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Three Character Classic (三字经 sān zì jīng) with Pinyin and English

人之初，性本善 (rén zhī chū, xìng běn shàn, people are born good) is the opening of the 三字经 (sān zì jīng), the Three Character Classic that taught Chinese children to read for some seven hundred years. Every phrase has three characters, so it is easy to chant and easy to copy. The text moves from human nature and the value of education to counting, the seasons and the directions, then the classic books, Chinese history and famous examples of hard-working students. This worksheet starts with the first twenty phrases, from 人之初 (rén zhī chū) to 师之惰 (shī zhī duò), in rows of grids with pinyin. Below it, the whole text appears in twelve sections with simplified and traditional characters, pinyin and an English translation, so you can print any section you like. Our text follows the standard Qing edition, which ends its history with the Song dynasty. Print it free or save the PDF, and chant each line before you write it.

About the Three Character Classic

三字经 (sān zì jīng), by 王应麟 (Wáng Yìnglín), Song dynasty (960-1279). Traditionally credited to the Song-dynasty scholar Wang Yinglin (1223-1296); some scholars credit Ou Shizi.

1. Human nature and teaching (人之初 rén zhī chū)

  1. 人之初，性本善。 rén zhī chū xìng běn shàn: People are born good by nature.
  2. 性相近，习相远。 xìng xiāng jìn xí xiāng yuǎn: Our natures are much alike; our habits drive us far apart.
  3. 苟不教，性乃迁。 gǒu bú jiào xìng nǎi qiān: If a child is not taught, that good nature changes.
  4. 教之道，贵以专。 jiào zhī dào guì yǐ zhuān: The key to teaching is steady, focused effort.

2. Learning from parents and teachers (昔孟母 xī mèng mǔ)

  1. 昔孟母，择邻处。 xī mèng mǔ zé lín chǔ: Long ago, Mencius's mother moved house to find good neighbors.
  2. 子不学，断机杼。 zǐ bù xué duàn jī zhù: When her son skipped his studies, she cut the cloth from her loom to show him what quitting does.
  3. 窦燕山，有义方。 dòu yān shān yǒu yì fāng: Dou Yanshan knew the right way to raise children.
  4. 教五子，名俱扬。 jiào wǔ zǐ míng jù yáng: He taught his five sons, and all of them became famous.
  5. 养不教，父之过。 yǎng bú jiào fù zhī guò: To feed children but not teach them is the father's fault.
  6. 教不严，师之惰。 jiào bù yán shī zhī duò: To teach without strictness is the teacher's laziness.
  7. 子不学，非所宜。 zǐ bù xué fēi suǒ yí: A child who will not learn is not doing what a child should.
  8. 幼不学，老何为。 yòu bù xué lǎo hé wéi: If you do not learn while young, what will you do when old?
  9. 玉不琢，不成器。 yù bù zhuó bù chéng qì: Jade that is never carved never becomes anything useful.
  10. 人不学，不知义。 rén bù xué bù zhī yì: People who never learn never understand what is right.
  11. 为人子，方少时。 wéi rén zǐ fāng shào shí: While you are young and still a son or daughter at home,
  12. 亲师友，习礼仪。 qīn shī yǒu xí lǐ yí: stay close to teachers and friends, and practise good manners.

3. Respect, counting and reading (香九龄 xiāng jiǔ líng)

  1. 香九龄，能温席。 xiāng jiǔ líng néng wēn xí: At nine, Huang Xiang warmed his father's bed on cold nights.
  2. 孝于亲，所当执。 xiào yú qīn suǒ dāng zhí: Caring for your parents is a duty to hold on to.
  3. 融四岁，能让梨。 róng sì suì néng ràng lí: At four, Kong Rong let his older brothers have the bigger pears.
  4. 弟于长，宜先知。 tì yú zhǎng yí xiān zhī: Respect for older brothers and sisters should be learned early.
  5. 首孝弟，次见闻。 shǒu xiào tì cì jiàn wén: First comes respect for parents and elders, then learning about the world.
  6. 知某数，识某文。 zhī mǒu shù shí mǒu wén: Learn to count, and learn to read.
  7. 一而十，十而百。 yī ér shí shí ér bǎi: From one to ten, from ten to a hundred,
  8. 百而千，千而万。 bǎi ér qiān qiān ér wàn: from a hundred to a thousand, from a thousand to ten thousand.

