第十一章
无用
三十辐，共一毂，当其无，有车之用。
埏埴以为器，当其无，有器之用。
凿户牖以为室，当其无，有室之用。
故有之以为利，无之以为用。
王弼注
英译 · James Legge
The use of what has no substantive existence
The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel depends. Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that their use depends. The door and windows are cut out (from the walls) to form an apartment; but it is on the empty space (within), that its use depends. Therefore, what has a (positive) existence serves for profitable adaptation, and what has not that for (actual) usefulness.
三十辐，共一毂，当其无，有车之用。
毂所以能统三十辐者，无也，以其无能受物之故，故能以实统众也。
埏埴以为器，当其无，有器之用。凿户牖以为室，当其无，有室之用。故有之以为利，无之以为用。
木埴，壁之所以成，三者而皆以无为用也。言无者，有之所以为利，皆赖无以为用也。