Chinese convesation tag:idiom

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Having Had Ready Plans Or Designs In One's Mind

(胸有成竹 xiong you cheng zhu)

Having Had Ready Plans Or Designs In One's Mind

In the song Dynasty (960-1279), there was a scholar whose name was Wen Tong and who styled himself the nickname “Yuke”. He was not only admired by others for his great learning, but he also enjoyed widespread fame for his skill at bamboo drawing. His drawings of the bamboo plants were exceptional and unique in their beauty and style. He was so popular in this skill, that every day there were always people who called at his house to ask for one of his bamboo drawings.

As a matter of fact, there were quite a few painters contemporary with him who could draw bamboos fairly well. These other artists were very skilled. But yet, Wen Tong’s art stood apart. It was as if he had an element of understanding of the subject that the other artists lacked. This issue was the subject of much discussion and wonderment. Many people argued that there was some special technique or understanding that Wen Tong had that the other artists did not.

The answer to this question is lost to time. However, great friends of the artist have their strongly held opinions. And these opinions have been passed down through the ages. Su Shi and Chao Buzhi, gave vivid explanations in their respective poetic and prose works.

They claim that the secret to the great art was fundamental to Wen Tong’s success. That they thought that he had the great understanding of the subject matter of the Bamboo because of his great love for the bamboo. Wen Tong loved bamboos so much that he had grown various bamboos everywhere around his house. No matter what season it was and no matter whether it was sunny or rainy, he used to go to the bamboo forest to observe how they were growing. He pondered over the length and breadth of the bamboo poles as well as the shapes and colors of the leaves. Whenever he had gained a new understanding, he went back to his study, spread a piece of paper and prepared some ink by rubbing an ink stick on an ink slab, and drew what was in his mind on the paper. Through accumulation over a long period of time, the images of the bamboo in different seasons, under different weather conditions and at different moments were deeply imprinted in his mind. So whenever he stood before the paper and picked up a painting brush with concentrated attention, the various forms of the bamboo which he had observed at ordinary times at once rose before his eyes. And so every time he was drawing bamboos he appeared confident and at ease, and all the bamboos he had painted were very vivid and true to life.

When people spoke highly of his paintings, he always said modestly that he had just put the images of the bamboo imprinted in his mind on the paper.

A young man wanted to learn bamboo drawing; when he knew that Chao Buzhi had made a profound study of Wen Tong's art of drawing, he went to Chao Buzhi for instruction. Chao Buzhi wrote a poem to him. In the poem, there are the following two lines:

When Yuke was painting the bamboos,

He had their images ready in his bosom.

Later people have summarized the lines as “having had the images of the bamboo ready in one's bosom," which means having had ready plans or designs in one's mind before doing a certain job so that its success is guaranteed. It is also used go mean being calm and cool - headed in dealing with things.

This story comes from an article written by Su Shi concerning Wen Yuke's art of bamboo drawing.

xiong1	you3	cheng2	zhu2
胸	有	成	竹

北宋画家文同,字与可.他画的竹子远近闻名,每天总有不少人登门求画.文同画竹的妙诀在哪里呢?原来,文同在自己家的房前屋后种上各种样的竹子,无论春夏秋冬,阴睛风雨,他经常去竹林观察竹子的生长变化情况,琢磨竹枝的长短粗细,叶子的形态、颜色,每当有新的感受就回到书房,铺纸研墨,把心中的印象画在纸上.目积月累,竹子在不同季节、不同天气、不同时辰的形象都深深地印在他的心中,只要凝神提笔,在画纸前一站,平日观察到的各种形态的竹子立刻浮现在眼前.所以每次画竹,他都显得非常从容自信,画出的竹子,无不逼真传神.

当人们夸奖他的画时,他总是谦虚地说:"我只是把心中琢磨成熟的竹子画下来罢了."

有位青年想学画竹,得知诗人晁补之对文同的画很有研究,前往求教.晃补之写了一首诗送给他,其中有两句:"与可画竹,胸中有成竹."

故事出自北宋苏轼《文与可yún dāng谷偃竹记》."胸有成竹",比喻做事之前已作好充分准备,对事情的成功已有了十分的把握;又比喻遇事不慌,十分沉着.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 自相矛盾

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His Spear Against His Shield

自相矛盾 zi xiang mao dun
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

One day, in the days of the warring states, a man from the Chu State went to sell a spear and a shield. Both of these were ancient weapons in China. The spear had a long handle with a metal point on the end.

To attract customers and to sell his weapons as soon as possible, he would shout out loudly to all who were coming and going: "Come and see! My spear is the sharpest in the world. It is sharp enough to pierce through anything. If it even touches something, it will pierce all the way through it." Hearing his words, many people came to inspect the spear.

Seeing he had an audience, the man held up his spear and loudly boasted to everyone: "My shield is the strongest in the world! However sharp the spears and arrows are, they cannot pierce through my shield!" As he spoke the boastful words, all the listeners were dumbfounded.

Then, a person stepped out of the crowd. He went and picked up a spear and then picked up a shield. He asked, "If you pierce your shield with your spear, what will happen then?" When the man heard that, he had nothing to say. He blushed with shame. He gathered up his things and fled from the marketplace in embarrassment.

So if someone says something is "like the spear and shield," he means that someone has made two statements that are contradictory.

自相矛盾(zì xiāng máo dùn)

有一天,一位楚(chǔ)国人到市场上去卖矛和盾.矛和盾都是中国古代的兵器."矛"是一种长柄(cháng bǐng)的带有金属枪头的武器;"盾"是用来保护自己、抵挡(dǐ dǎng)敌人刺杀的武器.

为了吸引顾客,使自己的兵器尽快卖出去,他向过往的行人大声吆喝(yāo he)起来:"瞧一瞧,看一看,我的矛是世界上最尖利(jiān lì)的,无论怎样牢固坚实的东西也挡不住它一戳(chuō),只要一碰上,马上就会被它刺穿!"一番话说得人们纷纷围拢(fēn fēn wéi lǒng)来,仔细观看.

接着,这个楚人又举起他的盾,向大家夸口说:"我的盾,是世界上最坚固的,无论怎样锋利尖锐(fēng lì jiān ruì)的东西也不能刺穿它!"此番大话一经出口,听的人个个目瞪口呆(mù dèng kǒu dāi).

这时,只见从人群中走出一人,他上前拿起一只矛,又拿起一面盾问道:"如果用你的矛来戳你的盾,结果会怎么样?"楚人听了,无言以对,只好涨红着脸,赶紧收拾好他的矛和盾,灰溜溜地逃离了市场.

自相矛盾:比喻语言、行动前后不一致或互相抵触.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 黄粱美梦

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Golden Millet Dream (黄粱美梦 huang liang mei meng)

In the time of the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar called Lu Sheng. One year, Lu Sheng went to Xian to take an examination. When he arrived in Handan, he stayed in an inn for the night. In the inn, he met a Taoist monk and they began to talk.

" Lu Sheng said, "My family is poor and I have no one to rely on. I want to take the examination to become an official so I can have a good life."

The monk said: "Young man, you want to do well on the examination so you can become a rich man, right? I have a good idea. Here I have a green china pillow. Rest your head on this and take a nap. If you do that, you can get everything you desire."

Lu Sheng was very glad to hear this, and he carefully set the pillow aside. Now, the innkeeper had just then boiled a pot of porridge, but Lu Sheng couldn't wait for the porridge to be ready. He put his head on the green china pillow and quickly fell asleep.

Lu Sheng dreamed that he passed the examination and became a high official. He married a beautiful wife who bore him five sons who then gave him ten grandsons. All his sons and grandsons also passed the examination and became officials themselves. After being a high official in the city, Lu Sheng went on to become the prime minister. He was very happy with his life.

In his dream he was filled with joy, but suddenly, he felt hungry. The wonderful dream was interrupted. After he woke up, stretched, rubbed his eyes, and looked around, he found himself still sleeping in the inn in Handan. He was still wearing the worn out clothes. The Taoist monk was still sitting beside him. The porridge the innkeeper was making still wasn't ready. The only thing that had changed was that the grumbling in his stomach was louder than it was before.

All of us have dreams for the future. The important thing for us to remember is to study hard and do things carefully. In this way, we can turn our beautiful dreams into reality.

黄粱美梦 (huáng liáng měi mèng)

唐朝的时候,有个姓卢(lú)的读书人,人称卢生.有一年,卢生去西安参加考试.到了邯郸(hán dān)以后,就住进了一家旅店.他在旅店里遇见了一位道士,俩人便聊起天儿来.

卢生说:"我家里很穷,又无依无靠,我想考个官儿做,也好过上好日子,可考了几次一直考不中,希望这次能考好. "

道士说:"年轻人,你不是想考得好一些,过上富人的生活吗?我倒有一个好主意.我这里有一个青瓷(qīng cí)枕头,你枕着它睡一会儿,你就可以得到你想要的一切了."

卢生大喜,于是小心地把青瓷枕头放好.这时候,店主人刚刚煮上一锅小米饭,卢生也等不及饭熟了,赶忙睡下.他把头枕在青瓷枕头上,很快就睡着了.

卢生梦见自已考中了,又当了大官,娶了一个漂亮的媳妇(xí fù),生了五个儿子,后来又有了十个孙子.儿孙们个个都考中了.功成名就,当了高官.这时候已作了大臣(dà chén)的他,过上了非常幸福的生活.

正当他在梦乡中十分高兴的时候,忽然觉得很饿,好梦被打断了.他醒来以后,伸了伸懒腰(shēn lǎn yāo),又揉(róu)了揉双眼,向四周环顾(sì zhōu huán gù),发现自已仍旧(réng jìu)睡在邯郸的旅店里,身上穿的仍旧是那件破旧的衣衫,道士也还坐在自已的身边,就连店主人那锅小米饭也还没有煮熟,只是肚子里"咕咕咕"的叫声更响了.

我们每个人都做过美梦,重要的是我们要好好学习、认真做事,这样才能把美梦变成现实.

朋友们:卢生做梦的地方现在叫做黄粱梦,位于河北省邯郸市,交通十分方便.有兴趣的朋友可以到此一游,试一试卢生枕过的青瓷枕头,也做一个"黄粱美梦"吧.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 朝三暮四

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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.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 以人为镜

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Regard others as mirrors (以人为镜 yi ren wei jing)

In ancient China, there was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty called Li Shi Min. He was different from other emperors because he liked to listen to others' opinions.

He had a prime minister called Wei Zheng.

Whenever Li Shi Min made a mistake, Wei Zheng would tell him of this. Even in public, Wei Zheng would sometimes ask the emperor to reconsider a decision. The minister reminded the emperor to think about possible dangers in the future even when it was peace time.

Each time, the emperor would take Wei Zheng's advice into consideration and would try his best to act according to what Wei Zheng had suggested.

After Wei Zheng died, the emperor was deeply saddened. He spoke to his other ministers: "If one uses a copper plate as a mirror, one can see whether one's appearance is proper or not. If one uses history as a mirror, one can see why a nation stays strong or dies out. If one uses another person as a mirror, one can see whether his own actions are right or wrong. Now that Wei Zheng is dead, I have lost my most precious mirror."

From this story, we can see that the emperor regarded Wei Zheng as a mirror to judge whether his own actions were right or wrong. So from this, the idiom "Regard others as mirrors" developed.

以人为镜(yǐ rén wéi jìng)

在中国的历史上,有一位唐朝的皇帝叫李世民(lǐ shì mín),和其他中国古代皇帝不同的是,他喜欢听各种不同的意见.

他有一个大臣(dà chén)叫魏征(wèi zhēng).

不管什么时候,只要李世民有不对的地方,魏征就会提出来,有时甚至当着众人的面给他提意见,要他重新考虑,居安思危(jū ān sī wēi).

每一次,李世民都认真思考魏征所提的意见并尽量采纳(cǎi nà),按照魏征的说法约束自己的言行,妥善(tuǒ shàn)处理国家的事务.

魏征去世后,李世民很难过,曾深有感触地对朝中(朝廷中)大臣说:"一个人用铜作镜子,可以照见衣帽是不是穿戴(chuān dài)整齐(zhěng qí);以历史为镜子,可以知道一个国家存在和灭亡(miè wáng)的原因;以人为镜子,可以知道自己做得对还是不对.*

现在魏征死了,我失去了最珍贵的一面镜子."

由此可见,李世民把魏征当成了一面镜子,以这面镜子来判断自己做得是不是正确,所以就有了"以人为镜"的成语.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 一箭双雕

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Killing two vultures with one arrow (一箭双雕 yi jian shuang diao)

During the Nanbei Period (420-589) in the Bei Zhou Kingdom, there was a very brave and intelligent man named Gong Sun Sheng. He was extremely skilled as an archer. No one could beat him in an archery competition.

The king of Bei Zhou decided to offer his daughter as a bride for the king of Mongolia in order to establish ties with the Mongolian people.

To ensure that his daughter was safe, he sent some soldiers to escort her to Mongolia.

After the long, hard journey, they finally arrived in Mongolia. The king of Mongolia ordered his chefs to prepare a feast for his visitors. The hungry travelers all ate, drank, and talked with the Mongolians.

After they had all drunk some wine, there was an archery competition, as was the custom in that land. So the king asked that a bow and arrow be brought. He asked that the competitors attempt to shoot the centre of a copper coin on a target about 25 meters away. (Ancient Chinese coins were round with a square hole punched in the middle of them). Gong Sun Sheng flexed his bow in the shape of a moon, pulled back the arrow and let it fly toward the target. It hit the exact center of the coin. "Very good!" everyone cheered together.

From then on Gong Sun Sheng was very well respected, and the king invited him to stay in Mongolia for one year. The king often asked Gong Sun Sheng to accompany him on hunting trips. Once when they were hunting, the Mongolian king looked up and saw two large vultures fighting over a piece of meat. He immediately gave Gong Sun Sheng two arrows, saying: "Can you shoot both of those vultures?"

"One arrow is enough!" Gong Sun Sheng replied.

He carefully put his arrow on the bow and slowly pulled back the bow string and took aim at the two birds. The arrow whizzed toward the fighting birds, went through both of their bodies like a skewer, and they fell to the ground.

From this story comes the idiom "kill two vultures with one arrow." Other idioms similar to this are "kill two birds with one stone" or "one deed produces two benefits."

