Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫⼦

孔子 Kǒngzǐ
[Kǒng fū zǐ]
生平簡介 shēngpíngjiǎnjiè biographic sketch

叔 shū uncle / father's younger brother / husband's younger brother / Taiwan pr. [shú]

紇 hé tassels

紇 gē knot

顏 yán color / face / countenance

顏 Yán surname Yan

生子 shēngzǐ to give birth to a child or children

禱 dǎo prayer / pray / supplication

尼 ní Buddhist nun / (often used in phonetic spellings)

丘 Qiū surname Qiu

丘 qiū mound / hillock / grave / classifier for fields / variant of 丘[qiū] / hillock

仲尼 Zhòngní courtesy name for Confucius 孔夫⼦[Kǒng fū zǐ]

喪父 sàngfù to be orphaned of one's father

喪 sāng mourning / funeral / (old) corpse

to lose sth abstract but important (courage, authority, one's life etc) / to be bereaved
喪 sàng
of (one's spouse etc) / to die / disappointed / discouraged
十九 shíjiǔ nineteen / 19

娶妻 qǔqī to take a wife / to get married (man)

二十 èrshí twenty / 20

取名 qǔmíng to name / to be named / to christen / to seek fame

鯉 lǐ carp

伯 bǎi one hundred (old)

伯 bà variant of 霸[bà]
father's elder brother / senior / paternal elder uncle / eldest of brothers / respectful
伯 bó
form of address / Count, third of five orders of nobility 五等爵位[wǔ děng jué wèi]
分為 fēnwéi to divide sth into (parts) / to subdivide

求學 qiúxué to study / to seek knowledge / to attend college / at school / learning / education

郯 Tán surname Tan / name of an ancient city

官制 guānzhì the civil service system / the bureaucratic system

to help / to assist / mutual assistance / to rush into or up / to raise or hold up / high /
襄 xiāng
tall / old variant of 欀 / chariot horse (old) / change (old)
襄 Xiāng surname Xiang
彈琴 tánqín to play or strum a lute or other stringed instrument
Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism / the sacred
老子 Lǎozǐ
book of Daoism, 道德經|道德经 by Laozi
father / daddy / "I, your father" (in anger, or out of contempt) / I (used arrogantly or
老子 lǎozi
jocularly)
plant mentioned in Book of Songs, uncertainly identified as carambola or star fruit
萇 cháng
(Averrhoa carambola)
萇 Cháng surname Chang

弘 hóng great / liberal

士人 shìrén scholar

出仕 chūshì to take up an official post

魯國 Lǔguó old name for Shandong (often in connection with Confucius)

輔佐 fǔzuǒ to assist (usually a ruler)

魯君 Lǔjūn the lord of Lu (who declined to employ Confucius)

Qi state of Western Zhou and the Warring states (1122-265 BC), centered in
齊國 Qíguó
Shandong
沉迷 chénmí to be engrossed / to be absorbed with / to lose oneself in / to be addicted to
憤 fèn indignant / anger / resentment
離去 líqù to leave / to exit
to travel around many countries (idiom); peregrinations / refers to the travels of
周遊列國 zhōuyóulièguó
Confucius
長達 chángdá to extend as long as / to lengthen out to
十四 shísì fourteen / 14
各國 gèguó each country / every country / various countries
國君 guójūn monarch
禮遇 lǐyù courtesy / deferential treatment / polite reception
重用 zhòngyòng to put in an important position
述 shù to state / to tell / to narrate / to relate
Six Classics, namely: Book of Songs 詩經|诗经[Shī jīng], Book of History 尚書|尚书
六經 Liùjīng [Shàng shū], Book of Rites 儀禮|仪礼[Yí lǐ], the lost Book of Music 樂經|乐经[Yuè jīng],
Book of Changes 易經|易经[Yì jīng], Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋[Chūn qiū]
to patronize / to support / to praise / (Internet slang) to like (an online post on
贊 zàn
Facebook etc)
周易 Zhōuyì another name for Book of Changes (I Ching) 易經|易经[Yì jīng]
Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) / Spring and Autumn Annals, chronicle of Lu
春秋 Chūnqiū
State (722-481 BC)
春秋 chūnqiū spring and autumn / four seasons / year / a person's age / annals (used in book titles)
因子 yīnzǐ factor / (genetic) trait / (math.) factor / divisor
弟子 dìzǐ disciple / follower
Yan Yuan (521-481 BC), disciple of Confucius 孔夫⼦[Kǒng fū zǐ], also known as 顏回|颜
顏淵 Yán Yuān
回[Yán Huí]
Zi Lu (542-480 BC), disciple of Confucius 孔夫⼦[Kǒng fū zǐ], also known as Ji Lu 季路
子路 Zǐ Lù
[Jì Lù]
抑 yì to restrain / to restrict / to keep down / or

