Chinese philosophy Chinese vocabulary: Advanced (HSK 7-9), part 2

你读过先秦时代的哲学书吗？

Nǐ dúguo xiānqín shídài de zhéxué shū ma?

Have you read any philosophy books from the pre-Qin era?

他一直在研究先秦时期的哲学。

Tā yìzhí zài yánjiū xiānqín shíqī de zhéxué.

He has been studying philosophy of the pre-Qin period all along.

你喜欢看春秋战国的历史故事吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan kàn Chūnqiū Zhànguó de lìshǐ gùshi ma?

Do you like reading historical stories from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods?

春秋战国之后，秦国统一了中国。

Chūnqiū Zhànguó zhīhòu, Qínguó tǒngyīle Zhōngguó.

After the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the state of Qin unified China.

三教对中国人的生活影响很大。

Sānjiào duì Zhōngguórén de shēnghuó yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.

The Three Teachings have had a great influence on Chinese people's lives.

这座老庙里同时有三教的神像。

Zhè zuò lǎo miào lǐ tóngshí yǒu Sānjiào de shénxiàng.

This old temple has statues from all of the Three Teachings.

他从来没有把他的学说写下来。

Tā cónglái méiyǒu bǎ tā de xuéshuō xiě xiàlai.

He never wrote down his theories.

孔子的学说影响了中国很多年。

Kǒngzǐ de xuéshuō yǐngxiǎngle Zhōngguó hěn duōnián.

Confucius's doctrine has influenced China for many years.

师高弟子强

shī gāo dìzǐ qiáng

the master is excellent, the disciples are strong

师傅不明弟子浊

shīfu bùmíng dìzǐ zhuó

if the master isn't clear-sighted, the disciple is muddled

他常把这句名言挂在嘴边。

Tā cháng bǎ zhè jù míngyán guàzàizuǐbiān.

He often has this saying on his lips.

教室的墙上写着一句名言。

Jiàoshì de qiáng shàng xiězhe yíjù míngyán.

A famous saying is written on the classroom wall.

圣人是品德最高尚的人。

Shèngrén shì pǐndé zuì gāoshàng de rén.

A sage is a person of the highest moral character.

招人时，公司也看品德吗？

Zhāo rén shí, gōngsī yě kàn pǐndé ma?

When hiring, does the company also look at moral character?

对别人要宽容一点。

Duì biéren yào kuānróng yìdiǎn.

You should be a bit more tolerant of others.

请宽容我这一次吧。

Qǐng kuānróng wǒ zhè yícì ba.

Please forgive me just this once.

儒家为什么重视克己？

Rújiā wèishénme zhòngshì kèjǐ?

Why does Confucianism place such importance on self-restraint?

克己并不等于压抑自己。

Kèjǐ bìng bù děngyú yāyì zìjǐ.

Self-restraint doesn't mean suppressing yourself.

他想弄清这件事的因果。

Tā xiǎng nòngqīng zhè jiàn shì de yīnguǒ.

He wants to figure out the cause and effect of this matter.

佛教讲因果，好人有好报。

Fójiào jiǎng yīnguǒ, hǎo rén yǒu hǎo bào.

Buddhism teaches karma: good people get good rewards.

这是场有趣的辩论。

Zhè shì chǎng yǒuqù de biànlùn.

It was an interesting debate.

我们没有时间来辩论。

Wǒmen méiyǒu shíjiān lái biànlùn.

We don't have time to debate.

好的管理应该以人为本。

Hǎo de guǎnlǐ yīnggāi yǐrénwéiběn.

Good management should be people-oriented.

城市建设为什么要以人为本？

Chéngshì jiànshè wèishénme yào yǐrénwéiběn?

Why should urban development be people-oriented?

好老师应该懂得因材施教。

Hǎo lǎoshī yīnggāi dǒngde yīncáishījiào.

A good teacher should know how to tailor teaching to each student.

班上人太多，很难因材施教。

Bānshàng rén tài duō, hěn nán yīncáishījiào.

There are too many students in the class to tailor teaching to each one.

谁都知道知足常乐。

Shéi dōu zhīdào zhīzúchánglè.

Everybody knows that happiness is in contentment.

他过得简单，真是知足常乐。

Tā guò de jiǎndān, zhēnshi zhīzúchánglè.

He lives simply, truly happy with what he has.

道家主张顺其自然。

Dàojiā zhǔzhāng shùnqízìrán.

Daoism advocates going along with nature.

老庄都主张顺其自然。

Lǎo Zhuāng dōu zhǔzhāng shùnqízìrán.

Both Laozi and Zhuangzi advocated going along with nature.

禅强调内心的平静。

Chán qiángdiào nèixīn de píngjìng.

Zen emphasizes inner peace.

他喜欢读关于禅的书。

Tā xǐhuan dú guānyú chán de shū.

He likes reading books about Zen.

皇帝自称受天命而治国。

Huángdì zìchēng shòu Tiānmìng ér zhìguó.

The emperor claimed to rule the country by the Mandate of Heaven.

道家主张顺其自然地治国。

Dàojiā zhǔzhāng shùnqízìrán de zhìguó.

Daoists advocate governing the state by following the natural course of things.

佛教认为人会不断轮回。

Fójiào rènwéi rén huì búduàn lúnhuí.

Buddhism holds that people go through endless cycles of rebirth.

你相信人死后会轮回吗？

Nǐ xiāngxìn rén sǐ hòu huì lúnhuí ma?

Do you believe people are reincarnated after they die?

他对穷人很慈悲。

Tā duì qióngrén hěn cíbēi.

He is very compassionate toward the poor.

慈悲的人不会伤害别人。

Cíbēi de rén búhuì shānghài biéren.

A compassionate person won't hurt others.

仁义礼智信就是五常。

Rényì lǐ zhì xìn jiùshì wǔcháng.

Benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and honor are the Five Constant Virtues.

儒家把仁义看得很重。

Rújiā bǎ rényì kàn de hěn zhòng.

Confucians place great importance on benevolence and righteousness.

这里很清静，适合看书。

Zhèlǐ hěn qīngjìng, shìhé kànshū.

It's quiet here, which is good for reading.

我想找个清静的地方好好看书。

Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo gè qīngjìng de dìfang hǎohǎo kànshū.

I want to find a peaceful, quiet place to read properly.

五经里包括诗经和春秋。

Wǔjīng lǐ bāokuò shījīng hé chūnqiū.

The Five Classics include the Book of Songs and the Spring and Autumn Annals.

古代的读书人都要学习五经。

Gǔdài de dúshūrén dōu yào xuéxí wǔjīng.

Scholars in ancient times all had to study the Five Classics.

《中庸》是四书之一。

《Zhōngyōng》shì sìshū zhīyī.

The Doctrine of the Mean is one of the Four Books.

四书里包括《论语》和《孟子》。

Sìshū lǐ bāokuò《Lúnyǔ》hé《Mèngzǐ》.

The Four Books include the Analects and Mencius.