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"Confucius says:" Chinese-English Dictionary

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Chinese Pinyin Translation
子曰 zǐ yuē Confucius says:
Chinese Pinyin Translation
圣诞 聖誕 shèng dàn Christmas / birthday of reigning Emperor / Confucius' birthday
论 論 lún abbr. for 論語|论语[Lun2 yu3], The Analects (of Confucius) syn
圣人 聖人 shèng rén sage / the Sage (i.e. Confucius) / (old) (respectful way of addressing a monarch) your sagacious majesty / (religion) saint syn
言行 yán xíng words and actions / what one says and what one does
言辞 言辭 yán cí words / expression / what one says syn
俗话说 俗話說 sú huà shuō as the proverb says / as they say...
言谈 言談 yán tán discourse / words / utterance / what one says / manner of speech syn
附和 fù hè to agree / to go along with / to echo (what sb says) syn
不亦乐乎 不亦樂乎 bù yì lè hū lit. isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius) / fig. (jocular) extremely / awfully syn
孔子 kǒng zǐ Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子[Kong3 fu1 zi3]
教师节 教師節 jiào shī jié Teachers' Day (September 10th in PRC and Confucius's birthday, September 28th in Taiwan)
圣像 聖像 shèng xiàng (old) image of Confucius / holy image (of Buddha or Jesus Christ etc)
人云亦云 rén yún yì yún to say what everyone says (idiom) / to conform to what one perceives to be the majority view / to follow the herd syn
论语 論語 lún yǔ The Analects of Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3]
孟子 mèng zǐ Mencius (c. 372-c. 289 BC), Confucian philosopher second only to Confucius / book of the same name, one of the classics of Confucianism
子路 zǐ lù Zi Lu (542-480 BC), disciple of Confucius 孔夫子[Kong3 fu1 zi3], also known as Ji Lu 季路[Ji4 Lu4]
一语道破 一語道破 yī yǔ dào pò one word says it all (idiom) / to hit the nail on the head / to be pithy and correct syn
圣庙 聖廟 shèng miào shrine to a sage (esp. Confucius) syn
儒家 rú jiā Confucian school, founded by Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3] (551-479 BC) and Mencius 孟子[Meng4 zi3] (c. 372-c. 289 BC)
听闻 聽聞 tīng wén to listen / to hear what sb says / news one has heard
诸子 諸子 zhū zǐ various sages / refers to the classical schools of thought, e.g. Confucianism 儒[ru2] represented by Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3] and Mencius 孟子[Meng4 zi3], Daoism 道[dao4] by Laozi 老子[Lao3 zi3] and Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3], Mohism 墨[mo4] by Mozi 墨子[Mo4 zi3], Legalism 法[fa3] by Sunzi 孫子|孙子[Sun1 zi3] and Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子[Han2 Fei1 zi3], and numerous others
鲁国 魯國 lǔ guó Lu, vassal state at the time of the Zhou Dynasty 周朝|周朝[Zhou1 chao2], located in the southwest of present-day Shandong 山東|山东[Shan1 dong1], birthplace of Confucius
孔夫子 kǒng fū zǐ Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔子[Kong3 zi3]
孔孟 kǒng mèng Confucius and Mencius
四书 四書 sì shū Four Books, namely: the Great Learning 大學|大学, the Doctrine of the Mean 中庸, the Analects of Confucius 論語|论语, and Mencius 孟子 syn
一言以蔽之 yī yán yǐ bì zhī one word says it all (idiom, from Analects) / to cut a long story short / in a nutshell syn
仲尼 zhòng ní courtesy name for Confucius 孔夫子[Kong3 fu1 zi3]
三十而立 sān shí ér lì thirty years old and therefore independent (idiom, from Confucius)
子贡 子貢 zǐ gòng Zi Gong or Duanmu Ci 端木賜|端木赐[Duan1 mu4 Ci4] (520 BC-), disciple of Confucius
孔道 kǒng dào opening providing access / the teaching of Confucius syn
孔丘 kǒng qiū Confucius
祭孔 jì kǒng to offer sacrifices to Confucius
书经 書經 shū jīng the Book of History, one of the Five Classics of Confucianism 五經|五经[Wu3 jing1], a compendium of documents which make up the oldest extant texts of Chinese history, from legendary times down to the time of Confucius, also known as 尚書經|尚书经[Shang4 shu1 jing1], 尚書|尚书[Shang4 shu1], 書|书[Shu1]
孔林 kǒng lín the Confucius family mausoleum at Qufu 曲阜, rebuilt and extended by every dynasty
