Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 02-13-12 10:00
增廣昔時賢文 Chinese wisdom words of the past (001 to 050)
Zeng Guang Xian Wen
Preface
This latest book by Mr. Yoon-Ngan Chung is a translation of the famous collection
of Chinese adages, Zeng Guang Xian Wen (Broadening Wisdom). It is a crystallization
of Chinese wisdom through the centuries, presented in English for Overseas
Chinese and for Westerners and non-Chinese who love Chinese culture. It
is also a reflection of the trinitarian nature of the Chinese in Confucian,
Daoist and Buddhist philosophies, an openness of the Chinese psyche to accept
different and paradoxical interpretations of life.
The original work in Chinese was a compilation by Ming and early Qing scholars,
and it stands as a companion to the famous Vegetable Roots compiled by
Ming scholar, Hong Yingming. An English translation of Vegetable Roots called
Zen of Vegetable Roots in Chinese Painting has been published by Mr. Chung's
friend, Dr. S.L. Lee, who shares similar values and affection for Chinese
tradition.
I commend and congratulate Mr. Chung for having once again set out to introduce
Chinese culture and wisdom to those who are not Chinese educated. His three
earlier books, The Origin of Chinese Surnames, The Origin of the Hakka Chinese
and 73 Chinese Fables are useful reference books on their subjects. Undoubtedly,
the simple truths in this book will make us reflect on human social conduct
and life in general.
Dr. Tin-Kay Goh
Date: 1st February 2004.
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Acknowledgement
I should thank Professor Dr. Siu-Leung Lee, Dr. Tin-Kay Goh and my son,
Voon-Li Chung for editing the English translation.
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Foreword
No one knows who wrote this book "Chinese wisdom words of the past" and
when was it written. It is believed that it first appeared during the Ming
Dynasty (明朝 1368AD to 1644AD). Through the periods of the Dynasties of
Ming, Qing (清朝 1644 to 1911) and the early Republic (民國 1912AD to ?)
it was a text book for students. Million of Chinese People had read it and
many of them memorised most of the verses if not the whole book. The verses,
which were and still are the sayings from all walks of life, are easily
rhymed and easy to read. Altogether there are three hundred and fifty three
verses.
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(001 - 002)
昔時賢文,---Xi shi2 xian2 wen2,
教汝諄諄.---Jiao4 ru3 zhun zhun.
The Wisdom of the Ancient,
Instructs earnestly and tirelessly.
集韻增廣,---Ji2 yun4 Zeng Guang3,
多見多聞.---Duo jian4 duo wen2.
With the verses of Zeng Guang,
The more you read, the more you know.
對于過去的名言，有好的作用，應該多了解一些，多記住一些。
-------------------------------------------------------
(003)
觀今宜鑑古,---Guan4 jin yi2 jian4 gu3,
無古不成今.---Wu2 gu3 bu4 cheng2 jin.
Use the Present to reflect the Past,
Without the Past, there is no Present.
以歷史興衰的史實作例子，來指導今天的行動。
-----------------------------------------------------
(004)
知已知彼,---Zhi ji3 zhi bi3,
將心比心.---Jiang4 xin bi3 xin.
Knowing yourself and others,
Compare your heart with others.
知道自己了解別人，設身處地為別人着想，体會別人感受。
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(005)
酒逢知己飲,---Jiu3 feng2 zhi ji3 yin3,
詩向會人吟.---Shi xiang4 hui4 ren2 yin2.
My wine, I drink with intimate friends,
My poems, I recite to those who understand.
酒要与了解自己的人去喝，詩要向懂得的人去說。
-----------------------------------------------------------
(006)
相識滿天下,---Xiang4 shi2 man3 tian xia4,
知心能幾人.---Zhi xin neng2 ji3 ren2.
He has so many friends,
How many are really intimate?
認識的人很多，可彼此知心的沒有几個。
----------------------------------------------------
(007)
相逢好似初相識,---Xiang4 feng2 hao3 si4 chu xiang4 shi2,
到老終無怨恨心.---Dao4 lao3 zhong wu2 yuan4 hen4 xin.
Meeting my friend as if we first met,
Ageing, we bear no resentment to each other.
人和人的交往不要太深，免得到老產生怨恨之心。
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(008)
近水知魚性,---Jin4 shui3 zhi yu2 xing4,
近山識鳥音.---Jin4 shan shi2 niao3 yin.
Living near waters, one knows the habitat of the fish;
Living near mountains, one recognises the birds' singing.
