Chinese myth story

Tao Te Ching — The Way

道德经·道可道

Explore the opening ideas of the Tao Te Ching through advanced Mandarin about naming, contrast, conditions, and philosophical comparison.

☯️
Reading progress0/100

Display mode

Read the story

1

《道德经》开篇便提出悖论。

Dàodéjīng kāipiān biàn tíchū bèilùn.

The Tao Te Ching begins by presenting a paradox.

2

“道可道,非常道”并非否定语言。

“Dào kě dào, fēicháng dào” bìngfēi fǒudìng yǔyán.

“The way that can be spoken is not the constant Way” does not simply deny language.

3

它强调语言只能接近本质。

Tā qiángdiào yǔyán zhǐ néng jiējìn běnzhì.

It emphasizes that language can only approach essence.

4

若执着于名称,就可能远离真实。

Ruò zhízhuó yú míngchēng, jiù kěnéng yuǎnlí zhēnshí.

If one clings to names, one may move away from reality.

5

有与无相互对比,却并非绝对对立。

Yǒu yǔ wú xiānghù duìbǐ, què bìngfēi juéduì duìlì.

Being and nonbeing contrast with each other, yet are not absolute opposites.

6

正因为空,器物才有作用。

Zhèng yīnwèi kōng, qìwù cái yǒu zuòyòng.

Precisely because there is emptiness, objects have function.

7

这种倒装式表达突出了“无”的价值。

Zhè zhǒng dàozhuāng shì biǎodá tūchū le “wú” de jiàzhí.

This inverted-style expression highlights the value of “nonbeing.”

8

相比强行控制,顺其自然更接近道。

Xiāngbǐ qiángxíng kòngzhì, shùn qí zìrán gèng jiējìn dào.

Compared with forced control, following nature is closer to the Way.

9

上善若水,是因为水能处低而利万物。

Shàng shàn ruò shuǐ, shì yīnwèi shuǐ néng chǔ dī ér lì wànwù.

The highest good is like water because water stays low and benefits all things.

10

即便力量柔弱,也能长期改变坚硬之物。

Jíbiàn lìliang róuruò, yě néng chángqī gǎibiàn jiānyìng zhī wù.

Even if strength is soft, it can change hard things over time.

11

这并非消极退让,而是另一种策略。

Zhè bìngfēi xiāojí tuìràng, ér shì lìng yì zhǒng cèlüè.

This is not passive retreat, but another kind of strategy.

12

若从表面理解,便会误以为无为等于不做事。

Ruò cóng biǎomiàn lǐjiě, biàn huì wù yǐwéi wúwéi děngyú bú zuòshì.

If understood superficially, one may wrongly think nonaction means doing nothing.

13

实际上,无为强调减少不必要干预。

Shíjì shàng, wúwéi qiángdiào jiǎnshǎo bù bìyào gānyù.

In fact, nonaction emphasizes reducing unnecessary interference.

14

条件成熟时,变化往往水到渠成。

Tiáojiàn chéngshú shí, biànhuà wǎngwǎng shuǐ dào qú chéng.

When conditions mature, change often comes naturally.

15

道家思想因此具有强烈的辩证色彩。

Dàojiā sīxiǎng yīncǐ jùyǒu qiángliè de biànzhèng sècǎi.

Daoist thought therefore has a strong dialectical character.

16

它既关注宇宙,也关注个人生活。

Tā jì guānzhù yǔzhòu, yě guānzhù gèrén shēnghuó.

It concerns both the universe and individual life.

17

以柔克刚并不是逃避冲突。

Yǐ róu kè gāng bìng bú shì táobì chōngtū.

Using softness to overcome hardness is not avoiding conflict.

18

它要求人在复杂局面中保持清醒。

Tā yāoqiú rén zài fùzá júmiàn zhōng bǎochí qīngxǐng.

It requires people to remain clear-minded in complex situations.

19

概括来说,道是可感而难以穷尽的规律。

Gàikuò lái shuō, dào shì kě gǎn ér nányǐ qióngjìn de guīlǜ.

In summary, the Way is a perceptible yet inexhaustible pattern.

20

这种含蓄表达正是其魅力所在。

Zhè zhǒng hánxù biǎodá zhèng shì qí mèilì suǒzài.

This implicit expression is precisely where its charm lies.

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

27 cards

抽象

chōu xiàng

abstract

包含

bāo hán

to contain, to embody

表面

biǎo miàn

surface

本质

běn zhì

essence, nature

对比

duì bǐ

to contrast

反而

fǎn ér

instead; on the contrary; contrary (to expectations)

方式

fāng shì

method, way

根本

gēn běn

(not) at all

观察

guān chá

observation

观念

guān niàn

conception

规律

guī lv4

regular pattern, rule, law

合理

hé lǐ

reasonable

结论

jié lùn

conclusion

理论

lǐ lùn

theory

哲学

zhé xué

philosophy

客观

kè guān

objective (opposite of subjective)

逻辑

luó ji

logic

偶然

ǒu rán

accidental, coincidental

深刻

shēn kè

deep, profound

现象

xiàn xiàng

phenomenon

相对

xiāng duì

relative

绝对

jué duì

absolutely

原则

yuán zé

principle

自然

zì rán

natural

主观

zhǔ guān

subjective

概念

gài niàn

concept, idea

价值

jià zhí

value

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 本质 mean?

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 哲学?

Question 3

How does the story explain “道可道”?

Question 4

What does the story say about 无为?

Question 5

Choose the correct comparison sentence.

Question 6

What does “正因为空,器物才有作用” emphasize?

Question 7

What contrast is built by 有与无?

Question 8

What does 水到渠成 mean in the story?

Printable preview

Printable Story Worksheet

A simple classroom-friendly preview for Tao Te Ching — The Way. Use your browser print command to print this free HTML preview.

Free preview

Story vocabulary list

抽象 · chōu xiàng

abstract

包含 · bāo hán

to contain, to embody

表面 · biǎo miàn

surface

本质 · běn zhì

essence, nature

对比 · duì bǐ

to contrast

反而 · fǎn ér

instead; on the contrary; contrary (to expectations)

方式 · fāng shì

method, way

根本 · gēn běn

(not) at all

观察 · guān chá

observation

观念 · guān niàn

conception

规律 · guī lv4

regular pattern, rule, law

合理 · hé lǐ

reasonable

Simple questions

  1. What does 本质 mean?

    Options: essence / receipt / garage / fork

  2. What is the pinyin for 哲学?

    Options: zhéxué / zhēxué / zhèxué / zhéxuě

  3. How does the story explain “道可道”?

    Options: Language can approach but not fully exhaust the Way / Language is useless in all cases / The Way is a road sign / Names are always complete truth

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

便

More printable story activities are coming soon.