十一

三十輻共一轂,
當其無,
有車之用。
埏埴以為器,
當其無,
有器之用。
鑿 戶牖以為室,
當其無,
有室之用。
故有之以為利,
無之以為用。

shí yī

sān shí fú gòng yī gŭ
dāng qí wú
yŏu chē zhī yòng
yán zhí yĭ wéi qì
dāng qí wú
yŏu qì zhī yòng
záo hù yŏu yĭ wéi shì
dāng qí wú
yŏu shì zhī yòng
gù yŏu zhī yĭ wéi lì
wú zhī yĭ wéi yòng

11

We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
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