三字经英文翻译()
三字经
Three-Character Canon
宋王应麟着
Written by Wang Yinglin
人之初，At the beginning of life,
性本善。Man is good in nature.
性相近，Human nature is alike,
习相远。Habits make them different.
苟不教，For lack of education,
性乃迁。The nature is in alteration.
教之道，And the nurture of the young,
贵以专。Better be maintained for long.
昔孟母，Once Mencius’s mother
择邻处。Chose the best neighborhood for her son; 子不学，When her son played truant,
断机杼。She cut the threads on the loom.
窦燕山，Another case is Dou Yanshan,
有义方。Who was wise in family education.
教五子，He raised his five sons,
名俱扬。And all of them were blessed with fame. 养不教，Rear children without instructing them,
父之过。And the father should be blamed;
教不严，Teach in a slack and lazy way
师之惰。And the teacher should be criticized.
子不学，If a pupil plays truant,
非所宜。It proves to be improper.
幼不学，If a child fails to learn,
老何为？What could he be when getting old
玉不琢，Without being carved and polished,
不成器。 A jade can’t be a work of art.
人不学，If one does not learn,
不知义。He’ll not know human virtues.
为人子，When one is young,
方少时。He should make the best of his time,
亲师友，Associating with the good and the wise,
习礼仪。And learning to stand on ceremony.
香九龄，When Huang Xiang was nine years old,
能温席。He could warm the mat for his father.
孝于亲，Whoever has love for their parents
所当执。Should be as kind as such.
融四岁，When Kong Rong was four years old,
能让梨。He could offer his brothers the bigger pears. 弟于长，Even if one is quite young,
宜先知。One should love one’s brothers.
首孝悌，One should bear familial love from the outset, 次见闻。Before he starts to learn,
知某数，Including counting and computing,
识某文。As well as reading and writing.
一而十，One times ten is ten,
十而百，Ten times ten is a hundred,
百而千， A hundred times ten is a thousand,
千而万。And a thousand times ten is ten thousand.
三才者，There’re three essential elements to know,
天地人。They are heaven, earth and man.
三光者，There are three kinds of light;
日月星。They’re from the sun, the moon and the stars. 三纲者，There are three ethical disciplines:
君臣义；That of loyalty between the king and his men, 父子亲，of love between father and son,
夫妇顺。And of harmony between husband and wife. 曰春夏，There are Spring and Summer,
曰秋冬。And Autumn and Winter:
此四时，They are the four seasons,
运不穷。Alternating all the year round.
曰南北，There are north and south,
曰西东。And east and west.
此四方，They are the four directions,
应乎中。Laid out by central position.
曰水火，There are water and fire,
土木金。And wood, metal, and earth:
此五行，They are five elements,
本乎数。Related to the numerals.
曰仁义，There are benevolence, righteousness,
礼智信。And courtesy, intelligence and loyalty.
此五常，They are the five human norms,
不容紊。Which are regulated in certain terms.
稻粱菽，There are rice, sorghum and bean,
麦黍稷。And wheat, millet and corn:
此六谷，They are six kinds of grain
人所食。For one to serve as food.
马牛羊，There are the horse, the ox and the sheep, 鸡犬豕。And the foul, the dog, and the pig:
此六畜，They are six kinds of livestock,
人所饲。Raised in herds by the farmers.
曰喜怒，There are joy and anger,
曰哀惧；And sorrow and fear,
爱恶欲，And love, hate and desire:
七情具。They are seven human feelings altogether. 匏土革，There are gourd, pottery, leather,
木石金；And wood, stone, and metal,
丝与竹，Together with string and bamboo,
乃八音。All these can be made into musical instruments.
高曾祖，From his great-great-grandfather,
父而身；To his great-grandfather,
身而子，To his grandfather and father,
子而孙；To himself and his son,
自子孙，To his grandson and great-grandson,
至玄曾。And to his great-great-grandson:
乃九族，Whoever is born into the world
人之伦。Will face the nine-layer relation.
父子恩，There should be affection between father and son, 夫妇从；As well as love between husband and wife.
兄则友，Brothers should be kind to each other:
弟则恭；The elder’s amiable, and the younger respectful. 长幼序， A harmony should be maintained
友与朋；Among families as well as friends.
君则敬，Even the king should be cordial,
臣则忠。To whom the subjects can be loyal.
