《弟子规》Standards for Students《总叙》Preface弟子规圣人训首孝悌次谨信These are the rules for being a student handed down to us by ancient sages first of all, be filial to your own parents and respectful to all of your elders; be trustworthy and cautious泛爱众而亲仁有余力则学文Be kind and draw near to those who are good. Whatever time you have left should be devoted to learning.《入则孝》On BeingFilial At Home父母呼应勿缓父母命行勿懒父母教须敬听父母责须顺承When your mother or father is calling, don't be slow to respond.When your parents need to instruct you, you should listen with patient respect. Whatever your parents must scold you, accept it with faithful compliance.冬则温夏则凊晨则省昏则定In the winter, make sure they are warm; in the summer, make sure they are cool.In the morning, cheerfully greet them; in the evening, tell them "Good night." 出必告反必面居有常业无变Tell your parents if you plan to go out; report to them when you get back. settle down in one certain place; don't switch from one job to another事虽小勿擅为苟擅为子道亏No matter how small the affair, don't act just as you please.For if you act just as you please, then you haven't performed as you should物虽小勿私藏苟私藏亲心伤
Although a thing may be small, don't save it just for yourself.For if you hoard things for yourself, your parents' hearts will be grieved.亲所好力为具亲所恶谨为去Whatever your parents like best, you should provide for them soon. Whatever your parents dislike, you should do your best to remove.If you carelessly injure your body, your parents will worry and fret.If you heedlessly damage your virtue, you bring shame and disagrace to your parents.身有伤贻亲忧德有伤贻亲羞If you carelessly injure your body, your parents will worry and fret.If you heedlessly damage your virtue, you bring shame and disagrace to your pa亲爱我孝何难亲憎我孝方贤When your parents are loving and kind, of course it's not hard to be filial.The true test of being a person comes when parents are hateful and cruel.亲有过谏使更怡吾色柔吾声If you recognize faults in your parents, exhort them to change for the better Speak to them kindly and gently with a pleasant smile on your face谏不入悦复谏号泣随挞无怨If they can't accept your advice, wait for an apportune time.You may even use tears to exhort them, but don't resent it if you are published 亲有疾药先尝昼夜侍不离床丧三年常悲咽居处变酒肉绝When your parents are ill, call the doctor, be sure the prescription is right. Wait on them day after day, at their bedside by day and by night.For 3 years after their death, remember them always in sorrow.丧尽礼祭尽诚事死者如事生Don't drink wine or eat meat during this period of mourning;take care of their funeral arrangements, make offerings on their behalf revrently cherish their memory as if they were still in the world《出则弟》On Practicing True Brotherhood兄道友弟道恭兄弟睦孝在中When the older children are friendly and the younger children and respectful then brothers and sisters won't fight, and it's clear they know how to be filial财物轻怨何生言语忍忿自泯Don't think of wealth as important, or else they will feel resentfulbe patient when talking to others, then you won't be troubled by anger或饮食或坐走长者先幼者后when people are eating or drinking, sitting down or taking a walk, let those who are older go first, the young ones should follow behind长呼人即代叫人不在己即到if an elder is looking for someone, you should run errand insteadif the person you seek can't be found, hurry back and report what you learned 称尊长勿呼名对尊长勿见能speaking to those who are older, use the proper terms of respect;when you are facing teachers and elders, don't show off or try to look smart 路遇长疾趋揖长无言退恭立if you meet an elder while walking, greet him or her with respectif the elder doesn't address you, respectfully stand to one side骑下马乘下车过犹待百步余if an elder is walking and you're riding, stop and ask if he's traveling far respectfully wait till he has passed you before you continue on in your car长者立幼勿坐长者坐命乃坐when an elder person is standing, the young one should not take a seatbut wait till the elder is seated and sit down when you are told尊长前声要低低不闻却非宜speak softly in front of your elders, in a low voice that pleases the earbut you are wrong if you are speaking so softly that no one can hear近必趋退必迟问起对视勿移greet your elders promptly, and take your leave slowlyanswer questions respectfully and don't let your eyes dart around事诸父如事父事诸兄如事兄you should treat everyone's parents just the same as you treat you owntreat all brothers and sisters just like your family at homein the morning first wash your face, and next brush your teeth very wellafter you go to toilet, use water and soap on your hands冠必正纽必结袜与履俱紧切you should put on your hat with care, and fasten your buttons and snapsthen pull up your socks very neatly, and tied your shoelaces as well置冠服有定位勿乱顿致污秽
