【Glenhill Column】《三字經》英文神翻譯

08-04

天津外國語大學趙彥春教授用時3年英文還原中國傳統經典神作《三字經》。翻譯講究音、形、義三方面完美神譯原作。網友稱為史上最美漢英翻譯。

釋義由《逸山堂》鐘華先生翻譯。

人之初，
性本善。
性相近，

習相遠。
Man on earth,
Good at birth.
The same nature，
Varies on nurture.
Definitions:
People are good and honest since born.
Thereafter,different environment and education cause changes to
their character and habits.

苟不教，

性乃遷。
教之道，
貴以專。
With no education,
There"d be aberration.
To teach well,
You deeply dwell.
Definitions:
If children receive improper education since young, their good and honest character will turn bad.Therefore,we have to educate them with concentration and consistence.

昔孟母，

擇鄰處。
子不學，
斷機杼。
Then Mencius" mother，
Chose her neighbor.
At Mencius sloth,
She cut the cloth.
Definitions:
Mencius"s mother moved houses three times before finding a
proper environment for the child"s upbringing.

On one occasion, Mencius was truant from school.
His mother cut the cloth she had been weaving with a pair of
scissors to educate Mencius.

子不教，
父之過。
教不嚴，
師之惰。
What"s a father?
A good teacher.
What"s a teacher?

A strict preacher.
Definitions:
This is parents" fault for not educate their children but only giving food and clothing.
This is teachers" laziness for no strict education.

玉不琢，
不成器。
人不學，
不知義。
No jade crude,
Shows craft good.

Unless you learn,
Brute you"ll turn.
Definitions:
Jade will not become a fine article without polishing and craving.
People not to learn will not know etiquette and will not success.

為人子，
方少時。
親師友，
習禮儀。
Son of man,

Mature you can.
Teacher or peer,
Hold them dear.
Definitions:
Being sons or daughters, we must get close to teachers and friends from childhood in order to learn more people skills, etiquette and
knowledge from them.