述而不作
Chinese
to state; to tell; to narrate to state; to tell; to narrate; to relate | and; as well as; but (not) and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast) | not; no | to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do; to make | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (述而不作) | 述 | 而 | 不 | 作 | |
| simp. #(述而不作) | 述 | 而 | 不 | 作 | |
Etymology
From a saying by Confucius referring to himself:
- 子曰：「述而不作，信而好古，竊比於我老彭。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Zǐyuē: “Shù ér bùzuò, xìn ér hàogǔ, qiè bǐ yú wǒ Lǎopéng.” [Pinyin]
- The Master said, "A transmitter and not a maker, believing in and loving the ancients, I venture to compare myself with the Venerable Peng."
子曰：“述而不作，信而好古，窃比于我老彭。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
The identity of 老彭 was unclear. According to the Elder Dai's Book of Rites (《大戴禮記》), a wise nobleman of the Shang-era bore that appellation.
Pronunciation
Idiom
述而不作
- (literary) to refrain from unwarranted innovations; to resist the temptation to speculate
Usage notes
Typically used in the context of historiography, textual criticism, classical studies, translation, etc.