| Chinese Text Project |
| (Practising the Dao) | |
| 道者萬物之奧。 | Dao has of all things the most honoured place. |
| 善人之寶， | No treasures give good men so rich a grace; |
| 不善人之所保。 | Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface. |
| 美言可以市， | (Its) admirable words can purchase honour; |
| 尊行可以加人。 | (its) admirable deeds can raise their performer above others. |
| 人之不善， | Even men who are not good |
| 何棄之有？ | are not abandoned by it. |
| 故立天子， | Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, |
| 置三公， | and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, |
| 雖有拱璧以先駟馬， | though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of horses (in the court-yard), |
| 不如坐進此道。 | such an offering would not be equal to (a lesson of) this Dao, which one might present on his knees. |
| 古之所以貴此道者何？ | Why was it that the ancients prized this Dao so much? |
| 不曰：以求得， | Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it, |
| 有罪以免耶？ | and the guilty could escape (from the stain of their guilt) by it? |
| 故為天下貴。 | This is the reason why all under heaven consider it the most valuable thing. |
| Character | Composition | Variants | Reading | Meaning | Hanyu | Kangxi | Cihai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | ||||||
| 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. | ||||||
| 萬 | 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 | |
| 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 |
| 奧 | 大+10 | 𡪿 奥 | ào yù ㄠˋ ㄩˋ | mysterious, obscure, profound | v1,p0547#03 | p.253#19 | p.373r6c03 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 寶 | 宀+17 | 宝 寳 寚 𠋾 珤 | bǎo ㄅㄠˇ | treasure, jewel; precious, rare | v2,p0958#03 | p.293#12 | p.431r1c02 |
| 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. | ||||||
| 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 |
| 保 | 人+7 | bǎo ㄅㄠˇ | protect, safeguard, defend, care | v1,p0160#04 | p.105#17 | p.107r3c03 | |
| 美 | 羊+3 | 羙 | měi ㄇㄟˇ | beautiful, pretty; pleasing | v5,p3126#05 | p.951#10 | p.1069r5c01 |
| 言 | 言+0 | 訁 𢍗 𢍬 | yán ㄧㄢˊ | Speak, say. / Discuss, debate. / Tell. / Doctrine, theory, words. / One word. / Sentence. / Particle, no meaning. | v6,p3936#01 | p.1146#01 | p.1236r5c03 |
| 可 | 口+2 | 歌 厥 | kě kè ㄎㄜˇ ㄎㄜˋ | may, can, -able; possibly | v1,p0567#07 | p.172#12 | p.244r1c02 |
| 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 |
| 市 | 巾+2 | shì ㄕˋ | market, fair; city, town; trade | v1,p0729#05 | p.328#03 | p.470r4c03 | |
| 尊 | 寸+9 | zūn ㄗㄨㄣ | respect, revere, venerate; honor | v1,p0509#06 | p.295#10 | p.435r4c01 | |
| 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. | ||||||
| 加 | 力+3 | jiā ㄐㄧㄚ | add to, increase, augment | v1,p0366#01 | p.146#13 | p.193r1c01 | |
| 何 | 人+5 | hé ㄏㄜˊ | Ask, enquire. / What. / Who, which one. / How, in what way. / Why, for what reason. / Where, in what place. / How much, to what extent. | v1,p0130#04 | p.98#15 | p.97r2c04 | |
| hē ㄏㄜ | Criticize, condemn. | ||||||
| hè ㄏㄜˋ | Carry on one's back. / Bear, carry a burden. | ||||||
| 棄 | 木+8 | 弃 𢍞 𨓋 | qì ㄑㄧˋ | reject, abandon, discard | v2,p1237#07 | p.531#15 | p.702r4c01 |
| 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. | ||||||
| 故 | 攴+5 | gù ㄍㄨˋ | (8) 連詞：所以，因此。 Hence, thus. | v2,p1453#05 | p.469#25 | p.601r5c01 | |
| 立 | 立+0 | 立 | lì ㄌㄧˋ | (9) 君王登位，即位。 Become ruler, enthrone. | v4,p2706#01 | p.870#17 | p.1002r5c01 |
