1. what makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down- flowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small states) under heaven.

2. (to illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always overcomes the male by her stillness. stillness may be considered (a sort of) abasement.

3. thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them. in the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favour.

4. the great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other. each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself.

大国者下流也，天下之牝。

天下之交也，牝常以静胜牡。

为其静也故宜为下。

故大国以下小国，则取小国；

小国以下大国，则取大国。

故或下以取，或下而取。

大国不过欲，兼畜人；小国不过欲，入事人。

夫两者各得其所欲，大者宜为下。

【译文】

大国善处下游，它就可以像天下柔静的雌牝一样。天下雌雄之间的交合，雌牝通常以柔静而胜过俊躁的雄牡。这是因为她柔静而适应于处下的缘故。所以，大国比小国善于处下，则可以主导小国；小国比大国善于处下，则可以谋求主导作用。所以，有的可以凭籍处下态势以占居主导地位，有的则可以使自己善于处下而谋求主导作用。大国不过分贪欲而让小国分享国际资源，小国不过分贪欲而让大国占居领导地位。它们双方要达成如此稳定的利益妥协，大的应该善于处下。