9。    
教, 过。
yǎng jiào zhī guò
(foster, not teach, father 's mistake)

It is not enough for a father to provide materially, he must also teach his children.

10。    
严, 惰。
jiào yán shī zhī duò
(teach not severely, teacher 's laziness)

A teacher who is not strict is lazy.

11。    
学, 宜。
xué fēi suǒ
(child not study, not therefore proper)

It is not right if a child does not learn1.


12。  
学, 为。
yòu xué lǎo wéi
(young not learn, old act how)

If the young do not learn, what will happen to them when they are old?

13。    
琢, 器。
zhuó chéng
(jade not carved, not become useful)

In its natural state, jade is of no use.

14。    
学, 义。
rén xué zhī
(people not study, not know righteousness)

Someone who has not learned will not know how to live properly.

15。    
子, 时。
wéi rén fāng shǎo shí
(being human child, when young time)

While young, one should . . .

16。    
友, 仪。
qīn shī yǒu
(intimate master friends, become familiar with etiquette duty)

. . . form close friendships, become engaged with teachers, and learn the
proper way to behave in all respects.

Previous Home Narrative Next






















1 The Chinese character 学 that is here translated as "learn" could just as well have been translated "study". To the native English speaker the sentences "It is not right if a child does not learn" and "It is not right if a child does not study" seem to have very different meanings, both of which are subsumed in the original Chinese. In the translations that follow, I ususally have chosen to write "learn" rather than "study".