---
title: daoism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «daoism» in the school dictionary: A Chinese tradition of thought and religion based on the «Dao» (or «Tao»), «the Way» — the natural flow of the universe; it teaches living simply, calmly and in harmony with nature. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# daoism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Chinese tradition, universe, religion, Daoism, grandad, tai chi · **What happens:** base, teach, live, flow, grow, link · **To what, where:** Chinese tradition, Dao, people, harmony, yang symbol, Laozi · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«daoism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [daoism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/daoism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Chinese tradition of thought and religion based on the «Dao» (or «Tao»), «the Way» — the natural flow of the universe; it teaches living simply, calmly and in harmony with nature.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:m1:1
# text = A Chinese tradition of thought and religion based on the «Dao» (or «Tao»), «the Way» — the natural flow of the universe; it teaches living simply, calmly and in harmony with nature.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Chinese	Chinese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tradition	tradition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Dao	Dao	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	Tao	Tao	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	Way	Way	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
25	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	flow	flow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	universe	universe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	34	punct	_	_
33	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	34	nsubj	_	_
34	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
35	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	34	xcomp	_	_
36	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	38	punct	_	_
38	calmly	calmly	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	_
39	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	41	cc	_	_
40	in	in	ADP	IN	_	41	case	_	_
41	harmony	harmony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	38	conj	_	_
42	with	with	ADP	IN	_	43	case	_	_
43	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	41	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
44	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	34	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **base** | participle |  | a Chinese tradition of thought and religion *not said here* |  | the Dao or Tao and the Way |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent on dao=Source |
| 2 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | a Chinese tradition of thought and religion |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **live** | gerund | a Chinese tradition of thought and religion *not said here* |  |  |  |  | calmly, simply *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **flow** |  | the universe |  |  |  |  |  | nom flow «event intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The religion that grew from these ideas, with temples, priests, festivals and many gods and immortals.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:m2:1
# text = The religion that grew from these ideas, with temples, priests, festivals and many gods and immortals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	temples	temple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	festivals	festival	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	immortals	immortal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | the religion |  |  |  |  | with temples and priests and festivals and many gods and immortals; from this ideas | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.product V PP.patient»: agent=Product from idea=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Daoism teaches people to live in harmony with nature.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x1:1
# text = Daoism teaches people to live in harmony with nature.
1	Daoism	daoism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	harmony	harmony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | Daoism |  | people |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent people=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **live** | to-infinitive | Daoism *not said here* |  |  | harmony |  | with nature | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in harmony=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The yin-yang symbol is linked with Daoism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x2:1
# text = The yin-yang symbol is linked with Daoism.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	yin	yin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	yang	yang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	linked	link	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Daoism	Daoism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **link** | present · passive |  | the yang symbol |  |  |  | with Daoism | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: subject=Patient with daoism=Co-Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Laozi is said to have written the Dao De Jing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x3:1
# text = Laozi is said to have written the Dao De Jing.
1	Laozi	Laozi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux	_	_
6	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	Dao	Dao	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
9	De	De	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
10	Jing	Jing	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | Laozi |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | to-infinitive · perfect |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Daoism and Confucianism both began in ancient China.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x4:1
# text = Daoism and Confucianism both began in ancient China.
1	Daoism	daoism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Confucianism	Confucianism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	both	both	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | Daoism and Confucianism |  |  | ancient China |  | both *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandad does tai chi, which has roots in Daoism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x5:1
# text = My grandad does tai chi, which has roots in Daoism.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tai	tai	X	FW	_	5	compound	_	_
5	chi	chi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Daoism	Daoism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | My grandad | tai chi |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chi=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | present | tai chi | roots |  | Daoism |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent root=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In RE we compared Daoism with Buddhism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x6:1
# text = In RE we compared Daoism with Buddhism.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	RE	RE	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	compared	compare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Daoism	Daoism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Buddhism	Buddhism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compare** | past | we | Daoism |  | RE |  | with Buddhism | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent daoism=Patient with buddhism=Co-Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Daoists believe water shows the Way: soft, yet able to wear down stone.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:daoism:x7:1
# text = Daoists believe water shows the Way: soft, yet able to wear down stone.
1	Daoists	daoist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Way	Way	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	yet	yet	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	down	down	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Daoists |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **show** | present | water |  | the Way |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent way=Recipient |
| 3 | **wear down** | to-infinitive | Daoists *not said here* | stone |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent stone=Source |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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