Chinese Text Project Dictionary

Daoism -> Dao De Jing -> 15

	(The exhibition of the qualities of the Dao)
古之善為士者，	The skilful masters (of the Dao) in old times,
微妙玄通，	with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries,
深不可識。	and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge.
夫唯不可識，	As they were thus beyond men's knowledge,
故強為之容。	I will make an effort to describe of what sort they appeared to be.
豫兮若冬涉川；	Shrinking looked they like those who wade through a stream in winter;
猶兮若畏四鄰；	irresolute like those who are afraid of all around them;
儼兮其若容；	grave like a guest (in awe of his host);
渙兮若冰之將釋；	evanescent like ice that is melting away;
敦兮其若樸；	unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into anything;
曠兮其若谷；	vacant like a valley,
混兮其若濁；	and dull like muddy water.
孰能濁以靜之徐清？	Who can (make) the muddy water (clear)? Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear.
孰能安以久動之徐生？	Who can secure the condition of rest? Let movement go on, and the condition of rest will gradually arise.
保此道者，不欲盈。	They who preserve this method of the Dao do not wish to be full (of themselves).
夫唯不盈，故能蔽不新成。	It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete.

Character	Composition	Variants	Reading	Meaning	Hanyu	Kangxi	Cihai
古	口+2	𠖠𡇣	gǔ ㄍㄨˇ	old, classic, ancient	v1,p0568#03	p.171#08	p.240r1c02
之	丿+3	㞢	zhī ㄓ	Towards; go to. / Demonstrative pronoun: this, these. / Third person pronoun: him, her, it. / Auxiliary word: of. / Auxiliary word: used between subject and predicate, cancels independence of a clause. / Auxiliary word: used in a sentence for aesthetic purpose only, no meaning.	v1,p0043#01	p.82#04	p.47r2c02
善	口+9	譱𦎍𠾄𧮟	shàn ㄕㄢˋ	Good. / Take to be good, like. / Good person. / Strong point, merit. / Perfect. / Gentle, kind. / Friendly. / Good at doing. / Improve, make good. / Control, regulate. / Food.	v1,p0660#02	p.197#18	p.282r3c04
為	火+5	爲为	wéi ㄨㄟˊ	Create, make. / Build, construct. / Do. / Plant, grow. / Govern. / Research, study. / Serve as. / Change into, become. / As, in the role of. / Count as, be considered as. / Called, named. / Expresses judgement: is. / Make, cause (to). / Have. / Take part in. / Write, author. / Connective: if. / Particle used in the middle of a sentence to move forward the object. / Modal particle used at the end of a sentence to express a rhetorical question.	v3,p2198#11	p.669#10	p.844r4c03
			wèi ㄨㄟˋ	Help, assist. / Preposition: for, on behalf of. / Preposition: by (passive). / Preposition: because of, due to. / Preposition: with, together with. / Connective: because. / Say. / False, fake.
士	士+0		shì ㄕˋ	scholar, gentleman; soldier	v1,p0416#01	p.242#38	p.333r1c03
者	老+4		zhě ㄓㄜˇ	Pronoun used after verbs, adjectives, etc. in place of a person or thing. / Pronoun used after numbers in place of a thing. / Pronoun used after time or negation to express "when" or "if". / Expressive particle used in a declarative sentence after the subject. / Expressive particle used in a sentence after the subject to express cause or explanation.	v4,p2780#05	p.961#01	p.1080r1c01
			zhuó ㄓㄨㄛˊ	In, located in.
微	彳+10		wēi wéi ㄨㄟㄨㄟˊ	small, prefix micro-, trifling	v2,p0837#10	p.370#12	p.517r2c04
妙	女+4	玅	miào ㄇㄧㄠˋ	mysterious, subtle; exquisite	v2,p1030#10	p.256#24	p.380r1c02
玄	玄+0	𤣥伭	xuán xuàn ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄢˋ	deep, profound, abstruse; KangXi radical 95	v1,p0280#03	p.725#01	p.883r1c01
通	辵+7	𢓶	tōng tòng ㄊㄨㄥㄊㄨㄥˋ	pass through, common, communicate	v6,p3845#08	p.1258#04	p.1317r2c02
深	水+8	𣸧	shēn ㄕㄣ	deep; depth; far; very, extreme	v3,p1662#10	p.632#01	p.806r2c03
不	一+3	不𠀚𠙐	bù ㄅㄨˋ	(3.1) 否定副詞：用於動詞、形容詞等前面，表示否定。 Negational adverb, used before verbs, adjectives, etc. to indicate negation.	v1,p0011#06	p.76#15	p.30r1c01
可	口+2	歌厥	kě kè ㄎㄜˇ ㄎㄜˋ	may, can, -able; possibly	v1,p0567#07	p.172#12	p.244r1c02
識	言+12	𧨺识	shi shì shí zhì ㄕ· ㄕˋ ㄕˊ ㄓˋ	recognize, understand, know	v6,p4019#16	p.1181#17	p.1255r4c01
夫	大+1		fū ㄈㄨ	General term for adult men. / Adult labourers in particular. / Soldier. / Respectful term for a man. / Husband. / Unit of area equal to one hundred mu.	v1,p0521#01	p.248#11	p.367r2c01
			fú ㄈㄨˊ	Demonstrative pronoun: this, these. / Modal particle used at the start of a sentence for emphasis or to indicate an assertion. / Modal particle used in the middle of a sentence to soften the tone. / Modal particle used at the end of a sentence to express exclamation.
