人之初，性本善。
性相近，习相远。Man on earth,
Good at birth.The same nature,
But varied nurture. 苟不教，性乃迁。教之道，贵以专。With no education,
There'd be aberration.To teach well,
You deeply dwell.
昔孟母，择邻处，子不学，断机杼。
Then Mencius' mother,
Chose her neighbor.Mencius carelessly learned;
Shuttles she overturned.
窦燕山，有义方，教五子，名俱扬
。Dough, as hight,Managed so right.His five sons,Became famous ones.
养不教，父之过。教不严，师之惰。
What's a father?A good teacher.What's a teacher?A strict preacher.
子不学，非所宜。幼不学，老何为？
An unschooled childWill grow wild.A poor-learning youth,Will turn uncouth.
玉不琢，不成器。人不学，不知义。
A crude jadeIsn't finely made;
Not learning right,One'll virtues slight.
为人子，方少时，亲师友，习礼仪。
Son of man,Mature you can,None you slight,Learn the rite.
香九龄，能温席。孝于亲，所当执。
Xiang, at nine,Warmed bedding fine.A filial son,Good to everyone.
融四岁，能让梨。弟于长，宜先知。
Rong, at four,Gave pears galore.Bear in mind:Always be kind.
首孝悌，次见闻，知某数，识某文。
Stress piety moreThan your lore.Learn some numeracy,Know some literacy.
一而十，十而百，百而千，千而万。
One to ten,A hundred then,One thousand more,Ten thousand afore.
三才者，天地人。三光者，日月星。
Three vitals, worth:Man, heaven, earth;Three lights, boon:Sun, stars, moon.
三纲者，君臣义，父子亲，夫妇顺。
Three tenets always:Subject Lord obeys.Son Father reveres;Man Wife endears.
曰春夏，曰秋冬，此四时，运不穷。
Spring and summer,Autumn and winter.These four seasonsTurn with reasons.
曰南北，曰西东，此四方，应乎中。
South, north say,West, east, hey.
These four waysUpon center gaze.
曰水火，木金土，此五行，本乎数。
Water, fire, behold,Earth, wood, gold.
These five materialsAccord to numerals.
十干者，甲至癸。十二支，子至亥 。
The ten trunksAre great chunks.
The twelve wingsAre good things.
曰黄道，日所躔。曰赤道，当中权。
The Ecliptic line,The Zodiac sign,
And the EquatorCircling the center.
赤道下，温暖极。我中华，在东北。
Nowhere is hotterThan the equator.
China, the greatestLies in Northeast.
寒燠均，霜露改。右高原，左大海。
Its temperature's due,With frost 'nd dew .
Right, High Lea;Left, Great Sea. 曰江河，
曰淮济。此四渎，水之纪。
Yangtze, Ho say,Huai and Ji,
hey.The rivers fourAll along outpour.
曰岱华，蒿恒衡。此五岳，山之名。
Huah 'n Deigh sayOther three, hey!
The five mountainsAre high bastions.
曰士农，曰工商。此四民，国之良。
Officials and farmers,Merchants and workers,
These four great,Pillars of th' State
曰仁义，礼智信，此五常，不容紊。
Right, kind bosom,Rituals, faith, wisdom.
These canons fiveShould keep alive.
地所生，有草木。此植物，遍水陆。
The earth's goodWith grass 'n wood.
These plants expandOver the land.
有虫鱼，有鸟兽。此动物，能飞走。
Fishes and birds,Worms and herds.
These creatures cry,Run or fly.
稻粱菽，麦黍稷，此六谷，人所食。
Rice, sorghum, beans,Wheat, millet, corns.
These six grains,Make our gains.
马牛羊，鸡犬豕，此六畜，人所饲。
Cows, sheep, equines,Hens, dogs,
swines.These six breedsMeet our needs.
曰喜怒，曰哀惧，爱恶欲，七情具。
Say anger, happiness,Say fear, sadness,
Love, hate, greed,
These emotions lead.
