最初指“天命”，即上天對人事的命令。上天根據(jù)人的德行狀況對人施與獎賞或懲罰。“天命”決定著王朝的更替、國家的興衰乃至個人的吉兇禍福，被認為是一種不可抗拒的力量。后人逐漸淡化了“命”與“天”的關聯(lián)，側重于強調“命”的不可抗拒之義，也即是命運。對人而言，“命”意味著來自于外部的某種限制，標志著人力的極限，并在某種意義上體現(xiàn)為人的無可奈何的處境。

The earliest meaning of the term was mandate of Heaven, that is, the intentions and instructions that Heaven expressed to humans. The implication was that Heaven meted out rewards and punishments on human beings as their moral conduct deserved. The mandate of Heaven was considered an irresistible force that determined dynastic changes, the rise and fall of nations, and even the fate of ordinary people. Later, the link with Heaven became weaker; instead, the unavoidable destiny or fate prevailed. For human beings, the term implies the external limits that determine what is possible and what is not. In one sense, it expresses the helplessness of human beings.

引例 Citations：

◎天命靡常。（《詩經(jīng)·大雅·文王》）

上天的命令沒有恒常不變的。

The mandate of Heaven is not immutable. (The Book of Songs)

◎知其不可奈何而安之若命。（《莊子·人間世》）

知道沒有辦法可以改變，故安然處之順應其命。

Knowing that one cannot change his destiny, one should face things calmly and submit himself to fate. (Zhuangzi)

（推薦：教育部 國家語委 供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社）