# Classical Chinese/Printable version

The current, editable version of this book is available in Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection, at
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Classical_Chinese

# Pronoun

Ways to address "you" in 文言文 Classical Chinese.
子 (zǐ): This is a respectful way to address someone who is equal or superior to the speaker, such as a friend, a teacher, or a ruler. For example, “子曰：學而時習之，不亦說乎？” (zǐ yuē: xué ér shí xí zhī, bù yì yuè hū?) This means "The Master said: Is it not a joy to learn and practice what one has learned in due time?"
君 (jūn): This is a way to address someone who is the lord, the king, or the sovereign of the speaker, such as a ruler or a feudal lord. For example, “君子不器。” (jūnzǐ bù qì.) This means "The gentleman is not a vessel."
汝 (rǔ): This is a way to address someone who is equal or inferior to the speaker, such as a friend, a servant, or a child. For example, “汝何故遲也？” (rǔ hé gù chí yě?) This means "Why are you late?"
公 (gōng): This is a way to address someone who is a noble, a prince, or a high-ranking official, such as a duke or a minister. For example, “公之於國也。” (gōng zhī yú guó yě.) This means "Your contribution to the state."
卿 (qīng): This is a way to address someone who is a close friend, a lover, or a subordinate, such as a general or a minister. For example, “卿可謂善吏乎？” (qīng kě wèi shàn lì hū?) This means "Can you be called a good official?"
爾 (ěr): This is a way to address someone who is equal or inferior to the speaker, such as a friend, a servant, or a child. For example, “爾其學之。” (ěr qí xué zhī.) This means "You should learn it."
汝曹 (rǔ cáo): This is a way to address a group of people who are equal or inferior to the speaker, such as friends, servants, or soldiers. For example, “汝曹聽我令。” (rǔ cáo tīng wǒ lìng.) This means “You all listen to my command.”

# Lesson 1
## Text

   子曰：「學而時習之　不亦說乎　有朋自遠方來　不亦樂乎　人不知而不慍　不亦君子乎」

## Explanation

* 子曰: "The master says" or "The master said".
** 子: (zǐ) pronoun used to address to a teacher or master. 子 is a respectful form of address to a man, here used to address 孔子 (Confucius). Other similar uses include 孟子 (mèng zǐ) for Mencius and 孫子 (sūn zǐ) for Sun Tzu. In this case, it is assumed by the author that the learned reader will know who spoke the following quote, so it is not necessary to give the exact identity of the speaker.
** 曰: (yuē) verb to say. 曰 is one of the frequently used words for the verb "to say" in Classical Chinese. However, 曰 is not the only frequently used word for "say". It is not to be confused with 日, meaning "sun".
* 學而時習之: Learn and practice often [what you have learnt]
** 學: (xué) verb to learn.
** 而: (ér) connective and
** 時: (shí) often; sometimes
** 習: (xí) verb to practise.
** 之: (zhī) pronoun third person, meaning it or them.
* 不亦說乎: Isn't it pleasant?
** 不: (bū) not
** 亦: (yì) also (but in this sentence it is meaningless)
** 說: (yuè) adj. pleasant. This is a tongjia (interchangeable character) or an original form for 悅.
** 乎: (hū) (question marker)
* 有朋自遠方來: Friends have come from distant places. (Or: A friend has come from a distant place.)
** 有: (yǒu) to have, there be
** 朋: (péng) noun friend
** 自: (zì) preposition from
** 遠: (yuǎn) adj. far, distant
** 方: (fāng) noun place (literally,"direction")
** 來: (lái) verb come
* 不亦樂乎: Isn't it enjoyable?
** 不: (bú) not
** 亦: (yì) also (meaningless)
** 樂: (lè) adj. enjoyable
** 乎: (hū) (question marker)
* 人不知而不慍: [When] other people don't understand [him], but [he] is not angry
** 人: (rén) noun people, person.That here means exactly "other person" or "someone".
** 不: (bù) not
** 知: (zhī) verb know, understand
** 而: (ér) but
** 不: (bú) not
** 慍: (yùn) verb to be/get angry
* 不亦君子乎: Isn't that (also) how a gentleman should act?
** 不: (bú) not
** 亦: (yì) also (meaningless)
** 君子: (jūn zǐ) adj. gentlemanly, like a gentleman should act
** 乎: (hū) (question marker)