七十 qīshí seventy / 70

溘然 kèrán suddenly

長逝 chángshì to depart this life / to be no more

仁 rén humane / kernel

忠 zhōng loyal / devoted / honest

恕 shù to forgive

做為 zuòwéi to act as / used erroneously for 作為|作为

教化 jiàohuà to enlighten / to civilize / to indoctrinate / to train (an animal)

開創 kāichuàng to initiate / to start / to found

因材施教 yīncáishījiào (idiom) to teach in line with the student's ability

有教無類 yǒujiàowúlèi education for everyone, irrespective of background

Confucian school, founded by Confucius 孔⼦[Kǒng zǐ] (551-479 BC) and Mencius 孟⼦
儒家 Rújiā
[Mèng zǐ] (c. 372-c. 289 BC)
to pass on (to future generations) / passed on (from former times) / a continued
傳承 chuánchéng
tradition / an inheritance
聖 shèng holy / sacred / saint / sage
Yan Hui (521-481 BC), disciple of Confucius, also known as Yan Yuan 顏淵|颜渊[Yán
顏回 Yán Huí
Yuān]
宗 Zōng surname Zong
school / sect / purpose / model / ancestor / clan / to take as one's model (in academic
宗 zōng
or artistic work) / classifier for batches, items, cases (medical or legal), reservoirs
Zeng Shen (505-435 BC), a.k.a. 曾⼦[Zēng zǐ], student of Confucius, presumed editor or
曾參 Zēng Shēn
author of Confucian classic the Great Learning ⼤學|⼤学[Dà xué]
伋 jí unreal
加上 jiāshàng plus / to put in / to add / to add on / to add into / in addition / on top of that
亞聖 yàshèng Second Sage, traditional title of Mencius 孟⼦[Mèng zǐ] in Confucian studies
孟軻 Mèng Kē Mencius 孟⼦ (c. 372-c. 289), Confucian philosopher
稱為 chēngwéi called / to call sth (by a name) / to name
孔門 Kǒngmén Confucius' school (i.e. his direct disciples)
哲 zhé philosophy / wise / (used in given names) / variant of 哲[zhé]
德性 déxìng moral integrity
德性 déxing (coll.) revolting behavior / CL:副[fù]
閔 mǐn old variant of 憫|悯[mǐn]
閔 Mǐn surname Min
騫 qiān defective / raise
冉 rǎn edge of a tortoiseshell / see 冉冉[rǎn rǎn] / variant of 冉[rǎn]
冉 Rǎn surname Ran
仲 zhòng second month of a season / middle / intermediate / second amongst brothers
仲 Zhòng surname Zhong
子貢 Zǐ Gòng Zi Gong or Duanmu Ci 端⽊賜|端⽊赐[Duān mù Cì] (520 BC-), disciple of Confucius
政事 zhèngshì politics / government affairs
季路 Jì Lù Ji Lu (542-480 BC), disciple of Confucius 孔夫⼦[Kǒng fū zǐ], also known as ⼦路[Zǐ Lù]
論語 Lúnyǔ The Analects of Confucius 孔⼦[Kǒng zǐ]
記述 jìshù to write an account (of events)
漢代 Hàndài the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
傳本 chuánběn edition (of a book) currently in circulation
魯 lǔ crass / stupid / rude
surname Lu / Shandong Province 山東省|山东省[Shān dōng Shěng] / vassal state during
魯 Lǔ
the Zhou Dynasty (1066-221 BC) in modern day Shandong Province
漢 hàn man
漢 Hàn Han ethnic group / Chinese (language) / the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
帝 dì emperor

