{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char": "一", "char_form_original": "一", "gloss_en": "One thread runs through everything. A name takes coherence, not arithmetic.", "gloss_zh": "孔子对曾子说：我的道，是一个东西贯穿着。名字用「一」，取的是这个「通体一致」。", "pinyin": "yī", "quote": "吾道一以贯之。", "sense_en": "One thread", "sense_zh": "一以贯之", "seq": 170, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "My way is held together by one single thread.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char": "世", "char_form_original": "世", "gloss_en": "Confucius claims the pattern can be traced a hundred generations ahead.", "gloss_zh": "孔子说礼制的沿革可以推知到百世之后。「世」在这里是时间单位，名字取的是「久」与「可续」。", "pinyin": "shì", "quote": "其或继周者，虽百世，可知也。", "sense_en": "What carries across generations", "sense_zh": "百世可知", "seq": 80, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Whoever succeeds the Zhou — even a hundred generations on, this can be known.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·东君", "char": "东", "char_form_original": "东", "gloss_en": "From the hymn to the sun god. 暾 is the newly risen sun. In Chinese, east is first of all where light begins, not a compass point.", "gloss_zh": "《九歌·东君》是祭日神的歌。「暾」是初升的太阳；东方在汉语里首先不是一个方位，是光开始的地方。", "pinyin": "dōng", "quote": "暾将出兮东方，照吾槛兮扶桑。", "sense_en": "Where the light starts", "sense_zh": "日出之处", "seq": 272, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The bright sun is about to rise in the east, lighting my railing from the fusang tree.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char": "东", "char_form_original": "东", "gloss_en": "A catalogue of reach in the Summons to the Soul: west to the pass, east until the sea — openness as a direction.", "gloss_zh": "《大招》铺陈疆域之大，东西各说到尽头。名字用「东」，取的是「向着开阔处」这一层。", "pinyin": "dōng", "quote": "西薄羊肠，东穷海只。", "sense_en": "East until the sea", "sense_zh": "东至海", "seq": 1400, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "West it presses on the narrow pass; east it runs to the sea.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "先进篇", "char": "中", "char_form_original": "中", "gloss_en": "He seldom speaks, and when he does it lands. Here 中 is a verb.", "gloss_zh": "孔子评南容：平时不怎么说话，一说就说到点上。「中」在这里是动词，念 zhòng。", "pinyin": "zhōng", "quote": "夫人不言，言必有中。", "sense_en": "Hitting the point", "sense_zh": "言必有中", "seq": 619, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "That man rarely speaks; when he does, he hits the mark.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·抽思", "char": "丽", "char_form_original": "丽", "gloss_en": "The line is about being alone abroad; a name takes the word, not the situation.", "gloss_zh": "「佳丽」是美好。这一句本身写的是独处异域，取字不取境——名字要的是「丽」这个字，不是屈原那一刻。", "pinyin": "lì", "quote": "好姱佳丽兮，牉独处此异域。", "sense_en": "The word for fine", "sense_zh": "好姱佳丽", "seq": 657, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Fine and lovely — and yet I am alone here, in a foreign land.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char": "书", "char_form_original": "书", "gloss_en": "Confucius switched to formal speech when reciting the Documents. 书 is the kind of text taken seriously.", "gloss_zh": "孔子平时说方言，讲到《诗》《书》和行礼时才用雅言。「书」在这里指《尚书》——被郑重对待的那类文本。", "pinyin": "shū", "quote": "子所雅言，诗、书、执礼，皆雅言也。", "sense_en": "What he said in the formal register", "sense_zh": "子所雅言", "seq": 356, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When the Master used the formal speech, it was for the Songs, the Documents, and the rites.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《終南別業》", "char": "云", "char_form_original": "雲", "gloss_en": "The cloud is what appears after the road runs out — the character in a name carries that turn, not defeat.", "gloss_zh": "此句的「云」是水气所成之雲，取「路走完了也不急」的从容；云在此是转身之后才出现的东西。", "pinyin": "yún", "quote": "行到水穷处，坐看云起时。", "sense_en": "High, and unhurried", "sense_zh": "高远从容", "seq": 4, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Walk to where the water ends; sit and watch the clouds rise.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《獨坐敬亭山》", "char": "云", "char_form_original": "雲", "gloss_en": "孤 here is not loneliness but self-possession: going alone, and in no hurry about it.", "gloss_zh": "「孤云」写的是「独去闲」：自己走，不赶时间，也不等谁。名字取的多是这一层的自在。", "pinyin": "yún", "quote": "众鸟高飞尽，孤云独去闲。", "sense_en": "Alone, and at ease with it", "sense_zh": "孤高自在", "seq": 5, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The birds have all flown high and away; one cloud drifts off, in no hurry.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《雜曲歌辭 行路難三首 一》", "char": "云", "char_form_original": "雲", "gloss_en": "The sail is cloud-coloured: 云 here is scale, the thing that makes the crossing possible.", "gloss_zh": "「云帆」是把帆比作云——云在这里是尺度：帆高得像云，所以过得去海。", "pinyin": "yún", "quote": "长风破浪会有时，直挂云帆济沧海。", "sense_en": "Distance, and the will to cross it", "sense_zh": "远志与行路", "seq": 6, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A long wind will come to break the waves; I will hoist a cloud-white sail and cross the sea.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "告子下", "char": "亮", "char_form_original": "亮", "gloss_en": "From Mencius: here 亮 means good faith, not brightness. A name can take either.", "gloss_zh": "这句出自《孟子·告子下》：「亮」在这里是「信」，不是照亮。名字用「亮」，两层都有人取。", "pinyin": "liàng", "quote": "君子不亮，恶乎执？", "sense_en": "The older sense of the word", "sense_zh": "君子不亮", "seq": 2170, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If a gentleman is not trustworthy, what can he hold to?", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char": "仁", "char_form_original": "仁", "gloss_en": "An operational definition: wanting to stand, you help others stand.", "gloss_zh": "孔子给「仁」下的可操作定义：自己想站住，就帮别人站住。名字用「仁」，取的是这个「推己及人」。", "pinyin": "rén", "quote": "夫仁者，己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人。", "sense_en": "The measure of it", "sense_zh": "己欲立而立人", "seq": 325, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The humane man: wishing to stand himself, he helps others stand; wishing to succeed, he helps others succeed.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·湘夫人", "char": "佳", "char_form_original": "佳", "gloss_en": "Waiting for a promised meeting: 佳 here is what is worth the wait.", "gloss_zh": "《湘夫人》写等一个人：登高远望，到黄昏布置好相会的地方。「佳期」的「佳」，是好到值得等。", "pinyin": "jiā", "quote": "登白薠兮骋望，与佳期兮夕张。", "sense_en": "A meeting worth waiting for", "sense_zh": "与佳期兮夕张", "seq": 227, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Climbing the white duckweed I gaze far off; I set out at dusk for the promised meeting.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "七谏·沉江", "char": "俊", "char_form_original": "俊", "gloss_en": "The able come of their own accord — the character carries the ability and the trust it draws.", "gloss_zh": "王褒说：真正有才德的人会自己靠过来。名字用「俊」，取的是才，也取这份被信赖。", "pinyin": "jùn", "quote": "贤俊慕而自附兮，日浸淫而合同。", "sense_en": "What ability attracts", "sense_zh": "贤俊自附", "seq": 1497, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The worthy and able admire it and attach themselves; day by day they merge into one body.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·南有嘉鱼之什·采芑", "char": "元", "char_form_original": "元", "gloss_en": "Not a reign name: the head of a group, the largest of its kind.", "gloss_zh": "「元老」是众老之首。「元」本来不是年号，是「首、大」——名字取的是这一个。", "pinyin": "yuán", "quote": "方叔元老，克壮其犹。", "sense_en": "The one at the head", "sense_zh": "方叔元老", "seq": 1631, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Fangshu, the elder of elders, was able to make his plans great.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·南有嘉鱼之什·南山有台", "char": "光", "char_form_original": "光", "gloss_en": "A song of blessing: this person is the light of the house. A name takes the light that falls on others.", "gloss_zh": "《南山有台》是祝颂之诗：这样的人是家国的光。名字用「光」，最常取的就是这一层——照亮别人。", "pinyin": "guāng", "quote": "乐只君子，邦家之光。", "sense_en": "A household's light", "sense_zh": "邦家之光", "seq": 1542, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How happy is the gentleman — he is the light of his house and state.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char": "兰", "char_form_original": "兰", "gloss_en": "A breeze moves the herbs and the orchid scent rises. In Chinese, 兰 is a smell before it is a flower.", "gloss_zh": "《招魂》铺陈美好之物：风过蕙草，兰香浮起来。「兰」在汉语里首先是气味，然后才是花。", "pinyin": "lán", "quote": "光风转蕙，泛崇兰些。", "sense_en": "The scent that rises", "sense_zh": "泛崇兰些", "seq": 1194, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A clear breeze turns the hui plants; the tall orchids give off their scent.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "泰伯篇", "char": "兴", "char_form_original": "兴", "gloss_en": "How a person grows: stirred by poetry, steadied by ritual, completed by music.", "gloss_zh": "孔子讲一个人是怎么长起来的：从诗开始被唤起，靠礼站住，最后在乐里完成。「兴」是第一步——被唤起。", "pinyin": "xīng", "quote": "兴于诗，立于礼，成于乐。", "sense_en": "Where it starts", "sense_zh": "兴于诗", "seq": 419, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It begins with the Songs, is established by the rites, and is completed by music.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·清庙之什·维清", "char": "典", "char_form_original": "典", "gloss_en": "The 典 here is the body of rules King Wen set: what a later age could still be measured against.", "gloss_zh": "「典」在这里是文王定下的法度——名字用「典」，取的是这个「定得下来、后人照着做」的分量。", "pinyin": "diǎn", "quote": "维清缉熙，文王之典。", "sense_en": "The standard that holds", "sense_zh": "立得住的法度", "seq": 3342, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Clear and continuing, the statutes of King Wen.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char": "军", "char_form_original": "军", "gloss_en": "Zilu asks whom Confucius would take to war. A name takes being relied on, not fighting.", "gloss_zh": "子路问孔子：带兵你带谁。名字用「军」，取的不是打仗，是担当与可托付。", "pinyin": "jūn", "quote": "子行三军，则谁与？", "sense_en": "Whom would you take", "sense_zh": "三军", "seq": 339, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If you were to lead the three armies, whom would you take with you?", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·卷阿", "char": "凤", "char_form_original": "凤", "gloss_en": "A sign of a well-governed age: the bird is heard on the height. A name takes rarity and height.", "gloss_zh": "《卷阿》写凤凰鸣于高冈，是太平之世的征兆。名字用「凤」，取的是稀见与高。", "pinyin": "fèng", "quote": "凤凰鸣矣，于彼高冈。", "sense_en": "The bird on the ridge", "sense_zh": "凤凰鸣矣", "seq": 2888, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The phoenix cries — there, on the high ridge.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char": "利", "char_form_original": "利", "gloss_en": "Here 利 is a verb: the wise make humaneness pay. A name takes the making-useful, not the profit.", "gloss_zh": "「利」在这里是动词：把仁当作有好处的事去做。名字用「利」，取的是这个「使之有用」。", "pinyin": "lì", "quote": "仁者安仁，知者利仁。", "sense_en": "Making goodness useful", "sense_zh": "知者利仁", "seq": 145, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The humane rest in humaneness; the wise turn it to advantage.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char": "勇", "char_form_original": "勇", "gloss_en": "The third of the three virtues. Confucius never praises courage on its own; it is always paired with what it serves.", "gloss_zh": "三达德里的第三个：勇的解药是惧怕。孔子讲勇时总要配一个「义」——单独的勇他不夸。", "pinyin": "yǒng", "quote": "知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。", "sense_en": "One of three", "sense_zh": "勇者不惧", "seq": 513, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise are not perplexed, the humane are not anxious, the brave are not afraid.