在南北朝时期(420-589),北周有一个又聪明又勇敢的人叫公孙晟(gōng sūn shèng).他的射箭(shè jiàn)技术非常高超,没有人能比得过他.

北周的国王为了向突厥(tū jué)人(现在的蒙古族人)表示友好,决定把一位公主嫁给突厥的国王.为了安全起见,派公孙晟带领一些士兵护送公主去突厥.他们经过艰苦的长途旅行,终于到了突厥.突厥王命令厨师做了好多道菜来欢迎他们,他们边吃边喝边谈话.喝了一些酒后,按照当地的习惯,要进行射箭比赛.因此,突厥王让人拿来一套弓箭,要公孙晟射一百步以外的一枚铜钱(中国古代钱币,圆形,中间有一个方孔).公孙晟接过弓箭(gōng jiàn),使劲一拉,弓被拉成弯弯的月亮的形状,一枝利箭"嗖"地一声射进了铜钱的小方孔."好!"大家齐声喝彩.

从此突厥王非常尊敬公孙晟,请他在北方的突厥住了一年,并经常让他陪着自己一块儿去打猎(dǎ liè).有一次,他俩正在打猎,突厥王抬头一看,见天空中有两只大雕正在争夺(zhēng duó)一块肉.他立即递(dì)给公孙晟两枝箭说:"你能把这两只雕都射下来吗?"一枝箭就够了!"公孙晟边说边接过箭.他把箭搭在弓上,不慌不忙地拉开弓,对准那两只正在争夺一块肉的大雕,只听"嗖"的一声,两只大雕便被这一支箭同时射中并串(chuàn)在一起掉落下了.

这个成语比喻做一件事得到两方面的好处.近义词有一石二鸟(yī shí èr niǎo)和一举两得(yī jǔ liǎng dé).

例如:读我们的成语故事,不仅学习了汉字,而且还了解了中国的文化,这真是一箭双雕啊.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 狐假虎威

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The fox borrows the tiger's ferocity (狐假虎威 hu jia hu wei)

There once was a king called Chu Xuan Wang. He found that many people were afraid of one of his generals, and thought this was rather strange. He asked his prime minister for his opinion on the matter. The prime minister answered by telling this story:

"Long ago, a tiger lived in a cave. One day, he was very hungry, so he walked out of the cave and wandered through the forest looking for food. As he was walking, he suddenly came across a fox. He crept slowly toward the fox and pounced, trapping the fox. The tiger thought to himself, "Now I will have a delicious lunch." But when he opened his mouth and was about to devour the fox, the cunning fox said, "Tiger, you shouldn't eat me." The tiger asked, "Why?" The fox replied, "I was sent by God to be the king of the whole forest. If you eat me, God will punish you." The tiger was puzzled: "You are the king of the forest? I don't believe you. Unless you can prove that you are, I will eat you." The fox said, "Then follow me through the forest to see whether the animals are afraid of me or not."

The tiger thought this was a good way to prove whether what the fox said was true, so he followed the fox deep into the forest. They had not gone very far before they came upon some small animals fighting over food. But when the animals saw the tiger behind the fox, they quickly fled in all directions.

"The fox looked triumphantly at the tiger and said: "Now you see how all the animals in the forest fear me?"

Now the tiger really believed that the fox was the most fearsome animal in the forest.

But the tiger didn't realize that the animals were really afraid of the tiger himself.

The fox's plot was successful as he used the tiger's powerful presence to strike fear into the animals. The clever fox took advantage of the temporary presence of the tiger to threaten the other animals. The poor tiger was fooled, but he never realized it!

This story shows that although people are afraid of the general, the king is the one who controls the army. The people seem to fear the military powers, but in fact, they are afraid of the king himself.

This fable is about depending on other people's power to oppress others.

有一位国王叫楚宣王(xuān wáng),他发现很多人都很害怕他手下的一个大将军,他感到很奇怪.于是他就问他的大臣这是为什么,大臣向他讲了下面的这个故事:

从前,有一只老虎住在山洞(shān dòng)里.有一天,他感到很饿,所以就走出山洞,在森林里到处找食物吃.走着走着,他突然发现了一只狐狸(hú li),它向狐狸猛扑过去,一把抓住了狐狸.心想,这下我可有一顿美味的午餐了.可是当他张开嘴巴,正要把那只狐狸吞进(tūn jìn)肚子里的时候,狡猾的狐狸连忙说:"老虎,你不能吃我."老虎问到:"为什么?"狐狸说:"我是天帝派到林中来做百兽之王(bǎi shòu zhī wáng)的,你如果吃了我,天帝是会惩罚(chéng fá)你的."老虎觉得很奇怪,说,"你是百兽之王?我不相信,除非你能证明给我看.否则(fǒu zé),我就吃掉你."狐狸说:"那你跟在我后面在森林里走一走,看看动物们是不是都害怕我."

老虎想这倒也是个办法,于是就让狐狸在前面带路,自己在后面跟着,向森林的深处走去.他们没走多久,就看到很多小动物在争抢(zhēng qiǎng)食物吃,但是当他们一看到走在狐狸后面的老虎时,吓得纷纷(fēn fēn)逃跑(táo pǎo).

狐狸得意(dé yì)地回过头来对老虎说:"现在你该看到了吧?森林里的动物,谁敢不怕我?"

这下老虎真的相信,狐狸才是森林里最厉害的动物,于是他把狐狸放走了.

但是老虎并不知道,其实动物们害怕的是他自己.

狐狸之计得逞(dé chěng)了,可是他的威势完全是假借(jiǎ jiè)老虎,才能凭(píng)着一时有利的形势去威胁(wēi xié)群兽,而那可怜的老虎被人愚弄(yú nòng)了,自己还不知道呢!

这个故事说明,人们害怕大将军,完全是因为大王的兵权掌握在他手里,也就是说,他们畏惧的其实是大王的权势.

这个成语比喻倚仗(yǐ zhàng)别人的势力来欺压(qī yā)人.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 杞人忧天

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The Man who Worried too Much (杞人忧天 qi ren you tian)

Once upon a time, there was a small kingdom called Qi (now Qi County in Henan Province). In this kingdom lived a man who had very little courage and always worried about everything. He thought about very strange things and everyone thought the man was very odd. He was worried that the sky would fall down and flatten his head like a pancake. He worried that the earth would sink and that he would be buried beneath it. The more he thought, the more frightened he was. During the day, he couldn't eat, and at night, he didn't dare to sleep.

In this way, the man became thinner and thinner and was unwell both in body and mind. A kindhearted man saw this and was worried that the frightened man would ruin his health. The good man went to speak to the cowardly man:

"The sky is all around us, made up of gases in the atmosphere. Every time you move or breathe, you have contact with the sky. Why are you afraid that the sky will fall down?"

The man from Qi half-believed, half-doubted the wise man's words: "If the sky is really just a collection of gases all around us, what about the sun, moon, and stars? Can they fall out of the sky?" The wise man replied, "No, no! The sun, moon, and stars are also made of gases and even if they fell out of the sky, they could not hurt anyone. You can relax."

The man from Qi asked, "But what would happen if the earth fell?" The kindhearted man answered, "The earth is made of solid dirt and rocks. North, south, east, and west, everywhere on the earth is made of dirt and rocks. You can walk, run, and jump everyday. There is much activity on the surface of the earth, but you see you have no reason to worry about it falling."

After the man from Qi heard this, he felt as though a 1,000 kilogram weight had been taken off his mind. His face lit up with a smile. The kindhearted man was also very happy because he had relieved the man from Qi's worries.

The moral of this story is that one should not worry about unnecessary matters or worry about something without a concrete reason. Although the kindhearted man's explanation of the sky, sun, moon, stars, and earth was not scientific (it just shows what the knowledge of science was at that time), his caring deeds and willingness to help others are worth praising.

杞人忧天(qǐ rén yōu tiān)

从前有一个小国家叫杞(今河南省杞县).杞国有一个人,胆子很小,整天胡思乱想(hú sī luàn xiǎng).他想的那些奇怪的问题,让人觉得很可笑.他一会儿担心天会塌(tā)下来,砸扁(zá piān)了脑袋;一会儿又担心地会陷(xiàn)下去,埋(mái)住了全身.他越想越害怕,白天吃不下饭,晚上不敢睡觉.

就这样,他越来越瘦了,弄得自己身心疲惫(pí bèi).有一个热心人看到他那忧愁烦心(yōu chóu fán xīn)的样子,担心他把身体弄坏了,就去劝导他说:

"天只不过是一股积聚(jī jù)的气体,上下左右到处都有.人的一举一动,一呼一吸都要和它接触.你整天在气体里活动,为什么还要担心它会掉下来呢?"

这个杞国人半信半疑地问:"如果天真是一股积聚的气体,那么天上的太阳、月亮和星星不就都要掉下来了吗?""不会,不会!"那个人回答,"太阳、月亮和星星也不过是一些会发光的气团.就是掉下来,也不会伤人的.你尽管放心."

杞国人又问,"那么地陷下去怎么办呢?"热心人说:"地只不过是堆积(duī jī)起来的土块罢了.东西南北到处都有这样的土块.你东走西跑,蹦蹦(bèng bèng)跳跳,成天在地上活动,根本不必担心它会塌陷下去."

杞国人听了,心里好像放下了千斤重担(zhòng dàn),脸上露出了笑容.那个热心人,因为解除了杞国人的忧愁,也十分高兴.

这个成语表示不必要的或缺乏依据(yī jù)的忧虑(yōu lǜ)和担心.虽然那个热心人对天、地和日月星辰的解释是不科学的(只能代表当时的认识水平),但他那种关心别人、帮助别人的做法还是值得称赞(chēngzàn)的.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 塞翁失马，安知非福

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Blessing or Bane (塞翁失马，安知非福 sai weng shi ma an zhi fei fu)

Once upon a time, there was an old man living in the frontier area near Mongolia. People called him Sai Weng. He raised many herds of horses, but one day, one of the horses ran away.

When the neighbors heard this news, they came to comfort him. They knew he was old and not in very good health and didn't want him to worry too much. When the man saw his neighbors' concern, he smiled and said: "It is not a great loss, and perhaps it will even bring an unexpected blessing."

When the neighbors heard this, they thought Sai Weng's attitude was absurd. The loss of the horse was obviously a bad thing, but Sai Weng said that it might turn out to be something good. It seemed that he was trying too hard to console himself. But not much later, the horse returned, bringing with it another good horse.

When the neighbors heard about this, they were amazed that his prediction had come true. They congratulated him: "You have great foresight. Your horse has not only returned, but brought you another horse. This is truly a great blessing."

After Sai Weng heard his neighbor's congratulations, he wasn't happy at all. He said anxiously, "I got a horse for nothing. Perhaps this is not a blessing after all. It will probably bring trouble."

Sai Weng had an only son who loved to ride horses. The moment the son saw the new horse, he was delighted because he knew it was an excellent horse. From then on, he rode that horse every day for fun. One day, he was too excited about riding and rode too fast. He was thrown from the horse and broke his leg. When the neighbors heard this, they all came again to console Sai Weng.

Sai Weng said, "It's nothing. Although my son's leg was broken, his life was spared. Maybe this will turn out to be a blessing." The neighbor's thought this was nonsense. They didn't know what blessing could come from breaking a leg.

Not long after this, soldiers from Mongolia invaded. All the young men were recruited to take up arms to fight. Of the men who were recruited, almost all were killed in battle. Because Sai Weng's son had a broken leg, he was not recruited to fight. His life was saved because of his broken leg.

This idiom shows that in this world, good and bad are not absolute. Bad things can bring good results, and good things can bring bad results.

从前,有位老人住在与北方胡人相邻(xiāng lín)的边塞(biān sài)地区,所以人们都叫他塞翁.他养了许多马,一天马群中忽然有一匹(pī)走失了.

邻居们听到这事,都来安慰(ān wèi)他不必太着急,年龄大了,多注意身体.塞翁见有人劝慰(quàn wèi),笑笑说:"丢了一匹马损失不大,也许还会带来福气."

邻居听了塞翁的话,心里觉得好笑.马丢了,明明是件坏事,他却认为也许是好事,显然(xiǎn rán)是自我安慰而已.可是没过多久,那匹丢失的马又跑回来了,还带回一匹骏马(jùn mǎ).

邻居听说马自己回来了,非常佩服(pèi fú)塞翁的预见,向塞翁道贺(dào hè)说:"还是您老有远见,马不仅没有丢,还带回一匹好马,真是福气呀."

塞翁听了邻人的祝贺(zhù hè),却一点高兴的样子都没有,忧虑(yōu lǜ)地说:"白白得了一匹好马,不一定是什么福气,也许会惹(rě)出什么麻烦来."

塞翁有个独生子,非常喜欢骑马.他一看见带回来的那匹马就知道是匹好马,他感到非常高兴.从此,他每天都骑着这匹马玩. 有一天,他高兴得有些过火,打马飞奔(fēi bēn),一个趔趄(liè qiè),从马背上掉了下来,摔断(shuāi duàn)了一条腿.邻居听说,纷纷(fēn fēn)来慰问(wèi wèn).

塞翁说:"没什么,腿摔断了却保住性命,或许是福气呢."邻居们觉得他简直是在胡言乱语(hú yán luàn yǔ).他们想不出,摔断腿会带来什么福气.

不久,匈奴(Xiōng nú)兵大举入侵(dà jǔ rù qīn),青年人被应征入伍(yìng zhēng rù wǔ),拿起武器作战.入伍的青年十有八九都战死了.塞翁的儿子因为摔断了腿,没有被征去打仗,所以才保全了性命.

这个成语说明人世间的好事和坏事都不是绝对的,在一定的条件下,坏事可以引出好的结果,好事也可能会引出坏的结果.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 滥竽充数

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No More Tricks, Mr. Nan Guo! (滥竽充数 lan yu chong shu)

In ancient times, the king of the Qi kingdom loved music. He especially loved to listen to the playing of the yu (similar to a flute). He enjoyed listening to entire ensembles playing the yu. So, he sent people all over the country to seek out the most talented musicians. 300 musicians were found and formed an ensemble to play the yu for the king. All the musicians who were chosen to play in the court were treated royally.

Then, there was a lazy man in the kingdom, a crafty ne'er-do-well named Nan Guo. When he heard that the king had this interest in music and the court musicians were paid so well, he put all his efforts into getting into the yu ensemble. He managed to get an audience with the king, and began to boast of what an excellent musician he was. His boasts gained the king's favor, so the king accepted Nan Guo into the ensemble.

