Chinese Reading Center

三字经 The Three-Character Classic

	繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp	English
1	犬守夜鸡司晨苟不学曷为人	The dog guards the night; the rooster proclaims the dawn. If, negligently, you do not study, how can you become people?
2	蚕吐丝蜂酿蜜人不学不如物	The silkworm produces silk, the bee makes honey. If one does not study, what is the use of being human?
3	幼而学壮而行上致君下泽民	When young, study; when grown up, perform. Influence the sovereign above, benefit the people below.

4	扬名声显父母光于前裕于后	Make a name for yourselves; honor you father and mother. Shine light on your ancestors, bring prosperity to your descendants.
5	人遗子金满嬴我教子惟一经	People bequeath to their children chests full gold. I teach children, only one classic.
6	勤有功戏无益戒之哉宜勉力	Diligence has merit; play has no advantage. Guard against it; exert your strength.

繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp

English

Commentary

犬守夜
鸡司晨
苟不学
曷为人

The dog guards the night;
the rooster proclaims the dawn.
If, negligently, you do not study,
how can you become people?

蚕吐丝
蜂酿蜜
人不学
不如物

The silkworm produces silk,
the bee makes honey.
If one does not study,
what is the use of being human?

幼而学
壮而行
上致君
下泽民

When young, study;
when grown up, perform.
Influence the sovereign above,
benefit the people below.

扬名声
显父母
光于前
裕于后

Make a name for yourselves;
honor you father and mother.
Shine light on your ancestors,
bring prosperity to your descendants.

人遗子
金满嬴
我教子
惟一经

People bequeath to their children
chests full gold.
I teach children,
only one classic.

勤有功
戏无益
戒之哉
宜勉力

Diligence has merit;
play has no advantage.
Guard against it;
exert your strength.