## Grammar

The grammar of Classical Chinese, in many aspects, is close to English:
* The subject precedes the verb: 朋來 (péng lái) 'friend(s) come'
* The object comes after the verb: 習之 (xí zhī) 'practice it'
* Adjectives used attributively precede nouns: 遠方: (yuǎn fāng) distant place
However, there are notable differences:
* Chinese does not inflect for tense or number. In this example,
** 子曰 has no explicit tense: it could be 'Confucius says' or 'Confucius said'
** 有朋自遠方來 has no explicit number: it could be 'Friends have come from distant places' or 'A friend has come from a distant place'
* Questions are formed by adding a marker at the end (usually it's 乎 (hū), but other markers also exist)
* No linking verb is used with adjectives: 說乎 (yuè hū) 'is it pleasant?'; 遠方 (yuǎn fāng) 'distant place'
** In fact, Chinese adjectives are close to verbs (說 (yuè) 'pleasant, 遠 (yuǎn) 'distant'). As you'll see, adjectives and verbs share many similar features, including the fact that they both can be negated with 不 (bù), unlike nouns.
If you looked up words in the dictionary, you may have noticed that sometimes part of speech marked there doesn't match that in the dictionary:
* 君子 (jūn zǐ) is given as the noun ('gentleman'), not as an adjective ('gentlemanly', 'like a gentleman should act')
It is because of a process called conversion: one part of speech can become another one. This process can also occur in English: "I love her" (a verb) versus "my love" (a noun).

# Lesson 2
## Text

性惡 1: 人之性惡，其善者偽也。 今人之性，生而有好利焉，順是，故爭奪生而辭讓亡焉； 生而有疾惡焉，順是，故殘賊生而忠信亡焉； 生而有耳目之欲，有好聲色焉，順是，故淫亂生而禮義文理亡焉。 然則從人之性，順人之情，必出於爭奪，合於犯分亂理，而歸於暴。 故必將有師法之化，禮義之道，然後出於辭讓，合於文理，而歸於治。 用此觀之，人之性惡明矣，其善者偽也。

## Vocab & Translation

* 人之性惡，其善者偽也。- Human nature is evil, all that is good about human nature is man-made (i.e. not really human nature).
** 人 (ren2) - person, people
** 之 (zhī) - possessive particle similar to modern Chinese 的 (it roughly corresponds to English ending ´s), go to, it
** 性 (xìng) - nature
** 惡 (è) - evil
** 其 (qí) - his/her/theirs
** 善 (shàn) - good
** 者 (zhě) - that which/those who/he who
** 偽 (wěi) - man-made
** 也 (yě) - see grammar
* 今人之性，生而有好利焉，順是，故爭奪生而辭讓亡焉； - [The common person's nature,] following life and compassion, follows old disputes and ceases life, yet ignores the following of death. (Now it is human nature for one to be born with fondness of profit, following this leads to contention and strife arising while sense of modesty and yielding disappears.)
** 今 - now
** 有 - to have
** 好 - goodwill, fond
** 利 - profit
** 焉 - thereupon
** 順 - to go along
** 是 - indeed, this
** 故 - ancient, hence
** 爭 - dispute
** 奪 - to covet by force
** 生 - life
** 而 - yet
** 辭 - dismiss, modesty
** 讓 - the permittance of, yielding
** 亡 - death
** 焉 - thereupon
* 生而有疾惡焉，順是，故殘賊生而忠信亡焉；- One is born with feelings of envy and hate, following these leads to banditry and theft arising while loyalty and trustworthiness disappears.
** 疾 - sickness
** 惡 - wickedness
** 殘 - spoiled
** 賊 - thieved of
** 忠 - devotion, loyalty
** 信 - belief, trust

## Grammar Notes

English sentence of the type: A is B (A was B, etc.), where A and B are nouns, is rendered in Classical Chinese this way: AB也
Note that 也 (yě) is a particle, not a verb like and English is. (Were it verb, it would have been placed between A and B).
Construction «AB也» is used if A is always B in any case. So, for example, you can say «I am a man» — «吾人也», but not «I'm a minister», because it´s something that can be taken from you.
In this case the verb 為 (wéi) is used, and it is a verb, not a particle (therefore it´s put between two nouns, line in English): A為B
For example, «吾為臣» — «I´m a minister».
Note that 為 (wéi) doesn´t change its forms like English verb does (am, is, are, be).