此十义，These are called the Ten Doctrines
人所同。That everyone in the world should follow. 凡训蒙，To enlighten the school children,
须讲究。Good methods must be taken.
详训诂，The meaning must be correctly grasped, 明句读。And the syntax clear in mind.
为学者， A pupil must start his learning
必有初。From the very beginning.
小学终，After he has learned the basics,
至四书。He’d learn the Four Books next.
论语者，The first book is Confucius’ Analects,
二十篇。Composed of twenty chapters，
群弟子，Which were recorded by his disciples
记善言。And put together as living doctrines.
孟子者，The second book is called Mencius,
七篇止。Consisting of seven sections,
讲道德，In which is highlighted moralities,
说仁义。As well as benevolence and righteousness. 作中庸，The third book is the Doctrine of the Mean, 子思笔。Written by Zi Si, Confucius’ grandson,
中不偏，Who poses all midway,
庸不易。In which the common truth exists.
作大学，Zeng Zi wrote the Great learning,
乃曾子。From which one can achieve a great deal. 自修齐，He demonstrated a way to self-improvement 至平治。From the individual life to the social affairs. 孝经通，When one’s mastered the Filial Scripture, 四书熟。Together with the four books.
如六经，The Six Confucian Scriptures
始可读。Can be for him a new start.
诗书易，The Songs, the History, and the Changes,
礼春秋。And the Annals and the Rituals：
号六经，Are called the Six Confucian Scriptures,
当讲求。Which are needed to be studied thoroughly. 有连山，There was Lianshan in the Xia Dynasty,
有归藏；Which was called Guizang in the Shang,
有周易，And Zhouyi in the Zhou,
三易详。All refer to the Book of Changes.
有典谟，With the records of the early sages’ deeds, 有训诰；And with the regulations and laws,
有誓命，As well as the decrees and rules
书之奥。The Book of History is hard to read.
我周公， A sage is called the Duke of Zhou,
作周礼。Who drafted the rituals for the country.
着六官，He appointed six ministers,
存治体。By whom the nation was governed.
大小戴，Dai and his nephew were two scholars,
着礼记。Who annotated the Book of Rituals.
述圣言，By digging from the sage’s words,
礼乐备。The Book of Music came from the Ritual.
曰国风，With the National Morals,
曰雅颂。And the Grace and the Paeans,
号四诗，The Book of Songs is divided into four sections, 当讽咏。And each should be chanted and recited.
诗既亡，When tradition of collecting folk songs is lost, 春秋作。The Book of History was compiled,
寓褒贬，Which sets the moral code for state officials, 别善恶。And which judges the good from the evil.
三传者，Three commentaries have been given
有公羊；To the Book of History ever written:
有左氏，There are three commentary authors:
有谷梁。Gong Yang, Zuo Qiuming and Gu Liang.
经既明，After having grasped the classics,
方读子。One can read the works of other schools,
撮其要，Not only drawing up the essentials,
记其事。But also learning by heart the details.
五子者，Five figures should be mentioned
有荀扬；Of the great masters of thought:
文中子，They are named Xun Zi and Yang Zi,
及老庄。And Wen Zhong Zi, Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi.
经子通，With a thorough understanding of the above mentioned, 读诸史。One can proceed to historical works.
考世系，From each phase of historical evolution,
知始终。One can learn the ups and downs of each reign.
自羲农，There lived Fu Xi and Shen Nong,
至皇帝。As well as Xuan Yuan.
号三皇，They were called the Three Emperors,
居上世。Living long before the good old days.
唐有虞，Yao and Shun reigned in the later years,
号二帝。Who were called the Two Emperors.
相揖逊，Both yielded the crown to capable men,
称盛世。And their reigns were called the heydays.
夏有禹，There lived Yu in the Xia Dynasty,
商有汤。And there appeared Tang in the Shang;
周文武，Together with King Zhou Wen and his son,
称三王。They were called the Three Great Kings.
夏传子，After Yu was succeeded by his son,
家天下。All under heaven were ruled by one family.
四百载，And the Xia Dynasty lasted four centuries long, 迁夏社。Till there were revolution in the country.
汤伐夏，The revolution against Xia was led by Tang,
国号商。Who founded a new dynasty called Shang.
六百载，Six centuries had passed
至纣亡。Before it was overthrown in the reign of Zhu.
文武王，Zhou Dynasty was founded by King Zhou Wu, 始诛纣。Who captured and beheaded cruel Zhu.
