Listen to this articlelínyuān-lǚbó 临渊履薄
Be Discreet as if Standing on Cliff Edge or Treading on Thin Ice
像濒临深渊或脚踩薄冰之时一样小心谨慎。“临渊”、“履薄”都是极为危险的处境，人在这样境遇中，应以专注而谨慎的态度行事，以避免危险。而对道德、礼法的坚守或对应所担当的职责，同样需要始终保持专注而谨慎的态度，任何的放松懈怠都可能造成不良的后果，因此要像“临渊履薄”一样，心存敬畏，谨言慎行。
Be discreet and watchful as if one is standing on the edge of a cliff or treading on thin ice, both being precarious situations in which people need to exercise maximum caution to stay safe. One should observe the same discreet and care when it comes to adherence to ethics, rites and law as well as fulfilling one’s due responsibility. Any slackening may result in disastrous consequences. Hence the importance of being discreet and watchful.
引例 Citations：
◎不敢暴虎，不敢冯（pínɡ）河。人知其一，莫知其他。战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。（《诗经·小雅·小旻》）
（不敢徒手搏虎，不敢徒步渡河。人知道这些显见的祸患，不知其他的危险。应战战兢兢，如同濒临深渊，如同脚踩薄冰。）
People all know that they should not fight a tiger with bare hands or wade through a river, but they are not aware of other dangers. We should be discreet and watchful in dangerous situations as if to stand on the edge of a cliff or tread on thin ice. (The Book of Songs)
◎曾子有疾，召门弟子曰：“启予足！启予手！《诗》云：‘战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。’而今而后，吾知免夫，小子！”（《论语·泰伯》）
（曾子患了疾病，召集他的学生说道：“看看我的脚！看看我的手！《诗经》上说：‘战战兢兢，如同濒临深渊，如同脚踩薄冰。’从今以后，我才知道自己是可以免于祸害刑戮的了！学生们！”）
When Zengzi was ill, he summoned his students and said: “Look at my trembling feet and hands! The Book of Songs says, ‘One should be fearful, discreet and watchful, as if standing on the edge of a cliff or treading on thin ice.’ I am now in such a state and I know I may stay away from disasters and punishments, my students!” (The Analects)