青赤黄，及黑白。此五色，目所识。
Red, yellow, green, Black 'nd white between,
These colors fiveSet things alive.
酸苦甘，及辛咸。此五味，口所含。
Sour, bitter, hot,Sweet, salty, dot!
These tastes fiveSet dishes alive.
膻焦香，及腥朽。此五臭，鼻所嗅。
Muttony, fishy, balmy,Moldy,
and stinky,These smells fiveMake noses alive.
匏土革，木石金，丝与竹，乃八音。
Gourd, leather, clayWood we play,Stone,
copper, bamboo,And string, too.
曰平上，曰去入。此四声，宜调协。
Level, rise say,Last, fall, hey.
These, all tones,Should be tunes.
高曾祖，父而身，身而子，子而孙。
Grandparents, and Father,
Me and brother,Children, and grandchildren---
kindred through semen.
自子孙，至玄曾，乃九族，人之伦。
Grandchildren, and afore;Grandparents,
back more.These generations nine,
A genealogical line.
父子恩，夫妇从。兄则友，弟则恭。
Father 'nd son are dear;
Man 'nd wife cohere.
Brothers are bland,Hand in hand.
长幼序，友与朋。君则敬，臣则忠。
In, keep kinship;Out, keep friendship.
People loves Lord,And stay adored.
此十义，人所同。当师叙， 勿违背。
This you rememberFor every member.
This be obeyed,Never be gainsaid.
斩齐衰，大小功。至缌麻，五服终。
Cuts and completes,Merits and feats,
And linen, tooFor funeral blue.
有古文，大小篆。隶草继，不可乱。
Lo characters old,Seals, lesser 'nd bold,
Cursory and slave.Writing styles grave!
若广学，惧其繁。但略说，能知原。
To learn widelyIs not easy.
To study some,Knowing you become.
礼乐射，御书数。古六艺，今不具。
Rituals, calligraphy, shooting,Music,
mathematics, driving.
These six artsNeed devotional hearts.
惟书学，人共遵。既识字，讲说文。
Calligraphy all respect,'
nd may others neglect.
Words already learned,
Motivations are concerned.
凡训蒙，须讲究，详训诂，名句窦。
You'd pay attentionTo primary education.
Know word motivation,
Use good punctuation.
为学者，必有初，小学终，至四书。
Now to learn,Make a turn.
From school nooksTo Great Books.
论语者，二十篇，群弟子，记善言。
The Analects--selections Has twenty sections.
Confucius, his disciplesGave off sparkles.
孟子者，七篇止，讲道德，说仁义。
Mencius, the sutrasHas seven chapters.
These are counselsOf virtues 'nd morals.
作中庸，子思笔，中不偏，庸不易。
The Golden Mean,Great it's been.
Tzusih, the scholarIs its author.
作大学，乃曾子，自修齐，至平治。
Great Learning, great,Of th' first rate:
From personal perfectionTo national progression.
孝经通，四书熟，如六经，始可读。
Piety comes first,Four Books,
versed.Six Classics nowYou should plough.
诗书易，礼春秋，号六经，当讲求。
History, Changes, Odes,
Books of altitudes.Spring 'nd Autumn,
RitualsBooks for perusals.
有连山，有归藏，有周易，三易详。
Book of Ranges,Book of Changes,
Book of Retreat,Detailed and great.
有典谟，有训诰。有誓命，书之奥。
Canons, duties, plans, Edicts, oaths,
bans,And imperial mandatesAre secret first-rates.
我周公，作周礼。著六官，存治体。
Duke of ZhoughDid Rituals bestow,
He elaborated managementAnd good government.
大小戴，注礼记。述圣言，礼乐备。
The Days gained,with Rituals explained.
They paraphrased adages Of those sages.
曰国风，曰雅颂。号四诗，当讽咏。
The Psalms say,The Chants,
hey,And those odes,
Show varied attitudes.
