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Reading the Analects26

Xue Er (學而), Chapter 11 | What Should We Carry Forward from Our Parents? Traditional Chinese子曰:「父在,觀其志;父沒,觀其行;三年無改於父之道,可謂孝矣。」Simplified Chinese子曰:“父在,观其志;父没,观其行;三年无改于父之道,可谓孝矣。”PinyinZǐ yuē: “Fù zài, guān qí zhì; fù mò, guān qí xíng; sān nián wú gǎi yú fù zhī dào, kě wèi xiào yǐ.”Reading the Passage LiterallyConfucius said:“When the father is alive, observe the son’s intentions; when the father has died, observe his conduct. If for three years he does not change his f.. 2026. 8. 30.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 10 | How Did Confucius Come to Know a Country’s Politics? Traditional Chinese子禽問於子貢曰:「夫子至於是邦也,必聞其政,求之與?抑與之與?」子貢曰:「夫子溫、良、恭、儉、讓以得之。夫子之求之也,其諸異乎人之求之與?」Simplified Chinese子禽问于子贡曰:“夫子至于是邦也,必闻其政,求之与?抑与之与?”子贡曰:“夫子温、良、恭、俭、让以得之。夫子之求之也,其诸异乎人之求之与?”PinyinZǐ Qín wèn yú Zǐ Gòng yuē: “Fūzǐ zhì yú shì bāng yě, bì wén qí zhèng, qiú zhī yú? Yì yǔ zhī yú?” Zǐ Gòng yuē: “Fūzǐ wēn, liáng, gōng, jiǎn, ràng yǐ dé zhī. Fūzǐ zhī qiú zhī yě, qí zhū yì hū rén zhī qiú zhī yú?”Readi.. 2026. 8. 30.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 9 | Honor the Departed and Remember Those Who Came Before Traditional Chinese曾子曰:「慎終追遠,民德歸厚矣。」Simplified Chinese曾子曰:“慎终追远,民德归厚矣。”PinyinZēng Zǐ yuē: “Shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn, mín dé guī hòu yǐ.”Reading the Passage LiterallyZengzi said:“Attend carefully to the end and remember those long departed; then the virtue of the people will return to fullness and depth.”Reading the GrammarThis is one of the shortest passages in Xue Er (學而), yet its movement is surpr.. 2026. 8. 29.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 7 | Learning Reveals Itself in Life Traditional Chinese子夏曰:「賢賢易色,事父母能竭其力,事君能致其身,與朋友交言而有信。雖曰未學,吾必謂之學矣。」Simplified Chinese子夏曰:“贤贤易色,事父母能竭其力,事君能致其身,与朋友交言而有信。虽曰未学,吾必谓之学矣。”PinyinZǐ Xià yuē: “Xián xián yì sè, shì fùmǔ néng jié qí lì, shì jūn néng zhì qí shēn, yǔ péngyǒu jiāo yán ér yǒu xìn. Suī yuē wèi xué, wú bì wèi zhī xué yǐ.”Reading the Passage LiterallyZixia said:“Value the worthy above outward beauty; in serving your parents, be a.. 2026. 8. 29.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 5 | How Should a State of a Thousand Chariots Be Governed? Traditional Chinese子曰:「道千乘之國,敬事而信,節用而愛人,使民以時。」 Simplified Chinese子曰:“道千乘之国,敬事而信,节用而爱人,使民以时。” PinyinZǐ yuē: “Dǎo qiān shèng zhī guó, jìng shì ér xìn, jié yòng ér ài rén, shǐ mín yǐ shí.”Reading the Whole PassageConfucius said:“In governing a state of a thousand chariots, attend to affairs with care and be trustworthy, use resources with restraint and care for the people, and call upon the people .. 2026. 8. 28.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 3 | When Words Are Clever and Expressions Pleasing Traditional Chinese子曰:「巧言令色,鮮矣仁。」 Simplified Chinese子曰:“巧言令色,鲜矣仁。” PinyinZǐ yuē: “Qiǎo yán lìng sè, xiǎn yǐ rén.”Reading the Whole PassageConfucius said:“Clever words and pleasing expressions—Ren (仁) is rarely found in them.” This is one of the shortest passages in the Analects, yet its point is remarkably direct. Confucius contrasts an outward manner carefully fashioned to please others with Re.. 2026. 8. 27.