Chinese Text Project | |
Simplified Chinese version |
君先而臣从, | The ruler precedes, and the minister follows; |
父先而子从, | the father precedes, and the son follows; |
兄先而弟从, | the elder brother precedes, and the younger follows; |
长先而少从, | the senior precedes, and the junior follows; |
男先而女从, | the male precedes, and the female follows; |
夫先而妇从。 | the husband precedes, and the wife follows. |
夫尊卑先后, | This precedence of the more honourable and sequence of the meaner |
天地之行也, | is seen in the (relative) action of heaven and earth, |
故圣人取象焉。 | and hence the sages took them as their pattern. |
天尊地卑, | The more honourable position of heaven and the lower one of earth |
神明之位也; | are equivalent to a designation of their spirit-like and intelligent qualities. |
春夏先, | The precedence of spring and summer |
秋冬后, | and the sequence of autumn and winter |
四时之序也。 | mark the order of the four seasons. |
万物化作, | In the transformations and growth of all things, |
萌区有状, | every bud and feature has its proper form; |
盛衰之杀, | and in this we have their gradual maturing and decay, |
变化之流也。 | the constant flow of transformation and change. |
夫天地至神, | Thus since Heaven and Earth, which are most spirit-like, |
而有尊卑先后之序, | are distinguished as more honourable and less, and by precedence and sequence, |
而况人道乎! | how much more must we look for this in the ways of men! |
宗庙尚亲, | In the ancestral temple it is to kinship that honour is given; |
朝廷尚尊, | in court, to rank; |
乡党尚齿, | in the neighbourhoods and districts, to age; |
行事尚贤, | in the conduct of affairs, to wisdom; |
大道之序也。 | such is the order in those great ways. |
语道而非其序者, | If we speak of the course (to be pursued in them), and do not observe their order, |
非其道也; | we violate their course. |
语道而非其道者, | If we speak of the course, and do not observe it, |
安取道! | why do we apply that name to it? |
Character | Composition | Variants | Reading | Meaning | Hanyu | Kangxi | Cihai |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
君 | 口+4 | 𠱩 𠱭 | jūn ㄐㄩㄣ | The son of heaven. / The ruler of a state. / Dafu (title). / To be ruler. / To rule, to govern. | v1,p0595#06 | p.177#07 | p.256r6c08 |
先 | 儿+4 | xiān ㄒㄧㄢ | first, former, previous | v1,p0267#02 | p.124#05 | p.134r3c02 | |
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. | ||||||
臣 | 臣+0 | 𢘑 | chén ㄔㄣˊ | minister, statesman, official | v4,p2801#01 | p.999#13 | p.1106r2c02 |
从 | 彳+8 | 従 从 | cóng ㄘㄨㄥˊ | Follow, accompany. / Cause to follow, make go along with. / Pursue, chase after. / Die with, bury along with the dead. / Listen to, do as required. / Eloquent. / Obedient, submissive. / Route to peaceful society, correct order. / Perform, participate in. / Blood relation through the male line. / Secondary, sub- (of official titles). / Preposition: from. / Preposition: towards. / Preposition: because of, due to. / Addition, also. | v2,p0829#12 | p.368#18 | p.514r5c01 |
zòng ㄗㄨㄥˋ | North-south. / Alliance of states opposed to the Qin alliance. / Straight, upright. / Indulge, allow to. / Connective: even if. | ||||||
zōng ㄗㄨㄥ | Trace, vestige. | ||||||
sǒng ㄙㄨㄥˇ | See 从容。 | ||||||
父 | 父+0 | fù fǔ ㄈㄨˋ ㄈㄨˇ | father; KangXi radical 88 | v3,p2039#01 | p.690#01 | p.864r1c01 | |
子 | 子+0 | 㜽 𢀈 𢀉 𡐫 𣕓 只 | zǐ ㄗˇ | Child, heir. Refers to both sons and daughters. / Love, charity. / Respectful term for a man. / People in general. / Fourth of the five levels of nobility. / First of the twelve earthly branches of the zodiac. | v2,p1006#06 | p.277#01 | p.395r1c01 |
