《爱莲说》是北宋理学家周敦颐创作的一篇散文。这篇文章通过对莲的形象和品质的描写，歌颂了莲花坚贞的品格，从而也表现了作者洁身自爱的高洁人格和洒落的胸襟。下面是中文/日文/英文版《爱莲说》，分享一下。

爱莲说The Language of Flowers愛蓮説

水陆草木之花，可爱者甚蕃。晋陶渊明独爱菊；

Lovers of flowering plants and shrubs we have had by scores, but Tao Yuan-ming alone devoted himself to the chrysanthemum.

水陸草木の花、愛すべき者甚だ蕃(おお)し。晋の陶淵明、独り菊を愛す。

自李唐来，世人盛爱牡丹；

Since the opening days of the Tang dynasty, it has been fashionable to admire the peony;

李唐自(よ)り来（このかた）、世人甚だ牡丹を愛す。

予独爱莲之出淤泥而不染，濯清涟而不妖，

but my favorite is the water-lily. How stainless it rises from its slimy bed! How modestly it reposes on the clear pool,

予は独り蓮の汚泥より出でて染まらず、清漣に濯(あら)はれて妖ならず、

中通外直，不蔓不枝，香远益清，亭亭静植，

An emblem of purity and truth, symmetrically perfect, its subtle perfume is wafted far and wide, while there it rests in spotless state,

中は通じ外は直く、蔓（つる）あらず枝あらず、香遠くして益（ますます）清く、亭亭として浄（きよ）く植(た)ち、

可远观而不可亵玩焉。

Something to be regarded reverently from a distance, and not be profaned by familiar approach.

遠観すべくして褻翫(せつがん)すべからざるを愛す。

予谓菊，花之隐逸者也；牡丹，花之富贵者也；莲，花之君子者也。

In my opinion, the chrysanthemum is the flower of retirement and culture; the peony, the flower of rank and wealth; the water-lily, the Lady Virtue sans pareille.

予謂（おも）へらく、菊は華の隠逸なる者なり、牡丹は華の富貴なる者なり、蓮は華の君子なる者なりと。

噫！菊之爱，陶后鲜有闻；莲之爱，同予者何人？牡丹之爱，宜乎众矣。

Alas; few have loved the chrysanthemum since Tao Yuan-ming; and none now love the water-lily like myself; whereas the peony is a general favorite with all mankind.

噫（ああ）、菊を之れ愛するは、陶の後に聞く有ること鮮（すくな）し。蓮を之れ愛するは、予に同じき者何人ぞ。 牡丹を之れ愛するは、宣(むべ)なるかな衆(おお)きこと。