离水近能知道魚的情況，常在山過，能分辨各种鳥的聲音。
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(009)
易漲易退山溪水,---Yi4 zhang3 yi4 tui4 shan xi shui3,
易反易覆小人心.---Yi4 fan3 yi4 fu4 xiao3 ren2 xin.
Rising and ebbing easily is the small stream,
Changing ideas easily, is the small mind.
山溪里的水隨着季節常漲常退，不明事理的小人反复無常、變化不定。
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(010)
運去金成鐵,---Yun4 qu4 jin cheng2 tie3,
時來鐵似金.---Shi2 lai2 tie3 si4 jin.
When luck runs out, even gold turns into iron,
When luck is in, even iron is gold.
運气不好時金子可能變成鐵，運气到來時鐵也可能變成金。
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(011)
讀書須用意,---Du2 shu xu yong4 yi4,
一字值千金.---Yi zi4 zhi2 qian jin.
Study with diligence,
A word is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
讀書只有下苦工夫，才會有文辭精妙的文章。
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(012)
逢人且說三分話,---Feng2 ren2 qie3 shuo san fen4 hua4,
末可全拋一片心.---Mo4 ke3 quan2 pao yi pian4 xin.
To a stranger, speak only a few words,
Reveal not your heart-felt thoughts.
對人說話要留有余地，不要一吐為快，不能把心全部交給別人。
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(013)
有意栽花花不發,---You3 yi4 zai hua hua bu4 fa,
無心插柳柳成陰.---Wu2 xin cha liu3 liu3 cheng2 yin.
Nurturing with care, my flower did not bloom,
Neglecting a stuck willow branch, it grew into a shade.
想辦的事情卻沒達到目的，沒想到會辦成的事居然成了。
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(014)
畫虎畫皮難畫骨,---Hua4 hu3 hua4 pi2 nan2 hua4 gu3,
知人口面不知心.---Zhi ren2 kou3 mian4 bu4 zhi xin.
Painting a tiger, reveals its skin, not its bones,
Knowing a man is of his face, not his mind.
了解人表面比較容易，了解人了內心和思想卻很困難。
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(015)
錢財如糞土,---Qian2 cai2 ru2 fen4 tu3,
仁義值千金.---Ren2 yi4 zhi2 qian jin.
Money and wealth are common (like dirt),
Benevolence and righteousness are priceless (worth
a thousand pieces of gold.
("Dirt" denotes common item, and "a thousand pieces of gold"
denotes pricelessness.)
錢財沒有什么重要的，价值千金的是仁義和道德。
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(016)
流水下灘非有意,---Liu2 shui3 xia4 tan fei you3 yi4,
白雲出岫本無心.---Bai2 yun2 chu xiu4 ben3 wu2 xin.
Water flowing to the beach is without intention,
White clouds arising from the hill is without design.
水從山上流下灘不是有意的，白云從洞中穿過也是無心的。
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(017)
當時若不登高望,---Dang shi2 ruo4 bu4 deng gao wang4,
誰信東流海樣深.---Shui2 xin4 dong liu2 hai3 yang4 shen.
If one does not ascend on high,
How does one know that the River flows eastwards to the sea?
(The River can be either Huang He 黃河 or Yangtze 揚子江,
both flowing eastwards to the sea.)
當初若不是去登高望遠，后來怎知東海的浩瀚。
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(018)
路遙知馬力,---Lu4 yao2 zhi ma3 li4,
事久見人心.---Shi4 jiu3 jian4 ren2 xin.
Distance reveals a horse's stamina,
Time reveals a person's true character.
路途遙遠才知道馬的力气，相處長了才了解人心。
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(019 -020)
兩人一般心,---Liang3 ren2 yi ban xin,
無錢堪買金.---You3 qian2 kan mai3 jin.
If two are of one mind,
Their money can buy gold.
一人一般心,---yi ren2 yi ban xin,
有錢難買針.---you3 qian2 nan2 mai3 zhen
兩個人一條心，日子越過越好；
反之則越過越窮，一事無成。
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(021)
相見易得好,---Xiang4 jian4 yi4 de2 hao3,
久住難為人.---Jiu3 zhu3 nan2 wei4 ren2.
Friends are good in casual meetings,
Yet, living together may sour a relationship.
一兩次接触容易處理好關系，長期在一起關系就難處了。
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(022)
馬行無力皆因瘦,---Ma3 xing2 wu2 li4 jie yin shou4,
人不風流只為貧.---Ren2 bu4 feng liu2 zhi3 wei4 pin2.
A horse's stamina is limited by its constitution,
A man's flirtation is limited by poverty.