# Lesson 3
## Text

性惡 2: 故枸木必將待檃栝烝矯然後直；鈍金必將待礱厲然後利； 今人之性惡，必將待師法然後正，得禮義然後治，今人無師法，則偏險而不正； 無禮義，則悖亂而不治，古者聖王以人性惡，以為偏險而不正，悖亂而不治是以為之起禮義，制法度， 以矯飾人之情性而正之，以擾化人之情性而導之也，始皆出於治，合於道者也。 今人之化師法，積文學，道禮義者為君子； 縱性情，安恣孳，而違禮義者為小人。 用此觀之，人之性惡明矣，其善者偽也。

## Grammar Notes
# Lesson 4
## Text

道德经 1 章: 道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。無名天地之始；有名萬物之母。故常無，欲以觀其妙；常有，欲以觀其徼。此兩者，同出而異名，同謂之玄。玄之又玄，眾妙之門。
道德经 12 章: 五色令人目盲；五音令人耳聾；五味令人口爽；馳騁畋獵，令人心發狂；難得之貨，令人行妨。是以聖人為腹不為目，故去彼取此。

## Vocabulary & Translation

* 道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名: The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way. The name that can be named is not the constant name.
** 道 (dao4) - The first & third: noun the dao, the way, the path; the second: verb to say
** 可 (ke3) - can, that can be
** 非 (fei1) - is not
** 常 (chang2) - eternal(ly), common, constant(ly)
** 名 (ming2) - The first & third: noun the name; the second: verb to name
* 無名天地之始；有名萬物之母: Without a name [it is] the beginning of heaven [and] earth. Having a name [it is] the mother of thousands of things.
** 無 (wu2) - without
** 天 (tian1) - heaven, the heavens
** 地 (di4) - land, earth
** 之 (zhi1) - possessive marker like English 's
** 始 (shi3) - start, beginning
** 有 (you3) - to have
** 萬 (wan4) - 10,000
** 物 (wu4) - things,
** 萬物 (wan4 wu4) - the myriad things
** 母 (mu3) - mother
* 故常無，欲以觀其妙: Therefore constantly [be] without desire in order to see its mystery.
** 故 (gu4) - reason, cause, therefore
** 欲 (yu4) - desire
** 以 (yi3) - in order to
** 觀 (guan1)- to see
** 其 (qi2)- his, her, its, their
** 妙 (miao4) - mystery
* 常有 , 欲以觀其徼: [But] constantly have desire in order to see its frontier.
** 徼 (jiao4) - frontier, border

## Grammar Notes
# Lesson 5
## Text

道德经 2 章: 天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已。皆知善之為善，斯不善已。有無相生，難易相成，長短相形，高下相盈，音聲相和，前後相隨。恒也。是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教；萬物作而弗始，生而弗有，為而弗恃，功成而不居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。
道德经 7 章: 天長地久。天地所以能長且久者，以其不自生，故能長生。是以聖人後其身而身先；外其身而身存。非以其無私邪？故能成其私。

## Vocab & Translation

* 天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已。- All under heaven (the world) recognizes the beautiful as beautiful, hence ugliness is known.
** 下
** 皆
** 美
** 為
** 斯
** 已

