《學記》-3 Record on the subject of education [K&W]

儒家: 《禮記》 – 《學記 (公元前475年 – 公元前221年)

Record on the subject of education (475-221 BC) English translation by James Legge

《學記》3 :

雖有嘉肴,弗食,不知其旨也;雖有至道,弗學,不知其善也。學然後知不足,教然後知困知不足,然後能自反也;知困,然後能自強也,故曰:教學相長也。《兌命》曰:「學學半。」其此之謂乎!

However fine the viands be, if one do not eat, he does not know their taste; however perfect the course (the Way) may be, if one do not learn it, he does not know its goodness. Therefore when he learns, one knows his own deficiencies; when he teaches, he knows the difficulties of learning. After he knows his deficiencies, one is able to turn round and examine himself; after he knows the difficulties, he is able to stimulate himself to effort. Hence it is said, ‘Teaching and learning help each other;’ as it is said in the Charge to Yueh, ‘Teaching is the half of learning.’

【白话解】雖然有好菜擺在那里,如果不吃,也就不能知道它的美味;雖然有至善的道理(最好的義理),如果不去學習,也不能知道它的美好可貴。所以說:學習過後才知道自己的學識不夠,教人之後才發現自己的學識不通達。知道不夠,然後才能反省,努力向學。知道有困難不通達,然後才能自我勉勵,發奮圖強。所以說:教與學相輔相成的。《尚書·兌命篇》說:教別人能夠收到一半學習的效果,教學互進。是這個意思。

原文简体:虽有嘉肴,弗食不知其旨也;虽有至道,弗学不知其善也。是故学然后知不足,教然后知困。知不足然后能自反,知困然后能自强也。故曰:教学相长也。《兑命》曰:“学学半”。其此之谓乎!

翻译:尽管有味美可口的菜肴,不吃是不会知道它的美味的;尽管有高深完善的道理,不学习也不会了解它的好处。所以,通过学习才能知道自己的不足,通过教人才能感到困惑。知道自己学业的不足,才能反过来严格要求自己;感到困惑然后才能不倦的钻研。所以说,教与学是互相促进的。《兑命》篇说:“(在教学过程中)教与学是一个事情的两个方面”,就是说的这个道理啊!