4. Heaven, earth and the basic sets of three, four and five (三才者 sān cái zhě)

  1. 三才者，天地人。 sān cái zhě tiān dì rén: The Three Powers are heaven, earth and people.
  2. 三光者，日月星。 sān guāng zhě rì yuè xīng: The Three Lights are the sun, the moon and the stars.
  3. 三纲者，君臣义。 sān gāng zhě jūn chén yì: The Three Bonds: between ruler and minister, loyalty;
  4. 父子亲，夫妇顺。 fù zǐ qīn fū fù shùn: between father and son, love; between husband and wife, harmony.
  5. 曰春夏，曰秋冬。 yuē chūn xià yuē qiū dōng: Spring and summer, autumn and winter:
  6. 此四时，运不穷。 cǐ sì shí yùn bù qióng: these four seasons turn without end.
  7. 曰南北，曰西东。 yuē nán běi yuē xī dōng: South and north, west and east:
  8. 此四方，应乎中。 cǐ sì fāng yìng hū zhōng: these four directions are set around the center.
  9. 曰水火，木金土。 yuē shuǐ huǒ mù jīn tǔ: Water and fire, wood, metal and earth:
  10. 此五行，本乎数。 cǐ wǔ xíng běn hū shù: these Five Elements follow the order of numbers.
  11. 曰仁义，礼智信。 yuē rén yì lǐ zhì xìn: Kindness and rightness, courtesy, wisdom and trust:
  12. 此五常，不容紊。 cǐ wǔ cháng bù róng wěn: these Five Constant Virtues must never be mixed up.

5. Grains, animals, feelings, music and family (稻粱菽 dào liáng shū)

  1. 稻粱菽，麦黍稷。 dào liáng shū mài shǔ jì: Rice and millet and beans, wheat and two more kinds of millet:
  2. 此六谷，人所食。 cǐ liù gǔ rén suǒ shí: these six grains are what people eat.
  3. 马牛羊，鸡犬豕。 mǎ niú yáng jī quǎn shǐ: Horses, cattle and sheep; chickens, dogs and pigs:
  4. 此六畜，人所饲。 cǐ liù chù rén suǒ sì: these six animals are the ones people raise.
  5. 曰喜怒，曰哀惧。 yuē xǐ nù yuē āi jù: Joy and anger, sorrow and fear,
  6. 爱恶欲，七情具。 ài wù yù qī qíng jù: love, hate and desire: these are the seven feelings.
  7. 匏土革，木石金。 páo tǔ gé mù shí jīn: Gourd, clay and leather, wood, stone and metal,
  8. 丝与竹，乃八音。 sī yǔ zhú nǎi bā yīn: silk and bamboo: these are the eight kinds of musical sound.
  9. 高曾祖，父而身。 gāo zēng zǔ fù ér shēn: Great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, father and yourself;
  10. 身而子，子而孙。 shēn ér zǐ zǐ ér sūn: yourself to your son, your son to your grandson;
  11. 自子孙，至玄曾。 zì zǐ sūn zhì xuán zēng: and from grandsons on to great- and great-great-grandsons:
  12. 乃九族，人之伦。 nǎi jiǔ zú rén zhī lún: these nine generations make up a family line.
  13. 父子恩，夫妇从。 fù zǐ ēn fū fù cóng: Fathers and sons show kindness; husbands and wives keep in step;
  14. 兄则友，弟则恭。 xiōng zé yǒu dì zé gōng: older brothers are friendly; younger brothers are respectful;
  15. 长幼序，友与朋。 zhǎng yòu xù yǒu yǔ péng: old and young keep their order; friends keep faith with friends;
  16. 君则敬，臣则忠。 jūn zé jìng chén zé zhōng: rulers are respectful; ministers are loyal.
  17. 此十义，人所同。 cǐ shí yì rén suǒ tóng: These ten duties are shared by everyone.

