生於憂患,死於安樂

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Chinese

to be born; to give birth; life
to be born; to give birth; life; to grow; student; raw
 
in; at; to
in; at; to; from; by; than; out of; surname
 
suffering; hardship; misery
to die; impassable; uncrossable
to die; impassable; uncrossable; inflexible; rigid
 
in; at; to
in; at; to; from; by; than; out of; surname
 
peaceful and happy; happy and content
trad. (生於憂患,死於安樂) 憂患 安樂
simp. (生于忧患,死于安乐) 忧患 安乐

Etymology

From Mencius (《孟子·告子下》):

……然後而後而後法家拂士敵國外患然後生於憂患死於安樂 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
……然后而后而后法家拂士敌国外患然后生于忧患死于安乐 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
...... Rén héng guò, ránhòu néng gǎi. Kùn yú xīn, héng yú lǜ, érhòu zuò. Zhēng yú sè, fā yú shēng, érhòu yù. Rù zé wú fǎjiā bìshì, chū zé wú díguó wàihuàn zhě, guó héng wáng. Ránhòu zhī shēng yú yōuhuàn, ér sǐ yú ānyuè yě.
… Men for the most part err, and are afterwards able to reform. They are distressed in mind and perplexed in their thoughts, and then they arise to vigorous reformation. When things have been evidenced in men's looks, and set forth in their words, then they understand them. If a prince have not about his court families attached to the laws and worthy counsellors, and if abroad there are not hostile States or other external calamities, his kingdom will generally come to ruin. From these things we see how life springs from sorrow and calamity, and death from ease and pleasure.

Pronunciation


Proverb

生於憂患,死於安樂

  1. Life springs from sorrow and calamity; death comes from ease and pleasure.