Mencius’ idioms

1. Know me and sin me: describe others’ denigration of oneself.

2. Having both sides: It means doing things easily and smoothly.

3. Use your will to counter your will: use your own thoughts to guess the thoughts of others.

4. The Tao of Confucius and Mencius: Kong: Confucius; Mencius: Mencius. Refers to Confucianism.

5. Using words to harm words: It means being stuck on words and misunderstanding the meaning of the entire sentence.

6. Make a difference: be able to do things and achieve greater results.

7. Today is fierce: Something has happened in the past, and it is even more powerful now.

8. Night and day: night follows day. Describes stepping up work or study.

9. The words are near and the purpose is far: purpose: meaning. The words are very superficial, but the meaning is far-reaching.

10. Sit back and wait for dawn: dawn. Sit and wait for dawn. It is a metaphor for working hard.

11. Zao Feng Fu: Zai Zuo: redo; Feng Fu: name. It is a metaphor for returning to the old industry.

12. Cover your nose and pass by: cover your nose and walk over. Describes aversion to smelly and dirty things.

13. Coming from a steady stream: originally refers to the princes making pilgrimages one after another throughout their lives. The latter adjectives came one after another.

14. Do your best to serve your parents: you have to serve your parents, and you have to support your wife and children. Generally refers to maintaining a family's life.

15. Sacrifice one’s life: Sacrifice: sacrifice one’s life to achieve a certain goal. Dedicate your life to your job.

16. Concerned and troubled: describes exhausting one's thoughts. The words come from "Mencius Gaozi Xia": "Be trapped in the heart, balance in considerations, and then act."

17. Concentrate on one's ambitions: to the utmost, to the extreme; ambition: to the will. Put your whole mind on it. Describes being single-minded and concentrated.

18. Yifu Zhongxi: Fu: teach; Xi: noisy. One person teaches, while others make noise and interfere. Metaphors accomplish nothing.

19. Refusing to pluck out a hair: Not even a hair is plucked out. Originally refers to Yang Zhu's extreme self-centeredness. Later he was described as being very stingy and selfish.

20. Southern Barbarian tongue: ?: Shrike. Originally, Mencius ridiculed Xu Xing, a native of Chu, for speaking like a bird. Later it was used to ridicule people who spoke southern dialects.

21. Yingke lags behind: When the spring water encounters a pothole, it must be filled before continuing to flow forward. Metaphorical learning should be implemented step by step, not just for fame.

22. Use it to make people feel dizzy: dizzy: fuzzy, confused; Zhaozhao: clear. He means that he is still confused, but he wants to teach others to understand things.

23. Rejoice with the people: It originally means that the king implements benevolent government, shares the joys and sorrows with the people, and enjoys the joy together. Later, it generally refers to leaders and the masses having fun together and enjoying happiness.

24. The eye can see the end of a hair, but not a cart of firewood. It is a metaphor that you only see the small things but not the big things.

25. Servants are eager to bow: bow and salute again and again. The words come from "Mencius·Wan Zhang 2": "Zi Si thought that the meat of the tripod will make his servants worship you urgently, which is not the way to raise a gentleman."

26. Fish in the Yuan: drive the fish into the deep Tan, driving the birds into the jungle. It was originally a metaphor for the ruler's execution and the people fleeing to other countries. Now it is also a metaphor for driving people who can be united to the enemy.

27. Xi Yan Bu Cha: Xi: habit; Yan: modal particle, meaning "here"; Za: aware. It refers to being in constant contact with something but not aware of the problems therein.

28. Food baskets and jugs: To welcome the troops they support, they use baskets to hold rice and pots to hold water and reward them. The language version of "Mencius: King Hui of Liang": "The basket eats the pulp in the pot to welcome the king's master."

29. Qidong Yeyu: Qidong: the eastern part of Qi State; Yeyu: the words of the country people. . Mencius despised the peasants and believed that what they said was unfounded and could not be believed. The metaphor is absurd and unfounded.

30. Choosing neighbors after cutting off the tree: In order to teach Mencius not to abandon his studies midway, Meng’s mother used the metaphor of yarn that is cut to become cloth; Meng’s mother moved to different places three times and chose a good environment to influence Mencius’ growing up.

31. The commandment of cutting off the weaving: Mencius’ mother warned her son who gave up his studies midway by cutting off the yarn on the loom so that the yarn on the loom could not be turned into cloth. Later, I used this story to warn those who dropped out of school.

