.jpg)
English Di Zi Gui 弟子規 - A Rhyming and Rhythmic Translation
A few years ago, I did a book summary on Di Zi Gui (弟子規), also called Guide to a Happy Life. It has been one of the most influential books on my life, and I still reflect on its teachings everyday.
I won't go into the contents of the book or why it's so amazing in this article, as I've already done that in my book summary article. In this article, I want to share my own translation.
The original Chinese text has a lot of rhyme and rhythm, making it very catchy and memorable, and I wanted to make an English version that has the same effect. I consulted the translations in Traditional Chinese Primers (2025) titled Guidelines for Learners, as well as the translations by Pure Land Learning College titled Guide to a Happy Life (2005) and Guidelines for Being a Good Person (2013).
I share my translation here in hopes that it may help those who want to learn or teach Di Zi Gui in English, and also to serve as reference material for better translations in the future.
Some key terms:
Filiality (xiao 孝): being a good child, with emphasis on gratitude, love, and respect towards parents.
Deference (ti 悌): being a good younger sibling or junior, with emphasis on being respectful towards elder siblings or elders in general.
Virtuous (ren 仁). Normally, I would translate ren as "humaneness", but for ease of understanding in this context, I chose the word "virtuous". Confucius often uses the term ren as an all-encompassing virtue.
Below is my translation as of November 2026.
弟子規 Guidelines for Learners
總序 Outline
弟子規 聖人訓
The Guidelines for Learners are teachings from sages.
首孝弟 次謹信
First filiality and deference. Then carefulness and trustworthiness.
汎愛眾 而親仁
Love all broadly, but associate with the virtuous.
有餘力 則學文
With further capacity, study literature.
入則孝 Filiality at Home
父母呼 應勿緩
When parents call, respond quickly.
父母命 行勿懶
When parents order, do it promptly.
父母教 須敬聽
When parents teach, listen respectfully.
父母責 須順承
When parents criticize, accept willingly.
冬則溫 夏則凊
In winter, keep them warm. In summer, keep them cool.
晨則省 昏則定
Greet them in the morning. Wish good night in the evening.
出必告 反必面
Inform before leaving. Report upon returning.
居有常 業無變
In my daily life, have consistency. In my work and career, have stability.
事雖小 勿擅為
A matter may seem small, but don’t act as I please.
苟擅為 子道虧
If I act as I please, I lack filiality.
物雖小 勿私藏
A thing may be small, but don’t hide it secretly.
苟私藏 親心傷
Hiding things from parents, I hurt their hearts greatly.
親所好 力為具
Strive to provide what benefits my parents.
親所惡 謹為去
Carefully remove what harms my parents.
身有傷 貽親憂
Parents are worried when I have injury.
德有傷 貽親羞
Parents are ashamed by my moral deficiency.
親愛我 孝何難
When parents are loving, how is filiality hard?
親憎我 孝方賢
When parents are unloving, then filiality is truly praiseworthy.
親有過 諫使更
When parents have faults, advise for improvement.
怡吾色 柔吾聲
Use a gentle voice and a pleasant facial expression.
諫不入 悅複諫
If they don’t listen, try again when they’re happy.
號泣隨 撻無怨
Cry if necessary. Hold no grudge if they get angry.
親有疾 藥先嘗
When parents are ill, assist with treatment.
晝夜侍 不離床
Attend day and night, by their side each moment.
喪三年 常悲咽
For three years after their passing, remember them solemnly.
居處變 酒肉絕
Adjust the home accordingly. Avoid pleasures and festivities.
喪盡禮 祭盡誠
Do funeral and memorial with all of my heart.
事死者 如事生
Honor the deceased as if they did not depart.
出則弟 Deference in the Community
兄道友 弟道恭
Younger siblings respectful, older siblings friendly.
兄弟睦 孝在中
When siblings are in harmony, they have filiality.
財物輕 怨何生
Looking lightly on property, how could resentment arise?
言語忍 忿自泯
Holding back words, anger naturally subsides.
或飲食 或坐走
Whether eating, drinking, walking, or sitting,
長者先 幼者後
The elder goes first, the junior following.
長呼人 即代叫
When elders call for someone, find them with haste.
人不在 己即到
If that person is absent, respond in their place.
稱尊長 勿呼名
When addressing elders, don’t call their name.
對尊長 勿見能
When in front of elders, showing off is a shame.
路遇長 疾趨揖
When encountering elders, approach quickly to greet.
If they don’t respond, respectfully retreat.
騎下馬 乘下車
If riding a bicycle, get off to greet.
過猶待 百步餘
Wait as they leave, until they cannot be seen.
