经典古文英文翻译 Classic literature in English translation -- extremely useful and helpful
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart.
独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。
A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day.
大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。
The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years.
二人同心，其利断金。
If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.
富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能曲，此之谓大丈夫。
It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate.
海内存知己，天涯若比邻。
A bosom friend afar brings distance near.
合抱之木，生于毫末，九层之台，起于累土；千里之行始于足下。
A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step.
祸兮，福之所依；福兮，祸之所伏。
玉不琢Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies.
见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。
On seeing a man of virtue, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same defects.
，引无数英雄尽折腰。
This land so rich in beauty has made countless heroes bow in homage.
举头望明月，低头思故乡。
Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around.
俱往矣，数风流人物，还看今朝。
All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men.
君子成人之美，不成人之恶。
The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct.
君子独立不惭于影，独寝不愧于魂。
A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone.
君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以亲，小人甘以绝。
The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken.
老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼。
Expend the respect of the aged in one’s family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one’s family to that of other families.
礼尚往来。往而不来，非礼也；来而不往，亦非礼也。
Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice versa.
两情若是长久时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。
If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?
路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。
The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I’ll search with my will unbending.
民为贵，社稷次之，君为轻。
The people are the most important element in a state; next are the gods of land and grain; least is the ruler himself.
千丈之堤，以蝼蚁之穴溃；百尺之屋，以突隙之烟焚。
A long dike will collapse because of an ant-hole in it; a tall building will be burned down by a spark from a chimney’s chink.
锲而舍之，朽木不折，锲而不舍，金石可镂。
Carve but give up half way, even a decayed piece of wood will not break; carve without stop, even metal and stone can be engraved.
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴阳缺，此事古难全。
People have sorrow and joy; they part and meet again. The moon dims or shines; it waxes or wanes. Nothing is perfect, not even in the olden days.
人之于文学也，犹玉之于琢磨也。
Learning and culture are to a person what polished and grinding are to jade.
三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。
Among any three people walking, I will find something to learn for sure. Their good qualities are to be followed, and their shortcomings are to be avoided.
士不可以不弘毅，任重而道远。仁以为己任，不亦重乎？死而后己，不亦远乎？
An educated gentleman cannot but be resolute and broad-minded, for he has taken up a heavy responsibility and a long course. Is it not a heavy responsibility, which is to practice benevolence? Is it not a long course, which will end only with his death?
士之为人，当理不避其难，临患忘利，遗生行义，视死如归。
A moral intellectual is one who escapes no danger in face of truth, discards personal interests in front of disaster, practices righteousness at the expense of life, and looks upon death as going home.
逝者如斯夫！不舍昼夜。
The passage of time is just like the flow of water, which goes on day and night.
顺天者存，逆天者亡。
Those who follow the Heaven’s law will survive; those who go against it will perish.
天将降大任于斯人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身，行拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，增益其所不能。
When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a great man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, exposes him to starvation and poverty, harasses him by troubles and setbacks so as to stimulate his spirit, toughen his nature and enhance his abilities.
天生我才必有用。
Heaven has endowed me with talents for eventual use.