兄 | 儿+3 | xiōng ㄒㄩㄥ | elder brother | v1,p0266#04 | p.123#09 | p.133r5c02 | |
弟 | 弓+4 | 𠂖 𢦢 | dì ㄉㄧˋ | Sequence, order. / Younger brother. / Younger sister. / Late. / But, only. | v1,p0244#10 | p.357#17 | p.501r1c02 |
tì ㄊㄧˋ | Respect one's elders. | ||||||
tuí ㄊㄨㄟˊ | See 弟靡. | ||||||
长 | 长+0 | 镸 𨱗 𠤐 𠑷 𠔊 𠑻 𠑿 𡕣 长 | cháng zhǎng zhàng ㄔㄤˊ ㄓㄤˇ ㄓㄤˋ | long; length; excel in; leader | v6,p4050#01 | p.1328#07 | p.1399r3c04 |
少 | 小+1 | shǎo shào ㄕㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ | few, less, inadequate | v1,p0561#02 | p.296#20 | p.442r4c01 | |
男 | 田+2 | 侽 | nán ㄋㄢˊ | male, man; son; baron; surname | v4,p2529#05 | p.759#02 | p.912r1c02 |
女 | 女+0 | 女 𠨰 | nǚ ㄋㄩˇ | Woman, female. / Unmarried woman. / Weak and small. | v2,p1023#23 | p.254#22 | p.376r1c02 |
nǜ ㄋㄩˋ | Marry off. | ||||||
rǔ ㄖㄨˇ | Same as “汝(2)” rǔ ㄖㄨˇ: Second person pronoun: you. | ||||||
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. | ||||||
妇 | 女+8 | 𢽰 媍 妇 | fù ㄈㄨˋ | married women; woman; wife | v2,p1062#06 | p.265#14 | |
尊 | 寸+9 | zūn ㄗㄨㄣ | respect, revere, venerate; honor | v1,p0509#06 | p.295#10 | p.435r4c01 | |
卑 | 十+6 | 𤰞 | bēi ㄅㄟ | humble, low, inferior; despise | v1,p0063#01 | p.156#27 | p.216r2c08 |
后 | 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 |
天 | 大+1 | 𠀡 𠀘 𦴞 兲 靝 𠕹 | tiān ㄊㄧㄢ | sky, heaven; god, celestial | v1,p0522#01 | p.248#04 | p.358r4c01 |
地 | 土+3 | 埊 𨻐 埅 𠏂 嶳 | dì de ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄜ· | earth; soil, ground; region | v1,p0420#12 | p.224#06 | p.312r6c01 |
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 |
行 | 行+0 | 行 | xíng ㄒㄧㄥˊ | Walk, move (on foot). / Advance, move forward. / Leave, exit. / Patrol, go on inspection. / Inspection of the realm by the Son of Heaven. / Be married off. / Flow, circulate. / Channel, guide. / Revolution, circular motion. / Experience. / Luggage, belongings taken on a journey. / Do, carry out. / Actions. / Accomplishments. / Use, utilize. / Take over (an official duty). / Offer, present. / Moral conduct, behaviour. / A type of classical poem. / A piece of music. / Semi-cursive script. / Adverb: will, about to. / Adverb: again, once more. / Adverb: by chance, luckily. / Ambassador (official title). / Measure word for number of pourings of drinks. | v2,p0811#06 | p.1108#31 | p.1203r5c05 |
háng ㄏㄤˊ | Road. / Track, pattern. / Row, line. / Row of soldiers in battle. / Unit of 25 soldiers. / Shaft of a feather (and by extension, wings). / Measure word for things which form rows. / Rank, position. | ||||||
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 |
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 | |
圣人 | 耳+7 人+0 | 垩 𦕡 𠄵 圣 𠔽 亻 | shèng rén ㄕㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ | 出类拔萃的人。 Sage, outstanding person. | v4,p2789#06 v1,p0101#10 | p.967#22 p.91#01 | p.1082r6c06 p.80r2c01 |
取 | 又+6 | qǔ ㄑㄩˇ | Cut off (the ears). / Catch, capture. / Take, exact. / Gain, take possession of. / Incur. / Achieve an easy victory. / Defeat in battle, conquer. / Extract from, come out of. / Take, choose, pick out. / Select, appoint. / Take a wife. / Adverb: expresses range, scope: merely. | v1,p0395#01 | p.166#04 | p.236r3c01 | |
象 | 豕+5 | 𤉢 𧰼 | xiàng ㄒㄧㄤˋ | elephant; ivory; figure, image | v6,p3611#09 | p.1195#21 | p.1262r5c04 |
