吾唯足知われただたるをしる

Meanings

I am content with what I am (have); rich is the person who is content with what he is

A Zen Buddhist saying expressing the virtue of being satisfied with one's present state and possessions. Often inscribed on stone water basins (tsukubai) in Japanese gardens, where the central 口 (mouth) character is shared by all four kanji.

龍りょう安あん寺じの蹲踞つくばいには「吾われ唯ただ足たる知をしる」と刻きざまれている。
The stone water basin at Ryōan-ji is inscribed with 'I am content with what I am.'
「吾われ唯ただ足たるを知しる」という言こと葉ばは、足たるを知しる心こころの大たい切せつさを教おしえている。
The phrase 'I know what is enough' teaches the importance of being content with what one has.

Kanji

吾I, my, our
唯solely, only, merely
足leg, foot, be sufficient
知know, wisdom

Related words

足たるを知しる
A more common modern phrase meaning 'to know what is enough' or 'to be content with little.' 吾唯足知 is a classical, Zen-influenced expression that embeds this concept in a four-character maxim.

Written forms

吾唯足知われただたるをしる
Most recognized four-character Zen phrase form, often seen on tsukubai (stone water basins).
吾われ唯ただ足たるを知しる
Expanded grammatical form that makes the meaning clearer; also common in explanations.

Etymology

A Zen phrase derived from the concept of knowing sufficiency (足るを知る). The four-character form 吾唯足知 is a compact rendering where the central 口 radical is shared by all four characters, symbolizing the unity of the self and contentment.