Reflection
Reflections on Reading The Works of Mencius (Chinese-English Version)
For me, an English major sophomore-to-be, the bilingual book The Works of Mencius is a special combination of language practice and cultural enlightenment. Edited by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, this edition arranges original Chinese texts alongside their professional English translations, bringing me double gains in language learning and spiritual growth.
On the linguistic side, reading this classic has broken my habit of only reading Western English articles. The translation of ancient Chinese philosophy demands accurate wording and rigorous logic. I have collected many fixed translations of traditional concepts, such as “the innate goodness of human nature” and “righteousness above profit”. These professional expressions cannot be learned from ordinary textbooks, and they greatly improve my ability of Chinese-to-English translation. Meanwhile, the formal argumentative writing style of the English version trains me to analyze complex long sentences calmly, strengthening my reading competence for TEM-4 exams.
Beyond language study, Mencius’ ideas strike a chord with me deeply. His belief that everyone has compassion and integrity reminds me to stick to moral principles in daily life. His advocacy for diligence and self-improvement also cheers me up when I feel stressed about English study. Unlike light novels, this classic makes me think deeply rather than just kill time. I no longer regard Chinese traditional culture as distant old theories; instead, I understand it can be explained clearly and elegantly in foreign languages.
This reading experience teaches me that English majors have two missions: mastering language skills well, and acting as messengers for Chinese culture. This bilingual copy of Mencius is a valuable guide on this path. It is a worthwhile book that deserves repeated reading and careful study.
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