Chapter 1 – Sentence 19

Giles:

Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.

 

Goldwater:

A general who plans for victory in his battlefield tent before battle will plan much.
A general who does not plan for victory in his battlefield tent before battle will plan little.

 

Traditional Chinese

夫未戰而廟算勝者，得算多也；
未戰而廟算不勝者，得算少也。

 

Simplified Chinese

夫未战而庙算胜者，得算多也﹔
未战而庙算不胜者，得算少也。

 

Pin Yin

fú wèi zhàn ér miào suàn shèng zhě,
dé suàn duō yě;
wèi zhàn ér miào suàn bú shèng zhě,
dé suàn shǎo yě.

 

夫未戰而廟算勝者，得算多也；
未戰而廟算不勝者，得算少也。
Now before battle temple plans victory, will plan much;
before battle temple plan not victory, will plan little.

 

夫 未 戰 而
Now before battle

 

廟 算 勝 者，
temple plans victory ,

 

得 算 多 也；
will plan much ;

 

未 戰 而 廟
before battle temple

 

算 不 勝 者，
plan not victory ,

 

得 算 少 也；
will plan little .

 

Now, (a general who) before battle (in his pre-battle) temple plans (for) victory will plan much; (a general who) before battle (in his pre-battle) temple plans not (for) victory will plan little.

Now (then), (a general who) before battle plans (for) victory in his battlefield tent will plan much; (whereas) (a general who) before battle does not plan (for) victory in his battlefield tent will plan little.

A general who plans for victory in his battlefield tent before battle will plan much. A general who does not plan for victory in his battlefield tent before battle will plan little.

Comments:

1. Comment: In that era, generals would have a battlefield temple in which to prepare for battle. In modern times, a battlefield tent would be more common.