<blockquote>
  <p>Is the first 為 used in another meaning than the last one.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>They have the same <strong>literal meaning</strong> of 'action', but very different <strong>connotations</strong>. Since you already know what 無為 is, you know the connotation of the word is much deeper than the sum of the two characters.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>How to translate it</p>
</blockquote>

<p>By acting the non-action, nothing can't be treated/ruled.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-26T21:56:53.797Z
2015-04-26T21:56:53.797Z
NS.X.
<p>為無為：以無為的方式去做，即以順任自然的態度去處理事物。</p>

<p>無為(more detailed):不做任何違反自然規律、有損道德規範、違反社會法則，有害眾生的事.</p>

<p>Translation From Old Chinese:</p>

<p>以順任自然的態度去處理事物，那麼天下就無所不治了</p>

<p>Then translate it to English.</p>

<p>Do not translate 順任自然 into "Do anything you want." OR "Do nothing"</p>

<p>I think "Do anything you should." OR "Do anything you believe it's correct" is better.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-25T23:25:23.467Z
2015-04-25T23:25:23.467Z
Shiji.J
<p>"無為" is an adjective describing the action ("為")
or it can be an adverb describing the way of acting/performing.</p>

<p>A clumsy translation I could think of:</p>

<p>When a person is able to harmonise his actions with the Nature such that no one can realise them, there is nothing he cannot accomplish.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-30T16:07:56.697Z
2015-04-30T16:20:08.217Z
2015-04-30T16:20:08.217Z
Henry HO
<p>these are to last lines of the third chapter of Dao De Jing.my question to the first line: Is the first 為 used in another meaning than the last one. I know what is 無為. Should I translate it: by 無為, there is no untreatment? sorry, if my translation is silly:)</p>

<translation>
為無為， 則無不治 translation of Dao De Jing
# 為無為， 則無不治 translation of Dao De Jing

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-25)

these are to last lines of the third chapter of Dao De Jing.my question to the first line: Is the first 為 used in another meaning than the last one. I know what is 無為. Should I translate it: by 無為, there is no untreatment? sorry, if my translation is silly:)

**Tags:** translation


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-04-26. Score: 4

> Is the first 為 used in another meaning than the last one.

They have the same **literal meaning** of 'action', but very different **connotations**. Since you already know what 無為 is, you know the connotation of the word is much deeper than the sum of the two characters.

> How to translate it

By acting the non-action, nothing can't be treated/ruled.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-25. Score: 1

為無為：以無為的方式去做，即以順任自然的態度去處理事物。

無為(more detailed):不做任何違反自然規律、有損道德規範、違反社會法則，有害眾生的事.

Translation From Old Chinese:

以順任自然的態度去處理事物，那麼天下就無所不治了

Then translate it to English.

Do not translate 順任自然 into "Do anything you want." OR "Do nothing"

I think "Do anything you should." OR "Do anything you believe it's correct" is better.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-04-30. Score: 1

"無為" is an adjective describing the action ("為")
or it can be an adverb describing the way of acting/performing.

A clumsy translation I could think of:

When a person is able to harmonise his actions with the Nature such that no one can realise them, there is nothing he cannot accomplish.


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