诗既亡，春秋作。寓褒贬，别善恶。
With Poems lonesome;
Arose Spring 'nd autumnTo criticize ill-doing,
And praise well-being.
三传者， 有公羊，有左氏，有谷梁。
Companion authors three:
Zuo Qiu-ming, and he Who was Gongyang,
And another Goo Liang.
经既明，方读子。撮其要，记其事。
Classics finished nowRead Companions enow.
Make a list,Get the gist.
五子者，有荀扬。文中子，及老庄。
Five sages thenWere great men:
Xun, Wen, Yang Lao-tzu and Zhuang.
经子通，读诸史。考世系，知终始。
After finishing theseRead histories please.
Do study genealogyAnd know causality.
自羲农，至黄帝。号三皇，居上世。
From Ancestor FuxiTo Shennong 'nd Huangdi
These three forefathersWere great precursors.
唐有虞，号二帝。相揖逊，称盛世。
Yao and Shun,Two great men.
Offering Shun throne,
Yao was Known.
夏有禹，商有汤。周文武，称三王。
Xiah, Shang, Zhough,Three dyansties,
lo.Yuh, Tang, WooWere kings true.
夏传子，家天下。四百载，迁夏社。
Xiah, th' bad oneThroned his son.
Th' four hundredth yearSaw Xiah sear.
周武王，始诛纣。八百载，最长久。
Woo of ZhoughTriumphed over Chough.
Eight hundred years,The longest cheers.
周辙东，王纲坠。逞干戈，尚游说。
Zhough moved east,'nd governed the least.
There arose militanceValued was eloquence.
始春秋，终战国。五霸强，七雄出。
Spring 'nd Autumn beganWarring States then.
Five became strong;Then Seven sprung.
嬴秦氏，始兼并。传二世，楚汉争。
The First EmperorFinished those inferior.
Generations but two,Arose Han 'nd Chuh.
高祖兴，汉业建。至孝平，王莽篡。
With Liu-Bang then,Arose th' Great Han.
Xiao-Ping was bayed;
So Wang-Mang swayed.
光武兴，为东汉。四百年，终于献。
Arose Guang-Woo then;
Appeared East Han.
Th' four hundredth yearSaw Han-Xian's tear.
魏蜀吴，争汉鼎。号三国，迄两晋。
Shuh, Woo, WeighStruggled their way.
Three kingdoms reared;
Two Jins appeared.
宋齐继，梁陈承。为南朝，都金陵。
Song, Qih, Liang,And Chen clung.
This South Regal,Nanjing as capital.
北元魏，分东西。宇文周，兴高齐。
North Court, unrest,Divided east,
west.Yuh-wen built Zhough,
Qih triumphed though.
迨至隋，一土宇。不再传，失统绪。
Suih, so grand,United the land.
It did bloom,Soon its doom.
唐高祖，起义师。除隋乱，创国基。
Tang's uprising nowSwept Suih enow.
Another empire roseAt Suih's close.
二十传，三百载。梁灭之，国乃改。
Three centuries, last.
Twenty emperors past.
It thus decayed,By Liang erased.
梁唐晋，及汉周。称五代，皆有由。
Thus started Liang,Jin and Tang,
Han and Zhough.Five empires,ho.
炎宋兴，受周禅。十八传，南北混。
Then Song, yoho,Coronated by Zhough.
Emperors counted eighteen.
Then invasion keen.
辽与金，皆称帝。元灭金，绝宋世。
Liao 'nd Jin aroseBoth invaded close.
The Mongolian throngWiped out Song.
舆图广，超前代。九十年，国祚废。
The territory vastExceeded all past.
Ninety years elapsed;
The empire collapsed.
太祖兴，国大明。号洪武，都金陵。
Taizu by nameWon his fame.
He established Ming,
Seated in Nanking
迨成祖，迁燕京。十六世，至崇祯。
The middle MingMoved to PekingSixteen emperors past,
Congzheng the last.
