道德经一
Daodejing One: 11/59
名
可
名
非
常
常cháng
the name that can be named
is not “constant name”
is not a “constant name”
is not the “constant name”
there is no article (a/the) in ancient chinese
the character 常cháng in modern chinese
can be used to form words like
常常chángcháng often
常态chángtài a constant or persistent state
if the name is not a constant one
then it is subject to change
anything you can talk about
anything you can put a name to
is subject to change
think of a dog
call it a dog
but it is not a constant dog
in 50 years it might be soil, part of some plants, etc.
dog is subject to change
sorry
i know you already know this about your dog
