《Caigentan(菜根譚) Original Text, Former Collection #17》 [017]

《Caigentan(菜根譚) Original Text, Former Collection #17》 [017]

📜 Original Text

處世讓一步為高,退步即進步的張本;待人寬一分是福,利人實利己的根基。

📚 Translation

In navigating the world, taking a step back is a mark of true nobility;
Often, retreat lays the groundwork for future progress.

When dealing with others, a bit of generosity is a blessing;
To benefit others is, in truth, to lay the foundation for one’s own benefit.

🔍 Explanation: The True Blessings of Taking a Step Back and Being Generous

This passage conveys a timeless truth: yielding and generosity are not weaknesses, but hidden strengths that return as blessings.

The first line, "In navigating the world, taking a step back is a mark of true nobility", reminds us that restraint and humility often reflect deeper strength.

We live in a world that prizes advancement and winning—but stepping back can avoid conflict, preserve relationships, and earn lasting respect.

At times, what seems like retreat is actually a quiet preparation for greater opportunity, much like drawing back a bowstring before the release.

The second line, "When dealing with others, a bit of generosity is a blessing", teaches that tolerance softens friction in human relationships.

A moment of leniency may prevent resentment and open the way to deeper trust.

If we hold others to rigid standards, relationships strain and fray—but when we allow room for imperfection, we draw people closer.

Finally, the passage concludes with profound reciprocity: "To benefit others is, in truth, to lay the foundation for one’s own benefit."
What we give rarely goes unnoticed.

Over time, it returns—sometimes as trust, sometimes as opportunity, often as quiet blessings we never expected.
In this sense, generosity is not a cost but an investment in the fabric of a harmonious life.

In sum, this verse teaches us to take the long view.
Yielding and generosity may appear to be losses in the short term, but in truth, they are shields that guard our peace and seeds that grow into grace.



✍️ Hanja Breakdown

• 處 (chǔ): To live, to be in a situation, to handle.
• 世 (shì): World, era.
• 處世 (chǔshì): Living among people, dealing with the world.
• 讓 (ràng): To yield, to give way, to retreat.
• 一 (yī): One.
• 步 (bù): Step, pace, movement.
• 讓一步 (ràng yī bù): To yield a step, to give way a little.
• 為 (wéi): To become, to be.
• 高 (gāo): High, noble, elevated.
• 退 (tuì): To retreat, to go back.
• 退步 (tuìbù): To retreat, a retreat. (Here, meaning strategic withdrawal)
• 即 (jí): Immediately, is, is precisely.
• 進 (jìn): To advance, to move forward.
• 進步 (jìnbù): To advance, progress, moving forward, progress.
• 的 (de): Possessive particle (similar function to modern Chinese '的').
• 張 (zhāng): To spread out, to display; bowstring.
• 本 (běn): Root, basis, foundation.
• 張本 (zhāngběn): The origin of something big happening, the very person who planned and initiated something, root, basis, spreading the basis, establishing the root, a basis or ground for future actions. (Here, meaning 'foundation' or 'preparation')
• 待 (dài): To treat, to deal with.
• 人 (rén): Person.
• 待人 (dàirén): To deal with people.
• 寬 (kuān): Generous, tolerant.
• 一 (yī): One.
• 分 (fēn): To divide; degree, amount.
• 一分 (yī fēn): A moment, a little bit.
• 寬一分 (kuān yī fēn): To be a bit more generous, a little more tolerant.
• 是 (shì): To be.
• 福 (fú): Blessing, happiness.
• 利 (lì): To be beneficial, to benefit.
• 利人 (lìrén): To benefit others.
• 實 (shí): Fruit, reality, truly. (Here, meaning 'actually', 'ultimately')
• 利 (lì): To be beneficial, to benefit.
• 利己 (lìjǐ): To benefit oneself.
• 根 (gēn): Root.
• 基 (jī): Base, foundation.
• 根基 (gēnjī): Root, foundation.