Reading in winter night shows children how to swim.
The ancients learned nothing, and it takes time to grow old. What you get on paper is so shallow that you never know what you have to do.
Translation:
The ancients spared no effort in research. They worked hard when they were young, and they didn't achieve anything until they were old.
After all, the knowledge gained from books is relatively shallow. If you want to understand things thoroughly, you must practice it yourself.
Explanation:
Reading to Children on a Winter Night is a family instruction poem full of wisdom, which was taught by the poet Lu You with his own personal experience. The poet had a feeling when he was reading on a winter night, and used it to educate his son Yu Zi.
The first pair of couplets "The ancients learned to be excellent and became officials, which means that they always spared no effort and went all out to learn.". Only when you are young, take time to study hard, and you can achieve something when you are old.
This couplet has two meanings: first, "the ancients learned nothing" is worth emulating; Second, we should learn from "young and mature". This is a warning to children. If they want to make a difference, they should spare no effort to keep studying.
Zhuan Xu said that "the knowledge gained from books is superficial and needs to be practiced", which means that the knowledge gained from books is superficial after all. If you want to know things thoroughly, you must practice it yourself.
Tell my son, if you want to know the truth deeply, don't just worry, but get up and practice the meaning of "practice". This couplet emphasizes the importance of practice. Only through practice can we turn the knowledge in books into our practical skills.
The whole poem is guided by thought and philosophy, with specific reading and practical activities as the carrier, and contains profound truth, which makes readers feel and gain something in reading. The language of the whole poem is plain and simple, but it contains rich philosophy and wisdom, which gives people profound enlightenment and education.
This poem is not only a teaching for children, but also an inspiration for everyone. It emphasizes the importance of learning and warns people to cherish youth and strive for knowledge and progress. At the same time, it also reminds people that only through practice can they truly master knowledge and make it their precious wealth.