Chapter 55 On the charm of the mystery.
>  
1 Verses | Page 1 / 1
(Wing-Tsit Chan Version)


Show / Hide
(Ⅰ)
(Ⅱ)
(Ⅲ)
(Ⅳ)
(Ⅴ)
(Ⅵ)
(Ⅶ)
(Ⅷ)


55. 1  
He who possesses virtue in abundance May be compared to an infant. Poisonous insects will not sting him. Fierce beasts will not seize him. Birds of prey will not strike him. His bones are weak, his sinews tender, but his grasp is firm.
He does not yet know the union of male and female, But his organ is aroused, This means that his essence is at its height.
He may cry all day without becoming hoarse, This means that his (natural) harmony is perfect. To know harmony means to be in accord with the eternal. To be in accord with the eternal means to be enlightened.
To force the growth of life means ill omen. For the mind to employ the vital force without restraint means violence.
After all things reach their prime, they begin to grow old, Which means being contrary to Tao. Whatever is contrary to Tao will soon perish.
- Chinese :

《道德經》: 含德之厚,比於赤子。蜂蠆虺蛇不螫,猛獸不據,攫鳥不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡之合而全作,精之至也。終日號而不嗄,和之至也。知和曰常,知常曰明,益生曰祥。心使氣曰強。物壯則老,謂之不道,不道早已。

《老子河上公章句·玄符》: 含德之厚,比於赤子。毒蟲不螫,猛獸不據,玃鳥不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡之合而峻作精之至也。終日號而不啞,和之至也。知和日常,知常日明,益生日祥,心使氣日強。物壯則老,謂之不道,不道早已。

《郭店·老子甲》: 含德之厚者,比於赤子,蜂蠆虺蛇弗螫,攫鳥猛獸弗搏,骨弱筋柔而捉固。未知牝牡之合朘怒,精之至也。終日乎而不憂,和之至也,和曰常,知和曰明。益生曰祥,心使氣曰強,物壯則老,是謂不道。

《馬王堆·老子甲德經》: □□之厚□比於赤子。逢癘虺地弗螫,攫鳥猛獸弗搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡□□而朘□,精□至也。終曰號而不嚘,和之至也。和曰常知,和曰明益,生曰祥。心使氣曰強。□□即老,胃之不道,不□□□。

《馬王堆·老子乙德經》: 含德之厚者,比於赤子。蜂癘虫蛇弗赫,據鳥孟獸弗捕。骨筋弱柔而握固。未知牝牡之會而朘怒,精之至也。冬日號而不嚘,和□□□□□□常,知常曰明,益生□祥。心使氣曰強。物□則老,胃之不道,不道蚤已。
(Ⅰ)
- He Shanggong (English) :

Who holds the fulness of Te in his mouth,

This means one who holds the fulness of Te in his mouth and bosom.

may be compared to an infant.

The spirits protect a man holding the fulness of Te in his mouth like parents protecting a child.

Poisonous vermin does not sting.

Bees, scorpions and serpents do not hurt him.

Wild beasts do not claw. Birds of prey do not grip.

An infant does not hurt any creature, nor does a creature hurt it. Therefore in an entirely peaceful generation men are neither esteemed nor despised. They all have humane hearts. Therefore stinging creatures reverse their nature, and poisonous vermin does not hurt men.

The bones are weak, the sinews are tender, but the grip is tight.

The sinews and bones of an infant are weak and tender, but it tightly grips things because its intention is bent on them and its mind does not change.

It does not yet know the union of the female and the male, but its membrum is erect.

An infant does not yet know the union of man and woman, but its membrum is erect. The excitement is caused by the abundance of the semen.

It cries the whole day without becoming hoarse. This is the perception of harmony.

An infant cries from morning till evening without its voice becoming changed. This ease is caused by the abundance of harmonious breath.

To know harmony is called eternal.

If a man is able to know the tenderness of the harmonious breath, this is of use to him. Then he knows Tao’s eternity.

To know the eternal is called enlightened.

If a man is able to know the eternal circulation of Tao, then he will day for day become more enlightened and will penetrate the dark mystery.

By fulfilling life one becomes daily more happy.

Happiness endures. To fulfil life means daily to increase the wish for long life.

The heart causes the breath to become daily stronger.

