What does the word Taos mean?

Answer 1

The word 'Tao' refers to the central force or principle of Taoist belief. Every object and every action is a manifestation of the movement of Tao, and so everything is governed by the principles that govern Tao.

Following is one translation of the first lines of the Tao Te Ching (the Taoist holy book)

" . . . The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery. -(Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English, 1972). . .:"

For a web-site which lists each line of the Tao Te Ching with the differing translations see below.

Another answer, not disagreeing with the first

The word 'Tao' does not translate conveniently into any word in English. In fact it is a word with many meanings in Chinese, and the Tao Te Ching says it is used as a convenience, a word for a concept that otherwise has no name, and which it only imperfectly represents. Used as a noun, it often means "way," but I am told that, used as a verb, it often means "speak."

There are other words from other languages very like this. One is the Greek word "logos," which also means word, idea, realm, or way. It was translated into "verbum" in Latin, and so as "word," in English. This is how it appears in the first verse of the Gospel according to St John, "In the beginning was the word..."

The reason I bring this up is that when The Bible was translated into Chinese, the word used for "logos" was "Tao." It is a concept that is beyond understanding, and so is beyond naming.

Answer 2

The word 'Tao' refers to the central force or principle of Taoist belief. Every object and every action is a manifestation of the movement of Tao, and so everything is governed by the principles that govern Tao.

Following is one translation of the first lines of the Tao Te Ching (the Taoist holy book)

" . . . The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery. -(Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English, 1972). . .:"

For a web-site which lists each line of the Tao Te Ching with the differing translations see below.

Another answer, not disagreeing with the first

The word 'Tao' does not translate conveniently into any word in English. In fact it is a word with many meanings in Chinese, and the Tao Te Ching says it is used as a convenience, a word for a concept that otherwise has no name, and which it only imperfectly represents. Used as a noun, it often means "way," but I am told that, used as a verb, it often means "speak."

There are other words from other languages very like this. One is the Greek word "logos," which also means word, idea, realm, or way. It was translated into "verbum" in Latin, and so as "word," in English. This is how it appears in the first verse of the Gospel according to St John, "In the beginning was the word..."

The reason I bring this up is that when The Bible was translated into Chinese, the word used for "logos" was "Tao." It is a concept that is beyond understanding, and so is beyond naming.