但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful¹ moonlight, even though miles apart.
独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。
A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive² day.

大江东去，浪淘尽，千古风流人物。
The endless river eastward³ flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant⁴ heroes of bygone years.

二人同心，其利断金。
If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.

富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能曲，此之谓大丈夫。
It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate⁵.

海内存知己，天涯若比邻。
A bosom⁶ friend afar brings distance near.

合抱之木，生于毫末，九层之台，起于累土；千里之行始于足下。
A huge tree that fills one’s arms grows from a tiny seedling⁷; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step.

祸兮，福之所依；福兮，祸之所伏。
Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies⁸.

见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。
On seeing a man of virtue⁹, try to become his equal; on seeing a man without virtue, examine yourself not to have the same defects.

江山如此多娇，引无数英雄尽折腰。
This land so rich in beauty has made countless¹⁰ heroes bow in homage¹¹.

举头望明月，低头思故乡。
Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia¹² comes around.

俱往矣，数风流人物，还看今朝。
All are past and gone; we look to this age for truly great men.

君子成人之美，不成人之恶。
The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct.

君子独立不惭于影，独寝不愧于魂。
A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing¹³ alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone.

君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以亲，小人甘以绝。
The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken.

老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼。
Expend¹⁴ the respect of the aged¹⁵ in one’s family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one’s family to that of other families.

礼尚往来。往而不来，非礼也；来而不往，亦非礼也。
Propriety¹⁶ suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice¹⁷ versa.

两情若是长久时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。
If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?

路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。
The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I’ll search with my will unbending.