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·桃夭", "char": "华", "char_form_original": "华", "gloss_en": "A wedding song. 灼灼 is the brightness of blossom; a name takes this sense most often — the moment of full bloom.", "gloss_zh": "《桃夭》是嫁女之歌。「灼灼」是花开得亮；名字用「华」，最常取的就是这一层：正在盛开的时候。", "pinyin": "huá", "quote": "桃之夭夭，灼灼其华。", "sense_en": "In full flower", "sense_zh": "灼灼其华", "seq": 38, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The peach tree, young and full of life — how brilliantly its flowers burn.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鹿鸣之什·皇皇者华", "char": "华", "char_form_original": "华", "gloss_en": "A poem of envoys on the road: lustre spread across open country. Here 华 is light, not blossom.", "gloss_zh": "这是使臣出行的诗：光华照在原野上。「华」在这里不只是花，是照出去的光。", "pinyin": "huá", "quote": "皇皇者华，于彼原隰。", "sense_en": "Lustre that travels", "sense_zh": "皇皇者华", "seq": 1394, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bright, bright are the flowers, out on the plains and lowlands.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·云中君", "char": "华", "char_form_original": "华", "gloss_en": "From the hymn to the cloud god: bathing, then robes of brilliant colour. 华采 is ritual weight, not decoration.", "gloss_zh": "《云中君》祭云神，先沐浴再着华彩之衣。「华采」是仪式的分量，不是装饰。", "pinyin": "huá", "quote": "浴兰汤兮沐芳，华采衣兮若英。", "sense_en": "Dressed for something sacred", "sense_zh": "华采", "seq": 199, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bathed in orchid water, perfumed — dressed in brilliant robes like a flower.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char": "博", "char_form_original": "博", "gloss_en": "Zigong asks whether broad generosity counts as humaneness. Here 博 is reach, not erudition.", "gloss_zh": "子贡问：广泛地给人好处、能帮到大众，算仁吗？孔子答：何止是仁。「博」在这里是覆盖面，不是知识量。", "pinyin": "bó", "quote": "如有博施于民而能济众，何如？", "sense_en": "Broad, and it reaches people", "sense_zh": "博施于民", "seq": 321, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Suppose one were broadly generous to the people and could help the multitude — what then?", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "季氏篇", "char": "友", "char_form_original": "友", "gloss_en": "Three sorts worth having: upright, sincere, well-informed. 友 carries the standard, not just the bond.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把有益的朋友分成三种：直、谅、多闻。「友」在名字里取的是这个「值得交」的标准。", "pinyin": "yǒu", "quote": "友直、友谅、友多闻，益矣。", "sense_en": "Three kinds worth having", "sense_zh": "益者三友", "seq": 1045, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Friends who are upright, who are sincere, who know much — these are the ones that benefit you.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char": "君", "char_form_original": "君", "gloss_en": "Four words: not a container built for one use. A name takes the refusal to be only one thing.", "gloss_zh": "四个字：君子不是一个只能装一种东西的器皿。名字用「君」，取的是这种不被单一用途限定的分量。", "pinyin": "jūn", "quote": "君子不器。", "sense_en": "Not a tool", "sense_zh": "君子不器", "seq": 58, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman is not a vessel.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子路篇", "char": "和", "char_form_original": "和", "gloss_en": "Confucius separates harmony from uniformity: one keeps differences and still holds; the other needs silence.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把「和」与「同」分开：和是各说各的还能合，同是都闭嘴才叫齐。名字用「和」，取的是前者。", "pinyin": "hé", "quote": "君子和而不同，小人同而不和。", "sense_en": "The distinction that matters", "sense_zh": "和而不同", "seq": 833, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman harmonises without agreeing on everything; a petty person agrees without harmony.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·下武", "char": "哲", "char_form_original": "哲", "gloss_en": "Wise kings, one generation after another. 哲 is seeing clearly and acting accordingly.", "gloss_zh": "「哲王」是明智的君主。名字用「哲」，取的是这个「看得清、做对」的合体。", "pinyin": "zhé", "quote": "下武维周，世有哲王。", "sense_en": "Wisdom in the line", "sense_zh": "世有哲王", "seq": 2705, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Following in the steps of Zhou, generation after generation produced wise kings.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子张篇", "char": "嘉", "char_form_original": "嘉", "gloss_en": "Praising the good while making room for those who cannot — 嘉 is a verb here.", "gloss_zh": "子张说君子：赞美好的，同时体谅做不到的。「嘉」在这一句里是个动作。", "pinyin": "jiā", "quote": "君子尊贤而容众，嘉善而矜不能。", "sense_en": "Praise and pity together", "sense_zh": "嘉善而矜不能", "seq": 1208, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman honours the worthy and accepts the many; he praises the good and pities those who cannot manage.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char": "国", "char_form_original": "国", "gloss_en": "Confucius answers with courtesy rather than statecraft. A name takes the breadth, not the office.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把治国的方法说成「礼让」——不是权术。名字用「国」，多数取的是这个胸怀，不是官位。", "pinyin": "guó", "quote": "能以礼让为国乎？", "sense_en": "Governing without force", "sense_zh": "以礼让为国", "seq": 164, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Can a state be run by courtesy and yielding?", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "先进篇", "char": "堂", "char_form_original": "堂", "gloss_en": "Confucius on Zilu: he has reached the hall but not the inner room. 升堂入室 later means advancing from the surface of a subject toward its depth.", "gloss_zh": "孔子评子路：已经上了厅堂，还没进内室。后来「升堂入室」专指学问由浅入深——「堂」是进门之后的第一重。", "pinyin": "táng", "quote": "由也升堂矣，未入于室也。", "sense_en": "Up into the hall, not yet the inner room", "sense_zh": "升堂入室", "seq": 621, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "You has climbed into the hall, but has not yet entered the inner room.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子张篇", "char": "堂", "char_form_original": "堂", "gloss_en": "Zengzi calls Zizhang 堂堂 — grand in bearing. A name takes the upright presence, not the difficulty of working with him.", "gloss_zh": "曾子说子张「堂堂」：气象盛大，但与人同处不易。名字取「堂堂」，要的是端正有气象那一面。", "pinyin": "táng", "quote": "堂堂乎张也，难与并为仁矣。", "sense_en": "Presence you can feel", "sense_zh": "堂堂", "seq": 1230, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How imposing Zizhang is — and yet it is hard to reach humaneness alongside him.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "泰伯篇", "char": "大", "char_form_original": "大", "gloss_en": "Not size but weight: Confucius goes on to say only heaven is great, and Yao took it as his model.", "gloss_zh": "孔子叹尧。这个「大」不是尺寸，是分量——后面接着说「巍巍乎，唯天为大，唯尧则之」。", "pinyin": "dà", "quote": "大哉尧之为君也！", "sense_en": "Greatness that is not size", "sense_zh": "大哉尧之为君", "seq": 435, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How great was Yao as a ruler!", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "阳货篇", "char": "天", "char_form_original": "天", "gloss_en": "The seasons still turn and things still grow. Heaven says nothing and does everything.", "gloss_zh": "孔子接着说：四时行焉，百物生焉。天一句话不说，四季照常转。「天」在名字里取的是这个分量——不言而行。", "pinyin": "tiān", "quote": "天何言哉？", "sense_en": "What heaven does not say", "sense_zh": "天何言哉", "seq": 1126, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "What does Heaven ever say?", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "七谏·初放", "char": "娟", "char_form_original": "娟", "gloss_en": "Tall bamboo by the water: upright, and without stiffness. 娟 is that carriage.", "gloss_zh": "东方朔写竹子：修长而姿态轻盈。名字用「娟」，取的是这种「站得直但不僵」。", "pinyin": "juān", "quote": "便娟之修竹兮，寄生乎江潭。", "sense_en": "The poise of tall bamboo", "sense_zh": "便娟之修竹", "seq": 1484, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The tall bamboo, so graceful, grows by the river pool.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char": "学", "char_form_original": "学", "gloss_en": "Confucius defines it by conduct, not reading: little concern for comfort, quick to act, careful in speech.", "gloss_zh": "孔子给「好学」下的定义不在书里：食不求饱、居不求安、敏事慎言、就有道而正——做到了才算。", "pinyin": "xué", "quote": "可谓好学也已。", "sense_en": "What counts as loving learning", "sense_zh": "好学", "seq": 29, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "That may be called loving to learn.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·绵", "char": "宇", "char_form_original": "宇", "gloss_en": "They come to inspect a place to live. 宇 begins as a roof, then becomes room.", "gloss_zh": "太王带着姜女来看可以安家的地方。「宇」的本义是屋檐屋宇，名字取的是「有容身之处」，再引申为气度。", "pinyin": "yǔ", "quote": "爰及姜女，聿来胥宇。", "sense_en": "Looking over a place to live", "sense_zh": "胥宇", "seq": 2598, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "And with the lady Jiang, he came to look over the site for a dwelling.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "宪问篇", "char": "安", "char_form_original": "安", "gloss_en": "Three steps in a fixed order: oneself, then others, then everyone. The order cannot be reversed.", "gloss_zh": "子路问君子，孔子答：修己以敬，修己以安人，修己以安百姓。顺序不能倒——先修自己，再安别人。", "pinyin": "ān", "quote": "修己以安人。", "sense_en": "In that order", "sense_zh": "修己以安人", "seq": 944, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Cultivate yourself in order to settle others.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·荡之什·崧高", "char": "宝", "char_form_original": "宝", "gloss_en": "A jade tablet given by the king, to be kept and handed on. 宝 is what is entrusted, not what is bought.", "gloss_zh": "周王赐申伯大圭，让他作为传家之宝。「宝」在这里是别人给的、可以往下传的东西。", "pinyin": "bǎo", "quote": "锡尔介圭，以作尔宝。", "sense_en": "Something given to keep", "sense_zh": "以作尔宝", "seq": 3157, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I bestow on you a great jade tablet, to be your treasure.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char": "家", "char_form_original": "家", "gloss_en": "No resentment outward, none inward. 家 here is the circle closest to you.", "gloss_zh": "孔子讲仁者的状态：在外没有怨，在家也没有怨。「家」在这里是最近的那圈人。", "pinyin": "jiā", "quote": "在邦无怨，在家无怨。", "sense_en": "No resentment at home or abroad", "sense_zh": "在邦无怨", "seq": 686, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "With no resentment in the state, and none in the household.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char": "山", "char_form_original": "山", "gloss_en": "Mountains are given to the humane because they do not move.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把山给了仁者：山不动，所以安。名字用「山」，取的是这个「不动」。", "pinyin": "shān", "quote": "知者乐水，仁者乐山。", "sense_en": "Assigned to the humane", "sense_zh": "仁者乐山", "seq": 306, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise take pleasure in water; the humane take pleasure in mountains.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·荡之什·崧高", "char": "岳", "char_form_original": "岳", "gloss_en": "The 岳 here is the mountain that goes up to the sky: a name takes the height and the weight, not the view.", "gloss_zh": "「岳」在这里就是那座高到天边的山——名字用「岳」，取的是高度和分量，不是风景。", "pinyin": "yuè", "quote": "崧高维岳，骏极于天。", "sense_en": "The mountain that reaches the sky", "sense_zh": "高到天边的山", "seq": 3138, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The great peak is the mountain; it rises to the very sky.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·荡之什·崧高", "char": "岳", "char_form_original": "岳", "gloss_en": "The next line says the mountain sent down a spirit and two great ministers were born: greatness was thought to come down from the mountain. A name takes that descent too.", "gloss_zh": "下一句就说山降下神灵，生出了甫侯和申伯——古人相信大人物是山给的。