Three at Dawn and Four at Dusk (朝三暮四 zao san mu si)


2000 years ago, there was an old man who kept many monkeys in his yard. He trained them so that after a while, some of them could even understand what he said.

"Every morning and evening, the old man would give each of his monkeys four chestnuts. After a few years, the old man became poorer and poorer, but he had even more monkeys than he had before. So instead of giving each monkey eight chestnuts a day, he decided to give them only seven each. One morning, when it was time for him to give out the chestnuts, the old man said to the monkeys, "Starting today, I will give each of you three chestnuts in the morning, and in the evening, I will give you each four as usual. Would you agree to that?"

When the monkeys heard that, they all wondered, "Why do we get one chestnut less than usual in the mornings?" The monkeys all made loud noises and began to jump up and down to express their disapproval of the idea.

When the old man saw this, he immediately came up with another idea: "How about this, then? In the morning, I will give you four chestnuts, and in the evening, I will give you three chestnuts? Would that be all right?"

When the monkeys heard that they would have the same number of chestnuts in the morning as before, they happily rolled on the ground.

Now the moral of the story is: Stick to your original plans and do not be led away from them for fear of others' opinions.

2000年前,有一位老人在他家中的院子里养了许多猴子(hóu zi).时间一长,这些猴子竟然(jìng rán)能听懂老人的话了.

这 个老人每天早晨(zǎo chén)给每只猴子四颗(kē)栗子(lì zi),每天傍晚(bàng wǎn)再给每只猴子四颗栗子.几年之后,老人变得越来越贫穷了,而他家里的猴子越来越多,所以他就想把每天的栗子由八颗改为七颗.一天早晨,发栗子的时 间到了,老人对猴子说:"从今天开始,我每天早晨给你们三颗栗子,傍晚还和以前一样给你们四颗栗子,不知道你们同意不同意?"

猴子们听了,都认为早晨怎么少了一个?于是一个个就开始吱吱(zhī zhī)大叫,而且还到处跳来跳去,好像非常不满意.

老人一看到这个情形,连忙改口说:"那么我早晨给你们四颗,傍晚再给你们三颗,这样该可以了吧?

猴子们听了,以为早上的栗子已经由三个变成四个,跟以前一样,就高兴地在地上翻滚(fān gǔn)起来.

朝三暮四现在的意思是指反复无常,用来谴责(qiǎn zé)那种说话、办事经常变卦(biàn guà)、不负责任的人.近义词还有:朝秦暮蜀(zhāo qín mù shǔ)、三心二意等.

例句:

那公司的老板总是朝三暮四,真靠不了.

我们做事应当一心一意而不要朝三暮四.

你如果做事朝三暮四,早晚会失去别人的信任.

退避三舍 (Retreating about Thirty Miles as Condition For Peace) tuì bì sān shě
 
Retreating about Thirty Miles as Condition For Peace

退避三舍During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Killed the crown prince Sheng because he had heard slanders about Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er, Shen Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest Chonh Er, Shen Sheng's brother. Hearing the news, Chong Er escaped from the state of Jin, remaining a fugitive for more than ten years.

After innumerable hardships, Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu at last. King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect as he would have treated the ruler of a state, believing that he would have a vright fuure.

One day, King Cheng of the State of Chu gave a banquet in honoudr of Chong Er. Suddenly, amid the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and talking, King Cheng of the State of Chu asked Chong Er. "How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become its ruler one day?"

After thinking for a moment, Chong Er said, "You have plenty of beauties and attendants as well as jewelry and silk cloth, and the state of Chu abounds in rare brides and animals. What treasure can the State of Jin boast having to present to your majesty?"

King Cheng of the State of Chu said, "You are too modest. Nevertheless, you still have to show your gratitude to me in one way or another, I presume?"

Smiling, Chong Er answered, "If I should be fortunate enouge to return to the State of Jin and become its ruler, the State of Jin would be friendly to the State of Chu. If, one day, there should be a war between the two states, I would definitely order my troops to retreat three SHE (one SHE is equivalent to thirty LI. The LI is a Chinese unit of length equivalent to 1/2 kilometre. And, therefore, three SHE is about thirty miles.) as a condition for peace. If, under that condition, you were still not reconciled, I would have to fight with you."

Four years later, as might be expected, Chong Er returned to the State of Jin and became its ruler. He was none other than Duke Wen of the State of Jin famous in ancient Chinese history. Ruled by him, the State of Jin became increasingly powerful.

In the year 533 B.C., the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted each other in a battle. Faithful to his promise, Duke Wen of the State of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles. After retreating, the Jin troops were stationed at Chengpu. Seeing that the Jin troops were retreating, the Chu troops thought that the enemy troops were afraid, and began chasing them. Taking advantage of the Chu troops' arrogance and their talking the Jin troops lightly, the Jin troops concentrated their forces and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chu troops, thus winning the victory of the battle of Chengpu.

This set phrase, "retreating about thirty miles as a condition for peace," is derived from the Chapter "The Twenty-second Year of Duke Xi" in ZuoZhuan, the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The spring and Autumn Annals. The idea of this set phrase is to give way to somebody in order to avoid a conflict.

tui4     bi4     san1     she4
退     避     三     舍

春秋时候,晋献公听信谗言,杀了太子申生,又派人捉拿申生的弟弟重耳.重耳闻讯,逃出了晋国,在外流忘十几年.

经过千幸万苦,重耳来到楚国.楚成王认为重耳日后必有大作为,就以国群之礼相迎,待他如上宾.

一天,楚王设宴招待重耳,两人饮洒叙话,气氛十分融洽.忽然楚王问重耳:"你若有一天回晋国当上国君,该怎么报答我呢?"重耳略一思索说:"美女待从、珍宝丝绸,大王您有的是,珍禽羽毛,象牙兽皮,更是楚地的盛产,晋国哪有什么珍奇物品献给大王呢?"楚王说:"公子过谦了.话虽然这么说,可总该对我有所表示吧?"重耳笑笑回答道:"要是托您的福.果真能回国当政的话,我愿与贵国友好.假如有一天,晋楚国之间发生战争,我一定命令军队先退避三舍(一舍等于三十里),如果还不能得到您的原谅,我再与您交战."

四年后,重耳真的回到晋国当了国君,就是历史上有名的晋文公.晋国在他的治理下日益强大.

公元前633年,楚国和晋国的军队在作战时相遇.晋文公为了实现他许下的诺言,下令军队后退九十里,驻扎在城濮.楚军见晋军后退,以为对方害怕了,马上追击.晋军利用楚军骄傲轻敌的弱点,集中兵力,大破楚军,取得了城濮之战的胜利.

故事出自《左传·僖公二十二年》.成语"退避三舍"比喻不与人相争或主动让步.