What was absurd was that Mr. Nan Guo couldn't play the yu at all. At every practice, he would only pretend to play and try to imitate what those around him were doing. He would move his head in time with the music and put on the best act that he could in order to make it appear that he knew what he was doing. Because there were so many people in the ensemble, the king couldn't tell who could play and who couldn't. Nan Guo kept this up for several years, deceiving his audience so successfully that the king never suspected anything. He continued to receive all the benefits of his position, as high a salary as the truly talented musicians. In this way, he managed to live a comfortable life. He became complacent as he came to believe that he could always keep up his deception and remain a member of the ensemble.

Later, the king who loved to listen to the yu died and his son came to the throne. The son also loved to listen to the yu, but his preferences were different from the previous king. He believed that the sound of three hundred people playing together was much too loud. So the new king issued a decree: all three hundred musicians were to practice very well, and then each would play for the king individually.

When Nan Guo heard this, he broke into a cold sweat. He was terrified that his trick would be found out. If he were only to lose his job, it wouldn't be so bad, but he had cheated the emperor, a capital crime. If the king discovered this deception, Nan Guo would lose his head. That night, he packed his things and escaped the court.

The story describes the case in which the spurious is mixed with the genuine

滥竽充数(làn yú chōng shù)

古时候,齐(qí)国的国王齐宣王爱好音乐,尤其喜欢听人吹(chuī)竽(yú),而且喜欢许多人一起合奏给他听,所以齐宣王派人到处寻找能吹善奏的乐工,组成一支三百人的吹竽乐队.而那些被挑选入宫的乐师,受到了特别优厚的待遇(dài yù).

当时,有一个游手好闲(yóu shǒu hào xián)、不务正业的浪荡(làng dàng)子弟,名叫南郭(nán guō).他听说齐宣王有这种嗜好(shìhào),就一心想混进那个吹竽队伍,便设法来见宣王,向他吹嘘(chuī xū)自己是一名了不起的乐师,博(bó)得了宣王的欢心,把他编入了吹竽的乐师班里.

可笑的是,这位南郭先生根本不会吹竽.每当乐队给齐宣王吹奏的时候,他就混在队伍里,学着别的乐工的样子,摇头晃脑(yáo tóu huàng nǎo),东摇西摆(dōng yáo xī bǎi),装模作样(zhuāng mú zuò yàng)地在那儿"吹奏",由于是几百人在一起吹奏,齐宣王也听不出谁会谁不会.南郭先生就这样靠着蒙骗(mēng piàn)混了好几年,不但没有露出一丝破绽(pò zhàn),而且还和别的乐工一样领到优厚的赏赐(shǎng cì),过着舒适的生活.他自己也很得意,以为真的可以混在里面充个数了.

后来,爱听竽合奏的齐宣王死了,他的儿子齐湣(mǐn)王继承了王位.齐湣王也爱听吹竽,可是他和齐宣王不一样,认为三百人一块儿吹实在太吵.于是齐湣王发布了一道命令,要这三百个人好好练习,做好准备,他将让他们轮流(lún liú)来一个个地吹竽给他听.

南郭先生听到这个消息後,吓得浑身冒汗.心想,这回要露出马脚来了,丢饭碗是小事,要是落个欺君(qī jūn)犯上的罪名,连脑袋也保不住了.于是他连夜收拾行李逃走了.

这个成语比喻没有真正的才干,而混在行家里面充数,或拿不好的东西混在好的里面充数.

例句:

我们学校要举行合唱比赛,我虽唱得不太好,但还是可以滥竽充数的.

他自夸他们篮球队赢了上一个比赛,不过我们都知道他本人却是滥竽充数.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idiom - 画蛇添足

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Draw feet on a snake (画蛇添足 hua she tian zu)

A nobleman, after making offerings to his ancestors, took some of the wine that was left over from the offerings and gave it to his men. The men looked at the wine and saw that there was very little of it. One of the men suggested, "If we all drink from this bottle of wine, each of us will just barely get a taste of it. It would be much better if all the wine went to one person. What do you think?"

Everyone agreed that this was a good idea, but couldn't agree on who should get the wine. No one was willing to give in and let someone else have it, for everyone wanted the wine for himself. They didn't know how to decide. The man who had the first idea soon spoke up: "We will have a competition and see who can draw a snake on the ground first. The one who finishes drawing first will win the bottle of wine, all right?"

Everyone though this idea was good, so they began the competition. Everyone squatted down on the ground to draw a snake. One of them finished his drawing quickly, but before he claimed the bottle of wine, he looked around at the others who were still drawing. Everyone had their heads bent over their work, and the man thought he had time to add more to his drawing. He decided to add four feet to his snake.

"But while he was drawing the feet, another man finished drawing. This man took the wine and laughed at the first man: "A snake didn't have feet to begin with! Why have you given your snake feet?"

Then, he took the bottle of wine, and guzzled it down. The man who drew feet on the snake could only look at the empty bottle of wine and drool with longing.

The idiom "Draw feet on a snake" comes from this story. Now people use it to illustrate this idea: it is harmful to do unnecessary things when they are not wanted.

画蛇添足(huà shé tiān zú)

有一个贵族在祭祀(jì sì)祖先以后,把祭祀用的一壶(hú)酒赏(shǎng)给为他办事的几个人喝.那几个人看了看酒,认为酒太少了,于是其中一个人说:"这一壶酒如果我们每个人都喝的话,谁也喝不痛快;最好是只让给一个人喝,你们觉得怎么样?"

大家虽然都表示同意,可是对于应该由谁来喝这壶酒,却因为谁也不肯退让而无法做出决定.于是,最先提议(tí yì)的那个人又说:"我们每个人在地上比赛画蛇,谁先画好,谁就喝这壶酒,行不行?"

大家都认为这个主意不错,便一致赞成(zàn chéng).于是,他们几个人就蹲(dūn)在地上画起蛇来.其中有一个人很快就把蛇画好了,可是当他正要拿起酒壶喝酒的时候,看到别人都还在低着头画,就想:那我再给蛇添四只脚吧,反正来得及.

可是正当他在画脚的时候,另外有一个人已经把蛇画好了.那个人拿过壶酒笑着对他说,:"蛇本来就没有脚,你为什么要给它添上四只脚呢?"

然后,他举起酒壶,咕噜咕噜(gū lū gū lū)把酒喝光了.而原先那个替蛇添脚的人,只能懊悔不已(ào huǐ bù yǐ)地在一旁吞(tūn)口水了.

成语"画蛇添足"就是从这个故事来的.现在人们用它来说明这个道理:做了没必要的、多余的事,反而不恰当(qià dàng).

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idiom - 井底之蛙

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The Frog in the Shallow Well (井底之蛙 jing di zhi wa)

Have you not heard of the frog that lived in a shallow well? It said to a turtle that lived in the East Sea, "I am so happy! When I go out, I jump about on the railing beside the mouth of the well. When I come home,I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well. If I jump into the water, it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks. If I walk in the mud, it covers up my feet. I look around at the wriggly worms, crabs and tadpoles, and none of them can compare with me. Moreover, I am lord of this trough of water and I stand up tall in this shallow well. My happiness is full. My dear sir, why don't you come often and look around my place?"

Before the turtle from the East Sea could get its left foot in the well, its right knee got stuck. It hesitated and retreated. The turtle told the frog about the East Sea.

"Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea's width; even a height of a thousand ren cannot give you an idea of its depth. In the time of King Yu of the Xia dynasty, there were floods nine years out of ten, but the waters in the sea did not increase. ln the time of King Tang of the Shang dynasty there were droughts seven years out of eight, but the waters in the sea did not decrease. The sea does not change along with the passage of time and its level does not rise or fall according to the amount of rain that falls. The greatest happiness is to live in the East Sea."

After listening to these words, the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realization of his own insignificance and became very ill at ease.

井底之蛙(jǐng dǐ zhī wā)

一口浅(qiǎn)井里住着一只青蛙,有一天,青蛙在井边碰上了一只从东海里来的大龟(guī),青蛙对海归夸口说:"我住在这个地方可快乐了!高兴时,我跳出井外,攀(pān)缘(yuán)栏杆(lán gān),尽情地蹦跳(bèng tiào).玩累了,我回到井中,躲在井壁窟窿(kū long)里,安静地休息.井中的水,刚好浸没我的两腋(yè),托住下巴;稀泥(xī nì)没过我的双脚,绵软(mián ruǎn)舒适.看看那些虾、蟹、蝌蚪(kē dǒu),谁也没有我快活.而且,我独为这口水井的主人,跨井栏、倚(yǐ)井栏,其乐无穷,你何不进来跟我一起分享这些快乐呢?"

那海龟听了青蛙的话,就想下井去看看;但是他左腿还没有迈(mài)进去,右腿已经被绊(bàn)住了.于是他只好小心地退回来,向青蛙讲起大海的情景:"你看过海吗?用千里之遥(yáo),不能形容海的辽阔(liáo kuò);千仞(rèn)之高,不足以形容海的深度.古时候,十年有九年发大水,海面却没因此增高;后来,八年里有七年是大旱(hàn),海岸也没因缺雨而降低.大海不随着时间的推移而发生变化,不因为水增多减少而或进或退,住在那样的大海里才是真的快乐呢!"

浅井之蛙听了这些话,吃惊地呆在那里,他哪里会想到还有比一方水井更大的世界呢!

这个故事告诉我们,浅井里的青蛙只能看到井口那么大的一块天,比喻见识狭小(xiá xiǎo)的人.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 四面楚歌

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Songs coming from all directions (四面楚歌 si mian chu ge)

In 206 BC a war broke out between Xiang Yu, the king of the Chu state, and Liu Bang, the king of the Han state. In history, this was called the Chu-Han war. In the beginning, Xiang Yu's side was winning, but later Liu Bang gradually gained the advantage. In 202 BC, Liu Bang surrounded Xiang Yu's army in what is now Anhui province. Then, Xiang Yu had few soldiers and they were running out of food. Liu Bang thought of a clever strategy, now called "Songs coming from all directions."

One night, Xiang Yu heard sounds all around him. He awoke with a start. The sounds were the songs of the Chu state, Xiang Yu's home. The lyrics were sad and filled Xiang Yu with longing for his home. The sound of the songs spread through the whole army, reminding the soldiers of their home. They couldn't help joining in the songs. Some soldiers were moved to tears and none of the soldiers felt like fighting anymore.

Xiang Yu wondered if Liu Bang had already captured the Chu state. If he hadn't, why was his army filled with Chu soldiers? When Xiang Yu thought of this, he felt certain that he would lose the war. He ordered his men to set him a banquet in his tent and said goodbye to his beloved concubine Yu Ji. He said sadly, "Yu Ji, how shall I provide for you?" Later, he asked Yu Ji to do the sword dance with him. As they were dancing, Yu Ji suddenly thrust the sword into her stomach, and died instantly.

Xiang Yu was overwhelmed with sorrow, and led his few hundred soldiers to break through Liu Bang's army. But the Han army continued to follow them closely until they arrived at the Wu River. Xiang Yu had no way to escape and could think of no way to redeem himself from his failure. There was no way he could face his family after this defeat, so he took out his sword and killed himself by the riverside.

"Songs coming from all directions" comes from this story. The "songs" in the idiom are the songs of the Chu state. This refers to being surrounded by obstacles on all sides with no one to turn to, and to being in a state of extreme isolation.

四面楚歌(sì miàn chū gē)

公元前206年,楚(chū)王项羽(xiàng yǔ)和汉王刘邦(líu bāng)之间进行了一场战争,史称楚汉之争.开始的时候,项羽处于优势,但打到后来,刘邦逐渐(zhú jiàn)占了上风.公元前202年,刘邦把项羽包围在垓下(gāi xià)(现在的安徽省境内).这时,项羽手下的士兵已经很少了,粮食(liáng shì)也吃光了.刘邦想出了一计:即四面楚歌.

一天夜里,项羽听到歌声四起,他大吃一惊.原来这些都是他家乡楚地(现在的湖北湖南一带)的民歌,歌词凄切(qī qiè),充满浓浓的思乡之情.项羽军队里的士兵听到家乡的歌声,就情不自禁地跟着唱了起来,歌曲勾起了他们浓浓的思乡之情,有的被感动得止不住地热泪流,他们再也没有心情打仗了.

项羽心想:难道楚国被刘邦占领(zhàn lǐng)了?不然刘邦的军队里怎么会有这么多楚人呢?想到这里,他觉得大势已去,于是就命人在帐中摆(bǎi)起了酒宴,和他的爱妾虞姬(yú jī)告别.他悲切地说:"虞姬呀虞姬呀,该把你怎么安排呢?"

后来,他让虞姬和他一起舞剑(wǔ jiàn),舞着舞着,虞姬突然将剑刺入(cì rù)自己的腹部,香消玉殒(xiāng xiāo yù yǔn).

悲伤欲绝(bēi shāng yù jué)的项羽带着几百人的队伍拼死突围(tū wéi).但是汉军紧追不放,一直追到乌江(wū jiāng)边上.项羽再也无路可逃,又想到失败的局面已无法挽回,再也无颜见家乡父老,于是拔出剑来,在乌江边自杀身亡.

"四面楚歌"就来源于这个故事.意思是四面八方都是楚地的歌声,引申(yǐn shēn)为四面八方全都反对,陷入(xiàn rù)孤立(gū lì)的境地,用来形容极端(jí duān)孤立的境况.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 闻鸡起舞

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Rising Up upon Hearing the Crow of a Rooster to Practise Sword Playing (闻鸡起舞 wen ji qi wu)

Zu Ti of the Jin Dynasty(265-420)was a big-hearted and farsighted person who, however,was very naughty and did not like to study when he was a small kid. When he became a young man, he felt acutely that his knowledge was inadequate and that he could not serve his country well if he did not study hard.

So he put all his energies into his study.He read extensively,seriously studied history from which he absorbed rich knowledge,and made good progresss in his studies. He had been to the capital city Luoyang several times, and all the people who had to the capital city Luoyang several times, and all the people who had come into contact with him said that Zu Ti was a talented person who was capable of assisting the emperor in governing the country.

When he was 24, someone recommended hem to be an official,but he refused the post. He was still making a sustained effort in his studies.

