弟子规英文版.doc

总叙Preface Outline弟子规。圣人训。These are the rules for being a studentHanded down to us by Ancient Sages.Standards for Being a Good Student and Child is a book thatwas taught by Chinese saints and sages of the ancient past.首孝弟。次谨信。First be filial to your own parentsAnd respectful to all of your elders.The book first teaches us how to be dutiful to your parents, and how to be respectful and loving to our siblings.It then teaches us how to be cautious with all people, matters, and things in our daily life, and how to be a trustworthy person; and to believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages.泛爱众。而亲仁。Be trustworthy, cautious and kind,And draw near to those who are good.Furthermore, it teaches us to love all equally,and to be close to and learn from people of virtue and compassion.有余力。则学文。Whatever time you have leftShould be devoted to learning.Only when we have accomplished all the abovecan we then study further and learn literature and art to improve the quality of our cultural and spiritual lives.第一章 入则孝Chapter 1 On Being Filial at HomeChapter 1 At Home, Be Dutiful to My Parents父母呼。应勿缓。When your mother or father is calling,Do not be slow to respond.When my parents call me,I will answer them right away.父母命。行勿懒。When your parents tell you to do something,Do not be lazy or sulky.When they ask me to do something,I will do it quickly.父母教。须敬听。When your parents need to instruct you,You should listen with patient respect.When my parents instruct you,I will listen respectfully.父母责。须顺承。Whenever your parents must scold you,Accept it with faithful compliance.When my parents reproach me,I will obey and accept their scolding. I will try hard to change and improve myself, to start anew.冬则温。夏则凊。In the winter, make sure they are warm.In the summer, make sure they are cool.In the winter, I will keep my parents warm;in the summer, I will keep your parents cool.晨则省。昏则定。In the morning, cheerfully greet them.In the evening, tell them “Good night.”I will always greet my parents in the morning to show them that I care.At night I will always make sure my parents rest well.出必告。反必面。If you plan to go out, tell your parents.Report to them when you get back.Before going out, I must tell my parents where I are going, for parents are always concerned about their children.After returning home, I must go and see my parents to let them know I am back, so they do not worry about me.居有常。业无变。Settle down in one certain place.Do not switch from one job to another.I will maintain a permanent place to stay and lead a routine life.I will persist in whatever I do and will not change my aspirations at will.事虽小。勿擅为。No matter how small the affair,Do not act just as you please.A matter might be trivial, but if it is wrong to do it or unfair to the other person,I must not do it thinking it will bear little or no consequence.苟擅为。子道亏。For if you act just as you please,Then you have not performed as you should.If I do,I am not being a dutiful child because my parents would not want to see me doing things that are irrational or illegal.物虽小。勿私藏。Although a thing may be small,Do not save it just for yourself.Even though an object might be small,I will not keep it a secret from my parents.苟私藏。亲心伤。For if you hoard things for yourself,Your parents hearts will be grieved.If I do,I will hurt my parents feelings.亲所好。力为具。Whatever your parents like best,You should provide for them soon.If whatever pleases my parents is fair and reasonable,I will try my best to attain it for them.亲所恶。谨为去。Whatever your parents dislike,You should do your best to remove.If something displeases my parents, if within reasonI will cautiously keep it away from them.身有伤。贻亲忧。If you carelessly injure your body,Your parents will worry and fret.When my body is hurt,My parents will be worried.德有伤。贻亲羞。If you heedlessly damage your virtue,You bring shame and disgrace to your parents,If my virtues are compromised,my parents will feel ashamed.亲爱我。孝何难。When your parents are loving and kind,Of course its not hard to be filial.When I have loving parents,it is not difficult to be dutiful to them.亲憎我。孝方贤。The true test of being a personComes when parents are hateful and cruel.But if I can be dutiful to parents who hate me,only then will I meet the standards of the saints and sages for being a dutiful child.亲有过。谏使更。If your recognize faults in your parents,Exhort them to change for the better.When my parents do wrong,I will urge them to change.怡吾色。柔吾声。Speak to them kindly and gentlyWith a pleasant smile on your face.I will do it with a kind facial expressionand a warm gentle voice.谏不入。悦复谏。If they cannot accept your advice,Wait for an opportune time.If they do not accept my advice,I will wait until they are in a happier mood before I attempt to dissuade them again,号泣随。挞无怨。You may even use tears to exhort them,But dont resent it if you are punished.followed by crying, if necessary, to make them understand.If they end up whipping me I will not hold a grudge against them.亲有疾。药先尝。When your parents are ill, call the doctor,Be sure the prescription is right.When my parents are ill,I will taste the medicine first before giving it to them.昼夜侍。不离床。Wait on them day after day,At their bedside by day and by night.I will take care of them night and day andstay by their bedside.丧三年。常悲咽。