Meaning: conjunction, indicating succession.

It comes from "The Fish I Want" written by Mencius, a thinker during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

The excerpt is as follows:

Fish is what I want; bear paws are 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.

The translation is as follows:

Fish is what I want, and bear paws are also what I want. If these two things cannot be obtained at the same time, then I would rather give up the fish and choose Bear paw. Life is what I want, and justice is also what I want. If I cannot get these two things at the same time, then I would rather sacrifice my life and choose justice.

Extended information:

Appreciation of works

In this article, Mencius praises the spirit of sacrificing one's life for righteousness, and "accepts ten thousand bells without arguing about etiquette and righteousness." His criticism had a good influence on later generations. Throughout history, many people with lofty ideals and lofty ideals have regarded "sacrifice one's life for righteousness" as a code of conduct, and "wealth and honor cannot be promiscuous" as a moral norm, and have made contributions to the country and nation.

Wen Tianxiang, the national hero of the Southern Song Dynasty, said in the poem "Crossing the Lingding Ocean": "No one has died since ancient times, and his loyalty will be remembered by history." Xia Minghan, the modern proletarian revolutionary martyr, said in "Poetry of Sacrifice": " Beheading does not matter, as long as the principle is true." This is in line with the spirit of "sacrifice one's life for righteousness."

About the author

Mencius (about 372 BC - about 289 BC), whose name was Ke and whose courtesy name was Ziyu (to be tested, some say it is also called Ziche or Ziju). Han nationality, a native of Zouguo in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (today's Zoucheng City, Shandong Province), was a great thinker, educator, politician and writer during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States Period.

One of the main representatives of Confucianism. Politically, he advocated the rule of law and benevolent government; theoretically, he admired Confucius and opposed Yang Zhu and Mo Zhai. He was honored as the Lesser Sage by later generations, and his disciples recorded Mencius's words and deeds in the book "Mencius".

Baidu Encyclopedia - Fish I Want