Expert: John J - 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。
It reads: Three people walking, there must be my teacher(s).
Paraphrase: When I'm with some other people, there must be something I can learn from them.
note: "three" here doesn't talk about exactly numbers. it means some or "a couple of". it's common in ancient chinese literature. Actually this sentense is not complete. it's followed by "择其善者而从之,其不善者而改之", meaning "i should/will pick out their merits to learn and find out their shortcomings to warn myself against the same faults.
Here Confucius trys to teach people to be humble and be happy to learn from other people.

温做而知新。the second character isn't correct. it should be 温故而知新
It reads: review old knowledge and learn something new
Paraphrase:
1 To gain some new insight or enlightment by reviewing the knowledge that learnt in the past.
2 To review old knowledge and learn something new
(ancient Chinese is often suble or obscure. when translated into modern Chinese, it could be inaccurate and might lose meanings or arise misunderstanding)
3 could be the combination the the two above
note: this sentense is followed by "可以为师矣", meaning be fit to be a teacher. Confucius meant that whoever can do 温故而知新, is fit to be a teacher.

学而时习之。
it reads: to study and to constantly review it.
paraphraze:
1 as it reads
2 to learn and to constantly practise what's learnt
3 combination of the two
note: the intact sentense is 学而时习之 不亦说呼. here 说=modern 悦 meaning delight. Confucius was saying: isn't it a pleasant thing to learn and to constantly review(practise) it?

I hope my answers are satisfactory. And you're welcome to ask more questions in the future.

Best wishes,
John