6. How to study: the Four Books (凡训蒙 fán xùn méng)

  1. 凡训蒙，须讲究。 fán xùn méng xū jiǎng jiū: Anyone who teaches beginners must be careful and thorough,
  2. 详训诂，明句读。 xiáng xùn gǔ míng jù dòu: explaining what words mean and where each sentence pauses.
  3. 为学者，必有初。 wéi xué zhě bì yǒu chū: Every student must start at the beginning.
  4. 小学终，至四书。 xiǎo xué zhōng zhì sì shū: When the basics are done, go on to the Four Books.
  5. 论语者，二十篇。 lún yǔ zhě èr shí piān: The Analects has twenty chapters,
  6. 群弟子，记善言。 qún dì zǐ jì shàn yán: where Confucius's students wrote down his wise words.
  7. 孟子者，七篇止。 mèng zǐ zhě qī piān zhǐ: The Mencius stops at seven chapters;
  8. 讲道德，说仁义。 jiǎng dào dé shuō rén yì: it talks about the Way and virtue, kindness and rightness.
  9. 作中庸，子思笔。 zuò zhōng yōng zǐ sī bǐ: The Doctrine of the Mean was written by Zisi:
  10. 中不偏，庸不易。 zhōng bù piān yōng bú yì: zhong means leaning neither way; yong means never changing.
  11. 作大学，乃曾子。 zuò dà xué nǎi zēng zǐ: The Great Learning was written by Zengzi;
  12. 自修齐，至平治。 zì xiū qí zhì píng zhì: it moves from improving yourself and your family to governing well and bringing peace.
  13. 孝经通，四书熟。 xiào jīng tōng sì shū shú: Once you understand the Classic of Filial Piety and know the Four Books well,
  14. 如六经，始可读。 rú liù jīng shǐ kě dú: you are ready to read the Six Classics.

7. The Six Classics and the philosophers (诗书易 shī shū yì)

  1. 诗书易，礼春秋。 shī shū yì lǐ chūn qiū: The Songs, the Documents, the Changes, the Rites and the Spring and Autumn Annals
  2. 号六经，当讲求。 hào liù jīng dāng jiǎng qiú: are called the Six Classics and should be studied closely.
  3. 有连山，有归藏。 yǒu lián shān yǒu guī cáng: There is the Lianshan, there is the Guicang,
  4. 有周易，三易详。 yǒu zhōu yì sān yì xiáng: and there is the Zhouyi: the three books of Changes explain it all.
  5. 有典谟，有训诰。 yǒu diǎn mó yǒu xùn gào: There are canons and counsels, instructions and announcements,
  6. 有誓命，书之奥。 yǒu shì mìng shū zhī ào: oaths and orders: the deepest parts of the Book of Documents.
  7. 我周公，作周礼。 wǒ zhōu gōng zuò zhōu lǐ: Our Duke of Zhou wrote the Rites of Zhou,
  8. 著六官，存治体。 zhù liù guān cún zhì tǐ: setting out six ministries to keep the government in order.
  9. 大小戴，注礼记。 dà xiǎo dài zhù lǐ jì: The elder and younger Dai explained the Book of Rites,
  10. 述圣言，礼乐备。 shù shèng yán lǐ yuè bèi: passing on the sages' words so that ritual and music were complete.
  11. 曰国风，曰雅颂。 yuē guó fēng yuē yǎ sòng: There are the Airs of the States, the Odes and the Hymns:
  12. 号四诗，当讽咏。 hào sì shī dāng fěng yǒng: called the four parts of the Book of Songs, they should be chanted aloud.
  13. 诗既亡，春秋作。 shī jì wáng chūn qiū zuò: When the old songs were no longer sung, the Spring and Autumn Annals were written,
  14. 寓褒贬，别善恶。 yù bāo biǎn bié shàn è: giving praise and blame and telling good from bad.
  15. 三传者，有公羊。 sān zhuàn zhě yǒu gōng yáng: The three commentaries on it are by Gongyang,
  16. 有左氏，有谷梁。 yǒu zuǒ shì yǒu gǔ liáng: by Zuo, and by Guliang.
  17. 经既明，方读子。 jīng jì míng fāng dú zǐ: When the classics are clear, read the philosophers;
  18. 撮其要，记其事。 cuō qí yào jì qí shì: pick out the main points and remember the facts.
  19. 五子者，有荀扬。 wǔ zǐ zhě yǒu xún yáng: The five philosophers are Xunzi and Yang Xiong,
  20. 文中子，及老庄。 wén zhōng zǐ jí lǎo zhuāng: Wenzhongzi, Laozi and Zhuangzi.
  21. 经子通，读诸史。 jīng zǐ tōng dú zhū shǐ: Once you know the classics and philosophers, read the histories;
  22. 考世系，知终始。 kǎo shì xì zhī zhōng shǐ: trace the family lines of rulers and learn how each age began and ended.