The heart must especially harmonize tenderness, then the breath really dwells in it. Therefore the appearance is tender. But if, contrary to this, wrong things are caused to be done, then the harmonious breath disappears from the interior. Therefore the body becomes daily harder.

Things grow and then become old. This is called without Tao.

When things have reached the acme of growth, then they wither and become old. That which is withered and old has not reached Tao.

Without Tao one soon ends.

Who does not reach Tao, ends soon by death.

(Ⅱ)
- He Shanggong (Chinese) :

含德之厚,謂含懷道德之厚也。比於赤子。神明保佑含德之人,若父母之於赤子也。毒蟲不螫,蜂蠇蛇虺不螫。猛獸不據,玃鳥不搏。赤子不害於物,物亦不害之。故太平之世,人無貴賤,仁心,有刺之物,還返其本,有毒之蟲,不傷於人。骨弱筋柔而握固。赤子筋骨柔弱而持物堅固,以其意心不移也。未知牝牡之合而峻作精之至也。赤子未知男女會合而陰陽作怒者,由精氣多之所致也。終日號而不啞,和之至也。赤子從朝至暮啼號聲不變易者,和氣多之所至也。知和日常,人能和氣柔弱有益於人者,則為知道之常也。知常日明,人能知道之常行,則日以明達於玄妙也。益生日祥,祥,長也。言益生欲自生,日以長大。心使氣日強。心當專一和柔而神氣實內,故形柔。而反使妄有所為,和氣去於中,故形體日以剛強也。物壯則老,萬物壯極則枯老也。謂之不道,枯老則不得道矣。不道早已。不得道者早死。
(Ⅲ)
- Ellen Marie Chen (1989) :

One who contains te in fullness,
Is to be compared to an infant.
Wasps, scorpions, and snakes do not bite it,
Fierce beasts do not attack it,
Birds of prey do not pounce upon it.
Its bones weak, its sinews tender,
But its grip is firm;
Knowing not the union of the female and male animals,
Yet its organ stirs.
Such is the perfection of its life-force (ching).
Crying all day, yet it does not get hoarse.
Such is the Perfection of its harmony (ho).
To know harmony is to know the everlasting (ch'ang);
To know the everlasting is to be illumined (ming).
To help life along is to bring ill portend;
To use mind (hsin) to direct the life breath (ch'i) is called the strong (ch'iang).
When things are full-grown they become old,
It is called not following the Way (Tao).
Not following the Way one dies early. (Ⅳ)
- Ch'u Ta-Kao (1904) :

He who is endowed with ample virtue may be comapred to an infant.
No venemous insects sting him;
Nor fierce beasts sieze him;
Nor birds of prey strike him;
His bones are frail, his sinews tender, but his grasp is strong.
He does not know the conjugation of male and female, and yet he has sexual development;
It means he is in the best vitality.
He may cry all day without growing hoarse;
It means that he is in the perfect harmony.
To know this harmony is to approach eternity.
To know eternity is to attain enlightenment.
To increase life is to lead to calamity.
To let the heart exert the breath is to become stark.
(Ⅴ)
- World by world translation :

