汉英对照《朱子家训》

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Zhu Family Instructions

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。

Get up at dawn, sweep the courtyard and steps, and keep inside and outside your house tidy and clean; after dusk you should prepare to sleep, before going to bed, you should lock all doors and windows, and you should check everything.

一粥一饭，当思来处不易；半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰。

When you eat anything, you should consider that it does not come easily; when you dress yourself, you should remember that everything you wear is difficult to produce.

宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。

Do prepare things before you need them, and do not start acting too late.

自奉必须俭约，宴客切勿流连。

You should always practise economy in your daily life, and be generous when you treat your guests.

器具质而洁，瓦缶胜金玉；饭食约而精，园蔬逾珍馐。

If you can keep the things you use simple and clean, even your pottery and earthen jars are better than others’ jade and gold vessels; if your food is simple and well-cooked, even the vegetables from your own garden are better than delicacies from mountains and seas.

勿营华屋，勿谋良田。

Do not build over-ornate house and design to get others’ good farmland.

三姑六婆，实淫盗之媒；婢美妾娇，非闺房之福。

Women of various descriptions easily bring about evils and troubles; beautiful maidservants and concubines usually do the family, especially the wife, no good.

奴仆勿用俊美，妻妾切忌艳妆。

Do not employ handsome servants, do not allow your wife and concubines to use heavy make-up, either.

祖宗虽远，祭祀不可不诚；子孙虽愚，经书不可不读。

Although your ancestors passed away long ago, you should not stop offering sacrifices to them sincerely; although your children and grandchildren were not born clever, they must read Confucian classics.

居身务期质朴，教子要有义方。

You should not be sophisticated, and you should have right ways to educate your children. 

莫贪意外之财，勿饮过量之酒。

Do not be greedy for windfalls and overdrink yourself either.

与肩挑贸易，勿占便宜；见贫苦亲邻，须多温恤。

When you buy and sell things from and to peddlers, do not underpay and overcharge them; when you find your relations and neigbours in need and difficulty, you should be warm to and try to help them.