32. Fish and Bear's Paws: "Mencius Gaozi 1": "The fish is what I want, and the bear's paws are also what I want; you cannot have both, and you want to give up the fish and take the bear." "Zhizheye." It is a metaphor for something that is difficult to choose when everyone wants it.

33. Four Books and Five Classics: Four Books: Also known as the Four Books, namely "The Great Learning", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects", and "Mencius"; the Five Classics: "Poetry", "Book", and "Li" , "Yi" and "Spring and Autumn". Refers to Confucian classics.

34. Congqueyuanyu: It is a metaphor that failure to implement good governance is equivalent to driving the people to the enemy's side. The language version of "Mencius Li Lou Shang" says: "Those who drive fish out of the abyss are otters; those who drive out lords (birds) through clumps are called ?; those who drive people away from Tang and Wu are Jie and Zhou."

35 , Yuan Yu Congjue: "Mencius Li Lou Shang": "Therefore, those who drive fish from the Yuan are Taters; those who drive the princes from Cong, ?; those who drive the people with Tang Wu, are Jie and Zhou." Later, "Yuan Yu Cong drives the people." "Jue" is a metaphor for poor governance, which results in driving people to the enemy.

36. Zou Yan talks about the sky: "Historical Records·Biography of Mencius and Xunqing": "Zou Yan's technique is roundabout and big, and it is difficult to use stationery... Therefore, the people of Qi eulogized: 'Talk about the sky, Yan, "Diaolong?" Later, he was described as "Zou Yan chatting about the sky" as a metaphor for his eloquence. Zou, Tong "Zou".

37. Food in a basket with pulp: The saying comes from "Mencius: King Hui of Liang": "A basket with pulp in a basket to welcome the king." Originally it was said that the bamboo basket was filled with rice and the pot was filled with food. Wine and tea are served to welcome the king's army. Later, it was often used to refer to the people's welcome and comfort to the army they supported.

38. "Full-faced": It means that virtue is expressed externally, with a gentle appearance and a sincere attitude. Refers to the manners of a virtuous person. The text "Mencius · Doing the Heart": "The nature of a gentleman is that benevolence, righteousness, benefit and wisdom are rooted in the heart. Its color can be seen on the face, on the back, and applied to the four bodies. The four bodies are self-evident."

39. Help your sister-in-law with your uncle: "Mencius: Li Lou Shang": "Chun Yu Kun said: 'If a man and a woman give and receive without being intimate, how should they treat each other with courtesy?' Mencius said: 'It is also a courtesy.' He said: 'Sister-in-law drowns, then "If a sister-in-law is drowning and does not help her, it is like a jackal. It is a courtesy for a man and a woman to give and receive; if a sister-in-law is drowning, it is right to help her." Later, "to help the sister-in-law is to act expediently". .

40. Oneself is drowning and one is hungry: also known as "oneself is hungry and one is drowning". The words come from "Mencius Li Lou Xia": "Yu thought that there were drowning people in the world, and he drowned them by himself; Ji thought that there were hungry people in the world, and they were hungry by himself, so it was urgent." Later, he thought that "oneself drowns oneself." "Hungry" or "one is hungry and one is drowning" means that the suffering of the people is caused by oneself, so it is one's unshirkable responsibility to relieve their suffering.

Mencius's famous sayings

1. Wealth cannot be fornicated, poverty cannot be moved, and power cannot be subdued. A respectful person does not insult others, a thrifty person does not take away from others.

2. It is better to have no book at all than to believe in the book.

3. A gentleman does not complain about heaven or others.

4. Those who abuse themselves cannot be talked to; those who abandon themselves cannot be talked to.

5. Without regular distance, it cannot form a square or circle. Without the six rhythms, the five tones cannot be corrected.

6. The five reasons why a gentleman teaches are: those who are transformed by timely rain, those who become virtuous, those who achieve wealth, those who answer questions, and those who are private and courteous. These five are what a gentleman teaches.

7. When there is little help, relatives are nearby; when there is much help, the world will follow.

8. People can do something if they don’t do anything. People have to do something before they can do something.

9. The Master said, I feel very close to my heart.

10. Everyone has a heart of compassion; everyone has a heart of shame and disgust; everyone has a heart of respect; everyone has a heart of right and wrong. The heart of compassion is benevolence; the heart of shame and hatred is righteousness; the heart of respect is courtesy; the heart of right and wrong is wisdom. Benevolence, justice, propriety, and wisdom are not inherent in me, but they come from outside.

