Chinese/Confucius

Advertisement

Expert: Terry Thatcher Waltz - 4/4/2009


Question
Can you please tell me what these Confucius sayings mean in
English:

三人行，必有我师。

温做而知新。

学而时习之。

Answer
Hi James,

三人行，必有我师。
Wherever three people walk, one of them must be my teacher. Meaning that one can learn from many people.

温做而知新。
(You have a typo here: 做should be 故）
To review the old and learn new things. Sometimes this is translated as "he cherishes old knowledge and constantly learns new things."

学而时习之。
This is a shortened form of the two-part quotation. The whole thing means "To study and put into practice what one has learned, is that not a pleasure?"

Of course there are many different variations on the translations of these famous quotations.  

Chinese

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Terry Thatcher Waltz

Expertise

I specialize in Chinese technical translation and conference interpretation, and terminology. I can answer questions about these topics, Chinese language pedagogy and learning issues, Chinese grammar for learners, and general issue related to Taiwan.

Experience

Full-time translator and conference interpreter since 1987; long-time resident of Taiwan. Qualified State Dept. language contractor (interpreter and translator) with extensive government and private sector experience.

Organizations
American Translators Association; The Translators' and Interpreters' Guild; ATA Interpreters' Division; ATA Chinese Division.

Publications
AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters) website

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., Chinese; MA, Conference Interpreting

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.