弟子规全文中文英文对照版(5)

见未真。勿轻言。

If you haven’t seen something quite clearly,

Don’t speak of it as if you know.

What I have not seen with my own eyes,

I will not readily tell to others.

知未的。勿轻传。

If you’re not sure about what exactly happened,

Don’t spread rumors around.

What I do not know for sure,

I will not easily pass on to others.

事非宜。勿轻诺。

When you know something is wrong,

Do not simply follow along.

If I am asked to do something that is inappropriate or bad,

I must not agree to do it.

茍轻诺。进退错。

If you just go along with the crowd,

You’re bound to make a mistake.

If I do, I will be doubly wrong.

凡道字。重且舒。

When you speak, say the words clearly;

Distinctly and smoothly they flow.

I must speak

clearly and to the point.

勿急疾。勿模糊。

If you talk too fast, no one will heed you;

The same if you mumble too low.

I must not talk too fast

or mumble.

彼说长。此说短。

Some like to talk about good points,

Others like to find faults, big and small.

Some like to talk about the good points of others,

while some like to talk about the faults of others.

不关己。莫闲管。

If something is none of your business,

Simply pay no attention at all.

If it is none of my business,

I will not get involved.

见人善。即思齐。纵去远。以渐跻。
When you see the good points of others, You should strive to imitate them.
Though you don’t match up to them now. Persevere and one day you’ll catch up.

When I see others do good deeds,

I must think about following their example.

纵去远。以渐跻。

Though you don’t match up to them now. Persevere and one day you’ll catch up.

Even though my own achievements are still far behind those of others,

I am getting closer.

见人恶。即内省。

When you notice bad habits in others,

Reflect on your own shortcomings.

When I see others do wrong,

I must immediately reflect upon myself.

有则改。无加警。

If you have the same faults, correct them.

If not, never let them arise.

If I have made the same mistake, I will correct it.

If not, I will take extra care to not make the same mistake.

唯德学。唯才艺。

If your virtue, learning and talents

Don’t measure up to others,

When my morals, conduct, knowledge,

and skills

不如人。当自砺。

Then spur yourself to work harder.

Accept nothing less than your best.

seem not as good as those of others,

I will encourage myself to be better.

若衣服。若饮食。

If your wardrobe is seldom in fashion

And your home is simple and plain,

If the clothes I wear,

and the food I eat and drink

不如人。勿生戚。

While your friends have the newest and finest,

Don’t be upset and never complain.

are not as good as that of others,

I should not be concerned.

闻过怒。闻誉乐。

If you’re angry when told of your faults,

And happy when praise comes your way,

If criticism makes me angry and

compliments make me happy,

损友来。益友却。

Harmful friends will draw near you,

And wholesome friends will stay away.

bad company will come my way and

good friends will shy away.

闻誉恐。闻过欣。

If compliments make you uneasy

And hearing your faults makes you glad,

If I am uneasy about compliments and

appreciative of criticism,

直谅士。渐相亲。

Forgiving and straightforward friends

Will then gradually come to your side.

then sincere, understanding, and virtuous people

will gradually come close to me.

无心非。名为错。

When an error is not made on purpose,

It is simply called a mistake.

If any mistake I make is inadvertent,

it is merely a mistake.

有心非。名为恶。

But to deliberately do something wrong,

Is not a mistake, but an evil.

If it is done on purpose, however,

it is an evil act.

过能改。归于无。

If you can reform your offenses,

Your faults will all disappear.

If I correct my mistake and do not repeat it,

I no longer own the mistake.

倘掩饰。增一辜。

But trying to cover them over

Makes your offenses more severe.

If I try to cover it up,

I will be doubly wrong.

第五章 泛爱众

Chapter 5 On Cherishing All Living Beings

Chapter 5 Love All Equally

凡是人。皆须爱。

For all creatures throughout the world,

One should cherish a kind regard.

Human beings, regardless of nationality, race, or religion

- everyone - should be loved equally.

天同覆。地同载。

The sky covers all of us equally.

The earth supports all humankind.

We are all sheltered by the same sky and

we all live on the same planet Earth.

行高者。名自高。

People whose conduct is fine

Are sure to have good reputations.

A person of high ideals and morals

is highly respected.

人所重。非貌高。

Good conduct is what we respect;

Fine looks cannot bring people honor.

What people value

is not based on outside appearance.

才大者。望自大。

People who have great ability

Thereby enjoy great prestige.

A person’s outstanding ability

will naturally endow him with a good reputation.

人所服。非言大。

Others will follow their lead,

But great talkers don’t earn much respect.

Admiration from others does not come from

boasting or praising oneself.

己有能。勿自私。

The abilities you yourself have

Should not be used to attain selfish goals.

If I am a very capable person,

I should use my capabilities for the benefit of others.

人所能。勿轻訾。

The abilities others may have

Should not be belittled and scorned.

Other people’s competence

should not be slandered.

勿谄富。勿骄贫。

It’s not right to flatter the rich

Or be arrogant towards the poor.

I will not flatter the rich,

or despise the poor.

勿厌故。勿喜新。

What’s old need not be rejected.

What’s new is not necessarily good.

I will not ignore old friends,

only taking delight in new ones.
人不闲。勿事搅。

If you see a person who’s busy,

Leave him alone until he’s free.

When a person is busy,

I will not bother him with matters.

人不安。勿话扰。

If you see that a person is upset,

Don’t annoy him with idle chatter.

When a person’s mind is not at ease,

I will not bother him with words.

人有短。切莫揭。

Although you may know someone’s faults,

There’s no need to tell everyone.

If a person has a shortcoming,

I will not expose it.