Later, both Zu Ti and Liu Kun, his close friend since early childhood,were appointed chief clerks responsible for document administration in the Sizhou Prefecture.he and Liu Kun cherished a deep affection for each other. They not only often shared the same bed in sleeping, but also shared the same lofty ideals; to render meritorious service in rejuvenating the Jin Dynasty and play the part of the pillars of the state.

Once, Zu Ti heard a cock crow in the wasteland in his dream at midnight. He kicked Liu Kun a wake,saying to him: "People say it is inaupicious to hear a cock crow in the wasteland. I don't think so.What about getting up and practicing sword playing the moment we hear the cock crow form now on? "Liu Kun agreed readily. So every day when the cock crow,they got up and practied sword playing,the cold steel of the swords glinting and flashing. Day by day and year in, year out, they never stopped.

As the saying goes, constant effort yields sure success.

Through long periods of hard study and training,they finally becaome versatile persons versed in both civil and military affairs. They could write good essays, and were capable of leading troops in fighting victoriously. Zu Ti was invested with the title the General for Guarding the Western Regions,thus realizing his wish of rendering meritorious service to the country. Liu Kun became a governor,and at same time was in charge of the military affairs of the three prefectures of Bingzhou,Jizhou and Youzhou. In discharging his duties, Liu Kun also fully displayed his talent in both polite letters and martial arts.

This story appears in "The Life of Zu Ti" in The History of the Jin Dynasty.From this story people have coined the set phrase" rising up upon hearing the crow of a rooster to practice sword playing' to signify that someone is exerting himself to do something worthwhile.It is also used to signify that a person of noble aspirations exerts himself in time.

wen2 ji1 qi3 wu3
闻鸡起舞

晋代的祖逖是个胸怀坦荡、具有远大抱负的人.可他小时候却是个不爱读书的淘气孩子.进入青年时代,他意识到自己知识的贫乏,深感不读书无以报效国家,于是就发奋读起书来.他广泛阅读书籍,认真学习历史,于是就发奋读起书来.他广泛阅读书籍,认真学习历史,从中汲取了丰富的知识,学问大有长进.他曾几次进出京都洛阳,接触过他的人都说,祖逖是个能辅佐帝王治理国家的人才.祖逖24岁的时候,曾有人推荐他去做官司,他没有答应,仍然不懈地努力读书.

后来,祖逖和幼时的好友刘琨一志担任司州主簿.他与刘琨感情深厚,不仅常常同床而卧,同被而眠,而且还有着共同的远大理想:建功立业,复兴晋国,成为国家的栋梁之才.

一次,半夜里祖逖在睡梦中听到公鸡的鸣叫声,他一脚把刘琨踢醒,对他说:"别人都认为半夜听见鸡叫不吉利,我偏不这样想,咱们干脆以后听见鸡叫就起床练剑如何?"刘琨欣然同意.于是他们每天鸡叫后就起床练剑,剑光飞舞,剑声铿锵.春去冬来,寒来暑往,从不间断.功夫不负有心人,经过长期的刻苦学习和训练,他们终于成为能文能武的全才,既能写得一手好文章,又能带兵打胜仗.祖逖被封为镇西将军,实现了他报效国家的愿望;刘琨做了都督,兼管并、冀、幽三州的军事,也充分发挥了他的文才武略.

故事出自《晋书·祖逖传》.成语"闻鸡起舞",形容发奋有为,也比喻有志之士,及时振作.

posted by vann0000 February 9, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 唇亡齿寒

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If the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Will Be Cold (唇亡齿寒, chun wang chi han)

唇亡齿寒If the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Will Be Cold

During the Spring and Autumn Period (707 - 476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Wanted to expand his position of strength and sphere of influence.

Therefore he would like to send his troops to destroy the State of Guo on the pretest that the State of Guo often encroached on theborders of the State of Jin. But there was a third state, the State of Yu,between the State of Jin and the State of Guo, and the Jin army had to cross the State of Yu before it could reach the State of Guo .

"How can my army cross the State of Yu without a hitch?" Duke Xian of the State of Jin asked his ministers.

Xun Xi. One of the ministers, said, "The monarch of the State of Yu is short - sighted and covets small advantages. If we give him priceless precious stones and fine horses, it is not unlikely that he will allow our army to pass through his country. "

Seeing that Duke Xian of the State of Jin was a little bit grudging, Xun Xi continued to say, "The State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor stated as closely related as lips and teeth. The State of Yu cannot exist independently if the state of Guo is destroyed. Your precious stones and fime hores are just left in the care of the monarch of the State of Yu."

So Duke Xian of the State of Jin accepted Xun Xi's plan. When the monarch of Yu saw the precious gifts, he was elated,and readily promised to let the Jin army pass through his state.

Hearing the news, Gong Zhiqi, one of the ministers as the State of Yu, hastened to admonish the monarch, saying," That won't do. For the State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor states as closely related as lips and teeth. Our two small states are interdependent, and can help cach other when problems crop up .If the State of Guo were destroyed, it would be difficult for our State of Yu to continue to exist. As the common saying goes, if the lips are gone ,the teeth will be cold, The teeth can hardly be kept if the lips are gone. So it won't do at all to allow the Jin army pass our state."

The monarch of the State of Yu said," The State of Jin is a big state. Now they here specially to present gifts to us with the intention of being on friendly terms with us. Under suchcircumstances, how can we refuse to allow them to pass through our state?" Hearing this, Gong Zhiqi sighed repeatedly. Knowing that the State of Yu would soon be destroyed, Gong Zhiqi left the State of Yu together with his whole family.

As expected, the troops of the State of Jin, allowed to pass through the State of Yu, destroyed the State of Guo and on their return trip captured the monarch of the State of Yu who went out personally to meet them, htus destroying the State of Yu as Well.

This story appears in the chapter " The Fifth Year of Duke Xi " in Zuo zhuan,the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The Spring and Autumn Annals. The set phrase " if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold " is used to mean that two persons or things share a common lot and that is one fails ,the other is in danger.

chun2     wang2     chi3     han2
唇     亡     齿     寒

春秋时候,晋献公想要扩充自己的实力和地盘,就找借口说邻近的虢(guó)国经常侵犯晋国的边境,要派兵灭了虢国.可是在晋国和虢国之间隔着一个虞国,讨伐虢国必须经过虞地."怎样才能顺利通过虞国呢?"晋献公问手下的大臣.大夫荀息说:"虞国国君是个目光短浅、贪图小利的人,只要我们送他价值连城的美玉和宝马,他不会不答应借道的."晋献公一听有点舍不得,荀息看出了晋献公的心思,就说:"虞虢两国是唇齿相依的近邻,虢国灭了,虞国也不能独存,您的美玉宝马不过是暂时存放在虞公那里罢了."晋献公采纳了荀息的计策.

虞国国君见到这两们珍贵的礼物,顿时心花怒放,听到荀息说要借道虞国之事时,当时就满口答应下来.虞国大夫宫之奇听说后,赶快阻止道:"不行,不行,虞国和虢国是唇齿相依的近邻,我们两个小国相互依存,有事可以自彼帮助,万一虢国灭了,我们虞国也就难保了.俗话说:'唇亡齿寒',没有嘴唇,牙齿也保不住啊!借道给晋国万万使不得."虞公说:"人家晋国是大国,现在特意送来美玉宝马和咱们交朋友,难道咱们借条道路让他们走走都不行吗?"宫之奇连声叹气,知道虞国离灭亡的日子不远了,于是就带着一家老小离开了虞国.

果然,晋国军队借道虞国,消灭了虢国,随后又把亲自迎接晋军的虞公抓住,灭了虞国.   故事出自《左传·僖公五年》.成语"唇亡齿寒",比喻双方关系密切,相互依存.

posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 胸有成竹

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Having Had Ready Plans Or Designs In One's Mind
(胸有成竹 xiong you cheng zhu)

Having Had Ready Plans Or Designs In One's Mind

In the song Dynasty (960-1279), there was a scholar whose name was Wen Tong and who styled himself the nickname “Yuke”. He was not only admired by others for his great learning, but he also enjoyed widespread fame for his skill at bamboo drawing. His drawings of the bamboo plants were exceptional and unique in their beauty and style. He was so popular in this skill, that every day there were always people who called at his house to ask for one of his bamboo drawings.

As a matter of fact, there were quite a few painters contemporary with him who could draw bamboos fairly well. These other artists were very skilled. But yet, Wen Tong’s art stood apart. It was as if he had an element of understanding of the subject that the other artists lacked. This issue was the subject of much discussion and wonderment. Many people argued that there was some special technique or understanding that Wen Tong had that the other artists did not.

The answer to this question is lost to time. However, great friends of the artist have their strongly held opinions. And these opinions have been passed down through the ages. Su Shi and Chao Buzhi, gave vivid explanations in their respective poetic and prose works.

They claim that the secret to the great art was fundamental to Wen Tong’s success. That they thought that he had the great understanding of the subject matter of the Bamboo because of his great love for the bamboo. Wen Tong loved bamboos so much that he had grown various bamboos everywhere around his house. No matter what season it was and no matter whether it was sunny or rainy, he used to go to the bamboo forest to observe how they were growing. He pondered over the length and breadth of the bamboo poles as well as the shapes and colors of the leaves. Whenever he had gained a new understanding, he went back to his study, spread a piece of paper and prepared some ink by rubbing an ink stick on an ink slab, and drew what was in his mind on the paper. Through accumulation over a long period of time, the images of the bamboo in different seasons, under different weather conditions and at different moments were deeply imprinted in his mind. So whenever he stood before the paper and picked up a painting brush with concentrated attention, the various forms of the bamboo which he had observed at ordinary times at once rose before his eyes. And so every time he was drawing bamboos he appeared confident and at ease, and all the bamboos he had painted were very vivid and true to life.

When people spoke highly of his paintings, he always said modestly that he had just put the images of the bamboo imprinted in his mind on the paper.

A young man wanted to learn bamboo drawing; when he knew that Chao Buzhi had made a profound study of Wen Tong's art of drawing, he went to Chao Buzhi for instruction. Chao Buzhi wrote a poem to him. In the poem, there are the following two lines:

When Yuke was painting the bamboos,

He had their images ready in his bosom.

Later people have summarized the lines as “having had the images of the bamboo ready in one's bosom," which means having had ready plans or designs in one's mind before doing a certain job so that its success is guaranteed. It is also used go mean being calm and cool - headed in dealing with things.

This story comes from an article written by Su Shi concerning Wen Yuke's art of bamboo drawing.

xiong1


you3


cheng2


zhu2

胸


有


成


竹

北宋画家文同,字与可.他画的竹子远近闻名,每天总有不少人登门求画.文同画竹的妙诀在哪里呢?原来,文同在自己家的房前屋后种上各种样的竹子,无论春夏秋冬,阴睛风雨,他经常去竹林观察竹子的生长变化情况,琢磨竹枝的长短粗细,叶子的形态、颜色,每当有新的感受就回到书房,铺纸研墨,把心中的印象画在纸上.目积月累,竹子在不同季节、不同天气、不同时辰的形象都深深地印在他的心中,只要凝神提笔,在画纸前一站,平日观察到的各种形态的竹子立刻浮现在眼前.所以每次画竹,他都显得非常从容自信,画出的竹子,无不逼真传神.

当人们夸奖他的画时,他总是谦虚地说:"我只是把心中琢磨成熟的竹子画下来罢了."

有位青年想学画竹,得知诗人晁补之对文同的画很有研究,前往求教.晃补之写了一首诗送给他,其中有两句:"与可画竹,胸中有成竹."

故事出自北宋苏轼《文与可yún dāng谷偃竹记》."胸有成竹",比喻做事之前已作好充分准备,对事情的成功已有了十分的把握;又比喻遇事不慌,十分沉着.

This is a repost so that this can be added to an existing Idiom Group.

posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 高山流水

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Understanding and Appreciative Friends (高山流水 gao shan liu shui)

Understanding and Appreciative Friends

During the Spring and Autumn Period(770-476B.C.).there was a man whose name was Yu Boya. Yu boya famous music master at that time, having a good command of the temperament and superb skills in playing the musical instrument. He was bright and eager to learn when he was young. He had formally acknowledged several experts as his teachers,and his skills in playing the musical instrument had already reached a fairly high level. But he still felt that he could not superbly express the various things which had deeply impressed him. Knowing what was in his mind, his teacher took him to the penglai Island, a fabled abode of immortals, on the East China Sea by boat. On the island,his teacher let him enjoy the natural scenarios and listen to the roaring of the great waves. looking into the distance, Boya saw that the waves were turbulent and that the white breakers leapt skywards. Sea birds were circling in the air, and their crying was very pleasant to the ear. Trees were green and intriguing feeling welled up in his mind, as if he had heard the harmonious and charming music of nature. He couldn't help taking his musical instrument and playing it . He followed his inclinations while he was playing,and incorporated the beautiful nature with his music,thus reaching a realm of thought he had never experienced before. Seeing this,the teacher said to him,''You have mastered the art of playing."

Once,on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, he was boating for sight-seeing. The moon was bright and a cool breeze was blowing gently. With myriads of thoughts welling up in his mind, he began to play the musical instrument. The melodious music became more and more beautiful when a man on the bank shouted "bravo!" Hearing the shouting, Boya came out of the boat,and saw a woodcutter standing on the bank. He knew that this man was keenly appreciative of his talents, because he understood his music. He immediately invited the woodcutter to his boat and , full of zest, he played the musical instrument for him. When Boya played a piece of music eulogizing the high mountains,the woodcutter said,"wonderful!The melody is as magnificent and dignified as Mount Tai which reaches to the sky!" When he played a piece of music depicting the turbulent waves,the woodcutter said,"Wonderful!The melody is as vast and mighty as the great rivers!"Boya was excited,and said,"Bosom friend! You are really my bosom friend!" That woodcutter was Zhong Ziqi. Since then,they had been very good friends.

This story appears in The Works of Lie Zi.From this story,people have derived the set phrase "high mountain and running water" to refer to understanding and appreciative friends. This set phrase is also used to refer to melodious music.

gao1 shan1 liu2 shui3
高山流水

春秋时代,有个叫俞伯牙的人,精通音律,琴艺高超,是当时著名的琴师.俞伯牙年轻的时候聪颖好学,曾拜高人为师,琴技达到水平,但他总觉得自己还不能出神入化地表现对各种事物的感受.伯牙的老师知道他的想法后,就带他乘船到东海的蓬莱岛上,让他欣赏大自然的景色,倾听大海的波涛声.伯牙举目眺望,只见波浪汹涌,浪花激溅;海鸟翻飞,鸣声入耳;山林树木,郁郁葱葱,如入仙境一般.一种奇妙的感觉油然而生,耳边仿佛咯起了大自然那和谐动听的音乐.他情不自禁地取琴弹奏,音随意转,把大自然的美妙融进了琴声,伯牙体验到一种前所未有的境界.老师告诉他:"你已经学了."