鹦鹉学舌 鸚鵡學舌 yīng wǔ xué shé to parrot / to repeat uncritically what sb says syn
孔教 kǒng jiào Teaching of Confucius / Confucianism
曲意逢迎 qū yì féng yíng to bow down to everything sb says or does / to act submissively in order to ingratiate oneself syn
言行一致 yán xíng yī zhì (idiom) one's actions are in keeping with what one says syn
听其言而观其行 聽其言而觀其行 tīng qí yán ér guān qí xíng hear what he says and observe what he does (idiom, from Analects) / judge a person not by his words, but by his actions
言行若一 yán xíng ruò yī (idiom) one's actions are in keeping with what one says
口说无凭 口說無憑 kǒu shuō wú píng (idiom) you can't rely on a verbal agreement / just because sb says sth, doesn't mean it's true
当耳旁风 當耳旁風 dàng ěr páng fēng lit. to treat (what sb says) as wind past your ear / fig. to completely disregard
当耳边风 當耳邊風 dàng ěr biān fēng lit. to treat (what sb says) as wind past your ear / fig. to completely disregard
周游列国 周遊列國 zhōu yóu liè guó to travel around many countries (idiom) / peregrinations / refers to the travels of Confucius
哀莫大于心死 哀莫大於心死 āi mò dà yú xīn sǐ nothing sadder than a withered heart (idiom attributed to Confucius by Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3]) / no greater sorrow than a heart that never rejoices / the worst sorrow is not as bad as an uncaring heart / nothing is more wretched than apathy
孔孟之道 kǒng mèng zhī dào the teaching of Confucius and Mencius
万世师表 萬世師表 wàn shì shī biǎo model teacher of every age (idiom) / eternal paragon / refers to Confucius (551-479 BC) 孔子[Kong3 zi3]
不在其位不谋其政 不在其位不謀其政 bù zài qí wèi bù mòu qí zhèng don't meddle in affairs that are not part of your position (Confucius)
听其言观其行 聽其言觀其行 tīng qí yán guān qí xíng hear what he says and observe what he does (idiom, from Analects) / judge a person not by his words, but by his actions
听得懂 聽得懂 tīng de dǒng to understand (by hearing) / to catch (what sb says)
说话算数 說話算數 shuō huà suàn shù to keep one's promise / to mean what one says
说话算话 說話算話 shuō huà suàn huà to do as promised / to be as good as one's word / to honor one's word / to mean what one says
口说无凭 口說無憑 kǒu shuō - wú píng (idiom) you can't rely on a verbal agreement / just because sb says sth, doesn't mean it's true
衍圣公 衍聖公 yǎn shèng gōng hereditary title bestowed on Confucius' descendants
郰 zōu birthplace of Confucius in Shandong
三人行，则必有我师 三人行，則必有我師 sān rén xíng , zé bì yǒu wǒ shī If three walk together, one of them can teach me sth (Confucius)
三人行，必有我师 三人行，必有我師 sān rén xíng , bì yǒu wǒ shī lit. if three walk together, one can be my teacher (idiom, from the Analects of Confucius) / you have sth to learn from everyone
好学近乎知，力行近乎仁，知耻近乎勇 好學近乎知，力行近乎仁，知恥近乎勇 hào xué jìn hu zhī , lì xíng jìn hu rén , zhī chǐ jìn hu yǒng to love learning is akin to knowledge, to study diligently is akin to benevolence, to know shame is akin to courage (Confucius)
孔丛子 孔叢子 kǒng cóng zǐ the K'ung family Masters' anthology, collection of dialogues between Confucius and his disciples, possibly forged in third century by Wang Su 王肅|王肃[Wang2 Su4]
孔子家语 孔子家語 kǒng zǐ jiā yǔ The School Sayings of Confucius, a supplement to the Analects / abbr. to 家語|家语[Jia1 yu3]
孔圣人 孔聖人 kǒng shèng rén the Sage Confucius
孔门 孔門 kǒng mén Confucius' school (i.e. his direct disciples)
季路 jì lù Ji Lu (542-480 BC), disciple of Confucius 孔夫子[Kong3 fu1 zi3], also known as 子路[Zi3 Lu4]
孙武子 孫武子 sūn wǔ zǐ Sun Wu, famous general, strategist and Legalist philosopher, contemporary with Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3] (551-479 BC), author of "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[Sun1 zi3 Bing1 fa3], also known as Sun Tzu 孫子|孙子[Sun1 zi3]
学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆 學而不思則罔，思而不學則殆 xué ér bù sī zé wǎng , sī ér bù xué zé dài To learn without thinking is confusing, to think without learning is dangerous (Confucius)