For three years after their death,Remember them always in sorrow.During the first three years of mourning after my parents have passed away,I will remember them with gratitude and feel sad often for not being able to repay them for their kindness in raising me.居处变。酒肉绝。During this period of mourning,Dont drink wine or eat meat.During this period I will arrange my home to reflect my grief and sorrow.I will also avoid festivities and indulgence in food and alcoholic drinks.丧尽礼。祭尽诚。Take care of their funeral arrangements,Make offerings on their behalf.I will observe proper etiquette in arranging my parents funerals.I will hold the memorial ceremony and commemorate my parents anniversaries with utmost sincerity.事死者。如事生。Reverently cherish their memoryAs if they were still in the world.I will serve my departed parentsas if they were still alive.第二章 出则悌Chapter 2 On Practicing True BrotherhoodChapter 2 Standards for Brothers At Home or Away from Home兄道友。弟道恭。When the older children are friendlyAnd the younger children respectful,If I am the older sibling, I will befriend the younger ones.If I am the younger sibling, I will respect and love the older ones.兄弟睦。孝在中。Then brothers and sisters wont fight,And its clear they know how to be filial.Only when I can maintain harmonious relationships with my siblingsam I being dutiful to my parents.财物轻。怨何生。Dont think of wealth as important,Or else you will feel resentful.When I value my familial ties more than property and belongings,no resentment will come between me and my siblings.言语忍。忿自泯。When talking to others, be patient,Then you wont be troubled by anger.When I am careful with words and hold back hurtful comments,my feelings of anger naturally die out.或饮食。或坐走。When people are eating or drinking,Sitting down or taking a walk,Whether you are drinking, eating,walking, or sitting,长者先。幼者后。Let those who are older go first.The young ones should follow behind.I will let the elders go first;the younger ones should follow.长呼人。即代叫。If an elder is looking for someone,You should run the errand instead.When an elder is asking for someone,I will get that person for him right away.人不在。己即到。If the person you seek cant be found,Hurry back and report what youve learned.If I cannot find that person,I will immediately report back, and put myself at the elders service instead.称尊长。勿呼名。In speaking to those who are older,Use the proper terms of respect.When I address an elder,I should not call him by his given name. This is in accord with ancient Chinese etiquette.对尊长。勿见能。When you are facing teachers and elders,Dont show off or try to look smart.In front of an elder,I will never show off.路遇长。疾趋揖。If you meet an elder while walking,Greet him or her with respect.If I meet an elder I know on the street,I will promptly clasp my hands and greet him with a bow.长无言。退恭立。If the elder does not address you,Respectfully stand to one side.If he does not speak to me,I will step back and respectfully stand aside.骑下马。乘下车。If an elders walking and youre riding,Stop and ask if hes traveling far.Should I be riding on a horse and spot an elder I know walking, I will dismount and pay respect to the elder.If I am riding in a carriage, I will stop, get out of the carriage, and ask if I can give the elder a ride.过犹待。百步余。Respectfully wait till hes passed youBefore you continue on in your car.If I meet an elder passing by, I will stand aside and wait respectfully.I will not leave until the elder disappears from my sight.长者立。幼勿坐。When an elder person is standing,The young ones should not take a seat,When an elder is standing,I will not sit.长者坐。命乃坐。But wait till the elder is seated,And sit down when you are told.After an elder sits down,I sit only when I am told to do so.尊长前。声要低。Speak softly in front of your elders,In a low voice that pleases the ear.Before an elder,I will peak softly.低不闻。却非宜。But you are wrong if youre speakingSo softly that no one can hear.But if my voice is too low and hard to hear,it is not appropriate.进必趋。退必迟。Greet your elders promptly,And take your leave slowly.When meeting an elder, I will walk briskly towards him;when leaving, I will not exit in haste.问起对。视勿移。Answer questions respectfully,And dont let your eyes dart around.When answering a question,I will look at the person who is asking me the question.事诸父。如事父。You should treat everyones parentsJust the same as you treat your own.I will serve my unclesas if I am serving your parents.事诸兄。如事兄。Treat all brothers and sistersJust like your family at home.I will treat my cousinsas if they are my own siblings.第三章 谨（On Being Careful）Chapter 3 Be Cautious in My Daily Life朝起早。夜眠迟。In the morning its best to rise early.At night you should go to bed late.I will get up each morning before my parents;at night, I will go to bed only after my parents have gone to sleep.老易至。惜此时。Cherish the time that is left you. Dont expect that old age will wait.When I realize that time is passing me by and cannot be turned back, and that I am getting older year by year,I will especially treasure the present moment.晨必盥。兼漱口。In the morning, first wash your face, And next brush your teeth very well.When I get up in the morning, I will wash my faceand brush my teeth.便溺回。辄净手。After you go to the toilet, Use water and soap on your hands.After using the toilet,I will wash my hands.冠必正。纽必结。袜与履。俱紧切。You should put on your hat withcare,And fasten your buttons and snaps.Then pull up your socks very neatly,And fasten your shoelaces as well.I must wear my hat straight,and make sure the hooks of my clothes are tied.