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
Russian
Translation 2
41
Муж высокой учености, услышав о Дао, усердно следует ему.
Муж средней учености, услышав о Дао, то сохраняет, то теряет его.
Муж низкой учености, услышав о Дао, громко насмехается над ним.
Не осмеяв, и не будет считать за Дао, ибо среди незыблемых суждений есть таковые:
Светлое Дао подобно темному.
Наступающее Дао подобно отступающему.
Совершенное Дао подобно ущербному.
Верхнее Дэ подобно [нижнему] руслу.
Громкая слава подобна позору.
Обширное Дэ подобно недостаточному.
Закрытое Дэ подобно похищенному.
Чистая правда подобна мутной смеси.
Великий квадрат не имеет углов.
Великие замыслы рождаются в сумерки.
Великий звук не громогласен.
Великий образ не имеет формы.
Дао сокрыто и безымянно.
Только Дао одаривает добротой и завершается [природой].
Characters:
755
Words:
109
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
Comparison Metrics
Character Difference
-139
chars shorter
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Word Count Difference
-49
words less
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Similarity Score
7.1%
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