Analects 16.9 · Ji Shi
“Those born with knowledge are highest; those who gain knowledge through learning come next; those who learn when faced with hardship come after them.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
生而知之者上也 學而知之者次也 困而學之又其次也 (shēng ér zhī zhī zhě shàng yě, xué ér zhī zhī zhě cì yě, kùn ér xué zhī yòu qí cì yě) means “Those born with knowledge are highest; those who gain knowledge through learning come next; those who learn when faced with hardship come after them.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 9.
生而知之者上也 學而知之者次也 困而學之又其次也
- Pinyin
- shēng ér zhī zhī zhě shàng yě, xué ér zhī zhī zhě cì yě, kùn ér xué zhī yòu qí cì yě
- Translation
- Those born with knowledge are highest; those who gain knowledge through learning come next; those who learn when faced with hardship come after them.
- Source
- Analects, Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 9
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Ji Shi chapter, Confucius presents stages through which people come to know. 生而知之 means knowing from birth, 學而知之 knowing through study, and 困而學之 learning after encountering difficulty. Confucius modestly said of himself, 'I am not one who knew from birth, but one who loved antiquity and diligently sought knowledge.' What matters is not innate capacity but the will to learn.
How can we apply it today?
Differences in talent and environment certainly exist. Some people learn easily; others learn only after struggle. Confucius, however, emphasizes not the starting point but the attitude toward learning. Even those who begin late or learn with difficulty can ultimately reach the same place if they refuse to give up. Think of someone learning a new technology at fifty, or returning to study after failure. It is never 'too late' to begin learning.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Which kind of learner am I closest to?
- ·What lesson did I learn only after experiencing hardship?
- ·How have I overcome moments when I wanted to give up learning?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 生 | shēng | emerge | 5 | 生 (life) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 知 | zhī | know | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 者 | zhě | one; person | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 上 | shàng | above | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
| 學 | xué | learn | 16 | 子 (child) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 知 | zhī | know | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 者 | zhě | one; person | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 次 | cì | next | 6 | 欠 (lack) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
| 困 | kùn | distressed | 7 | 囗 (enclosure) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 學 | xué | learn | 16 | 子 (child) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 又 | yòu | again | 2 | 又 (again) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 次 | cì | next | 6 | 欠 (lack) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Those born with knowledge are highest…” mean?
生而知之者上也 學而知之者次也 困而學之又其次也 (shēng ér zhī zhī zhě shàng yě, xué ér zhī zhī zhě cì yě, kùn ér xué zhī yòu qí cì yě) means “Those born with knowledge are highest; those who gain knowledge through learning come next; those who learn when faced with hardship come after them.” It comes from the Analects, Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 9.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 16.9: Book 16 (Ji Shi), Chapter 9.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Differences in talent and environment certainly exist.Some people learn easily; others learn only after struggle.Confucius, however, emphasizes not the starting point but the attitude toward learning.