長者立 幼勿坐
When my elders are standing, do not be seated.
長者坐 命乃坐
When my elders are sitting, sit after invited.
尊長前 聲要低
When speaking to elders, keep my volume lower.
低不聞 卻非宜
But if they can’t hear me, that’s not appropriate either.
進必趨 退必遲
Approach elders quickly, but leave them slowly.
問起對 視勿移
When responding to elders, look at them directly.
事諸父 如事父
Serve all parents as my own parents.
事諸兄 如事兄
Treat all siblings as my own siblings.
謹 Carefulness
朝起早 夜眠遲
Be early to rise. Don’t sleep too late.
老易至 惜此時
Old age arrives quickly. Cherish today.
晨必盥 兼漱口
Morning face be washed. Teeth brushed to gleam.
便溺回 輒淨手
After the toilet, wash my hands clean.
冠必正 紐必結
Check my hat is straight. Shirt buttons buttoned.
襪與履 俱緊切
Check socks match. Shoelaces tightened.
置冠服 有定位
Store hats and clothes in a set place.
勿亂頓 致污穢
Don’t leave them around, creating mess and disgrace.
衣貴潔 不貴華
Value my clothes for being clean not fancy.
上循分 下稱家
Dress according to my role and within financial ability.
對飲食 勿揀擇
Towards food and drink, do not fuss.
食適可 勿過則
Eat just enough, not too much.
年方少 勿飲酒
Don’t drink alcohol at a young age.
飲酒醉 最為醜
Getting drunk is ugly at any stage.
步從容 立端正
Walk calmly and steadily. Stand up straight.
揖深圓 拜恭敬
Bow deeply and fully. Prostrate to venerate.
勿踐閾 勿跛倚
Don’t step on doorsills or lean on one leg.
勿箕踞 勿搖髀
Don’t sprawl legs out or rock the legs.
緩揭簾 勿有聲
Open blinds and curtains quieter and slower,
寬轉彎 勿觸棱
Leave ample space when going around corners.
執虛器 如執盈
Hold empty containers with great care.
入虛室 如有人
Enter empty rooms as if people were there.
事勿忙 忙多錯
Don’t rush tasks. Haste makes mistakes.
勿畏難 勿輕略
Don’t fear the hard, nor neglect the easy.
鬥鬧場 絕勿近
Rowdy and bad places, do not enter.
邪僻事 絕勿問
Improper and bad matters, do not enquire.
將入門 問孰存
Before entering a room, ask who’s there.
將上堂 聲必揚
When approaching a room, let those inside hear.
人問誰 對以名
If they ask who it is, say my name clear.
吾與我 不分明
To just say “me” is not very clear.
用人物 須明求
Towards others’ things, ask before taking.
倘不問 即為偷
Without asking first, it is stealing.
借人物 及時還
Return borrowed items in a timely manner.
後有急 借不難
If in urgent need later, borrowing won’t be harder.
信 Trustworthiness
凡出言 信為先
In all speech, trustworthiness matters most.
詐與妄 奚可焉
Deceit and lies are unacceptable.
話說多 不如少
When it comes to speech, less is better.
惟其是 勿佞巧
Speak what is real, do not charm or flatter.
奸巧語 穢污詞
Cunning speech, crude language,
市井氣 切戒之
And uncivilized habits, all of these things ought to be avoided.
見未真 勿輕言
If I haven’t seen it, don’t casually say.
知未的 勿輕傳
If I’m uncertain, don’t casually state.
事非宜 勿輕諾
If inappropriate, don’t casually promise.
苟輕諾 進退錯
To keep or break such promises, it’s still inappropriate.
凡道字 重且舒
Articulate words, be slow and clear.
勿急疾 勿模糊
Do not mumble, or talk too fast to hear.
彼說長 此說短
Some like to gossip on the good and bad of others.
不關己 莫閒管
If it’s none of my business, don’t join or enquire.
見人善 即思齊
Seeing others’ goodness, think to emulate.
縱去遠 以漸躋
Though I’m behind, I’ll gradually elevate.
見人惡 即內省
Seeing others’ wrongs, reflect on myself.
有則改 無加警
If I have it too, make correction. If I don’t have it, maintain prevention.
唯德學 唯才藝
When my virtues, learning, skills, and abilities
不如人 當自礪
are worse than others, encourage myself to improve and work harder.
若衣服 若飲食
If what I eat or what I wear
不如人 勿生慼
are worse than others, there’s no need to compare, and no reason to be bothered.
聞過怒 聞譽樂
If upset by criticism and enjoying of praise,
損友來 益友卻
good friends leave and bad company associate.
