Zengzi and the Jujubes
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
曾晳嗜羊枣,而曾子不忍食羊枣。公孙丑问曰:“脍炙与羊枣孰美?”
English translation
Zeng Xi liked jujubes, so Zengzi could not bear to eat them. Gongsun Chou asked, “Which tastes better, roast meat or jujubes?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“脍炙哉!”
English translation
Mencius replied, “Roast meat, of course!”
Original Chinese text
公孙丑曰:“然则曾子何为食脍炙而不食羊枣?”
English translation
Gongsun Chou asked, “Then why did Zengzi eat roast meat but not jujubes?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“脍炙所同也,羊枣所独也。讳名不讳姓,姓所同也,名所独也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Roast meat is something everyone enjoys, whereas jujubes were something Zeng Xi alone favored. One avoids speaking a father’s personal name, not his surname: a surname is shared by many, while his given name is unique to him.”