第七十一章
中文原文
知不知，上；不知知，病。
夫唯病病，是以不病。
圣人不病，以其病病，是以不病。
English Translation
To know that you do not know is highest.
Not to know yet think you know is a disease.
Only by recognizing this disease as a disease,
Can you be free of disease.
The sage is free of disease,
Because he recognizes the disease as disease,
Therefore he is free of disease.
逐句问答
- “知不知，上。”
- 问：为何“不知而知”为上？
- 答：承认无知，保持谦卑，才是真正的智慧。
- Q: Why is “knowing you don’t know” superior?
- A: Because humility before ignorance is true wisdom.
- “不知知，病。”
- 问：为何“以不知为知”是病？
- 答：自以为是，闭塞于真理，必招偏执与错误。
- Q: Why is “thinking you know when you don’t” a disease?
- A: Because arrogance blinds and misleads.
- “夫唯病病，是以不病。”
- 问：怎样才能“不病”？
- 答：能自觉此病，便能警惕并克服，不陷于迷妄。
- Q: How to be “disease-free”?
- A: By recognizing the disease itself, you transcend it.
第七十二章
中文原文
民不畏威，则大威至。
无狎其所居，无厌其所生。
夫唯不厌，是以不厌。
是以圣人自知不自见；自爱不自贵。
故去彼取此。
English Translation
When the people do not fear authority,
Great authority descends upon them.
Do not oppress their dwellings;
Do not burden their livelihood.
Only by not burdening them,
Are they not weary of you.
Thus the sage knows himself but does not show himself,
Loves himself but does not exalt himself.
Therefore he discards the one and takes the other.
逐句问答
- “民不畏威，则大威至。”
- 问：为何“不畏威”反致“大威”？
- 答：若权威失信，民心不服，必遭更大的灾祸与动荡。
- Q: Why does lack of fear bring greater authority?
- A: Because loss of respect invites harsher force or chaos.
- “无狎其所居，无厌其所生。”
- 问：此句何意？
- 答：不可侵犯百姓居所与生计，否则失去根基。
- Q: Meaning here?
- A: Don’t oppress people’s homes or livelihoods.
- “圣人自知不自见；自爱不自贵。”
- 问：如何理解“不自见、不自贵”？
- 答：圣人有自知与自爱，但不张扬炫耀，也不抬高自己。
- Q: Why “knows but doesn’t show, loves but doesn’t exalt”?
- A: True self-respect is humble, not boastful.
第七十三章
中文原文
勇于敢，则杀；勇于不敢，则活。
此两者，或利或害。
天之所恶，孰知其故？
是以圣人犹难之。
天之道，不争而善胜，不言而善应，
不召而自来，繟然而善谋。
天网恢恢，疏而不失。
English Translation
Courage in daring leads to death;
Courage in not daring leads to life.
Of these two, one benefits, one harms.
Who knows why Heaven dislikes one?
Thus even the sage finds it difficult.
The Way of Heaven does not contend yet excels in victory,
Does not speak yet excels in response,
Does not call yet things come,
Is vast yet excels in planning.
Heaven’s net is vast and wide,
Though loose, nothing escapes it.
逐句问答
- “勇于敢，则杀；勇于不敢，则活。”
- 问：为何敢反致死，不敢反得生？
- 答：逞强鲁莽必自取祸，谨慎谦让反能保全。
- Q: Why does daring bring death and not-daring bring life?
- A: Recklessness brings ruin, prudence preserves.
- “天之道，不争而善胜……”
- 问：天道如何“不言而应，不召而来”？
- 答：自然法则无需人为操控，却自有回应与规律。
- Q: How does Heaven “respond without speaking”?
- A: Nature operates spontaneously, without commands.
- “天网恢恢，疏而不失。”
- 问：何谓“天网”？
- 答：比喻自然规律或因果报应，虽宽松，却终不遗漏。
- Q: What is the “Heaven’s net”?
- A: It symbolizes natural justice—vast yet unfailing.
