Wenyan

Benevolence and Righteousness Only

yì亦1

yǒu有2

rén仁3

yì义4

ér而5

yǐ已6

yǐ矣7

There is only benevolence and righteousness, and nothing more.

1. действительно (also, only, indeed)

2. у меня для вас (to have, there are)

3. человеколюбие (benevolence, humaneness)

4. (и) добродетельность (righteousness, justice)

5-6. и всё (and that is all, nothing more [compound particle])

7. final sentence particle [expressing emphasis/completion]

Don't vs Can't

shì是1

bù不2

wéi为3

yě也4

，

fēi非5

bù不6

néng能7

It is that you will not do it, not that you cannot.

1. это (было) (this, it [demonstrative pronoun])

2-3. неделание

4. final sentence particle [marking judgment/clause break]

5. а не (is not, it is not that [negation in nominal predicate])

6-7. неспособность (inability)

Unbearable Transgression

shì是1

kě可2

rěn忍3

，

shú孰4

bù不5

kě可6

rěn忍7

If this can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated?

1. this, this act [demonstrative pronoun]

2. can, to be tolerable

3. to tolerate, to endure

4. what, who [interrogative pronoun]

5. not

6. can, to be tolerable

7. to tolerate, to endure

Universal Identity as Sons

fú夫1

fēi非2

jìn尽3

rén人4

zhī之5

zǐ子6

yú与7

Are they not, after all, everyone’s sons?

1. Now / After all/ Surely (initial sentence particle [introducing a general statement or topic])

2. разве • is it not that [1/2 of rhetorical frame - negative particle expecting affirmative response]

3. все (они) • all, entirely, without exception

4. людей • people, human beings, others

5. possessive particle [linking modifier to noun]

6. дети • son, child

7. [2/2 final rhetorical question particle]

Emperor Wu Rises for the Privy

xī昔1

hàn汉2

wǔ武3

dì帝4

bì避5

xí席6

rú如7

cè厕8

Once, Emperor Wu of Han rose from his seat to go to the privy.

1. once, formerly

2. Han [dynasty]

3-4. Emperor Wu (posthumous title, lit. 'martial emperor')

5-6. rose from his mat (a polite gesture of excusing oneself)

7-8. went to the privy (toilet, latrine)