【Original text】
十年春，齐帅伐我①。公将战(2)，曹刿请见(3)。其乡人曰(4)：“肉食者谋之⑤，又何间焉(6)？”刿曰：“肉食者鄙③，未能远谋。”乃入见。
In the spring of ten years, Qi Shuai attacked me①. The general fights (2), and Cao GUI comes to see him (3). The countryman said (4): "Meat-eaters plan for ⑤, so how can it be ⑤?" GUI said: "Meat-eaters are despicable for ③ and cannot plan far."
问：“何以战？‘公曰：“衣食所安，弗敢专也③，必以分人” 对曰：“小惠未徧，民弗从也。”公曰：“牺牲玉帛，弗敢加也⑤， 必以信(11)。”对曰：“小信未孚(12)，神弗福也。”公曰：“小大之狱， 虽不能察，必以情(14)。”对曰：“忠之属也，可以一战。战则请从。”
Asked: "Why fight?" The Duke said: "If you have enough food and clothing, you don't dare to focus on it. You must divide the people." He said to him: "If the small benefits are not universal, the people will not obey." "The duke said: "I dare not sacrifice jade and silk, but I must do it with faith (11). "The answer is: "If you have little faith (12), you will be blessed by the gods. "The public said: "There are small and large prisons, although they cannot be observed, they must be based on emotion (14). He said to him, "I am loyal and can fight." Please obey if you fight. "
公与之乘(15)，战于长勺(16)。公将鼓之(17)，刿曰：“未可。”齐人三鼓。刿曰：“可矣。”齐师败绩(18)。公将驰之。刿曰：“未可。”下视其辙③，登轼而望之(20)，曰：“可矣。”遂逐齐师。
The public rides on it (15) and fights with the long spoon (16). The general drummed it (17), and GUI said: "It's not possible. "Qi people drummed three times. GUI said: "That's all right. "The Qi army was defeated (18). The general rushed to him. GUI said: "It's not possible. "Looking down at the path ③, climbing up to Shi and looking at it (20), he said: "That's it. "Then he chased the Qi army.
既克，公间其故。对曰：“夫战，勇气也。一鼓作气(21)，再而衰(22)，三而竭。彼竭我盈，故克之。夫大国，难测也，惧有伏焉。 吾视其辙乱，望其旗靡(23)，故逐之。”
Since it is defeated, the reason is public. He said to him: "Husband fights with courage. One burst of energy (21), then it fades (22), and three times it is exhausted. He is exhausted and I am overflowing, so I overcome him. It is difficult to predict a big country, and you should be afraid of potential dangers. I regard its path as chaotic and hope that its flag will be unruly (23), so I chase it away. "
【注释】
【Note】
①我:指鲁国。作者站在鲁国立场记事，所以书中“我’即指鲁国。 ②公:指鲁庄公。(3)曹刿(gui):鲁国大夫。④乡:春秋时一万 二千五百户为一乡。⑤肉食者:指做大官的人。当时大夫以上的官每天 可以吃肉。(6)间（jian）:参与。(7)鄙:鄙陋，指见识短浅。(8) 专:专有，独占。(9)牺牲:祭礼时用的牲畜，如牛、羊、猪。(10)加:夸大 (11)信:真实，诚实.(12)孚：信任。(13)狱:诉讼案件。 (14)情:情理。(15)乘:乘战车。(16)长勺各国地名。(17)鼓:击 鼓进军。(18)败绩:大败。(19)辙:车轮经过留下的印迹。(20)轼；车 前供乘者扶手的横木。(21)作气:鼓足勇气。(22)再:第二次。(23)靡：倒 下。
①I: refers to the state of Lu. The author records events from the standpoint of the State of Lu, so "I" in the book refers to the State of Lu. ②Gong: refers to Duke Zhuang of Lu. (3) Cao GUI (gui): a senior official in the state of Lu. ④ Township: In the Spring and Autumn Period, 10,000 to 2,500 households constituted a township. ⑤Carnivore: refers to people who are high officials. At that time, officials above the doctor level could eat meat every day. (6) Jian: Participate. (7) Condescending: vulgar, referring to short-sightedness. (8) Special: Exclusive, exclusive. (9) Sacrifice: livestock used in sacrifices, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs. (10) Add: exaggeration (11) Letter: truth, honesty. (12) Fu: trust. (13) Prison: litigation cases. (14) Qing: Reason. (15) Take: Take a chariot. (16) Long spoon place names of various countries. (17) Drum: Beat the drum and march. (18) Defeat: Big defeat. (19) Rut: the mark left by the passing wheels. (20) Shi; the crossbar in front of the car that provides handrails for the passengers. (21) Doing Qi: Have courage. (22) Again: the second time. (23) Mi: Fall down.
