中英对照：三字经

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1.         人之初　性本善　性相近　习相远

Men at their birth,

are naturally good.

Their natures are much the same;

their habits become widely different.



2.         苟不教　性乃迁　教之道　贵以专

If follishly there is no teaching,

the nature will deteriorate.

The right way in teaching,

is to attach the utmost importance

in thoroughness.



3.         昔孟母　择邻处　子不学　断机杼

Of old, the mother of Mencius

chose a neighbourhood

and when her child would not learn,

she broke the shuttle from the loom.



4.         窦燕山　有义方　教五子　名俱扬

Tou of the Swallow Hills

had the right method

He taugh five son,

each of whom raised the family reputation.

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5.         养不教　父之过　教不严　师之惰

To feed without teaching,

is the father's fault.

To teach without severity,

is the teacher's laziness.



6.         子不学　非所宜　幼不学　老何为

If the child does not learn,

this is not as it should be.

If he does not learn while young,

what will he be when old ?



7.         玉不琢　不成器　人不学　不知义

If jade is not polished,

it cannot become a thing of use.

If a man does not learn,

he cannot know his duty towards his neighbour.



8.         为人子　方少时　亲师友　习礼仪

He who is the son of a man,

when he is young,

should attach himself to his teachers and friends;

and practise ceremonial usages.

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9.         香九龄　能温席　孝於亲　所当执

Hsiang, at nine years of age,

could warm his parent's bed.

Filial piety towards parents,

is that to which we should hold fast.



10.     三纲者　君臣义　父子亲　夫妇顺

The three bonds,

are the obligation between soverign and subject,

the love between father and child,

the harmony between husband and wife.



11.     曰春夏　曰秋冬　此四时　运不穷

We speak of spring and summer,

we speak of autumn and winter,

These four seasons,

revolve without ceasing.



12.     幼而学　壮而行 上致君　下泽民

Learn while young,

and when grown up apply what you have learn;

influencing the soverign above,

benefitting the people below.

苜蓿

Tou of the Swallow Hills
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