禹 Yǔ Yu the Great (c. 21st century BC), mythical leader who tamed the floods / surname Yu

侯 Hóu surname Hou

marquis, second of the five orders of ancient Chinese nobility 五等爵位[wǔ děng jué
侯 hóu
wèi] / nobleman or high official
今 jīn today / modern / present / current / this / now
我國 wǒguó our country / China
語錄 yǔlù quotation (from a book or existing source)
始祖 shǐzǔ primogenitor / founder of a school or trade
不能 bùnéng cannot / must not / should not
旨 zhǐ imperial decree / purport / aim / purpose
政 zhèng political / politics / government
儒 rú scholar / Confucian
典籍 diǎnjí ancient books or records
宋朝 Sòngcháo Song Dynasty (960-1279) / also Song of Southern dynasties 南朝宋 (420-479)
趙 zhào to surpass (old)
surname Zhao / one of the seven states during the Warring States Period (476-220
趙 Zhào BC) / the Former Zhao 前趙 (304-329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (319-350), states of the
Sixteen Kingdoms
普 pǔ general / popular / everywhere / universal
surname Song / the Song dynasty (960-1279) / also Song of the Southern dynasties 南
宋 Sòng
朝宋 (420-479)
posthumous name given to second emperor of a dynasty / King Taejong of Joseon Korea
太宗 Tàizōng
(1367-1422), reigned 1400-1418
臣 Chén surname Chen
state official or subject in dynastic China / "Your Servant", form of address used when
臣 chén speaking to a ruler / to submit oneself to the rule of or acknowledge allegiance to / to
serve a ruler as his subject / Kangxi radical 168
佐 zuǒ to assist / assistant / aide / to accompany

太祖 tàizǔ Great Ancestor (posthumous title, e.g. for the founder of a dynasty)

陛下 bìxià Your Majesty / His or Her Majesty

宋代 Sòngdài Song dynasty (960-1279)

Zhu Xi or Chu Hsi (1130-1200), also known as Master Zhu 朱⼦, Song dynasty Confucian
朱熹 Zhū Xī
writer and propagandist, founder of neo-Confucianism
Mencius (c. 372-c. 289 BC), Confucian philosopher second only to Confucius / book of
孟子 Mèngzǐ
the same name, one of the classics of Confucianism
中庸 zhōngyōng golden mean (Confucianism) / (literary) (of person) mediocre / ordinary

中庸 Zhōngyōng the Doctrine of the Mean, one of the Four Books 四書|四书[Sì shū]

合稱 héchēng common term / general term

Four Books, namely: the Great Learning ⼤學|⼤学, the Doctrine of the Mean 中庸, the
四書 Sìshū
Analects of Confucius 論語|论语, and Mencius 孟⼦
官 guān official / government / organ of body / CL:個|个[gè]
官 Guān surname Guan
科舉考試 kējǔkǎoshì imperial examinations (in former times)
備 bèi to prepare / get ready / to provide or equip

註 zhù to register / to annotate / note / comment

成書 chéngshū publication / a book's first appearance

戰國 Zhànguó the Warring States period (475-221 BC)

