30 Idioms from The Analects of Confucius to Help You Cultivate Your Body and Nurture Your Mind

[Source] Zi said, "There is no class without teaching." (《卫灵公》)

<释义>无论什么人都给以教育。

The Teachers are Tireless

[Source] Zi said, "If the Teachers are Tireless, then it can be said that Yun'er has been carried on." (《述而》)

<释义>To be patient and untiring in teaching others.

Learning without tiring

[Source] Zi said, "To know in silence, to learn without tiring, and to teach others without tirelessness, what is there for me?" (《述而》)

<释义>Study always feels unsatisfied. It describes a diligent learner.

No Shame in Asking Questions

[Source]
Tzu said, "To be keen and studious, and not to be ashamed to ask questions, is to be called a man of letters." (Gongye Chang)

<Paraphrase> It is not considered a disgrace to ask for advice from someone less learned than oneself or in a lower position than oneself.

Warm the old and know the new

[Source] Zi said, "If you warm the old and know the new, you can be a teacher." (《为政》)

<释义>温习旧的知识，可以得到新的认识和体会。

Hearing one to know ten

[Source] "Hui also hears one to know ten, and Zhi also hears one to know two." (Gongye Chang)

<Definition> Hearing one thing, one can deduce a lot. It is mostly used to describe intelligent and good at reasoning.

Lift one and reverse three

[Source]
Tzu said, "One cannot start without indignation, and one cannot speak without wanting to speak. If you do not hold up a corner without holding up three, you will not be able to repeat it." (《Shuzhi》)

<释义>Originally, it refers to teaching people to recognize a four-square thing, and to cite one corner to be able to analogize the other three. Later, it is compared to knowing many things by analogy from one thing. It means that one can reason well and know the other by analogy.

2. In politics

Confucius advocated moral politics according to the needs of politics, that is, the idea of "governing with virtue". He believed that it was extremely important to use morality to govern state politics. For example:

The Name is Right and the Words are Conformable

[source] "If the name is not right, then the words are justified." ("Zi Lu")

<Definition> Originally, it means that the name is justified and the speech is reasonable. Later, it means that the name is justified and the reasoning makes sense. It describes the reason for doing or saying something as justified and sufficient.

The Woe Arises from the Xiao Wall

[Source]"I am afraid that Jisun's worries are not in Zhuan Yu, but within the Xiao Wall." ("Ji")

<Interpretation> Woe lies within.

Falling apart

[Source] "The distant people do not obey, but cannot come. A state falls apart, but cannot be defended." ("Ji Shi")

<Explanation> To be torn apart to an unmanageable extent. It describes a family, group, organization, or country that is divided and disintegrating.

Being put on sale

[Source] Zi said, "Put it on sale! Sell it! I am waiting for the Jia." (Zigong)

<Meaning>To wait for a good price before selling. It is a metaphor for waiting to use one's talents.

The desire for speed is not enough

[Source] "If you do not want to be fast, you will not be able to see small profits. If you want to be fast, you can't get there, and if you see small gains, you won't be able to achieve great things." ("Zi Lu")

<meaning>If you are too eager to be quick, you will not be able to achieve your goal.

One Words to Revitalize a State

[Source] "One word can revitalize a state, is there any?" (Zi Lu)

<Paraphrase> A single word can make a country prosperous.

3. Cultivation

Confucianism is the mainstream of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, and the ethics of Confucianism is the core of the excellent traditional morality of the Chinese nation. The ethical and moral concept centered on "benevolence" is the code of conduct consistently advocated by Confucius, which is an important part of Confucianism, and has become the main body of Chinese national morality, and a universally applied code of conduct for people to follow. Idioms include:

Seeing the virtuous and thinking of the righteous

[source] Zi said, "Seeing the virtuous and thinking of the righteous, seeing the unwise and introspecting also." (Li Ren)

<Explanation> Seeing a good person one wants to learn to be like him.

