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先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐
xiāntiānxiàzhīyōuéryōu,hòutiānxiàzhīlèérlè
Traditional: 先天下之憂而憂，後天下之樂而樂
The first concern is affairs of state, enjoying the pleasure comes later. Quotation from essay On Yueyang Tower [[岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记]] by Song writer Fan Zhongyan [[範仲淹|范仲淹]]
Character Breakdown
先
xiān
first, former, previous
HSK 1
天
tiān
sky, heaven; god, celestial
HSK 1
下
xià
below, underneath; inferior; to bring down; next
HSK 1
之
zhī
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
HSK 4
忧
yōu
sad, grieving; melancholy, grief
HSK 6
而
ér
and, and then, and yet; but
HSK 3
忧
yōu
sad, grieving; melancholy, grief
HSK 6
后
hòu
after; behind, rear; descendants
HSK 1
天
tiān
sky, heaven; god, celestial
HSK 1
下
xià
below, underneath; inferior; to bring down; next
HSK 1
之
zhī
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
HSK 4
乐
lè
cheerful, happy, laughing; music
HSK 2
而
ér
and, and then, and yet; but
HSK 3
乐
lè
cheerful, happy, laughing; music
HSK 2
Additional Information
Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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