| 得道多助，失道寡助 |
dé dào duō zhù , shī dào guǎ zhù |
A just cause attracts much support, an unjust one finds little (idiom, from Mencius) |
| 得 |
dé |
to obtain / to get / to gain / to catch (a disease) / proper / suitable / proud / contented / to allow / to permit / ready / finished |
| 得 |
de |
structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc |
| 得 |
děi |
to have to / must / ought to / to need to |
| 得道 |
dé dào |
to achieve the Dao / to become an immortal |
| 得道多助 |
dé dào duō zhù |
a just cause enjoys abundant support (idiom); those upholding justice will find help all around |
| 道 |
dào |
road; path (CL:条,股) / (bound form) way; reason; principle / (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization / (Daoism) the Way; the Dao / to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) / (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) / classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process / (old) circuit (administrative division) |
| 多 |
duō |
many; much; more; a lot of / too many; in excess / (after a numeral) ... odd / how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. [duo2]) / (bound form) multi-; poly- |
| 多助 |
duō zhù |
receiving much help (from outside) / well supported |
| 助 |
zhù |
to help / to assist |
| 失 |
shī |
to lose / to miss / to fail |
| 失道 |
shī dào |
(literary) to lose one's way; to get lost / (literary) to stray from the proper course |
| 失道寡助 |
shī dào guǎ zhù |
an unjust cause finds little support (idiom, from Mencius) / cf 得道多助 a just cause attracts much support |
| 道 |
dào |
road; path (CL:条,股) / (bound form) way; reason; principle / (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization / (Daoism) the Way; the Dao / to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) / (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) / classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process / (old) circuit (administrative division) |
| 寡 |
guǎ |
few / scant / widowed |
| 寡助 |
guǎ zhù |
(esp. of an unjust cause) to receive little support |
| 助 |
zhù |
to help / to assist |