Traditional // simplified // pinyin // definition // dictionary
含 // 含 // hán // ① contenir ② garder dans la bouche // Chinese-French
含 // 含 // hán // ① to keep ② to contain ③ to suck (keep in your mouth without chewing) // CC-CEDICT
德 // 德 // dé // ① vertu ② moralité ③ volonté ④ coeur ⑤ bonté ⑥ bienveillance ⑦ (abréviation d'Allemagne) // Chinese-French
德 // 德 // dé // ① Germany ② German ③ abbr. for 德國|德国[De2 guo2] // CC-CEDICT
德 // 德 // dé // ① virtue ② goodness ③ morality ④ ethics ⑤ kindness ⑥ favor ⑦ character ⑧ kind // CC-CEDICT
悳 // 德 // dé // ① variant of 德[de2] // CC-CEDICT
惪 // 德 // dé // ① variant of 德[de2] // CC-CEDICT
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (remplaçant une personne ou une chose comme complément) ② (particule possessive dans différentes expressions) // Chinese-French
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) ② him ③ her ④ it // CC-CEDICT
厚 // 厚 // hòu // ① épais ② important ③ cordial ④ fort // Chinese-French
厚 // 厚 // hòu // ① thick ② deep or profound ③ kind ④ generous ⑤ rich or strong in flavor ⑥ to favor ⑦ to stress // CC-CEDICT
比 // 比 // bǐ // ① par rapport à ② en comparaison avec ③ que ④ à ⑤ comparer ⑥ rivaliser avec ⑦ considérer comme // Chinese-French
比 // 比 // bǐ // ① Belgium ② Belgian ③ abbr. for 比利時|比利时[Bi3 li4 shi2] // CC-CEDICT
比 // 比 // bǐ // "① (particle used for comparison and ""-er than"") ② to compare ③ to contrast ④ to gesture (with hands) ⑤ ratio" // CC-CEDICT
比 // 比 // bì // ① être proche de // Chinese-French
比 // 比 // bì // ① to associate with ② to be near // CC-CEDICT
於 // 于 // yú // ① dans ② à ③ de ④ par ⑤ que // Chinese-French
於 // 于 // yú // ① in ② at ③ to ④ from ⑤ by ⑥ than ⑦ out of // CC-CEDICT
於 // 於 // wū // ① en ② dans ③ pour ④ par // Chinese-French
於 // 於 // wū // ① (literary) Oh! ② Ah! // CC-CEDICT
於 // 於 // yū // ① surname Yu ② Taiwan pr. [Yu2] // CC-CEDICT
赤子 // 赤子 // chì zǐ // ① enfant nouveau-né ② innocent // Chinese-French
赤子 // 赤子 // chì zǐ // ① newborn baby ② the people (of a country) // CC-CEDICT
蜂 // 蜂 // fēng // ① abeille ② guêpe // Chinese-French
蜂 // 蜂 // fēng // ① bee ② wasp // CC-CEDICT
䗬 // 蜂 // fēng // ① variant of 蜂[feng1] // CC-CEDICT
蠭 // 蜂 // fēng // ① old variant of 蜂[feng1] // CC-CEDICT
蠆 // 虿 // chài // ① scorpion // Chinese-French
蠆 // 虿 // chài // ① (scorpion) ② an insect // CC-CEDICT
虺 // 虺 // huī // ① malade ② sans ambition // Chinese-French
虺 // 虺 // huī // ① sick ② with no ambition // CC-CEDICT
虺 // 虺 // huǐ // ① serpent venimeux mythique // Chinese-French
虺 // 虺 // huǐ // ① mythical venomous snake // CC-CEDICT
蛇 // 蛇 // shé // ① serpent // Chinese-French
蛇 // 蛇 // shé // ① snake ② serpent ③ CL:條|条[tiao2] // CC-CEDICT
虵 // 蛇 // shé // ① variant of 蛇[she2] // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
螫 // 螫 // shì // ① to sting ② also pr. [zhe1] // CC-CEDICT
螫 // 螫 // zhē // ① piqûre d'insecte venimeux // Chinese-French
猛獸 // 猛兽 // měng shòu // ① ferocious beast ② fierce animal // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
據 // 据 // jù // ① preuve ② d'après ③ selon ④ occuper ⑤ s'emparer de // Chinese-French
據 // 据 // jù // ① according to ② to act in accordance with ③ to depend on ④ to seize ⑤ to occupy // CC-CEDICT
攫 // 攫 // jué // ① saisir ② prendre // Chinese-French
攫 // 攫 // jué // ① to seize ② to snatch ③ to grab // CC-CEDICT
鳥 // 鸟 // niǎo // ① oiseau ② 196e radical // Chinese-French
鳥 // 鸟 // niǎo // ① bird ② CL:隻|只[zhi1],群[qun2] ③ (dialect) to pay attention to ④ (intensifier) damned ⑤ goddam // CC-CEDICT
鳥 // 鸟 // diǎo // ① variant of 屌[diao3] ② penis // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
搏 // 搏 // bó // ① lutter ② combattre ③ se jeter sur ④ battement (pouls) // Chinese-French
搏 // 搏 // bó // ① to fight ② to combat ③ to seize ④ (of heart) to beat // CC-CEDICT
骨 // 骨 // gǔ // ① os ② ossature ③ charpente // Chinese-French
骨 // 骨 // gǔ // ① bone // CC-CEDICT
弱 // 弱 // ruò // ① faible ② fragile ③ inférieur ④ un peu moins // Chinese-French
弱 // 弱 // ruò // ① weak ② feeble ③ young ④ inferior ⑤ (following a decimal or fraction) slightly less than // CC-CEDICT
筋 // 筋 // jīn // ① muscle ② tendon ③ force musculaire ④ force physique ⑤ nerf ⑥ veine ⑦ uni par les liens du sang // Chinese-French
筋 // 筋 // jīn // ① muscle ② tendon // CC-CEDICT
柔 // 柔 // róu // ① souple ② flexible ③ doux // Chinese-French
