笔译:《菜根谭》英译(放得功名 即可脱俗)

放得功名富贵之心下，便可脱凡；放得道德仁义之心下，才可入圣。

 

【译文】如果能够抛弃追逐功名富贵之思想，就可超越尘世，做个超凡脱俗的人；如果能摆脱仁义道德等教条的束缚，就可以达到圣人的境界。

 

【英文译文】By casting out thoughts of wealth and rank from his heart, a man rids himself of the taint of the world. By removing the strictures of worldly virtue and morality from his heart, a man can enter the sublime realm of perfect beauty.

（保罗·怀特 译）

 

It is only by discarding the desire to seek riches and honor that one will be able to transcend the mundane world. It is only by finding freedom from the sermon of justice and virtue that one will be able to enter sainthood. 

（周文标 译）

 

 

富贵家宜宽厚，而反忌刻，是富贵而贫贱其行矣！如何能享？聪明人宜敛藏，而反炫耀，是聪明而愚懵其病矣！如何不败？

 

【译文】一个富贵的家庭待人接物应该宽容仁厚，可是很多人反而刻薄担心别人超过自己，这种人虽然暂为富贵之家，可是他的行径已走向贫贱之路，这样 又如何能行得通呢？一个聪明的人，本来应该谦虚有礼不露锋芒，可是很多人反而夸自己的本领高强，这种人表面看来好像很聪明，其实他的言行跟无 知的人并没什么不同，他的事业到头来又怎能不受挫、不失败呢？

 

【注解】 忌刻：忌是猜忌或嫉妒，刻是刻薄寡恩。敛藏：敛含有收、聚、敛束等意，敛藏就是深藏不露。懵：本意是指心 神恍惚，对事物缺乏正确判断，不明事理。

 

【英文译文】A person of riches and rank should be magnanimous, and never be envious or stingy. Otherwise he would be acting like a mean person, and how then could he really enjoy his riches? By the same token, a person of learning should keep his talents concealed. If he makes a dazzling show of them, then he will be acting like a fool. How could he not come to grief?

（保罗·怀特 译）

 

A family of wealth and rank should be magnanimous, and should not be harsh and stingy; otherwise it will be no different from the poor and the lowly. How could it enjoy its wealth and rank? An intelligent man should have his wisdom and talents obscured, and should not parade them; otherwise he will make the same mistake as the ignorant do. How could he not be defeated?

（周文标 译）

 

 

居卑而后知登高之为危，处晦而后知向明之太霭，守静而后知好动之过劳，养默而后知多言之为躁。

 

【译文】站在低处然后才知道攀登高处的危险，在暗处然后才知道置身光亮的地方会刺眼睛；保持宁静心情然后才知道喜欢活动的人太辛苦，保持沉默心性然后才知道话说多了很烦躁。

 

【英文译文】You can only think of the danger of ascending to a high place after you have stood in a low place. It is only when you have experienced darkness that you realize how brightness can dazzle the eyes. After cultivating tranquility, you then know how those who are fond of movement toil. Only a person who has fostered the art of taciturnity knows how annoying a babbler can be.

（保罗·怀特 译）

 

Only when a person comes to a low place can he realize the danger of ascending a height. Only when a person is placed in obscurity can he realize that the brightness ought not to be too dazzling. Only when a person knows how to keep tranquility can he realize the hardship to toil and moil. Only when a person knows how to dwell in silence can he realize that talking too much or out of place is the root of vexation.

（周文标 译）