8. History I: the sage kings to the Three Kingdoms (自羲农 zì xī nóng)

  1. 自羲农，至黄帝。 zì xī nóng zhì huáng dì: From Fuxi and Shennong to the Yellow Emperor,
  2. 号三皇，居上世。 hào sān huáng jū shàng shì: these were the Three Sovereigns of the earliest times.
  3. 唐有虞，号二帝。 táng yǒu yú hào èr dì: Yao of Tang and Shun of Yu were called the Two Emperors;
  4. 相揖逊，称盛世。 xiāng yī xùn chēng shèng shì: they handed the throne to worthy men, and theirs was a golden age.
  5. 夏有禹，商有汤。 xià yǒu yǔ shāng yǒu tāng: Xia had Yu and Shang had Tang;
  6. 周文武，称三王。 zhōu wén wǔ chēng sān wáng: Zhou had Kings Wen and Wu: together they are the Three Kings.
  7. 夏传子，家天下。 xià chuán zǐ jiā tiān xià: Xia passed the throne from father to son, making the country a family possession.
  8. 四百载，迁夏社。 sì bǎi zǎi qiān xià shè: After four hundred years, the Xia dynasty fell.
  9. 汤伐夏，国号商。 tāng fá xià guó hào shāng: Tang overthrew Xia and named his state Shang;
  10. 六百载，至纣亡。 liù bǎi zǎi zhì zhòu wáng: six hundred years later it fell with the tyrant Zhou.
  11. 周武王，始诛纣。 zhōu wǔ wáng shǐ zhū zhòu: King Wu of Zhou put the tyrant to death,
  12. 八百载，最长久。 bā bǎi zǎi zuì cháng jiǔ: and Zhou lasted eight hundred years, the longest of all.
  13. 周辙东，王纲坠。 zhōu zhé dōng wáng gāng zhuì: When Zhou moved its capital east, royal authority collapsed;
  14. 逞干戈，尚游说。 chěng gān gē shàng yóu shuì: war became common, and clever talkers who went from court to court were prized.
  15. 始春秋，终战国。 shǐ chūn qiū zhōng zhàn guó: It began with the Spring and Autumn period and ended with the Warring States;
  16. 五霸强，七雄出。 wǔ bà qiáng qī xióng chū: five overlords grew strong, and seven great states emerged.
  17. 嬴秦氏，始兼并。 yíng qín shì shǐ jiān bìng: The Ying family of Qin finally united the country,
  18. 传二世，楚汉争。 chuán èr shì chǔ hàn zhēng: but after two emperors, Chu and Han fought for power.
  19. 高祖兴，汉业建。 gāo zǔ xīng hàn yè jiàn: Gaozu rose up and founded the Han;
  20. 至孝平，王莽篡。 zhì xiào píng wáng mǎng cuàn: by the reign of Emperor Ping, Wang Mang had seized the throne.
  21. 光武兴，为东汉。 guāng wǔ xīng wéi dōng hàn: Guangwu rose up again and founded the Eastern Han;
  22. 四百年，终于献。 sì bǎi nián zhōng yú xiàn: four hundred years of Han ended with Emperor Xian.
  23. 魏蜀吴，争汉鼎。 wèi shǔ wú zhēng hàn dǐng: Wei, Shu and Wu fought over the Han empire;
  24. 号三国，迄两晋。 hào sān guó qì liǎng jìn: this was the Three Kingdoms, which lasted until the two Jin dynasties.

