lexicon by Professor I. J. Schmidt ofSt. Petersburg, the relation of that
work to its predecessors having been left by its author in some obscurity.
ThefirstTibetan dictionary, intendedforEuropean students, waspublishedatSeram-
pore, as long ago as 1826. It contains the collections, amassed in view of a dictionary
and grammar, by a Roman Catholic missionary, who was stationed in eastern Tibet or
close to the frontier in Bhotan. There was nothing to assist him, except the scanty con-
tributions, given by Georgi, in his Alphabetum Tibetanum. He had to cope with an
entirely unworked language. Heevidently took the oneway possible ofmakingacquaint-
ance with it, sufficient to enable him to understand, to speak, to read and write. Each
word or sentence wasjotteddown, as soon as itwas heard, or was committed to writing,
at the request ofthe learner, by some native expert. After a while, the attempt could be
made to master a book. In the instance of our missionary, Padma Sambhava's book of
legends appears to have been selected, a work which represents rather a low level ofli-
terature, yetjust on thataccount, perhaps, as aspecimenofpopularandcurrentliterature,
not unsuitable to start from. Then, step by step, as besthe could, our missionary had to
possess himself of some abstract views, which would serve as a preliminary basis for a
grammar. Andhaditbeen granted to thisfirstoccupantofthefield toreduce hismaterials
to an ordered system and to prepare them himselffor publication, it is possible, that in
Europe the knowledge of the Tibetan language might have reached, some fifty years
earlier, the stage at which it has noAv arrived. The very name of that Roman Catholic
missionary, however, has been lost. The papers which he left behind him, unsorted and
unsifted, came into the hands ofMajor Latter, an English officer, and were passed on
by him to Mr. Schroter, a missionary in Bengal. English was substituted for the
Italian of the manuscript, and the East India Company made a grant which defrayedthe
cost ofthe Tibetan types and the further expenses ofprinting. But therewasno Tibetan
scholar to correct the proofs. The author himself would doubtless, on reconsideration,
have detected and dismissed much erroneous or unnecessary matter. As it was, many
additional mistakes crept in during the passage through thepress. Thus the work, though
it has a richer vocabulary than can be found in the later dictionaries, cannot on any
questionable point be accepted as an authority, and has only value for those who are al-
ready competent, for themselves, to weigh and decide upon the statements and interpre-
tations it advances. I havenot been able to extract from it much that was serviceable to
me. Nevertheless, any one who knows by experience what time and toil such a work
must have cost, though its design remained unfulfilled and its objectunaccomplished, will
not easily be able to repress his indignation atthe tone, in whichthis book in the preface
to his Grammar (p. VI) is recklessly and absolutely condemned by ProfessorSchmidt.
High praise, however, is awarded by the Professor to a second work, the Tibetan-
English Dictionary by Csoma de Koros, which appeared in 1834. This work deserves
all eulogy; but the Professor's manner, which imitates that ofa master commending a
pupil, is, though on othergrounds, asunwarranted and as offensivein thisasintheformer
case. The work of Csoma de Koros is that of an original investigator and the fruit of
almost unparalleled determination and patience. The compiler, in order to dedicatehim-
selftothe studyof Tibetan literature, lived like amonk for years among the inmates ofa
Tibetan monastery. It is to be regrettedthat, with the knowledgehecertainly musthave
possessed ofthe later language and literature, he should have restricted the scope ofhis
labours to the earlier periods of literature, and when in his Grammar conversational
VI
phrases are quoted as examples, they are almost without exception in the dialect ofthe
Kangyur, and oflittle practical value.
This Tibetan-English dictionary by Csoma has been adapted for a German public
byProfessorI.J. SchmidtofSt.Petersburg. The translation from English intoGerman
is good; in the general alphabetical arrangement improvements have been introduced,
and such as are inconformity with thespirit ofthe language; moreover, three Mongolian
dictionaries have beenconsulted, andfrom theseacertainnumberofwordshavebeensup-
plemented. But it cannot be said that even on the work of revision Professor Schmidt
hasbestowedmuchpains. Forexample,Csoma'sroughgroupingofwords underthe prin-
cipal headings is left unaltered, though here especially a reduction to alphabetical order
was obviously required. Mistakes and superfluities, very pardonable in the case ofa first
issue of an original publication, are repeated in this translation, and these cannot be so
readily overlooked and condoned, when they aremade atsecondhand, andaresanctioned
and subscribed to by one, who has assumed so severe a critical and editorial attitude.
The national dictionaries of Tibet itself, so far as I have met with such, are either
little handbooks, meant only to furnish a correct orthography, or they are glossaries of
antiquated forms. The absence of an alphabetical order in them makes the business of
reference very troublesome. It is by great good luck that one sometimes finds an other-
wise unknown word after a prolonged search.
