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先天下之忧而忧,后天下之乐而乐
先天下之憂而憂,後天下之樂而樂
xiāntiānxiàzhīyōuéryōu,hòutiānxiàzhīlèérlè
1. 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 6 丶
天
tiān
sky, heaven; god, celestial
HSK 1 4 丶
下
xià
below, underneath; inferior; to bring down; next
HSK 1 3 丶
之
zhī
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
HSK 4 3 丶
忧
yōu
sad, grieving; melancholy, grief
HSK 6 7 丶
而
ér
and, and then, and yet; but
HSK 3 6 丶
忧
yōu
sad, grieving; melancholy, grief
HSK 6 7 丶
后
hòu
after; behind, rear; descendants
HSK 1 6 丶
天
tiān
sky, heaven; god, celestial
HSK 1 4 丶
下
xià
below, underneath; inferior; to bring down; next
HSK 1 3 丶
之
zhī
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
HSK 4 3 丶
乐
lè
cheerful, happy, laughing; music
HSK 2 5 丶
而
ér
and, and then, and yet; but
HSK 3 6 丶
乐
lè
cheerful, happy, laughing; music
HSK 2 5 丶

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