選賢與能

Chinese

		to choose; to pick; to select to choose; to pick; to select; to elect	worthy (person)	to select; to choose	ability; can; may ability; can; may; capable; energy; able
trad. (選賢與能)		選	賢	與	能
simp. (选贤与能)		选	贤	与	能
alternative forms		選賢舉能／选贤举能

Etymology

From the Book of Rites, Book 9 (《禮記·禮運》):

大道之行也，天下為公。選賢與能，講信修睦，故人不獨親其親，不獨子其子，使老有所終，壯有所用，幼有所長，矜寡孤獨廢疾者，皆有所養。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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大道之行也，天下为公。选贤与能，讲信修睦，故人不独亲其亲，不独子其子，使老有所终，壮有所用，幼有所长，矜寡孤独废疾者，皆有所养。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Dàdào zhī xíng yě, tiānxià wéi gōng. Xuǎn xián yǔ néng, jiǎng xìn xiū mù, gù rén bù dú qīn qí qīn, bù dú zǐ qí zǐ, shǐ lǎo yǒu suǒ zhōng, zhuàng yǒu suǒ yòng, yòu yǒu suǒ zhǎng, jīn guǎ gū dú fèi jí zhě, jiē yǒu suǒ yǎng. [Pinyin]

When the Grand course was pursued, a public and common spirit ruled all under the sky; they chose men of talents, virtue, and ability; their words were sincere, and what they cultivated was harmony. Thus men did not love their parents only, nor treat as children only their own sons. A competent provision was secured for the aged till their death, employment for the able-bodied, and the means of growing up to the young. They showed kindness and compassion to widows, orphans, childless men, and those who were disabled by disease, so that they were all sufficiently maintained.

與／与 (yǔ) is a tongjia character of 舉／举 (jǔ).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): xuǎnxiányǔnéng, xuǎnxiánjǔnéng

  (Zhuyin): ㄒㄩㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄩˇ ㄋㄥˊ, ㄒㄩㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄩˇ ㄋㄥˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): syun² jin⁴ jyu⁵ nang⁴ / syun² jin⁴ geoi² nang⁴

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: xuǎnxiányǔnéng
    • Zhuyin: ㄒㄩㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄩˇ ㄋㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: syuǎnsiányǔnéng
    • Wade–Giles: hsüan³-hsien²-yü³-nêng²
    • Yale: sywǎn-syán-yǔ-néng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sheuanshyanyeuneng
    • Palladius: сюаньсяньюйнэн (sjuanʹsjanʹjujnɛn)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: xuǎnxiánjǔnéng
    • Zhuyin: ㄒㄩㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄩˇ ㄋㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: syuǎnsiánjyǔnéng
    • Wade–Giles: hsüan³-hsien²-chü³-nêng²
    • Yale: sywǎn-syán-jyǔ-néng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sheuanshyanjeuneng
    • Palladius: сюаньсяньцзюйнэн (sjuanʹsjanʹczjujnɛn)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: syun² jin⁴ jyu⁵ nang⁴ / syun² jin⁴ geoi² nang⁴
    • Yale: syún yìhn yúh nàhng / syún yìhn géui nàhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: syn² jin⁴ jy⁵ nang⁴ / syn² jin⁴ goey² nang⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: xun² yin⁴ yu⁵ neng⁴ / xun² yin⁴ gêu² neng⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /syːn³⁵ jiːn²¹ jyː¹³ nɐŋ²¹/, /syːn³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

Idiom

選賢與能

1. to choose and appoint people of talents, virtue, and ability

See also

• 選賢任能／选贤任能