日出而作，日入而息
Chinese
| sunrise | and; as well as; but (not) and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast) |
to regard as; to take (someone) for; to do to regard as; to take (someone) for; to do; to make |
sunset; daily income | and; as well as; but (not) and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast) |
rest; news; interest rest; news; interest; breath | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (日出而作，日入而息) | 日出 | 而 | 作 | ， | 日入 | 而 | 息 | |
| simp. #(日出而作，日入而息) | 日出 | 而 | 作 | ， | 日入 | 而 | 息 | |
Etymology
First attested in Zhuangzi:
- 舜以天下讓善卷，善卷曰：“余立於宇宙之中，冬日衣皮毛，夏日衣葛絺；春耕種，形足以勞動；秋收斂，身足以休食；日出而作，日入而息，逍遙於天地之間而心意自得。吾何以天下為哉！悲夫，子之不知余也！” [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
- From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE
- Shùn yǐ tiānxià ràng Shànjuǎn, Shànjuǎn yuē: “Yú lì yú yǔzhòu zhī zhōng, dōngrì yì pímáo, xiàrì yì géchī; chūn gēngzhǒng, xíng zúyǐ láodòng; qiū shōuliǎn, shēn zúyǐ xiūshí; rìchū ér zuò, rìrù ér xī, xiāoyáo yú tiāndì zhījiān ér xīnyì zìdé. Wú héyǐ tiānxià wéi zāi! Bēi fú, zǐ zhī bùzhī yú yě!” [Pinyin]
- Emperor Shun turned to Shan Juan with his offer of the throne. Shan Juan said, “I live in this vast universe. In winter, I cover myself with skins and furs; in summer, I wear thin clothes made of flax. In spring, I plough the fields as I'm strong enough to bear the toiling; in autumn, I harvest the crops and store away the grain. I can fully support myself this way. I go to work at sunrise and come home at sunset. Now that I live a carefree life between the heaven and the earth, I am content with the immense pleasure it gives me. I have no need to bother about the throne! What a pity that you do not understand me!”
舜以天下让善卷，善卷曰：“余立于宇宙之中，冬日衣皮毛，夏日衣葛𫄨；春耕种，形足以劳动；秋收敛，身足以休食；日出而作，日入而息，逍遥于天地之间而心意自得。吾何以天下为哉！悲夫，子之不知余也！” [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese, Mainland)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: rìchū ér zuò, rìrù ér xī
- Zhuyin: ㄖˋ ㄔㄨ ㄦˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ , ㄖˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧ
- Tongyong Pinyin: rìhchu ér zuò, rìhrù ér si
- Wade–Giles: jih4-chʻu1 êrh2 tso4, jih4-ju4 êrh2 hsi1
- Yale: r̀-chū ér dzwò-, r̀-rù ér syī
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ryhchu erl tzuoh, ryhruh erl shi
- Palladius: жичу эр цзо, жижу эр си (žiču er czo, žižu er si)
- Sinological IPA (key): /ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/
- (Standard Chinese, Taiwan)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: rìchū ér zuò, rìrù ér xí
- Zhuyin: ㄖˋ ㄔㄨ ㄦˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ , ㄖˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧˊ
- Tongyong Pinyin: rìhchu ér zuò, rìhrù ér sí
- Wade–Giles: jih4-chʻu1 êrh2 tso4, jih4-ju4 êrh2 hsi2
- Yale: r̀-chū ér dzwò-, r̀-rù ér syí
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ryhchu erl tzuoh, ryhruh erl shyi
- Palladius: жичу эр цзо, жижу эр си (žiču er czo, žižu er si)
- Sinological IPA (key): /ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi³⁵/
- (Standard Chinese, Mainland)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: jat6 ceot1 ji4 zok3, jat6 jap6 ji4 sik1
- Yale: yaht chēut yìh jok, yaht yahp yìh sīk
- Cantonese Pinyin: jat9 tsoet7 ji4 dzok8, jat9 jap9 ji4 sik7
- Guangdong Romanization: yed6 cêd1 yi4 zog3, yed6 yeb6 yi4 xig1
- Sinological IPA (key): /jɐt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ jɐt̚² jɐp̚² jiː²¹ sɪk̚⁵/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Middle Chinese: nyit tsyhwijH|tsyhwit nyi tsuH|tsaH|tsak nyit nyip nyi sik
Idiom
日出而作，日入而息
- to begin work at sunrise and retire at sunset; to work from dawn till dusk
- 堯時，五十之民擊壤於塗。觀者曰：“大哉，堯之德也！”擊壤者曰：“吾日出而作，日入而息，鑿井而飲，耕田而食。堯何等力？” [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
- From: Wang Chong, Lun Heng (Discussive Weighing), 80 CE
- Yáo shí, wǔshí zhī mín jīrǎng yú tú. Guān zhě yuē: “Dà zāi, Yáo zhī dé yě!” Jīrǎng zhě yuē: “Wú rìchū ér zuò, rìrù ér xī, záojǐng ér yǐn, gēngtián ér shí. Yáo héděng lì?” [Pinyin]
- During the reign of Yao, a fifty-year-old man was tilling the soil by the roadside. "How great is the virtue of Yao!" A passer-by ejaculated. The farmer replied, "When the sun’s up I work, and when it’s down I rest. I dig wells and there’s drink, plow fields and there’s food. Emperor Yao? What’s his awesome power to me?!"
尧时，五十之民击壤于涂。观者曰：“大哉，尧之德也！”击壤者曰：“吾日出而作，日入而息，凿井而饮，耕田而食。尧何等力？” [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]