一孔录有子曰：信近于义，言可复也；恭近于礼，远耻辱也；因不失其亲，亦可宗也。Master You said: When a promise comes close to what is right, one's word can be kept. When respect comes close to ritual, one keeps shame and disgrace away. When one relies on those one has not lost closeness with, one can look up to them.
注Key words in the commentary
“信，约信也” — xin here is a pledge; “义者，事之宜也” — yi is what is fitting in the matter; “复，践言也” — fu is to carry out one's word; “皆当谨之于始而虑其所终” — all of these call for care at the start and thought for where they end.
读How Yikonglu reads it
The work happens before you say yes. Today: agreeing at midnight, without a thought, to lend the money.
核Check every citation
Every commentary line quoted in the video: the original wording, who said it, and the page in the base edition. “Paraphrase” marks our summary, not the commentator's words.
| Quoted text | Source | Page |
|---|---|---|
| “信，约信也。义者，事之宜也。复，践言也。恭，致敬也。因，犹依也。宗，犹主也” | Zhu Xi's commentary | page 21 |
| “言约信而合其宜，则言必可践矣。致恭而中其节，则能远耻辱矣。所依者不失其可亲之人，则亦可以宗而主之矣” | Zhu Xi's commentary | page 21 |
| “此言人之言行交际，皆当谨之于始而虑其所终，不然，则因仍苟且之间，将有不胜其自失之悔者矣” | Zhu Xi's commentary | page 21 |
音Pronunciation
| Character | In the line | Read as |
|---|---|---|
| 近 | 信近于义、恭近于礼 | jìn |
| 复 | 言可复也 | fù |
页Pages of the base edition
Yikonglu, Analects Xue er (Book 1) 1.13 “Trust that comes close to what is right”, https://yikonglu.com/en/lunyu/xue-er/13.html, version 2026-11-03.Last checked: 2026-11-03. Changes are logged on theerrata page.
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