《道德經》漢英對照1.1

道，可道，非常道。名，可名，非常名。

The Tao that can be told of

Is not the Absolute Tao;

The Names that can be given

Are not Absolute Names.

《道德經》漢英對照1.2

無名，天地之始；有名，萬物之母。

The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;

The Named is the Mother of All Things.

《道德經》漢英對照1.3

故常無欲，以觀其妙；常有欲，以觀其徼。

Oftentimes, one strips oneself of passion

In order to see the Secret of Life;

Oftentimes, one regards life with passion,

In order to see its manifest forms.

《道德經》漢英對照1.4

此兩者同出而異名，同謂之玄。

These two (the Secret and its manifestations)

Are (in their nature) the same;

They are given different names

When they become manifest.

They may both be called the Cosmic Mystery:

《道德經》漢英對照1.5

玄之又玄，眾妙之門。

Reaching from the Mystery into the Deeper Mystery

Is the Gate to the Secret of All Life.