厚积薄发，意为多多积蓄，慢慢放出。形容只有准备充分才能办好事情。
这个成语出自苏轼的《送张琥》：“呜呼，吾子其去此而务学也哉！博观而约取，厚积而薄发，吾告子止于此矣。”
意思就是指要经过长时间有准备的积累才能大有可为，施展作为。这个词如何用英语来解释呢？一起来学习。
以下中英文内容来自中华思想文化术语传播工程核心成果——《中华思想文化术语》丛书。
厚积薄发
Build Up Fully and Release Sparingly.
充分地积累，少量地释放。多指学术研究或文艺创作等首先要广泛汲取前人已有的知识和成果，待有了深厚的积累和坚实的基础，再一点儿一点儿地从事学术研究或文艺创作，尝试提出独到见解，或在前人的基础上有所创造。
The term means to accumulate as much as possible but to release a little at a time. This often refers to the process of scholarly research or artistic creation, in which one should first extensively absorb the knowledge and results of others to acquire a wealth of knowledge and lay a solid foundation. On this basis, one is engaged in further scholarly studies or artistic creation, attempting to make new accomplishments.
▌引例
博观而约取，厚积而薄发，吾告子止于此矣。(苏轼《稼说——送张琥》)
Read widely and absorb the best from the books you read; acquire deep learning and share it gradually – that is all I can tell you. (Su Shi, An Allegory for Zhang Hu on Growing Crops)
诚意
Be Sincere in Thought.
使追求日用伦常之道的意愿真实无妄，在知晓日用伦常之道的基础上，确立起内心对此道的认同与追求。内心的真实意愿会自然地表现于言行之中。个人的道德行为应出于真实的意愿，而不应在没有真实意愿的情况下仅仅使外在的言行符合道德规范。
The pursuit of moral principles in daily life should be true and sincere. One can only identify and follow the principle of “sincerity in thought” on the basis of understanding the moral principles in daily life. One’s true desire will then naturally reflect itself in one’s daily behavior. An individual’s moral conduct must stem from a genuine wish and must not just conform superficially to the moral principles without true intention of practicing them.
▌引例
诚其意者，自修之首也。（朱熹《大学章句》）
Being sincere in thought is of primary importance in self-cultivation. (Zhu Xi: Annotations on The Great Learning)
兼听
Listen to Both Sides.
指广泛听取各种意见。领导者在决策之前，一定要广泛听取各种意见，综合、吸纳其中的合理部分。它要求领导者无偏无私，虚怀若谷。这样，各方都能畅所欲言，而领导者也能集思广益，权衡利弊，从而保障决策的正确和施策的畅通。
It means to listen to diverse points of view. Before making decisions, leaders must listen to all kinds of opinions and synthesize them so as to extract the most sensible arguments. To do so, a leader must be impartial and open-minded. Only in this way can the parties concerned speak their minds, which, in turn, will enable a leader to benefit from various ideas, weigh the trade-offs, make correct decisions, and ensure their successful implementation.
▌引例
兼听齐明，则天下归之。（《荀子·君道》）
Listen to both sides and it will make one wise and well-informed, thus ensuring a broad support all over the land. (Xunzi)
三省吾身
Reflect on Oneself Several Times a Day.
多次反省自身。“三省吾身”是儒家所主张的一种道德修养方法。儒家认为，德行的确立取决于自身的追求与努力。因此应时时反省自己的言行与内心，并以此作为修养道德的基本方法。每日应多次反省自身是否存在不足，有则改之，无则加勉。
Reflecting often on what one does – this is a way of self-cultivation of virtue advocated by Confucianism. This school of thought holds that as moral integrity is established with one’s efforts of self-cultivation, one needs to constantly examine his words and deeds as well as what he has in mind as a fundamental way of improving himself. One should everyday reflect many times to see if there is any room for improvement.
▌引例
曾子曰：“吾日三省吾身：为人谋而不忠乎？与朋友交而不信乎？传不习乎？”（《论语·学而》）
Zengzi said: “Each day I reflect on myself several times: Have I tried all my best to help someone when offering advice to him? Have I kept my word to my friends? Have I reviewed what I learned?” (The Analects)