袜与履。俱紧切。置冠服。有定位。Then pull up your socks very neatly,And fasten your shoelaces as well.Your hat and other clothes，Should be put in their own special places.My socks and shoesshould also be worn neatly and correctly.置冠服。有定位。勿乱顿。致污秽。Your hat and other clothes，Should be put in their own special places.Do not leave them just lying around,Or theyre sure to get wrinkled and soiled.I will always place my hat and clothes awayin their proper places.勿乱顿。致污秽。Do not leave them just lying around,Or theyre sure to get wrinkled and soiled.I will not carelessly throw my clothes around,for that will get them dirty.衣贵洁。不贵华。Your clothing should always be neat.If its not new and stylish, dont worry.It is more important that my clothes are clean,rather than how extravagant they are.上循分。下称家。What you wear should make common sense.Dont spend too much money on clothes.I will wear only what is suitable for my station.At home, I will wear clothes according to my family traditions and customs.对饮食。勿拣择。Do not fuss and complain about tastesWhen you are given something to eat.When it comes to eating and drinking,I will not pick and choose my food.食适可。勿过则。Eat enough so that you are full,But do not eat more than you need.I will only eat the right amount;I will not over-eat.年方少。勿饮酒。During the time when you are young,Dont drink liquor or take harmful drugs.I am still young,I must not drink alcohol.饮酒醉。最为丑。To get drunk is disgraceful and ugly.Taking drugs brings you nothing but shame.When I am drunk,my behavior will turn ugly.步从容。立端正。Your walk should be easy and graceful.When you stand, keep your back tall and straight.I will always walk composed, with light and even steps.I will always stand up straight and tall.揖深圆。拜恭敬。Your half bows should be deep and full,And your full bows made with respect.My bows will always be deep, with hands held in front and arms rounded.I will always pay my respect with reverence.勿践阈。勿跛倚。勿箕踞。勿摇髀。Watch your step as you enter a doorway. Stand up straight and dont lean against the wall.Do not sit sprawled all over the floor. Or wriggle and squirm when you walk.I will not step on doorsillsor stand leaning on one leg.勿箕踞。勿摇髀。Do not sit sprawled all over the floor. Or wriggle and squirm when you walk.I will not sit with my legs apart or sprawled out.I will not rock the lower part of my body while standing or sitting down.缓揭帘。勿有声。When closing a door best be careful,Do it slowly without too much noise.I will always lift the curtain slowly,and quietly.宽转弯。勿触棱。Whenever crossing a room,Dont bump into the table and chairs.I must leave myself ample space when I turnso I will not bump into a corner.执虚器。如执盈。入虚室。如有人。You should carry an empty container, Just as carefully as one that is full.And enter a room that is empty, As you would if a crowd were inside.I will hold empty containers carefullyas if they were full.入虚室。如有人。And enter a room that is empty, As you would if a crowd were inside.I will enter empty roomsas if they were occupied.事勿忙。忙多错。There is no need to be in a hurry.If you rush you will make a mistake.I will avoid doing things in a hurry,as doing things in haste will lead to many mistakes.勿畏难。勿轻略。Dont be afraid of whats hard,And dont be careless with what is easy.I should not be afraid of difficult tasks,and I will not become careless when a job is too easy.斗闹场。绝勿近。Never go to rowdy places,Or places where people are fighting.I will keep away from rowdy places.邪僻事。绝勿问。When something is low and improperIts not worth your talk or your questions.I will not ask about things that are abnormal or unusual.将入门。问孰存。When youre going to enter a room,First knock to make sure its permitted.When I am about to enter a main entrance,I must first ask if someone is inside.将上堂。声必扬。When joining a gathering of people,Let them all know youve arrived.Before entering a room,I must first make myself heard, so that those inside know someone is approaching.人问谁。对以名。If someone should ask who you are,You should answer by giving your name.If someone asks who I am,I must give my name.吾与我。不分明。If you respond, “It is me,”You re not giving a proper reply.To answer It is me or Meis not sufficient.用人物。须明求。If you use someone elses belongings,Be sure that you ask for permission.Before borrowing things from others,I must ask for permission.倘不问。即为偷。If you dont get the owners permission,Then stealing is what you have done.If I do not ask,it is stealing.借人物。及时还。后有急。借不难。If you must borrow something from another, Make sure you return it on time.If someone asks you for something, Loan it to them as soon as you can.When borrowing things from others,I will return them promptly.后有急。借不难。If someone asks you for something, Loan it to them as soon as you can.Later, if I have an urgent need,I will not have a problem borrowing from them again.第四章 信Chapter 4 On Being HonestChapter 4 Be Trustworthy凡出言。信为先。Whatever it is that you say,You should speak so that you can be trusted.When I speak,honesty is important.诈与妄。奚可焉。Tell the truth so others can believe you.To lie is against human nature.Deceitful words and liesmust not be tolerated.话说多。不如少。To talk just a little is betterThan to chatter non-stop all day long.Rather than talking too much,it is better to speak less.惟其是。勿佞巧。Talk only about what youre sure of;Avoid cunning or flowery words.I will speak only the trut