《孙子兵法》（精选）英文版

 　孙子曰：兵者，国之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。

　　Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry¹ which can on no account be neglected.

　　故兵贵胜，不贵久。

　　In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy² campaigns.

　　是故百战百胜，非善之善也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。

　　Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme³ excellence⁴; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

　　故善用兵者，屈人之兵而非战也，拔人之城而非攻也，毁人之国而非久也，

　　Therefore the skillful leader subdues⁵ the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows⁶ their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.

　　兵法：一曰度，二曰量，三曰数，四曰称，五曰胜。

　　In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly⁷, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.

　　凡战者，以正合，以奇胜。

　　In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

　　故兵无常势，水无常形。

　　Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare⁸ there are no constant conditions.

　　三军可夺气，将军可夺心。

　　A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.

1 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

2 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

5 subdues   

征服( subdue的第三人称单数 )； 克制； 制服

参考例句：

• In China postman subdues all wearing green color. 在中国邮递员都穿绿色制服。
• He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me. 这位神、就是那为我伸冤、使众民服在我以下的。

6 overthrows   

n.推翻，终止，结束( overthrow的名词复数 )v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的第三人称单数 )；使终止

参考例句：

• Newly-elected French President Charles Louis Bonaparte overthrows the Second Republic. 1851年，新选出来的法国总统查尔斯·路易斯·波拿巴推翻了第二次共和。 来自互联网
• With unexpected innovative elements, the Next Step overthrows your knowledge for percussion! 意想不到的创新元素，颠覆你对打击乐的印象。 来自互联网

7 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

8 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。