The Analects论语

Book 2, Passage 2.8

Tsze-hsia asked what filial piety was. The Master said, 'The difficulty is with the countenance. If, when their elders have any troublesome affairs, the young…

子夏问孝,子曰:“色难。有事,弟子服其劳;有酒食,先生馔;”…
All 24 passages in Book 28 of 24
1 sentences · 5 notes
子zǐ夏xià问wèn孝xiào,子zǐ曰yuē:“色sè难nán。有yǒu事shì,弟dì子zǐ服fú其qí劳láo;有yǒu酒jiǔ食shí,先xiān生shēng馔zhuàn;曾céng是shì以yǐ为wéi孝xiào乎hū?”

1Tsze-hsia asked what filial piety was. The Master said, 'The difficulty is with the countenance. If, when their elders have any troublesome affairs, the young take the toil of them, and if, when the young have wine and food, they set them before their elders, is THIS to be considered filial piety?'

Chinese commentary · 5 notes

The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

色难:有两种解释,一说孝子侍奉父母,以做到和颜悦色为难;一说难在承望、理解父母的脸色。今从前解。

弟子:年轻的子弟。

食:食物。

先生:与“弟子”相对,指长辈。馔:吃喝。

曾:副词,竟然的意思。

All 24 passages in Book 2