名字用「岳」，也带着这层「有所出」。", "pinyin": "yuè", "quote": "维岳降神，生甫及申。", "sense_en": "What a mountain sends down", "sense_zh": "山能生人", "seq": 3139, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The mountain sent down its spirit, and Fu and Shen were born.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "远游·远游", "char": "峥", "char_form_original": "峥", "gloss_en": "Here 峥嵘 is height with no ground beneath and no sky above: a name takes the unusualness of that, not just the height.", "gloss_zh": "「峥嵘」在这里是高得下面没有地、上面望不到天——名字用「峥」，取的是这个「高得不寻常」。", "pinyin": "zhēng", "quote": "下峥嵘而无地兮，上寥廓而无天。", "sense_en": "So high it has neither floor nor ceiling", "sense_zh": "高得没有底也望不到顶", "seq": 951, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Below, the crags fall away with no ground; above, the emptiness has no sky.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char": "川", "char_form_original": "川", "gloss_en": "The 川 here is simply the river. Confucius watched it and said time passes the same way: a name takes that unstopping.", "gloss_zh": "「川」在这里就是那条河。孔子看着水说时间也是这样过去的——「川」在名字里带着这层「不停」。", "pinyin": "chuān", "quote": "子在川上曰：「逝者如斯夫", "sense_en": "The river that keeps going", "sense_zh": "河一直流", "seq": 491, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Standing by a river, the Master said: it goes on like this, and does not stop.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "離婁上", "char": "平", "char_form_original": "平", "gloss_en": "Not pacified by force: peace as what appears when people look after their own. ", "gloss_zh": "孟子说的「平」不是被打平，是各人把自己的亲长照顾好之后自然出现的状态。名字用「平」，取的是这个。", "pinyin": "píng", "quote": "人人亲其亲、长其长而天下平。", "sense_en": "Settled, not conquered", "sense_zh": "天下平", "seq": 1267, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When everyone loves their own parents and respects their own elders, the world is at peace.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·汉广", "char": "广", "char_form_original": "广", "gloss_en": "Wide enough that you cannot cross. A name takes breadth with weight in it.", "gloss_zh": "《汉广》写一条游不过去的江。「广」在名字里不是大，是「挡得住人的那种宽」。", "pinyin": "guǎng", "quote": "汉之广矣，不可泳思。", "sense_en": "Too wide to swim", "sense_zh": "汉之广矣", "seq": 58, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How wide is the Han — you cannot swim across it.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·甫田之什·甫田", "char": "庆", "char_form_original": "庆", "gloss_en": "In the Book of Songs the joy starts with the harvest; the festival comes after.", "gloss_zh": "田地好，是农人的喜事。「庆」在《诗经》里先是收成，然后才是庆典。", "pinyin": "qìng", "quote": "我田既臧，农夫之庆。", "sense_en": "A good field is a celebration", "sense_zh": "农夫之庆", "seq": 2232, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "My fields have done well — it is the farmers' joy.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "鲁颂·駉之什·閟宫", "char": "建", "char_form_original": "建", "gloss_en": "The Zhou king enfeoffs the Duke of Zhou's eldest son. 建 here is to set a person — and a state — on its feet.", "gloss_zh": "周王封周公长子于鲁。「建」在这里不是盖房子，是立起一个人、一个国。", "pinyin": "jiàn", "quote": "王曰叔父，建尔元子，俾侯于鲁。", "sense_en": "Setting someone up to stand", "sense_zh": "建尔元子", "seq": 3568, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The king said: Uncle, establish your eldest son, and make him lord of Lu.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·湘夫人", "char": "建", "char_form_original": "建", "gloss_en": "From the布置 of a shrine: 建 takes as its object not only houses but a fragrance.", "gloss_zh": "《湘夫人》布置祭堂：百草满院，把「芳馨」立起来。「建」的对象可以是一座屋，也可以是一种气味。", "pinyin": "jiàn", "quote": "合百草兮实庭，建芳馨兮庑门。", "sense_en": "Raising something worth raising", "sense_zh": "建芳馨", "seq": 240, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Gather a hundred herbs to fill the courtyard; set up fragrance at the side doors.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·怀沙", "char": "强", "char_form_original": "强", "gloss_en": "Not overcoming others: keeping yourself from collapsing.", "gloss_zh": "屈原写的是把怒气按下去、把自己扶起来。「自强」不是压过别人，是不让自己塌下去。", "pinyin": "qiáng", "quote": "惩违改忿兮，抑心而自强。", "sense_en": "Holding yourself steady", "sense_zh": "自强", "seq": 704, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Chastened by failure, I set anger aside; I restrain my heart and strengthen myself.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·邶风·静女", "char": "彤", "char_form_original": "彤", "gloss_en": "A red writing tube — an emblem, not a decoration. 彤 is ceremonial red.", "gloss_zh": "彤管是赤管的笔，古时女史所用。「彤」在名字里是这种带礼制的红，不是热闹的红。", "pinyin": "tóng", "quote": "静女其娈，贻我彤管。", "sense_en": "A gift of red", "sense_zh": "贻我彤管", "seq": 354, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The quiet girl is lovely; she gave me a red-tasselled tube.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char": "德", "char_form_original": "德", "gloss_en": "Six characters, one of the shortest claims in the Analects: what is good does not stay by itself — it attracts.", "gloss_zh": "六个字，是《论语》里最短的判断之一：好东西不会自己待着，会把人聚过来。", "pinyin": "dé", "quote": "德不孤，必有邻。", "sense_en": "Character gathers people", "sense_zh": "德不孤", "seq": 183, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Virtue is never alone; it is bound to have neighbours.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char": "德", "char_form_original": "德", "gloss_en": "润 is a soaking-through kind of enrichment. Money decorates the house; 德 changes the person. That is the difference between 德 and talent.", "gloss_zh": "「润」是渗进去的那种润：钱装点房子，德装点人本身。这是「德」和「才」最大的区别。", "pinyin": "dé", "quote": "富润屋，德润身，心广体胖。", "sense_en": "What actually improves you", "sense_zh": "润身", "seq": 15, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Wealth adorns the house; virtue adorns the person — the heart broadens and the body is at ease.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "中庸", "chapter": "", "char": "德", "char_form_original": "德", "gloss_en": "The Book of Rites puts longevity last: position, reward and name are the course, long years the outcome.", "gloss_zh": "《中庸》把「寿」放在最后，是说前三个是过程，寿是结果——德厚的人走得久。名字用「德」，这一层是老派的祝福。", "pinyin": "dé", "quote": "故大德必得其位，必得其禄，必得其名，必得其寿。", "sense_en": "The long consequence", "sense_zh": "大德得其寿", "seq": 69, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Thus great virtue is sure to win its place, its reward, its name, and its length of years.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char": "志", "char_form_original": "志", "gloss_en": "For two thousand years this is the line Chinese reaches for when talking about backbone.", "gloss_zh": "两千多年里，中国人说「骨气」时引的就是这一句。名字用「志」，分量全在这里。", "pinyin": "zhì", "quote": "三军可夺帅也，匹夫不可夺志也。", "sense_en": "The one thing that cannot be taken", "sense_zh": "不可夺", "seq": 508, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "An army can be deprived of its general; a common man cannot be deprived of his will.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char": "志", "char_form_original": "志", "gloss_en": "Four verbs in a row. Setting the will is the first move, not the whole of it.", "gloss_zh": "四个动词排成一句：先是「志」，然后是「据」「依」「游」。立志不是终点，是起点那一格。", "pinyin": "zhì", "quote": "志于道，据于德，依于仁，游于艺。", "sense_en": "What the will is pointed at matters", "sense_zh": "志于道", "seq": 333, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Set your will on the Way, hold to virtue, lean on humaneness, and move freely in the arts.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "公孫丑上", "char": "志", "char_form_original": "志", "gloss_en": "Mencius puts the will in command: not the strongest person goes furthest, but the one who knows where.", "gloss_zh": "孟子把「志」放在统帅的位置：不是力气最大的人走最远，是知道往哪走的人。", "pinyin": "zhì", "quote": "夫志，气之帅也；气，体之充也。", "sense_en": "The will leads", "sense_zh": "气之帅", "seq": 474, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The will is the commander of the vital energy; that energy fills the body.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char": "忠", "char_form_original": "忠", "gloss_en": "Four things taught, with 忠 standing beside 信 — weight toward people.", "gloss_zh": "孔子教四样：文、行、忠、信。「忠」与「信」并列，讲的是对人的分量，不是对上的服从。", "pinyin": "zhōng", "quote": "子以四教：文，行，忠，信。", "sense_en": "One of four things taught", "sense_zh": "四教", "seq": 367, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The Master taught four things: culture, conduct, wholeheartedness, and good faith.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char": "思", "char_form_original": "思", "gloss_en": "Confucius ties them: one without the other fails. A name takes the pairing, not just the verb.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把学和思绑在一起：只学不想会糊涂，只想不学会危险。名字用「思」，取的是这个「不能停」。", "pinyin": "sī", "quote": "学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。", "sense_en": "Neither alone", "sense_zh": "学与思", "seq": 62, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Learning without thinking leaves you bewildered; thinking without learning leaves you in danger.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char": "怡", "char_form_original": "怡", "gloss_en": "A face at ease because the body is well. 怡 here is ease that starts inside.", "gloss_zh": "《大招》写人的气色：面色和悦、气血充足。「怡」在名字里是这种从里到外的舒展。", "pinyin": "yí", "quote": "曼泽怡面，血气盛只。", "sense_en": "The look of someone at ease", "sense_zh": "曼泽怡面", "seq": 1382, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Smooth and glowing, the face is at ease; the blood and breath are full.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·邶风·静女", "char": "怿", "char_form_original": "怿", "gloss_en": "怿 here is being pleased: not laughter, but the mind deciding that something is good. It is rare in names, and takes its value from that restraint.", "gloss_zh": "「怿」在这里是「喜欢」——不是大笑，是心里觉得好。这个字在名字里少见，取的正是这份克制。", "pinyin": "yì", "quote": "彤管有炜，说怿女美。", "sense_en": "Glad, quietly", "sense_zh": "心里觉得好", "seq": 355, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The red flute glows; I am glad in your beauty.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "远游·远游", "char": "恬", "char_form_original": "恬", "gloss_en": "恬 is paired here with 愉: not the numbness of stillness, but stillness with gladness still in it.", "gloss_zh": "「恬」和「愉」连用：不是麻木的静，是静里面还有愉快——名字取的是这一层。", "pinyin": "tián", "quote": "漠虚静以恬愉兮，澹无为而自得。", "sense_en": "Quiet with gladness inside it", "sense_zh": "静里有愉快", "seq": 873, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Still and empty, calm and glad; unmoved, and finding sufficiency in that.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "梁惠王下", "char": "悦", "char_form_original": "悅", "gloss_en": "Here 悦 is not one's own mood but what others feel because of you.", "gloss_zh": "孟子写商汤征伐：百姓高兴得像下了及时雨。「悦」在这里不是自己的心情，是别人因你而高兴。", "pinyin": "yuè", "quote": "诛其君而吊其民，若时雨降，民大悦。", "sense_en": "How people answer", "sense_zh": "民大悦", "seq": 349, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "They put the ruler to death and comforted the people; it was like timely rain — and the people were glad.