# Lesson 6

喜雨亭記
| Text | Middle Chinese (Baxter transliteration) | Ming-T'sing literary Mandarin vocalization (IPA) | Glosses | Translation |
| 亭以雨名。 | deng yiX hjuX mjieng. | tʱiŋ˩ ji˥˧ jy˥˧ miŋ˩. | kiosk - by - rain - to name | The kiosk is named after rain |
| 誌喜也。 | tsyiH xiX yaeX. | tʃiɨ˨˦ hi˥˧ jiɛ˥˧. | record - joy - (comment marker) | to record the joy. |
| 古者有喜。 | kuX tsyaeX hjuwX xiX. | ku˥˧ tʃiɛ˥˧ jiw˥˧ hi˥˧. | ancient - one(s) - to have - joy | When the ancient ones had something to celebrate, |
| 則以名物。 | tsok yiX mjieng mjut. | tsəʔ(k) ji˥˧ miŋ˩ vuʔ(t)˩. | then - by (it) - to name - object | they named an object after it |
| 示不忘也。 | zyijH pjuw mjang yaeX. | ʃʱiɨ˨˦ puʔ(t) vɑŋ˩ jiɛ˥˧. | show - do not - forget - (comment marker) | to show that they would not forget it. |
| 周公得禾。 | tsyuw kuwng tok hwa. | tʃiw kuŋ təʔ(k) ɦwɔ˩. | Tsyuw - duke - to gain - wheat | When Duke Tsyuw (Zhou) received the Wheat, |
| 以名其書。 | yiX mjieng gi syo. | ji˥˧ miŋ˩ kʱi˩ ʃy. | by (it) - to name - her/his/its - writing(s) | he named his written piece after it. |
| 漢武得鼎。 | xanH mjuX tok tengX. | hɑn˨˦ vu˥˧ təʔ(k) tiŋ˥˧. | XanH - MjuX - to gain - tengX(three legged ceremonial cauldron) | When emperor XanH MjuX (Wu of Han) gained his vessel, |
| 以名其年。 | yiX mjieng gi nen. | ji˥˧ miŋ˩ kʱi˩ niɛn˩. | by (it) - to name - her/his/its - year | He named his era after it. |
| 叔孫勝敵。 | syuwk swon syingH dek. | ʃyuʔ(k) sun ʃiŋ˨˦ diʔ(k)˩. | Syuwk - Swon - to win - enemy | When Syuwk Swon (Shusun) prevailed against his enemy, |
| 以名其子。 | yiX mjieng gi tsiX. | ji˥˧ miŋ˩ kʱi˩ tsɨ˥˧. | by (it) - to name - her/his/its - son | he named his son after the enemy. |
| 其喜之大小不齊。 | gi xiX tsyi dajH sjewX pjuw dzej. | kʱi˩ hi˥˧ tʃiɨ dai˨˦ siɛw˥˧ puʔ(t) tsʱi˩. | her/his/its - joy - (genitive marker) - to be big - to be small - do not - to be even | The scale of the celebrated matter was not all the same, |
| 其示不忘一也。 | gi zyijH pjuw mjang 'jit yaeX. | kʱi˩ ʃʱiɨ˨˦ puʔ(t) vɑŋ˩ 'jit jiɛ˥˧. | her/his/its - to show - do not - to forget - to be one - (comment marker) | yet their gesture of unforgettability were of the same intention. |
| 予至扶風之明年。 | yo tsyijH bju pjuwng tsyi mjaeng nen. | jy˩ tʃiɨ˨˦ fʱu˩ fuŋ tʃiɨ miŋ˩ niɛn˩. | I - to arrive - Bju - Pjuwng - (genitive marker) - morrow - year | In the second year since my arrival at Bju-pjuwng (Fufeng), |
| 始治官舍。 | syiX dri kwan syaeH. | ʃiɨ˥˧ tʃʱi˩ kwɔn ʃiɛ˨˦. | to start - to manage - officer - house | I started improving my official residence, |
| 爲亭於堂之北。 | hjwe deng 'jo dang tsyi pok. | ui˩ tʱiŋ˩ ʔy tʱɑŋ˩ tʃiɨ pəʔ(k). | to do - kiosk - at - hall - (genitive) - North | building a kiosk to the north of the hall |
