天網恢恢,疏而不漏

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Chinese

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natural law negligent; sparse; thin
and; as well as; but (not)
and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast)
 
not; no
funnel; to leak; to let out
funnel; to leak; to let out; to divulge
 
trad. (天網恢恢,疏而不漏) 天網恢恢
simp. (天网恢恢,疏而不漏) 天网恢恢
Literally: “The law of nature is like a giant web, although sparsely meshed, nothing could slip through.”

Etymology

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From the 73rd chapter of the Tao Te Ching:

繟然天網恢恢 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
𦈎然天网恢恢 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4th century BCE
Tiān zhī dào, bù zhēng ér shàn shèng, bù yìng ér shàn yìng, bù zhào ér zì lái, chánrán ér shàn móu. Tiānwǎnghuīhuī, shū ér bù shī. [Pinyin]
The Tao of Nature, does not contend, yet easily wins, does not speak, yet always responds, does not summon, yet all things gather, does not contemplate as if at ease, yet all plans were devised perfectly. The law of nature is like a giant web, although sparsely meshed, nothing could slip through.

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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天網恢恢,疏而不漏

  1. lawbreakers will always be arrested and punished

Descendants

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