How to say No!

How to say No!¶

Negative particle “na”¶

The easiest way to make a verb into its negative is to add the particle “na” before it.


ahaṃ jānāmi	I know
ahaṃ na jānāmi	I don’t know
so naro atthi	he is a man
so naro na atthi¹⁶	he is not a man

It frequently appears in text as n'atthi

Negative particle “no”¶

The particle “no” expresses the meaning “not” (although it also has many other meanings, so be careful!)

ime dhammā saṃyogāya saṃvattanti, no visaṃyogāya. (AN8.53)

These qualities lead to attachment, not to detachment.

Negative particles “n'eva … na” = na eva … na¶

This is used in the same way as neither … nor in English.

n'eva = na eva ; lit. not even; not only

n'eva tasmiṃ samaye dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedeti, na adukkham’asukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedeti (MN74)

At that time, he neither feels an unpleasant sensation, nor does he feel a neither unpleasant nor pleasant sensation.

āyasmā raṭṭhapālo n'eva dānaṃ alattha na paccakkhānaṃ, añña'd'atthu akkosaṃ eva alattha! (MN82)

Venerable Ratthapāla neither received alms food nor rejection, on the contrary, he only received verbal abuse!

Prohibitive Particle “mā”¶

To express prohibition “don’t do!” the particle mā + aorist is used. Even though the past tense is used, the meaning is present or sometimes future.

mā akāsi pāpakaṃ kammaṃ (SN10.5)

Don’t do evil deeds!

kiṃ nu kujjhasi? mā kujjhi! (SN21.9)

Why are you angry? Don’t be angry!

mā + imperative can be used to express prohibition, especially in the 2nd person.

jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādā attha (MN19 simpl)

Meditate, monks! Don’t be negligent!