9. History II: the Southern Dynasties to the Song (宋齐继 sòng qí jì)

  1. 宋齐继，梁陈承。 sòng qí jì liáng chén chéng: Song and Qi came next, then Liang and Chen:
  2. 为南朝，都金陵。 wéi nán cháo dū jīn líng: these were the Southern Dynasties, with their capital at Jinling (Nanjing).
  3. 北元魏，分东西。 běi yuán wèi fēn dōng xī: In the north, Northern Wei split into east and west,
  4. 宇文周，与高齐。 yǔ wén zhōu yǔ gāo qí: followed by the Zhou of the Yuwen family and the Qi of the Gao family.
  5. 迨至隋，一土宇。 dài zhì suí yì tǔ yǔ: When Sui arrived, the country was united again,
  6. 不再传，失统绪。 bú zài chuán shī tǒng xù: but the throne passed on only once before the line was lost.
  7. 唐高祖，起义师。 táng gāo zǔ qǐ yì shī: Gaozu of Tang raised a righteous army,
  8. 除隋乱，创国基。 chú suí luàn chuàng guó jī: ended the chaos of Sui and laid the foundations of a new state.
  9. 二十传，三百载。 èr shí chuán sān bǎi zǎi: Twenty reigns and three hundred years later,
  10. 梁灭之，国乃改。 liáng miè zhī guó nǎi gǎi: Liang destroyed Tang, and the dynasty changed.
  11. 梁唐晋，及汉周。 liáng táng jìn jí hàn zhōu: Liang, Tang and Jin, then Han and Zhou:
  12. 称五代，皆有由。 chēng wǔ dài jiē yǒu yóu: these were the Five Dynasties, and each rose and fell for a reason.
  13. 炎宋兴，受周禅。 yán sòng xīng shòu zhōu shàn: The Song rose when the last Zhou ruler handed over the throne;
  14. 十八传，南北混。 shí bā chuán nán běi hùn: eighteen reigns later, north and south were thrown together.
  15. 十七史，全在兹。 shí qī shǐ quán zài zī: The seventeen histories record all of this,
  16. 载治乱，知兴衰。 zài zhì luàn zhī xīng shuāi: showing times of order and disorder, so we learn how states rise and fall.
  17. 读史者，考实录。 dú shǐ zhě kǎo shí lù: Readers of history should study the true records,
  18. 通古今，若亲目。 tōng gǔ jīn ruò qīn mù: until they know past and present as if they had seen them firsthand.

