Book 9: 《子罕》 Zi Han (Seldom Spoke)
《子罕》 Passage 9.2
Legge Translation (1861)
A man of the village of Daxiang said: "Great indeed is the philosopher Kong! His learning is extensive, and yet he does not render his name famous by any particular thing."The Master heard the observation, and said to his disciples, "What shall I practice? Shall I practice charioteering, or shall I practice archery? I will practice charioteering."
Word by word
- 達巷黨 dá xiàng dǎng
Daxiang, a village district (proper name)
- 達 reach, arrive at; here, a syllable in the toponym Daxiang
- 巷 lane, alley; here, a syllable in the toponym Daxiang
- 黨 district, local administrative division
- 人 rén
person, man (of a place)
- 曰 yuē
to say, remark
- 大 dà
great, grand
- 哉 zāi
exclamatory final particle: how...!, indeed!
- 孔子 kǒng zǐ
Confucius (Master Kong)
- 孔 surname Kong, borne by Confucius
- 子 honorific title: Master (following a surname)
- 博學 bó xué
broadly learned, widely learned
- 博 broad, extensive
- 學 learning, study
- 而 ér
concessive conjunction: and yet, but
- 無 wú
not, to lack, there is no
- 所 suǒ
nominalizing particle: that which, a particular thing or area
Combines with the preceding 無 to mean 'there is nothing by which...'; translators render this as 'in any particular field/area' rather than as a separate word.
- 成名 chéng míng
to make a name for oneself, become renowned, be distinguished in a field
- 成 to complete, achieve, form
- 名 name, reputation, fame
- 子 zǐ
the Master (Confucius)
- 聞 wén
to hear, learn of
- 之 zhī
it, this (referring to the villager's remark)
- 謂 wèi
to say to, address (someone)
- 門弟子 mén dì zǐ
his disciples, students
- 門 gate; here, a teacher's school or household
- 弟 young disciple, pupil
- 子 disciple, student
- 曰 yuē
to say (introduces direct speech)
- 吾 wú
I
- 何 hé
what
- 執 zhí
to take up, practice, specialize in (a skill)
- 執御 zhí yù
to take up charioteering
- 執 to hold, take up, practice, specialize in
- 御 to drive a chariot; charioteering
Confucius's ironic answer: charioteering was a comparatively menial skill, so naming it (rather than something loftier) gently deflects the villager's praise.
- 乎 hū
interrogative final particle
- 執射 zhí shè
to take up archery
- 執 to hold, take up, practice, specialize in
- 射 to shoot; archery
- 乎 hū
interrogative final particle
- 吾 wú
I
- 執 zhí
to take up, practice (a settled choice)
- 御 yù
charioteering, chariot-driving
- 矣 yǐ
final particle of assertion, marking a settled decision
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