一夜伯牙乘船游览.面对清风明月,他思绪万千,于是又弹起琴来,琴声悠扬,渐入佳境.忽听岸上有人叫绝.伯牙闻声走出船来,只见一个樵夫站在岸边,他知道此人是知音当即请樵夫上船,兴致勃勃地为他演奏.伯牙弹起赞美高山的曲调,樵夫说道:"真好!雄伟而庄重,好像高耸入云的泰山一样!"当他弹奏表现奔腾澎湃的波涛时,樵夫又说:"真好!宽广浩荡,好像看见滚滚的流水,无边的大海一般!"伯牙兴奋色了,激动地说:"知音!你真是我的知音."这个樵夫就是钟子期.从此二人成了非常要好的朋友.

故事出自《列子·汤问》.成语"高山流水",比喻知己或知音,也比喻音乐优美.

posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 请君入瓮

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Kindly Step into the Vat--Try What You Have Devised against Others (请君入瓮 qing jun ru weng)

Kindly Step into the Vat--Try What You Have Devised against Others

In order to suppress those who were against her, Wu Zetian, the empress of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), appointed a few merciless persons to be judges. Two of them were extremely brutal; one was called Zhou Xing and the other was called Lai Junchen. They killed many upright civil and military officials as well as ordinary people by framing up cases against tham and by administering inhuman corporal punishment to them.

Once, Wu Zetian received a letter which informed against Zhou Xing. The letter aside that Zhou Xing was plotting a rebellion in collaboration with others. Wu Zetian was furiously angry when she read the letter, and immediately ordered Lai Junchen to deal with the case severely. Hearing the order, Lai Junchen had misgivings about it. He knew that Zhou Xing could not be forced to tell the truth merely by using a letter informing against him because he was very sly and crafty. Lai Junchen also knew that he would not be for given if he should fail in dealing with the case, because the empress would certainly blame him and punish him. How could he solve the problem then? He turned the problem over and over in his mind, and finally thought out a "brilliant scheme".

Lai Junchen had a sumptuous feast prepared, and invited Zhou Xing to his home. The two of them urged each other to drink, and they talked while drinking. After the wine had gone round three times, Lai Junchen pretended to sigh, "When I handle cases in ordinary times, I often com across prisoners who stubbournly refuse to admit they are guilty. I wonder if you have any effective measures." Hearing this, he took a sip of the wine. Lai Junchen immediately pretended to be very earnest, saying, "Oh, please do tell me at once." Smiling insidiously, Zhou Xing said, "Get a big vat, scorch it hot with charcoal fire all around, and then let the prisoner come into the vat. Will the prisoner fail to make a confession of his crime?" Hearing this. LaiJunchen nodded his head in approval repeatedly.

He then ordered his subordinates to bring a big vat, and had a charcoal fire lit all around it as Zhou Xing had said. He then turned to Zhou Xing and said, "Someone in the imperial court has informed against you, saying that you are plotting a rebellion. The empress has ordered me to deal with the case severely. So I beg your pardon, but would you kindly step into the vat".

Hearing this, Zhou Xing dropped his wine cup to the ground and the cup broke with a crash. Then he knelt down with a flop, nodded repeatedly and said, "I am guilty. I confess I am guilty."

This story appears in A General History as a Mirror of Past Events by Sima Guang of the Song Dynasty. From this story, people have derived the set phrase "kindly step into the vat -- try what you have devised against others".

qing3 jun1 ru4 weng4
请君入瓮

唐朝女皇武则天,为了镇压反对她的人,任用了一批酷吏.其中两个最为狠毒,一个叫周兴,一个叫来俊臣.他们利用诬陷、控告和惨无人道的刑法,杀害了许多正直的文武官吏和平民百姓.

有一回,一封告密信送到武则天手里,内容竟是告发周兴与人联络谋反.武则天大怒,责令来俊臣严查此事.来俊臣,心里直犯嘀咕,他想,周兴是个狡猾奸诈之徒,仅凭一封告密信,是无法让他说实话的;可万一查不出结果,太后怪罪下来,我来俊臣也担待不起呀.这可怎么办呢?苦苦思索半天,终于想出一条妙计.

他准备了一桌丰盛的酒席,把周兴请到自己家里.两个人你劝我喝,边喝边聊.酒过三巡,来俊臣叹口气说:"兄弟我平日办案,常遇到一些犯人死不认罪,不知老兄有何办法?"周兴得意地说:"这还不好办!"说着端起酒杯抿了一口.来俊臣立刻装出很恳切的样子说:"哦,请快快指教."周兴阴笑着说:"你找一个大瓮,四周用炭火烤热,再让犯人进到瓮里,你找一个大瓮,四周用炭火烤热,再让犯人进到瓮里,你想想,还有什么犯人不招供呢?"来俊臣连连点头称是,随即命人抬来一口大瓮,按周兴说的那样,在四周点上炭火,然后回头对周兴说:"宫里有人密告你谋反,上边命我严查.对不起,现在就请老兄自己钻进瓮里吧."周兴一听,手里的酒杯啪哒掉在地上,跟着又扑通一声跪倒在地,连连磕头说:"我有罪,我有罪,我招供."

故事见于《资治通鉴·唐则天皇后天授二年》.成语"请君入瓮",比喻用某人整治他自己.

posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 自相矛盾

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His Spear Against His Shield

自相矛盾 zi xiang mao dun

One day, in the days of the warring states, a man from the Chu State went to sell a spear and a shield. Both of these were ancient weapons in China. The spear had a long handle with a metal point on the end.

To attract customers and to sell his weapons as soon as possible, he would shout out loudly to all who were coming and going: "Come and see! My spear is the sharpest in the world. It is sharp enough to pierce through anything. If it even touches something, it will pierce all the way through it." Hearing his words, many people came to inspect the spear.

Seeing he had an audience, the man held up his spear and loudly boasted to everyone: "My shield is the strongest in the world! However sharp the spears and arrows are, they cannot pierce through my shield!" As he spoke the boastful words, all the listeners were dumbfounded.

Then, a person stepped out of the crowd. He went and picked up a spear and then picked up a shield. He asked, "If you pierce your shield with your spear, what will happen then?" When the man heard that, he had nothing to say. He blushed with shame. He gathered up his things and fled from the marketplace in embarrassment.

So if someone says something is "like the spear and shield," he means that someone has made two statements that are contradictory.

自相矛盾(zì xiāng máo dùn)

有一天,一位楚(chǔ)国人到市场上去卖矛和盾.矛和盾都是中国古代的兵器."矛"是一种长柄(cháng bǐng)的带有金属枪头的武器;"盾"是用来保护自己、抵挡(dǐ dǎng)敌人刺杀的武器.

为了吸引顾客,使自己的兵器尽快卖出去,他向过往的行人大声吆喝(yāo he)起来:"瞧一瞧,看一看,我的矛是世界上最尖利(jiān lì)的,无论怎样牢固坚实的东西也挡不住它一戳(chuō),只要一碰上,马上就会被它刺穿!"一番话说得人们纷纷围拢(fēn fēn wéi lǒng)来,仔细观看.

接着,这个楚人又举起他的盾,向大家夸口说:"我的盾,是世界上最坚固的,无论怎样锋利尖锐(fēng lì jiān ruì)的东西也不能刺穿它!"此番大话一经出口,听的人个个目瞪口呆(mù dèng kǒu dāi).

这时,只见从人群中走出一人,他上前拿起一只矛,又拿起一面盾问道:"如果用你的矛来戳你的盾,结果会怎么样?"楚人听了,无言以对,只好涨红着脸,赶紧收拾好他的矛和盾,灰溜溜地逃离了市场.

自相矛盾:比喻语言、行动前后不一致或互相抵触.

This is a repost to fit inside an established Idiom Group.

posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 黄粱美梦

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This is a repost so that the post can be part of the Idiom Group.

posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 朝三暮四

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posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 一箭双雕

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posted by vann0000 February 10, 2009

Ch5nese Idioms - 桃李不言，下自成蹊

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Peaches and Plums Do Not Have to Talk, Yet the World Beats a Path to Them--Natural Attraction (桃李不言，下自成蹊 tao li bu yan xia zi cheng xi)

桃李不言，下自成蹊Peaches and Plums Do Not Have to Talk, Yet the World Beats a Path to Them--Natural Attraction

Duing the Western Han Dynasty(206 B.C.- A.D.24)Period, there was a very famous general whose name was Li Guang. He was very brave and skillful in battle, and had fought more than seventy battles with the Huns, an ancient nationality in China.

Having made brilliant achievements in war, he was deeply loved and esteemed by the officers and men as well as the common people. However,he did not claim credit for himself and become arrogant, although he held a high post,commanding a big army, and had rendered outstanding service in defending the county.

He was not only polite and amiable, but also shared wealth and woe with the soldiers. He always had the troops under his commandat heart, and whenever gifts were bestowed to him by the imperial government, he distributed the gifts to his officers and men.

When marching, he endured the torments of hunger and thirst as the soldiers did when food and water were in short supply. When fighting, he charged at the head of his men,and ,when he gave the order,every soldier advanced bravely to engage in fighting, not fearing death.

When the sad news of the heath of General Li Guang reached the militaty camp,the officers and men of the whole army wept bitterly.

tao2 li3 bu4 yan2 xia4 zi4 cheng2 xi1
桃李不言，下自成蹊

西汉时候,有一位勇猛善战的将军,名叫李广,一生跟匈奴打过七十多次仗,战功卓著,深受官兵和百姓的爱戴.李广虽然身居高位,统领千军万马,而且是保卫国家的功臣,但他一点也不居功自傲.他不仅待人和气,还能和士兵同甘共苦.每次朝廷给他的赏赐,他首先想到的是他的部下,就把那些赏赐统统分给官兵们;行军打仗时,遇到粮食或水供应不上的情况,他自己也同士兵们一样忍饥挨饿;打起仗来,他身先士卒,英勇顽强,只要他一声令下,大家个个奋勇杀敌,不握牺牲.这是一位多么让人崇敬的大将军啊!

后来,当李广将军去世的噩耗传到军营时,全军将士无不痛哭流涕,连许多与大将军平时并不熟悉的百姓也纷纷悼念他.在人们心目中,李广将军就是他们崇拜的大英雄.

汉朝伟大的史学家司马迁在为李广立传时称赞道:"桃李不言,下自成蹊."意思是说,桃李有着芬芳的花朵,甜美的果实,虽然它们不会说话,但仍然会吸引人们到树下赏花尝果,以至树下都走出一条小路,李广将军就是以他的真诚和高尚的品质赢得了人们的崇敬.

"桃李不言,下自成蹊"这则成语出自《史记·李将军列传》,比喻为人真诚,严于律已,自然会感动别人,自然会受到人们的敬仰.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 掩耳盗铃

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Plugging One's Ears While Stealing a Bell (掩耳盗铃 yan er dao ling)

掩耳盗铃Plugging One's Ears While Stealing a Bell

During the Spring and Autumn period,Zhi Bo of the Spring and Autumn period, Zhi Bo of the State of Jin destroyed Fan's family.

Taking advantage of this occasion,a man went to Fan's house and tried to steal something. As soon as the man entered the gate, he saw that there hung a big bell in the courtyard. The bell was cast in high-quality bronze, and was beautiful in design and shape.

The theif was very glad, and decided to carry this beautiful bell back home. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not move the bell, because the bell was both big and heavy.

He thought and thought again, and believed there was only one way to solve the problem. He had to break the bell to pieces before he was able to carry them back to his home separately.

The thief found a big iron hammer, with which he struck the bell with all his might.

The striking produced an enormous crashing sound,which made the thief terribly frightened. The thief got flurried,thinking that it was too bad to have produced the crashiing sound which would himself on the bell, trying to muffle the crashing sound with his arms. But how could the crashing sound of the bell be muffled? The crashing sound still kept drifting melodiously to distant places. The more he listened to the sound,the more frightened hw became. He xubconsciously shrank back,and covered his ears hard with his hands.

"Hey,the sound becomes fainter,inaudible," the thief became cheerful at once," wonderful!The sound of the bell can not be heard when the ears are covered."

He immediately got some odd bits of cloth,made two rolls with them, and had his ears plugged with the two cloth rolls.He thought that in this way nobody could hear the sound of the bell.

Feeling relieved,he began striking the bell,one blow after another. The resounding sound of the bell was heard at distant places, and finally people caught the thief by following the sound.

This story comes from"Knowing Yourself" in The Annals by Buwei, written just before the Qin Dynasty(221-207 B.C.)was founded.Allegedly, when Li Yuan,Emperor Gao Zu of the Tang Dynasty(618-907), read this story, he felt it simply ridiculous and said, "This is what is called plugging one's ears while stealing a bell."

Later,people have used the set phrase "plugging one's ears while stealing a bell" to refer to the ignorance and foolishness of the person who deceives himself as well as others.

yan3 er3 dao4 ling2
掩耳盗铃

春秋时侯,晋国贵族智伯灭掉了范氏.有人趁机跑到范氏家里想偷点东西,看见院子里吊着一口大钟.钟是用上等青铜铸成的,造型和图案都很精美.小偷心里高兴极了,想把这口精美的大钟背回自已家去.可是钟又大又重,怎么也挪不动.他想来想去,只有一个办法,那就是把钟敲碎,然后再分别搬回家.

小偷找来一把大大锤,拼命朝钟砸去,咣的一声巨响,把他吓了一大跳.小偷着慌,心想这下糟了,这种声不就等于是告诉人们我正在这里偷钟吗?他心里一急,身子一下子扑到了钟上,张开双臂想捂住钟声,可钟声又怎么捂得住呢!钟声依然悠悠地传向远方.

他越听越害怕,不同自由地抽回双手,使劲捂住自已的耳朵."咦,钟声变小了,听不见了!"小偷高兴起来,"妙极了!把耳朵捂住不住就听不进钟声了吗!"他立刻找来两个布团,把耳朵塞住,心想,这下谁也听不见钟声了.于是就放手砸起钟来,一下一下,钟声响亮地传到很远的地方.人们听到钟声蜂拥而至把小偷捉住了.

