Contionary:bu

Thustani

Etymology

Inherited from Old Thustani.

Pronunciation

• (Wangdru): IPA^(key): [pu]
• (Chyintiang): IPA^(key): [pu]

Verb

bu (infinitive buchas, verbal noun nampu)

1. (copulative) to be (see usage notes)

   Bu ngu timar. ― I am here.

   Bu ku nyai? ― Where are you?

   Bu kung ngi Jung-ngo. ― They are in China.

2. (intransitive) to live, be alive
3. (intransitive) to dwell, to live, reside
4. (intransitive) to remain, to stay

   San nyadzinka, ya rbu timar.

   No matter how long, I'll be here.

Conjugation

Conjugation of bu

infintive	buchas /pu.ʈʂɑː/
perfective	sbu (sbu) /pʰu pʰu/
perfect	sbu jya /pʰu tɕɐ/
imperfective	bu (bu) /pu pu/
future	ya rbu /jɐ ʈʂu/

Usage notes

Several verbs can be translated to "to be," typically labelled as copulas. There are two types of copulas: essential (denoting the quality) and existential (denoting the location or time).

• de, an essential equative copula but also typically used for definiteness or a specific referent being spoken about.
• yin, a general essential copula linking adjectives and substantives, such as state, profession, type, etc.
• bu, an existential copula used for instances in time (along with the preposition dak) and general location (with locative prepositions).

Derived terms

• ibbu
• ibbugi
• sibu

Adverb

bu

1. used to indicate that an action is being done or a condition is still happening

   Kam ngu bu. ― I'm eating.

   Ei-ti! Mar ngu timar bu, ne! ― Hey! I'm walkin' here!

Derived terms

• sbu