| 而鑿池其南。 | nyi dzuw/dzak drje gi nom. | ɻ˩ dzuʔ(k)˩/dzɒʔ(k)˩ tʃʱi˩ kʱi˩ nam˩. | and/but - to chisel - pond - her/his/its - South | and carving out a pool to the south of it |
| 引流種樹。 | yinX ljuw tsyowngX dzyuH. | jin˥˧ liw˩ tʃyuŋ˥˧ ʃʱy˨˦. | to introduce - flow - to plant - tree | to bring water in for planting trees |
| 以爲休息之所。 | yiX hjwe xjuw sik tsyi srjoX. | ji˥˧ ui˩ hiw siʔ(k) tʃiɨ ʂu˥˧. | (purpose marker) - to do - to rest - to pause - (genitive marker) - location | in order to build a place of relief. |
| 是歲之春。 | dzyeX sjwejH tsyi tsyhwin. | ʃʱiɨ'˨˦ sui˨˦ tʃiɨ tʃʰyun. | this - year - (genitive marker) - the season centered around Spring equinox | In the early spring of the same year, |
| 雨麥於歧山之陽。 | hjuH meak 'jo gjie srean tsyi yang. | jy˨˦ məʔ(k)˩ ʔy kʱi˩ ʂan tʃiɨ jiɑŋ˩. | to precipitate - wheat - at - Gjie - mountain - (genitive marker) - bright side | Wheat fell from heaven to the south slope of Mount Gjie (Qi) - |
| 其占爲有年。 | gi tsyem hjwe hjuwX nen. | kʱi˩ tʃiɛm ui˩ jiw˥˧ niɛn˩. | it - to foretell - to hold possesion - year | an omen of a plentiful year. |
| 既而彌月不雨。 | kj+jH nyi mjie ngjwot pjuw hjuX. | ki˨˦ ɻ˩ mi˩ (ŋ)yuɛʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) jy˥˧. | to finish - and - long - month - do not - to rain | Yet since then, rain did not fall for as long as one month |
| 民方以爲憂。 | mjin pjang yiX hjwe 'juw. | min˩ fɑŋ ji˥˧ ui˩ ʔiw. | commoner - right then - to consider (it) - to be as - worry | and the people started to considered it worrieable. |
| 越三月。 | hjwot sam ngjwot. | jyuɛʔ(t)˩ sam (ŋ)yuɛʔ(t)˩. | to skip - three - month | Three months passed, |
| 乙卯乃雨。 | ’it maewX nojX hjuX. | ʔiʔ(t) maw˥˧ nai˥˧ jy˥˧. | ’It - MaewX - only then - to rain | it was the day of ’It MaewX (Yimao, 52nd day in a 60-day cycle), and only then did rain fall. |
| 甲子又雨。 | kaep tsiX hjuwH hjuX. | kiaʔ(p) tsɨ˥˧ jiw˨˦ jy˥˧. | Kaep - TsiX - further more - to rain | On the day of Kaep TsiX (Jiazi, first day in a 60-day cycle), it rained again. |
| 民以爲未足。 | mjin yiX hjwe mj+jH tsjowk. | min˩ ji˥˧ ui˩ vi˨˦ tsyuʔ(k). | commoner - to consider (it) - to be as - not yet - to be enough | People did not feel that it was enough. |
| 丁卯大雨。 | teng maewX dajH hjuX. | tiŋ maw˥˧ dai˨˦ jy˥˧. | Teng - MaewX - to be big - to rain | On the day of Teng MaewX (Dingmao, 4th day in a 60-day cycle), rain fell heavily |
| 三日乃止。 | sam nyit nojX tsyiX. | sam ʒiʔ(t)˩ nai˥˧ tʃiɨ˥˧. | three - day - only then - to stop | and did not stop until three days had passed. |