故事出自《吕氏春秋·自知》"掩耳盗钟"被说成"掩耳盗铃",比喻愚蠢自欺的掩饰行为.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 望洋兴叹

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Lamenting One's Littleness before the Vast Ocean (望洋兴叹, wang yang xing tan)

望洋兴叹Lamenting One's Littleness before the Vast Ocean

Tradition has it that many,many years ago,there lived on the Yellow River a river god known as He Bo. One day , He Bo stood on the riverbank and watched the turbulent waves from the west surging forward to the east. He said both excitedly and conceitedly: "How big the Yellow River is !No other river on earth can compare with it.And therefore I am the greatest river god."

One man said to him,"You are wrong. There is a place to the east of the Yellow Rivers called the North Sea. The North Sea is really big."

He Bo said,"I don't believe it . Big as the North Sea is, can it be bigger than Yellow River?"

The man replied, "Should the water of several Yellow River flow into the North sea, it could not fill the North Sea, let alone one Yellow River. "

He Bo said obstinately, "I don't believe it, for I have never been to the North Sea."

Having no alternative,the man said, "You will not be able to understand what I mean until you have a chance to see the North Sea for yourself."

Winter came,and torrential rain had been falling for days on end. Rivers big and small emptied themselves into the Yellow River, making the Yellow River even broader. Standing on one side of the river, people could hardly tell what animals the oxen and horses on the other side of the river were. Thus He Bo was even more proud, thinking that all the magnificent sights were accumulated here. Then , remembering the North Sea which had been mentioned to him before, he decided to go there and have a look.

He went downstream, and arrived at the river mouth to the sea. Suddenly,the god of the North Sea,whose name was Biennia Ruo, appeared before his eyes.

With a smile,Beihai Ruo was welcoming He Bo to the North sea.

He looked ahead,and saw that the North Sea, with its vast expanse of water, was boundless. With a dull look in his eyes, He Bo stood there for a while. Finally he said to Beihai Ruo with deep feeling, "As the common saying goes,some people go so far as to think that they are more knowledgeable than anybody else when they have got some knowledge. Actually I am one of such people. If I had not seen with that the Yellow River is matchless in the world. If I remained like that, I would be laughed at for ever by sensible people."

wang4 yang2 xing4 tan4
望洋兴叹

相传很久很久以前,黄河里有一位河神,人们叫他河伯.何伯站在黄河岸上.望着滚滚的浪涛由西而来,又奔腾跳跃向东流去,兴奋地说;"黄河真大呀,世上没有哪条河能和它相比.我就是最大的水神啊!"

有人告诉他:"你的话不对,在黄河的东面有个地方叫北海,那才真叫大呢."

河伯说:"我不信,北海再大,能大得过黄河吗?"

那人说:"别说一条黄河,就是几条黄河的水流进北海,也装不满它."

河伯固执地说:"我没见过北海,我不信."

那人无可奈何,告诉他:"有机会你去看看北海,就明白我的话了."

秋天到了,连日的暴雨使大大小小的河流都注入黄河,黄河的河面更加宽阔了,隔河望去,对岸的牛马都分不清.这一下,河伯更得意了,以为天下最壮观的景色都在自己这里,他在自得之余,想起了有人跟他提起的北海,于是决定去那里看看.

河伯顺流来到黄河的入海口,,突然眼前一亮,海神北海若正笑容满面地欢迎他的到来,河伯放眼望去,只见北海汪洋一片,无边无涯,他呆呆地看了一会儿,深有感触地对北海若说:"俗话说,只懂得一些道理就以为谁都比不上自己,这话说的就是我呀.今天要不是我亲眼见到这浩瀚无边的北海,我还会以为黄河是天下无比的呢!那样,岂不被有见识的人永远笑主."

故事见于《庄子·秋水》.成语"望洋兴叹",比喻要做某事而力量不够,感到无可奈何.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idiom - 指鹿为马

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Calling a Stag a Horse (指鹿为马 zhi lu wei ma)

指鹿为马Calling a Stag a Horse

In the reign of Emperor the Second of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), the prime minister Zhao Gao, obsessed with ambitions, was planning to usurp the throne day and night. But he did not know how many of the ministers in the court were allowed to be ordered about by him and how many of them were his opponents. So he thought out a way to test how high his prestige among the ministers was and also to find out who dared to oppose him.

One day when court was held, Zhao Gao let someone bring a stag to the court and, with a broad smile on his face, he said to Emperor the Second of the Qin Dynasty: "Your Majesty, here is a fine horse I'm presenting to you." Looking at the animal, Emperor the Second thought that it was obviously a stag and that it couldn't be a horse.

So he said smilingly to Zhao Gao:"Mister Prime Minister, you are wrong. This is a stay. Why do you say it is a horse?"

Remaining calm, Zhao Gao said:"Will your Majesty please see more clearly? This really is a horse that covers a thousand li a day."

Filled with suspicion, Emperor the Second looked at the stag again and said:"How can the antlers be grown on the head of a horse?"

Turning around and pointing his finger at the ministers, Zhao Gao said in a loud voice: "if our Majesty do not believe me, you can ask the ministers."

The nonsense of Zhao Gao made the ministers totally at a loss, and they whispered to themselves: "What tricks was Zhao Gao playing? Was it not obvious whether it was a stag or a horse?"

But when they saw the sinister smile on Zhao Gao's face and his two rolling eyes which were gazing at each of them, they suddenly understood his evil intentions. Some of the ministers who were timid and yet had a sense of righteousness did not dare to say anything, because to tell lies would make their conscience uneasy and to tell the truth would mean that they would be persecuted by Zhao Gao later. Some ministers with a sense of justice persisted that it was a stag and not a horse. There were still some crafty and fawning ministers who followed Zhao Gao closely in ordinary times. They immediately voiced their support to Zhao Gao, saying to the emperor: "This really in a horse that covers a thousand li a day."

After the event, Zhao Gao punished by various means those ministers with a sense of justice who were not obedient to him, even with whole families of some of those ministers executed.

This story appears in "The Life of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty" in The Historical Records written by Sima Qian. From this story people have derived the set phrase "calling a stag a horse" to mean deliberately misrepresenting some thing and misleading the public.

zhi3 lu4 wei4 Ma3
指鹿为马

秦二世时,丞相赵高野心勃勃,日夜盘算着要篡夺皇位.可朝中大臣有多少人能听他摆布,有多少人反对他,他心中没底.于是,他想了一个办法,准备试一试自己的威信,同时也可以摸清敢于反对他的人.

一天上朝时,赵高让人牵来一只鹿,满脸堆笑地对秦二世说:"陛下,我献给您一匹好马."秦二世一看,心想:这哪里是马,这分明是一只鹿嘛!便笑着对赵高说:"丞相搞错了,这里一只鹿,你怎么说是马呢?"赵高面不改色心不跳地说:"请陛下看清楚,这的确是一匹千里马."秦二世又看了看那只鹿,将信将疑地说:"马的头上怎么会长角呢?"赵高一转身,用手指着众大臣,大声说:"陛下如果不信我的话,可以问问众位大臣."

大臣们都被赵高的一派胡言搞得不知所措,私下里嘀咕:这个赵高搞什么名堂?是鹿是马这不是明摆着吗!当看到赵高脸上露出阴险的笑容,两只眼睛骨碌碌轮流地盯着赵高脸上露出阴险的笑容,两只眼睛骨碌碌轮流地盯着每个人的时候,大臣们忽然明白了他的用意.

一些胆小又有正义感的人都低下头,不敢说话,因为说假话,对不起自己的良心,说真话又怕日后被赵高所害.有些正直的人,坚持认为是说明书而不是马.还有一些平时就紧跟赵高的奸佞之人立刻表示拥护赵高的说法,对皇上说,"这确是一匹千里马!"

事后,赵高通过各种手段把那些不顺从自己的正直大臣纷纷治罪,甚至满门抄斩.

故事出自《史记·秦始皇本纪》.成语"指鹿为马"比喻故意颠倒是非,混淆黑白.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 如火如荼

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Like Fire and Flowering Rush (如火如荼 ru huo ru tu)

如火如荼 Like Fire and Flowering Rush

In the years around 480 B.C.,China was in the last phase of the Spring and Autumn Period. Fu Chai,King of the State of Wu, conquered the states of Yue,Lu and Chi one after another. Then Fu Chai, overwellingly ambitious,led his army marching into the Northwest in an attempt to conquer the State of Jin in one vigorous effort.

But just at that time, Gou Jian, king of the State of Yue, outflanked Fu Chai and attacked him in the rear. Gou Jian's army fought one battle after another and arrived in Gu Su, capital of the State of Wu, at last, and took away the big boats of the State of Wu. Gou Jin also sent his troops to occupy the Huai River immediately, thus cutting off Fu Chai's retreat

The shocking news reached Fu Chai, king of the State of Wu, like a head-on blow to him. So he called his civilian officials and military generals at once to find a way to deal with this serious situation. His civilian officials and military their troops now would mean defeat, and that they would be attacked by both the troops of the Jin army and the troops of the Yue army. But ,if they could defeat the State of Jin, Fu Chai would become a powerful chief of the princes at that time,and it would not be too late for Fu Chai to settle with Gou Jian after that.

Having made this decision, they knew that a pressing matter of the moment was to conquer th State of Jin as quickly as possible. After considering over and over again,they decided to try to defeat the Jin army by a surprise move.

One day towards evening, the king of the State of Wu gave his orders. The officers and men of the whole army ate their fill, and the steeds were well fed with fodder. 30,000 officers and men were chosen from the whole army to from three phalanxes, with 10,000 officers and men each. The solders in the middle phalanx wore white suits of armour,and carried white flags and white bows and arrows, and they were led by king of the State of Wu Fu Chai himself. The other two phalanxes were led by senior generals. The soldiers in the left phalanx wore red suits of armour, and carried red flags and red bows and arrows. The the soldiers in the right phalanx wore black suits of armour,and carried black flags and black bows and arrows.

The whole army set out at midnight,and arrived at dawn at a place within a LI's distance of the Jin army. When the day was beginning to break,the soldiers of the Wu army began to beat the drums heavily and their shoutings resounded like rolls of thunder.

Awakening from their dreams,the solders of the Jin army were almost stupefied by the imposing manner of the three phalanxes of the Wu army. The white phalanx was like a field covered with flowering rush,the red phalanx was like a burning fire,and the black phalanx was simply like a sea too deep to fathom.

This story comes from Comversations from the States. Later generations often use the set phrase "like fire and flowering rush"to refer to tremendous momentum.

ru2 huo3 ru2 tu2
如火如荼

春秋时代末期,吴国国王夫差连续征服了越国、鲁国和齐国,雄心勃勃,又继续向西北进军,打算一鼓作气征服晋国.

可正在这个时候,越王勾践抄了吴王的后路.他带领军队一直打到吴国的国都姑苏(苏州),又派人马占据淮河,把吴王的退路切断了.

这消息给吴王夫差当头泼了一盆冷水,他非常震惊,立即召集文臣武将商量对策.大家说,现在退回去等于两关打了败仗,还会两头挨打;如果能打败晋国,就等于在诸候国中当定了霸主,再回去收拾越王勾践也不算晚.

大主意已经拿定,当务之急是尽快征服晋国.考虑再三,决定出奇制胜.

一天傍晚,吴王下达了命令.全军将士吃得饱饱的,马也喂足了草料.从全军中挑出三万精兵强将.每一万人摆成一个方阵,共摆三个方阵.每个方阵横竖都是一百人.每一行排头的都是军官司.每十行,也就是一千人,由一个大夫负责.每项一个方阵由一名将军率领.中间的方阵白盔白甲,白衣服,白旗帜,白弓箭,由吴王自己掌握,称为中军;左边的方阵,红盔红甲、红衣服、红简直就像深不可测;右边的方阵则一水儿黑色.半夜出发,黎明时分到达离晋军仅有一里路的地方.天色刚刚显出亮色,吴军鼓声大作,欢呼之声震天动工地.

晋军从梦中醒来,一看吴军那三个方阵和声威气势,简直都惊呆了:那白色方阵,"望之如荼"--像开满白花的茅草地;那红色方阵,"望之如火"--如像熊熊燃烧的火焰;而那黑色的方阵,简直就象深不可测的大海.

故事出自《国语·吴语》.成语"如火如荼",形容某种人群或事物阵容之大,气势之盛.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 守株待兔

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Staying by a Stump Waiting for More Hares To Come and Dash Themselves Against It (守株待兔, shou zhu dai tu)

守株待兔Staying by a Stump Waiting for More Hares To Come and Dash Themselves Against It

This story took place more than 2,000 years ago, in the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.). Tradition has it that in the State of Song at that time there was a man who was famous for staying by a stump waiting for more hares to come and dash themselves against it.

He was a yong farmer,and his family had been farmers for generations.Year after year and generation after generation, farmers used to sow in spring and harvest in autumn, beginning to work at sunrise and retiring at sunset. In good harvest years, they could only have enough food to eat and enough clothing to wear. If there was a famine due to crop failure,they had to go hungry.

This young farmer wanted to improve his life. But he was too lazy and too cowardly. Being lazy and cowardly over everything, he often dreamed of having unexpected blessings.

A miracle took place at last. One day in late autumn,when he was ploughing in the field, two groups of people were hunting nearby. As shoutings were rising one after another,scared hares were running desperately. Suddenly, a blind hare dashed itself headlong against the stump of a dead tree in his field and died.

That day, he ate his fill.

From that day on, he no longer went in for farming again. From morning till night, he stayed by that miraculous stump, waiting for miracles to take place again.

This story comes from"The Five Vermin"in The Works of Han Feizi. Later generations often use the set phrase "staying by a stump waiting for more hares to come and dash themselves against it" to show grusting to chance and windfalls or dreaming to reap without sowing. It is also used to show adhering to narrow experiences and not being able to be flexible.

shou3 zhu1 dai4 tu4
守株待兔

相传在战国时代宋国,有一个农民,日出而作,日入而息.遇到好年景,也不过刚刚吃饱穿暖;一遇灾荒,可就要忍饥挨饿了.他想改善生活,但他太懒,胆子又特小,干什么都是又懒又怕,总想碰到送上门来的意外之财.

