Hinayana; the Lesser Vehicle
Buddhist term referring to early schools of Buddhism, often contrasted with 大乗 (Mahayana). The term can carry a pejorative nuance in some contexts; in modern scholarship, 'Mainstream Buddhism' or 'Early Buddhism' is sometimes preferred.
See also: 大乗 (だいじょう)
Hinayana Buddhism is often contrasted with Mahayana Buddhism.
narrow-minded; small-minded; petty
From Middle Chinese 小乘 (sjewX zying), a calque of Sanskrit Hīnayāna, literally 'small vehicle'.