《先進》 Passage 11.24

Ji Ziran, a member of the Ji clan who questions Confucius about his followers

• 季 surname Ji, in the name Ji Ziran
• 子 honorific element in the personal name Ziran
• 然 second syllable of the given name Ziran

to ask, inquire

Zhong You, courtesy name Zilu (the disciple Zilu)

• 仲 Zhong, the surname of the disciple Zilu (Zhong You, 仲由)
• 由 You, given name of the disciple Zilu

Ran Qiu (the disciple Ran You)

• 冉 Ran, surname of the disciple Ran Qiu
• 求 Qiu, given name of the disciple Ran Qiu

could...be called...?, interrogative frame querying whether a title or status applies

• 可 can, could, may (modal of possibility)
• 謂 to call, term, describe as
• 與 interrogative final particle

great minister, a minister of the highest rank and full moral responsibility

• 大 great, of the highest rank
• 臣 minister, court official

the Master said

• 子 the Master, referring to Confucius
• 曰 said

I, me

to think, suppose, expect, regard (X as Y)

• 以 to regard, take (something) as
• 為 to be, to count as, in a regard-as construction

you (second-person pronoun, addressing Ji Ziran)

different, out of the ordinary, extraordinary

particle marking the fronted object of 問: 異之問 = 問異, 'ask about someone out of the ordinary' (or, attributively, 'an extraordinary question')

a question, a matter one asks about

Several translators supply a concrete noun (individuals, people, things) in place of the abstract 'question' this word literally names.

instead, as it turns out (contrary to expectation)

曾 is the adverb of unexpected fact, read zēng; 朱熹 glosses it 乃, 'and yet it turns out'. It is not the name syllable of 曾子, nor céng 'once'.

You, given name of the disciple Zilu

and (coordinating conjunction)

Qiu, given name of the disciple Ran Qiu

particle marking the fronted object of 問: 由與求之問 = 問由與求, 'ask about You and Qiu'

a question, a matter one asks about

that which is called, the so-called (frame introducing a term to be defined)

• 所 nominalizing element: that which (forms 所謂, 'what is called')
• 謂 to call, term, describe as
• 者 nominalizing particle: the one(s) that, that which

great minister, a minister of the highest rank and full moral responsibility

• 大 great, of the highest rank
• 臣 minister, court official

by means of, according to (coverb marking method or standard)

the Way, the proper moral principle and method of conduct

Legge and Roberts translate interpretively ('what is right', 'our teachings and ideals') rather than literally as 'the Way'.

to serve one's ruler, lord

• 事 to serve
• 君 ruler, lord

cannot, not able to, i.e. when one's counsel is not accepted

• 不 not
• 可 able to, permitted to

then stops, resigns, desists from office (the consequent of the preceding condition)

• 則 then, marking the consequent of a conditional
• 止 to stop, resign, desist from office

now, as for the present case

You, given name of the disciple Zilu

and (coordinating conjunction)

Qiu, given name of the disciple Ran Qiu

topic-marking pause particle

can/may be called, considered

• 可 can, could, may (modal of possibility)
• 謂 to call, term, describe as

a mere functionary minister, one who merely fills out the ranks

• 具 mere, filling out the number, functionary
• 臣 minister, court official

Contrasted with 大臣: a 具臣 fills the post but lacks the moral independence to serve by the Way alone and resign if refused.

final particle marking assertion of a completed or settled state

said, asked (speech-frame verb introducing direct quotation)

that being so, in that case, then

• 然 so, thus, that being so (in 然則)
• 則 then, marking the consequent of a conditional

to follow, obey, comply with

it, them (object pronoun: what one is ordered to do)

nominalizing particle plus interrogative final particle: the type who...?, marking a yes/no question about a class of people

• 者 nominalizing particle: the type who, those who
• 與 interrogative final particle

the Master said

• 子 the Master, referring to Confucius
• 曰 said

to kill one's father or ruler, commit regicide or parricide

father

and, or (coordinating conjunction)

ruler, lord

even, also (emphatic, in a negated clause)

would not follow, would not obey, would not comply

• 不 not
• 從 to follow, obey, comply with

final particle of assertion