焉 | 火+7 | yān ㄧㄢ | Same as “之(2)” zhī ㄓ: Demonstrative pronoun: this, these. / Same as “之(3)” zhī ㄓ: Third person pronoun: him, her, it. / Demonstrative pronoun and modal particle: than this. / Interrogative pronoun: how, where. / Interrogative pronoun: what. / Connective: and, then. / Preposition: in. / Modal particle. / Adjectival or adverbal suffix. | v3,p2206#14 | p.672#21 | p.847r5c01 | |
神 | 示+5 | 神 𥛠 | shén shēn ㄕㄣˊ ㄕㄣ | spirit, god, supernatural being | v4,p2392#01 | p.842#03 | |
明 | 日+4 | 朙 | míng ㄇㄧㄥˊ | Bright, brilliant. / Daytime. / Clear, obvious. / Clarify, make clear. / Understand. / Straightforwardly, clearly. / Clear, clean. / Wise. / Make wise. / Spirit, god. / Respect. / Eyesight. / Good eyesight. / See clearly. / The following (day, month, year, etc.). | v2,p1491#08 | p.491#12 | p.631r3c01 |
位 | 人+5 | wèi ㄨㄟˋ | throne; position, post; rank, status; seat | v1,p0138#03 | p.98#07 | p.96r1c04 | |
春 | 日+5 | 萅 𦸬 旾 𣈤 | chūn chǔn ㄔㄨㄣ ㄔㄨㄣˇ | spring; wanton | v2,p1496#10 | p.493#06 | p.636r3c02 |
夏 | 夊+7 | 𡔰 𠍺 昰 𡕾 | xià jiǎ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ | summer; great, grand, big | v2,p0869#10 | p.245#12 | p.335r1c08 |
秋 | 禾+4 | 𪚼 龝 𪔁 䆋 秌 𥤛 | qiū ㄑㄧㄡ | autumn, fall; year | v4,p2595#05 | p.850#06 | p.988r2c06 |
冬 | 冫+3 | 鼕 𣆼 𣅈 𠘀 𠔙 𠘗 | dōng ㄉㄨㄥ | winter, 11th lunar month | v2,p0867#19 | p.131#17 | p.167r2c01 |
四 | 囗+2 | 𦉭 肆 | sì ㄙˋ | four | v1,p0710#16 | p.216#22 | p.294r6c01 |
时 | 日+6 | 旹 时 | shí ㄕˊ | Season. / Unit of time equal to two hours. / [The passage of] time. / Time, times. / Age, period, epoch. / Occasion, opportune moment. / On time. / Then, at that time. / Always, constantly. / Same as “伺(1)” sì ㄙˋ: Wait until, wait for (a chance). | v2,p1505#05 | p.494#22 | p.639r3c04 |
序 | 广+4 | xù ㄒㄩˋ | series, serial order, sequence | v2,p0875#18 | p.343#35 | p.487r1c02 | |
万 | 禸+8 | 万 卍 㸘 𤍚 𢁭 | wàn ㄨㄢˋ | ten thousand; innumerable | v5,p3247#08 | p.1042#33 | p.1149r4c02 |
物 | 牛+4 | wù ㄨˋ | thing, substance, creature | v3,p1805#03 | p.699#09 | p.869r5c01 | |
化 | 匕+2 | 𠤎 𠯒 𠏁 | huà huā ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄚ | change, convert, reform; -ize | v1,p0109#04 | p.152#20 | p.201r6c02 |
作 | 人+5 | 胙 𢓓 | zuò ㄗㄨㄛˋ | Arise, stand up. / Grow, flourish. / Begin. / Create, make. / Work, effort. / Serve as, work as. / When, at such time as. | v1,p0134#06 | p.99#07 | p.99r3c01 |
萌 | 草+8 | 萠 镅 | méng míng ㄇㄥˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ | bud, sprout | v5,p3233#14 | p.1041#05 | p.1147r1c01 |
区 | 匸+9 | 区 | qū ōu ㄑㄩ ㄡ | area, district, region, ward; surname | v1,p0087#10 | p.155#13 | p.207r3c01 |
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. | ||||||
状 | 犬+4 | 状 | zhuàng ㄓㄨㄤˋ | form; appearance; shape; official | v2,p1334#03 | p.707#13 | p.873r5c05 |
盛 | 皿+6 | shèng chéng ㄕㄥˋ ㄔㄥˊ | abundant, flourishing; contain; fill | v4,p2562#04 | p.794#20 | p.939r5c05 | |
衰 | 衣+4 | 𠆂 𠌺 | shuāi cuī suō ㄕㄨㄞ ㄘㄨㄟ ㄙㄨㄛ | decline, falter, decrease; weaken | v5,p3076#09 | p.1112#14 | p.1210r2c02 |
杀 | 殳+7 | 殺 煞 𢁛 𢽅 𢿹 𢽆 𢼡 𢿔 𧤿 杀 | shā ㄕㄚ | Kill. / Corrupt, ruin. / Die. / Fight, kill each other. | v3,p2157#01 | p.585#11 | p.743r4c02 |
shài ㄕㄞˋ | Wither, decline. / Decrease, reduce us of. / Decline, fall. | ||||||
sà ㄙㄚˋ | Dim, gloomy appearance. | ||||||
