| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Great completion seems incomplete, | |
| its use is not worn out. | |
| Great fullness seems empty, | |
| its use is not exhausted. | |
| Great straightness seems bent, | |
| great skill seems clumsy, | |
| great eloquence seems halting. | |
| Restlessness overcomes cold; stillness overcomes heat. | |
| Pure stillness is the standard for all under heaven. |
big; large; great; adult; major; high-ranking
become; complete; succeed; accomplish; finished
if; supposing; like; as if; similar to
lack; missing; gap; deficient; to be short of
his; her; its; their; that; the one who; such
use; employ; utility; purpose; apply
not; no; un-; non=
flaw; corruption; worn out; detrimental; evil practice
full; overflow; surplus; exceed
rinse; flush; surge; collide; rush
exhaust; extremity; poor; reach the end; investigate thoroughly
straight; direct; upright; honest; continuous
bend; yield; crouch; suffer injustice; constrained
skillful; ingenious; clever; coincidence; artifice
clumsy; unskilled; crude; simple; poor (modesty)
argue; debate; distinguish; explain; plea
stuttering; slow of speech; hesitant; unpolished
restless; agitated; impatient; irritable
win; conquer; surpass; superior; victory
cold; chilly; winter; desolate; poor
quiet; still; calm; silence; pacify
hot; heat; feverish; passionate; eager; bustling
clear; pure; clean; to settle or purge
do; make; become; be; serve as; for; because of
sky; heaven; nature; fate; day
below; down; descend; next; subordinate
correct; upright; rectify; straight; precise; legitimate