11. Having fun alone or having fun with others, which one is happy?

12. A gentleman is always kind to others.

13. King Hui now asks me, "How can I benefit my country?" Then the king's officials will ask me, "How can I benefit my family?" Why benefit me?

14. Fish is what I want. Bear's paw is what I want. You can't have both, it's like giving up the fish for the bear's paw. Life is what I want. Righteousness is what I want. You can't have both, you have to sacrifice your life for righteousness.

15. Cultivating talents is the foundation of a country.

16. I heard that within Jiaoguan, there is an area of ??forty miles, and killing the elk there is like committing murder.

17. Then the king’s officials will ask me, “How can I benefit my family?” Since I want to benefit my family, the king’s scholars and common people will also ask me, “How can I benefit my body?” If everyone from the top to the bottom, including the scholars and common people, takes advantage of them, the country will be in danger, chaos and destruction.

18. Benevolence, justice, propriety and wisdom are not external to me, they are inherent in me.

19. People have a constant saying, they all say "the world is a country". The foundation of the world lies in the country, the foundation of the country lies in the home, and the foundation of the family lies in the body.

20. Why should the king talk about profit? It is just benevolence and righteousness.

21. The king is innocent, and the people of the world are here.

22. A promising person is like digging a well. If the well is dug nine times and fails to reach the spring, it is like abandoning the well.

23. Respect the teachings of Xiangxu, apply the meaning of filial piety and brotherhood, and award the white ones to live up to the road.

24. If the king is happy with the people, then he is king.

25. "This statement is intended to make future generations search deeply for its meaning in order to understand its text, and it is not only used to explain the "Poetry". Today's interpreters often take it and explain it, and their explanations are often erroneous. Different.

26. When a gentleman cultivates his body, the world will be at peace.

27. Therefore, when Heaven is about to entrust a person with a great responsibility, he must first work hard on his mind and body. , His skin is hungry, his body is empty, his behavior is chaotic, so his mind and forbearance are moved, and he can gain what he cannot.

28. The wise are in charge, and the capable are in charge. p> 29. Life is what I want; righteousness is also what I want. The two cannot be achieved at the same time, and those who sacrifice life for righteousness are worthy of determination. If ambition is not established, there will be no achievement. Don't talk about it. Regard him as majestic.

30. Don’t rely on your elders, don’t rely on your nobility, and don’t rely on your brothers. 31. A gentleman has three kinds of happiness, and the king of the world does not care about his parents. Living together as brothers without any reason is one joy; looking up to heaven and not being ashamed of others is the second joy; being able to educate the world's talented people is the third joy.

A gentleman has three kinds of happiness, but the king of the world does not share them.

32. If you love others without being close to them, you will be benevolent; if you do not treat others well, you will be wise; if you do not respond to others with courtesy, you will be respectful; if you fail to do something, you will seek others, and if you are upright, the world will return to you. Of.

33. Only benevolent people can think of big things as small things. This is the story of Tang and Ge, and King Wen of Kunyi.

34. Just as a thousand chariots capture ten thousand chariots, a hundred chariots capture a thousand chariots, and then you are full.

35. Mencius said that anyone who desires the emperor’s ten thousand chariots should take a thousand chariots within him, and become the princes of the emperor. There is no shortage of officials, why should they compete with each other? If they have more, they will win.

36. Mencius retreated from Qi and Liang Dynasties, and wrote about the ways of Yao and Shun. This great sage imitated the saints and was the author.

37. Mencius said that there is no one who abandons his relatives out of benevolence, and there is no one who abandons his king out of righteousness.

38. If you respect the virtuous and enable the capable, and if the heroes are in power, then all the people in the world will be happy and willing to serve in your dynasty.

39. If the king treats the people with benevolence, he will save punishments, reduce taxes, and make farming easy, the strong will spend his spare time cultivating his filial piety and loyalty, serving his father and brother when he is in, and serving his superiors when he is out. It can be used to defeat Qin and Chu's strong armor and powerful soldiers.

40. Being sincere is the way of heaven; being sincere is the way of man. It's not impossible, it's not possible.

41. A gentleman has benevolence in his heart and etiquette in his heart. A benevolent person loves others, a polite person respects others. Those who love others will always be loved by others, and those who respect others will always be respected by others.

42. A gentleman has limited capacity and swallows hundreds of rivers.

43. If you are not ashamed, how can you be like a human being?

44. Those who enjoy the happiness of the people will also enjoy the happiness of the people; those who care about the worries of the people will also worry about the worries of the people.