【译文】
【Translation】
鲁庄公十年的春天，齐国军队攻打鲁国。鲁庄公将要出兵应 战，曹刿请求见庄公。他的乡里人说：“做大官的人会谋划这件事， 你又何必参与呢？”曹刿说：“做大官的人见识短浅，不能深谋远 虑。”于是他入朝拜见庄公。
In the spring of the tenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu, the Qi army attacked Lu. Duke Zhuang of Lu was about to send troops to fight, and Cao GUI asked to see Duke Zhuang. His villagers said, "A high official will plan this matter, so why should you participate?" Cao GUI said, "A high official is short-sighted and cannot make far-sighted plans." So he went to the court to pay homage to Duke Zhuang.
曹刿问庄公：“您凭借什么去同齐国作战？庄公答道；“衣食 一类用来安身的物品，我不敢独自享用，必定要分一些给别人。” 曹刿说：“这种小恩小惠没有遍及每个民众，他们不会跟从您去作 战的。”庄公说；“祭花用的牲畜、宝玉和丝绸，我不敢夸大，一 定要忠实诚信。”曹刿答道：“这种小信不足以使鬼神信任，鬼神 是不会赐福的。”庄公说；“大大小小的官司案件，虽然不能—一 明禀，也一定要处理得合乎情理。”曹刿说；“这是尽心尽力为民 办事的表现，可以凭这个同齐国打仗。打仗的时候，请让我跟您 一同去。”
Cao GUI asked Zhuang Gong, "What do you rely on to fight against Qi?" Zhuang Gong replied, "I don't dare to enjoy food and clothing alone, but I must share some with others." Cao GUI said: "If this kind of small favor does not extend to everyone, they will not follow you to fight." " Zhuang Gong said, "I dare not exaggerate the livestock, jade and silk used to sacrifice flowers. They must be loyal and honest. Cao GUI replied: "This kind of small faith is not enough to make ghosts and gods trust you. Ghosts and gods will not bless you." " Zhuang Gong said; "Although large and small legal cases cannot be reported clearly, they must be handled reasonably. Cao GUI said, "This is a sign of serving the people wholeheartedly. You can rely on this to fight against Qi." When the war begins, please let me go with you. "
庄公和曹刿同乘一辆战车，在长勺同齐军交战。庄公正想击鼓进兵，曹刿说：“不行。”齐军已经击了三通鼓。曹刿说：“ 出兵了。”齐军被打得大败，庄公准备驱车追击。”曹刿说“还不行。”他下了车，察看齐军车轮的印迹，然后登上车，扶着车轼瞭嗏 望齐军，说：“可以追击了。”于是开始追击齐军。
Duke Zhuang and Cao GUI rode in the same chariot and fought with the Qi army at Changshao. Zhuang Gong wanted to beat drums and march into the army, but Cao GUI said, "No. "The Qi army has already beaten the three-way drum. Cao GUI said: "The troops are sent out. "The Qi army was defeated, and Duke Zhuang was ready to pursue him." Cao GUI said, "It's not enough yet." He got out of the car, looked at the imprints of the Qi army's wheels, then got on the car, supported Shi, looked at the Qi army, and said, "It's time to pursue." So he began to pursue the Qi army.
鲁军打了胜仗之后，庄公问曹刿取胜的原因。曹判回答说:“打仗凭的全是勇气。第一次击鼓时士兵们鼓足了勇气，第二次击 鼓时勇气就衰退了，第三次击鼓时勇气便耗尽了。敌方的勇气耗 尽时，我们的勇气正旺盛，所以会取胜。大国用兵作战难以预测, 我担心他们设兵埋伏。后来，我看出他们的车轮印很乱，望见他 们的旗帜倒下，所以才去追击他们。
After the Lu army won the battle, Duke Zhuang asked Cao GUI the reason for his victory. Judge Cao replied: "Wars depend on courage. When the drums were beaten for the first time, the soldiers mustered up their courage, but when the drums were beaten for the second time, their courage faded, and when the drums were beaten for the third time, their courage was exhausted. When the enemy's courage was exhausted, our courage was strong, so we would win. It is unpredictable for big countries to use their troops in battle, and I was worried that they would set up an ambush. Later, I saw that their wheel tracks were very messy and their flags fell, so I pursued them."
