经典古文英文翻译

经典古文英文翻译

CLASSIC LITERATURE IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION -- EXTREMELY USEFUL AND HELPFUL

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart.

独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。

A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day.

大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。

The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years.

二人同心，其利断金。

If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.

富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能曲，此之谓大丈夫。

It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force

can suffocate.

海内存知己，天涯若比邻。

A bosom friend afar brings distance near.

合抱之木，生于毫末，九层之台，起于累土；千里之行始于足下。

A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine

-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li

journey starts with the first step.

祸兮，福之所依；福兮，祸之所伏。

Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies.

见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。

On seeing a man of virtue, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same

defects.

江山如此多娇，引无数英雄尽折腰。

This land so rich in beauty has made countless heroes bow in homage.

举头望明月，低头思故乡。

Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around.

俱往矣，数风流人物，还看今朝。

All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men.

君子成人之美，不成人之恶。

The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct.

君子独立不惭于影，独寝不愧于魂。

A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone.

君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以亲，小人甘以绝。

The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is

sweet like wine, yet easily broken.

老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼。

Expend the respect of the aged in one’s family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one’s fa

mily to

that of other families.

礼尚往来。往而不来，非礼也；来而不往，亦非礼也。

Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice versa.