來源：中華思想文化術語
作者：《中華思想文化術語》編委會
民惟邦本
People Being the Foundation of the State
來源：中華思想文化術語
作者：《中華思想文化術語》編委會
民惟邦本
People Being the Foundation of the State
圖片來源：學習強國
指民眾是國家的根本或基礎。只有百姓安居樂業、生活穩定，國家才能安定。最早見於偽《古文尚書》所載大禹的訓示。這與戰國時代孟子提出的“民為貴，社稷次之，君為輕”，荀子提出的“水能載舟，亦能覆舟”的思想一脈相承，並由此形成儒家所推崇的“民本”思想。
This term means that the people are the essence of the state or the foundation upon which it stands. Only when people live and work in peace and contentment can the state be peaceful and stable. This saying, which first appeared in a pseudo-version of "The Classical Book of History" as an instruction by Yu the Great, can be traced to Mencius' statement: "The essence of a state is the people, next come the god of land and the god of grain (which stand for state power), and the last the ruler," and Xunzi's statement, "Just as water can float a boat, so can water overturn it." This idea gave rise to the "people first" thought advocated by Confucianism.
引例 Citation：
◎皇祖有訓：民可近，不可下。民惟邦本，本固邦寧。（《尚書·五子之歌》）
我們的祖先大禹曾經告誡說：民眾可以親近，不能認為他們卑微。民眾是國家的根本，根本穩固了國家才能安寧。
Our ancestor Yu the Great warned: (a ruler) must maintain a close relationship with the people; he must not regard them as insignificant. They are the foundation of a state, and a state can enjoy peace only when its foundation is firm. (The Book of History)
（推薦：教育部 國家語委 供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社）