慈愛，古人倡導的一種美德。儒家在強調子女孝親的同時，也提倡為人父母者應關愛、呵護自己的子女，也就是“慈”。慈愛之心的培養(yǎng)，還使得為政者能夠在施行政事時，像對待自己子女一樣關愛、呵護治下的百姓。在道家的思想中，“慈”往往專指統(tǒng)治者對待百姓的慈愛。

Kindness is a virtue espoused by ancient Chinese. While emphasizing the importance of filial piety, the Confucian School also encouraged parental care and love for their children, which was referred to as kindness. Cultivation of one's kindness would enable a ruler to treat his people as his own children when exercising governance. In Daoism, kindness often referred to a ruler's love for his people.

引例 Citations：

◎為人君，止于仁；為人臣，止于敬；為人子，止于孝；為人父，止于慈；與國人交，止于信。（《禮記·大學》）

作為君主，要做到仁愛；作為臣屬，要做到恭敬；為人子者，要做到孝順；為人父者，要做到慈愛；與國人交往，要做到誠信。

As a ruler, one must practice benevolence. As a subject, one must revere the ruler. As a son, one must practice filial piety. As a father, one must be kind to his children. In dealings with other people, one must act in good faith. (The Book of Rites)

◎我有三寶，持而保之。一曰慈，二曰儉，三曰不敢為天下先。（《老子·六十七章》）

我有三種寶物，持有并保全它。第一種是慈愛，第二種是儉樸，第三種是不敢做天下人都沒做的事。

There are three things I keep and treasure. The first is kindness; the second is thriftiness; and the third is not venturing anything no others have done. (Laozi)

推薦：教育部 國家語委

供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社

責任編輯：錢耐安