奇迹终于发生了.深秋的一天,他正在田里耕地,周围有人在打猎.吆喝之声四处起伏,受惊的小野兽没命的奔跑.突然, 有一只兔子,不偏不倚,一头撞死在他田边的树根上.

当天,他美美地饱餐了一顿.

从此,他便不再种地.一天到晚,守着那神奇的树根,等着奇迹的出现.

成语"守株待兔",比喻亡想不劳而得,或死守狭隘的经验,不知变通.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 邯郸学步

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Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One's Own Ability (邯郸学步 han dan xue bu)

邯郸学步Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One's Own Ability

Tradition has it that more than 2,ooo years ago, there lived a young man in the Shouling area of the State of Yan. As his name is not known , we just call him Shouling young man for convenience's sake.

He was extremely low in the self confidence. He was at a loss as to how to behave all the time.

His family members advised him to overcome this shortcoming, but he thought they were fond of poking their noses into his business and were unwilling to provide him with tuition fee. His relatives and neighbours sneered at him, saying that he would never be able to learn anything. As the days went by, he even began to doubt whether he should walk the way he did, for he felt more and more that his walking gestures were too clumsy and awkward.

One day,he met some people on the road who were chatting and laughing. One of themsaid that people in Handan walked most gracefully. And thatwas just what he was most concerned about, so he hurried towards the man and wanted to make further inquiries. To his surprise,when these people saw him, they stalked off laughing.

He could not picture to himself in what way their walking gestures were graceful, no matter how hard he racked his parents one day. He went to Handan which was far away to learn how to walk.

As soon as he arrived in Handan, he was dazzled to find that everything was novel. He learned from the children there how to walk, because he thought that the children's walking gestures were lively and pleasing to the eye. He learnd from the old people there how to walk, because he thought the old people's walking gestures were steady . He learnd from the women there how to walk, because he thought the women' swaying walking gestures were beautiful. That being the case with him ,in less than half a month he even forgot how to walk. As he had already used up his traveling expenses,he had to crawl back home.

This story come from the article "Autumn Water"in The Works of Xhuang Zi (Zhuang Zi was a famous ancient Chinese philosopher of about 300B.c.). Later the set phrase "initating another without success and losing what used to be one's own ability" is used to refer to acts of copying others mechanically in disregard of specififc conditions.

Han2 dan1 xue2 bu4
邯郸学步

相传在两千年前,燕国寿陵地方有一位少年,不知道姓啥叫啥,就叫他寿陵少年吧!

这位寿陵少年不愁吃不愁穿,论长相也算得上中等人材,可他就是缺乏自信心,经常无缘无故地感到事事不如人,低人一等--衣服是人家的好,饭菜是人家的香,站相坐相也是人家高雅.他见什么学什么,学一样丢一样,虽然花样翻新,却始终不能做好一件事,不知道自己该是什么模样.

家里的人劝他改一改这个毛病,他以为是家里人管得太多.亲戚、邻居们,说他是狗熊掰棒子,他也根本听不进去.日久天长,他竟怀疑自己该不该这样走路,越看越觉得自己走路的姿势太笨,太丑了.

有一天,他在路上碰到几个人说说笑笑,只听得有人说邯郸人走路姿势那叫美.他一听,对上了心病,急忙走上前去,想打听个明白.不料想,那几个人看见他,一阵大笑之后扬长而去.

邯郸人走路的姿势究竟怎样美呢?他怎么也想象不出来.这成了他的心病.终于有一天,他瞒着家人,跑到遥远的邯郸学走路去了.

一到邯郸,他感到处处新鲜,简直令人眼花缭乱.看到小孩走路,他觉得活泼、美,学;看见老人走路,他觉得稳重,学;看到妇女走路,摇摆多姿,学.就这样,不过半月光景,他连走路也不会了,路费也花光了,只好爬着回去了.

故事出自《庄子·秋水》.成语"邯郸学步",比喻生搬硬套,机械地模仿别人,不但学不到别人的长处,反而会把自己的优点和本领也丢掉.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 按图索骥

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Looking for a Steed with the Aid Of Its Picture (按图索骥 àn tú suǒ jì)

按图索骥Looking for a Steed with the Aid Of Its Picture

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man in the State of Qin whose name was Sun Yang. Sun Yang was very expert in looking at horses and judging their worth. Whatever the horse might be, he could tell whether it was good or bad at first sight. People called him Bo Le (Bo Le was the name of one of the celestial bodies and was fabled to be in charge of heavenly steeds), and he was often asked to appraise and select horses.

One day, when Sun Yang was passing a place, an old horse pulling a cart loaded with salt suddenly neighed to him without stopping. He came near, and saw that it was a horse that really could cover a thousand Li a day, and that the only problem with it was that it was a little too old. The old horse was pulling the heavy cart with difficulties and hardships. Sun Yang felt acutely that the horse was really unjustly treated, for it might have been a fine steed galloping on the battlefield. It was a great pity that it was pulling the cart loaded with salt without attracting public attention, which had taken the edge off its spirit and consumed its energy. When he thought of this, he was so grieved that he shed tears.

In order to help more people learn how to appraise horses so that fine horses which could cover a thousand LI a day would no longer fall into oblivion, and also in order to ensure that his unique skill in judging horses would not be lost, Sun Yang worte a book entitled The Art of Looking at Horses and Judging Their Worth, based on his experiences and knowledge accumulated over the years. The book was also illustrated with the pictures of various horses.

Sun Yang had a son who, after reading his father's The Art of Looking at Horses and Judging Their Worth, thought it was very easy to appraise horses. So he took the book with him to look for fine horses everywhere.

At first he searched according to the pictures in the book, and accomplished nothing.

Then he searched according to the characteristics of the horses in the book. And he discovered that a toad would match the descriptions. Because a toad fit very well the characteristics described in the book.

So he happily took the toad back home, and said to his father, "Father, I have found a horse that can cover a thousand Li a day, only its hoofs are not good enough." Looking at the toad, Sun Yang did not know whether he should laugh or cry. Knowing that his son was stupid, Sun Yang said humourously. "It's a pity that this horse is too fond of jumping to pull a cart." Then he sighed, "That is just what we call looking for a steed with the aid of its picture."

Later, people have used the set phrase "look for a steed with the aid of its picture" to refer to handling affairs mechanically in the outmoded ways without being flexible. Somethimes it is also used to refer to trying to locate something by following up a clue. This set phrase originates in Lumbering in the Forest of Art written by Yang Shen in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

an4 tu2 Suo3 ji4
按图索骥

春秋时候,秦国有个叫孙阳的人,擅长相马,无论什么样的马,他一眼就能分出优劣.他常常被人请去识马、选马,人们都称他为伯乐("伯乐"本是天上的星名,据说负责管理天马).

有一次,孙阳路过一个地方,忽见一匹拖着盐车的老马冲他叫个不停,走近一看,原来是匹千里马,只是年龄稍大了点.老马拉着车艰难地走着,孙阳觉得太委屈了这匹千里马,它本是可以奔跑于疆场,可以发挥更大作用的宝马良驹,现在却默默无闻地拖着盐车,慢慢地消耗着它的锐气和体力,实在可惜!孙阳想到这里,难过得落下泪来.

为了让更多的人学会相马,使千里马不再被埋没,也为了自己一身绝技不至于失传,孙阳把自己多年积累的相马经验和知识写成了一本书,配上各种马的形态图,书名叫《相马经》.

孙阳有个儿子,看了父亲写的《相马经》,以为相马很容易,就拿着这本书到处找好马.他按照书上所绘的图形去找,一无所获.又按书中所写的特征去找,最后发现有一只癞蛤蟆很像书中写的千里马的特征,便高兴地把癞蛤蟆带回家,对父亲说:"爸爸,我找到一匹千里马,只是蹄子稍差些."父亲一看,哭笑不得,没想到儿子竟如此愚笨,便幽默地说:"可惜这马太喜欢跳了,不能用来拉车."接着感叹道:"所谓按图索骥也."

故事出自明朝杨慎的《艺林伐山》.成语"按图索骥",比喻机械地照老办法办事,不知变通;也比喻按照某种线索去寻找事物.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 后来居上

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The Latecomers Surpass the Old-timers (后来居上, hou4 lai2 ju1 shang4 )

后来居上The Latecomers Surpass the Old-timers

This set phrase is derived from the complaints Ji An made to the emperor.

Ji Anlived at the time of Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.24). He was respected for being upright and just and for daring to speak the truth. He did not bother about small matters in personal behaviour and in being an official. He was particular about actual effects and ,although he did not cause a stir ,he could keep the prefecture he governed in perfect order. Because of this, the imperial court transferred him to the central government from being the perfect of the Donghai Prefecture to being a commander in charge of the appointment and dismissal of the local officals.

Once, Emperor Wudi said that he would implement the policy of benevolence and justice of Confucianism and would do good turns to the people.

Emperor Wudi Had hardly finished his remards when Ji An said that there was no need for the emperor to say so. Why should the emperor bother, Ji An said, about pretending to implement the policy of benevolence and justice since he was so greedy and avaricious within himself?

This choked the emperor off. The emperor suddenly Changed his countenance and declared the meeting over. All the civilian and military officers at court were breathless with anxiety for fear that Ji An might bring disaster upon himself because of this. After returning, Emperor Wudi said to the people around him that Ji An was a little too rude and too straightforward.

For this reason ,Ji An was never promoted again.

When he was the commander in charge of the appointment and dismissal of the local officials, both Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were low -ranking lfficials of little importance. Later ,they were promoted continuously. Gongsun Hong became the prime minister and Zhang Tang became the imperial censor. However, JiAn's post remained the same.

One day, Ji An said to Emperor Wudi that the way the emperor used his ministers was just like piling up firewood, which meant that the latecomers surpassed the old-timers. Of course, Emperor Wudi could see that Ji An was complaining. So, turning to his ministers, Emperor Wudi said, "It is true that no one can stop learning. You see, Ji An is making more and more indiscreet remarks."

This story comes from The Historical Records. Later generations use the set phrase "the latecomers surpass the old-timers " to indicate that successors can excel their predecessors, which is quite different from the original idea when Ji An said that the latecomers surpassed the old-timers.

hou4 lai2 ju1 shang4
后来居上

汲黯是西汉武帝时代人,以刚直正义、敢讲真话而受人尊重.他为人和做官都不拘小节,讲求实效.虽然表面上不那么轰轰烈烈,却能把一个郡治理得井井有条,因此,朝廷把他从东海太守调到朝廷当主爵都尉--一种主管地方吏任免的官职.

有一次,汉武帝说要实行儒家的仁义之政,为老百姓办好事了.没等皇帝把话说完,汲黯就说:"陛下内心里那么贪婪多欲,表面上却要装得实行仁政,这是何苦呢?"一句话把皇帝噎了回去.汉武帝登时脸色大变,宣布罢朝,满朝文武都为汲黯捏着一把汗,担心他会因此招来大祸.武帝回到宫里以后,对身边的人说,汲黯这个人也未免太粗太直了.

从此以后,汲黯的官职再也没有提升.他当主爵都尉的时候,公孙弘、张汤都还是不起眼的小官,后来,他们一个劲儿住上升,公孙弘当上了丞相,张汤做上了御史大夫,可他汲黯还蹲在原地没动窝.有一天,汲黯对武帝说,陛下使用群臣,跟码劈柴一样,是"后来者居上"啊!汉武帝当然听得出这是发牢骚.于是,转脸对臣下们说:"人真是不能不学习啊!你们听汲黯说话,越来越离谱了!"

故事出自《史记·汲郑列传》.成语"后来居上",往往指后起的可以胜过先前的.和汲黯说这话的原意,大不相同.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 草木皆兵

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Every Bush and Tree Looks Like an Enemy (草木皆兵, cǎo mù jēi bīng)

草木皆兵Every Bush and Tree Looks Like an Enemy

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Fu Jian, king of the State of Qin, controlled northern China. In the year 383, Fu Jian led 900,000 infantry and cavalry troops to assault the State of Jin which was south of the Yangtze River. Xie Shi and Xie Xuan, senior generals of the Jin army, led 80,000 troops to offer resistance. Knowing that the Jin army was short of men, Fu Jian wanted to seize this opportunity of being much more numerous in armed forces to stage a quick attack.

Unexpectedly, the van of Fu Jian's army of 250,000 troops was defeated in the Shouchun area by an ingenious military move of the Jin army and suffered heavy losses. The senior general of the van of Fu Jian's army was killed, and there were heavy casualties of more than 10,000 soldiers. Fu Jian's army was dispirited and its morale was shaken. Many soldiers were in such a great panic that they waited for opportunities to run away. Standing on the city wall of the Shouchun City, Fu Jian and his brother Fu Rong saw that the ranks of the Jin army were in good order and that the morale of the Jin army was high. Turning to his brother, Fu Jian said, "What a powerful enemy this is! Why did people say that the Jin army was short of men?" He deeply regretted that he had taken the enemy too lightly.

Overshadowed by the disastrous defeat, Fu Jian ordered his troops to be deployed in battle formation on the north side of the Feishui River, in an attempt to regain the initiative by relying on the superior geographical conditions. Then Xie Shi and Xie Xuan, the senior generals of the Jin army, suggested that Fu Jian's army retreat a little bit, leaving some space, so that the Jin army could cross the river to conduct ooperations. Fu Jian thought that his chance had come, believing that the senior generals of the Jin army did not have the elementary knowledge of warfare. It was his plan to stage a sudden attack while the troops of the Jin army was busy crossing the river, and he was sure that his plan would word. So he willingly accepted the suggestion of the Jin army.

Unexpectedly, the moment the order to retreat was given, Fu Jian's troops were utterly routed and could by no means be controlled. Taking advantage of this favorable situation, the Jin army crossed the river, pursuing and attacking the enemy. The troops of Fu Jian's army threw away everything in headlong flight, and the field was littered with the corpses of the soldiers of Fu Jian's army. Fu Rong was killed in the tangled fighting, and Fu Jian was hit by an arrow and ran away. The Jin army won a brilliant victory by defeating a big army with its limited armed forces.

This story comes from "The Life of Fu Jian" in the volume "Records" of The History of the Jin Dynasty. The set phrase "every bush and tree looks like an enemy" is subsequently used to refer to a state of extreme nervousness.

cao3 mu4 jie1 bing1
草木皆兵

东晋时代,秦王苻坚控制了北部中国.公元383年,苻坚率领步兵、骑兵90万,攻打江南的晋朝.晋军大将谢石、谢玄领兵8万前去抵抗.苻坚得知晋军兵力不足,就想以多胜少,抓住机会,迅速出击.

