Words & phrases
求教
qiú jiào
ask for guidance
Model sentences
教材故事中的孔子遇到不懂的事就主动发问。
jiào cái gù shì zhōng de kǒng zǐ yù dào bù dǒng de shì jiù zhǔ dòng fā wèn。
In the textbook story, Confucius asks questions whenever he encounters something he does not understand.
他向熟悉农事的人求教，不因身份不同而犹豫。
tā xiàng shú xī nóng shì de rén qiú jiào， bù yīn shēn fèn bù tóng ér yóu yù。
He seeks guidance from someone familiar with farming and does not hesitate because of differences in status.
真正的谦虚不是否定自己，而是承认仍有知识需要学习。
zhēn zhèng de qiān xū bú shì fǒu dìng zì jǐ， ér shì chéng rèn réng yǒu zhī shí xū yào xué xí。
True humility is not denying oneself but recognising that there is still knowledge to learn.
遇到问题时，他先观察，再选择合适的方法询问。
yù dào wèn tí shí， tā xiān guān chá， zài xuǎn zé hé shì de fāng fǎ xún wèn。
When he encounters a problem, he first observes and then chooses an appropriate way to ask.
向别人请教以前，要把自己的疑问说清楚。
xiàng bié rén qǐng jiào yǐ qián， yào bǎ zì jǐ de yí wèn shuō qīng chǔ。
Before asking someone for guidance, we should state our question clearly.
有实践经验的人可能提供书本以外的知识。
yǒu shí jiàn jīng yàn de rén kě néng tí gōng shū běn yǐ wài de zhī shí。
Someone with practical experience may offer knowledge beyond books.
孔子求教
A traditional teaching anecdote featuring Confucius, retold for learners.
在这则改编故事里，孔子和学生走在乡间，看见农家姑娘把水桶稳稳地挂在扁担上，便停下来请教怎样安排两边的重量。
zài zhè zé gǎi biān gù shì lǐ， kǒng zǐ hé xué shēng zǒu zài xiāng jiān， kàn jiàn nóng jiā gū niáng bǎ shuǐ tǒng wěn wěn de guà zài biǎn dàn shàng， biàn tíng xià lai qǐng jiào zěn yàng ān pái liǎng biān de zhòng liàng。
In this adapted story, Confucius and his students see a farm girl balancing buckets on a carrying pole and ask how she distributes the weight.
学生原先以为，老师懂得很多，不必向一个年轻姑娘询问日常的办法。
xué shēng yuán xiān yǐ wéi， lǎo shī dǒng de hěn duō， bù bì xiàng yí ge nián qīng gū niáng xún wèn rì cháng de bàn fǎ。
A student initially thinks that their knowledgeable teacher need not ask a young girl about an everyday task.
姑娘听清他们的问题，指着手边的水桶和扁担，一步一步说明怎样调整绳子的位置。
gū niáng tīng qīng tā men de wèn tí， zhǐ zhe shǒu biān de shuǐ tǒng hé biǎn dàn， yí bù yí bù shuō míng zěn yàng tiáo zhěng shéng zi de wèi zhì。
The girl points to the buckets and carrying pole and explains how she adjusts the ropes step by step.
姑娘把每一步之间的关系说清楚，还提醒有一个动作不能颠倒。学生原来只记得最后的结果，现在才明白，为什么中间的安排也很重要。他拿起本子，把容易弄混的地方画成小图，再请姑娘确认。
gū niáng bǎ měi yí bù zhī jiān de guān xì shuō qīng chǔ， hái tí xǐng yǒu yí ge dòng zuò bù néng diān dǎo。 xué shēng yuán lái zhǐ jì de zuì hòu de jié guǒ， xiàn zài cái míng bái， wèi shén me zhōng jiān de ān pái yě hěn zhòng yào。 tā ná qǐ běn zi， bǎ róng yì nòng hùn de dì fang huà chéng xiǎo tú， zài qǐng gū niáng què rèn。
The girl explains the order of steps, and the student realises that the process matters as well as the result. He draws a diagram and asks her to check it.