馬跑不起來都是因為太瘦、沒力气；人不能揚眉吐气就是因為窮。
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(023)
饒人不是癡漢,---Rao2 ren2 bu4 shi4 chi han4,
癡漢不會饒人.---Chi han4 bu2 hui4 rao2 ren2.
He who forgives is not an idiot,
An idiot does not know how to forgive.
寬以待人是通曉事理的人，而不通曉事理的愚笨人是不會寬以待人的。
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(024)
是親不是親,---Shi4 qin bu4 shi4 qin,
非親都是親.---Fei qin du shi4 qin.
Some, considered relatives, behaving unlike relatives,
Others, not relatives, yet endearing like relatives.
是親人不當親人待，不是親人卻當親人看。
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(025)
美不美, 鄉中水.---Mei3 bu4 mei3, xiang zhong shui3,
親不親, 故鄉人.---Qin bu4 qin, gu4 xiang ren2
Irrespective of its quality, home water is beautiful,
Irrespective of his relationship, a fellow townsfolk is a relative.
對故鄉的東西倍感美好；對同鄉的人倍感親切。
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(026)
鶯花猶怕春光老,---Ying hua you2 pa4 chun guang lao3,
豈可教人枉度春.---Qi2 ke3 jiao4 ren2 wang3 du4 chun.
The oriole and flower blossoms, lament the passage of spring,
How then can we allow youth to waste its spring?
鶯花最怕春光逝流過，我們怎麼可以讓人白白度過大好時間呢？
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(027)
相逢不飲空歸去,---Xiang4 feng2 bu4 yin3 kong4 gui qu4,
洞口桃花也笑人.---Dong4 kou3 tao2 hua ye3 xiao4 ren2.
Meeting and departing without a drink,
Is derided with laughter even by the peach blossoms.
(In this context, tao2 hua 桃花 indicates women;
tao2 hua yun2 桃花運, means luck with women.)
好友相逢不喝酒，簡直太惹人笑話了。
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(028)
紅粉佳人休便老,---Hong2 fen jia ren2 xiu bian4 lao3,
風流浪子莫教貧.---Feng liu2 lang4 zi3 mo4 jiao4 pin2.
A beautiful woman retires on the ground of old age,
A dissoluted wastrel was not taught how to be poor.
漂亮的女人休要讓她老，風流浪子不要讓他貧困。
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(029)
在家不會迎賓客,---Zai4 jia bu4 hui4 ying bin ke4,
出外方知少主人.---Chu wai4 fang zhi shao3 zhu3 ren2.
A poor host failing to entertain,
Begets few hosts to entertain him.
在家不會接待客人，出去后才知道這個問題的重要性。
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(030)
黃金無假,---Huang2 jin wu2 jia3,
阿魏無真.---A Wei4* wu2 zhen
Gold has no imitation,
No Asafetida herb is considered authentic.
(*A Wei 阿魏 is a plant, Asafetida used as medicine,
but has too many varieties.)
黃金沒有（不容易）造假，阿魏無真（容易造假）。
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(031)
客來主不顧,---Ke4 lai2 zhu3 bu4 gu4,
應恐是癡人.---Ying4 kong3 shi4 chi ren2.
If a host does not serve his guests,
He is an idiot.
主人見客人來了不去打招呼，恐怕這只能是愚人。
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(032)
貧人居市無人識,---Pin2 ren2 ju shi4 wu2 ren2 shi2,
富在深山有遠親.---Fu4 zai4 shen shan you3 yuan3 qin.
No one knows a poor man living in the city,
A wealthy man living in a remote mountain has many distant relatives.
人窮了住在鬧市也沒人愿意去，人富了住得再偏遠也會有人去登門。
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(033)
誰人背後無人說,---Shui2 ren2 bei hou4 wu2 ren2 shuo,
那個人前不說人.---Na4 ge4 ren2 qian2 bu4 shuo ren2.
Everyone is being talked about behind the back,
Everyone talks about others.
什么人背后不被人說，又有誰在別人面前不去議論人呢？
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(034)
有錢道真語,---You3 qian2 dao4 zhen yu3,
無錢語不真.---Wu2 qian2 yu3 bu4 zhen.
Words worth more for those with money,
And don't mean much for those without.
有錢人說真話（有人相信），貧窮人說話別人怀疑（不相信）。
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(035)
不信但看庭中酒,---Bu4 xin4 dan4 kan4 ting2 zhong jiu3,
杯盃先勸有錢人.---Bei bei xian quan you3 qian2 ren2.
