《汉书·志·地理志上》
渐渐地到了战国，天下分裂成七个国家，合纵连衡，经过了几十年。
陵夷至于战国，天下分而为七，合从连衡，经数十年。
Gradually, during the Warring States period, the world was divided into seven states, which formed alliances and alliances for decades.
<s>[INST] Given the Classical Chinese text: 陵夷至于战国，天下分而为七，合从连衡，经数十年。, provide a step-by-step translation process to arrive at the English translation. [/INST]
Step 1: Identify the structure and key words: The sentence is in a progressive form, with "陵夷" indicating a gradual process. "至于" marks the endpoint of the process, which is "战国". "天下分而为七" describes the result of the process, and "合从连衡，经数十年" further elaborates on the situation during the Warring States period.
Step 2: Break down the sentence into smaller units:
- 陵夷至于战国：Gradually, during the Warring States period
- 天下分而为七：The world was divided into seven states
- 合从连衡，经数十年：Which formed alliances and alliances for decades

Step 3: Combine the units to form a coherent translation: Gradually, during the Warring States period, the world was divided into seven states, which formed alliances and alliances for decades.

Final English translation: Gradually, during the Warring States period, the world was divided into seven states, which formed alliances and alliances for decades.</s>
Given the Classical Chinese text: 陵夷至于战国，天下分而为七，合从连衡，经数十年。, provide a step-by-step translation process to arrive at the English translation.
user
Step 1: Identify the structure and key words: The sentence is in a progressive form, with "陵夷" indicating a gradual process. "至于" marks the endpoint of the process, which is "战国". "天下分而为七" describes the result of the process, and "合从连衡，经数十年" further elaborates on the situation during the Warring States period.
Step 2: Break down the sentence into smaller units:
- 陵夷至于战国：Gradually, during the Warring States period
- 天下分而为七：The world was divided into seven states
- 合从连衡，经数十年：Which formed alliances and alliances for decades

Step 3: Combine the units to form a coherent translation: Gradually, during the Warring States period, the world was divided into seven states, which formed alliances and alliances for decades.

Final English translation: Gradually, during the Warring States period, the world was divided into seven states, which formed alliances and alliances for decades.
assistant