博文約禮

Chinese

		to be proficient in classical texts; verbose words	appointment; agreement; to arrange appointment; agreement; to arrange; to restrict; approximately; weigh	gift; propriety; rite
trad. (博文約禮)		博文	約	禮
simp. (博文约礼)		博文	约	礼

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》):

子曰：「君子博學於文，約之以禮，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

---

子曰：「君子博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ bóxué yú wén, yuē zhī yǐ lǐ, yì kěyǐ fú pàn yǐ fū!” [Pinyin]

The Master said, "The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right."

Also Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):

夫子循循然善誘人，博我以文，約我以禮。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

---

夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Fūzǐ xúnxúnrán shàn yòu rén, bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ. [Pinyin]

The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): bówényuēlǐ

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄩㄝ ㄌㄧˇ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): bok³ man⁴ joek³ lai⁵

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bówényuēlǐ
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄩㄝ ㄌㄧˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bówúnyuelǐ
    • Wade–Giles: po²-wên²-yüeh¹-li³
    • Yale: bwó-wén-ywē-lǐ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: borweniuelii
    • Palladius: бовэньюэли (bovɛnʹjueli)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: bok³ man⁴ joek³ lai⁵
    • Yale: bok màhn yeuk láih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: bok⁸ man⁴ joek⁸ lai⁵
    • Guangdong Romanization: bog³ men⁴ yêg³ lei⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

Idiom

博文約禮

1. to extensively study texts and restrain oneself with propriety