English translation
Sun Tzu said: Generally, ground takes six forms: accessible, entangling, intermediate, narrow, precipitous, and distant. If I can go and the enemy can come, it is called accessible. On accessible ground, take the high sunny places first and secure your supply routes; such ground favors battle. If one can go but cannot easily return, it is called entangling. On entangling ground, if the enemy is unprepared, sallying forth brings victory; if the enemy is prepared, sallying forth will not win and return is difficult—this is unfavorable. If I sally forth and suffer while the enemy also suffers from sallying, this is intermediate ground. On intermediate ground, even if the enemy has the advantage, I do not advance; instead I draw them out, force them to extend half their force, and then strike—this is advantageous. On narrow ground, if we occupy it first we must fill it and wait for the enemy; if the enemy occupies it first, then if they have filled it we must not follow, but if they have not filled it we may follow. On precipitous ground, if we occupy it first we must hold the high sunny places to await the enemy; if the enemy occupies it first, draw off and do not follow. On distant ground, when forces are even it is difficult to provoke battle; fighting there is disadvantageous. These six are the ways of terrain; they are the supreme responsibilities of a general and must not be overlooked.
Chinese source
孫子曰：凡地形有通者、有掛者、有支者、有隘者、有險者、有遠者。我可以往，彼可以來，曰通。通形者，先居高陽，利糧道，以戰則利。可以往，難以返，曰掛。掛形者，敵無備，出而勝之；敵若有備，出而不勝，難以返，不利。我出而不利，彼出而不利，曰支。支形者，敵雖利我，我無出也，引而去之，令敵半出而擊之，利。隘形者，我先居之，必盈之以待敵。若敵先居之，盈而勿從，不盈而從之。險形者，我先居之，必居高陽以待敵；若敵先居之，引而去之，勿從也。遠形者，勢均，難以挑戰，戰而不利。凡此六者，地之道也，將之至任，不可不察也。
Therefore there are troops that flee, troops that slacken, troops that are trapped, troops that collapse, troops that fall into disorder, and troops that are put to flight. These six failures are not calamities sent by Heaven but faults of the general. When forces are evenly matched yet a detachment acts alone and causes flight, it is called flight. When the soldiers are strong but the officers weak, this is laxity. When the officers are strong but the soldiers weak, this is entrapment. When senior officers are angry and refuse orders, meeting the enemy by charging on their own and the commander cannot gauge their capacity, this is collapse. When a general is weak and not strict, when training and regulations are unclear, officers and soldiers irregular, and deployments scattered and confused, this is disorder. When a general cannot assess the enemy, joins small forces against many, sends the weak to attack the strong, and troops are sent without selecting the vanguard, this results in rout. These six are the paths to defeat; they are the supreme duties of a general and must be carefully examined.
Chinese source
故兵有走者、有弛者、有陷者、有崩者、有亂者、有北者。凡此六者，非天之災，將之過也。夫勢均，以一擊十，曰走；卒强吏弱，曰弛；吏强卒弱，曰陷；大吏怒而不服，遇敵懟而自戰，將不知其能，曰崩；將弱不嚴，教道不明，吏卒無常，陳兵縱橫，曰亂；將不能料敵，以少合衆，以弱擊強，兵無選鋒，曰北。凡此六者，敗之道也，將之至任，不可不察也。
Terrain is the army’s aid. Estimating the enemy and securing victory, calculating difficulties, perils, and distances—this is the master’s way of command. One who knows this and fights will certainly win; one who does not know this and fights will certainly be defeated. Therefore, if the way of battle promises victory, then even if the ruler says 'do not fight' one can fight; if the way of battle does not promise victory, then even if the ruler orders 'fight' one should not. Thus advance without seeking fame and retreat without avoiding blame; care only to protect the people and ensure gains align with the sovereign—this is the nation's treasure.
Chinese source
夫地形者，兵之助也。料敵制勝，計險厄遠近，上將之道也。知此而用戰者必勝，不知此而用戰者必敗。故戰道必勝，主曰無戰，必戰可也；戰道不勝，主曰必戰，無戰可也。是故進不求名，退不避罪，唯民是保，而利合於主，國之寶也。
Treat your soldiers like newborn infants, and you can have them cross deep streams with you; treat them like cherished sons, and you can die with them. To be lavish in care but unable to use them, to love them but be unable to command, to pamper and yet be unable to govern—this is like a spoiled child and is not fit for service.
Chinese source
視卒如嬰兒，故可以與之赴深溪；視卒如愛子，故可與之俱死。厚而不能使，愛而不能令，亂而不能治，譬若驕子，不可用也。
Knowing that my troops can strike while not knowing that the enemy cannot be attacked is half a victory; knowing that the enemy can be attacked while not knowing that my troops cannot attack is half a victory; knowing both enemy and my troops can fight while not knowing that the ground is unsuited to battle is half a victory. Therefore the skilled commander moves without confusion and acts without exhaustion. Hence: know the enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles you will never be in peril; know the heavens and the earth, and your victory will be complete.
Chinese source
知吾卒之可以擊，而不知敵之不可擊，勝之半也；知敵之可擊，而不知吾卒之不可以擊，勝之半也；知敵之可擊，知吾卒之可以擊，而不知地形之不可以戰，勝之半也。故知兵者，動而不迷，舉而不窮。故曰：知彼知己，勝乃不殆；知天知地，勝乃可全。