three marks of existence

noun

In the Pali tradition of the Theravada school, the three marks are

OriginPali tilakkhaṇa ← Sanskrit त्रिलक्षण →
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Meanings

nounthe three marks of existence pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlyBuddhismIn the Pali tradition of the Theravada school, the three marks are
  2. pluralplural onlysabbe saṅkhārā aniccā – all saṅkhāras (conditioned things) are impermanent
  3. pluralplural onlysabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā – all saṅkhāras are unsatisfactory, imperfect, unstable
  4. pluralplural onlysabbe dhammā anattā – all dharmas (conditioned or unconditioned things) have no unchanging self or soul

Origin

  1. Sanskritत्रिलक्षण
  2. Palitilakkhaṇa
  3. Englishthree marks of existence

Calque of Pali tilakkhaṇa, Sanskrit त्रिलक्षण (trilakṣaṇa).

More words from Pali, Sanskrit

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 三法印
  • 三法印 (sānfǎyìn)three characteristics of all phenomena
Finnish kolme olemassaolon merkkiä
  • kolme olemassaolon merkkiäthree characteristics of all phenomena
Japanese 三法印
  • 三法印 (sanbōin)three characteristics of all phenomena
Korean 삼법인
  • 삼법인 (sambeobin)three characteristics of all phenomena
Spanish tres características de la existencia
  • tres características de la existenciathree characteristics of all phenomena
Thai ไตรลักษณ์
  • ไตรลักษณ์ (dtrai-lák)three characteristics of all phenomena
Vietnamese tam pháp ấn, tam pháp tướng
  • tam pháp ấnthree characteristics of all phenomena
  • tam pháp tướngthree characteristics of all phenomena
Cite this entry
APA

three marks of existence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/three%20marks%20of%20existence

MLA

“three marks of existence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/three%20marks%20of%20existence. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “three marks of existence,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/three%20marks%20of%20existence.

Source: three marks of existence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.