Detailed Translation Comparison
Quote by Lao Tzu
đĄ Tip: Compare these two translations side-by-side. Use the voting buttons to indicate which translation you prefer. The metrics below show detailed differences in length, word count, and similarity.
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
Finnish
Translation 2
Samanlainen ja erilainen
Kun viisas kuulee Taosta, seuraa hÀn sitÀ.
Kun tavallisella ÀlyllÀ varustettu kuulee siitÀ, pysyy hÀn siinÀ aikansa ja kadottaa sen pian.
Kun hullu mies kuulee siitÀ, niin hÀn vain nauraa sille.
JolleivÀt sellaiset ihmiset pitÀisi sitÀ pilkkanaan, ei sitÀ kunnolla voisi sanoa Taoksi.
Sen tÀhden, niin kuin runoniekat sanoisivat:
Joka Taon seurassa loistaa, hÀn katoaa varjoon,
HÀnen tiensÀ Taossa taaksepÀin kulkee,
ja kaikki hÀnen toimensa ovat hÀmÀriÀ.
Korkeimmalla hyveellÀ ei ole nimeÀ,
HimmeÀltÀ nÀyttÀÀ suurin puhtaus,
Todellinen viisaus epÀvarmimmalta,
SynnynnÀinen hyve ihmeellisimmÀltÀ.
Kauimmin kestÀÀ muuttumaton muutos,
Suorakulmaisuus ei kulmia tee.
Suurinta venettÀ ei kukaan voi vyöttÀÀ.
Kovinta ÀÀntÀ ei koskaan ole kuultu.
Suurin olio ei pukeudu muotoihin.
SillÀ Tao on salattu ja nimetön,
mutta se on hyvÀ alussa ja lopussa.
Characters:
887
Words:
123
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
Comparison Metrics
Character Difference
-7
chars shorter
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Word Count Difference
-35
words less
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Similarity Score
7.3%
Very different approaches
âčïž 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