【原文】修名而督实，按实而定名。名实相生，反相为情。名实当则治，不当则乱。名生于实，实生于德，德生于理，理生于智，智生于当。《九守》

【汉解】依照名称考察实际，根据实际确定名称。名、实互相促进，反过来又互为说明。名实相当则治，不相当则乱。名产生于实，实产生于德，德产生于理，理产生于智，智则产生于“当”。

【英译】Oversee realities according to their names. Fix names in accordance with realities, Names and realities produce each other and, conversely, both reflect the inner nature of things. If names and realities are in accord, there is good order. If they are not in accord, there is chaos. Names stem from reality, reality stems from the properties of things, the properties of things stem from their inherent structure, their inherent structure stems from an underlying harmony, harmony stems from appropriateness.