A neighborhood garden faces a dry month. The coordinator must decide what to cut: watering hours, a planned expansion, or each member's share of the harvest. Decrease does not mean everyone gives until empty. It means honest, timely reductions that protect essentials, keep trust, and let simple offerings—two baskets—still count.
社区花园遇上干旱月份。协调人要决定削减什么：浇水时段、扩建计划，还是每人的收成份额。损卦并非让所有人一味奉献到枯竭；它要求诚实、合时地减少过度之处，守住必需，也让两只简朴的篮子仍能表达诚意。
ASK YOURSELF想一想
Where is a sincere, measured decrease better than a grand sacrifice?
在哪里，真诚而有分寸的减少比一次轰轰烈烈的牺牲更合适？
《彖传》从“损下益上”的卦体说明損，但又三次强调“有时”“与时偕行”：减少与增加都要看对象和时机，不可变成固定的索取制度。诚意足时，祭享可简；需要补足时，也不可一味减。
The Tuan begins with movement from below to above, then limits that movement by time and circumstance. A simple offering fits a particular moment. Good judgment asks whether a reduction is truly needed, and whether the same pattern would become harmful if repeated.
A lake beneath a mountain: Decrease. A cultivated person checks anger and restrains desire.
山高泽低，形成损的取象。最值得主动减少的，首先是会伤人伤己的愤怒与无度欲望，而不是人的基本需要。
The mountain rises over the lake. The personal practice is specific: curb anger that harms others and wants that outrun what is enough, while preserving real needs.