Translation of The Fish I Desire:

The fish is what I want, and the bear's paw is what I want, and if these two things cannot be obtained at the same time, then I would rather sacrifice the fish and choose the bear's paw. Life is what I want, and justice is what I want, and if these two things can't be obtained at the same time, then I'd rather sacrifice my life and choose righteousness. Life is what I want, but there is something more than life that I want, so I do not do what I want; death is what I detest, but there is something more than death that I detest, so there are calamities that I do not avoid. If there is nothing that men desire more than life, what means are unavailable to them wherever all means of preserving life are available? If there is nothing that people detest more than death, what evil can be done to avoid calamity? There are some means by which one can live, but some refuse to use them; and there are some ways by which one can escape from calamity, but some refuse to use them. From this we can see that what they love is more precious than life (that is, "righteousness"), and what they hate is more serious than death (that is, "unrighteousness"). Not only do the sages have this kind of thinking, but everyone has it, only the sages are able not to lose it.

A bowl of rice, a bowl of soup, if you get it, you live, if you don't get it, you starve. But when it is given with a contemptuous cry, the hungry pedestrian will not accept it; and when it is given with a kick, the beggar will not accept it out of contempt. But a high official accepts it without recognizing whether it is in accordance with propriety and righteousness. In this way, what good is it to me to have a high official position and a high salary? Is it for the splendor of my house, the service of my concubines, and the gratitude of the poor whom I know? In the past (someone) would rather die than accept it, but now (someone) accepts it for the sake of the splendor of a house; in the past (someone) would rather die than accept it, but now (someone) accepts it for the sake of his wife's and concubine's service; in the past (someone) would rather die than accept it, but now (someone) accepts it for the sake of the gratitude of the poor people he knows. Is not this practice a way to make it stop? This is called the loss of the nature inherent in man.

Translation of all the key words:

(1) also: also.

(2) Desire: to love.

(3) Get both: get both things.

(4) Surrender: to give up.

(5) Take: to select.

(6) Even: better than.

(7) Yu: than.

(8) Therefore: so, therefore.

(9) Goude: to get by, here it means "to live by".

(10) Wickedness: aversion.

(11) Sufferings: scourge, disaster.

(12) "Pai" means "avoid".

(13) as if: if, suppose.

(14) Zhi: used between the subject and the predicate, canceling the independence of the sentence, no real meaning, not translated.

(15) Mo: no.

(16) Then: then.

(17) Where: all, everything.

(18) to be born: to preserve life.

(19) Why not use: what means may not be used? Use, adopt.

(20) for: to do.

(21) And: but.

(22) is therefore: this is because.

(23) not alone: not only, not only Non: not alone: only.

(24) Sage: someone who is talented and virtuous.

(25) is: this, such.

(26) Heart: mind

(27) Do not lose: do not lose. Mourning: loss.

(28) dan: an ancient round bamboo vessel for holding food.

(29) dou: an ancient wooden utensil for holding food.

(30) then: on.

(31) F: not.

(32) get: to get.

(33) hul: to hoot and holler (contemptuously, with disrespect).

(34) Hul and with: to hul and give him (food and drink). Er, intonation auxiliary. As recorded in the Book of Rites - Tan Gong, one year there was a serious famine in Qi. Qian Ao was giving congee by the roadside when a hungry man came with his face covered by his sleeve. Qian Ao yelled at him to eat the congee. He said, "It is because I don't eat the food given to me in contempt that I am in this state!

(35) People of the Way: (hungry) passers-by.

(36) cu: to kick with the foot.

(37) And: to qualify.

(38) disdain: refuse to accept because of contempt.

(39) ten thousand bells: here refers to a high position and generous salary. Zhong (钟), an ancient measuring device, six ducats and four ducats for one Zhong.

(40) Ho plus: what is the benefit. 何 prepositional construction, postposition.

(41) palace: residence.

(42) Bong: to serve.

(43) destitute: the poor.

(44) get me: be grateful to me. (43) The poor and the needy: the poor.

(45) "With": "欤" (欤), an auxiliary of tone.

(46) Xiangxiang (乡) means "to", originally, once upon a time

(47) Xiangxiang (乡) means "to", once upon a time.

(48) already: stop.

(49) Benxin: nature, nature, conscience.

:

The Fish I Desire is a masterpiece of Mencius' in-depth discussion of man's concept of life and death based on his theory of the goodness of nature.

Mengzi's thoughts on this idea, which he considered to be the essence of the traditional moral cultivation of the Chinese people, are far-reaching matters.

Emphasizing that "justice" is more important than "life," he advocates sacrificing one's life for righteousness. Mencius was a good man, and believed that "all people have the heart of shame and evil", and that people should keep their good nature, strengthen their cultivation and education, and refrain from doing things that are contrary to etiquette.

References:? Baidu Encyclopedia - Fish I Desire