10. Famous examples of hard study (口而诵 kǒu ér sòng)

  1. 口而诵，心而惟。 kǒu ér sòng xīn ér wéi: Read aloud with your mouth and think it through with your mind,
  2. 朝于斯，夕于斯。 zhāo yú sī xī yú sī: every morning and every evening.
  3. 昔仲尼，师项橐。 xī zhòng ní shī xiàng tuó: Long ago, Confucius learned from a boy named Xiang Tuo;
  4. 古圣贤，尚勤学。 gǔ shèng xián shàng qín xué: even the ancient sages worked hard at learning.
  5. 赵中令，读鲁论。 zhào zhōng lìng dú lǔ lún: Zhao Pu, a chief minister, kept reading the Analects;
  6. 彼既仕，学且勤。 bǐ jì shì xué qiě qín: he already held high office, yet he studied hard.
  7. 披蒲编，削竹简。 pī pú biān xuē zhú jiǎn: One scholar copied books onto woven rushes, another onto bamboo strips;
  8. 彼无书，且知勉。 bǐ wú shū qiě zhī miǎn: they had no books of their own, yet they kept working.
  9. 头悬梁，锥刺股。 tóu xuán liáng zhuī cì gǔ: One tied his hair to a roof beam, another jabbed his thigh with an awl to stay awake;
  10. 彼不教，自勤苦。 bǐ bú jiào zì qín kǔ: no one made them study; they pushed themselves.
  11. 如囊萤，如映雪。 rú náng yíng rú yìng xuě: One read by the light of fireflies in a bag, another by moonlight on the snow;
  12. 家虽贫，学不辍。 jiā suī pín xué bú chuò: their families were poor, but they never stopped learning.
  13. 如负薪，如挂角。 rú fù xīn rú guà jiǎo: One read while carrying firewood, another hung his book on an ox's horn;
  14. 身虽劳，犹苦卓。 shēn suī láo yóu kǔ zhuó: they worked hard all day, yet still studied with great effort.
  15. 苏老泉，二十七。 sū lǎo quán èr shí qī: Su Laoquan was twenty-seven
  16. 始发愤，读书籍。 shǐ fā fèn dú shū jí: when he finally set his heart on reading.
  17. 彼既老，犹悔迟。 bǐ jì lǎo yóu huǐ chí: Older by then, he wished he had started sooner;
  18. 尔小生，宜早思。 ěr xiǎo shēng yí zǎo sī: you who are young should think about this early.
  19. 若梁灏，八十二。 ruò liáng hào bā shí èr: Liang Hao, at eighty-two,
  20. 对大廷，魁多士。 duì dà tíng kuí duō shì: answered at the palace examination and came first among many scholars.
  21. 彼晚成，众称异。 bǐ wǎn chéng zhòng chēng yì: He succeeded late, and everyone was amazed;
  22. 尔小生，宜立志。 ěr xiǎo shēng yí lì zhì: you who are young should set your goals now.

11. Young prodigies (莹八岁 yíng bā suì)

  1. 莹八岁，能咏诗。 yíng bā suì néng yǒng shī: At eight, Zu Ying could recite poems;
  2. 泌七岁，能赋棋。 bì qī suì néng fù qí: at seven, Li Bi could compose verses about chess.
  3. 彼颖悟，人称奇。 bǐ yǐng wù rén chēng qí: They were bright and quick, and people called them wonders;
  4. 尔幼学，当效之。 ěr yòu xué dāng xiào zhī: you who are young should follow their example.
  5. 蔡文姬，能辨琴。 cài wén jī néng biàn qín: Cai Wenji could tell which zither string had broken just by listening;
  6. 谢道韫，能咏吟。 xiè dào yùn néng yǒng yín: Xie Daoyun could compose poems.
  7. 彼女子，且聪敏。 bǐ nǚ zǐ qiě cōng mǐn: They were girls, and clever and quick-witted;
  8. 尔男子，当自警。 ěr nán zǐ dāng zì jǐng: boys, let that spur you on.
  9. 唐刘晏，方七岁。 táng liú yàn fāng qī suì: Liu Yan of the Tang was only seven
  10. 举神童，作正字。 jǔ shén tóng zuò zhèng zì: when he was named a child prodigy and given a post correcting texts at court.
  11. 彼虽幼，身已仕。 bǐ suī yòu shēn yǐ shì: Though young, he already held office;
  12. 尔幼学，勉而致。 ěr yòu xué miǎn ér zhì: you who are young, work hard and you can do the same.
  13. 有为者，亦若是。 yǒu wéi zhě yì ruò shì: Anyone who puts in the effort can achieve as much.

12. Why we learn (犬守夜 quǎn shǒu yè)

  1. 犬守夜，鸡司晨。 quǎn shǒu yè jī sī chén: The dog guards the house at night; the rooster calls the dawn;
  2. 苟不学，曷为人。 gǒu bù xué hé wéi rén: if you do not learn, how can you call yourself a person?
  3. 蚕吐丝，蜂酿蜜。 cán tǔ sī fēng niàng mì: Silkworms spin silk; bees make honey;
  4. 人不学，不如物。 rén bù xué bù rú wù: a person who does not learn is worth less than these creatures.
  5. 幼而学，壮而行。 yòu ér xué zhuàng ér xíng: Learn while you are young, and put it to use when you are grown;
  6. 上致君，下泽民。 shàng zhì jūn xià zé mín: serve the ruler above and help the people below.
  7. 扬名声，显父母。 yáng míng shēng xiǎn fù mǔ: Make a good name for yourself and bring honor to your parents,
  8. 光于前，裕于后。 guāng yú qián yù yú hòu: bringing glory to those before you and blessings to those after.
  9. 人遗子，金满籯。 rén yí zǐ jīn mǎn yíng: Some people leave their children a chest full of gold;
  10. 我教子，惟一经。 wǒ jiào zǐ wéi yì jīng: I teach my child just one book.
  11. 勤有功，戏无益。 qín yǒu gōng xì wú yì: Hard work pays off; play gets you nothing.
  12. 戒之哉，宜勉力。 jiè zhī zāi yí miǎn lì: Take this to heart, and keep working hard!