Choose the good and follow it

[Source] "If three people walk together, there must be a teacher for me; choose the good and follow him." (《述而》)

<释义>指采纳正确的建议或选择好的方法、制度加以实行。

Three Reflections

[Source]Zeng Zi said. Is it not loyal to plan for others? To make friends with friends and not trust it? Is the transmission not practiced?" ("Learning and Learning")

<Explanation> Originally, it refers to checking oneself daily from many aspects, and later refers to checking oneself consciously many times.

Dang Ren Bu Let

[Source] Zi said, "Dang Ren Bu Let the teacher." ("Wei Ling Gong")

<Interpretation> The original meaning is to be benevolent for the sake of benevolence and not to be humble. Now it means that when one encounters something that should be done, one takes it up bravely and never pushes back.

Killing one's own body to fulfill benevolence

[Source] "A man of ambition and benevolence does not seek life to jeopardize benevolence, but kills one's own body to fulfill benevolence." (Wei Ling Gong)

<Definition> Originally, it refers to sacrificing one's own life to fulfill benevolence. Later, it was generalized to mean sacrificing one's own life in order to uphold the cause of justice.

WenQiBinBin

[Source] "Quality over text is wild, text over quality is history, text over quality is history, text over quality, then a gentleman." ("Yong also")

<Meaning> The original description of people both elegant and simple. Later, it describes a person's elegant demeanor and calm attitude.

4. In dealing with affairs

Confucius' ideal life is to combine moral cultivation with "helping the world". Confucius's view of life was inherited by his descendants in Confucianism, which gradually formed the principle of "cultivating oneself, keeping one's family in order, ruling the country, and calming the world" and the ideal personality model of "the inner sage and the outer king". Confucius believed that a person's moral cultivation should not only follow moral principles, but also be reflected in the fact that one's behavior should conform to moral standards. For example:

The Beauty of Adulthood

[source]Zi said, "The gentleman is a man of beauty, but not a man of evil. The villain is the opposite." (Yan Yuan)

<Meaning> The original meaning is to encourage and help others to do good. Later, it is used to express the meaning of helping others to realize their wishes and fulfill their good deeds.

No Blame for the Past

[Source]Zi heard of it and said, "Do not say anything when you accomplish something, do not advise you when you attempt something, and do not blame you for the past." ("Eight Rowers")

<Interpretation> No more blame or punishment for past mistakes or crimes.

Too much is too little

[source] He said, "But then the teacher heals with?" Zi said, "Too much is too little." ("Advanced")

<Paraphrase> Having gone too far is as bad as not doing enough.

Three Thoughts

[Source] "Ji Wenzi thought twice before he acted." ("Gongye Chang")

<Interpretation> To consider repeatedly before doing so.

Nothing to do

[Source] "It is difficult to eat all day long and not do anything." (Yangguo)

<meaning> Not using one's brain. It is a metaphor for not caring about anything.

Checking the words and observing the colors

[Source] "Checking the words and observing the colors." (Yan Yuan)

<Meaning> To ponder and observe other people's words and faces in order to guess their thoughts (so as to act in a timely manner).

5. Sensibility

Confucius believed that heaven is closely related to human life and its meaning, and that people should treat life as heaven does, and treat all things as the "unity of heaven and man", and advocated the moral realms of "benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, intellectuality, and trust", as well as the moral realms of "benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, intellectuality, and trust". It advocates the cultivation and cultivation of "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust" in the moral realm. Some of the expositions in the Analects of Confucius reflect Confucius' perception of life and the realm he pursued, as follows:

The Latter Generation is Fearful

[source] Zi said, "The Latter Generation is Fearful, and how is it possible to know that those who are to come will not come now?" (Zihan)

<Interpretation> Young people are the new force, easily surpassing the older generation, and they are to be feared.

Rich and noble floating clouds

[Source]
Tzu said: "I eat sparsely, drink water, and rest my head on my bent arm, and I am happy in it. Unrighteousness and wealth are like floating clouds to me." (《述而》)

<释义>不义而富贵，对于我就像浮云那样轻飘。 It is a metaphor for taking money and status lightly.

Leisurely forgetting one's worries

[Source]
Tzu said, "The woman Xi did not say that she is a human being who is also angry and forgets her food, and is happy forgetting her worries, and does not know that old age is approaching." (《述而》)

<释义>Happy to forget sorrow.