your hat and other clothes should be put in their own special placesdon't leave them just lying around, or they are sure to get wrinkled and soiled 衣贵洁不贵华上循分下称家your clothing should always be neat. If it's not new and stylish, don't worry. what you wear should make common sense, don't spend too much money on clothes对饮食勿拣择食适可勿过则
don't fuss and complain about tastes when you're given something to eateat enough so that you're full, but don't eat more than you need.during the time when you're young, don't drink liquor or take harmful drugsto get drunk is disgraceful and ugly, taking drugs bring you nothing but shame 步从容立端正揖深圆拜恭敬your walk should be easy and graceful. when you stand, keep your back tall and straightyour half bows should be deep and full, and your full bows made with respect 勿践阈勿跛倚勿箕踞勿摇髀
watch your step as you enter a doorway, stand up straight and don't lean again the walldon't sit sprawled all over the floor, or wriggle and squirm when you walk缓揭帘勿有声宽转弯勿触棱best be careful when closing a door, do it slowly without too much noise. whenever crossing a room, don't bump into the tables and chairs执虚器如执盈入虚室如有人
you should carry an empty container as carefully as one that is fulland enter a room that is empty as you would if a crowd is inside事勿忙忙多错勿畏难勿轻略there is no need to be in a hurry, if you rush you will make a mistakedon't be afraid of what's hard, and don't be careless with what's easy斗闹场绝勿近邪僻事绝勿问
never go to rowdy places or places where people are fightingwhen something is low and improper, it's not worthy your talk or your questions.将入门问孰存将上堂声必扬when you're going to enter a room, first knock to make sure it's permitted when joining a gathering of people, let them all know you've arrived人问谁对以名吾与我不分明
if someone should ask who you are, you should answer by giving your name if you respond "It's me", you've not giving a proper reply.用人物须明求倘不问即为偷if you use someone else's belongings, be sure you ask for permissionif you don't get the owner's permission, then stealing is what you have done 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 timeif someone ask you for something, loan it to them as soon as you can《信》On Being Honest凡出言信为先诈与妄奚可焉whatever it is that you say, you should speak so that you can be trusted tell the truth so others can believe you, to lie is against human nature话说多不如少惟其是勿佞巧to talk just a little is better than to chatter non-stop all day longtalk only about what you're sure of , avoid cunning or flowery words奸巧语秽污词市井气切戒之don't use words to be mean and cruel, or speak about things that are coarse let your language be pure and correct, stay away from all that's unworthy见未真勿轻言知未的勿轻传if you haven't seen something quite clearly, don't speak of it as if you knowif you are not sure about what exactly happened, don't spread rumors around 事非宜勿轻诺苟轻诺进退错when you know something is wrong, don't simply follow alongif you just go along with the crowd, you're bound to make a mistake凡道字重且舒勿急疾勿模糊when you speak, say the words clearly, distinctly and smoothly they flowif you talk too fast, no one will heed you. The same if you mumble too low彼说长此说短不关己莫闲管
some like to talk about good points, others like to find faults, big and smallif something is none of your business, simply pay no attention at all见人善即思齐纵去远以渐跻when you see the good points of others, you should strive to imitate them though you don't match up to them now, preserve and one day you will catch up见人恶即内省有则改无加警when you notice bad habits in others, reflect on your own shortcomingsif you have the same faults, correct them; if not, never let them arise唯德学唯才艺不如人当自砺if you virtue, learning and talents don't measure up to othersthen spur yourself to work harder, accept nothing less than your best若衣服若饮食不如人勿生戚
if your wardrobe is seldom in fashion, and your home is simple and plain while your friends have the newest and finest, don't be upset and never complain闻过怒闻誉乐损友来益友却if you're angry when told of yours faults, and happy when praise comes your wayharmful friends will draw near to you, and wholesome friends will stay away闻誉恐闻过欣直谅士渐相亲if compliments make you uneasy, and hearing your faults makes you glad forgiving and straightforward friends will then gradually come to your side无心非名为错有心非名为恶when an error is not made on purpose, it's simply called a mistakebut to deliberately do something wrong is not a mistake, but an evil过能改归于无倘掩饰增一辜if you can reform your offenses, your faults will all disappearbut trying to cover them over makes your offenses more severe《泛爱众》To Cherish All Living Beings凡是人皆须爱天同覆地同载for all creatures throughout the world, one should cherish a kind regard the sky covers all of us equally, the