柔 // 柔 // róu // ① soft ② flexible ③ supple ④ yielding ⑤ rho (Greek letter Ρρ) // CC-CEDICT
而 // 而 // ér // ① et ② mais ③ tandis que ④ alors que // Chinese-French
而 // 而 // ér // ① and ② as well as ③ and so ④ but (not) ⑤ yet (not) ⑥ (indicates causal relation) ⑦ (indicates change of state) ⑧ (indicates contrast) // CC-CEDICT
握 // 握 // wò // ① saisir ② tenir // Chinese-French
握 // 握 // wò // ① to hold ② to grasp ③ to clench (one's fist) ④ to master ⑤ classifier: a handful // CC-CEDICT
固 // 固 // gù // ① solide ② ferme ③ fermement ④ résolument // Chinese-French
固 // 固 // gù // ① hard ② strong ③ solid ④ sure ⑤ assuredly ⑥ undoubtedly ⑦ of course ⑧ indeed ⑨ admittedly // CC-CEDICT
未知 // 未知 // wèi zhī // ① unknown // CC-CEDICT
牝牡 // 牝牡 // pìn mǔ // ① male and female // CC-CEDICT
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (remplaçant une personne ou une chose comme complément) ② (particule possessive dans différentes expressions) // Chinese-French
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) ② him ③ her ④ it // CC-CEDICT
合 // 合 // hé // ① to close ② to join ③ to fit ④ to be equal to ⑤ whole ⑥ together ⑦ round (in battle) ⑧ conjunction (astronomy) ⑨ 1st note of pentatonic scale ⑩ old variant of 盒[he2] // CC-CEDICT
閤 // 合 // hé // ① fermer ② unir ③ combiner ④ convenir à ⑤ équivaloir à // Chinese-French
閤 // 合 // hé // ① variant of 合[he2] // CC-CEDICT
合 // 合 // gě // ① 100 ml ② one-tenth of a peck ③ measure for dry grain equal to one-tenth of sheng 升 or liter, or one-hundredth dou 斗 // CC-CEDICT
而 // 而 // ér // ① et ② mais ③ tandis que ④ alors que // Chinese-French
而 // 而 // ér // ① and ② as well as ③ and so ④ but (not) ⑤ yet (not) ⑥ (indicates causal relation) ⑦ (indicates change of state) ⑧ (indicates contrast) // CC-CEDICT
全 // 全 // quán // ① complètement ② tout ③ complet // Chinese-French
全 // 全 // quán // ① surname Quan // CC-CEDICT
全 // 全 // quán // ① all ② whole ③ entire ④ every ⑤ complete // CC-CEDICT
作 // 作 // zuò // ① faire ② apparaître ③ rédiger ④ ouvrage ⑤ oeuvre ⑥ considérer comme // Chinese-French
作 // 作 // zuò // ① to do ② to grow ③ to write or compose ④ to pretend ⑤ to regard as ⑥ to feel ⑦ writings or works // CC-CEDICT
作 // 作 // zuō // ① worker ② workshop ③ (slang) troublesome ④ high-maintenance (person) // CC-CEDICT
精 // 精 // jīng // ① finesse ② essence ③ substance ④ vitalité ⑤ vigueur ⑥ raffiné ⑦ fin ⑧ soigné ⑨ intelligent ⑩ malin // Chinese-French
精 // 精 // jīng // ① essence ② extract ③ vitality ④ energy ⑤ semen ⑥ sperm ⑦ mythical goblin spirit ⑧ highly perfected ⑨ elite ⑩ the pick of sth ⑪ proficient (refined ability) ⑫ extremely (fine) ⑬ selected rice (archaic) // CC-CEDICT
之至 // 之至 // zhī zhì // ① extremely // CC-CEDICT
也 // 也 // yě // ① également ② aussi ③ à la fois ④ même ⑤ voire // Chinese-French
也 // 也 // yě // ① surname Ye // CC-CEDICT
也 // 也 // yě // ① also ② too ③ (in Classical Chinese) final particle implying affirmation // CC-CEDICT
終日 // 终日 // zhōng rì // ① all day long // CC-CEDICT
號 // 号 // hào // ① numéro ② nombre ③ jour du mois // Chinese-French
號 // 号 // hào // ① ordinal number ② day of a month ③ mark ④ sign ⑤ business establishment ⑥ size ⑦ ship suffix ⑧ horn (wind instrument) ⑨ bugle call ⑩ assumed name ⑪ to take a pulse ⑫ classifier used to indicate number of people // CC-CEDICT
號 // 号 // háo // ① hurler // Chinese-French
號 // 号 // háo // ① roar ② cry ③ CL:個|个[ge4] // CC-CEDICT
而 // 而 // ér // ① et ② mais ③ tandis que ④ alors que // Chinese-French
而 // 而 // ér // ① and ② as well as ③ and so ④ but (not) ⑤ yet (not) ⑥ (indicates causal relation) ⑦ (indicates change of state) ⑧ (indicates contrast) // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
嗄 // 嗄 // á // ① ah ! (exclamation) // Chinese-French
嗄 // 嗄 // á // ① variant of 啊[a2] // CC-CEDICT
嗄 // 嗄 // shà // ① rauque // Chinese-French
嗄 // 嗄 // shà // ① hoarse // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hé // ① et ② avec ③ harmonie ④ paix ⑤ union // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // hé // ① surname He ② Japanese (food, clothes etc) // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hé // "① and ② together with ③ with ④ sum ⑤ union ⑥ peace ⑦ harmony ⑧ Taiwan pr. [han4] when it means ""and"" or ""with""" // CC-CEDICT
咊 // 和 // hé // ① old variant of 和[he2] // CC-CEDICT
