1. 三十輻共一轂，當其無，有車之用。
三十根輻桿和輪轂組成一個輪子，輪轂中心的圓孔雖然空無一物，但它卻可以用來承載車軸使車子能行駛。
Thirty spokes assembled to a hub (or nave) form a wheel, the central hole of the hub is empty yet it is used to bear the axle and to make the vehicle drivable.

2. 埏埴以為器，當其無，有器之用。
揉和陶土製作器皿時，中心必須被挖空，陶缸才能成為有用的容器。
When kneading clay to produce a vat, its center has to be cleaned empty in order to make the vat a useful container.

3. 鑿戶牖以為室，當其無，有室之用。
建造房屋開鑿門窗時，室內必須清空無物以騰出空間，屋子才能造就有用的房間。
When excavating holes to install windows during the construction of a house, inside rooms have to be cleaned with adequate space in order to make the rooms useful.

4. 故有之以為利，無之以為用。
由此可見「有形」之物之所以能給我們益處，須先將它掏空成「無物」之狀，才能使它成為有用的器皿。（這比喻人要先無私的掏空自己，才能成為社會有用的人，猶如天道看起來空虚無形，但他卻是宇宙萬物的根源和依靠。）
From above we should realize that for a tangible body to be beneficial it must be first emptied before it becomes a useful tool. (This implies that one must first unselfishly empty himself before he becomes useful to the society, like the Word of Heaven, he looks empty and intangible yet in fact he is the source and foundation of the universe and all lives.)