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "阳货篇", "char": "惠", "char_form_original": "惠", "gloss_en": "The last of five answers to \"what is humaneness\": being of benefit to people.", "gloss_zh": "孔子答子张问仁，给了五项，最后一项是「惠」——给人好处。", "pinyin": "huì", "quote": "恭、宽、信、敏、惠。", "sense_en": "The fifth of five", "sense_zh": "恭宽信敏惠", "seq": 1094, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Reverent, generous, trustworthy, quick, and kind.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "盡心上", "char": "慧", "char_form_original": "慧", "gloss_en": "Mencius is blunt: such people usually get it from hardship. 慧 is not the light kind of cleverness.", "gloss_zh": "孟子说得直白：有德慧术知的人，多半是从患难里长出来的。「慧」因此不是轻巧的聪明。", "pinyin": "huì", "quote": "人之有德慧术知者，恒存乎疢疾。", "sense_en": "Where understanding comes from", "sense_zh": "德慧术知", "seq": 2252, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "People who have virtue, understanding, skill and knowledge usually have them from hardship.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "公冶长篇", "char": "成", "char_form_original": "成", "gloss_en": "They have form but not finish. 成 in a name is having taken shape, not having arrived.", "gloss_zh": "「成章」是已经有了文采与章法，但还没裁到定。名字用「成」，取的是「长成了形」这一层。", "pinyin": "chéng", "quote": "吾党之小子狂简，斐然成章，不知所以裁之。", "sense_en": "Formed, not yet finished", "sense_zh": "斐然成章", "seq": 246, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The young men of my home village are ardent and ambitious; their writing has real form — they just do not yet know how to cut it.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·臣工之什·振鹭", "char": "振", "char_form_original": "振", "gloss_en": "The character starts as a wing going up; \"to revitalise\" comes later.", "gloss_zh": "《振鹭》写白鹭振翅飞起。「振」先是翅膀的动作，后来才变成「振兴」的振。", "pinyin": "zhèn", "quote": "振鹭于飞，于彼西雍。", "sense_en": "Wings coming up", "sense_zh": "振鹭于飞", "seq": 3390, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The egrets beat their wings and rise — there, at the western pool.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char": "敏", "char_form_original": "敏", "gloss_en": "Confucius pairs slowness of speech with quickness of action. A name takes the second.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把「敏」和「讷」放在一句里：话要慢，事要快。名字用「敏」，取的是后者。", "pinyin": "mǐn", "quote": "君子欲讷于言而敏于行。", "sense_en": "Slow to speak, quick to do", "sense_zh": "讷言敏行", "seq": 182, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman wants to be slow in speech and quick in action.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "公冶长篇", "char": "文", "char_form_original": "文", "gloss_en": "When Confucius explains the posthumous title 文, he does not say the man wrote well. He says he loved learning and was not ashamed to ask. That is the sense a name borrows.", "gloss_zh": "孔子在解释「文」这个谥号时，给的答案不是文章写得好，而是「好学」且「下问」。这是「文」在名字里最实在的一层。", "pinyin": "wén", "quote": "敏而好学，不耻下问，是以谓之文也。", "sense_en": "Learning is what makes it", "sense_zh": "学而成文", "seq": 225, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Quick, fond of learning, and not ashamed to ask those beneath him — that is why he is called Wen.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char": "文", "char_form_original": "文", "gloss_en": "Substance without pattern is raw; pattern without substance is装饰. 文 in a name is the balance, not the decoration.", "gloss_zh": "「质」是底子，「文」是修饰；单有文则浮，单有质则野。名字用「文」，取的是两者相半的分寸。", "pinyin": "wén", "quote": "文质彬彬，然后君子。", "sense_en": "Pattern held by substance", "sense_zh": "文质相济", "seq": 300, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When pattern and substance are in balance, then you have a gentleman.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "八佾篇", "char": "文", "char_form_original": "文", "gloss_en": "郁郁 describes things growing thick. At its largest, 文 is not writing but a civilisation's order and lustre.", "gloss_zh": "「郁郁」是草木繁盛之貌，这里形容一整套礼乐典章。「文」在最高一层指的不是文字，是一个文明的秩序与光彩。", "pinyin": "wén", "quote": "周监于二代，郁郁乎文哉！", "sense_en": "A civilisation in full", "sense_zh": "礼乐之盛", "seq": 112, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The Zhou looked to the two dynasties before it — how rich and full its culture was!", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char": "新", "char_form_original": "新", "gloss_en": "For Confucius the new grows out of the old rather than replacing it. A name takes this sense, not \"brand new\".", "gloss_zh": "孔子说的「新」不是凭空全新，是从旧里长出来的。名字用「新」，这一层比「崭新」耐读。", "pinyin": "xīn", "quote": "温故而知新，可以为师矣。", "sense_en": "New comes out of old", "sense_zh": "温故知新", "seq": 57, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Review what is old and come to know what is new — then you can be a teacher.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·邶风·匏有苦叶", "char": "旭", "char_form_original": "旭", "gloss_en": "旭日 is the sun newly up: not the sun at height, but the moment it clears the horizon and the geese start calling.", "gloss_zh": "「旭日」是刚出来的太阳——不是日头，是日头刚起的那一刻，天刚亮，雁在叫。", "pinyin": "xù", "quote": "雍雍鸣雁，旭日始旦。", "sense_en": "The moment the sun is up", "sense_zh": "太阳刚起的那一刻", "seq": 265, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The geese call in unison; the rising sun begins the day.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·臣工之什·雝", "char": "昌", "char_form_original": "昌", "gloss_en": "Here 昌 is transitive: to make those who come after flourish.", "gloss_zh": "「克昌厥后」是能使后代昌盛。「昌」在这里是动词——让后面的人过得好。", "pinyin": "chāng", "quote": "燕及皇天，克昌厥后。", "sense_en": "Making what comes after you prosper", "sense_zh": "克昌厥后", "seq": 3413, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It reaches up to great Heaven, and can make those who come after prosper.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char": "明", "char_form_original": "明", "gloss_en": "The first 明 is a verb: to bring an inherited virtue into the light. Not cleverness — visibility.", "gloss_zh": "第一个「明」是动词：把本来就有的德照亮。名字用「明」，最常取的就是这一层——不是聪明，是让好东西显出来。", "pinyin": "míng", "quote": "大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。", "sense_en": "Making the good visible", "sense_zh": "明德", "seq": 2, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The way of great learning is to make bright the bright virtue, to renew the people, and to rest in the highest good.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "中庸", "chapter": "", "char": "明", "char_form_original": "明", "gloss_en": "The fourth of five steps: after learning, asking and thinking, you still have to be able to tell things apart — and then to act.", "gloss_zh": "五个动词的第四步。学、问、思之后仍可能糊涂，「明辨」是分得清；最后还要「笃行」。", "pinyin": "míng", "quote": "博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之。", "sense_en": "Seeing the difference", "sense_zh": "明辨", "seq": 116, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Learn broadly, question closely, think carefully, distinguish clearly, and act earnestly.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·女曰鸡鸣", "char": "明", "char_form_original": "明", "gloss_en": "The bright star is Venus, at its most brilliant just before daybreak — light that arrives before the light.", "gloss_zh": "「明星」是启明星（金星），天将亮未亮时最亮的那颗。名字里的「明」也常取这一层：先于天亮的光。", "pinyin": "míng", "quote": "子兴视夜，明星有烂。", "sense_en": "The star before dawn", "sense_zh": "启明", "seq": 703, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "He rises and looks at the night: the bright star is shining.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·豳风·七月", "char": "春", "char_form_original": "春", "gloss_en": "The first line of spring in an agricultural calendar: warmth returning, birds calling. 春 in a name is that return, not a calendar entry.", "gloss_zh": "《七月》写农事历，这是春天开始的那一句：太阳回暖，黄鸟开叫。名字里的「春」是这一层——不是季节名，是回暖。", "pinyin": "chūn", "quote": "春日载阳，有鸣仓庚。", "sense_en": "Warmth coming back", "sense_zh": "春日载阳", "seq": 1281, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "In the spring days the warmth returns; the orioles begin to call.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "孟浩然《春曉》", "char": "晓", "char_form_original": "曉", "gloss_en": "Here 晓 is simply daybreak, not \"to know\". A name usually takes the literal sense.", "gloss_zh": "「晓」在这里就是天亮，不是「知道」。名字用「晓」，多数取的是这个字面：天亮了。", "pinyin": "xiǎo", "quote": "春眠不觉晓，处处闻啼鸟。", "sense_en": "Daybreak arriving unnoticed", "sense_zh": "春眠不觉晓", "seq": 10, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Sleeping in spring, I did not notice the dawn — birds were calling everywhere.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·庭燎", "char": "晨", "char_form_original": "晨", "gloss_en": "The night turns toward morning. 晨 is not daytime; it is the seam just before it.", "gloss_zh": "「乡」通「向」：夜将尽、天未亮。「晨」在名字里取的是这个交界——不是白天，是刚要亮。", "pinyin": "chén", "quote": "夜乡晨，庭燎有辉。", "sense_en": "Just before it is light", "sense_zh": "夜乡晨", "seq": 1680, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The night turns toward morning; the courtyard torches still give light.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·少司命", "char": "曦", "char_form_original": "曦", "gloss_en": "The 曦 here is the light that dries her hair: the sun just up and still low, not at noon.", "gloss_zh": "此句的「曦」是晒干头发的那道光——太阳刚出来、还斜着的时候，不是正午。", "pinyin": "xī", "quote": "与女沐兮咸池，曦女发兮阳之阿", "sense_en": "First light, at a slant", "sense_zh": "初升的日光", "seq": 268, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I will wash with you in the Xian pool, and dry your hair in the sun on the slope of Yang.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "張九齡《望月懷遠》", "char": "月", "char_form_original": "月", "gloss_en": "However far apart, it is the same moon. A name takes the sharedness.", "gloss_zh": "张九龄写思念：月亮从海上升起来，隔得再远看的也是同一个。名字用「月」，取的是这个「共」。", "pinyin": "yuè", "quote": "海上生明月，天涯共此时。", "sense_en": "One moon, two places", "sense_zh": "海上生明月", "seq": 11, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The bright moon rises over the sea; from the ends of the earth we share this hour.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·既醉", "char": "朗", "char_form_original": "朗", "gloss_en": "High and clear to a good end is a blessing formula: 朗 in a name is brightness that does not cloud over at the finish.", "gloss_zh": "「高朗令终」是祝辞：又高又亮，一直到善终。名字用「朗」，取的是这个「始终都清亮」。", "pinyin": "lǎng", "quote": "昭明有融，高朗令终，令终有俶。", "sense_en": "Bright, and clear to the end", "sense_zh": "一直亮到最后", "seq": 2795, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bright and far-reaching, high and clear to a good end; and the good end has a beginning.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·守志", "char": "朗", "char_form_original": "朗", "gloss_en": "Here 朗 is the light of sun, moon and stars falling like a mirror: not softness, but being able to see everything clearly.", "gloss_zh": "这里的「朗」是三光照下来、什么都照得见的那种亮——不是柔和，是照得清楚。", "pinyin": "lǎng", "quote": "天庭明兮云霓藏，三光朗兮镜万方。", "sense_en": "Light like a mirror", "sense_zh": "像镜面一样的光", "seq": 2355, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The sky is bright and the clouds withdraw; sun, moon and stars shine like a mirror on everything.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char": "杰", "char_form_original": "杰", "gloss_en": "A good order imagined: the able hold office and the benefit reaches down.", "gloss_zh": "《大招》设想的好世道：有本事的人在位，好处流到下面。名字用「杰」，取的是「出众且有用」。", "pinyin": "jié", "quote": "豪杰执政，流泽施只。", "sense_en": "When the able are in place", "sense_zh": "豪杰执政", "seq": 1406, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When men of ability hold office, their benefit flows outward.