Analects 18.7 · Wei Zi
“He does not labor with his four limbs and cannot distinguish the five grains.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
四體不勤 五穀不分 (sì tǐ bù qín, wǔ gǔ bù fēn) means “He does not labor with his four limbs and cannot distinguish the five grains.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 7.
四體不勤 五穀不分
- Pinyin
- sì tǐ bù qín, wǔ gǔ bù fēn
- Translation
- He does not labor with his four limbs and cannot distinguish the five grains.
- Source
- Analects, Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 7
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Wei Zi chapter, a recluse rebukes Confucius's disciple Zilu. Criticizing Confucius and his companions for traveling from state to state in pursuit of their political ideal, the recluse sneers that someone who neither engages in basic physical labor (四體不勤) nor distinguishes the five grains (五穀不分) has no right to be called a teacher. The scene reveals a fundamental opposition between the recluse, who chooses withdrawal and farming, and Confucius, who seeks to change the world.
How can we apply it today?
This passage exposes the ancient tension between intellectuals and practitioners, theory and practice. The criticism of people who propose ideals from behind a desk while knowing nothing of practical reality remains valid today. Consider a professor who teaches management without ever running a business, or a bureaucrat who creates policy without understanding conditions on the ground. Genuine expertise closes the gap between abstract theory and concrete practice.
Questions to reflect on
- ·How closely do my theory and practice accord?
- ·Am I neglecting what is basic and practical?
- ·Do I listen to voices from the field?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 四 | sì | four | 5 | 囗 (enclosure) |
| 體 | tǐ | body | 23 | 骨 (bone) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 勤 | qín | diligent | 13 | 力 (power) |
| 五 | wǔ | five | 4 | 二 (two) |
| 穀 | gǔ | grain | 14 | 禾 (grain) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 分 | fēn | divide | 4 | 刀 (knife) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “He does not labor with his four limbs and…” mean?
四體不勤 五穀不分 (sì tǐ bù qín, wǔ gǔ bù fēn) means “He does not labor with his four limbs and cannot distinguish the five grains.” It comes from the Analects, Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 7.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 18.7: Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 7.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
This passage exposes the ancient tension between intellectuals and practitioners, theory and practice.