Mencius 3B.8
Mencius (孟子), Book 3, Part II: Teng Wen Gong II 滕文公下
戴盈之曰：「什一，去關市之征，今茲未能。請輕之，以待來年，然後已，何如？」孟子曰：「今有人日攘其鄰之雞者，或告之曰：『是非君子之道。』曰：『請損之，月攘一雞，以待來年，然後已。』如知其非義，斯速已矣，何待來年。」
Dai Ying Zhi said to Mencius, 'I am not able at present and immediately to do with the levying of a tithe only, and abolishing the duties charged at the passes and in the markets. With your leave I will lighten, however, both the tax and the duties, until next year, and will then make an end of them. What do you think of such a course?'
Mencius said, 'Here is a man, who every day appropriates some of his neighbour's strayed fowls. Some one says to him, "Such is not the way of a good man;" and he replies, "With your leave I will diminish my appropriations, and will take only one fowl a month, until next year, when I will make an end of the practice." If you know that the thing is unrighteous, then use all despatch in putting an end to it - why wait till next year?'
Character glossary
- 戴dàito support; to respect; to put on, to we
- 盈yíngfull, overflowing; surplus; to fill
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 什shénwhat? mixed, miscellaneous
- 一yīone; a, an; alone
- 去qùto go away, to leave, to depart
- 關guānfrontier pass; to close, to shut; relati
- 市shìcity, town; market, fair; to trade
- 征zhēngto summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journe
- 今jīnmodern, current; today, now
- 茲zīnow, here; this; time, year
- 未wèinot yet; 8th terrestrial branch
- 能néngcan, may; capable, full of energy
- 請qǐngto ask, to request; to invite; please
- 輕qīnglight, gentle; simple, easy
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 待dàito entertain, to receive, to treat; to d
- 來láito arrive, to come, to return; in the fu
- 年niányear; anniversary; a person's age
- 然ráncertainly; naturally; suddenly
- 後hòuafter; behind, rear; descendants
- 已yǐalready; finished; to stop; then, afterw
- 何héwhat, why, where, which, how
- 如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposing
- 孟mèngfirst in a series; great, eminent
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 人rénman, person; people
- 日rìsun; day; daytime
- 攘rǎngto usurp, to seize; to repel
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 鄰línneighbor; neighborhood
- 雞jīchicken
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 或huòor, either, else; maybe, perhaps, possib
- 告gàoto tell, to inform, to announce; to accu
- 是shìto be; indeed, right, yes; okay
- 非fēinot, negative, non-; to oppose
- 君jūnsovereign, ruler, prince, monarch, chief
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 損sǔnto damage, to harm
- 月yuèmoon; month
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 義yìright conduct, propriety; justice
- 斯sīthis, thus, such; emphatic particle; use
- 速sùprompt, quick, speedy
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi Knowledge travels North
- Zhuangzi Tsê Yang
- Mencius 6B.10
- Zhuangzi On Swords
- Zhuangzi On Declining Power
- Mencius 6B.2
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
Last posts
- Skinned vs Unskinned Rattan Sticks Choosing the Right Gear
- How Long Do Rattan Sticks Last in Heavy Contact Drills
- Are Foam Escrima Sticks Good for Kids and How to Choose
- Best Padded Escrima Sticks for Sparring and Drill Safety
- Choosing the Right Escrima Stick Diameter for Your Hand Size
- What Length Escrima Sticks Should You Buy for Training
- Rattan vs Hardwood Escrima Sticks Which Is Better
- Best Escrima Sticks for Beginners and How to Choose Them
- Buying Different Staff Weights for Training and Forms
- Best Bo Staff Gifts for Karate Students Choosing the Right Tool