Three Character Classic in English

人之初，

性本善。

性相近，

习相远。

Man on earth,

Good at birth.

The same nature

Varies on nurture.

苟不教，

性乃迁。

教之道，

贵以专。

With no education,

There'd be aberration.

To teach well,

You deeply dwell.

昔孟母，

择邻处，

子不学，

断机杼。

Then Mencius' mother

Chose her neighbor.

At Mencius sloth,

She cut th' cloth.

养不教，

父之过。

教不严，

师之惰。

What's a father?

A good teacher.

What's a teacher?

A strict preacher.

玉不琢，

不成器。

人不学，

不知义。

No jade crude,

Shows craft good.

Unless you learn,

Brute you'll turn.

为人子，

方少时，

亲师友，

习礼仪。

Son of man,

Mature you can.

Teacher or peer,

Hold them dear.

融四岁，

能让梨。

弟于长，

宜先知。

Aged four years,

Rong proffered pears.

Bear in mind

Fraternally be kind.

头悬梁，

锥刺股。

彼不教，

自勤苦。

Head hung high!

Needled his thigh!

Not pushed, they

Kept working away.