My own dictionary, in the main, pursues the object and accepts theplan ofthe work,
which was published byMr. Schroter. AsI said at thebeginning, I have not restricted
myselfto the ClassicalPeriod, butIhave endeavoured to deal with theTibetanlanguage
as a whole, though I do not pretend to have performed this task exhaustively. My dic-
tionary derives its matter and its principles, so faraspossible, equallyfromthe literature
and from the speech ofthe people. Each word has been made the object of observation
in its relation to the context as it occurs in books, and in its value and place among
others when it is used in common conversation, and then the attempt has been made to
define its range and to fix its meaning.
All the words, cited by Csoma and Schmidt, even suchasImyselfhadneverseen
or heard, I have embodied in this work, stating, in each case, the source from whence I
drew them.
The signification in Sanskrit has been added, whenever this seemed likely to be
useful or interesting to the student of Tibetan literature. Ofproper names only themost
important are given.
The great number of diacritical marks will perhaps prove irksome to the English
reader; yet, they were not to be dispensed with, if the pronunciation of Tibetan letters
and words was to be represented with any degree of exactness, and the method ofProf.
Lepsius seemed the most eligible among all the systems available for mypurpose. The
student,however,neednot be disheartened, as heisnotobliged to make himselfacquaint-
ed with all the minutiae ofthe system, but need only direct his attentionto the peculiari-
ties ofthat dialect, within the limits of which his inquiries, for the time, are confined.
And by-the-byitmay be observed,thatthemultitude oflittle marks, ofmanifold descrip-
tion, cannot be startling to the Indian reader, who was ever necessitated to makehimself
familiar with systems quite as complicated, as e.g. the Urdu alphabet.
One word more of apology. Of publications in general it has been said, that
"when human carehas doneits best, there will be found a certain percentage of error".
And the probability is but too great, that this ^dictionary will exhibit a number of defi-
ciencies and faults, in the English text as well as in the Tibetan transcript. Still, I ven-
ture to hope that an indulgentPublic will be readyto make every reasonable allowance.
vit
in consideration of the peculiar difficulties, which attach to the execution ofa work like
the present, and which, moreover, were not a little increased, in this instance, by the
fact that the compositors ofthe press were altogether unacquainted with English.
I should be guilty ofgreat ingratitude, if I were not to mention my obligations to
two friends, without whose kind and efficient aid it would have been impossible for me,
in my present infirm state, to complete this work, which was commenced in the days of
health and vigour, viz. to the Rev. T. Reichelt, formerly a Missionary ofthe Moravian
Church in South Africa, and to Mr. F. W. Petersen, a relative ofmine.
Further,! desire torecord ray obligationsforvarious acts ofkindness,encouragement,
assistance and advice, during the prosecution of my researches and thecompletion ofmy
work, to A. C. Burnell Esq. M. R. A. S., in India; Dr. E. Schlagintweit in Bavaria,
Dr. Thomson and Dr. Aitchison ofKew, Dr. Kurz of Calcutta, and R. Laing Esq.
M.A., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Nottheleastdebtof gratitude is that which I owe to Dr.R. Rost in London, Secre-
tary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to whose exertions, indeed, the execution of this work
is, properly speaking, entirely due, inas much as he kindly interested the Indian Govern-
ment on behalf of my undertaking.
Herrnhut, January 1881.
H. A.J.
INTRODUCTION.
THE TIBETAN ALPHABET.
I.
CONSONANTS.
The names ofall the Consonants sound in a, pronounced like the a in the English
word 'far'.
ka pronounced like the French c car 5$ ma mart
'Tj
p Ma like the English c or k cart 3 tsa (is) parts
^| ga harder than the English (hard) g cb fsa (aspirated)
na ng pang E, cfea (ds) guards
5 ca the soft English g ginger wa waft
'jlj
cB ca ch chare (3 a (zh) like the English s in leisure
5 )a j jar 3 za like the English z zeal
9> nya the French gn campagne f\<a (basis for vowels)
^ ta the French t tard &M *) ya yard
JJ fa the English t tart ^ **) ra rasp
^ da dart fl] la last
<X wa nard A sa (sh) sharp
J pa the French p pas $J sa salve
5J ^5a the English p part *o /i half
^ &a bard 11^ 'a (basis for vowels)
*) 2/, when combined, as second consonant, with k- and p-sounds, or with m,
is written under the first letter, assuming the shape of^, thus ^%a, Jpi/a,
^ w?/a etc.
**) ra, when combined as second letter, with k-, t- and p-sounds iswrittenunder
the first, in the shape of -j, thus: ^JJ, kra, 5 tra-> ^ ^ra e*c. When com-
binedwithanother consonant asfirst letter, itis written over the second, thus:
rka, rha, rda etc., but it is seldom heard in speaking.
rfj
The so-called Sanskrit Cerebrals are represented in Tibetanletters by ^, P,^,p, [V,
