Buddhist Chinese which is based on the Chinese translation of Indian Buddhist texts, has a significant characteristic of two kinds of hybrids, hybrid of target language and source language and hybrid of written language and spoken language. It is considered as one of most important materials for the study on the language contract emerged in history between Chinese language and nonChinese languages, and between written Chinese and spoken Chinese. Using data from the“Database of Chinese Buddhist translation and their Sanskrit parallels for Buddhist Chinese Studies”, this article focuses on some unconventional usages in Zhi Qian's Chinese translation of Vimalakīrtinirdeśa, and tries to explain why and how they emerged. The aim of the paper is not only to help to deepen our understanding of the characteristics of Buddhist Chinese but also to demonstrate the significance of using comparative analysis materials of Chinese Buddhist translation and their Sanskrit parallels for Buddhist Chinese Studies.
