其
Usages
2 distinct jobs 其 does in the Analects, each with examples from the text.
1Possessive (his/its/their)
Indicates possession by a third party. Since speakers may refer to themselves in third person, may also mean "my" or "your" in context.
子曰：「父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」
The Master said: "While a man's father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead, look at his conduct. If for three years he does not alter from the way of his father, he may be called filial."
Legge 1861
父在，觀其志
其 is possessive before a noun.
樊遲從遊於舞雩之下，曰：「敢問崇德、脩慝、辨惑。」子曰：「善哉問！先事後得，非崇德與？攻其惡，無攻人之惡，非脩慝與？一朝之忿，忘其身，以及其親，非惑與？」
Fan Chi rambling with the Master under the trees about the rain altars, said: "I venture to ask how to exalt virtue, to correct vice, and to discover delusions." The Master said: "Truly a good question! If doing what is to be done be made the first business, and success a secondary consideration; — is not this the way to exalt virtue? To assail one's own wickedness and not assail that of others; — is not this the way to correct vice? For a morning's anger to disregard one's own life, and involve that of his parents; — is not this a case of delusion?"
Legge 1861
攻其惡，無攻人之惡
其 against 人之 in one line.
子曰：「視其所以，觀其所由，察其所安。人焉廋哉？人焉廋哉？」
The Master said: "See what a man does. Mark his motives. Examine in what things he rests. How can a man conceal his character? How can a man conceal his character?"
Legge 1861
視其所以
其 owns the whole 所 phrase.
有子曰：「其為人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鮮矣；不好犯上，而好作亂者，未之有也。君子務本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其為仁之本與！」
The philosopher You said: "They are few who, being filial and fraternal, are fond of offending against their superiors. There have been none, who, not liking to offend against their superiors, have been fond of stirring up confusion. The superior man bends his attention to what is radical. That being established, all practical courses naturally grow up. Filial piety and fraternal submission! — are they not the root of all benevolent actions?"
Legge 1861
其為人也孝弟
其 refers to the person being discussed
2Modal (perhaps, probably)
Suggests probability, supposition, or hope. Can be translated as "perhaps," "probably," or "I expect."
子畏於匡。曰：「文王既沒，文不在茲乎？天之將喪斯文也，後死者不得與於斯文也；天之未喪斯文也，匡人其如予何？」
The Master was put in fear in Kuang. He said: "After the death of King Wen, was not the cause of truth lodged here in me? If Heaven had wished to let this cause of truth perish, then I, a future mortal, should not have got such a relation to that cause. While Heaven does not let the cause of truth perish, what can the people of Kuang do to me?"
Legge 1861
匡人其如予何
其 colours the question with doubt.
子曰：「道不行，乘桴浮于海。從我者其由與？」子路聞之喜。子曰：「由也好勇過我，無所取材。」
The Master said: "My doctrines make no way. I will get upon a raft, and float about on the sea. He that will accompany me will be Yu, I dare say." Zilu hearing this was glad, upon which the Master said: "Yu is fonder of daring than I am. He does not exercise his judgment upon matters."
Legge 1861
從我者其由與
其 expresses supposition
有子曰：「其為人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鮮矣；不好犯上，而好作亂者，未之有也。君子務本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其為仁之本與！」
The philosopher You said: "They are few who, being filial and fraternal, are fond of offending against their superiors. There have been none, who, not liking to offend against their superiors, have been fond of stirring up confusion. The superior man bends his attention to what is radical. That being established, all practical courses naturally grow up. Filial piety and fraternal submission! — are they not the root of all benevolent actions?"
Legge 1861
其為仁之本與
其...與 forms a rhetorical question with modal force
Combos
1 fixed pattern built on 其, with the role each plays and where to read them.
"Rather than..." / "Compared to..."
7.36 子曰：「奢則不孫，儉則固。與其不孫也，寧固。」
Introduces a comparison, often with 寧 (would rather) following.