【与友人论学书及翻译】吾友足下：
近来思虑颇多，心绪难平。今得闲暇，欲与君一叙，聊以慰藉心中之惑。自古以来，学问之道，非一日之功，亦非一人之智所能尽也。然吾常感于学之难，亦觉友人之可贵，故愿将所思所悟，略陈于君。
夫学问者，非徒诵经读史，而在于明理、修身、齐家、治国、平天下。然今世之人，多逐浮华，鲜有潜心于道者。或为名利所困，或为俗务所扰，遂失其本心，忘其初心。吾尝思，若无志于学，则如无根之木，无源之水，终将枯竭而亡。
昔者孔子曰：“学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。”此言诚为至理。学贵在思，思贵在行。若只知读书而不知思考，虽博学多闻，亦不过纸上谈兵；若只知空想而不付诸实践，虽有高见，亦难成大器。故吾以为，学问之道，在于知行合一，内外兼修。
吾尝与友人共论学事，或引经典，或议古今，或辩义理，或抒己见。虽意见不一，然皆出于诚意，非为争胜，实为求真。吾深信，学问之乐，不在胜负之争，而在彼此启发、共同进步之中。
至于翻译之事，亦是学问之一途。古人云：“译者，传其意而达其辞也。”然今之翻译，往往重形式而轻内容，或为迎合读者，或为追求文采，遂失其本意。吾以为，翻译当以忠实为本，以通顺为用，方能真正传达原作之精神。
吾常思，若能与君共研学问，共探译事，必有所得。虽隔山海，然心同此理。愿吾辈不负光阴，不负所学，终成有用之才。
临书仓促，不尽欲言。惟愿君安好，学问日进。
谨启
译文：
With a Friend on the Study of Learning and Its Translation
My Esteemed Friend,
In recent days, I have been thinking deeply and feeling somewhat unsettled. Now that I have some leisure time, I wish to share my thoughts with you in the hope of alleviating my inner confusion.
Since ancient times, the path of learning has not been achieved in a single day, nor can it be fully grasped by one person's wisdom alone. Yet I often feel the difficulty of learning and also the value of a friend, so I wish to briefly present my reflections and insights to you.
Learning is not merely about reading books or reciting history; it lies in understanding principles, cultivating oneself, managing the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world. However, in today’s society, many people are caught up in superficial things, few truly devoted to the way. Some are bound by fame and fortune, others by worldly affairs, thus losing their original hearts and forgetting their initial intentions. I have often thought that without a commitment to learning, one is like a tree without roots or water without a source, ultimately withering away.
The ancient sage Confucius once said: "Learning without reflection leads to confusion; reflection without learning leads to danger." This saying is indeed profound. Learning requires reflection, and reflection requires action. If one only reads but does not think, even if he is well-versed, he is merely playing with words on paper. If one only imagines without acting, even with lofty ideas, he will not achieve great things. Therefore, I believe that the path of learning lies in the unity of knowledge and action, and the cultivation of both inner and outer self.
I have often discussed academic matters with friends, sometimes citing classics, sometimes debating history, or discussing principles, or expressing personal views. Although our opinions may differ, they all come from sincerity, not for the sake of winning an argument, but for seeking truth. I deeply believe that the joy of learning lies not in competition, but in mutual inspiration and shared progress.
As for translation, it is also a part of learning. The ancients said: "To translate is to convey the meaning and express the words." But in modern translations, there is often more emphasis on form than content. Some translations are made to please readers, while others seek literary flair, thus losing the original meaning. I believe that translation should be based on fidelity, and use clarity as its tool, so as to truly convey the spirit of the original work.
I often think that if I could study together with you and explore translation, we would surely gain much. Though separated by mountains and seas, our hearts share the same principles. May we not waste our time, nor neglect our studies, and eventually become useful talents.
In haste, I cannot express all I wish to say. I only hope you remain well and your studies continue to improve.
Sincerely yours,