唯	口+8		wéi ㄨㄟˊ	Only, exclusively. / Connective: although, even though. / Connective: because. / Particle used at the beginning of a sentence to express hope or desire. / Particle used at the beginning of a sentence to express confirmation. / Particle, no meaning.	v1,p0642#05	p.193#17	p.277r1c02
			wěi ㄨㄟˇ	Sound of affirmation. / Affirm.
故	攴+5		gù ㄍㄨˋ	Cause. / State of affairs. / Event, incident. / Plot. / Old. / Past, original. / Death. / On purpose. / Originally. / Hence, thus.	v2,p1453#05	p.469#25	p.601r5c01
強	弓+8	强彊	qiáng qiǎng jiàng ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ	strong, powerful, energetic	v2,p0999#07	p.359#23	p.504r5c01
容	宀+7	𠕺	róng ㄖㄨㄥˊ	looks, appearance; figure, form	v2,p0933#17	p.287#03	p.421r6c01
豫	豕+9	予𠄛預	yù xù ㄩˋ ㄒㄩˋ	relaxed, comfortable, at ease	v6,p3617#07	p.1197#20	p.1264r4c01
兮	八+2	𠔃	xī ㄒㄧ	exclamatory particle	v1,p0241#06	p.127#03	p.160r5c01
若	艸+5	若𦱡𦱶𧁇	ruò ㄖㄨㄛˋ	Iris. / Same as 「北海若」 běi hǎi ruò ㄅㄟˇ ㄏㄞˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ: Ruo, a god of the Northern Sea. / Go by, accord with. / Choose. / Like, similar to. / Identical, the same. / As good as, comparable to. / To, arrive at. / You, your. / This way, like this. / Regarding, as regards. / If, should it be the case. / Or, alternatively. / But, yet. / Adjectival suffix.	v5,p3187#07	p.1023#12	p.1130r1c03
冬	冫+3	鼕𣆼𣅈𠘀𠔙𠘗	dōng ㄉㄨㄥ	winter, 11th lunar month	v2,p0867#19	p.131#17	p.167r2c01
涉	水+7	渉𣥿㴇	shè dié ㄕㄜˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ	ford stream, wade across	v3,p1621#02	p.626#13	p.801r2c01
川	巛+0	巛	chuān ㄔㄨㄢ	stream, river; flow; boil	v1,p0032#02	p.323#23	p.462r2c02
猶	犬+9	犹	yóu ㄧㄡˊ	A species of monkey / Same, similar. / Similarly, in the same way. / Like, similar to. / Can, able to. / Fitting, suitable. / Still, nevertheless. / Additionally, furthermore. / Connective expression concession: although, despite. / Connective expression supposition: if. / Stratagem, plot. / Method, way. / Scheme, conspire. / Road, path. / Criticize, fault. / Relaxed, at ease. / Same as 「由(1.1)」 yóu ㄧㄡˊ: Do, carry out. / Same as 「由(5.2)」 yóu ㄧㄡˊ: Preposition: from. / Same as 「由(5.1)」 yóu ㄧㄡˊ: Preposition: due to, because of. / Name of a river in modern Shaanxi, flowing into the Yellow River. / Same as 「已(7.3)」 yǐ ㄧˇ: Adverb: extremely.	v2,p1359#09	p.715#20	p.878r1c06
			yáo ㄧㄠˊ	Tremble, shake.
			yōu ㄧㄡ	Good, superior.
畏	田+4	𤰲𤰣	wèi ㄨㄟˋ	Fear. / Make fear, scare. / Revere, respect. / Worry. / Detain, restrain. / Die. / Curved part of a bow.	v4,p2532#03	p.760#22	p.913r1c01
			wēi ㄨㄟ	Might, power.
