The meaning of this sentence is: He likes to read, and does not go too deep into the interpretation of every word; in connection with the following, the deeper meaning means that Tao Yuanming likes to read, but does not pursue the thorough understanding of words (that is, he does not stick to the interpretation of words), but focus on perception.
From: "The Biography of Mr. Wuliu" by Tao Yuanming of the Eastern Jin Dynasty
Excerpt from the original text:
I don’t know who Mr. Wu is, nor his surname. There are five people beside his house. Willow tree, because it is called Yan. Be quiet and talk little, and don't seek glory and profit. If you like reading, you don't ask for a deep understanding; whenever you get an idea, you happily forget to eat.
Interpretation:
I don’t know where Mr. Wu Liu is from, nor his surname. Because there are five willow trees next to the house, this is the number. He is quiet, rarely talks, and does not envy wealth and wealth. He likes to read and does not dwell too deeply on every word or word of explanation; whenever he understands something in the book, he will be so happy that he forgets to eat.
Xu, location. Details: I know. Surname: Name. Understanding: refers to understanding something in the book. Will: experience, understand. Xinran: happy. Extended information
Purpose:
This article expresses Tao Yuanming's aspirations and interests through the description of the imaginary character Mr. Wu Liu. The article describes the image of an intellectual in the feudal era who loves reading, does not seek glory and wealth, is content with poverty, forgets gains and losses, and is straightforward and natural.
Author's achievements and influence:
Tao Yuanming's works that have been handed down to this day include more than 120 poems, as well as essays, poems, etc. People call him a "pastoral poet". His most famous work is "Peach Blossom Spring", which describes a Peach Blossom Spring society that he longed for, a harmonious and beautiful society without war, and a self-reliant society. Peach Blossom Land and Utopia are both equally famous, both representing a beautiful fantasy.
Tao Yuanming's poems show his contempt for the powerful, his independence from the world, and his simple and natural poetic style, which has a great and far-reaching influence on the creation of later generations of poetry. It has distinct personality, sincere emotions, plain and simple, does not use allusions, is concise and implicit, "quality but solid and beautiful, rich and solid", rich in artistic conception and philosophy, subjective freehand brushwork, mixed with Confucian and Taoist thoughts.