| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| My words are very easy to know, | |
| very easy to act upon. | |
| None under heaven can know them, | |
| none can act upon them. | |
| Words have their source, | |
| affairs have their lord. | |
| Precisely because they do not know, | |
| therefore I am not known. | |
| Those who know me are few; | |
| thus I am precious. | |
| Therefore the sage wears coarse hemp and carries jade in his bosom. |
I; me; my
word; speech; to speak; to say
very; exceedingly; extreme; grave; excessive
easy; change; exchange; simple
know; recognize; understand; knowledge; wisdom
walk; go; conduct; behavior; line; row; carry out
sky; heaven; nature; fate; day
below; down; descend; next; subordinate
do not; no one; nothing; none
can; able; ability; capacity; power
have; possess; exist; there is/are; present
ancestor; lineage; clan; principal; sect; school of thought
matter; affair; thing; event; task; to serve
ruler; lord; sovereign; you (honorific)
man; husband; adult male; [particle] now; indeed; as for
only; sole; alone; yes; indeed
not; without; nothing; lacking; void
right; correct; this; to be
by means of; use; because; so as to; in order to
not; no; un-; non=
I; me; my; myself
one who; person; that which; the ...-er
rare; scarce; hope; desire
rule; law; then; as for; consequently
expensive; noble; precious; to value
holy; sacred; sage; saintly; divine
person; human; people; others; mankind
quilt; cover; suffer; (passive marker)
brown; coarse cloth; humble clothing
bosom; chest; cherish; long for; harbor (a thought)
jade; precious stone; pure; flawless; refined