earth supports all human kind行高者名自高人所重非貌高people whose conduct is fine are sure to have good reputations good conduct is what we respect; fine look can't bring people honor才大者望自大人所服非言大people who have great ability thereby enjoy great prestigeothers will follow their lead, but great talkers don't earn much respect己有能勿自私人所能勿轻訾the abilities you yourself have should not be used to attain selfish goals the abilities others may have should not be belittled and scorned勿谄富勿骄贫勿厌故勿喜新it's not right to flatter the rich, or be arrogant towards the poor what's old need not be rejected; what's new is not necessarily good人不闲勿事搅人不安勿话扰if you see a person who is busy, leave him alone until he is free if you see that a person is upset, don't annoy him with idle chatter人有短切莫揭人有私切莫说although you may know someone's faults, there is no need to tell everyone the personal business of others should not be the subject of talk道人善即是善人知之愈思勉Praising the virtue of others is itself a virtuous deed when people hear they've been praised, they will want to improve even more扬人恶既是恶疾之甚祸且作there is anything good in talking of others' shortcomings if they hear, they will surely resent it, they will see you mean nothing but trouble善相劝德皆建过不规道两亏we should urge each other towards goodness, and develop our virtue together if our faults are not corrected, we will surely stray from the way凡取与贵分晓与宜多取宜少the amount you give and you get should always be clearly distinguished make sure that your giving surpasses that amount you receive将加人先问己己不欲即速已before you begin to blame others, first you should question yourself: "Would I want to be scolded and blamed?" if not, then don't do it to someone else恩欲报怨欲忘报怨短报恩长kindness must be returned, let enmity just fade away grudges are better forgotten, make kindness increase day by day待婢仆身贵端虽贵端慈而宽treat your employees with fairness, be proper and just with each other and not only proper and just, you should also be kind and forgiving势服人心不然理服人方无言if you try to rule others by force, you'll never win their hearts if you lead them with virtue and reason, then they will feel oppressed and apart.《亲仁》On Drawing Near to Goodhearted People同是人类不齐流俗众仁者希many different kinds of people all live on the earth together there are many who follow the crowd, there are few who are truly humane果仁者人多畏言不讳色不媚yet those who are truly humane are often feared by other people for they don't hide behind words, or try to please with their looks能亲仁无限好德日进过日少to follow the true humane will bring immeasurable good virtue will grow day by day and mistakes will slowly fade away不亲仁无限害小人进百事坏not to follow the true humane will bring immeasurable harm unworthy people will draw near you and everything will go away《余力学文》On Study Whenever We Can不力行但学文长浮华成何人cultural refinements have value, but not at the expense of real work if you're just superficially polished, then what can you expect to become?但力行不学文任己见昧理真but if you do nothing but work and have no understanding of culture, you'll be bound by your own narrow views, and your notions of truth will be murky读书法有三到心眼口信皆要when you're pursuing your studies, on the "Three Places" focus attention: your mind, your eyes and your month, it's important to train all these three.方读此勿慕彼此未终彼勿起when you've taken up study of something, don't let yourself become sidetracked be sure that you've finished one project before starting off on another宽为限紧用功工夫到滞塞通let your goals be lofty and broad, let your efforts be focused and steady onceyou have skill and experience, you'll solve every problem with ease心有疑随札记就人问求确义when a question comes up in your reading, make note of it before you forget then ask someone else who will know and who can explain the meaning房室清墙壁净几案洁笔砚正your room should be kept neat and tidy, with walls and floors uncluttered and clean your desk should be kept in good order, pencils, papers and pens well arranged墨磨偏心不端字不敬心先病if your desks and papers are messy, it's likely your mind's mixed up too if your writing is sloopy and careless, it's likely your mind is not focused列典籍有定处读看毕还原处each of the books that you use should have its proper place on the shelf after you've finished your reading, put them back in the place they belong虽有急卷束齐有缺坏就补之although you may be in a hurry, you should close your books the right way if the pages or covers are damaged, be sure to take time to repair them非圣书屏勿视敝聪明坏心志what hasn't been written by sages is not something you should be reading such books block your intelligence and undermine your resolve勿自暴勿自弃圣与贤可驯致don't ever look down on yourself, or fail to progress towards goodness we allcan gradually learn to become worthies and sages.。