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "The tree is the vehicle, not the point: what is being named is the thing that is still standing when everyone else has gone.", "gloss_zh": "这句写的是树，落点在人：众芳都谢了，它还在——名字里的「松」取的就是这一层。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也。", "sense_en": "Integrity that holds when the season turns", "sense_zh": "守节不移", "seq": 512, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Only when the year turns cold do we learn that the pine and the cypress are the last to let go.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "杜甫《將赴成都草堂途中有作先寄嚴鄭公五首 四》", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "The pines are the ones he planted himself, and he is impatient for them to be tall. A name that uses 松 is a wish about a height that has not arrived yet.", "gloss_zh": "「新松」是他亲手种下的幼松，恨它长得不够快；下一句紧接着说杂竹该砍。一句里同时有护持与取舍——名字里的「松」，许的正是这份「将来要比现在高」。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "新松恨不高千尺，恶竹应须斩万竿。", "sense_en": "Still growing, and nobody has noticed yet", "sense_zh": "少年终成栋梁", "seq": 17, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I wish the young pines would grow a thousand feet at once — and the bad bamboo should be cut back by the ten thousand.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《古風 十二》", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "Peach and plum have blossoms; pine and cypress do not. Not flowering is put forward here as a character, not as a lack.", "gloss_zh": "桃李有花，松柏没有。李白把「不开花」写成一种品格：不肯为了被喜欢而开花。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "松柏本孤直，难为桃李颜。", "sense_en": "Straight, and not flowering to please", "sense_zh": "孤直不媚", "seq": 14, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The pine and the cypress are straight and stand alone; they cannot put on the face of peach and plum.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鹿鸣之什·天保", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "A birthday blessing: the pine as the tree that does not end, and a household that keeps going after you.", "gloss_zh": "「松柏之茂」是先秦祝寿辞，取常青不凋、子孙承继之义；今天寿匾上仍写这四个字。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。", "sense_en": "Long life, and what outlasts you", "sense_zh": "长寿与荫庇", "seq": 1454, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "May you flourish like the pine and the cypress — and may everything you have be carried on by those who come after.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·斯干", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "Bamboo for the root, pine for the canopy: anchored, and still growing.", "gloss_zh": "此句为落成新居时所歌：竹言其根固，松言其叶茂——根扎得住，枝叶还长得开。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "如竹苞矣，如松茂矣。", "sense_en": "A house that holds", "sense_zh": "家宅与后代", "seq": 1739, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Firm as bamboo roots, lush as pines.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《酬張少府》", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "To undo the belt under the pines is to stop holding yourself in. The name carries that too — not everything has to stay taut.", "gloss_zh": "「解带」是松下宽衣的自在。名字里的「松」也有这一层：不必时刻绷着。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "松风吹解带，山月照弹琴。", "sense_en": "The wind in the pines, and undoing the belt", "sense_zh": "松风解带", "seq": 15, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wind through the pines is enough to undo my belt; the mountain moon lights my lute.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《聽蜀僧濬彈琴》", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "The lute is heard as surf running through a whole range of hills. Here 松 is a measure of scale.", "gloss_zh": "琴声被听成满山松涛。松在这里给的是「大」——这声音有山谷那么宽。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "为我一挥手，如听万壑松。", "sense_en": "A sound with a valley in it", "sense_zh": "万壑松声", "seq": 16, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "He lifts his hand once for me, and I hear pines in ten thousand valleys.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《山居秋暝》", "char": "松", "char_form_original": "松", "gloss_en": "Here 松 is a grove rather than one tree; this is the line that gives the character its quietness, not only its toughness.", "gloss_zh": "此处「松」是成片的林；它给这个字补上的，除了硬，还有静与清。", "pinyin": "sōng", "quote": "明月松间照，清泉石上流。", "sense_en": "Clear, and a little removed from the world", "sense_zh": "高洁清朗", "seq": 1, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Moonlight falls between the pines; a clear spring runs over the stones.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《輞川集 鹿柴》", "char": "林", "char_form_original": "林", "gloss_en": "Not a wilderness: a wood deep enough to be quiet, with light still getting through.", "gloss_zh": "此处「林」是成片的树，取幽深、静而不死之意——光还进得去。", "pinyin": "lín", "quote": "返景入深林，复照青苔上。", "sense_en": "Deep shade, living growth", "sense_zh": "幽深与生机", "seq": 2, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The low sun enters the deep wood and lights the moss again.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《輞川集 竹里館》", "char": "林", "char_form_original": "林", "gloss_en": "The wood is where people are not; the moon answers instead. Solitude that is not abandonment.", "gloss_zh": "「深林」是人所不到之处，句子的落点是「明月来相照」——独处，但有人（有月）应。", "pinyin": "lín", "quote": "深林人不知，明月来相照。", "sense_en": "Alone without being lonely", "sense_zh": "独处而不孤", "seq": 3, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep in the wood, no one knows I am here; the bright moon comes to keep me company.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char": "枫", "char_form_original": "枫", "gloss_en": "The 枫 here is the row of trees above the water: it marks a place — by a river, above it, red by autumn.", "gloss_zh": "「枫」在这里是江岸上那排树——它标的是位置：水边、高处、秋天会红。", "pinyin": "fēng", "quote": "湛湛江水兮，上有枫。", "sense_en": "The maple above the river", "sense_zh": "江岸上的枫", "seq": 1275, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep, deep the river water; above it, maples.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招隐士·招隐士", "char": "桂", "char_form_original": "桂", "gloss_en": "In the Songs of Chu the cassia is a tree on a hill, not a spice on a shelf.", "gloss_zh": "《招隐士》写山中：攀着桂枝停下。桂在楚辞里是山里高洁的树，不是香料铺的桂皮。", "pinyin": "guì", "quote": "攀援桂枝兮聊淹留。", "sense_en": "Holding on to the branch", "sense_zh": "攀援桂枝", "seq": 1456, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I grasp the cassia branch and linger a while.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·卷阿", "char": "桐", "char_form_original": "桐", "gloss_en": "The wutong grows on the sunlit slope. The phoenix is said to perch on no other tree.", "gloss_zh": "《卷阿》写梧桐生在朝阳的一面。传说凤凰非梧桐不栖，所以「桐」在名字里自带一个位置。", "pinyin": "tóng", "quote": "梧桐生矣，于彼朝阳。", "sense_en": "Growing toward the light", "sense_zh": "梧桐生矣", "seq": 2889, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wutong grows — there, on the sunny slope.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·谷风之什·四月", "char": "梅", "char_form_original": "梅", "gloss_en": "The plum stands beside the chestnut as a fine tree. A name takes the tree before the blossom.", "gloss_zh": "《四月》把梅和栗并列，说它们都是山中的好树。名字取「梅」，先取的是树，不是花。", "pinyin": "méi", "quote": "山有嘉卉，侯栗侯梅。", "sense_en": "A good tree among good trees", "sense_zh": "侯栗侯梅", "seq": 2110, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "On the hill are fine plants: the chestnut, and the plum.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九怀·尊嘉", "char": "欣", "char_form_original": "欣", "gloss_en": "A gate opens and someone comes out to meet you. 欣 is that kind of gladness.", "gloss_zh": "《九怀》写河伯开门相迎。「欣」在名字里就是这个「迎上来」的欢喜——不是安静的高兴。", "pinyin": "xīn", "quote": "河伯兮开门，迎余兮欢欣。", "sense_en": "Meeting something good", "sense_zh": "迎余兮欢欣", "seq": 1824, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The river god opens his gate and welcomes me with joy.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子路篇", "char": "正", "char_form_original": "正", "gloss_en": "Asked what comes first in government, Confucius says: get the names right.", "gloss_zh": "子路问为政先做什么，孔子答：先把名分正过来。名字里的「正」，这一层最实在——先把事情叫对。", "pinyin": "zhèng", "quote": "必也正名乎！", "sense_en": "Getting the names right", "sense_zh": "必也正名", "seq": 765, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It would have to be the rectification of names.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char": "民", "char_form_original": "民", "gloss_en": "The ruler's own wanting is what moves them. 民 is not the object of rule but the people who follow.", "gloss_zh": "季康子问怎么让百姓敬、忠、劝，孔子答：你自己想好，百姓就好了。「民」在这里不是被管的对象，是跟着走的人。", "pinyin": "mín", "quote": "子欲善而民善矣。", "sense_en": "What the top does, the rest does", "sense_zh": "子欲善而民善矣", "seq": 734, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If you want what is good, the people will be good.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·汉广", "char": "永", "char_form_original": "永", "gloss_en": "The word means a long river before it means forever. A name takes the river's length.", "gloss_zh": "「永」的本义是水长，不是抽象的「永远」。名字用「永」，最早取的就是这条江的长度。", "pinyin": "yǒng", "quote": "江之永矣，不可方思。", "sense_en": "Long like a river", "sense_zh": "江之永矣", "seq": 59, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The river is so long — you cannot reach the far bank.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·谷风之什·四月", "char": "江", "char_form_original": "江", "gloss_en": "纪 is the cord that holds a thing together. The rivers are not scenery here; they are the structure of the south.", "gloss_zh": "「纪」是纲纪、脉络。江汉不是两条水，是南方得以成形的骨架。名字用「江」，取的是这个尺度。", "pinyin": "jiāng", "quote": "滔滔江汉，南国之纪。", "sense_en": "The rivers that order the south", "sense_zh": "滔滔江汉", "seq": 2114, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Surging are the Jiang and the Han — the very web of the southern land.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·云中君", "char": "沐", "char_form_original": "沐", "gloss_en": "This 沐 is washing the hair in water boiled with orchids: not cleaning, but taking the fragrance on.", "gloss_zh": "这里的「沐」是洗发，兰汤是香草煮的水——不是洗干净，是把自己浸在香气里。", "pinyin": "mù", "quote": "浴兰汤兮沐芳，华采衣兮若英", "sense_en": "Washed in something fragrant", "sense_zh": "以香汤沐发", "seq": 199, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bathed in water boiled with orchids, hair washed in the fragrance; dressed in the colours of flowers.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·陈风·泽陂", "char": "泽", "char_form_original": "泽", "gloss_en": "Where water rests, things grow. A name takes the pool, not the flood.", "gloss_zh": "「泽」是水停下来的地方，所以长得出蒲与荷。名字取的是「有水、有生机」。", "pinyin": "zé", "quote": "彼泽之陂，有蒲与荷。", "sense_en": "Water standing still", "sense_zh": "彼泽之陂", "seq": 1203, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "On the bank of that marsh grow the cattails and the lotus.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char": "洁", "char_form_original": "洁", "gloss_en": "洁 is being clean; 廉 is not taking. Together: still unspoiled after everything.", "gloss_zh": "「廉洁」是同一层意思叠用：洁是干净，廉是不取。名字用「洁」，取的是这个「一直没脏」。", "pinyin": "jié", "quote": "朕幼清以廉洁兮，身服义而未沫。", "sense_en": "Kept clean from the start", "sense_zh": "清以廉洁", "seq": 1124, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "From youth I was clean and incorruptible; I wore righteousness and it has not faded.