45. When I am old, I am like the old, and when I am young, I am like the young.

46. Then the world returns to its own, harming the people with government, the people enjoy their death, and subduing the strong with stilts, there are benevolence and unbenevolence.

47. A great man is one who does not lose his innocent heart.

48. Wang Zhifu Miaohu? If there is a drought between July and August, the seedlings will be in bloom. The sky will become cloudy and the rain will fall, and the seedlings will thrive. If it is like this, who can control it?

49. In a prosperous year, the children will be many and unlucky; in a bad year, the children will be many and violent. This is not because of talent sent from heaven, but because of the indulgence in one's heart.

50. Wealth cannot be fornicated, poverty cannot be moved, and power cannot be subdued.

51. If animals eat each other, and people hate it, they are the parents of the people. The government cannot avoid leading the beasts and cannibalizing people. The evil is because they are the parents of the people.

52. Use it because it resembles a person. This is why the people of Sri Lanka died of hunger.

53. Those who were disciples of Zhongni and did not do things like Dao, Huan and Wen will not be passed down to future generations and will not be heard by the ministers.

54. Only benevolent people should be in high positions. Being unkind and holding a high position is spreading evil to others.

55. For a five-acre house with mulberry trees, a person in his fifties can wear silk clothes. Chickens, dolphins, dogs, and pigs are all animals that have not lost their season. Those who are seventy years old can eat meat. If you don’t take away a hundred acres of land, then a family of several people will not be hungry. I sincerely follow the teachings of Xiangxu, apply the meaning of filial piety and brotherhood, and award the white ones to live up to the road.

56. Quan, then know the importance; degree, then know the length.

57. Chickens, dolphins, dogs and pigs are animals that have not lost their season. People who are seventy years old can eat meat.

58. By changing the fields and reducing taxes, the people can become rich.

59. You will know the weight after you have power, and you will know the length after you measure. This is true for all things, and the heart is the most important.

60. The most important thing for a filial son is to respect his relatives; the most important thing for a filial son is to respect his relatives. As the son and father of the emperor, he should be respected to the highest extent; to be nourished by the world, he should be nourished to the highest level.

61. If the king regards his ministers as his hands and feet, then his ministers will regard him as his heart; if his ministers regard his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as a countryman; if his ministers regard his ministers as earth and mustard, then his ministers will regard him as their own. Like a bandit.

62. Take a thousand out of ten thousand, take out a hundred out of a thousand, and don’t get too much.

63. There are noble and inferior bodies, big and small. Nothing can harm the great with the small, and nothing can harm the noble with the humble. Those who raise others are small people, and those who raise them big are adults.

64. Dogs eat human food without knowing how to detect it;

65. If you are poor, you can help yourself; if you are rich, you can help the world.

66. Born with a virtuous nature, he lost his father when he was young. He was taught by his loving mother three times when he was young. He studied under Confucius' grandson Si, and taught Confucianism.

67. Those who advance sharply will retreat quickly.

68. A gentleman has three kinds of happiness, but the king of the world does not share them. Having both parents and brothers without any reason is one kind of happiness; to look up to Heaven and not be ashamed of others is the second kind of happiness; to get the world's talented people and educate them is the third kind of happiness.

69. The best thing about people’s troubles is to be a teacher.

70. Respect the virtuous and enable the capable, and the heroes will reign.

71. The one who created the figurines has no descendants.

72. The one who rules the world is just a benevolent government. He is not greedy to kill people, and people will return to their own country. This is why King Wen treats the people as if they are injured. This is what he means.

73. If the king is very happy, then Qi will have almost no common people.

74. Only the wise will enjoy this ear. It is said that if you practice the way of Yao and Shun, the country will be peaceful, so you will feel happy to have this. Unvirtuous people will lose their country and destroy their family. Even if they have this, they will be robbed by others, so they cannot be happy.

75. Although there are things that are easy to grow in the world, if they are violent in one day and cold in ten days, nothing can survive.

76. Mencius said: The nature of water is not divided into east and west, nor is it divided into upper and lower? The goodness of human nature is like water flowing down. There is no bad person, and there is no water that cannot flow. Today, if the water is stroking and leaping, it can be carried over the river; if it is stirred and moved, it can be carried up the mountain. Is this the nature of water? The momentum is just like that! People can do bad things, but their nature is still the same.

77. The wife must insult herself, and then others will insult her; the family must destroy herself, and then others will destroy it; the country must cut down on itself, and then others will cut down on it.