Chinese Text Project Dictionary

Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Inner Chapters -> The Great and Most Honoured Master -> 1.1

知天之所為，	He who knows the part which the Heavenly (in him) plays,
知人之所為者，	and knows (also) that which the Human (in him ought to) play,
至矣。	has reached the perfection (of knowledge).
知天之所為者，	He who knows the part which the Heavenly plays
天而生也；	(knows) that it is naturally born with him;
知人之所為者，	he who knows the part which the Human ought to play
以其知之所知，	(proceeds) with the knowledge which he possesses
以養其知之所不知，	to nourish it in the direction of what he does not (yet) know:
終其天年而不中道夭者，	to complete one's natural term of years and not come to an untimely end in the middle of his course
是知之盛也。	is the fulness of knowledge.
雖然，	Although it be so,
有患。	there is an evil (attending this condition).
夫知有所待而後當，	Such knowledge still awaits the confirmation of it as correct;
其所待者特未定也。	it does so because it is not yet determined.
庸詎知吾所謂天之非人乎？	How do we know that what we call the Heavenly (in us) is not the Human?
所謂人之非天乎？	and that what we call the Human is not the Heavenly?
且有真人，而後有真知。	There must be the True man, and then there is the True knowledge.

Character	Composition	Variants	Reading	Meaning	Hanyu	Kangxi	Cihai
知	矢+3	𢇻𥎿	zhī ㄓ	Know, understand. / Perception. / Recognize. / Knowledge. / Know about, make sense of. / Be friendly with. / Control, get on top of.	v4,p2581#02	p.824#01	p.955r5c02
			zhì ㄓˋ	Wisdom.
天	大+1	𠀡𠀘𦴞兲靝𠕹	tiān ㄊㄧㄢ	sky, heaven; god, celestial	v1,p0522#01	p.248#04	p.358r4c01
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
所	戶+4	𢨷	suǒ ㄙㄨㄛˇ	Place. / Location. / A suitable place or location. / Measure word, used for counting buldings. / Used before a verb, creates a noun-like phrase. / If. Mainly used in oaths and curses. / Used together with 為 to indicate the passive tense. / Indicates an approximate number. / Number, number of times. / Meaning.	v3,p2259#01	p.415#16	p.556r1c01
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.
人	人+0	𠔽亻	rén ㄖㄣˊ	Man, person. / Others, other people. / The people, ordinary men. / Talent, material. / [A man's] character. / Affairs of men, world of man. / Benevolence.	v1,p0101#10	p.91#01	p.80r2c01
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.
至	至+0	𦤳𦤴𦤵𡊏	zhì dié ㄓˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ	reach, arrive; extremely, very	v4,p2814#01	p.1001#11	p.1111r3c04
矣	矢+2	𠤘	yǐ ㄧˇ	Modal particle used to express declaration. / Modal particle used to express exclamation. / Modal particle used to express an order or request.	v4,p2580#04	p.823#37	p.955r5c01
而	而+0		ér ㄦˊ	Whiskers. / Like, similar to. / Pronoun: you. / Pronoun: this, like this. / Connective: and, with. / Connective: and, then. / Connective: if, supposing. / Connective: yet, however. / Connective: therefore, hence. / Connective: expresses method or state. / Particle: of. / Expressive particle.	v4,p2810#01	p.961#18	p.1080r2c03
			néng ㄋㄥˊ	Same as 「能(3)」 néng ㄋㄥˊ: Able to, competent. / Same as 「能(2.1)」 néng ㄋㄥˊ: Ability, talent.
生	生+0	𤯓	shēng ㄕㄥ	life, living, lifetime; birth	v4,p2575#01	p.754#26	p.906r5c03
也	乙+2	𠃟匜	yě ㄧㄝˇ	Modal particle used at the end of a sentence, expressing assertion and affirmation. / Modal particle used at the end of a question for emphasis. / Modal particle used at the end of a cause-effect sentence to express explanation. / Modal particle used in the middle of a sentence to express a pause.	v1,p0050#05	p.84#04	p.55r1c01
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
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.
養	食+6	䍩𢼝养	yǎng yàng ㄧㄤˇ ㄧㄤˋ	raise, rear, bring up; support	v7,p4452#08	p.1419#26	p.1491r4c09
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
終	糸+5	𣊂𤽘𣧩𠔾𡦿𢍐𣈩𤽬夊终	zhōng ㄓㄨㄥ	end; finally, in the end	v5,p3384#05	p.921#01	p.1039r4c06
年	干+3	秊𠫺	nián ㄋㄧㄢˊ	year; new-years; person's age	v1,p0037#06	p.340#01	p.483r6c01
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.