龢 // 和 // hé // ① old variant of 和[he2] ② harmonious // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hè // ① poésie // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // hè // ① to compose a poem in reply (to sb's poem) using the same rhyme sequence ② to join in the singing ③ to chime in with others // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hú // ① to complete a set in mahjong or playing cards // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // huó // ① doux // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // huó // ① to combine a powdery substance (flour, plaster etc) with water ② Taiwan pr. [huo4] // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // huò // ① pétrir ② mêler // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // huò // ① to mix (ingredients) together ② to blend ③ classifier for rinses of clothes ④ classifier for boilings of medicinal herbs // CC-CEDICT
之至 // 之至 // zhī zhì // ① extremely // CC-CEDICT
也 // 也 // yě // ① également ② aussi ③ à la fois ④ même ⑤ voire // Chinese-French
也 // 也 // yě // ① surname Ye // CC-CEDICT
也 // 也 // yě // ① also ② too ③ (in Classical Chinese) final particle implying affirmation // CC-CEDICT
知 // 知 // zhī // ① savoir ② connaître ③ connaissances // Chinese-French
知 // 知 // zhī // ① to know ② to be aware // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hé // ① et ② avec ③ harmonie ④ paix ⑤ union // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // hé // ① surname He ② Japanese (food, clothes etc) // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hé // "① and ② together with ③ with ④ sum ⑤ union ⑥ peace ⑦ harmony ⑧ Taiwan pr. [han4] when it means ""and"" or ""with""" // CC-CEDICT
咊 // 和 // hé // ① old variant of 和[he2] // CC-CEDICT
龢 // 和 // hé // ① old variant of 和[he2] ② harmonious // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hè // ① poésie // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // hè // ① to compose a poem in reply (to sb's poem) using the same rhyme sequence ② to join in the singing ③ to chime in with others // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // hú // ① to complete a set in mahjong or playing cards // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // huó // ① doux // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // huó // ① to combine a powdery substance (flour, plaster etc) with water ② Taiwan pr. [huo4] // CC-CEDICT
和 // 和 // huò // ① pétrir ② mêler // Chinese-French
和 // 和 // huò // ① to mix (ingredients) together ② to blend ③ classifier for rinses of clothes ④ classifier for boilings of medicinal herbs // CC-CEDICT
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① dire ② appeler // Chinese-French
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① to speak ② to say // CC-CEDICT
常 // 常 // cháng // ① souvent ② fréquemment ③ ordinaire ④ commun ⑤ constant ⑥ invariable // Chinese-French
常 // 常 // cháng // ① surname Chang // CC-CEDICT
常 // 常 // cháng // ① always ② ever ③ often ④ frequently ⑤ common ⑥ general ⑦ constant // CC-CEDICT
知 // 知 // zhī // ① savoir ② connaître ③ connaissances // Chinese-French
知 // 知 // zhī // ① to know ② to be aware // CC-CEDICT
常 // 常 // cháng // ① souvent ② fréquemment ③ ordinaire ④ commun ⑤ constant ⑥ invariable // Chinese-French
常 // 常 // cháng // ① surname Chang // CC-CEDICT
常 // 常 // cháng // ① always ② ever ③ often ④ frequently ⑤ common ⑥ general ⑦ constant // CC-CEDICT
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① dire ② appeler // Chinese-French
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① to speak ② to say // CC-CEDICT
明 // 明 // míng // ① brillant ② clair ③ comprendre ④ vue ⑤ distinct ⑥ net ⑦ ouvert ⑧ public ⑨ explicite ⑩ prompt ⑪ leste ⑫ prochain ⑬ suivant ⑭ ouvertement // Chinese-French
明 // 明 // míng // ① Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) ② surname Ming ③ Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God // CC-CEDICT
明 // 明 // míng // ① bright ② opposite: dark 暗[an4] ③ (of meaning) clear ④ to understand ⑤ next ⑥ public or open ⑦ wise ⑧ generic term for a sacrifice to the gods // CC-CEDICT
益 // 益 // yì // ① profitable ② avantageux ③ profit ④ avantage // Chinese-French
益 // 益 // yì // ① surname Yi // CC-CEDICT
益 // 益 // yì // ① benefit ② profit ③ advantage ④ beneficial ⑤ to increase ⑥ to add ⑦ all the more // CC-CEDICT
生 // 生 // shēng // ① vie ② existence ③ élève ④ cru ⑤ inconnu ⑥ étranger ⑦ accoucher ⑧ naître ⑨ pousser ⑩ vivre // Chinese-French