| 官吏相與慶於庭。 | kwan liH sjang yoX khjaengH 'jo deng. | kwɔn li˨˦ siɑŋ jy˥˧ kʰiŋ˨˦ ʔy tʱiŋ˩. | officer - government worker - mutually - to join - to celebrate - at - court | The officers joined each other celebrating in the court, |
| 商賈相與歌於市。 | syang kuX sjang yoX ka 'jo dzyiX. | ʃiɑŋ ku˥˧ siɑŋ jy˥˧ kɔ ʔy ʃʱiɨ'˨˦. | merchants - - mutually - to join - to sing - at - market | the merchants with each other singing in the market |
| 農夫相與忭於野。 | nowng pju sjang yoX bjenH 'jo yaeX. | nuŋ˩ fu siɑŋ jy˥˧ biɛn˨˦ ʔy jiɛ˥˧. | farming - man - mutually - to join - to rejoice - at - field | and the farmers with each other rejoicing in the fields |
| 憂者以喜。 | ’juw tsyaeX yiX xiX. | ʔiw tʃiɛ˥˧ ji˥˧ hi˥˧. | worrying - one(s) - by (it) - to be joyful | The worriers were rejoiced for it. |
| 病者以愈。 | bjaengH tsyaeX yiX yuX. | biŋ˨˦ tʃiɛ˥˧ ji˥˧ jy˥˧. | illness - one(s) - by (it) - to heal | and the sick healed by it. |
| 而吾亭適成。 | nyi ngu deng syek dzyeng. | ɻ˩ ŋu˩ tʱiŋ˩ ʃiʔ(k) tʃʱiŋ˩. | and - my - kiosk - right then - to accomplish | My kiosk happened to finish building at the same time, |
| 於是舉酒於亭上。 | ’jo dzyeX kjoX tsjuwX 'jo deng dzyangH. | ʔy ʃʱiɨ'˨˦ ky˥˧ tsiw˥˧ ʔy tʱiŋ˩ ʃʱiɑŋ˨˦. | at - such - to raise - alcohol - at - kiosk - upside | thus I raised my cup standing at the kiosk |
| 以屬客而告之。 | yiX tsyowk khaek nyi kawH tsyi. | ji˥˧ tʃyuʔ(k) kʰəʔ(k) ɻ˩ kaw˨˦ tʃiɨ. | so as to - to address - guest(s) - and - to tell - then | addressing the guests |
| 曰 | hjwot | jyuɛʔ(t)˩ | to say | saying |
| 「五日不雨。 | “nguX nyit pjuw hjuX. | “ŋu˥˧ ʒiʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) jy˥˧. | five - day - do not - to rain | "Were there five days without rain, |
| 可乎」 | khaX hu” | kʰɔ˥˧ ɦu˩” | acceptable - (interrogative marker) | would it be fine?". |
| 曰 | hjwot | jyuɛʔ(t)˩ | to say | They answered |
| 「五日不雨。 | “nguX nyit pjuw hjuX. | “ŋu˥˧ ʒiʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) jy˥˧. | five - day - do not - to rain | "Were there five days without rain, |
| 則無麥」 | tsok mju meak” | tsəʔ(k) vu˩ məʔ(k)˩” | in that case then - none - wheat | there would be no wheat." |
| 「十日不雨。 | “dzyip nyit pjuw hjuX. | “ʃʱiʔ(p)˩ ʒiʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) jy˥˧. | ten - day - do not - to rain | "Were there ten days without rain, |
| 可乎」 | khaX hu” | kʰɔ˥˧ ɦu˩” | acceptable - (interrogative marker) | would it be fine?". |
| 曰 | hjwot | jyuɛʔ(t)˩ | to say | They answered |
| 「十日不雨。 | “dzyip nyit pjuw hjuX. | “ʃʱiʔ(p)˩ ʒiʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) jy˥˧. | ten - day - do not - to rain | "Were there ten days without rain, |
| 則無禾」 | tsok mju hwa” | tsəʔ(k) vu˩ ɦwɔ˩” | in that case then - none - rice plant | there would be no rice." |
