Taoism is the Chinese way of thinking that grew out of the writings linked to Lao Tzu, above all the 道德經. Its heart is that things go best when you stop forcing them: be simple, be soft, notice how nature already works, and act with it instead of against it — the idea English books usually call 'non-action' or leave in Chinese as wu wei, which does not mean doing nothing but doing without struggling.

Taoism Taoism is the Chinese way of thinking是一種中國思想方式 that grew out of the writings linked to Lao Tzu源自跟老子有關的著作 above all the 道德經尤其是道德經。 Its heart is that things go best when you stop forcing them它的核心是事情不要硬來才會順： be simple, be soft保持簡單、保持柔軟 notice how nature already works留意大自然本來的運作方式 and act with it instead of against it順著它做而不是跟它對抗 the idea English books usually call 'non-action'這個想法英文書通常叫做『non-action（無為）』 or leave in Chinese as wu wei或者直接留成中文wu wei which does not mean doing nothing but doing without struggling但這不是說什麼都不做，而是不掙扎地去做。

English uses this one word for two things that are worth keeping apart, though. There is Taoism the philosophy — books, ideas, no priests — and there is Taoism the religion, with temples, gods, and rituals, the kind you can walk into on any street in Taiwan. Scholars argue about how closely those two are related, and English usually blurs them; if it matters which you mean, say so.

English uses this one word for two things that are worth keeping apart, though不過英文用同一個字講兩個值得分開來看的東西。 There is Taoism the philosophy有Taoism道家哲學 books, ideas, no priests書、思想，沒有神職人員 and there is Taoism the religion也有Taoism道教宗教 with temples, gods, and rituals有廟、有神明、有儀式 the kind you can walk into on any street in Taiwan就是你在台灣任何一條街上都能走進去的那種。 Scholars argue about how closely those two are related學者會爭論這兩者到底有多接近 and English usually blurs them而英文通常把它們混在一起 if it matters which you mean, say so如果你講的是哪一個很重要，就要講清楚。

Also spelled Daoism in newer writing, from the modern pinyin spelling; both are the same word. In loose Western use it sometimes just means 'a relaxed, go-with-the-flow attitude', which is a thin version of the real thing.

Also spelled Daoism in newer writing在比較新的寫法裡也拼成Daoism from the modern pinyin spelling來自現代拼音的拼法， both are the same word兩個是同一個字。 In loose Western use在比較隨便的西方用法裡 it sometimes just means 'a relaxed, go-with-the-flow attitude'有時候它只是指『一種放鬆、順其自然的態度』， which is a thin version of the real thing那只是真正意思的一個很淡的版本。