Book 15: 《衛靈公》 Wei Ling Gong (Duke Ling of Wey)
《衛靈公》 Passage 15.34
Legge Translation (1861)
The Master said: "The superior man cannot be known in little matters; but he may be intrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be intrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters."Word by word
- 子曰 zǐ yuē
the Master said
- 子 Master, Confucius (honorific title)
- 曰 said, spoke
- 君子 jūn zǐ
exemplary person, gentleman
- 君 lord, ruler; 君子 is literally a lord's son
- 子 son; 君子 is literally a lord's son, one of the ruling class, which the Analects makes a term of character
- 不可 bù kě
cannot, may not, is not able to
- 不 not
- 可 can, may, is able to (expressing possibility)
- 小知 xiǎo zhī
recognized, appraised in small matters
- 小 small, in small or trivial matters
- 知 known, recognized, appraised
Read either as 'cannot be assessed by small matters' (passive, most translators) or as 'incapable of petty competence' (active, Slingerland/Chin).
- 而 ér
contrastive conjunction: but, yet
- 可 kě
can, may, is able to
- 大受 dà shòu
entrusted with, take on weighty responsibilities
- 大 great, important, weighty
- 受 received, entrusted with, taken on
- 也 yě
final particle of assertion
- 小人 xiǎo rén
petty person, common person
- 小 small, petty
- 人 person
- 不可 bù kě
cannot, may not, is not able to
- 不 not
- 可 can, may, is able to (expressing possibility)
- 大受 dà shòu
entrusted with, take on weighty responsibilities
- 大 great, important, weighty
- 受 received, entrusted with, taken on
- 而 ér
contrastive conjunction: but, yet
- 可 kě
can, may, is able to
- 小知 xiǎo zhī
recognized, appraised in small matters
- 小 small, in small or trivial matters
- 知 known, recognized, appraised
Read either as 'can be assessed by small matters' (passive, most translators) or as 'capable of petty competence' (active, Chin).
- 也 yě
final particle of assertion
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