Book 2: 《為政》 Wei Zheng (Governance)
《為政》 Passage 2.18
Legge Translation (1861)
Zizhang was learning with a view to official emolument. The Master said: "Hear much and put aside the points of which you stand in doubt, while you speak cautiously at the same time of the others: — then you will afford few occasions for blame. See much and put aside the things which seem perilous, while you are cautious at the same time in carrying the others into practice: — then you will have few occasions for repentance. When one gives few occasions for blame in his words, and few occasions for repentance in his conduct, he is in the way to get emolument."Word by word
- 子張 zǐ zhāng
Zizhang, a disciple of Confucius
- 子 prefix of a courtesy name, as in 子路 and 子貢; not the title Master
- 張 Zhang, courtesy-name element in 子張; the disciple's surname is 顓孫 (Zhuansun), not 張
- 學 xué
to study, learn
- 干祿 gān lù
to seek an official position
- 干 to seek, pursue (here: an official position)
- 祿 official salary, stipend, a government position
干祿 is a fixed classical phrase for seeking a salaried government post
- 子曰 zǐ yuē
the Master said
- 子 the Master (Confucius)
- 曰 said, spoke
- 多 duō
widely, extensively (of hearing broadly)
- 聞 wén
to hear, learn by hearing
- 闕 quē
to leave aside, set aside, suspend judgment on
read quē, as for 缺: to leave a gap, leave out (包咸: 疑則闕之).
- 疑 yí
what is doubtful, uncertain
- 慎 shèn
to be cautious, careful
- 言 yán
to speak, address
Watson alone reads this occurrence as the noun 'speech' ('in your speech apply the rest'); the others keep the verb.
- 其餘 qí yú
the rest, the remaining matters
- 其 possessive/demonstrative pronoun: its, that
- 餘 the rest, the remainder
- 則 zé
then, in that case, introducing a consequence
- 寡 guǎ
few, having little
- 尤 yóu
fault, error, cause for blame
- 多 duō
widely, extensively (of seeing broadly)
- 見 jiàn
to see, observe
- 闕 quē
to leave aside, set aside, avoid
- 殆 dài
what is dangerous, risky, perilous
- 慎 shèn
to be cautious, careful
- 行 xíng
to act, carry into practice
- 其餘 qí yú
the rest, the remaining matters
- 其 possessive/demonstrative pronoun: its, that
- 餘 the rest, the remainder
- 則 zé
then, in that case, introducing a consequence
- 寡 guǎ
few, having little
- 悔 huǐ
regret, cause for remorse
- 言 yán
one's words, speech
- 寡 guǎ
few, having little
- 尤 yóu
fault, error, cause for blame
- 行 xíng
conduct, one's actions
- 寡 guǎ
few, having little
- 悔 huǐ
regret, cause for remorse
- 祿 lù
official position, government office
- 在其中矣 zài qí zhōng yǐ
lies within, resides in, is inherent here
- 在 to lie in, consist in, reside in
- 其 it, referring back to the speech and conduct just described
- 中 in the midst of, within
- 矣 final particle marking assertion, completed state
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