Wenyan

Benevolence and Righteousness Only

yìh亦1

yeǒu有2

rén仁3

yìh义4

érl而5

yǐi已6

yǐi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

shỳh是1

bùh不2

wéi为3

yěe也4

，

fēi非5

bùh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

shỳh是1

kěe可2

rěen忍3

，

shwú孰4

bùh不5

kěe可6

rěen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

fwú夫1

fēi非2

jìnn尽3

rén人4

jȳ之5

tzy̌y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

shī昔1

hànn汉2

wǔu武3

dìh帝4

bìh避5

shyí席6

rú如7

tsèh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)