变 | 言+16 | 変 𢒟 𢒪 𢒦 变 | biàn ㄅㄧㄢˋ | Change, alteration. / Movement. / Adapt to, accommodate. / Event, incident. / Disaster. / Unusual event. | v2,p1481#07 | p.1186#12 | p.1257r6c06 |
流 | 水+6 | 流 㳅 | liú ㄌㄧㄡˊ | flow, circulate, drift; class | v3,p1631#12 | p.623#04 | p.791r1c02 |
至 | 至+0 | 𦤳 𦤴 𦤵 𡊏 | zhì dié ㄓˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ | reach, arrive; extremely, very | v4,p2814#01 | p.1001#11 | p.1111r3c04 |
况 | 水+5 | 况 𡶢 | kuàng ㄎㄨㄤˋ | condition, situation; furthermore | v3,p1586#02 | p.615#01 | p.777r4c01 |
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 |
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. | ||||||
乎 | 丿+4 | 宓 | hū ㄏㄨ | Modal particle expressing questioning or a rhetorical question. / Modal particle expressing admiration or exclamation. / Modal particle expressing estimation. / Modal particle expressing request or order. / Modal particle expressing calling. / Modal particle expressing consideration. / Modal particle expressing affirmation. / Particle used after adjectives. / Particle used in the middle of a sentence to express a pause. / Preposition: in, from, to. | v1,p0036#08 | p.82#07 | p.47r3c03 |
宗 | 宀+5 | zōng ㄗㄨㄥ | lineage, ancestry; ancestor, clan | v2,p0917#11 | p.283#14 | p.411r6c01 | |
庙 | 广+12 | 庙 庿 | miào ㄇㄧㄠˋ | temple, shrine; imperial court | v2,p0901#02 | p.350#28 | p.492r6c02 |
尚 | 小+5 | 尙 | shàng cháng ㄕㄤˋ ㄔㄤˊ | still, yet; even; fairly, rather | v1,p0563#05 | p.297#11 | |
亲 | 见+9 | 𢈥 寴 𡩁 亲 | qīn ㄑㄧㄣ | Parents. / Relatives. / Love, favour. / Close, intimate. / Contact, touch. / Personally. / Do oneself. | v6,p3671#12 | p.1136#12 | p.1230r5c04 |
朝 | 月+8 | 晁 | zhāo ㄓㄠ | Morning. / Beginning. | v3,p2084#08 | p.506#03 | p.661r1c01 |
cháo ㄔㄠˊ | Meet in court. / Call the ministers to court. / Court, place where ministers meet with the ruler. / Visit, go to see. / Meet together, gather. | ||||||
廷 | 廴+4 | tíng ㄊㄧㄥˊ | court | v1,p0403#11 | p.353#02 | p.496r5c01 | |
乡 | 邑+9 | 郷 鄕 乡 | xiāng xiǎng xiàng ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ | country; rural; village | v6,p3786#04 | p.1275#02 | |
党 | 黑+8 | 党 | dǎng zhǎng ㄉㄤˇ ㄓㄤˇ | political party, gang, faction | v7,p4750#05 | p.1520#36 | p.1563r6c03 |
齿 | 齿+0 | 歯 𠚒 𠔒 𦥒 𣥫 𦥪 齿 | chǐ ㄔˇ | teeth; gears, cogs; age; KangXi radical 211 | v7,p4788#01 | p.1532#08 | p.1571r2c03 |
事 | 亅+7 | 亊 叓 𠭏 | shì ㄕˋ | Office, duty. / Job, career. / Things, affairs. / Accident, incident. / Engage (in), pursue. / Serve. | v1,p0023#03 | p.85#24 | p.58r3c02 |
贤 | 贝+8 | 臤 贒 贤 | xián ㄒㄧㄢˊ | virtuous, worthy, good; able | v6,p3646#06 | p.1209#28 | p.1276r5c02 |
大 | 大+0 | 𠘲 | dà ㄉㄚˋ | Large, great. / Exceed, be greater than. / Venerate, treat as being great. / Many. / Thick, coarse. / Elder. / Respectful term of address. / Adverb expressing high level or broad range. | v1,p0520#01 | p.248#01 | p.342r3c03 |
tài ㄊㄞˋ | Most (superlative). / Too much. / Peaceful, tranquil. | ||||||
语 | 言+7 | 语 | yǔ ㄩˇ | Speak (with someone). / Spoken words. / Language. / Proverb, saying. | v6,p3974#09 | p.1163#08 | p.1245r6c03 |
yù ㄩˋ | Tell. / Warn, admonish. | ||||||
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 “诽(2)” fěi ㄈㄟˇ: Slander. | ||||||
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. | ||||||
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. | ||||||
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 |
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