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char": "海", "char_form_original": "海", "gloss_en": "The four seas are not geography but a way of saying \"everywhere\". Do it properly and there are no outsiders.", "gloss_zh": "「四海」不是地理，是把范围放到最大的一种说法：做到了敬与恭，就没有「外人」。", "pinyin": "hǎi", "quote": "君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内皆兄弟也。", "sense_en": "Breadth that includes people", "sense_zh": "四海皆兄弟", "seq": 696, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If a gentleman is careful and does not slip, and treats others with courtesy, then within the four seas all men are his brothers.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "離婁下", "char": "海", "char_form_original": "海", "gloss_en": "Water fills each hollow before it moves on, which is why it reaches the sea. Mencius uses it for having a source: only what is fed goes far.", "gloss_zh": "水先把路上的坑洼注满再往前走，所以最后能到海。孟子用它讲「有本」——有源头的东西才走得远。", "pinyin": "hǎi", "quote": "盈科而后进，放乎四海，有本者如是。", "sense_en": "Full because it has a source", "sense_zh": "有本者不竭", "seq": 1396, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It fills every hollow before moving on, and reaches the four seas — that is what having a source looks like.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char": "海", "char_form_original": "海", "gloss_en": "From a summoning song: renown compared to the sun over the four seas. More concrete than \"vast\" — it means being known.", "gloss_zh": "《大招》里的招魂辞，用「日照四海」形容名声之大。这一层比「辽阔」更具体：是被人知道。", "pinyin": "hǎi", "quote": "名声若日，照四海只。", "sense_en": "A name that carries", "sense_zh": "名声远播", "seq": 1397, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A name like the sun, lighting the four seas.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·节南山之什·巧言", "char": "涵", "char_form_original": "涵", "gloss_en": "The old commentary glosses 涵 as \"to contain\". Not cultivation — capacity to hold.", "gloss_zh": "毛传释「涵」为「容」——这是这个字最早的用法：不是「有修养」，是「装得下」。名字取的是这一层。", "pinyin": "hán", "quote": "乱之初生，僭始既涵。", "sense_en": "The oldest sense: to contain", "sense_zh": "僭始既涵", "seq": 1981, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When disorder first arose, the first encroachments were already being tolerated.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·关雎", "char": "淑", "char_form_original": "淑", "gloss_en": "窈窕 describes bearing; 淑 describes character. The compliment is not about looks.", "gloss_zh": "《关雎》开篇。「淑」是善，不是漂亮——「窈窕」说姿态，「淑」说品性。", "pinyin": "shū", "quote": "窈窕淑女，君子好逑。", "sense_en": "The oldest compliment", "sense_zh": "窈窕淑女", "seq": 2, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep and good is the girl; she is a gentleman's fit match.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·野有蔓草", "char": "清", "char_form_original": "清", "gloss_en": "This is the earliest place Chinese uses 清 for a person's appearance: brows clear and open. The word starts as visible cleanliness.", "gloss_zh": "「清扬」写的是眉目之间清秀舒展。汉语最早用「清」写人的样子，就是从这里开始的——清先是看得见的干净。", "pinyin": "qīng", "quote": "有美一人，清扬婉兮。", "sense_en": "A face you can read", "sense_zh": "清扬", "seq": 771, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "There is a beautiful person, clear-browed and graceful.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "渔父·渔父", "char": "清", "char_form_original": "清", "gloss_en": "Qu Yuan's line, and the price was exile. In a name this is less about defiance than about not becoming what surrounds you.", "gloss_zh": "屈原的话，代价是被放逐。名字取这一层时，取的往往不是对抗，而是不肯同流的那点自持。", "pinyin": "qīng", "quote": "举世皆浊我独清，众人皆醉我独醒。", "sense_en": "Not the same as the crowd", "sense_zh": "自守", "seq": 977, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The whole world is muddy and I alone am clear; everyone is drunk and I alone am sober.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "離婁上", "char": "清", "char_form_original": "清", "gloss_en": "Clear water washes a hat-ribbon; muddy water washes feet. How others use you follows from what you are.", "gloss_zh": "孟子引孔子的话：清水洗帽缨，浊水洗脚，别人怎么用你，取决于你是什么水。名字里的「清」，这一层最硬。", "pinyin": "qīng", "quote": "清斯濯缨，浊斯濯足矣，自取之也。", "sense_en": "You decide which", "sense_zh": "清浊自取", "seq": 1248, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If the water is clear, wash your hat-ribbon; if it is muddy, wash your feet — the water brings it on itself.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char": "熙", "char_form_original": "熙", "gloss_en": "缉熙 is light that continues rather than flares. A name takes the continuance.", "gloss_zh": "《大学》引《诗》说文王。「缉熙」是持续地光明，不是闪一下——名字用「熙」，取的是这个「不断」。", "pinyin": "xī", "quote": "穆穆文王，于缉熙敬止。", "sense_en": "Light that keeps going", "sense_zh": "缉熙敬止", "seq": 34, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Solemn was King Wen — ah, how he kept his light and rested in reverence.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char": "爱", "char_form_original": "爱", "gloss_en": "Humaneness, defined in two words. 爱 is a verb here, not an adjective.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把「仁」直接定义成「爱人」，两个字。名字用「爱」，分量就在这里——它不是形容词，是动作。", "pinyin": "ài", "quote": "樊迟问仁，子曰：爱人。", "sense_en": "The whole definition", "sense_zh": "爱人", "seq": 749, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Fan Chi asked about humaneness. The Master said: it is to love people.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char": "玉", "char_form_original": "玉", "gloss_en": "The jade is never in question; what is in question is whether to show it. A name takes the stone, not the dilemma.", "gloss_zh": "子贡问孔子：美玉是收起来，还是待价而沽。玉本身没有疑问，疑问是要不要让人看见——名字用「玉」，取的是前一半。", "pinyin": "yù", "quote": "有美玉于斯，韫椟而藏诸？", "sense_en": "The question is not the jade", "sense_zh": "美玉于斯", "seq": 482, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Here is a beautiful jade: put it in a box and keep it, or wait for a good buyer and sell it?", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·守志", "char": "珍", "char_form_original": "珍", "gloss_en": "What is hidden away. 珍 leans on rarity rather than price.", "gloss_zh": "「宝珍」是藏起来的珍物。「珍」和「宝」的区别在于：珍更强调「稀」，不是「贵」。", "pinyin": "zhēn", "quote": "历九宫兮遍观，睹秘藏兮宝珍。", "sense_en": "What is kept hidden", "sense_zh": "睹秘藏兮宝珍", "seq": 2346, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I pass through the nine palaces and look everywhere; I see the hidden stores, the precious things.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·棫朴", "char": "琢", "char_form_original": "琢", "gloss_en": "The 琢 here is carving: the pattern is cut on the outside, but the material inside was always gold and jade. A name takes that making.", "gloss_zh": "「琢」在这里是雕——外面做出纹样，里面本来就是金玉。名字用「琢」，取的是「把自己做出来」。", "pinyin": "zhuó", "quote": "追琢其章，金玉其相。", "sense_en": "Cutting out what was already there", "sense_zh": "把里面的金玉做出来", "seq": 2624, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Cut and carved into pattern; its substance is gold and jade.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char": "琢", "char_form_original": "琢", "gloss_en": "Zi Gong quoted the line to ask about self-cultivation: 琢 is the carving, 磨 the final polish. Together they mean the work is carried all the way through.", "gloss_zh": "《诗经》原句被子贡引来问修身——「琢」是骨角玉石的加工，「磨」才是最后那道亮。两个字连用，是把功夫做到底。", "pinyin": "zhuó", "quote": "如切如磋，如琢如磨", "sense_en": "Cut, then polished", "sense_zh": "如琢如磨", "seq": 33, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "As if cut, as if filed; as if carved, as if polished.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·东皇太一", "char": "琳", "char_form_original": "琳", "gloss_en": "琳琅 is the sound jades make against each other. A name takes both the stone and its ring.", "gloss_zh": "「琳琅」是玉相击的声音。名字用「琳」，取的是玉，也取这个「有声音」的质地。", "pinyin": "lín", "quote": "抚长剑兮玉珥，璆锵鸣兮琳琅。", "sense_en": "Jade you hear", "sense_zh": "璆锵鸣兮琳琅", "seq": 192, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I stroke the long sword with its jade guard; the pendants ring — a chiming of fine jades.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·女曰鸡鸣", "char": "琴", "char_form_original": "琴", "gloss_en": "A couple's morning: the instruments within reach, the day quiet. A name takes the household, not the skill.", "gloss_zh": "《女曰鸡鸣》写夫妻的清晨：琴瑟放在手边，日子安静。「琴」在名字里取的是这一层——不是技艺，是日子。", "pinyin": "qín", "quote": "琴瑟在御，莫不静好。", "sense_en": "The sound of an ordinary day", "sense_zh": "琴瑟在御", "seq": 707, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "With lute and zither at hand, all is quiet and good.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·怀沙", "char": "瑜", "char_form_original": "瑜", "gloss_en": "The line is about holding treasure with nowhere to show it. A name takes the jade, not the predicament.", "gloss_zh": "瑾、瑜都是美玉。屈原这句写的是「怀里揣着好东西却无处可示」；名字取「瑜」，取的是玉本身，不是那个处境。", "pinyin": "yú", "quote": "怀瑾握瑜兮，穷不知所示。", "sense_en": "Treasure you carry rather than display", "sense_zh": "怀瑾握瑜", "seq": 695, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I carry jade in my breast and hold it in my hand; in my poverty I do not know how to show it.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·逢尤", "char": "瑞", "char_form_original": "瑞", "gloss_en": "A token from elsewhere: not self-declared good fortune, but a sign that shows.", "gloss_zh": "「瑞图」是上天给的凭据。「瑞」不是自己说的好，是外面显出来的兆。", "pinyin": "ruì", "quote": "懿风后兮受瑞图。", "sense_en": "A sign that is handed over", "sense_zh": "受瑞图", "seq": 2179, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Praise to Feng Hou, who received the chart of good omen.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·怀沙", "char": "瑾", "char_form_original": "瑾", "gloss_en": "瑾 and 瑜 are both fine jade. A name takes the stone, not Qu Yuan's predicament.", "gloss_zh": "瑾与瑜并举，都是美玉。名字用「瑾」，和用「瑜」是同一层：取的是玉，不是屈原的处境。", "pinyin": "jǐn", "quote": "怀瑾握瑜兮，穷不知所示。", "sense_en": "The other half of the pair", "sense_zh": "怀瑾握瑜", "seq": 695, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I carry jade in my breast and hold it in my hand; in my poverty I do not know how to show it.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char": "生", "char_form_original": "生", "gloss_en": "Set the root and the way grows of itself. 生 here is growth that happens, not something manufactured.", "gloss_zh": "孔子说：把根本立住，道自己就长出来了。「生」在这里不是被造出来，是时候到了自己长。", "pinyin": "shēng", "quote": "君子务本，本立而道生。", "sense_en": "Grow from the root", "sense_zh": "本立道生", "seq": 5, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman works at the root; when the root is set, the way grows of itself.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char": "皓", "char_form_original": "皓", "gloss_en": "The 皓 here is the whiteness of teeth: not pallor, but a clean white that gives back light.", "gloss_zh": "「皓」在这里是牙齿的白——不是苍白，是干净到发光的那种白。", "pinyin": "hào", "quote": "朱唇皓齿，嫭以姱只。", "sense_en": "White that catches light", "sense_zh": "白得发亮", "seq": 1344, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Red lips and white teeth — lovely, and finely made.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char": "知", "char_form_original": "知", "gloss_en": "Confucius defines knowing as being able to tell what you know from what you don't. A name takes this as the firm ground of the word.", "gloss_zh": "孔子给「知」下的定义：不是知道得多，是分得清自己知道什么、不知道什么。名字取「知」，最硬的一层就在这。", "pinyin": "zhī", "quote": "知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。", "sense_en": "Knowing what you do not know", "sense_zh": "知之为知之", "seq": 65, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "To know what you know, and to know what you do not know — that is knowledge.