八百载，The Zhou Dynasty lasted eight centuries,
最长久。And it’s the longest dynasty in history.
周撤东，When the capital of Zhou was moved east,
王纲坠。The whole state began to go downward.
逞干戈，Seas of wars broke out everywhere,
尚游说。And politicians ran canvassing about.
始春秋，The East Zhou began with the Spring and Autumn, 终战国。And ended with the Warring states.
五霸强，Five Dukes ruled in the former period,
七雄出。And seven powers dominated in the latter.
嬴秦氏，Emperor Qin Shihuang appeared,
始兼并。And annexed all states into one empire.
传二世，When he was succeeded by his evil son,
楚汉争。The Chun and the Han began to fight for the crown.
高祖兴，When Liu Bang won over Xiang Yu,
汉业建。He, as the founder of the Han Dynasty, was called Gao Zu.
至孝平，And during the reign of Emperor Xiao Ping, 王莽篡。The Han collapsed with Wang Mang’s usurping.
光武兴，The throne was restored by Liu Xiu,
为东汉。Who was crowned Emperor Guang Wu.
四百年，The later four-period is called the East Han,
终于献。Ruined in the reign of Emperor Xian.
魏蜀吴，Three new states of Wei, Shu, and Wu,
争汉鼎。Tussled fiercely for the throne of the Han.
号三国，They were called the Three States,
迄两晋。To be replaced by two Jins in chains of was. 宋齐继，The Song and the Qi rose one after another, 梁陈承。And the Liang and the Chen succeeded later. 为南朝，They were called the South Dynasties as a whole.
都金陵。With their capitals in Jinling city.
北元魏，Yuan founded in the north a reign of Wei,
分东西。Splitting into two sections, the east and the west.
宇文周，West Wei was renamed North Zhou by Yuwen Jue;
与高齐。East Wei was dominated by Gao Yang with the title of North Qi.
迨至隋，Not until the foundation of the Sui Dynasty
一土宇。Was the whole country united.
不再传，The throne was succeeded by the son,
失统绪。Who lost his life and his crown.
唐高祖，Li Yuan, with an imperial tile of Tang Gaozu, 起义师。Rose up with his army.
除隋乱，He swept off the riots and chaos,
创国基。And founded the Tang Dynasty.
二十传，With a succession of twenty emperors,
三百载。The Tang lasted for three hundred years.
梁灭之，Before there rose the reign of the post Liang, 国乃改。Which replaced the reign of the Tang.
梁唐晋，The Post Liang, the Post Tang, and the Post Jin,
及汉周。Together with the Post Han and the Post Zhou, 称五代，Are called the Five Dynasties altogether,
皆有由。Each replacing the former.
炎宋兴，General Zhao, stood out, noble and strong, 受周禅。And the emperor of the Zhou handed over his crown.
十八传，Zhao founded the Song Dynasty, with eighteen successors,
南北混。And the capital was moved southward in war riots.
辽与金，Two tribes called the Liao and the Jin,
皆称帝。Respectively founded their imperial reigns.
元灭宋，The latter was subverted by the Dynasty of Yuan, 绝宋世。And the Song also ended in the Yuan’s invasion. 莅中国，The Yuan conquered the whole country,
兼戎狄。Together with the remote nationalities.
九十年，After a reign of ninety years,
国祚废。The throne collapsed in rebellions.
太祖兴，When Zhu Yuanzhang distinguished himself during the uprising,
国大明。He founded a new dynasty called the Ming.
号洪武，He got Hong Wu as his imperial title,
都金陵。With Jinling city to be the capital.
迨成祖，During the reign of Emperor Cheng Zu,
迁燕京。The capital was moved to Yanjing.
十六世，There lasted sixteen successions
至崇祯。Till the fatal end of Emperor Chong Zhen. 权阉肆，With eunuch Wei abusing the royal power, 寇如林。Seas of rebels broke out.
至李闯，Among them rose the Chuang King,
神器焚。Who overthrown the Dynasty of Ming.
清太祖，Qing Taizu founded a new nation,
膺景命。To fulfill the missions from the heaven.
靖四方，He swept away all the enemies,
克大定。And unified the whole country.
廿一史，The history of the twenty one dynasties
全在兹。Has all been mentioned above.
载治乱，Through the reigns in order or disorder,
知兴衰。One can trace the ups and downs.
