Analects 15.41 · Wei Ling Gong
“Words need only communicate their meaning.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
辭達而已矣 (cí dá ér yǐ yǐ) means “Words need only communicate their meaning.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 41.
辭達而已矣
- Pinyin
- cí dá ér yǐ yǐ
- Translation
- Words need only communicate their meaning.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 41
What does this passage mean?
In this brief passage from the Wei Ling Gong chapter, 辭 means speech or writing, and 達 means that meaning gets through. Confucius says that the essential function of language is not elaborate ornament but accurate communication. The teaching accords with his consistent warning against clever speech and ingratiating expressions. In four characters, it condenses a view of language that values substance over form and sincerity over technique.
How can we apply it today?
Dazzling presentations, ornate rhetoric, and complicated jargon surround modern life, yet often leave us unable to tell what someone actually wants to say. The heart of good writing and speech is simplicity and clarity. Someone who can explain a difficult idea in easy terms truly understands it, and someone who can convey the essence in one sentence truly knows how to communicate.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Do my speech and writing communicate their meaning clearly?
- ·Do I use expressions that are needlessly complicated?
- ·Am I practicing how to convey the essential point concisely?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 辭 | cí | speech | 19 | 辛 (bitter) |
| 達 | dá | penetrate | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 已 | yǐ | already | 3 | 己 (self) |
| 矣 | yǐ | grammatical particle | 7 | 矢 (arrow) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Words need only communicate their meaning” mean?
辭達而已矣 (cí dá ér yǐ yǐ) means “Words need only communicate their meaning.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 41.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.41: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 41.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Dazzling presentations, ornate rhetoric, and complicated jargon surround modern life, yet often leave us unable to tell what someone actually wants to say.