1. 道可道，非常道。
人類所描述的道（天道、上帝的命令），並非俗世常人能理解的道。
Dao (The Way, The Word of Heaven) that is described by human beings is not understood by the secular world.

2. 名可名，非常名。
它的名稱可以取，但俗世依然無法描述道的本質。
Its name may be given, but the nature of Dao is still not comprehensible to the general public.

3. 無名，天地始。
道實際上沒有名稱，然而它卻是天地萬物的創造者。
Indeed Dao has no name, yet it is the creator of the universe.

4. 有名，萬物母。
縱使給它取了一個名稱，道依然是萬物的母親。(也就是說，不管「道」有沒有名稱，它/他/她都是天地的創造者和萬物的母親。)
Even Dao is given a name, it is still the mother of all things. (This means that no matter Dao is given a name or not, it changes nothing because it/he/she is the creator of the universe and the mother of all lives.)

5. 常無，欲觀其妙。
道會以「虛無」的狀態存在，然而它的奥祕依然可以從微小的自然現象觀察出來（如物理或化學反應）。
Dao may appear intangibly, yet its mystery can still be sensed through micro natural phenomena (such as physics or chemical reactions).

6. 常有，欲觀其徼。
道也會以「有形」的狀態存在，因為它的蹤跡可以從散發出來的光芒（或能量、微波…等其他現象）觀察出來。
Dao may also appear tangibly because its trace is observable through light emissions (or other forms such as energy, wave, etc.).

7. 此兩者同出而異名， 同謂之玄。
「虛無」和「有形」兩種狀態都來自同一個根源，盡管名稱不同，然而他們都是出自那位神秘偉大的造物主（中國古經稱造物主為「上帝、天父」）。
Both intangible and tangible states came from the same origin. Although having opposite names yet they were both from the highest yet mysterious creator (named God or heavenly Father by Chinese classics).

8. 玄之又玄，眾妙之門。
這位創造天地、偉大又神秘的「造物主」是不可思議的奇蹟，他是宇宙和萬有一切奧秘的門戶和根基。
The highest yet mysterious creator is subtle and miraculous, for he is the pathway and foundation of the universe and all things.

第1章 (注解)

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《道德經》是一本了不起的哲學著作，
它對中國和全世界的文化思想有非常深厚的影響，
希望有興趣的朋友一起來共襄盛舉！

==== 賴中生 @ WSU ====