读史者，In studies of historical works,
考实录。One should delve into the actual records. 通古今，By which to grasp the history on the whole, 若亲目。As if shown before one’s own eyes.
口而诵，One can learn by reading and chanting,
心而惟。And by way of meditation.
朝于斯，one should indulge in studies
夕于斯。From morning till night.
昔仲尼，Confucius set a good example,
师项橐。Who once followed Xiang Tuo as a disciple. 古圣贤，All sages and nobles in ancient times
尚勤学。Would work hard at their studies.
赵中令， A prime minister called Zhao Pu
读鲁论。Lost himself in the study of the Analects.
彼既仕，Though he had a high post in the government,
学且勤。He was still a diligent learner.
披蒲编，Lu Wenshu copied books on grass weave,
削竹简。And Gongsun Hong wrote on bamboo chips. 彼无书，The poor guys had no books of their own,
且知勉。Yet they had such means to try.
头悬梁，Sun Jing fastened his hair to the beam,
锥刺股。And Su Qin stabbed his thighs with an awl. 彼不教，Why both of them did such strange deeds
自勤苦。They took pains to learn of themselves.
如囊莹，Che Yin read under the light of glow worms, 如映雪。And Sun Kang read against the white snow. 家虽贫，Though they came from poor families,
学不辍。They never stopped their studies.
如负薪，Zhu Maichen tried reading in firewood cutting,
如挂角。And Li Mi held his book in cattle herding. 身虽劳，Though they were tired out at work,
犹苦卓。They were still learning hard.
苏老泉，Sun Xun didn’t start to learn
二十七。Until he was twenty seven.
始发愤，Though it was late for him to learn,
读书籍。Yet he finally had much to attain.
彼既老，When he became old,
犹悔迟。He still felt repentant.
尔小生，Young pupils, all of you,
宜早思。Better start learning sooner.
若梁灏，Liang Hao was acclaimed
八十二。At the age of eighty two:
对大廷，He stood out from the scholars,
魁多士。And was listed top in Court Examination. 彼既成，Only after he had been a success,
众称异。Could others hail to him in surprise.
尔小生，Young pupils, all of you,
宜立志。Better decide what to do.
莹八岁，When Zu Ying was eight years old,
能咏诗。He could recite many poems.
泌七岁，And when Liu Mi was seven,
能赋棋。He could compose a chess ode.
彼颖悟，Such boys with unusual talents
人称奇。Always surprise the other people.
尔幼学，Young pupils, all of you,
当效之。Better imitate what they’ve done.
蔡文姬，Cai Wenji was such a gifted girl
能辨琴。That she was expert at the organ.
谢道韫，And Xie Daoyun, a bright young lady, 能咏吟。Could show her poetic gift on a snowy day.
彼女子，There were many girls as such,
且聪敏。Who were clever and smart.
尔男子，All of you, pupil boys,
当自警。Should be aware of yourselves.
唐刘晏，When Liu Yan, a figure of the Tang Dynasty,
方七岁。Was at the age of seven,
举神童，He was called a child sage,
作正字。In charge of proofreading books for the government,
彼虽幼，Young as he was,
身已仕。He became an official.
尔幼学，All of you, young learners,
勉尔致。Can also achieve the same.
有为者，Whoever hold such ambition
亦若是。Will also succeed like this.
犬守夜， A dog can keep watch at night,
鸡司晨。And a cock can crow at dawn.
苟不学，If a person fails to learn,
曷为人？How can he be a successful person 蚕吐丝， A silkworm can make silk,
蜂酿蜜。And a honeybee can make honey.
人不学，If a person fails to learn,
不如物。He’ll be good for nothing.
幼而学，If a child learns a lot,
壮而行。He’ll succeed in his adulthood,
上致君，Not only serving the country,
下泽民。But also benefiting the people.
扬名声，He’ll run into great fame,
显父母。Which brings honors to his parents. 光于前，All his ancestors will enjoy the glory,
裕于后。And all his offerspring will benefit from his victory.
人遗子，People usually bequeath their children 金满籯。With boxes of golden bars;
我教子，And what I leave to my son
惟一经。Is nothing but this scripture.
勤有功，Study hard, and you’ll succeed;
戏无益。Play truant, and you’ll fail.
戒之哉，Be aware of all this, behold!
宜勉力。And work harder and harder.