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char": "知", "char_form_original": "知", "gloss_en": "The three classical virtues, each answering one difficulty: wisdom answers confusion.", "gloss_zh": "《论语》里三达德并称的一句：智、仁、勇各解一种困境——「知」解的是迷惑。", "pinyin": "zhī", "quote": "知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。", "sense_en": "Not confused", "sense_zh": "知者不惑", "seq": 513, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise are not perplexed, the humane are not anxious, the brave are not afraid.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char": "知", "char_form_original": "知", "gloss_en": "Water moves, changes, yields downward and keeps its nature. Confucius gives water to the wise and mountains to the humane.", "gloss_zh": "水是动的、变的、往低处走却不失其性——孔子把「知」比作水，山留给仁。这一层让「知」不只是聪明。", "pinyin": "zhī", "quote": "知者乐水，仁者乐山。", "sense_en": "Why the wise like water", "sense_zh": "知者乐水", "seq": 306, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise take pleasure in water; the humane take pleasure in mountains.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·卫风·硕人", "char": "硕", "char_form_original": "硕", "gloss_en": "This poem describes a duke's bride. 硕人 is not \"fat\" but tall and of large presence.", "gloss_zh": "《诗经·硕人》写卫庄公夫人庄姜。「硕人」不是「胖」，是身形高硕、气象大。名字用「硕」，取的就是这个。", "pinyin": "shuò", "quote": "硕人其颀，衣锦褧衣。", "sense_en": "A person of scale", "sense_zh": "硕人", "seq": 476, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The tall lady, wearing brocade over a plain gown.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·卫风·考槃", "char": "硕", "char_form_original": "硕", "gloss_en": "A poem about withdrawal from office. 硕 pairs with 宽: the breadth here is in the man, not the place.", "gloss_zh": "「考槃」写隐居。「硕人」与「宽」并举——宽是胸怀，不是地方；这一层的「硕」是气度。", "pinyin": "shuò", "quote": "考槃在涧，硕人之宽。", "sense_en": "Room to be at ease", "sense_zh": "硕人之宽", "seq": 470, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "He builds his hut by the stream; the great man is at his ease.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char": "硕", "char_form_original": "碩", "gloss_en": "A proverb quoted in the Great Learning: we cannot see our own child's faults, nor our own crop's strength.", "gloss_zh": "《大学》引谚语：人看不见自己孩子的毛病，也看不见自家苗长得壮。「硕」在这里是长得实。", "pinyin": "shuò", "quote": "人莫知其子之恶，莫知其苗之硕。", "sense_en": "What actually grows", "sense_zh": "苗之硕", "seq": 44, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "No one knows the faults of his own son, nor how sturdy his own seedlings have grown.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char": "礼", "char_form_original": "礼", "gloss_en": "Asked what humaneness is, Confucius gives eight characters. 礼 is not etiquette but putting a person back in place.", "gloss_zh": "颜渊问仁，孔子给了八个字。礼在这里不是繁文缛节，是把人放回该在的位置。", "pinyin": "lǐ", "quote": "克己复礼为仁。", "sense_en": "The whole of it", "sense_zh": "克己复礼", "seq": 678, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "To restrain oneself and return to the rites — that is humaneness.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "商颂·那之什·长发", "char": "祥", "char_form_original": "祥", "gloss_en": "Not one stroke of luck: good signs that keep appearing over a long run.", "gloss_zh": "《长发》追述商代先祖：深智而长久地显现祥瑞。「祥」不是一次好运，是持续显现的好兆。", "pinyin": "xiáng", "quote": "浚哲维商，长发其祥。", "sense_en": "Signs that keep coming", "sense_zh": "长发其祥", "seq": 3647, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep and wise was Shang; its good omens went on and on.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·樛木", "char": "福", "char_form_original": "福", "gloss_en": "Three blessings in sequence: settled, supported, completed. 福 is the sequence, not a prize.", "gloss_zh": "《樛木》是祝福的复沓：福履绥之、将之、成之——先安顿，再扶助，最后成全。「福」是这一串动作。", "pinyin": "fú", "quote": "乐只君子，福履绥之。", "sense_en": "Blessing that steadies", "sense_zh": "福履绥之", "seq": 26, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How happy is the gentleman — blessing settles him.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·生民", "char": "秀", "char_form_original": "秀", "gloss_en": "Four stages of a crop. 秀 is not prettiness but the moment the grain comes into ear.", "gloss_zh": "写庄稼的一生：发芽、抽穗、结实、成熟。「秀」最初不是「好看」，是长到了抽穗那一步。", "pinyin": "xiù", "quote": "实发实秀，实坚实好。", "sense_en": "From sprout to ear", "sense_zh": "实发实秀", "seq": 2761, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It sprouts, it comes into ear, it hardens, it ripens well.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "劉禹錫《秋詞二首 一》", "char": "秋", "char_form_original": "秋", "gloss_en": "Liu Yuxi reverses the convention: autumn beats spring. A name takes the clear, high version, not the sad one.", "gloss_zh": "刘禹锡翻案：别人悲秋，他说秋天比春天好。名字用「秋」，取的是这一层——清、高、不悲。", "pinyin": "qiū", "quote": "自古逢秋悲寂寥，我言秋日胜春朝。", "sense_en": "Arguing with the season", "sense_zh": "秋日胜春朝", "seq": 9, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Since ancient times people grieve over autumn's emptiness; I say the autumn day beats a spring morning.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "季氏篇", "char": "立", "char_form_original": "立", "gloss_en": "Said to his own son: without the rites you cannot stand. 立 is standing firm.", "gloss_zh": "孔子对儿子伯鱼说的：不学礼，站不住。「立」在这里不是站着，是立得住。", "pinyin": "lì", "quote": "不学礼，无以立。", "sense_en": "What lets you stand", "sense_zh": "无以立", "seq": 1068, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Without learning the rites, there is no standing.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九怀·通路", "char": "红", "char_form_original": "红", "gloss_en": "A description of dress: red against kingfisher green. In the Songs of Chu the colour is ceremonial brightness.", "gloss_zh": "写衣饰的配色：红配翠。「红」在楚辞里是正色，喜庆、明亮，不是现代口语里的「红火」。", "pinyin": "hóng", "quote": "红采兮骍衣，翠缥兮为裳。", "sense_en": "Red and kingfisher", "sense_zh": "红采骍衣", "seq": 1775, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Red banners and crimson robes; kingfisher-green for the lower garment.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "中庸", "chapter": "", "char": "纯", "char_form_original": "純", "gloss_en": "The line continues: pure, and never stopping. 纯 is not just unmixed; it does not lapse.", "gloss_zh": "《中庸》引《诗》说「文王之德之纯」，紧接着一句「纯亦不已」——纯不是没有杂质，是一直不断。", "pinyin": "chún", "quote": "文王之德之纯！", "sense_en": "Undiluted", "sense_zh": "文王之德之纯", "seq": 152, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How pure was the virtue of King Wen!", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char": "美", "char_form_original": "美", "gloss_en": "Choosing where to live says something. 美 here is \"good\", not \"pretty\".", "gloss_zh": "孔子说选住处要选有仁的地方。「美」在这里是「好」不是「好看」——汉语里这两个意思本来就是一个字。", "pinyin": "měi", "quote": "里仁为美。", "sense_en": "A good place to live", "sense_zh": "里仁为美", "seq": 142, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "To dwell where humaneness is — that is good.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子路篇", "char": "胜", "char_form_original": "胜", "gloss_en": "Here 胜 is to overcome cruelty, not to defeat a rival. It is the heavier sense of the word.", "gloss_zh": "「胜残」是克服残暴，不是打败谁。名字用「胜」，这层的「胜」比「赢」沉。", "pinyin": "shèng", "quote": "善人为邦百年，亦可以胜残去杀矣。", "sense_en": "Overcoming, not defeating", "sense_zh": "胜残去杀", "seq": 791, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "With good men in charge for a hundred years, cruelty could be overcome and killing done away with.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char": "良", "char_form_original": "良", "gloss_en": "The second of five qualities by which Confucius was received: good toward others, not \"good quality\".", "gloss_zh": "子贡总结孔子：温、良、恭、俭、让。「良」排在第二，是待人厚道那一层，不是「质量好」。", "pinyin": "liáng", "quote": "夫子温、良、恭、俭、让以得之。", "sense_en": "One of five", "sense_zh": "温良恭俭让", "seq": 19, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The Master gained it by being warm, good, respectful, temperate, and yielding.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九怀·尊嘉", "char": "芙", "char_form_original": "芙", "gloss_en": "芙蕖 is the lotus; here its leaf is used as a canopy. In a name 芙 is the first half of the flower's name, usually paired with 蓉.", "gloss_zh": "「芙蕖」就是荷花。这里拿荷叶当伞盖——「芙」在名字里是这朵花名字的前一半，多与「蓉」连用。", "pinyin": "fú", "quote": "抽蒲兮陈坐，援芙蕖兮为盖。", "sense_en": "A lotus leaf for a canopy", "sense_zh": "拿荷叶当伞盖", "seq": 1821, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Pulling rushes to spread a seat; taking a lotus leaf for a canopy.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "离骚·离骚", "char": "芬", "char_form_original": "芬", "gloss_en": "The scent has not faded. 芬 here is fragrance that lasts.", "gloss_zh": "屈原写自己佩的香草。「芬」在这里是留得住的气味——名字取的是这个「久久不散」。", "pinyin": "fēn", "quote": "芳菲菲而难亏兮，芬至今犹未沬。", "sense_en": "A scent that has not faded", "sense_zh": "芬至今犹未沬", "seq": 166, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The fragrance was rich and would not diminish; its scent has still not faded.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char": "芳", "char_form_original": "芳", "gloss_en": "A room furnished with what is good: the orchid's scent borrowed to fill it. 芳 is a smell before a flower.", "gloss_zh": "《招魂》陈设美物招魂：把兰的香气借来铺满屋子。「芳」在汉语里先是气味，不是花。", "pinyin": "fāng", "quote": "结撰至思，兰芳假些。", "sense_en": "What a scent does to a room", "sense_zh": "兰芳", "seq": 1258, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Gathering the deepest thought, borrowing the fragrance of orchids.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·有女同车", "char": "英", "char_form_original": "英", "gloss_en": "英 means flower first; \"outstanding talent\" is a later extension from \"the essence of the flower\".", "gloss_zh": "「英」的本义就是花，这里直接写脸像花。后来「英才」的「英」，是从「花之精」引申出来的。", "pinyin": "yīng", "quote": "有女同行，颜如舜英。", "sense_en": "The oldest use of the word", "sense_zh": "颜如舜英", "seq": 714, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A girl rides along; her face is like a hibiscus flower.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·橘颂", "char": "荣", "char_form_original": "荣", "gloss_en": "Qu Yuan describes an orange tree in leaf and flower. Honour is a later sense, grown out of blooming.", "gloss_zh": "屈原写橘树：绿叶白花。「荣」的本义是花；「荣耀」是后来从「开得盛」引申的。", "pinyin": "róng", "quote": "绿叶素荣，纷其可喜兮。", "sense_en": "The word before the honour", "sense_zh": "绿叶素荣", "seq": 793, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Green leaves and white blossoms, so abundant and so lovely.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "离骚·离骚", "char": "蓉", "char_form_original": "蓉", "gloss_en": "芙蓉 is the lotus. Qu Yuan wears lily leaves as a jacket and lotus flowers as a skirt: in a name 蓉 is that flower, not just any character under the grass radical.", "gloss_zh": "「芙蓉」就是荷花。屈原拿荷叶做上衣、荷花做下裳——「蓉」在名字里是这一朵花，不是草字头的随便一个字。", "pinyin": "róng", "quote": "制芰荷以为衣兮，集芙蓉以为裳。", "sense_en": "The lotus Qu Yuan wore", "sense_zh": "屈原穿在身上的荷花", "seq": 58, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I made garments of water-lily leaves, and gathered lotus flowers for my skirt.