第七十四章
中文原文
民不畏死，奈何以死惧之？
若使民常畏死，而为奇者，吾得执而杀之，孰敢？
常有司杀者杀。
夫代司杀者杀，是代大匠斲也。
夫代大匠斲者，希有不伤其手矣。
English Translation
When the people do not fear death,
How can you frighten them with death?
If the people constantly fear death,
And act recklessly, I can seize and kill them—who would dare?
There is always the official executioner.
To take the place of the executioner and kill
Is like trying to replace the great carpenter and carve.
Few who try not to cut their own hands.
逐句问答
- “民不畏死，奈何以死惧之？”
- 问：何以“死”不能惧人？
- 答：若人们已绝望无畏，死亡威胁就失效。
- Q: Why can death not frighten?
- A: Desperate people have no fear of dying.
- “常有司杀者杀。”
- 问：司杀者指谁？
- 答：指天道或自然法则，不是人力所代替的。
- Q: Who is the “executioner”?
- A: Heaven/nature—the natural order of justice.
- “代大匠斲者，希有不伤其手矣。”
- 问：为何比作“大匠斲”？
- 答：擅自代天行刑，必自伤；如同外行代木匠，必割伤手。
- Q: Why compare to “carving in place of a great carpenter”?
- A: Interfering with Heaven’s role harms oneself.
第七十五章
中文原文
民之饥，以其上食税之多，是以饥。
民之难治，以其上之有为，是以难治。
民之轻死，以其求生之厚，是以轻死。
夫唯无以生为者，是贤于贵生。
English Translation
The people starve
Because rulers take too much in taxes.
The people are hard to govern
Because rulers interfere too much.
The people make light of death
Because rulers pursue life too greedily.
Only those who do not cling to life
Are wiser than those who value life.
逐句问答
- “民之饥，以其上食税之多，是以饥。”
- 问：贫困根源何在？
- 答：过重赋税剥夺民生。
- Q: Why do people starve?
- A: Excessive taxation.
- “民之难治，以其上之有为，是以难治。”
- 问：治理为何困难？
- 答：统治者干预过度，扰乱民生。
- Q: Why hard to govern?
- A: Over-governing disrupts harmony.
- “民之轻死，以其求生之厚，是以轻死。”
- 问：为何反而“贵生”而轻死？
- 答：因统治者贪图享乐，逼民无路，只能冒死。
- Q: Why does pursuit of life make people disregard death?
- A: Oppression pushes them to risk death.
第七十六章
中文原文
人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。
草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。
故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。
是以兵强则灭，木强则折。
强大处下，柔弱处上。
English Translation
When man is alive, he is soft and weak;
When dead, he is hard and stiff.
When plants are alive, they are soft and tender;
When dead, they are withered and dry.
Thus, the hard and strong are companions of death;
The soft and weak are companions of life.
Therefore, the army strong will be destroyed;
The tree strong will be broken.
The mighty and great remain below;
The gentle and weak remain above.
逐句问答
- “生柔死刚”比喻什么？
- 答：柔顺象征生命，刚硬象征衰亡。
- Q: What does “soft in life, hard in death” mean?
- A: Softness signals vitality; rigidity signals decay.
- “兵强则灭，木强则折。”
- 答：强暴与僵硬终致毁灭。
- Q: Why do strong armies perish, strong trees break?
- A: Force and rigidity cannot endure.
第七十七章
中文原文
天之道，其犹张弓与？
高者抑之，下者举之；有余者损之，不足者补之。
天之道损有余而补不足。
人之道则不然，损不足以奉有余。
孰能有余以奉天下？唯有道者。
English Translation
The Way of Heaven
Is like drawing a bow.
What is high is lowered, what is low is raised;
Excess is reduced, deficiency is filled.
The Way of Heaven reduces excess and fills the lacking.
The way of man is not so—
It takes from the lacking to give to the excessive.
Who can offer his excess to the world?
Only he who follows Dao.
逐句问答
- “天之道如张弓”何解？
- 答：张弓时抑高举低，象征平衡。
- Q: Why compare to “drawing a bow”?
- A: It shows natural balancing—high lowered, low raised.
