子zǐ贡gòng问wèn曰yuē，何hé如rú斯sī可kě谓wèi之zhī士shì矣yǐ。子zǐ曰yuē，行xíng己jǐ有yǒu耻chǐ，使shǐ于yú四sì方fāng，不bù辱rǔ君jūn命mìng，可kě谓wèi士shì矣yǐ。曰yuē，敢gǎn问wèn其qí次cì。曰yuē，宗zōng族zú称chēng孝xiào焉yān，乡xiāng党dǎng称chēng弟tì焉yān。曰yuē，敢gǎn问wèn其qí次cì。曰yuē，言yán必bì信xìn，行xíng必bì果guǒ，硁kēng硁kēng然rán，小xiǎo人rén哉zāi，抑yì亦yì可kě以yǐ为wéi次cì矣yǐ。曰yuē，今jīn之zhī从cóng政zhèng者zhě何hé如rú。子zǐ曰yuē，噫yī，斗dǒu筲shāo之zhī人rén，何hé足zú算suàn也yě。

James Legge Translation

1. Tsze-kung asked, saying, "What qualities must a man possess to entitle him to be called an officer? The Master said, "He who in his conduct of himself maintains a sense of shame, and when sent to any quarter will not disgrace his prince's commission, deserves to be called an officer." 2. Tsze-kung pursued, "I venture to ask who may be placed in the next lower rank?" And he was told, "He whom the circle of his relatives pronounce to be filial, whom his fellow-villagers and neighbours pronounce to be fraternal." 3. Again the disciple asked, "I venture to ask about the class still next in order." The Master said, "They are determined to be sincere in what they say, and to carry out what they do. They are obstinate little men. Yet perhaps they may make the next class." 4. Tsze-kung finally inquired, "Of what sort are those of the present day, who engage in government?" The Master said "Pooh! they are so many pecks and hampers, not worth being taken into account."

Source: James Legge, public domain, 1893.

Notes

• 底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本（1893–1895）。
• 简体化：原文由繁体转为简体（OpenCC），与公版英译逐句对应。