Confucianism has been followed by Chinese people for more than two thousand years, and it has influenced Chinese culture throughout this era. In modern socialism, Confucian values continue to guide how we treat others. Confucianism teaches ren, yi, li, zhi and xin, which are general virtues around the world.
中国人奉行儒家思想已有两千多年了，在这期间，它一直影响着中国文化。在现代社会主义中，儒家价值观继续指导着我们如何待人。儒家思想教导“仁、义、礼、智、信”，这些都是全世界普遍推崇的美德。
According to Confucius, a wise and respected teacher, ren is the feeling of care and love we should have for others. It can be as simple as giving care to a neighbour who has a fever. But it promotes friendship and harmony, so that some wars may be avoided. Confucius said, "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." It is quite similar to the Golden Rule in western countries, which encourages people to be friendly.
孔子是一位充满智慧且备受尊敬的老师，在他看来，“仁”是我们对他人应怀有的关爱之情。这可以简单到照顾一位发烧的邻居。但它能增进友谊与和谐，从而也许可以避免一些冲突。孔子说过：“己所不欲，勿施于人。”这与西方国家的“金规则”十分相似。它鼓励人们友善待人。
The meaning of li is a little harder to express. It can be thought of as duty or even respect. While ren is mostly about our opinions and feelings, li is about how we should act. Generally, li is the way we should connect with people. For example, we say polite words such as "pardon" or "excuse me" to show our respect. In Confucian writings, discussions about li also include how to remember ancestors.
“礼”的含义有点难表达。它可以被理解为责任，甚至是尊重。“仁”大多关乎我们的观点和感受，而“礼”则关乎我们的行为举止。通常，“礼”是我们与人交往应有的方式。例如，我们会说“抱歉”或“请原谅我”等礼貌用语来表示尊重。在儒家著作中，关于“礼”的讨论还包括如何缅怀祖先。
Xin emphasises that one should be honest in relationships. This means we shouldn't ever lie or cheat. In this way, we can build strong and lasting relationships with others.
“信”则强调在人际关系中要诚实。这意味着我们不应该撒谎或欺骗。这样我们才能和他人建立起牢固而长久的关系。
Perhaps the most well-known Confucian virtue is xiao. Xiao means loving, respecting, obeying and taking care of one's parents, as well as grandfather and grandmother. Xiao is important for a harmonious society: Without it, the whole world would fall into a mess.
也许最广为人知的儒家美德是“孝”。“孝”意味着爱戴、尊重、遵从和照顾父母以及祖父、祖母。“孝”对和谐社会很重要，没有“孝”，整个世界将会陷入混乱。