| 無麥無禾。 | mju meak mju hwa. | vu˩ məʔ(k)˩ vu˩ ɦwɔ˩. | none - wheat - none - rice plant | Without wheat or rice |
| 歲且薦饑。 | sjwejH tshjaeX tsenH kj+j. | sui˨˦ tsʰiɛ˥˧ tsiɛn˨˦ ki. | year - will - to send forth - unripe grain | but only unripe grains yield by the year, |
| 獄訟繁興。 | ngjowk zjowngH bjon xing. | (ŋ)yuʔ(k)˩ sʱyuŋ˨˦ fʱan˩ hiŋ. | crime - prosecution - to flourish - to be active | there will be frequent conflicts brought to the court |
| 而盜賊滋熾。 | nyi dawH dzok tsi tsyhiH. | ɻ˩ daw˨˦ dzəʔ(k)˩ tsɨ tʃʰiɨ˨˦. | and - thieves - - to start to grow - to burn hot | and crimes will thrive. |
| 則吾與二三子雖欲優游以樂於此亭。 | tsok ngu yoX nyijH sam tsiX swij yowk 'juw yuw yiX lak 'jo tshjeX deng. | tsəʔ(k) ŋu˩ jy˥˧ ɻ˨˦ sam tsɨ˥˧ sui jyuʔ(k)˩ ʔiw jiw˩ ji˥˧ lɒʔ(k)˩ ʔy tsʰɨ˥˧ tʱiŋ˩. | in that case then - I - with - two - three - sir - even though / even if - to want - to relax - - so as to - to enjoy oneself - at - this - kiosk | In that case, even if you, my sirs, and I would like to enjoy leisure in this kiosk, |
| 其可得邪。 | gi khaX tok yae. | kʱi˩ kʰɔ˥˧ təʔ(k) jiɛ˩. | (subjunctive marker) - to be possible - to get - (interrogative marker) | could we possibly attain it? |
| 今天不遺斯民。 | kim then pjuw ywij sje mjin. | kim tʰiɛn puʔ(t) j(u)i˩ sɨ min˩. | now - heaven - do not - to leave behind - this - commoner(s) | Yet now Heaven has not abandoned this people |
| 始旱而賜之以雨。 | syiX hanX nyi sjeH tsyi yiX hjuX. | ʃiɨ˥˧ ɦɑn'˨˦ ɻ˩ sɨ˨˦ tʃiɨ ji˥˧ jy˥˧. | in the beginning - draught - and/but - to grant - them - with - rain | and granted them rain despite the draught in the beginning, |
| 使吾與二三子。 | sriX ngu yoX nyijH sam tsiX. | ʂɨ˥˧ ŋu˩ jy˥˧ ɻ˨˦ sam tsɨ˥˧. | to let - me - with - two - three - sir | making it for us |
| 得相與優游而樂於此亭者。 | tok sjang yoX 'juw yuw nyi lak 'jo tshjeX deng tsyaeX. | təʔ(k) siɑŋ jy˥˧ ʔiw jiw˩ ɻ˩ lɒʔ(k)˩ ʔy tsʰɨ˥˧ tʱiŋ˩ tʃiɛ˥˧. | to get to - mutually - to join - to relax - - and - to enjoy oneself - at - this - kiosk - (topic marker) | possible to rejoice with leisure in this kiosk. |
| 皆雨之賜也。 | keaj hjuX tsyi sjeH yaeX. | kiai jy˥˧ tʃiɨ sɨ˨˦ jiɛ˥˧. | in all - rain - (genitive marker) - granting - (comment marker) | All of such is the benefaction of the rain; |
| 其又可忘邪。 | gi hjuwH khaX mjang yae. | kʱi˩ jiw˨˦ kʰɔ˥˧ vɑŋ˩ jiɛ˩. | it - further more - to be allowed - to forget - (interrogative marker) | Could we, after all these, forget it? |
| 既以名亭。 | kj+jH yiX mjieng deng. | ki˨˦ ji˥˧ miŋ˩ tʱiŋ˩. | To have done - by (it) - to name - kiosk | After naming the kiosk after the rain, |
| 又從而歌之。 | hjuwH dzjowng nyi ka tsyi. | jiw˨˦ tsʱyuŋ˩ ɻ˩ kɔ tʃiɨ. | further more - to follow - and - to sing - it | we proceeded to sing about it, |