阉祸后，寇内讧。闯逆变，神器终，
The eunuch powerMade all cower.
Lee did repine,Overthrew the shrine.
古今史，全在兹。载治乱，知兴衰。
Recorded all here,Until this year.
You know all,Rise and fall.
史虽繁，读有次。史记一，汉书二。
History so complexMay you perplex.
History Book foremost,Han Annals juxtaposed.
后汉三，国志四。兼证经，参通鉴。
Next Eastern Han, Three Kingdoms then.
Read the authorized With Mirrors supplied.
读史者，考实录。通古今，若亲目。
As past's explored,Check every record.
You'll know howThen became now.
口而诵，心而惟。朝于斯，夕于斯。
Read and thinkAnd pieces
linkFrom early morningTo late evening.
昔仲尼，师项橐。古圣贤，尚勤学。
Confucius, of yoreStudied, studied more,
From Xiang-tuo learned.As he yearned,
赵中令，读鲁论。彼既仕，学且勤。
Zhao-pu of SongRead Analects longHe,
powerful, alack,Was never slack.
披蒲编，削竹简。彼无书，且知勉。
With cattail tips,From bamboo slips,
Lu-wen and Gongsun-HongStudied all along.
头悬梁，锥刺股。彼不教，自勤苦。
Head hung high, Needled his thigh.
Why push him,He's abundant vim.
如囊萤，如映雪。家虽贫，学不辍。
Fireworms as light,With snow white,Poor,
having none,They studied on.
如负薪，如挂角。身虽劳，犹苦卓。
Reading, bearing thorns,
Reading, book on horns,
They, making time,
Employed their prime.
苏老泉，二十七。始发愤，读书籍。
Su-xun, twenty sevenHadn't studied even.
Now this ladRead like mad.
彼既老，犹悔迟。尔小生，宜早思。
This man, behold,Started when old.
You'd make timeWhile in prime.
若梁灏，八十二。对大廷，魁多士。
A wizard true,When eighty two,
passed imperial examinations,
Beating his companions.
彼既成，众称异。尔小生，宜立志。
His great successDid everyone impress.
While you're young,
Make wills strong.
莹八岁，能咏诗。泌七岁，能赋棋。
Zu-ying, not late,Recited at eight.Mih,
at seven,Could praise Heaven.
彼颖悟，人称奇。尔幼学，当效之。
He, so smart,Won everyone's heart.
Exert your vim,Learn from him.
蔡文姬，能辩琴。谢道韫，能咏吟。
Cai could discernA good zithern.
Wen, in repose,Could poems compose.
彼女子，且聪敏。尔男子，当自警。
They, though women,
Were very keen.Man thou art,
Be likely smart! 唐刘晏，方七岁。举神童，作正字。
Liu-yan, thine joy,A seven-year-old boy.
The proof-reading postSuited him most.
彼虽幼，身已仕。有为者，亦若是。
Young as he, An official already.
To be known,Follow him soon.
犬守夜，鸡司晨。苟不学，曷为人。
Dogs strangers bite;Cocks cry light.
Do something learn,Useful you'll turn.
蚕吐丝，蜂酿蜜。人不学，不如物。
Silkworms silk educe;Bees honey produce.
Follow them along,Your use prolong.
幼而学，壮而行，上致君，下泽民。
Learn while young;Act while strong.
Benefit each oneUnder the sun.
扬名声，显父母。光于前，裕于后。
Your parents' famesucceeds your name.Ancestors you glorify;
Offspring you dignify.
人遗子，金满赢。我教子，唯一经。
What others hold:Silver and gold.
What I spurn:Hatred to learn.
勤有功，戏无益。戒之哉，宜勉力。
Good is diligence;
Poor is negligence.Do your best,
Pushed and pressed.
【来源：天津外国语大学赵彦春教授《英韵三字经》，光明日报出版社】
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