Detailed Translation Comparison
Quote by Lao Tzu
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English
Translation 1
41
When the highest type of men hear Tao, The diligently practice it. When the average type of men hear Tao, They half believe in it.
When the lowest type of men hear Tao, They laugh heartily at it. If they did not laugh at it, it would not be Tao.
Therefore there is the established saying: The Tao which is bright appears to be dark. The Tao which goes forward appears to fall backward. The Tao which is level appears uneven. Great virtue appears like a valley (hollow). Great purity appears like disgrace. Far-reaching virtue appears as if insufficient.
Solid virtue appears as if unsteady. True substance appears to be changeable. The great square has no corners. The great implement (or talent) is slow to finish (or mature). Great music sounds faint. Great form has no shape.
Tao is hidden and nameless. Yet it is Tao alone that skillfully provides for all and brings them to perfection.
Characters:
894
Words:
158
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
Chinese
Translation 2
41
上士聞道，
而勤行之。
中士聞道，
若存若亡。
下士聞道，
而大笑之，
不笑不足以爲道。
故建言有之曰，
明道若昧，
夷道若類，
進道若退，
上徳若谷，
大白若袌，
廣徳若不足，
建徳若婾，
質眞若輸，
大方無隅。
大器晩成。
大音稀聲。
大象無形。
道隱無名，
夫惟道善貸且成。
Characters:
144
Words:
23
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
Comparison Metrics
Character Difference
-750
chars shorter
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Word Count Difference
-135
words less
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Similarity Score
1.3%
Very different approaches
ℹ️ Understanding the Metrics:
- Character/Word Difference: Shows how much longer or shorter Translation 2 is compared to Translation 1
- Similarity Score: Measures how similar the two texts are based on character-level comparison (higher = more similar)
- These metrics help you understand stylistic differences, but don't necessarily indicate translation quality