初年 chūnián early years

世家 shìjiā family influential for generations / aristocratic family

Sima Qian (145-86 BC), Han Dynasty historian, author of Records of the Grand
司馬遷 Sīmǎ Qiān
Historian 史記|史记[Shǐ jì], known as the father of Chinese historiography
Records of the Grand Historian, by 司⾺遷|司马迁[Sī mǎ Qiān], first of the 24 dynastic
史記 Shǐjì
histories ⼆⼗四史[Èr shí sì Shǐ]
Grand Scribe, the title by which Sima Qian 司⾺遷|司马迁[Sī mǎ Qiān] refers to
太史公 Tàishǐgōng
himself in Records of the Historian 史記|史记[Shǐ jì]
高山 gāoshān high mountain / alpine
行止 xíngzhǐ movements / attitude / behavior / whereabouts / tracks
然 rán correct / right / so / thus / like this / -ly
氏 zhī see ⽉氏[Yuè zhī] and 閼氏|阏氏[yān zhī]
氏 shì clan name / maiden name
想見 xiǎngjiàn to infer / to gather
為人 wéirén to conduct oneself / behavior / conduct / personal character
為人 wèirén for sb / for others' interest
適 Shì surname Shi
適 shì to fit / suitable / proper / just (now) / comfortable / well / to go / to follow or pursue
廟堂 miàotáng imperial ancestral temple / imperial court / temple
禮器 lǐqì ritual dishes / sacrificial vessels
諸生 zhūshēng Imperial scholar from the Ming Dynasty onwards
習 Xí surname Xi
習 xí to practice / to study / habit
君王 jūnwáng sovereign king
賢人 xiánrén great person of the past / venerable forebear / the great and the good
矣 yǐ classical final particle, similar to modern 了[le]
榮 róng glory / honor / thriving
榮 Róng surname Rong
焉 yān where / how
布衣 bùyī plain cotton clothing / (literary) the common people
天子 tiānzǐ the (rightful) emperor / "Son of Heaven" (traditional English translation)
王侯 wánghóu aristocracy
中國 Zhōngguó China
the Confucian Six Arts, namely: rites or etiquette 禮|礼[lǐ] (禮儀|礼仪[lǐ yí]), music 樂|
乐[yuě] (⾳樂|⾳乐[yīn yuè]), archery 射[shè] (射箭[shè jiàn]), charioteering 御[yù] (駕
六藝 Liù Yì ⾞|驾车[jià chē]), calligraphy or literacy 書|书[shū] (識字|识字[shí zì]), mathematics or
reckoning 數|数[shù] (計算|计算[jì suàn]) / another name for the Six Classics 六經|六经
[Liù jīng]
折中 zhézhōng to compromise / to take the middle road / a trade-off / eclectic

夫子 fūzǐ Master / (old form of address for teachers, scholars) / pedant

可謂 kěwèi it could even be said

Shijing, the Book of Songs, early collection of Chinese poems and one of the Five
詩經 Shījīng
Classics of Confucianism 五經|五经[Wǔ jīng]
仰望 yǎngwàng to look up at / to look up to sb hopefully
effect / efficacy / to imitate / variant of 效[xiào] / to imitate / variant of 傚|效
效 xiào
[xiào] / variant of 效[xiào]
仿 fǎng to imitate / to copy / seemingly / variant of 仿[fǎng]

最高 zuìgāo tallest / highest / supreme (court etc)

家的 jiāde (old) wife

想像 xiǎngxiàng to imagine / to conceive of / to visualize / imagination

來到 láidào to come / to arrive

坐車 zuòchē to take the car, bus, train etc

祭祀 jìsì to offer sacrifices to the gods or ancestors

禮儀 lǐyí etiquette / ceremony

留連 liúlián variant of 流連|流连[liú lián]

不忍 bùrěn cannot bear to / disturbed

榮耀 róngyào honor / glory

結了 jiéle that's that / that's it / that will do

百姓 bǎixìng common people

十幾 shíjǐ more than ten / a dozen or more

讀書人 dúshūrén scholar / intellectual

宗師 zōngshī great scholar respected for learning and integrity

談到 tándào to refer to / to speak about / to talk about

是以 shìyǐ therefore / thus / so

Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔⼦
孔夫子 Kǒngfūzǐ
[Kǒng zǐ]
判 pàn to judge / to sentence / to discriminate / to discern / obviously (different)

聖賢 shèngxián a sage / wise and holy man / virtuous ruler / Buddhist lama / wine