她说得并不复杂，却把容易漏掉的细节交代清楚，学生这才知道自己原来没有想到。
tā shuō de bìng bù fù zá， què bǎ róng yì lòu diào de xì jié jiāo dài qīng chu， xué shēng zhè cái zhī dào zì jǐ yuán lái méi yǒu xiǎng dào。
Her explanation is simple but clear about easily missed details, and the student realises what he overlooked.
孔子认真听完，向她道谢，并请学生记住其中有用的办法。
kǒng zǐ rèn zhēn tīng wán， xiàng tā dào xiè， bìng qǐng xué shēng jì zhù qí zhōng yǒu yòng de bàn fǎ。
Confucius listens carefully, thanks her and asks his students to remember the useful method.
孔子并没有因为自己是老师就抢着解释，也没有因为姑娘年轻就随便点头。他认真听她熟悉的事情，提出还不清楚的问题，等她说完以后才回应。身旁的学生看着这一幕，发现请教也需要耐心与尊重。
kǒng zǐ bìng méi yǒu yīn wèi zì jǐ shì lǎo shī jiù qiǎng zhe jiě shì， yě méi yǒu yīn wèi gū niáng nián qīng jiù suí biàn diǎn tóu。 tā rèn zhēn tīng tā shú xī de shì qíng， tí chū hái bù qīng chu de wèn tí， děng tā shuō wán yǐ hòu cái huí yìng。 shēn páng de xué shēng kàn zhe zhè yí mù， fā xiàn qǐng jiào yě xū yào nài xīn yǔ zūn zhòng。
Confucius listens patiently, asks about unclear details and responds only after she finishes, showing his students that seeking guidance needs respect.
继续赶路时，学生问老师为什么愿意向别人请教。
jì xù gǎn lù shí， xué shēng wèn lǎo shī wèi shén me yuàn yì xiàng bié rén qǐng jiào。
As they continue, a student asks why the teacher is willing to seek guidance from others.
孔子告诉他，别人有自己熟悉的经验，只要愿意观察，就能发现值得学习的地方。
kǒng zǐ gào su tā， bié rén yǒu zì jǐ shú xī de jīng yàn， zhǐ yào yuàn yì guān chá， jiù néng fā xiàn zhí de xué xí de dì fang。
Confucius tells him that others have their own expertise, and attentive observation can reveal something worth learning.
那天以后，学生走过村庄时，不再只顾低头看书，也开始留意人们怎样处理身边的事情。
nà tiān yǐ hòu， xué shēng zǒu guò cūn zhuāng shí， bù zài zhǐ gù dī tóu kàn shū， yě kāi shǐ liú yì rén men zěn yàng chǔ lǐ shēn biān de shì qíng。
After that day, the student no longer only looks down at his book when passing villages; he notices how people handle everyday tasks.
Conversation
A 孔子为什么向别人求教？
kǒng zǐ wèi shén me xiàng bié rén qiú jiào？
Why does Confucius seek advice?
B 他遇到自己还不能解决的问题。
tā yù dào zì jǐ hái bù néng jiě jué de wèn tí。
He encounters a problem he cannot yet solve.
A 有名的人是不是知道所有答案？
yǒu míng de rén shì bú shì zhī dào suǒ yǒu dá àn？
Does a famous person know every answer?
B 不是，知识和经验都有范围。
bú shì， zhī shí hé jīng yàn dōu yǒu fàn wéi。
No; knowledge and experience have limits.
A 请教前应该说明什么？
qǐng jiào qián yīng gāi shuō míng shén me？
What should you explain before seeking help?
B 自己想解决的问题和已经试过的方法。
zì jǐ xiǎng jiě jué de wèn tí hé yǐ jīng shì guò de fāng fǎ。
The problem and methods you have already tried.