To the non-believers,
Just watch the toasting always go to the rich first.
不信你到筵席上看看，人人都會向有錢、有身份的人敬酒。
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(036)
鬧裡有錢,---Nao4 li3 you3 qian2,
靜處安身.---Jing3 chu4 an shen.
Make money in a busy place,
Settle down in a quiet one.
鬧市是賺錢的地方，只有安靜的地方才能休養身体。
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(037)
來如風雨,---Lai2 ru2 feng yu3,
去似微塵.---Qu4 si4 wei chen2.
A storm comes with wind and rain,
But leaves only dust.
來時惊動很大，走時沒有任何聲響。
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(038)
長江後浪推前浪,---Chang2 jiang hou4 lang4 tui qian lang4,
世上新人換舊人.---Shi4 shang4 xin ren2 huan4 jiu4 ren2.
The waves on Changjiang race one after another,
Generations are in succession in the same way.
長江后浪推動前浪，世上新人層出不窮。
---------------------------------------------------
(039)
近水樓臺先得月,---Jin4 shui3 lou2 tai2 xian de2 yue4,
向陽花木易蛉b春.---Xiang4 yang2 hua mu4 yi4 feng2 chun.
A waterfront pavilion gets the moonlight first;
Spring comes first to plants on the sunny side.
由于近便因而能夠占到便宜。
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(040)
古人不見今時月,---Gu3 ren2 bu4 jian4 jin shi2 yue4,
今月曾經照古人.---Jin yue4 zeng jing zhao4 gu3 ren2.
Our ancestors have not seen the moon today,
The moon today has seen them all.
過去的人不會見到今天的月亮，而今天的月亮曾經照耀過過去的人。
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(041)
先到為君,---Xian dao4 wei4 jun,
後到為臣.---Hou2 dao4 wei4 chen2.
Later come first,
Followers come later.
先來后到，先入為主。
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(042)
莫道君先早,---Mo4 dao4 jun2 xian zao3,
更有早行人.---Geng you3 zao3 xing2 ren2.
Don't say you are the earliest,
There are always others earlier.
不要說他來得早，有人比他更早。
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(043)
莫信直中直,---Mo4 xin4 zhi2 zhong zhi2,
須放仁不仁.---Xu fang2 ren2 bu4 ren2.
Don't trust people who looks too honest,
Beware of wickedness behind an innocent mask.
不要太相信什麼正直無私﹐對任何人都要提高警惕。
---------------------------------------------
(044)
山中有直樹,---Shan zhong you3 zhi2 shu4,
世上無直人.---Shi4 shang4 wu2 zhi2 ren2.
There are straight trees in the mountain,
But no straight person in the world.
世間樹有直的，而人卻沒有直的。
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(045)
自恨枝無葉,---Zi4 hen4 zhi wu2 ye4,
莫怨太陽偏.---Mo4 yuan4 tai4 yang2 pian.
When the branch has no leaves.
Don't blame the sun is biased.
自己要先看看自己有沒有毛病，不要總是強調他人的影響。
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(046)
大家都是命,---Da4 jia du shi4 ming4,
半點不如人.---Ban4 dian3 bu4 ru2 ren2.
Everyone has a life to live,
Why my life is not as good as others
每個人的一切都是命注定，自己沒有辦法。這句話宣傳天命思想。
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(047 - 048)
一年之計在於春,---Yi nian2 zhi ji4 zai4 yu2 chun,
一日之計在於寅.---Yi ri4 zhi ji4 zai4 yu2 yin2.
The plan of the year starts in spring,
The plan of the day starts in the morning,
一家之計在於和,---Yi jia zhi ji4 zai4 yu2 he2,
一生之計在於勤.---Yi sheng zhi ji4 zai4 yu2 qin2.
The essence of a family is harmony,
The essence of a life is diligence.
一年最好的時光在春天，一天最好的時光在早晨；一家最好的東西是和睦，保護身
体最好的辦法在于勤勞。
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(049)
責人之心責己,---Ze2 ren2 zhi xin ze2 ji3,
恕己之心恕人.---Shu4 ji3 zhi xin shu4 ren2.
Criticize yourself the way you criticize others,
Forgive others the way you forgive yourself.
用責備別人的態度責備自己，用原諒自己的態度對待別人。
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(050)
守口如瓶,---Shou3 kou3 ru2 ping2,
防意如城.---Fang2 yi4 ru2 cheng2.
Keep one's mouth shut,
Ward off other's critiques.
如果嘴嚴了，一切都會保險的。
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Posted to asiawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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