When autumn came, all the water in the large and small rivers rose higher and flowed into theYellow River.

一到秋天，大河、小河里的水都涨了起来，流入黄河。

The surface of the River at once appeared much wider.

河面顿时显得非常宽广。

On one side of the bank, one couldn't see the cattle and sheep on the opposite side.

在河岸的这边，一眼望不见对岸的牛羊。

The River deity¹ Hebo was therefore immensely proud and considered himself the greatest in the world.

黄河的河伯因此得意洋洋，自以为是天下最伟大的了。

Hebo followed the Yellow River to the North Sea.

河伯顺着黄河来到了北海。

Looking to the east, he could not see the bounds of the sea.

朝东一望，望不见海的尽头。

Then he looked at himself and felt he was so tiny and insignificant².

再看看自己才觉得自己很渺小。

He sighed and said to Hairuo, the deity of the North Sea:

他叹了口气，对北海之神海若说:

"As the saying goes, a person who has gained a little learning tends to regard himself as the wisest person under the sky.

“俗话说得好，有了一点学问，就以为老子天下第一。我就是这种人。

I am just that kind of person. Seeing how broad and great you are today, I have come to realize how insignificant and ignorant I am.

今天，我看到你这样宽广、这样伟大，才发觉自己如此渺小、如此无知。

If I didn't meet you, I'm afraid I would always be laughed at by people with knowledge."

如果今天没遇见你，我恐怕永远会被有见识的人所讥笑。”

Hairuo said: "We cannot talk about the sea with a frog at the bottom of a well,

海若说: “我们不能同井底的青蛙谈海，

for the frog is restricted by its dwelling³ place; we cannot talk about ice with a small insect of summer,

是因为青蛙受到住处的限制;不能同夏天的小虫谈冰，

for the insect is restricted by the seasons; we cannot talk about profound learning with superficial persons,

是因为小虫受到季节的限制;不能同浅薄的人谈论高深的学问，

for they have too little knowledge.

是因为他们的知识太少。

Now you have come out of a small river to the North Sea, seen the greatness of it and realized your own insignificance⁴.

现在，你走出小河，来到北海，看到海的伟大，知道了自己的渺小。

Since you have taken such a modest attitude, I can then talk with you about profound learning."

有了这种谦虚的态度，我就可以和你谈论高深的学问了。”