四	囗+2	𦉭肆	sì ㄙˋ	four	v1,p0710#16	p.216#22	p.294r6c01
鄰	邑+12	隣厸邻	lín lìn ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄣˋ	neighbor; neighborhood	v6,p3797#11	p.1278#08	p.1347r5c02
儼	人+20	𡅝俨	yǎn ㄧㄢˇ	grave, respectful, majestic	v1,p0240#02	p.122#05	p.131r1c06
其	八+6	丌亓	qí ㄑㄧˊ	Third-person possessive pronoun: his, her, its, their. / Demonstrative pronoun: that, those. / Adverb expressing estimation or guess. / Adverb expressing imperative. / Adverb expressing rhetorical question. / Adverb expressing future tense. / Connective expressing hypothesis: if, supposing. / Connective expressing choice: or. / Connective expressing concession: even if. / Particle used after an adjective. / Particle: of. / Particle used for emphasis after single-character adjectives or onomatopoeia. / Particle used in the middle of a sentence to alter the tempo.	v1,p0245#01	p.127#18	p.162r5c01
			jì ㄐㄧˋ	Particle used after bi and he.
			jī ㄐㄧ	Modal particle expressing interrogative tone. / A year.
渙	水+9	涣	huàn huì ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ	scatter; scattered, dispersed	v3,p1683#01	p.633#40	p.811r2c03
冰	冫+4	氷冫𣲝	bīng níng ㄅㄧㄥㄋㄧㄥˊ	ice; ice-cold	v1,p0295#09	p.131#24	p.167r4c01
將	寸+8	𤕭𢪇将畺	jiāng ㄐㄧㄤ	Take. / Use. / Push forward. / Drive. / Help, support. / Help financially. / Advance, go forward. / Carry out, execute. / Follow. / Comply, submit. / Do, carry out. / Accompany, see off. / Transmit. / Express. / Offer (as a sacrifice). / Look after, raise. / Protect. / Strong, robust. / Long time. / Carry, lead. / Side, beside. / Will, about to. / Close to, almost. / How? / Preposition: with. / Connective: and, with. / Connective: or, otherwise. / Connective: if, supposing. / Particle used after a verb. / A kind of insect.	v4,p2375#10	p.294#16	p.434r1c03
			jiàng ㄐㄧㄤˋ	Command troops. / Military commander. / Appoint as military commander.
			qiāng ㄑㄧㄤ	Please, humbly request. / [Onomatopoeia]
			zāng ㄗㄤ	Female sheep.
釋	釆+13	释	shì yì ㄕˋ ㄧˋ	interprete, elucidate; release	v6,p3900#06	p.1290#17	p.1357r1c02
敦	攴+8	𢼪𠧉惇	dūn duì diāo duī tuán tún ㄉㄨㄣㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧㄠㄉㄨㄟㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄣˊ	esteem; honest, candid, sincere	v2,p1468#01	p.473#08	p.606r2c02
樸	木+12	朴	pú pǔ ㄆㄨˊ ㄆㄨˇ	simple, honest; plain; rough	v2,p1291#04	p.551#28	p.720r1c01
曠	日+15	昿𣊥旷	kuàng ㄎㄨㄤˋ	extensive, wide, broad; empty	v2,p1539#17	p.501#24	p.648r1c03
谷	谷+0	穀	gǔ ㄍㄨˇ	Valley, gorge. / Bewildered, at a loss.	v6,p3902#01	p.1189#01	p.1259r6c04
			lù ㄌㄨˋ	See "谷蠡".
混	水+8		hùn ㄏㄨㄣˋ	(2) 混濁。 Turbid.	v3,p1648#09	p.632#14	p.807r2c01
濁	水+13	浊	zhuó ㄓㄨㄛˊ	muddy, turbid, dirty, filthy	v3,p1758#03	p.654#19	p.835r2c01
孰	子+8	塾	shú ㄕㄨˊ	who? which? what? which one?	v2,p1016#14	p.280#05	p.403r1c03
能	肉+6		néng ㄋㄥˊ	A type of bear. / Ability, talent. / Man of ability, man of talent. / Able to, competent. / Comply with, be friendly towards. / Encompass, obtain. / To, arrive at. / Then, thus. / Same as 「而(4.3)」 ér ㄦˊ: Connective: if, supposing. / Only, merely. / Even if. / Thus, in this way. / Three-legged turtle.	v3,p2074#01	p.981#16	p.1095r5c02
			nài ㄋㄞˋ	Withstand, endure.
			tái ㄊㄞˊ	Same as 「台(1.1)」 tái ㄊㄞˊ: Name of a celestial body.
			tài ㄊㄞˋ	State, form.