生 // 生 // shēng // ① to be born ② to give birth ③ life ④ to grow ⑤ raw ⑥ uncooked ⑦ student // CC-CEDICT
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① dire ② appeler // Chinese-French
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① to speak ② to say // CC-CEDICT
祥 // 祥 // xiáng // ① propice ② faste // Chinese-French
祥 // 祥 // xiáng // ① auspicious ② propitious // CC-CEDICT
心 // 心 // xīn // ① coeur ② pensée ③ esprit ④ intention // Chinese-French
心 // 心 // xīn // ① heart ② mind ③ intention ④ center ⑤ core ⑥ CL:顆|颗[ke1],個|个[ge4] // CC-CEDICT
使 // 使 // shǐ // ① envoyé ② utiliser ③ employer ④ faire faire ⑤ envoyer // Chinese-French
使 // 使 // shǐ // ① to make ② to cause ③ to enable ④ to use ⑤ to employ ⑥ to send ⑦ to instruct sb to do sth ⑧ envoy ⑨ messenger // CC-CEDICT
氣 // 气 // qì // ① gaz ② air ③ souffle ④ odeur ⑤ vigueur ⑥ énergie ⑦ irriter // Chinese-French
氣 // 气 // qì // ① gas ② air ③ smell ④ weather ⑤ to make angry ⑥ to annoy ⑦ to get angry ⑧ vital energy ⑨ qi // CC-CEDICT
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① dire ② appeler // Chinese-French
曰 // 曰 // yuē // ① to speak ② to say // CC-CEDICT
強 // 强 // qiáng // ① fort ② puissant ③ de force // Chinese-French
強 // 强 // qiáng // ① surname Qiang // CC-CEDICT
強 // 强 // qiáng // ① strong ② powerful ③ better ④ slightly more than ⑤ vigorous ⑥ violent ⑦ best in their category, e.g. see 百強|百强[bai3 qiang2] // CC-CEDICT
強 // 强 // qiǎng // ① faire un effort ② forcer // Chinese-French
強 // 强 // qiǎng // ① to force ② to compel ③ to strive ④ to make an effort // CC-CEDICT
強 // 强 // jiàng // ① obstiné ② têtu ③ inflexible // Chinese-French
強 // 强 // jiàng // ① stubborn ② unyielding // CC-CEDICT
物 // 物 // wù // ① objet ② chose ③ être, matière // Chinese-French
物 // 物 // wù // ① thing ② object ③ matter ④ abbr. for physics 物理 // CC-CEDICT
壯 // 壮 // zhuàng // ① robuste ② vigoureux ③ renforcer ④ fortifier // Chinese-French
壯 // 壮 // zhuàng // ① Zhuang ethnic group of Guangxi, the PRC's second most numerous ethnic group ② Zhuang: Bouxcuengh // CC-CEDICT
壯 // 壮 // zhuàng // ① to strengthen ② strong ③ robust // CC-CEDICT
則 // 则 // zé // ① règle ② règlement ③ alors ④ donc // Chinese-French
則 // 则 // zé // ① (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but ② then ③ standard ④ norm ⑤ principle ⑥ to imitate ⑦ to follow ⑧ classifier for written items // CC-CEDICT
老 // 老 // lǎo // ① vieux ② âgé ③ ancien ④ démodé ⑤ toujours ⑥ dur // Chinese-French
老 // 老 // lǎo // ① prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity ② old (of people) ③ venerable (person) ④ experienced ⑤ of long standing ⑥ always ⑦ all the time ⑧ of the past ⑨ very ⑩ outdated ⑪ (of meat etc) tough // CC-CEDICT
謂 // 谓 // wèi // ① dire ② adresser la parole ③ être appelé ④ penser // Chinese-French
謂 // 谓 // wèi // ① surname Wei // CC-CEDICT
謂 // 谓 // wèi // ① to speak ② to say ③ to name ④ to designate ⑤ meaning ⑥ sense // CC-CEDICT
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (remplaçant une personne ou une chose comme complément) ② (particule possessive dans différentes expressions) // Chinese-French
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) ② him ③ her ④ it // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
道 // 道 // dào // ① doctrine, raison ② voie ③ dire ④ circuit, intendance // Chinese-French
道 // 道 // dào // ① road ② path ③ CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3] ④ principle ⑤ truth ⑥ morality ⑦ reason ⑧ skill ⑨ method ⑩ Dao (of Daoism) ⑪ to say ⑫ to speak ⑬ to talk ⑭ classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process ⑮ (old) administrative division (similar to province in Tang times) // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
道 // 道 // dào // ① doctrine, raison ② voie ③ dire ④ circuit, intendance // Chinese-French
道 // 道 // dào // ① road ② path ③ CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3] ④ principle ⑤ truth ⑥ morality ⑦ reason ⑧ skill ⑨ method ⑩ Dao (of Daoism) ⑪ to say ⑫ to speak ⑬ to talk ⑭ classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process ⑮ (old) administrative division (similar to province in Tang times) // CC-CEDICT
早已 // 早已 // zǎo yǐ // ① depuis longtemps // Chinese-French
早已 // 早已 // zǎo yǐ // ① long ago ② for a long time // CC-CEDICT (Ⅵ)
- Yi Wu (1989) :

