A Chinese saying about reciprocity and respect
What Chinese saying resembles the Golden Rule?
A source-linked answer
己所不欲，勿施于人。
A plain-English sense
Do not impose on others what you would not want for yourself.
What the line means
The line begins by changing position: imagine receiving the action before choosing to give it. It is a discipline of restraint and consideration.
Where it comes from
In the Analects, this sentence is linked with shu, often discussed as reciprocity or sympathetic consideration. It is concise, but real relationships still require asking what another person wants.
Read the source text for Analects · Wei Ling Gong →
When this saying fits
- A decision will affect someone who has less power.
- You are setting a boundary without demeaning another person.
- A disagreement needs a fair change of perspective.
Try it with an everyday sentence
These are examples of the kind of modern thought that can lead toward this older image:
- “Before I send this message, how would I receive it?”
- “I can state my boundary without humiliating the other person.”
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Related Chinese sayings
The English wording explains a cultural image rather than replacing the source text. Source and page reviewed 23 September 2026.