| 道 可 道 非 常 道 |
explainable ways are not the living Way (Tao) |
| 名 可 名 非 常 名 |
sayable names are not the living name |
| 無 名 天 地 之 始 |
nameless is the creator of heaven-and-earth |
| 有 名 萬 物 之 母 |
named are the mothers of the many-diverse-creatures |
| 故 |
therefore |
| 常 無 欲 以 觀 其 妙 |
living without expectations, see its wonders |
| 常 有 欲 以 觀 其 徼 |
living with expectations, see their surfaces |
| 此 兩 者 |
these twins |
| 同 出 而 異 名 |
together-emerging but opposingly named |
| 同 謂 之 玄 |
together-explaining its mystery |
| 玄 之 又 玄 |
mystery's recursive mystery |
| 眾 妙 之 門 |
doorway of many-wonders |