The truest being can be illustrated by the infant.
Infants are not attacked by poisonous insects
Or by the birds and beasts of prey.
Though they are weak and fragile,
They have a firm grasp.
Though they don't know about sexual intercourse,
The male penises can naturally erect
(Which is the best embodiment of energy).
Though they can cry the whole day,
Their voices never crack
(Which is the best function of harmony).
Keeping harmony is keeping eternity.
The keeper of eternity can attain true wisdom.
Exertion of will beyond harmony is strength.
What is strong will soon weaken,
What is weakening is against the Way.
What is against the Way will die early. (Ⅶ)
- Lynn (2004) :

One who has profoundly internalized virtue is comparable to the infant.
Wasps, scorpions, adders, and vipers do not sting or bite him.
Fierce animals do not attack him.
Birds of prey do not seize him.
His bones are soft and sinews pliant, but his grip is firm.
That he is ignorant of the union of male and female yet completely erect
Is because his semen is at the full.
That he can cry all day long yet never grow hoarse
Is because his bodily balance is perfect.
To know how to maintain balance is called "constancy."
To understand constancy is called "perspicacity."
To extend life beyond its natural span is called "inauspicious."
For the heart/mind to control the vital force is called "forcing strength."
Once a thing reaches its prime, it grows old.
We say it goes against the Dao, and what is against the Dao comes to an early end. (Ⅷ)


Page: 1
55