-
弟子规
Standards for Being a Good Student and
Child
弟子规，圣人训，
?
Standards
for
being
a
good
student
and
child
is
a
book
that
was
taught
by
Chinese
saints
and sages of the ancient past.
首孝悌，次谨信．
?
First it teaches us how to
be dutiful to your parents, and how to be
respectful
and loving to our siblings.
?
Then it teaches you how to
be cautious with all people, matters and things in
your daily life and how to be a
trustworthy person and to believe the teachings
of ancient saints and sages.
泛爱众，而亲仁，
?
Furthermore, it teaches you
to love all equally, and to be close to and learn
from people of virtue and compassion.
有余力，则学文．
?
When you have accomplished
all the above duties, you can study further to
learn
literature and art to improve the
quality of your cultural and spiritual life.
第一章：孝（入则孝）
Be a
Dutiful Child When at Home
父母呼，应勿缓．父母命，行勿懒．
?
?
When your
parents call you, answer them right away.
When they command you to do something,
do it quickly.
父母教
,
须敬听
.
父母责
,
须顺承
.
When your parents
instruct you, listen respectfully.
When
your
parents
reproach
you,
obey
and
accept
their
scolding;
try
hard
to
change
and improve yourself
and start anew.
冬则温，夏则
．晨则省，昏则定．
?
In the winter, keep your
parents warm; in the summer, keep your parents
cool.
?
Greet
them
in
the
morning
to
show
them
that
you
care.
At
night,
be
sure
that
they
rest well.
出必告，返必面．
?
Before going out, tell your
parents where you are going, for parents are
always
concerned about their children.
?
After returning home, go
and see your parents to let them know you are
back, so
they don’t worry about
you.
居有常，业无变．
?
?
Have a
permanent place to stay and lead a routine life.
Persist in whatever you do and do not
change your aspirations at will.
亲所好，力为
具
,
亲所恶
,
谨为去
.
?
If whatever
please your parents is fair and reasonable, try
your best to get it
for them.
?
Should something displease
your parents, if within reason, cautiously keep it
away from them.
身有伤，贻亲忧，德有伤，贻亲羞．
?
When your body is hurt,
your parents will be worried.
?
If your virtues are
compromised, your parents will feel ashamed.
亲爱我，孝何难，亲恶我，孝方贤．
?
When you have loving
parents, it is not difficult to be a dutiful
child.
?
But
if
you
are
still
dutiful
to
parents
who
hate
you,
you
will
meet
the
standards
of the saints and
sages for being a dutiful child.
亲有过，谏使更，怡吾色，柔吾声．
?
?
When your
parents do wrong, urge them to change.
Do it with a kind facial expression and
a warm gentle voice.
谏不入，悦复谏，号泣随，挞无怨．
?
If they do not accept your
advice, wait until they are in a happier mood
before
you dissuade them again,
followed by crying to make them understand why.
?
If they end up whipping
you, do not hold a grudge against them.
亲有疾，药先尝，昼夜侍，不离床．
?
?
When your
parents are ill, taste the medicine first before
giving it to them.
Take care of them
night and day, do not leave their bedside.
丧三年，常悲咽，居处变，酒肉绝．
?
During the first three
years of mourning after they passed away, remember
them
with
gratitude
and
feel
sad
often
for
not
being
able
to
repay
them
for
their
kindness
in
bringing you up.
?
During
this
period,
you
should
arrange
your
home
to
reflect
your
grief
and
sorrow.
Avoid festivities and indulgence in
food and alcoholic drinks.
丧尽礼，祭尽诚，事死者，如事生．
?
Observe the proper
etiquette in arranging their funerals. Hold the
memorial
ceremony and commemorate their
anniversaries with your utmost sincerity.
?
Serve your departed parents
as if they were still alive.
第二章：悌（出则悌）
Standards for a Younger Brother When
Away from Home
兄道友，弟道恭，兄弟睦，孝在中
?
Older
siblings
should
befriend
the
younger
ones.
Younger
siblings
should
respect
and love the older ones.
?
Siblings who keep
harmonious relationships among themselves are
being dutiful
to their parents.
财物轻，怨何生，言语忍，忿自泯．
?