聞譽恐 聞過欣
If appreciative of criticism and nervous with praise,
直諒士 漸相親
those principled and true befriend in the coming days.
無心非 名為錯
A mistake it is if done by accident.
有心非 名為惡
A sin it is if done with intent.
過能改 歸於無
If I correct my faults, my faults will cease.
倘揜飾 增一辜
If I cover them up, my faults increase.
汎愛眾 Love All Broadly
凡是人 皆須愛
Towards all people, show love and care.
天同覆 地同載
We’re all supported by the same earth and air.
行高者 名自高
Those of high virtues naturally gain honor.
人所重 非貌高
Nice appearances are not what people honor.
才大者 望自大
Those of great talent naturally gain reputation.
人所服 非言大
People aren’t impressed by boasting or exaggeration.
己有能 勿自私
If I can help, don’t be selfish.
人有能 勿輕訾
Towards others’ abilities, don’t disparage.
勿諂富 勿驕貧
Don’t flatter the rich or disdain the poor.
勿厭故 勿喜新
Don’t dislike the old, wanting new and more.
人不閒 勿事攪
If others are busy, do not bother.
人不安 勿話擾
If others are troubled, do not chatter.
人有短 切莫揭
Towards others’ flaws, help to conceal.
人有私 切莫說
Towards others’ secrets, never reveal.
道人善 即是善
Praising others’ goodness is a goodness itself.
人知之 愈思勉
When people hear praise, they’ll encourage themselves.
揚人惡 即是惡
Spreading others’ wrongs is a wrong itself.
疾之甚 禍且作
Excessive hate and slander will lead to disaster.
善相勸 德皆建
Encouraging each other’s virtues, we all cultivate.
過不規 道兩虧
Not advising each other’s faults, we all deteriorate.
凡取與 貴分曉
In giving and taking, be clear on everything.
與宜多 取宜少
When giving, give more. When taking, take less.
將加人 先問己
Ask myself first before doing to others.
己不欲 即速已
If I am not willing, don’t do it to others.
恩欲報 怨欲忘
Return others’ kindness and let go of grudges.
報怨短 報恩長
Spend less time complaining and more time returning kindness.
待婢僕 身貴端
Towards attendants, be upright and dignified.
雖貴端 慈而寬
At the same time, be forgiving and kind.
勢服人 心不然
If I force others, they’ll resist inside.
理服人 方無言
If I’m reasonable and fair, they’ll be on my side.
親仁 Associate with the Virtuous
同是人 類不齊
Though all people, we differ in virtue.
流俗眾 仁者希
The ordinary are many, the virtuous are few.
果仁者 人多畏
Those of high virtue, people greatly revere.
言不諱 色不媚
They don’t fawn or flatter, and their speech is sincere.
能親仁 無限好
Associating with the virtuous, the benefits are limitless.
德日進 過日少
My faults will decrease, and my virtues increase.
不親仁 無限害
Away from the virtuous, the harm is limitless.
小人進 百事壞
As petty people draw near, all will despair.
餘力學文 With Further Capacity, Study Literature
不力行 但學文
If I learn without practice or personal experience,
長浮華 成何人
What’ll become of me as I grow in arrogance.
但力行 不學文
If I practice without learning,
任己見 昧理真
I assume I’m correct. Little do I know, I really need to check.
讀書法 有三到
The method for reading has three things vital.
心眼口 信皆要
Mind, eyes, and mouth, all focused is crucial.
方讀此 勿慕彼
When reading this book, don’t think of another.
此未終 彼勿起
If this isn’t finished, don’t start another.
寬為限 緊用功
Arrange ample time, but work with vigour.
工夫到 滯塞通
When efforts mature, all will be clear.
心有疑 隨札記
For questions and doubts, note it down on paper.
就人問 求確義
Ask the right person for the correct answer.
房室清 牆壁淨
Keep the room tidy and the walls clean.
几案潔 筆硯正
Arrange pens neatly. Keep the table pristine.
墨磨偏 心不端
Writing tools not straight shows I am careless.
字不敬 心先病
Poor handwriting reveals my lack of focus.
列典籍 有定處
Books should be organized with a fixed place.
讀看畢 還原處
After reading it, return to its original place.
雖有急 卷束齊
Even if in a rush, clean up properly.
有缺壞 就補之
If the book is damaged, repair it promptly.
非聖書 屏勿視
If not a sage book, do not read.
蔽聰明 壞心志
It will block my wisdom and taint my dreams.
勿自暴 勿自棄
Towards my potential, don’t be harsh or deny.
聖與賢 可馴致
Then I’ll gradually become worthy and wise.
Comments