E X E M P L A R Y B E H AV I O R
01
02
du
04
shi
05
kao
07
06
08
10
lu
09
gu
11
ruo
zhe
shi
tong
七 十 一
03
jin
12
qin
Read the history books and examine the records. When you connect the past with the present, you will be as good as an eyewitness.
mu
读史者， 考实录。 通古今， 若亲目。
七 十 二
kou
er
song
xin
er
wei
zhao
yu
si
xi
yu
si
Recite it everyday with your heart. Do it in the morning and do it in the evening.
口而诵， 心而惟。 朝于斯， 夕于斯。
七 十 三
xi
zhong
ni
shi
xiang
tuo
gu
sheng
xian
shang
qin
xue
Xiang Tuo was formerly a teacher of Zhong Ni. The ancient sages were virtous and he studied diligently.
昔仲尼， 师项橐。 古圣贤， 尚勤学。
七 十 四
zhao
zhong
ling
du
lu
lun
bi
ji
shi
xue
qie
qin
Grand Secretary Zhao studied the Analects. Even though he is already an official, he still studied diligently.
赵中令， 读鲁论。 彼既仕， 学且勤。
七 十 五
pi
pu
bian
xiao
zhu
jian
bi
wu
shu
qie
zhi
mian
Lu Wenshu had to split and weave reeds and cut bamboo slips to make his own books. He was poor but that did not stop him from studying hard.
披蒲编， 削竹简。 彼无书， 且知勉。
七 十 六
tou
xuan
liang
zhui
ci
gu
bi
bu
jiao
zi
qin
ku
Sun Jing tied his hair to the roof beam to prevent himself from nodding off. He then became a minister during the Qin dynasty. Su Qin set up an awl to prick himself awake whenever he was falling asleep. He became a prime minister.
头悬梁， 锥刺股。 彼不教， 自勤苦。
七 十 七
ru
nang
ying
ru
ying
xue
jia
sui
pin
xue
bu
chuo
Che Yin created her own source of light by placing fireflies in a bag. Sun Kang used glare from the snow because he could not afford candles. Although their families were poor, they studied unceasingly.
如囊萤， 如映雪。 家虽贫， 学不辍。
七 十 八
ru
fu
xin
ru
gua
jiao
shen
sui
lao
you
ku
zhuo
Zhu Maichen carried firewood while Li Mi worked as a cowherd while studying. Although they toiled hard, they overcame their hardships and became ministers for the Han and Northern Zhou, respectively.
如负薪， 如挂角。 身虽劳， 犹苦卓。
七 十 九
su
lao
quan
er
shi
qi
shi
fa
fen
du
shu
ji
Su Laoquan only began to put in effort to study at age 27. He became the Imperial Librarian for the Song dynasty.
苏老泉， 二十七。 始发愤， 读书籍。
八 十
bi
ji
lao
you
hui
chi
er
xiao
sheng
yi
zhao
si
It will be too late to regret when one gets old. It is important to have a matured thinking when one is young.
彼既老， 犹悔迟。 尔小生， 宜早思。
八 十 一
ruo
liang
hao
ba
shi
er
dui
da
ting
kui
duo
shi
Liang Hao came out first among many scholars when he was 82.
若梁灏， 八十二。 对大廷， 魁多士。
八 十 二
bi
ji
cheng
zhong
cheng
yi
er
xiao
sheng
yi
li
zhi
When he became successful, everyone called him an exceptional example. Like him, we should think about our future when we are still young.
彼既成， 众称异。 尔小生， 宜立志。
八 十 三
ying
ba
sui
neng
yong
shi
bi
qi
sui
neng
fu
qi
Zu Rong could compose poems at a young age of eight. He accepted the official title of child prodigy and was named a civil servant by the age of twelve.
莹八岁， 能咏诗。 泌七岁， 能赋棋。
八 十 四
bi
ying
wu
ren
cheng
qi
er
you
xue
dang
xiao
zhi
They were great role models and people look up to them. Young students ought to learn from them.
彼颖悟， 人称奇。 尔幼学， 当效之。
八 十 五
cai
wen
ji
neng
bian
qin
xie
dao
yun
neng
yong
yin
Cai Wenji could tell from the sound which string is broken. Xie Daoyun could compose poems.
蔡文姬， 能辨琴。 谢道韫， 能咏吟。
八 十 六
bi
nu
zi
qie
cong
min
er
nan
zi
dang
zi
jing
Even though they are girls, they were quick and clever. The boys should set the girls as role models and learn from them.
彼女子， 且聪敏。 尔男子， 当自警。
八 十 七
tang
liu
yan
fang
qi
sui
ju
shen
tong
zuo
zheng
zi
Liu Yan was very talented at a tender age of seven. He was rated a child prodigy and appointed the post “Corrector of Texts.”
唐刘晏， 方七岁。 举神童， 作正字。
八 十 八
bi
sui
you
shen
yi
shi
er
you
xue
mian
er
zhi
you
wei
zhe
yi
ruo
shi
As a young student, you should regard the above examples as role models and study hard. One day, you will succeed like they did and achieve big things.
彼虽幼，身己仕。 尔幼学，勉而致。 有为者，亦若是。
八 十 九
quan
shou
ye
ji
si
chen
gou
bu
xue
he
wei
ren
The dog guards the night and the rooster proclaim the dawn. If one does not study hard, you will fail to become a better person.
犬守夜， 鸡司晨。 苟不学， 曷为人。
九 十
can
tu
si
feng
niang
mi
ren
bu
xue
bu
ru
wu
The silkworm produces silk and the bee makes honey. If you do not learn, you do not have any knowledge or skills and you will be similar to an animal.
蚕吐丝， 蜂酿蜜。 人不学， 不如物。
九 十 一
you
er
xue
zhuang
er
shang
zhi
jun
xia
ze
min
Study hard when you are young and perform well when you grow up. Contribute to the society and become a person of worth.
幼而学， 壮而行。 上致君， 下泽民。
九 十 二
yang
ming
sheng
xian
fu
mu
guang
yu
qian
yu
yu
hou
Make a good reputation of yourself and honor your parents. Do well and make your ancestors proud, while giving your descendants a good example to look up to.
扬名声， 显父母。 光于前， 裕于后。
九 十 三
ren
wei
zi
jin
man
ying
wo
jiao
zi
wei
yi
jing
People bequeath to their children chests full of gold, I teach my children only one classic.
人遗子， 金满嬴。 我教子， 惟一经。
九 十 四
qin
you
gong
xi
wu
yi
jie
zhi
zai
yi
mian
li
Diligence has its merit. If you do not put in effort into your work, you will end up wasting your time and regret it in the future. We must constantly remind ourselves to work hard for our dream.
勤有功， 戏无益。 戒之哉， 宜勉力。