第一章
中文原文
道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名。
无名，天地之始；有名，万物之母。
故常无欲，以观其妙；常有欲，以观其徼。
此两者，同出而异名，同谓之玄。
玄之又玄，众妙之门。
English Translation
The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
The named is the mother of all things.
Therefore, ever without desire, one observes its mystery;
Ever with desire, one observes its manifestations.
These two arise from the same source but differ in name;
Both are called profound.
Profound and more profound—
It is the gateway to all wonders.
⸻
第二章
中文原文
天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已；皆知善之为善，斯不善已。
故有无相生，难易相成，长短相形，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。
是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；
万物作而弗始也，生而弗有也，为而弗恃也，功成而不处。
夫唯弗处，故弗去。
English Translation
When everyone under Heaven knows beauty as beauty, there arises ugliness.
When everyone knows good as good, there arises not-good.
Thus being and non-being give birth to each other,
Difficulty and ease complement each other,
Long and short contrast each other,
High and low incline toward each other,
Sound and tone harmonize with each other,
Front and back follow one another.
Therefore, the sage dwells in effortless action,
Teaches without words.
All things arise but he does not initiate them,
He gives them life but does not possess them,
He acts but does not depend on his action,
He accomplishes but does not dwell on it.
Precisely because he does not dwell,
His accomplishment never departs.
⸻
第三章
中文原文
不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；
不见可欲，使民心不乱。
是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨。
常使民无知无欲，使夫智者不敢为也。
为无为，则无不治。
English Translation
Do not exalt the worthy, and the people will not contend.
Do not value rare treasures, and the people will not steal.
Do not display what is desirable, and the hearts of the people will not be disturbed.
Therefore, in governing, the sage empties their minds, fills their bellies,
Weakens their ambitions, and strengthens their bones.
He always keeps the people without knowledge and without desires,
And makes those who are clever dare not act.
Acting through non-action, nothing remains ungoverned.
⸻
第四章
中文原文
道冲，而用之或不盈。
渊兮，似万物之宗。
挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘。
湛兮似或存。
吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。
English Translation
The Dao is empty, yet in use it is never exhausted.
So deep, it seems the ancestor of all things.
It blunts sharpness, untangles knots,
Softens its brightness, unites with the dust.
So deep, it seems to exist eternally.
I do not know whose child it is—
It appears to precede the Lord of Heaven.
⸻
第五章
中文原文
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。
天地之间，其犹橐籥乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出。
多言数穷，不如守中。
English Translation
Heaven and Earth are not benevolent;
They treat all things as straw dogs.
The sage is not benevolent;
He treats the people as straw dogs.
Between Heaven and Earth,
Is it not like a bellows?
Empty yet never exhausted,
The more it moves, the more it yields.
Too many words lead to exhaustion;
Better to hold to the center.
⸻
问答式详细讲解（中英文对照）
第一章
问：为什么说“道可道，非常道”？
答：意思是，一旦被语言表达的“道”，就不是永恒真实的“道”。“道”超越人类概念。
Q: Why does it say “The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao”?
A: Because once “Dao” is confined in words, it is no longer the eternal, real Dao. Dao transcends human concepts.
⸻
第二章
问：为什么美与丑、善与恶是相对的？
答：因为它们互为依存。没有“丑”，就无法感知“美”；没有“不善”，就无法理解“善”。这是相对生成的原理。
Q: Why are beauty and ugliness, good and not-good, relative?
A: Because they depend on each other. Without “ugly,” we cannot recognize “beauty”; without “not-good,” we cannot grasp “good.” They arise together.
⸻
第三章
问：圣人为什么“不尚贤、不贵货”？
答：因为过度推崇贤能或珍宝会引起竞争与贪婪。圣人通过“虚心实腹”，让人民生活简单安定。
Q: Why does the sage “not exalt the worthy nor value rare treasures”?
A: Because overvaluing talents or treasures stirs competition and greed. The sage empties desires and nourishes the people with simplicity.
⸻
第四章
问：“道冲而用之或不盈”是什么意思？
答：道就像空的器皿，虽然是空的，但用之不竭。它蕴含无穷潜能，能包容万物。
Q: What does “Dao is empty, yet in use it is never exhausted” mean?
A: Dao is like an empty vessel—though empty, it is inexhaustible. It contains infinite potential and embraces all things.
⸻
第五章
问：“天地不仁，以万物为刍狗”是不是很残酷？
答：并不是残酷，而是说天地没有私情，不偏袒谁。万物都在自然规律下生灭，就像祭祀后被弃的草狗一样。圣人效法天地，不执著于私情。
Q: Isn’t “Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs” cruel?
A: Not cruelty, but impartiality. Heaven and Earth have no favoritism; all beings live and die under natural law, just like ritual straw dogs discarded after use. The sage follows this impartiality.
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