Ken
自我矛盾 楚人有鬻盾与矛者, 誉之曰: “吾盾之坚,无莫能陷也。” 又誉其矛曰:“无矛之利,于物无不陷也。” 或曰:“以子之矛,陷子之盾,何如?”其人佛能应也。夫不可陷之盾,与无不陷之矛,不可同世而立。 A man from the country of chu was selling spears and shields, he praised his wares saying "My shield is strong, there is nothing that can pierce it." He also praised his spear, saying "My spear is sharp, there is nothing it cannot pierce." To this an onlooker asked " if you were to try and pierce your shield with your spear, what would happen?" To this the man had no answer. So a shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that can pierce anything cannot exist at the same instance.
Sep 18, 2014 5:12 AM
Corrections · 10

自我矛盾

楚人有鬻盾与矛者, 誉之曰: “吾盾之坚,莫能陷也。” 又誉其矛曰:“矛之利,于物无不陷也。” 或曰:“以子之矛,陷子之盾,何如?”其人能应也。夫不可陷之盾,与不陷之矛,不可同世而立。

A man from the country of chu was selling spears and shields, he praised his wares saying "My shield is strong, there is nothing that can pierce it." He also praised his spear, saying "My spear is sharp, there is nothing it cannot pierce." To this an onlooker asked " if you were to try and pierce your shield with your spear, what would happen?" To this the man had no answer.

So a shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that can pierce anything cannot exist at the same instance.

September 18, 2014

自我矛盾

楚人有鬻盾与矛者, 誉之曰: “吾盾之坚,无莫能陷也。” 又誉其矛曰:“无矛之利,于物无不陷也。” 或曰:“以子之矛,陷子之盾,何如?”其人佛能应也。夫不可陷之盾,与无不陷之矛,不可同世而立。

A man from the country of chu was selling spears and shields, he praised his wares saying "My shield is strong, there is nothing that can pierce it." He also praised his spear, saying "My spear is sharp, there is nothing it cannot pierce." To this an onlooker asked " if you were to try and pierce your shield with your spear, what would happen?" To this the man had no answer.

So a shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that can pierce anything cannot exist at the same instance.

September 18, 2014
oh yeah, I didn't see it.... I just translated it into modern Chinese .... There will be buckets and buckets of mistakes for you to correct there
September 18, 2014
nice translation, but there is a minor slip.不是"其人佛能应之"而是"其人弗能应之",I guess you know it cause your translation is correct. Again, your Chinese is amazing.^_^
September 18, 2014
能看懂文言文 真厉害!
September 18, 2014
Want to progress faster?
Join this learning community and try out free exercises!