| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| The openness of hollow virtue | |
| follows only the Way. | |
| The Way, as a thing, | |
| is truly hazy, truly dim. | |
| Dim... hazy... | |
| within it there is an image; | |
| Hazy... dim... | |
| within it there is a thing. | |
| Deep... obscure... | |
| within it there is essence; | |
| its essence is most true, | |
| within it there is trust. | |
| From antiquity to the present, | |
| its name does not vanish, | |
| used to examine the common folk. | |
| How do I know the state of the common folk? | |
| By this. |
hole; opening; aperture; tiny; minute
virtue; moral character; inner power; virtuous
it, him, her, them; of; 's; go to; reach
contain; accommodate; tolerate; appearance; countenance
only; sole; alone; yes; indeed
road; path; way; method; principle; to speak; to lead
right; correct; this; to be
follow; obey; from; since
do; make; become; be; serve as; for; because of
thing; object; matter; creature; substance
dazed; bewildered; vague; absent-minded
dazed; absent-minded; muddled; vague; blurred
suddenly; unexpectedly; neglect; ignore; momentarily
exclamatory particle; pause marker; oh; alas
his; her; its; their; that; the one who; such
middle; center; central; within; hit the mark
have; possess; exist; there is/are; present
elephant; image; form; appearance; phenomenon; likeness
secluded; deep; remote; modest; quiet beauty
dark; obscure; dim; profound; the underworld
essence; refined; spirit; expert; precise
very; exceedingly; extreme; grave; excessive
true; real; genuine; truth; truly
trust; faith; believe; honest; message; letter
self; oneself; from; since; spontaneous; automatic
ancient; old; antiquity; former; of old
reach; attain; catch up; and; as well as
now; present; current; today
name; title; reputation; to call; to designate
not; no; un-; non=
go; leave; remove; past; depart
by means of; use; because; so as to; in order to
read; peruse; inspect; review; examine
crowd; multitude; the masses; numerous
just now; recently; beginning; man; official
I; me; my
what; which; how; why; wherefore
know; recognize; understand; knowledge; wisdom
shape; form; condition; document; petition
exclamation; question particle; indeed; how...!
this; these; this one; here; thus