When autumn came, all the water in the large and small rivers rose higher and flowed into the Yellow River. The surface of the River at once appeared much wider. On one side of the bank, one couldn't see the cattle and sheep on the opposite side. The River deity Hebo was therefore immensely proud and considered himself the greatest in the world.

　　一到秋天，大河、小河里的水都漲了起來，流入黃河，河面頓時顯得非常寬廣。在河岸的這邊，一眼望不見對岸的牛羊。黃河的河伯因此得意洋洋，自以為是天下最偉大的了。

　　Hebo followed the Yellow River to the North Sea. Looking to the east, he could not see the bounds of the sea. Then he looked at himself and felt he was so tiny and insignificant. He sighed and said to Hairuo, the deity of the North Sea:

　　河伯順著黃河來到了北海，朝東一望，望不見海的盡頭;再看看自己才覺得自己很渺小。他嘆了口氣，對北海之神海若說:

　　"As the saying goes, a person who has gained a little learning tends to regard himself as the wisest person under the sky. I am just that kind of person. Seeing how broad and great you are today, I have come to realize how insignificant and ignorant I am. If I didn't meet you, I'm afraid I would always be laughed at by people with knowledge."

　　“俗話說得好，有了一點學(xué)問，就以為老子天下第一。我就是這種人。今天，我看到你這樣寬廣、這樣偉大，才發(fā)覺自己如此渺小、如此無知。如果今天沒遇見你，我恐怕永遠(yuǎn)會被有見識的人所譏笑。”

　　Hairuo said:

　　海若說:

　　"We cannot talk about the sea with a frog at the bottom of a well, for the frog is restricted by its dwelling place; we cannot talk about ice with a small insect of summer, for the insect is restricted by the seasons; we cannot talk about profound learning with superficial persons, for they have too little knowledge. Now you have come out of a small river to the North Sea, seen the greatness of it and realized your own insignificance. Since you have taken such a modest attitude, I can then talk with you about profound learning."

　　“我們不能同井底的青蛙談海，是因為青蛙受到住處的限制;不能同夏天的小蟲談冰，是因為小蟲受到季節(jié)的限制;不能同淺薄的人談?wù)摳呱畹膶W(xué)問，是因為他們的知識太少�，F(xiàn)在，你走出小河，來到北海，看到海的偉大，知道了自己的渺小。有了這種謙虛的態(tài)度，我就可以和你談?wù)摳呱畹膶W(xué)問了。”