【读解】
【Interpretation】
可以把曹刿称为优秀的军事家。他所以取胜的原因，不是靠猛打猛冲，而是靠了谋略、智慧，这一点尤其让人称道。
Cao GUI can be called an excellent military strategist. The reason why he won was not by fierce fighting, but by strategy and wisdom, which is particularly commendable.
战争当中，一个优秀的谋略家，抵得上成千上万的将士。他 虽然没有将士的勇猛，没有将士的膺力，没有在战场上冲锋陷阵， 却能凭借智慧，以柔克刚，以弱胜强，以小取大。
In war, an excellent strategist is worth thousands of soldiers. Although he does not have the bravery and courage of the generals, and does not charge on the battlefield, he can rely on his wisdom to overcome the strong with softness, defeat the strong with the weak, and win the big with the small.
智慧如同水，水是无形的，看似柔弱，但是它在无形、柔弱。③ 之中积聚了看不见的力量，遇到险阻可以绕道而行，聚积起来的 力量达到一定程度，便可以汇成冲决一切障碍的潮流。难怪孔子 要说：“智者乐水”。它们在外表和特征上十分相似：以无形克服 有形，以流转变化回避强敌，以柔弱战胜阳刚。
Wisdom is like water. Water is invisible and looks weak, but it is invisible and weak. ③ Invisible power is accumulated in it. When encountering obstacles, you can take a detour. When the accumulated power reaches a certain level, it can form a trend that overcomes all obstacles. No wonder Confucius said: "The wise enjoy water." They are very similar in appearance and characteristics: they use the intangible to overcome the visible, they use change to avoid strong enemies, and they use weakness to defeat the masculine.
中国传统中对水的偏爱，铸成了传统智慧在阴、阳的抗衡中 注重以柔克刚的阴性特征。这是一个十分有趣的文化现象。传统 的智者，谋略家，甚至可能连操刀舞剑的力量都没有，却能运筹 帷幄，在几十万大军的交锋之中，扮演着导演的角色，指点沙场， 调兵遣将。可以说，一场战争中的灵魂，正是那些文弱雅致的谋 略家，是他们彼此间智慧的较量，在决定着战争的胜负。
The preference for water in Chinese tradition has created the traditional wisdom that emphasizes the feminine characteristics of softness overcoming hardness in the balance between yin and yang. This is a very interesting cultural phenomenon. Traditional wise men and strategists may not even have the strength to wield a sword, but they can strategize and play the role of director in the battle of hundreds of thousands of armies, guiding the battlefield and dispatching troops. It can be said that the soul of a war is those weak and elegant strategists. It is the battle of wisdom between them that determines the outcome of the war.
另一个有趣之处是，传统的军事谋略家不是凭借在战场上出 生入死、浴血奋战的经验来指挥作战，而是靠读书识理来完成自己使命的。 看上去他们似乎因为没有亲身打过仗而缺乏实战经验，然而他们从读书识理中 积累起来的智慧，足以使他们从力量对比、人心向背、心理状态、地理环境、气候条件等等天、地、人方面的因素，来把握、预测、决定整个战争的进程。这一点在崇尚实战经验的西方军事家看来，是匪夷所思的，而在我们看来却是十分自然的。
Another interesting thing is that traditional military strategists do not command operations based on their experience of life and death and bloody battles on the battlefield, but rely on reading and understanding to complete their missions. It seems that they lack actual combat experience because they have not personally fought in a war. However, the wisdom they have accumulated from reading and reasoning is enough to enable them to grasp, predict, and decide the course of the entire war from the balance of power, popular support, psychological state, geographical environment, climate conditions, and other factors such as heaven, earth, and people. This is unbelievable to Western military strategists who value practical combat experience, but to us it is very natural.
中国历史上的无数次战争都在证明着，成功的战例是文人门智慧的杰作。他们精心导演了一出又一出的戏，然后让担当剧中角色的将士去演出。
Countless wars in Chinese history have proven that successful battles are masterpieces of the wisdom of the literati. They carefully directed one play after another, and then let the soldiers who played the roles in the play perform.