Readings that trip people up

Where readers and editions differ, we chose the reading below and list the others.

Three Character Classic reading notes
CharacterOur readingAlso readWhy
教jiàojiāoRead jiào ('to instruct, education') throughout, as in common recitation editions; some editions read jiāo where 教 takes an object (教五子, 我教子).
燕yānyàn窦燕山 is named after the Yan region (燕 Yān), not the swallow (yàn).
弟tìdìIn 首孝弟 and 弟于长, 弟 stands for 悌 (tì, respect for elders); elsewhere it is dì.
一yīyì一而十 counts numbers, so 一 keeps its own tone; 一土宇 ('unified the land') and 惟一经 take sandhi yì.
读dòudú句读 (jù dòu) means the pauses in a sentence.
传zhuànchuán三传 are the three commentaries (zhuàn); 传 'pass down' elsewhere is chuán.
载zǎizài载 'year' (四百载) is zǎi; 载治乱 'records' is zài.
说shuìshuō游说 (yóu shuì) means going from court to court to persuade rulers.
削xuēxiāo削竹简: xuē is the literary reading used in recitation; xiāo is the everyday 'peel, pare'.
泌bìmì泌 here is the Tang prodigy 李泌 Lǐ Bì.
遗yíwèi人遗子: 'leave to one's children' (yí); a classical reading wèi 'give' also exists.

Edition notes

  • 至玄曾: Giles prints 至元曾: 元 replaced 玄 under a Qing naming taboo; restored here.
  • 有荀扬: Giles prints 楊; the philosopher Yang Xiong is now written 扬雄 (揚雄).
  • 迨至隋: Giles prints 逮至隋; most editions have 迨 (same meaning: 'when it came to').
  • 彼晚成: Some editions read 彼既成.
  • 裕于后: Some editions read 垂于后.
  • 十七史，全在兹: This Qing text ends its history with the Song. Many modern editions add lines on the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing (and sometimes the Republic) and change this line to 二十一史 or 古今史; those additions differ between editions.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Three Character Classic?

The 三字经 (sān zì jīng) is a Chinese primer written in three-character phrases that rhyme in pairs. For about seven centuries children learned to read with it: it covers human nature, learning, numbers, the seasons, the classic books and Chinese history, and ends with stories of hard work.

Who wrote the 三字经 (sān zì jīng)?

It is traditionally credited to the Song-dynasty scholar 王应麟 (Wáng Yìnglín, 1223–1296), though some scholars credit 区适子 (Ōu Shìzǐ). Later editions added lines about the dynasties after the Song, so different printings end differently.

How long is the 三字经 (sān zì jīng)?

Our text, the standard Qing edition, has 1,068 characters: 356 three-character phrases in 178 couplets, split here into twelve sections. Modern editions that add the later dynasties are longer. The worksheet prints twenty phrases at a time, from 人之初 (rén zhī chū) onward.

Why do different 三字经 (sān zì jīng) texts end differently?

The original text ends its history with the Song dynasty. Later printings added lines on the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and some modern editions go up to the Republic, so the last section varies. Our text, starting 人之初 (rén zhī chū), follows the standard Qing edition.

Is this worksheet free to print?

Yes. The Three Character Classic worksheet is free to print or save as a PDF, with no account or email needed, and you can print as many copies as you like for a class. Choose A4 or US Letter before you press Print or Save PDF.