| 天子 | 大+1 子+0 | 𠀡 𠀘 𦴞 兲 靝 𠕹 㜽 𢀈 𢀉 𡐫 𣕓 只 | tiān zǐ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗˇ | 對最高統治者的尊稱。 Son of Heaven, title of the supreme ruler. | v1,p0522#01 v2,p1006#06 | p.248#04 p.277#01 | p.358r4c01 p.395r1c01 |
| 置 | 网+8 | 寘 𦌃 𦌤 𦋽 𦋲 | zhì ㄓˋ | (4) 建立，設置。 Establish, put in place. | v4,p2919#02 | p.948#20 | p.1065r3c01 |
| 三 | 一+2 | 叁 弎 | sān sàn ㄙㄢ ㄙㄢˋ | three | v1,p0004#03 | p.76#05 | p.11r2c01 |
| 公 | 八+2 | 㒶 | gōng ㄍㄨㄥ | fair, equitable; public; duke | v1,p0242#01 | p.126#28 | p.151r3c01 |
| 雖 | 隹+9 | 𨾡 虽 | suī ㄙㄨㄟ | Type of insect. / Even, though, even if. / Only. | v6,p4103#05 | p.1368#22 | p.1440r6c01 |
| 拱 | 手+6 | gǒng ㄍㄨㄥˇ | fold hands on breast; bow, salute | v3,p1867#02 | p.428#02 | ||
| 璧 | 玉+13 | bì ㄅㄧˋ | piece of jade with hole in it | v2,p1142#16 | p.742#29 | p.900r4c02 | |
| 先 | 儿+4 | xiān ㄒㄧㄢ | first, former, previous | v1,p0267#02 | p.124#05 | p.134r3c02 | |
| 駟 | 馬+5 | 驷 | sì ㄙˋ | team of four horses | v7,p4547#11 | p.1437#06 | p.1506r1c02 |
| 馬 | 馬+0 | 𢒠 𩡬 𢒗 马 | mǎ ㄇㄚˇ | horse; surname; KangXi radical 187 | v7,p4539#01 | p.1433#01 | p.1499r1c01 |
| 如 | 女+3 | rú ㄖㄨˊ | Go to. / According to, in accordance with. / Like, similar to. / As good as, comparable to. / Should. / Or, alternatively. / If, should it be the case. / As for, as regards. / Adjectival suffix. | v2,p1025#09 | p.255#21 | p.378r5c02 | |
| 坐 | 土+4 | 座 㘸 | zuò ㄗㄨㄛˋ | sit; seat; ride, travel by | v1,p0423#12 | p.225#15 | p.317r1c01 |
| 進 | 辵+8 | 𨙟 𨗃 进 | jìn ㄐㄧㄣˋ | advance, make progress, enter | v6,p3851#05 | p.1259#30 | p.1322r2c03 |
| 此 | 止+2 | cǐ ㄘˇ | This. / Like this. / Here. / Adverb: then. | v2,p1438#03 | p.574#10 | p.735r4c01 | |
| 古 | 口+2 | 𠖠 𡇣 | gǔ ㄍㄨˇ | old, classic, ancient | v1,p0568#03 | p.171#08 | p.240r1c02 |
| 貴 | 貝+5 | 𡭙 𧸋 贵 | guì ㄍㄨㄟˋ | expensive, costly, valuable | v6,p3632#09 | p.1206#15 | p.1271r6c01 |
| 曰 | 曰+0 | yuē ㄩㄝ | Say, speak. / Call, name. / Particle. | v2,p1482#02 | p.502#01 | p.648r3c03 | |
| 求 | 水+2 | 裘 | qiú ㄑㄧㄡˊ | seek; demand, request; beseech | v3,p1547#08 | p.604#04 | p.763r3c02 |
| 得 | 彳+8 | 𢔶 䙷 𢔨 | dé ㄉㄜˊ | Get, obtain. / Plunder. / Covet. / Success. / Fitting, appropriate. / Compatible. / Satisfied, pleased. / Possible, can. / Same as 「德(1)」 dé ㄉㄜˊ: Morals, morality. / Same as 「德(3)」 dé ㄉㄜˊ: Reward kindness, thank. | v2,p0828#03 | p.367#31 | p.513r6c02 |
| 罪 | 网+8 | 辠 𡈚 | zuì ㄗㄨㄟˋ | crime, sin, vice; evil; hardship | v4,p2920#07 | p.948#13 | p.1065r2c06 |
| 免 | 儿+5 | miǎn ㄇㄧㄢˇ | Avoid, prevent. / Pardon, release. / Take off, remove. / Quit, retire from office. / Labour, delivery, give birth. / Encourage. | v1,p0270#09 | p.124#23 | p.139r1c01 | |
| wèn ㄨㄣˋ | Mourning ritual in which one takes off one's cap and bind one's hair with hemp. | ||||||
| fǔ ㄈㄨˇ | Lean, bend over. | ||||||
| 耶 | 耳+3 | 邪 | yé yē xié ㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄝ ㄒㄧㄝˊ | used in transliteration | v4,p2784#03 | p.965#12 | p.1081r6c04 |
| 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 | |
| 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. | ||||||
| 天下 | 大+1 一+2 | 𠀡 𠀘 𦴞 兲 靝 𠕹 丅 厥 𠄟 | tiān xià ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ | 世界。 "All under heaven", the world. | v1,p0522#01 v1,p0007#01 | p.248#04 p.76#10 | p.358r4c01 p.28r1c01 |
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