人而無信,不知其可

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Chinese

[edit]
man; person; people
and; as well as; but (not)
and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast)
 
not have
letter; true; to believe
letter; true; to believe; sign; evidence
 
not; no to know; to be aware
his; her; its
his; her; its; theirs; that; such; it (refers to something preceding it)
 
can; may; able to
can; may; able to; certain(ly); to suit; (particle used for emphasis)
 
trad. (人而無信,不知其可)
simp. (人而无信,不知其可)

Etymology

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A quote from the Analects of Confucius.

Literally: If a man has no honesty, it cannot be known what he can be suitable for.

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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人而無信,不知其可

  1. A man without honesty is capable of nothing.