先
天
下
之
忧
而
忧
，
后
天
下
之
乐
而
乐
x
i
ā
n
t
i
ā
n
x
i
à
z
h
ī
y
ō
u
é
r
y
ō
u
,
h
ò
u
t
i
ā
n
x
i
à
z
h
ī
l
è
é
r
l
è
Definitions
1. The first concern is affairs of state, enjoying the pleasure comes later. Quotation from essay On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记 by Song writer Fan Zhongyan 範仲淹|范仲淹
Components
先天下之忧而忧
xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu
–
consider problems before others are even aware of them
后天
hòu tiān
–
the day after tomorrow
下
xià
–
down
之
zhī
–
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])
乐
Lè
–
surname Le
而
ér
–
and