慈爱，古人倡导的一种美德。儒家在强调子女孝亲的同时，也提倡为人父母者应关爱、呵护自己的子女，也就是“慈”。慈爱之心的培养，还使得为政者能够在施行政事时，像对待自己子女一样关爱、呵护治下的百姓。在道家的思想中，“慈”往往专指统治者对待百姓的慈爱。

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：

◎为人君，止于仁；为人臣，止于敬；为人子，止于孝；为人父，止于慈；与国人交，止于信。（《礼记·大学》）

作为君主，要做到仁爱；作为臣属，要做到恭敬；为人子者，要做到孝顺；为人父者，要做到慈爱；与国人交往，要做到诚信。

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)

◎我有三宝，持而保之。一曰慈，二曰俭，三曰不敢为天下先。（《老子·六十七章》）

我有三种宝物，持有并保全它。第一种是慈爱，第二种是俭朴，第三种是不敢做天下人都没做的事。

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)

推荐：教育部 国家语委

供稿：北京外国语大学 外语教学与研究出版社

责任编辑：钱耐安