The Analects论语

Book 10, Passage 10.4

When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him.

入公门,鞠躬如也,如不容。立不中门,行不履阈。过位,色勃如也,…
All 27 passages in Book 104 of 27
5 sentences · 5 notes
入rù公gōng门mén,鞠jū躬gōng如rú也yě,如rú不bù容róng。立lì不bù中zhōng门mén,行xíng不bù履lǚ阈yù。过guò位wèi,色sè勃bó如rú也yě,足zú躩jué如rú也yě,其qí言yán似shì不bù足zú者zhě。摄shè齐qí升shēng堂táng,鞠jū躬gōng如rú也yě,屏bǐng气qì似shì不bù息xī者zhě。出chū,降jiàng一yī等děng,逞chěng颜yán色sè,怡yí怡yí如rú也yě。没méi阶jiē,趋qū进jìn,翼yì如rú也yě。复fù其qí位wèi,踧cù踖jí如rú也yě。

1When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him.

2When he was standing, he did not occupy the middle of the gate-way; when he passed in or out, he did not tread upon the threshold.

3When he was passing the vacant place of the prince, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to bend under him, and his words came as if he hardly had breath to utter them.

4He ascended the reception hall, holding up his robe with both his hands, and his body bent; holding in his breath also, as if he dared not breathe.

5When he came out from the audience, as soon as he had descended one step, he began to relax his countenance, and had a satisfied look. When he had got to the bottom of the steps, he advanced rapidly to his place, with his arms like wings, and on occupying it, his manner still showed respectful uneasiness.

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.

鞠躬:此不作曲身讲,而是形容谨慎恭敬的样子。

中门:中于门,表示在门的中间。“中”用作动词。

阈:门限,即门坎。

摄齐:提起衣裳的下摆。齐,衣裳的下摆。

屏气:憋住气。

All 27 passages in Book 10