- “天道损有余而补不足” vs. “人道损不足奉有余”
- 答：天道公平，人道常反，剥弱益强。
- Q: Contrast Dao vs man’s way?
- A: Dao equalizes; human greed worsens inequality.
第七十八章
中文原文
天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜。
其无以易之。
弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天下莫不知，莫能行。
是以圣人云：受国之垢，是谓社稷主；
受国不祥，是谓天下王。
正言若反。
English Translation
Nothing under Heaven is softer than water,
Yet nothing surpasses it in attacking the hard and strong.
Nothing can take its place.
Weak overcomes strong, soft overcomes hard—
Everyone knows this, but few can practice it.
Thus the sage says:
He who bears the disgrace of the state becomes master of its altars;
He who bears the misfortunes of the state becomes king of the world.
True words seem paradoxical.
逐句问答
- “水柔而胜刚”
- 答：柔弱非无力，长期累积反而无坚不摧。
- Q: Why can soft water overcome hard rock?
- A: Softness endures, eroding strength.
- “受国之垢，是谓社稷主”
- 答：愿承担耻辱者，才有资格守护国家。
- Q: Why must rulers bear disgrace?
- A: Humility earns true authority.
第七十九章
中文原文
和大怨，必有余怨；安可以为善？
是以圣人执左契，而不责于人。
有德司契，无德司彻。
天道无亲，常与善人。
English Translation
When great resentment is reconciled,
Some resentment remains—how can this be called good?
Thus the sage holds the left contract,
But does not demand it of others.
The virtuous oversee agreements,
The unvirtuous enforce them.
Heaven’s Way has no favoritism—
It always sides with the good.
逐句问答
- “和大怨，必有余怨”
- 答：矛盾化解仍留痕迹，和解不等于全无怨。
- Q: Why does resentment linger?
- A: Even resolved conflicts leave scars.
- “圣人执左契而不责”
- 答：圣人守信己责，不苛求对方履约。
- Q: Why does the sage not demand repayment?
- A: He holds trust himself, not pressing others.
第八十章
中文原文
小国寡民。
使有什伯之器而不用；使民重死而不远徙。
虽有舟舆，无所乘之；虽有甲兵，无所陈之。
使人复结绳而用之。
甘其食，美其服，安其居，乐其俗。
邻国相望，鸡犬之声相闻，民至老死，不相往来。
English Translation
Let there be a small country with few people.
Though they have tools of ten or a hundred, they do not use them.
Make people value life and not migrate far.
Though they have boats and carts, they do not ride them;
Though they have armor and weapons, they do not display them.
Let them return to using knotted cords.
Sweet is their food, beautiful their clothing,
Peaceful their homes, joyful their customs.
Neighboring states are within sight,
Roosters and dogs are heard,
Yet people grow old and die without visiting each other.
逐句问答
- 这里整体是一幅理想社会图景：简朴、自足、安居、不争。
- It paints an ideal society: simple, self-sufficient, peaceful, non-contentious.
第八十一章
中文原文
信言不美，美言不信。
善者不辩，辩者不善。
知者不博，博者不知。
圣人不积。
既以为人己愈有，既以与人己愈多。
天之道，利而不害；圣人之道，为而不争。
English Translation
Truthful words are not beautiful;
Beautiful words are not truthful.
The good do not argue;
Those who argue are not good.
The wise are not learned in much;
Those learned in much do not know.
The sage does not hoard.
The more he gives to others, the more he has.
The more he shares with others, the more he gains.
The Way of Heaven benefits and does not harm;
The Way of the sage acts and does not contend.
逐句问答
- “信言不美，美言不信”
- 真言质朴不华；华言常掩虚假。
- Truth is plain; eloquence often deceives.
- “善者不辩，辩者不善”
- 善行自明，不需诡辩。
- Goodness shows in deeds, not rhetoric.
- “圣人不积，既以为人己愈有”
- 圣人不囤积，因施予而愈加丰足。
- The sage gains abundance by giving, not hoarding.
✨ 至此，《道德经》八十一章的中英文对照与逐句问答已经完整整理完毕。
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