When siblings value their
ties more than property and belongings, no
resentment
will grow among them.
?
When siblings are careful
with words and hold back hurtful comments,
feelings
of anger naturally die out.
或饮食，或坐走，长者先，幼者后．
?
Whether you are drinking,
eating, sitting or walking, let the elders go
first;
younger ones should follow.
长呼人，即代叫，人不在，几即到．
?
When the elder is asking
for someone, get that person for him right away.
?
If
you
cannot
find
that
person,
immediately
report
back,
and
put
yourself
at
the
elder’s service
instead.
称尊长，勿呼名，对尊长，勿见能．
?
?
When you
address an elder, do not call him by his “given
name”.
In front of an elder,
do not show off.
路遇长，疾趋揖，长无言，退恭立．
?
If you come across an elder
you know on the street, promptly clasp your hands
and greet him with a bow.
?
If he does not speak to
you, step back and respectfully stand aside.
骑下马，乘下车，过犹待，百步余．
?
Should you be riding on a
horse and you spot an elder you know walking, you
should dismount and pay respect to the
elder.
?
If you
are riding in a carriage, you should stop, get out
of the carriage, and
ask if you can
give him a ride.
?
If you
meet an elder passing by, you should stand aside
and wait respectfully;
do not leave
until you can no longer see him.
长者立，幼勿坐，长者坐，命乃坐．
?
?
When an elder
is standing, do not sit.
After the
elder sits down, take a seat only after you are
told to do so.
尊长前，声要低，低不闻，却非宜．
?
?
Before an
elder, speak softly.
But if your voice
is too low and hard to hear, it is not
appropriate.
进必趋，退必迟，问起对，视勿移．
?
When meeting an elder,
walking briskly towards him.
?
When leaving, do not exit
in a haste.
?
When answering
a question, look at the person who is asking you
the question.
事诸父，如事父，事诸兄，如事兄．
?
Serve your uncles as if you
were serving your parents.
?
Treat your cousins as if
they were your own siblings.
第三章：谨（谨而信）
Be
Cautious in Your Daily Life
朝起早
< br>,
夜眠迟
,
老易至
,
惜此时
.
?
Get up early in the morning
before your parents. Go to bed at night only after
they have gone to sleep.
?
When
you
realize
that
time
is
passing
you
by
and
cannot
be turned
back,
and
that
you
are
getting
older
year
by
year,
you
will
especially
treasure
the
present
moment.
晨必盥，兼漱口，便溺回，辄净手．
?
?
When you get up
in the morning, wash your face and brush your
teeth.
After using the toilet, always
wash your hands.
冠必正，纽必结，袜与履，俱紧切．
?
You
must
wear
your
hat
straight,
and
make
sure
the
hooks
of
your
clothes
are
tied.
?
Make sure socks and shoes
are worn neatly and correctly.
置冠服，有定位，勿乱顿，致污秽．
?
Place your hat and clothes
away in proper places.
?
Do
not carelessly throw your clothes around, for that
will get them dirty.
衣贵洁，不贵华，上循分，下称家．
?
It is more important that
your clothes are clean, rather than how
extravagant
they are.
?
Wear
what
is
suitable
for
your
station
and
wear
clothes
according
to
your
family
traditions and
customs.
对饮食，勿拣择，食适可，勿过则．
?
?
?
?
When it comes to eating and drinking, do
not pick and choose your food.
Eat only
the right amount; do not overeat.
年方少
,
勿饮酒
,
饮酒醉
,
最为丑
.
You are still too young, so do not
drink alcohol.
When you are drunk, your
behavior will turn ugly.
步从容
,
立端正
,
揖深圆
,
拜恭敬
.
?
Walk composed, with light
and even steps.
?
Stand up
straight and tall.
?
Your
bows should be deep with hands held in front and
arms rounded. Always pay
your respect
with reverence.
勿践阈，勿跛倚，勿箕踞，勿摇髀．
?
Do not step on doorsills.
?
Do not stand leaning on one
leg.
?
Do not sit with your
legs apart or sprawled out.
?
Do not rock the lower part
of your body while sitting down.
缓揭帘，勿有声，宽转弯，勿触棱．
?
Lift the curtain slowly, do
not make a sound.