Tao Te Ching Chinese English Parallel Text | Bilingual Edition|Tao Te Ching – Dao Jing, Chapter 4
《道德经》第四章 Tao Te Ching – Chapter 4 原文 (Classical Chinese):道冲，而用之或不盈。渊兮，似万物之宗。挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘。湛兮，似或存。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。 English Translation:The Tao is empty, yet its use is never exhausted.Profound and deep, it appears to be the source of all things. It blunts the sharp,Unravels the tangled,Softens the glare,And unites with the dust. So subtle and hidden, it seems ever present.I do not know…
《道德经》第四章 Tao Te Ching – Chapter 4
原文 (Classical Chinese):
道冲，而用之或不盈。
渊兮，似万物之宗。
挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘。
湛兮，似或存。
吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。
English Translation:
The Tao is empty, yet its use is never exhausted.
Profound and deep, it appears to be the source of all things.
It blunts the sharp,
Unravels the tangled,
Softens the glare,
And unites with the dust.
So subtle and hidden, it seems ever present.
I do not know whose child it is,
It appears to precede even the Lord of Heaven.
白话文解释 (Modern Chinese Explanation):
道是不可见的虚体，虽然空虚无形，但它的作用却无穷无尽，无法测量。它深邃得像是世间万物的根本与源头。
它能够消磨锋锐，化解纷扰，收敛光芒，融入尘世。
它看似幽隐虚无，却确实存在。我不知道它是从何而来，但它似乎在天地万物和主宰一切的“帝”之前就已经存在了。
Plain English Commentary:
In Chapter 4, Laozi describes the Tao as an inexhaustible emptiness—formless yet infinitely useful. It is the origin of all things, deeper than the deepest abyss. The Tao smooths what is sharp, untangles confusion, softens brilliance, and merges with the ordinary dust of life. Though subtle and invisible, it always exists. Its origin is mysterious, seeming to precede even the highest divine power.