中	丨+3	𠁧𠁩塚	zhōng zhòng ㄓㄨㄥㄓㄨㄥˋ	central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain	v1,p0028#10	p.79#03	p.37r4c02
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.
夭	大+1	殀	yāo wò wāi yǎo ㄧㄠㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄞㄧㄠˇ	young, fresh-looking; die young	v1,p0523#02	p.249#03	p.367r6c02
是	日+5	昰𣆞	shì ㄕˋ	Straight. / Right, correct. / Believe accurate, affirm. / Demonstrative pronoun: this. / Be (copula). / Auxiliary word, used after moving forward the object.	v2,p1497#05	p.493#26	p.639r1c01
盛	皿+6		shèng chéng ㄕㄥˋ ㄔㄥˊ	abundant, flourishing; contain; fill	v4,p2562#04	p.794#20	p.939r5c05
雖	隹+9	𨾡虽	suī ㄙㄨㄟ	(2) 連詞：表示假設或讓步關係，相當於「雖然」、「即使」。 Even, though, even if.	v6,p4103#05	p.1368#22	p.1440r6c01
然	火+8	燃𤓉	rán ㄖㄢˊ	(2) 指示代詞：如此，這樣，那樣。 Demonstrative pronoun: like this, like that.	v3,p2213#05	p.675#12	p.852r5c01
有	月+2		yǒu ㄧㄡˇ	Have, possess. / Store, collect. / Occupy. / Hold on to, retain. / Have in abundance. / Good harvest. / Obtain. / Only. / Be, exist. / Occur, happen. / Make. / Particle used before a noun with no meaning. / Particle used before a monosyllabic adjective with no meaning. / Particle used before a verb with no meaning. / Still, yet. / Some people. / Region.	v3,p2041#05	p.504#20	p.656r5c01
			yòu ㄧㄡˋ	Help, assist. / Same as 「又(3)」 yòu ㄧㄡˋ: Moreover.
患	心+7	𢤒𢡙𢠶	huàn ㄏㄨㄢˋ	suffer, worry about; suffering	v4,p2300#09	p.388#16	p.532r5c02
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.
待	彳+6		dài dāi ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄞ	treat, entertain, receive; wait	v2,p0818#07	p.366#05	p.510r3c04
後	彳+6	𨒥𢔏后	hòu ㄏㄡˋ	Behind, to the rear of. / To be left behind. / Later in time. / Future. / Descendents, offspring.	v2,p0822#03	p.366#18	p.511r2c01
當	田+8	𤱭儅当	dāng ㄉㄤ	Suit, match. / Comply, conform to. / Administer, be in charge of. / Take charge of. / Resist, oppose. / Equal to, equivalent. / Face towards. / Should, must. / At, of (some place or time). / Cast sentence. / Will.	v4,p2546#06	p.764#18	p.917r3c03
			dàng ㄉㄤˋ	Suitable, appropriate. / As, for the purpose of, in the capacity of. / Give as security. / Bottom, base.
			tǎng ㄊㄤˇ	If, supposing.
			cháng ㄔㄤˊ	Once, previously.
特	牛+6		tè ㄊㄜˋ	special, unique, distinguished	v3,p1808#11	p.700#20	p.870r5c05
未	木+1		wèi ㄨㄟˋ	not yet; 8th terrestrial branch	v2,p1150#01	p.509#05	p.665r4c01
定	宀+5	㱏	dìng ㄉㄧㄥˋ	decide, settle, fix	v2,p0918#02	p.283#18	p.414r5c01
庸	广+8	㐯𠆌	yōng yóng ㄩㄥㄩㄥˊ	usual, common, ordinary, mediocre	v2,p0890#05	p.347#30	p.490r6c01
詎	言+5	讵	jù ㄐㄩˋ	interjection used to express surprise	v6,p3945#01	p.1154#16	p.1241r1c06
吾	口+4	𠮣	wú ㄨˊ	First person pronoun: I, we. / Defend, resist.	v1,p0585#13	p.180#03	p.260r5c01
			yú ㄩˊ	See 吾吾.
			yá ㄧㄚˊ	Yunyu, an ancient district.
謂	言+9	谓	wèi ㄨㄟˋ	To (when speaking to someone). / Say, speak. / Call, name. / Meaning, what is meant. / Discuss, comment on (a person). / How? / Same as 「為(21.3)」 wèi ㄨㄟˋ: Preposition: because of, due to.	v6,p3997#06	p.1173#12	p.1251r6c01
			wéi ㄨㄟˊ	Same as 「為(10)」 wéi ㄨㄟˊ: Count as, be considered as.
非	非+0		fēi ㄈㄟ	Violate, go against (a rule). / Wrong, bad. / Not real, untrue. / Oppose, object to. / Slander, condemn. / Sarcasm, irony. / Absence of, not have. / Adverb: not, is not.	v6,p4086#01	p.1382#11	p.1463r6c02
			fěi ㄈㄟˇ	Same as 「誹(2)」 fěi ㄈㄟˇ: Slander.
乎	丿+4	虖	hū ㄏㄨ	(1.1) 語氣詞：表示疑問或反問，相當於「嗎」或「呢」。 Modal particle expressing questioning or a rhetorical question.	v1,p0036#08	p.82#07	p.47r3c03
且	一+4	𠀇𠀃	qiě ㄑㄧㄝˇ	This. / Connective: both, also. / Connective: and. / Connective: not only that, furthermore. / Connective: or. / Connective: not only, even. / Connective: if. / Adverb: will. / Adverb: briefly. / Adverb: almost. / Particle used at the start of a sentence.	v1,p0015#05	p.77#07	p.34r6c02
			jū ㄐㄩ	Appearance of a great many. / Exclamation. / Alternative name for the sixth month.
			cú ㄘㄨˊ	Go.
真	目+5	眞	zhēn ㄓㄣ	real, actual, true, genuine	v1,p0249#07	p.805#01	p.950r2c04

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