Book 1: 《學而》 Xue Er (Studying)
《學而》 Passage 1.6
Legge Translation (1861)
The Master said: "A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies."Word by word
- 子曰 zǐ yuē
the Master said
- 子 Master (honorific title for Confucius)
- 曰 said, spoke
- 弟子 dì zǐ
young people, juniors (literally younger brothers and sons)
- 弟 junior, young person
- 子 person, young man (nominal element)
Ames & Rosemont renders the components literally as 'younger brother and son'; the others read 弟子 idiomatically as 'disciple, young person'.
- 入則 rù zé
when at home, upon entering the household
- 入 to enter; be at home, within the household
- 則 then, in that case (sequential/conditional particle)
則 marks the conditional/sequential clause here.
- 孝 xiào
filial, devoted to one's parents
- 出則 chū zé
when out, away from home, in public
- 出 to go out; be away from home, in public
- 則 then, in that case (sequential/conditional particle)
則 marks the conditional/sequential clause here.
- 弟 tì
deferential to elders, fraternal respect
Read as 悌 (tì), not the noun 'younger brother'.
- 謹 jǐn
cautious, circumspect in word and deed
- 而 ér
conjunctive particle: and, and then, and so
- 信 xìn
trustworthy, true to one's word
- 汎 fàn
broadly, extensively, without partiality
- 愛 ài
to love, care for
- 眾 zhòng
the multitude, the masses, people in general
- 而 ér
coordinating conjunction: and, but
- 親 qīn
to be intimate with, draw close to
- 仁 rén
the humane, those of benevolent character
Refers here to people who possess ren, not the abstract virtue itself; translators split between 'humane/good people' and the technical 'authoritative conduct'.
- 行 xíng
conduct, practice, what one does
- 有餘力…則 yǒu yú lì … zé
to have energy or strength to spare
- 有 to have, possess
- 餘 surplus, extra, left over
- 力 strength, energy, capability
- 則 then, in that case (sequential/conditional particle)
則 (then) marks the conditional/sequential clause and is not separately rendered by any translator.
- 以 yǐ
instrumental: to use, by means of, in order to
- 學 xué
to study, learn
- 文 wén
culture, letters, the refined arts, texts
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