汉英对照《朱子家训》

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Master Chu’s Homilies for Families

黎明即起，洒扫庭除，要内外整洁；

既昏便息，关锁门户，必亲自检点。

Rise up by dawn’s early light;

Clean up, put everything right;

Keep the home tidy and clean.

Go to bed early at night;

Check that the doors are locked tight;

Sleep now secure and serene.

一粥一饭，当思来处不易；

半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰。

The growing of rice and of grain

Think on whenever you dine;

Remember how silk is obtained

Which keeps you warm and looks fine.

宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。

In periods of drought

Wise birds mend their nest

So when the clouds burst

They snugly may rest;

Never be the fool

Who starts to dig a well in the ground

When he wants a drink of water

And water can’t be found.

自奉必须俭约，宴客切勿流连。

Restrained and frugal be

In all your private life;

That party quickly flee

With drinking and flirting rife.

器具质而洁，瓦缶胜金玉；

饭食约而精，园蔬逾珍馐。

Oh better earthen mugs and plates

In household neat and clean

Than vessels made of gold and jade

And suited for the queen;

Eat good food from garden fresh

Downed with a cup of tea

Shun exotic, unknown foods

From far across the sea.

勿营华屋，勿谋良田。

Build not a house too pretentious and grand;

Never, no never take anyone’s land.

三姑六婆，实淫盗之媒；

婢美妾娇，非闺房之福。

Matchmaker ladies who wander out and in

Don’t mediate matches, they mediate sin;

A beautiful and lusty young wife

May complicate a family’s life.

童仆勿用俊美，妻妾切忌艳妆。

A page-boy clever, quick and sharp

You should never, never hire;

Of over made-up, dressed-up wife

You certainly will tire.

祖宗虽远，祭祀不可不诚；

子孙虽愚，经书不可不读。

Memorial service for forebears

You now and then should hold;

To learn from them and show you care,

Their story should be told.

Confucius’ classic sayings

All children should retain,

‘Specially when it’s evident

They do not have much brain.