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·召南·草虫", "char": "薇", "char_form_original": "薇", "gloss_en": "The 薇 here is a wild green you climb a hill to gather: in a name it is the thing that grows on its own, not the flower in a garden bed.", "gloss_zh": "「薇」在这里是上山去采的野菜——名字用「薇」，取的是这个「野地里自己长出来的」，不是园林里的花。", "pinyin": "wēi", "quote": "陟彼南山，言采其薇。", "sense_en": "Gathered on the hill", "sense_zh": "上山去采的野菜", "seq": 100, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I climb that southern hill to pick the vetch.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "季氏篇", "char": "诗", "char_form_original": "诗", "gloss_en": "In Confucius's day, public speech quoted the Songs. Without them you had no way to speak.", "gloss_zh": "孔子对儿子伯鱼说的。当时的外交辞令要引《诗》，不学就开不了口——名字用「诗」，背后是这个分量。", "pinyin": "shī", "quote": "不学诗，无以言。", "sense_en": "Why it had to be learned", "sense_zh": "无以言", "seq": 1064, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If you do not study the Songs, you have nothing to speak with.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char": "贵", "char_form_original": "贵", "gloss_en": "The most valuable part of a rite is the harmony it produces — not the ceremony.", "gloss_zh": "有子说：礼最可贵的地方是「和」。名字用「贵」，这一层说的是「什么最值得」。", "pinyin": "guì", "quote": "礼之用，和为贵。", "sense_en": "What is most valuable in a rite", "sense_zh": "和为贵", "seq": 22, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "In the practice of ritual, harmony is what counts most.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·伤时", "char": "超", "char_form_original": "超", "gloss_en": "The verb is physical before it is abstract: you cross the ridge.", "gloss_zh": "王逸写远行：越过五岭，看那些高峻的石头。「超」最先就是「越过去」这个动作。", "pinyin": "chāo", "quote": "超五岭兮嵯峨，观浮石兮崔嵬。", "sense_en": "Crossing the ridge", "sense_zh": "超五岭兮嵯峨", "seq": 2299, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I cross the towering Five Ridges; I look at the floating rocks, so steep.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char": "轩", "char_form_original": "轩", "gloss_en": "Here 轩 is a run of galleries stacked one above another: high, open, with a rail to lean out from.", "gloss_zh": "「轩」在这里是层层叠起的长廊——高、敞、有栏杆可以凭。名字取的是这个「站得高一点的位置」。", "pinyin": "xuān", "quote": "高堂邃宇，槛层轩些。", "sense_en": "A gallery stacked above a gallery", "sense_zh": "层层高敞的长廊", "seq": 1189, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "High halls and deep rooms, with balustraded galleries stacked one above another.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·庭燎", "char": "辉", "char_form_original": "辉", "gloss_en": "The torches shine while dawn is still coming. Radiance here is light given off, not light owned.", "gloss_zh": "天将亮未亮，院子里的火把还亮着。「辉」不是自己发光，是把光给出去——名字取的是这一层。", "pinyin": "huī", "quote": "夜乡晨，庭燎有辉。", "sense_en": "Light before sunrise", "sense_zh": "庭燎有辉", "seq": 1680, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The night turns toward morning; the courtyard torches still give light.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《望廬山瀑布水二首 二》", "char": "遥", "char_form_original": "遙", "gloss_en": "Only from a distance does the whole waterfall show. 遥 here is the wide view that distance buys.", "gloss_zh": "「遥看」是站在远处看，所以才看得见全貌——瀑布像挂着的白练。名字里的「遥」，这一层是距离带来的视野。", "pinyin": "yáo", "quote": "日照香炉生紫烟，遥看瀑布挂前川。", "sense_en": "Seeing from far off", "sense_zh": "遥看", "seq": 7, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Sunlight on Incense Burner Peak raises a purple mist; from far off the waterfall hangs before the river.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "劉禹錫《望洞庭》", "char": "遥", "char_form_original": "遙", "gloss_en": "Liu Yuxi sees all of Dongting as a silver plate with one blue snail on it: far view, not dim view.", "gloss_zh": "刘禹锡把八百里洞庭看成一只银盘，君山是一枚青螺。「遥望」不是看不见，是看得见整体。", "pinyin": "yáo", "quote": "遥望洞庭山水翠，白银盘里一青螺。", "sense_en": "The far shore", "sense_zh": "遥望", "seq": 8, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Gazing far across Dongting, the hills and water are green — a single blue snail on a silver plate.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·棫朴", "char": "金", "char_form_original": "金", "gloss_en": "The pattern is outside; the substance is gold and jade. A name takes the substance, not the money.", "gloss_zh": "「相」是质：外面有雕琢的纹，里面是金玉的底。名字用「金」，取的是贵重与坚固，不是财。", "pinyin": "jīn", "quote": "追琢其章，金玉其相。", "sense_en": "What a thing is made of", "sense_zh": "金玉其相", "seq": 2624, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Cut and polished is its pattern; gold and jade is its substance.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char": "铭", "char_form_original": "銘", "gloss_en": "Here 铭 is text cut into an object you use daily. Tang put it on his washbasin: the word means self-warning before it means memorial.", "gloss_zh": "「铭」在这里是刻在天天要用的东西上的字。汤把它刻在洗脸盆上，所以「铭」原意不是纪念，是自警。", "pinyin": "míng", "quote": "汤之盘铭曰：「茍日新，日日新，又日新。", "sense_en": "A warning you see every day", "sense_zh": "刻在日用器物上的自警", "seq": 27, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "On his washbasin Tang had it cut: renew yourself each day — again, and again.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·召南·殷其雷", "char": "阳", "char_form_original": "阳", "gloss_en": "Not abstract yang: the slope that faces the sun. A name takes the concrete side.", "gloss_zh": "「阳」不是抽象的阳气，是山朝南、晒得到太阳的那一面。名字取的是这个具体的方向。", "pinyin": "yáng", "quote": "殷其雷，在南山之阳。", "sense_en": "The side the sun reaches", "sense_zh": "南山之阳", "seq": 135, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The thunder rolls — there, on the sunny side of the southern hill.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char": "雅", "char_form_original": "雅", "gloss_en": "Here 雅 is the correctness of bearing, not airs. A name takes the fit, not the pose.", "gloss_zh": "「雅」在这里是仪容的端正，不是「高雅」的姿态。名字用「雅」，取的是这个「看起来就该这样」。", "pinyin": "yǎ", "quote": "容则秀雅，稚朱颜只。", "sense_en": "Bearing, not decoration", "sense_zh": "容则秀雅", "seq": 1350, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Her bearing is refined and elegant; her face still holds its young colour.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "杜甫《春夜喜雨》", "char": "雨", "char_form_original": "雨", "gloss_en": "The rain is praised for timing, not volume.", "gloss_zh": "杜甫把雨写成「知时节」的——不是下得多，是下得对。名字用「雨」，取的是这个「及时」。", "pinyin": "yǔ", "quote": "好雨知时节，当春乃发生。", "sense_en": "Rain that knows when", "sense_zh": "好雨知时节", "seq": 12, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A good rain knows its season; it comes in spring, when things begin.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鹿鸣之什·采薇", "char": "雪", "char_form_original": "雪", "gloss_en": "No figure of speech here: snow is snow. A name takes the whiteness and the cold.", "gloss_zh": "戍卒归途上的雪。这里没有比喻，「雪」就是雪——名字用「雪」，最早取的就是这个白与冷。", "pinyin": "xuě", "quote": "今我来思，雨雪霏霏。", "sense_en": "Snow coming down", "sense_zh": "雨雪霏霏", "seq": 1480, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Now I return — and the snow is falling thick.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·南有嘉鱼之什·采芑", "char": "霆", "char_form_original": "霆", "gloss_en": "霆 is paired with 雷: 雷 is the sound, 霆 the arrival. A name takes the speed and the force, not the noise.", "gloss_zh": "「霆」和「雷」并称：雷是那声巨响，霆是来得极快的那一道。名字用「霆」，取的是速度和威势。", "pinyin": "tíng", "quote": "啴啴焞焞，如霆如雷。", "sense_en": "Thunder at full speed", "sense_zh": "来得极快的雷", "seq": 1634, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The chariots rumble and roll; like peal after peal of thunder.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "远游·远游", "char": "霞", "char_form_original": "霞", "gloss_en": "A poem of breath and ascent: the cleanest air of the day is the dawn cloud.", "gloss_zh": "《远游》写服气：清晨最清的那口气，是朝霞。「霞」在名字里就是这一层——一天里最早、最干净的光。", "pinyin": "xiá", "quote": "餐六气而饮沆瀣兮，漱正阳而含朝霞。", "sense_en": "The first air of morning", "sense_zh": "含朝霞", "seq": 892, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Dining on the six essences and drinking the night mist; rinsing with the true yang and holding the dawn clouds.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·秦风·蒹葭", "char": "露", "char_form_original": "露", "gloss_en": "White dew is a solar term as well as the most quoted line in the Book of Songs: 露 is night moisture — clear, cold, and not meant to last.", "gloss_zh": "「白露」既是节气，也是《诗经》里最有名的一句——「露」在这里是夜里的水气，清、凉、留不住。", "pinyin": "lù", "quote": "蒹葭苍苍，白露为霜。", "sense_en": "Dew, and the season it names", "sense_zh": "白露为霜", "seq": 1074, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The reeds are dense and grey; the white dew has turned to frost.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·子衿", "char": "青", "char_form_original": "青", "gloss_en": "A student's collar. Cao Cao quoted it to call for talent, and 青衿 became a name for scholars.", "gloss_zh": "「青衿」是学子的衣领。曹操《短歌行》引它求贤，后世「青衿」就成了读书人的代称。名字用「青」，取的是这个青春与学问叠在一起的颜色。", "pinyin": "qīng", "quote": "青青子衿，悠悠我心。", "sense_en": "The collar of a student", "sense_zh": "青青子衿", "seq": 751, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How blue is your collar; how long my heart has been turning on you.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char": "静", "char_form_original": "静", "gloss_en": "Confucius gives motion to the wise and stillness to the humane. This is weight, not absence of noise.", "gloss_zh": "孔子把「动」给了智者，把「静」给了仁者。名字用「静」，在《论语》里是有分量的那种静——不是没声音。", "pinyin": "jìng", "quote": "知者动，仁者静。", "sense_en": "Stillness assigned to whom", "sense_zh": "仁者静", "seq": 307, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise are in motion; the humane are still.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "鲁颂·駉之什·有駜", "char": "飞", "char_form_original": "飞", "gloss_en": "振振 is the look of a flock rising. A name takes effortlessness rather than strain.", "gloss_zh": "「振振」是群飞的样子，白鹭成群起飞。名字用「飞」，取的是这一层：不是奋力，是本来就会。", "pinyin": "fēi", "quote": "振振鹭，鹭于飞。", "sense_en": "A flock in flight", "sense_zh": "鹭于飞", "seq": 3512, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A throng of egrets — egrets in flight.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·生民", "char": "香", "char_form_original": "香", "gloss_en": "In a sacrifice the scent rises and is received. 香 is what travels upward.", "gloss_zh": "祭礼里，香气升上去，神接受它。「香」在名字里不是味道好，是「能上达」。", "pinyin": "xiāng", "quote": "其香始升，上帝居歆。", "sense_en": "What goes upward", "sense_zh": "其香始升", "seq": 2773, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The fragrance begins to rise; the Lord on high enjoys it.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·鸿雁", "char": "鸿", "char_form_original": "鸿", "gloss_en": "The sound of wings. Geese move on schedule, which is why the character carries both scale and distance.", "gloss_zh": "「肃肃」是翅膀的声音。鸿雁按时迁徙，所以汉语里它既是大，也是远行与音信。", "pinyin": "hóng", "quote": "鸿雁于飞，肃肃其羽。", "sense_en": "Wings on the move", "sense_zh": "鸿雁于飞", "seq": 1664, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wild geese fly — a hush of wings.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}
{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·臣工之什·载见", "char": "龙", "char_form_original": "龙", "gloss_en": "A lord's procession before the Zhou king: dragon banners ahead, bells answering. Here the dragon marks rank.", "gloss_zh": "诸侯朝见周王的仪仗：龙旗在前，銮铃相和。「龙」在这里是旗上的纹样，也是身份的标记。", "pinyin": "lóng", "quote": "龙旗阳阳，和铃央央。", "sense_en": "On the banner", "sense_zh": "龙旗阳阳", "seq": 3416, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The dragon banners shine; the bells ring in harmony.", "verified_in_repo_corpus": true}