本页提供《三字经》中英对照，按主题分章，便于朗读与理解。The Three-Character Classic presented with simple English lines for young readers.
Mint on Zora (collection) Download PDF (coming soon)开篇 · Human Nature & First Lessons
人之初，性本善。
At the beginning of life, human nature is good.
性相近，习相远。
Our natures are similar; habits make us different.
苟不教，性乃迁。
Without teaching, nature changes.
教之道，贵以专。
The way of teaching values focus and dedication.
昔孟母，择邻处；子不学，断机杼。
Mencius’ mother chose good neighbors; when he slacked, she cut the loom to warn him.
窦燕山，有义方；教五子，名俱扬。
Dou Yanshan taught his five sons well; all became renowned.
养不教，父之过；教不严，师之惰。
Raising without teaching is the parent’s fault; lax teaching is the teacher’s fault.
子不学，非所宜；幼不学，老何为。
A child who won’t learn fails his stage; if not in youth, then when?
玉不琢，不成器；人不学，不知义。
Jade needs carving to be a vessel; people need learning to know right.
为人子，方少时；亲师友，习礼仪。
As a child, be close to teachers and friends; practice manners.
香九龄，能温席；融四岁，能让梨。
Xiang warmed the bed for his elders; Rong yielded the larger pear at four.
首孝弟，次见闻；一而十，十而百；百而千，千而万。
Begin with filial piety and brotherly love; knowledge grows step by step, multiplying.
数与时 · Numbers, Seasons & Order
三才者，天地人；三光者，日月星。
Three Powers: Heaven, Earth, Humanity; Three Lights: Sun, Moon, Stars.
三纲者，君臣义，父子亲，夫妇顺。
Three Bonds: ruler–subject righteousness, father–son affection, husband–wife harmony.
曰春夏，曰秋冬；此四时，运不穷。
Spring, summer, autumn, winter—four seasons never cease.
曰南北，曰西东；此四方，应乎中。
South, north, west, east—four directions centered by balance.
曰水火，木金土；此五行，本乎数。
Water, fire, wood, metal, earth—Five Elements align with order.
曰仁义，礼智信；此五常，不容紊。
Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trust—Five Constants must not be confused.
稻粱菽，麦黍稷；此六谷，人所食。
Six grains are people’s food.
马牛羊，鸡犬豕；此六畜，人所饲。
Six livestock are people’s husbandry.
曰喜怒，曰哀惧；爱恶欲，七情具。
Seven emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, desire.
高曾祖，父而身；身而子，子而孙；自子孙，至元曾，乃九族，而之伦。
Kinship across nine generations: ancestors to descendants, forming human relations.
经学之门 · Learning the Classics
凡训蒙，须讲究；详训诂，名句读。
To teach the young: explain meanings and pauses carefully.
为学者，必有初；小学终，至四书。
Study has stages: finish elementary, then the Four Books.
《论语》者，二十篇；群弟子，记善言。
The Analects: 20 books of wise sayings.
《孟子》者，七篇止；讲道德，说仁义。
Mencius: seven books on virtue and benevolence.
作《中庸》，子思笔；中不偏，庸不易。
Doctrine of the Mean: balance and constancy.
作《大学》，乃曾子；自修齐，至平治。
Great Learning: from self-cultivation to ordering the world.
《孝经》通，四书熟；如六经，始可读。
After mastering the Four Books and the Classic of Filial Piety, then the Six Classics.
诗书易，礼春秋；号六经，当讲求。
Odes, Documents, Changes, Rites, Spring and Autumn—study them in depth.
兴衰之鉴 · Dynasties & Cycles (selected)
经子通，读诸史；考世系，知终始。
After classics, read histories; learn the rise and fall of times.
自羲农，至黄帝；号三皇，居上世。
From Fu-Xi and Shen-Nong to the Yellow Emperor—ancient sovereigns.
唐有虞，号二帝；相揖逊，称盛世。
Yao and Shun abdicated virtuously—an age of greatness.
夏商周，汉唐宋……（史略）
Then Xia, Shang, Zhou… through Han, Tang, Song… a long arc of change.
读史书，考实录，通古今，若亲目。
Study records to see the past and present as if with your own eyes.
苦学立志 · Study with Grit
口而诵，心而惟；朝于斯，夕于斯。
Recite with the mouth, ponder with the heart—morning and night.
头悬梁，锥刺股；如囊萤，如映雪。
Hang hair to the beam, prick the thigh; read by fireflies or snow-light—metaphors for diligence.
家虽贫，学不缀；身虽劳，犹苦卓。
Though poor or busy, keep learning with effort.
有为者，亦若是。
Those who achieve, do so by this spirit.
终章 · Final Admonitions
幼而学，壮而行；上致君，下泽民。
Learn when young, act when grown; serve people and country.
扬名声，显父母；光于前，裕于后。
Honor your parents; bless your descendants.
勤有功，戏无益；戒之哉，宜勉力。
Diligence brings gain; idleness brings none—be steadfast.
Public domain text. Bilingual lines adapted for young readers. Recorded by ToadAid.