以	人+3	㠯	yǐ ㄧˇ	Use. / Believe. / Command. / Lead. / Connect, implicate. / Have. / Cause, reason. / Preposition: because. / Preposition: from, in. / Preposition: at [some time]. / Preposition: using. / Preposition: in accordance with. / Preposition: relying upon. / Preposition: in the capacity of. / Preposition: with, together with. / Connective: indicates the following action is the objective of the preceding one. / Connective: used between adverbial clause and verb to express modification. / Connective: and. / Connective: but. / Connective: and so, thus. / Particle: used together with some words expressing direction and time. / Modal particle. / Same as 「已(1)」 yǐ ㄧˇ: Stop, discontinue. / Same as 「已(7.2)」 yǐ ㄧˇ: Adverb: already. / Same as 「已(7.3)」 yǐ ㄧˇ: Adverb: extremely.	v1,p0105#07	p.94#01	p.87r6c01
靜	靑+8	㣏静	jìng ㄐㄧㄥˋ	quiet, still, motionless; gentle	v6,p4049#01	p.1382#03	p.1463r3c02
徐	彳+7		xú ㄒㄩˊ	slowly, quietly, calmly; composed, dignified	v2,p0825#14	p.367#11	p.512r4c02
清	水+8	淸	qīng qìng ㄑㄧㄥㄑㄧㄥˋ	clear, pure, clean; peaceful	v3,p1637#11	p.633#37
安	宀+3		ān ㄢ	Stable, steady. / Peaceful, tranquil. / Safe. / Accustomed to do, habitually do. / Not worry about, be relaxed about. / Comfort, ease. / Stop, cease. / Unhurried. / Place, put. / Interrogative pronoun: how. / Interrogative pronoun: where. / Interrogative pronoun: what. / Interrogative pronoun: who. / Connective: so, thereupon.	v2,p0913#09	p.282#08	p.406r2c01
久	丿+2	乆	jiǔ ㄐㄧㄡˇ	long time (ago); time passage, grow late	v1,p0033#03	p.81#19	p.47r1c02
動	力+9	㣫𨔝动	dòng ㄉㄨㄥˋ	move, happen; movement, action	v1,p0375#06	p.148#14	p.196r4c02
生	生+0	𤯓	shēng ㄕㄥ	life, living, lifetime; birth	v4,p2575#01	p.754#26	p.906r5c03
保	人+7		bǎo ㄅㄠˇ	protect, safeguard, defend, care	v1,p0160#04	p.105#17	p.107r3c03
此	止+2		cǐ ㄘˇ	This. / Like this. / Here. / Adverb: then.	v2,p1438#03	p.574#10	p.735r4c01
道	辵+9	𨕥衟𡬹	dào ㄉㄠˋ	Road, path. / Journey. / Method. / Law, reason. / Doctrine, claim. / Skill, technique. / Principle, right way. / The Dao, the origin of all things in Daoism. / Speak, talk. / Take a course of action. / Take a course of action. / Rites paid to the spirit of roads. / Ancient administrative unit. / Daoism.	v6,p3864#01	p.1262#06	p.1326r3c02
			dǎo ㄉㄠˇ	Lead. / Flow smoothly.
不	一+3	不𠀚𠙐	bù ㄅㄨˋ	Not have. / To not be. / Negational adverb, used before verbs, adjectives, etc. to indicate negation. / Negational adverb expressing prohibition: do not. / Negational adverb expressing rhetorical question: is not...?	v1,p0011#06	p.76#15	p.30r1c01
			fǒu ㄈㄡˇ	Same as 「否(1.2)」 fǒu ㄈㄡˇ: Adverb used together with an affirmative word, expressing its negative or opposite. / Same as 「否(1.3)」 fǒu ㄈㄡˇ: Adverb used at the end of a question to form a yes-no question.
			fū ㄈㄨ	Sepal of a flower.
			pī ㄆㄧ	Same as 「丕(1)」 pī ㄆㄧ: Large.
			bǐ ㄅㄧˇ	Show disdain for.
欲	欠+7	慾	yù ㄩˋ	desire, want, long for; intend	v3,p2140#07	p.567#36	p.729r4c02
盈	皿+4		yíng ㄧㄥˊ	fill; full, overflowing; surplus	v4,p2558#12	p.793#07	p.938r5c03
蔽	艸+12	芘	bì fù ㄅㄧˋ ㄈㄨˋ	cover, hide, conceal; shelter	v5,p3277#19	p.1056#15	p.1166r6c01
新	斤+9	𢀝	xīn ㄒㄧㄣ	new, recent, fresh, modern	v3,p2026#21	p.480#10	p.615r6c01
成	戈+2	𢦩	chéng ㄔㄥˊ	completed, finished, fixed	v2,p1399#01	p.411#11

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