| 曰 | hjwot | jyuɛʔ(t)˩ | to say | saying |
| 「使天而雨珠。 | “sriX then nyi hjuH tsyu. | “ʂɨ˥˧ tʰiɛn ɻ˩ jy˨˦ tʃy. | to let - heaven - and/but - to precipitate - pearl | "Shall pearls fall from heaven, |
| 寒者不得以爲襦。 | han tsyaeX pjuw tok yiX hjwe nyu. | ɦɑn˩ tʃiɛ˥˧ puʔ(t) təʔ(k) ji˥˧ ui˩ ʒy˩. | coldness - one(s) - do not - to get to - by (it) - to make - short coat | they will not provide those in cold to weave. |
| 使天而雨玉。 | sriX then nyi hjuH ngjowk. | ʂɨ˥˧ tʰiɛn ɻ˩ jy˨˦ (ŋ)yuʔ(k)˩. | to let - heaven - and/but - to precipitate - jade | Shall jade fall from heaven, |
| 飢者不得以爲粟。 | kij tsyaeX pjuw tok yiX hjwe sjowk. | ki tʃiɛ˥˧ puʔ(t) təʔ(k) ji˥˧ ui˩ syuʔ(k). | hunger - one(s) - do not - to get to - by (it) - to make - millet | they will not provide those of hunger to cook. |
| 一雨三日。 | ’jit hjuX sam nyit. | ʔiʔ(t) jy˥˧ sam ʒiʔ(t). | one - rain - three - day | For a rainfall to last for three days, |
| 伊誰之力。 | ’jij dzywij tsyi lik. | ʔi ʂʱui˩ tʃiɨ liʔ(k)˩. | to thank to - who - (genitive marker) - force | to whose work is it to thank? |
| 民曰太守。 | mjin hjwot thajH syuwH. | min˩ jyuɛʔ(t)˩ tʰai˨˦ ʃiw˨˦. | commoner - to say - ThajH - SyuwH | The people say it is ThajH SyuwH (Taishou, a type of officer) |
| 太守不有。 | thajH syuwH pjuw hjuwX. | tʰai˨˦ ʃiw˨˦ puʔ(t) jiw˥˧. | ThajH - SyuwH - do not - to hold possession | ThajH SyuwH does not claim to own it. |
| 歸之天子。 | kjw+j tsyi then tsiX. | kui tʃiɨ tʰiɛn tsɨ˥˧. | To attribute - it - heaven - son | Attributing it to the emperor (lit. Son of Heaven), |
| 天子曰不然。 | then tsiX hjwot pjuw nyen. | tʰiɛn tsɨ˥˧ jyuɛʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) ʒiɛn˩. | heaven - son - to say - not - so | the emperor says no. |
| 歸之造物。 | kjw+j tsyi dzawX mjut. | kui tʃiɨ dzaw'˨˦ vuʔ(t)˩. | To attribute - it - making - things | Attributing it to the Creator, |
| 造物不自以爲功。 | dzawX mjut pjuw dzijH yiX hjwe kuwng. | dzaw'˨˦ vuʔ(t)˩ puʔ(t) dzɨ˨˦ ji˥˧ ui˩ kuŋ. | making - things - do not - self - to consider (it) - to be as - achievement | the Creator refuses to be the sole hero. |
| 歸之太空。 | kjw+j tsyi thajH khuwng. | kui tʃiɨ tʰai˨˦ kʰuŋ. | To attribute - it - supreme - emptiness | Attributing it to the universe, |
| 太空冥冥。 | thajH khuwng meng meng. | tʰai˨˦ kʰuŋ miŋ˩ miŋ˩. | supreme - emptiness - dark and vast - | the universe is dark and vast |
| 不可得而名。 | pjuw khaX tok nyi mjieng. | puʔ(t) kʰɔ˥˧ təʔ(k) ɻ˩ miŋ˩. | do not - can - to get to - and - to name | with nothing confined by names. |
| 吾以名吾亭」 | ngu yiX mjieng ngu deng” | ŋu˩ ji˥˧ miŋ˩ ŋu˩ tʱiŋ˩” | I - by (it) - to name - my - kiosk | I shall have it for the name of my kiosk." |