《荀子》语词释义二则

摘要

“Ji Mi”and“Sang Luo Zhi Xia” are two phrases in Xunzi. The annotation of“Mi”in“Ji Mi” should be“Lei”(pile up) and“Ji Mi”means accumulation. The etymology of“Sang Luo” is two verses in the Book of Songs, which are metaphor to the poor life and being abandoned eventually after marriage of the heroine. After this usage was fixed,“Sang Luo”became a synonym for dilemma. So,“Sang Luo Zhi Xia”means in dilemma.%“积靡”见于《荀子·儒效》篇，旧注训“靡”为“顺”，释为“顺其积习”。从原文语境以及荀子在人性论问题上对“积”、“顺”二词的使用来看，旧注不可从。“靡”当训为“累”，“积靡”即“积累”，是同义连用的复合词。“桑落之下”见于《荀子·宥坐》篇，注家众说纷纭。“桑落”的语源当是《诗经·卫风·氓》所言“桑之落矣，其黄而陨”，指困窘的处境，“桑落之下”即困境之下。