三 字 经 (three character classic) my translation. This is a work in progress. Sanzijing is the canonical children’s school primer and is well worth reading.
1.人之初 性本善 性相近 习相远
man at birth is quite good
quite alike, paths diverge
ren ji qu xing ben shan xing xiang jin xi xiang yuan
(so much for original sin btw)
2.苟不教 性乃迁 教之道 贵以专
If untaught then they change;
taught the way, dear use aims
gou bu jiao xing nai qian jiao zhi dao gui yi zhuan
3.昔孟母 择邻处 子不学 断机杼
Old Meng’s Mom chose a room
Son didn’t learn – broke the loom
4.窦燕山 有义方 教五子 名俱扬
Dou Yishan Had Right Plan
Taught 5 kids Each Earned Names
5.养不教 父之过 教不严 师之惰
Raised untaught? Fathers fault!
Taught not strict? Dad’s lazy!
yang bu jiao yi zhi guo jiao bu yan shi zhi duo
6.子不学 非所宜 幼不学 老何为
No study? Know no place.
Youth don’t learn? What when old?
zibuxuefeisuoyi youbuxuelaohewei
7.玉不琢 不成器 人不学 不知义
Unworked jade is not dear.
Study not? Know not right!
yubuzhuo buchengqi ren bu xue bu zhi yi
8.为人子 方少时 亲师友 习礼仪
Child be good, just small time,
family friends, learn manners.
9.香九龄 能温席 孝于亲 所当执
Xiang age 9 could warm beds
parents’ love thus is grasped
10.融四岁 能让梨 弟于长 宜先知
Rong at 4 got the pears
First then know: young to old
11.首孝悌 次见闻 知某数 识某文
First obey, next perceive
learn to count learn to read
12.一而十 十而百 百而千 千而万
one and ten ten hundred
hundred thousand ten thousand
13.三才者 天地人 三光者 日月星
Matters Three: Sky Earth Man
Three Bright Lights: Sun Moon Stars
14.三纲者 君臣义 父子亲 夫妇顺
Bonds are three:
Lord-and-Count,
Dad and Son,
Husband-Wife
15.曰春夏 曰秋冬 此四时 运不穷
spring and summer fall and winter
Four seasons ceaseless move
16.曰南北 曰西东 此四方 应乎中
South and North West and East
These four points focal midst
17.曰水火 木金土 此五行 本乎数
Water Fire Wood Gold Earth
Five atoms start to count
18.十干者 甲至癸 十二支 子至亥
Stems are ten: First to Tenth.
Branches 12 Child to Twelfth
19.曰黄道 日所躔 曰赤道 当中权
Ecliptic is sun’s course
Equator at the midst
20.赤道下 温暖极 我中华 在东北
Equator is quite warm
China’s in the Northeast
21.寒燠均 霜露改 右高原 左大海
Cold warm mild
frost change dew
plateau left
ocean right
22.曰江河 曰淮济 此四渎 水之纪
The Yangtze
Cross the Huai
These four streams
Waterways
23.曰岱华 蒿恒衡 此五岳 山之名
Mount Tai Hua,
Hao Heng Heng
These five crags
Mountain names