宗圣侯 宗聖侯 zōng shèng hóu hereditary title bestowed on Confucius' descendants
宗圣公 宗聖公 zōng shèng gōng hereditary title bestowed on Confucius' descendants
宰予 zǎi yǔ Zai Yu (522-458 BC), disciple of Confucius
宰予昼寝 宰予晝寢 zǎi yǔ zhòu qǐn Zai Yu sleeps by day (idiom) / refers to story in Analects of Confucius remonstrating bitterly with his student for sleeping during lectures
尚书经 尚書經 shàng shū jīng Book of History / a compendium of documents in various styles, making up the oldest extant texts of Chinese history, from legendary times down to the times of Confucius
已所不欲，勿施于人 已所不欲，勿施於人 yǐ suǒ bù yù , wù shī yú rén Do not do to others what you do not wish others to do to you (Confucius)
曲阜 qū fù Qufu, county-level city in Jining 濟寧|济宁[Ji3 ning2], Shandong / hometown of Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3]
曲阜孔庙 曲阜孔廟 qū fù kǒng miào temple to Confucius in his hometown Qufu
曲阜市 qū fù shì Qufu, county-level city in Jining 濟寧|济宁[Ji3 ning2], Shandong / hometown of Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3]
端木赐 端木賜 duān mù cì Duanmu Ci (520 BC-446 BC), disciple of Confucius, also known as Zi Gong 子貢|子贡[Zi3 Gong4]
衍圣公府 衍聖公府 yǎn shèng gōng fǔ the official residence of Confucius' descendants at Qufu 曲阜, Shandong
诸子十家 諸子十家 zhū zǐ shí jiā various sages and ten schools of thought / refers to the classical schools of thought, e.g. Confucianism 儒[ru2] represented by Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3] and Mencius 孟子[Meng4 zi3], Daoism 道[dao4] by Laozi 老子[Lao3 zi3] and Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3], Mohism 墨[mo4] by Mozi 墨子[Mo4 zi3], Legalism 法[fa3] by Sunzi 孫子|孙子[Sun1 zi3] and Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子[Han2 Fei1 zi3], and numerous others
颜回 顏回 yán huí Yan Hui (521-481 BC), disciple of Confucius, also known as Yan Yuan 顏淵|颜渊[Yan2 Yuan1]
颜渊 顏淵 yán yuān Yan Yuan (521-481 BC), disciple of Confucius 孔夫子[Kong3 fu1 zi3], also known as 顏回|颜回[Yan2 Hui2]
鲁人 魯人 lǔ rén person from Shandong / often refers to Confucius / stupid person
鲁君 魯君 lǔ jūn the lord of Lu (who declined to employ Confucius)
鲁国人 魯國人 lǔ guó rén person from Shandong / often refers to Confucius
孔子学院 孔子學院 kǒng zǐ xué yuàn Confucius Institute, organization established internationally by the PRC, promoting Chinese language and culture
国家汉办 國家漢辦 guó jiā hàn bàn Office of Chinese Language Council International (known colloquially as "Hanban"), an organ of the PRC government which develops Chinese language and culture teaching resources worldwide, and has established Confucius Institutes 孔子學院|孔子学院[Kong3 zi3 Xue2 yuan4] internationally / abbr. to 漢辦|汉办[Han4 ban4]
家语 家語 jiā yǔ The School Sayings of Confucius (abbr. for 孔子家語|孔子家语[Kong3 zi3 Jia1 yu3])
曾参 曾參 zēng shēn Zeng Shen (505-435 BC), a.k.a. 曾子[Zeng1 zi3], student of Confucius, presumed editor or author of Confucian classic the Great Learning 大學|大学[Da4 xue2]
曾子 zēng zǐ Zengzi (505-435 BC), student of Confucius, presumed editor or author of Confucian classic the Great Learning 大學|大学[Da4 xue2]
好学近乎知，力行近乎仁，知耻近乎勇 好學近乎知，力行近乎仁，知恥近乎勇 hào xué jìn hū zhī , lì xíng jìn hū rén , zhī chǐ jìn hū yǒng to love learning is akin to knowledge, to study diligently is akin to benevolence, to know shame is akin to courage (Confucius)
仲父 zhòng fù father's younger brother / (sometimes used to refer to Confucius)
宰予 zǎi yú Zai Yu (522-458 BC), disciple of Confucius
不在其位，不谋其政 不在其位，不謀其政 bù zài qí wèi , bù móu qí zhèng don't meddle in affairs that are not part of your position (Confucius)
孔院 kǒng yuàn Confucius Institute (abbr. for 孔子學院|孔子学院[Kong3zi3 Xue2yuan4])
The four tones The four tones of Mandarin Pitch over time: tone 1 high and level (red), tone 2 rising (orange), tone 3 falling then rising (green), tone 4 falling (blue). tone 1 tone 2 tone 3 tone 4 Time Pitch

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