但愿人長久,千里共嬋娟。
We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart.
獨在異鄉為異客,每逢佳節倍思親。
A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day.
大江東去,浪淘盡,千古風流人物。
The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years.
二人同心,其利斷金。
If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.
富貴不能淫,貧賤不能移,威武不能曲,此之謂大丈夫。
It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate.
海內存知己,天涯若比鄰。
A bosom friend afar brings distance near.
合抱之木,生于毫末,九層之臺,起于累土;千里之行始于足下。
A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step.
禍兮,福之所依;福兮,禍之所伏。
Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies.
見賢思齊焉,見不賢而內自省也。
On seeing a man of virtue, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same defects.
江山如此多嬌,引無數英雄盡折腰。
This land so rich in beauty has made countless heroes bow in homage.
舉頭望明月,低頭思故鄉。
Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around.
俱往矣,數風流人物,還看今朝。
All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men.
君子成人之美,不成人之惡。
The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct.
君子獨立不慚于影,獨寢不愧于魂。
A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone.
君子之交淡如水,小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以親,小人甘以絕。
The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken.
老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼。
Expend the respect of the aged in one’s family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one’s family to that of other families.
禮尚往來。往而不來,非禮也;來而不往,亦非禮也。
Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice versa.
兩情若是長久時,又豈在朝朝暮暮。
If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?
路漫漫其修遠兮,吾將上下而求索。
The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I’ll search with my will unbending.
We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart.
獨在異鄉為異客,每逢佳節倍思親。
A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day.
大江東去,浪淘盡,千古風流人物。
The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years.
二人同心,其利斷金。
If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.
富貴不能淫,貧賤不能移,威武不能曲,此之謂大丈夫。
It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate.
海內存知己,天涯若比鄰。
A bosom friend afar brings distance near.
合抱之木,生于毫末,九層之臺,起于累土;千里之行始于足下。
A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step.
禍兮,福之所依;福兮,禍之所伏。
Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies.
見賢思齊焉,見不賢而內自省也。
On seeing a man of virtue, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same defects.
江山如此多嬌,引無數英雄盡折腰。
This land so rich in beauty has made countless heroes bow in homage.
舉頭望明月,低頭思故鄉。
Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around.
俱往矣,數風流人物,還看今朝。
All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men.
君子成人之美,不成人之惡。
The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct.
君子獨立不慚于影,獨寢不愧于魂。
A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone.
君子之交淡如水,小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以親,小人甘以絕。
The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken.
老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼。
Expend the respect of the aged in one’s family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one’s family to that of other families.
禮尚往來。往而不來,非禮也;來而不往,亦非禮也。
Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice versa.
兩情若是長久時,又豈在朝朝暮暮。
If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?
路漫漫其修遠兮,吾將上下而求索。
The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I’ll search with my will unbending.