Analects 10.10 · Xiang Dang
“Do not converse while eating, and do not speak while in bed.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
食不語 寢不言 (shí bù yǔ, qǐn bù yán) means “Do not converse while eating, and do not speak while in bed.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 10.
食不語 寢不言
- Pinyin
- shí bù yǔ, qǐn bù yán
- Translation
- Do not converse while eating, and do not speak while in bed.
- Source
- Analects, Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 10
What does this passage mean?
This passage from Xiang Dang records Confucius’s everyday manners. Refraining from conversation while eating and from speech in bed is more than etiquette; it means giving full attention to the situation at hand. Confucius brought care to every ordinary act. Xiang Dang records his daily behavior in detail, showing that ritual propriety is not merely grand ceremony but an attitude woven through life.
How can we apply it today?
For people who look at a phone while eating and carry worries into bed, the passage resembles an early lesson in mindfulness. When eating, attend fully to the meal; when sleeping, give yourself fully to rest. This is a foundation of psychological health. In an age that treats multitasking as a virtue, wholehearted attention to one thing can be a revolutionary act.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Do you give your meal full attention while eating?
- ·Can you release your worries before sleep?
- ·Do you bring care even to the small acts of daily life?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 食 | shí | eat | 9 | 食 (eat) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 語 | yǔ | speak | 14 | 言 (speech) |
| 寢 | qǐn | sleep | 14 | 宀 (roof) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Do not converse while eating, and do not…” mean?
食不語 寢不言 (shí bù yǔ, qǐn bù yán) means “Do not converse while eating, and do not speak while in bed.” It comes from the Analects, Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 10.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 10.10: Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 10.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
For people who look at a phone while eating and carry worries into bed, the passage resembles an early lesson in mindfulness.