谁料,苻坚的先锋部队25万在寿春一带被晋军出奇击败,损失惨重,大将被杀,士兵死伤万余.秦军的锐气大挫,军心动摇,士兵惊恐万状,纷纷逃跑.此时,苻坚在寿春城上望见晋军队伍严整,士气高昂,再北望八公山,只见山上一草一木都像晋军的士兵一样.苻坚回过头对弟弟说:"这是多么强大的敌人啊!怎么能说晋军兵力不足呢?"他后悔自己过于轻敌了.

出师不利给苻坚心头蒙上了不祥的阴影,他令部队靠淝水北岸布阵,企图凭借地理优势扭转战局.这时晋军将领谢玄提出要求,要秦军稍往后退,让出一点地方,以便渡河作战.苻坚暗笑晋军将领不懂作战常识,想利用晋军忙于渡河难于作战之机,给它来个突然袭击,于是欣然接受了晋军的请求.

谁知,后退的军令一下,秦军如潮水一般溃不成军,而晋军则趁势渡河追击,把秦军杀得丢盔弃甲,尸横遍地.苻坚中箭而逃.

故事出自《晋书·苻坚·载记》.成语"草木皆兵",形容神经过敏、疑神疑鬼的惊恐心理.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idiom - 洛阳纸贵

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洛阳纸贵 (Overwhelming Popularity of a New Work Causes Shortage of Printing Paper) luò yáng zhǐ guì

Overwhelming Popularity of a New Work Causes Shortage of Printing Paper

In the Jin Dynasty (265-420) there was a famous writer whose name was Zuo Si who, however, was very naughty and did not like to study when he was a small child. His father often became angry, and yet young Zuo Si was as naughty as ever and would not study hard.

One day, Zuo Si's father was chatting with his friends. His friends envied him his clever and lovely son. Hearing this, Zuo si's father sighed, "Please do not mention him. My son Zuo si does not study as well as I did when I was young, although I did not study well enough myself. It appears that he is actually a good-for-nothing." So saying, he looked disappointed.

All this was witnessed by young Zuo Si. He felt very sad, feeling intensely that he would not be able to have a bright future if he did not study hard. So he was determined to study assiduously from then on.

Day after day and year after year, Zuo Si gradually grew up. Because of his unremitting afforts in hard study, he became an erudite scholar and wrote very excellent essays.

The "Ode to the Capital of the State of Qi", which took him one year to write, showed his brilliant literary talent and laid the foundation for his becoming an outstanding writer. then he planned to write an "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu" with the local conditions and customs as well as the produce of the three capitals as its content.

In order to achieve the desired effect in content, structure and language, he applied himself to research work with great concentration, and was so absorbed in creative writing as to forget food and sleep. It took him ten whole years to finish the writing of "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu", a literary masterpiece.

The "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu" was well received by the broad masses of readers after it made its appearance to the public, and people considered it as superbly written as the "Ode to the Western Capital (Changan) and to the Eastern Capital (Luoyang)" written by Ban Gu (32-92) and the "Ode to the Western Capital and to the Eastern Capital" written by Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D.220).

As the art of printing had not been invented at that time, people who were fond of this "Ode" had to make handwritten copies of it themselves. As there were so many people who vied with each other in making handwritten copies, the supply of writing paper fell short of the demand in Luoyang went up greatly.

This story comes from "The life of Zuo Si" in the book "Literary Field" of The History of the Jin Dynasty. Based on this story, people have coined the set phrase "the price of writing paper went up greatly", meaning the overwhelming popularity of a new work causes shortage of printing paper, to show how popular an outstanding piece of literary work is.

Luo4 yang2 zhi3 gui4
洛阳纸贵

晋代文学家左思,小时候是个非常顽皮、不爱读书的孩子.父亲经常为这事发脾气,可是小左思仍然淘气得很,不肯好好学习.

有一天,左思的父亲与朋友们聊天,朋友们羡慕他有个聪明可爱的儿子.左思的父亲叹口气说:"快别提他了,小儿左思的学习,还不如我小时候,看来没有多大的出息了."说着,脸上流露出失望的神色.这一切都被小左思看到听到了,他非常难过,觉得自己不好好念书确实很没出息.于是,暗暗下定决心,一定要刻苦学习.

日复一日,年复一年,左思渐渐长大了,由于他坚持不懈地发奋读书,终于成为一位学识渊博的人,文章也写得非常好.他用一年的时间写成了《齐都赋》,显示出他在文学方面的才华,为他成为杰出的文学家奠定了基础.这以后他又计划以三国时魏、蜀、吴首都的风土、人情、物产为内容,撰写《三都赋》.为了在内容、结构、语言诸方面都达到一定水平,他潜心研究,精心撰写,废寝忘食,用了整整十年,文学巨著《三都赋》终于写成了.

《三都赋》受到谅也评,人们把它和汉代文学杰作《两都赋》相比.由于当时还没有发明印刷术,喜爱《三都赋》的人只能争相抄阅,因为抄写的人太多,京城洛阳的纸张供不应求,一时间全城纸价大幅度上升.

故事出自《晋书·文苑·左思传》.成语"洛阳纸贵",称颂杰出的作品风行一进.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 退避三舍

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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.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 探骊得珠

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Groping about the Chin of the Black Dragon to Get a Pearl-Bringing Out the Best (探骊得珠 tan li de zhu)

探骊得珠Groping about the Chin of the Black Dragon to Get a Pearl-Bringing Out the Best

Long,Long age,there lived a family by the Yellow River. They lived a very poor life, depending on cutting reeds, weaving hanging screens and dust pans for a livelihood.

One day,the son was cutting reeds by the riverside. With the scroching sun directly overhead, his head was swimming, so he sat down to take a rest. Looking at the river water in front which was his father had once told him. In the depths of the river there were many rare treasures, but nobody dared to get them because a fierce black dragon was residing there.

He thought that, if he could dive into the depths of the river and get the treasures, the whole family would not have to toil from morning till night and yet could not have enough to eat as now. He thought it would be better to have a try, and he was resolved to try in desperation. So he took off his clothes nimbly and dived into the cold water with a splash.

At first, he could see small fish here and there all around. However,the deeper he dived ,the darker it became,and the colder the river water. At last, it was pitch-dark all around,and he could see nothing. He became frightened, and was at a loss where he should swim to.

Just at that time,he noticed a round object which was glittering not far away. He fixed his eyes on it, and saw it was a bright pearl. He held his breath and swam over there,held the pearl with both hands, pulled it with a great effort, and the bright pearl come into his arms. He came out from the water immediately, climbed up the bank, and made off for home at once.

His father saw the bright pearl, and asked where he had got it. He told his father the whole story exactly as it had happened.

Hearing this, his father said repeatedly, "How dangerous it was! This precious pearl was grown on the chin of the black dragon. The black must have been sleeping when you were pulling the pearl. If the black dragon were awake, you would be dead." When the son heard this, he considered himself very lucky indeed.

This story appears in The Works of Zhuang Zi.From this story,later generations have derived the set phrase "groping about the chin of the black dragon to get a pearl-- bringing out the best" to indicate that an article is to the point.

tan4 li2 de5 zhu1
探骊得珠

很久很久以前,有一户人家住在黄河边上,靠割芦苇、编帘子簸箕为生,日子过得非常贫困.

有一天,儿子在河边割芦苇,烈日当空,晒得他头昏眼花,于是他就坐下来休息.他望着眼前的河水在阳光下闪耀着粼粼波光,想起父亲说过,在河的最深处有许多珍宝,可是谁也不敢去,因为那里住着一条凶猛的黑龙叫骊龙,他想,要是潜到河底,找到珍宝,我们一家人就用不着像现在这样一天干到晚,三顿还吃不饱,不如豁出去试一试.他把心一横,三下两下脱了衣服,一头扎进冰冷的河里.

开始他还看得见四周的小鱼在游来游去,再往深处,光线变得越来越暗,水也越来越凉,最后,他什么都看不见了,四周一团漆黑.他心里有点害怕,不知该往哪儿游.就在这时,不远处有一个圆圆的物体在闪闪发光,定睛细看,啊,原来是明珠!他憋足一口气游过去,双手抱住明珠,使劲一拽,明珠就到了他怀里.他迅速浮出水面,上岸后撒腿就往家跑.

父亲一见明珠,就问他是从哪儿得到的.他把经过一五一十地向父亲讲述一遍.父亲听了说:"好险哪!这颗价值千金的明珠是长在黑龙下巴底下的,你摘它的时候黑龙必定是睡着了.它要是醒着,你可就没命了."故事见于《庄子列御寇》.成语"探骊得珠",比喻写文章能紧扣主题,抓住要点.

posted by vann0000 February 11, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 【成语故事】壶中天地

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【成语故事】壶中天地 -- Realm in a Jar

(Clearwisdom.net) The saying "Heaven and Earth in a Jar" is a Chinese idiom derived from a story of the Yuntai Taoist Temple caretaker Zhang Shen from the Donghan Dynasty (25-220) who always carried a liquor vessel, and called a realm inside the jar the "Jar Heaven." Thus, people called him the "Jar Gentleman."

***
About three hundred miles away from Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, there is a Yuntai Mountain, which is a sacred place in Taoism. According to records from Taoism, Zhang Daoling (34-156), who was called the Zhengyitian Teacher, brought 370 of his disciples to Yuntai Mountain to cultivate.

Soon after, he saw that the temple didn't have a caretaker yet, so he then assigned disciple Zhang Shen to be the Temple caretaker. Under Zhang Shen's careful management, the Temple became more and more prosperous.

There was a gentleman called Shi Cun who strongly wished to cultivate in Taoism and to become an immortal. He heard that Zhang Daoling assigned a deity called the Jar Gentleman as caretaker in the Yuntai Temple, so he went there to learn from the Jar Gentlemen. There is a remarkable story behind his nickname.

It was discovered that Zhang Shen carried a liquor jar with him all the time. Whenever he chanted an incantation, there would be a realm displayed inside his jar with a sun, a moon, stars, a blue sky, earth, mountains, woods and grasslands, flowers, temples and houses, etc. Even more mysterious was that every night, Zhang Shen would put his jar on the floor, and slip into the jar to sleep after chanting incantations to enjoy his deity realm. He called his realm inside the jar the "Jar Heaven." Thus, people called him the "Jar Gentleman."

In the several thousand years of Chinese history, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism formed the colorful divine culture in China, and passed on many cultivation stories. People that do not believe in gods may think these are fairy tales or myths, but they are actually true historical events. Modern people use "A Realm in a Jar" to describe a Taoist heaven, or a realm that is beyond the dusty everyday world. If we can change our rigid ordinary mentalities, then maybe we can find ourselves in another realm, like the "Heaven and Earth in a Jar."

【成语故事】壶中天地

这则成语来源于《云笈七鉴·二十八治》：后遇张申，为云合治官，常悬一壶，如五升器大，号“壶天”，人谓“壶公”。

离成都一千多里的地方，有一座云台山，那里是著名的道教圣地。据道家书籍记载，被尊为正一天师的张道陵，曾经带着三百七十名弟子来到云台山修行。

不久，张天师看到道观没人管理，就派弟子张申为云台道观主持。在张申的悉心管理下，云台道观的香火越来越兴旺了。

当时有个名叫施存的人，一心学道，想成为一个长生不老的神仙。他听说云台山上有张天师派驻的神仙壶公，便不远万里，来到云台山向壶公学道。神仙壶公就是云台道观的主持张申，他所以称为神仙壶公，还有一段神奇的故事。

有一次，人们意外的发现，张申身上有一把酒壶，只要他念动咒语，壶中便会展现出日月星辰、蓝天大地、崇山峻岭、花草树木、亭台楼阁等各种奇景。更令人惊奇的是，到了晚上，张申把宝壶放在地上，念了咒语后，便钻進壶里睡觉，尽情享受里面的神仙世界。他把壶中的天地称为“壶天”，所以，人们称他为“壶公”。

几千年来在中华大地上儒、释、道三家思想交相辉映，构成了色彩纷呈的中华神传文化。这其中，有许许多多丰富多彩的修炼故事，不信神的人以为这是神话或是传说，其实这些修炼故事都是历史的真实。现代人用成语“壶中天地”表示道家所说的仙境，或比喻超凡脱俗的境界，可是如果我们改变一下僵化的常人观念和思维方式，或许我们也会发现“壶中天地”，别有洞天呢！

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 画饼充饥

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画饼充饥(huà bǐng chōng jī)

In the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), the king of the Wei, Cao Rui, wanted to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: 'When choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation. A false reputation is just like a picture of a cake; it can' t relieve hunger." Later, this idiom came to be used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts, without solving practical problems.

画饼充饥

三国时期，有一个人叫卢毓，在魏国做官，由于他为魏文帝曹丕出了许多好主意，因此，受到朝廷器重，升为侍中、中书郎。

有一次，魏文帝对卢毓说："国家能不能得到有才能的人，关键就在你了。选拔人才，不要取那些有名声的，名气不过是在地上画一个饼，不能吃的。"

卢毓回答说："靠名声是不可能衡量才能的人，但是，可以发现一般的人才。由于修养高，行为好，而有名的，是不应该厌恶他们。我以为主要的是对他们进行考核，看他们是否真有才学。现在废除了考试法，全靠名誉提升或降职，所以真伪难辩，虚实混淆。"

魏文帝采纳了卢毓的意见，下令制定考试法。

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 杞人忧天

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杞人忧天 (qǐ rén yōu tiān)

Once upon a time, thare was a man in the state of Qi, he always worried about things that won't happen. One day, he was anxious again, because he was afraid for he thought if the sky collapsed, he would be crushed into death. He worried about that every day, he was thinner and thinner. But time went by, everything was ok, except his worrying heart. It was said that he didn't stop worrying about the "collapsing sky" even at the moment he was dead.

This idiom is used to describe people who wastes time and energy, even life on the bad situations that won't happen.

杞人忧天

　　从前在杞国，有一个胆子很小，而且有点神经质的人，他常会想到一些奇怪的问题，而
 让人觉得莫名其妙。
     有一天，他吃过晚饭以后，拿了一把大蒲扇，坐在门前程量，并且自言自语的说：
   “假如有一天，天塌了下来，那该怎么办呢？我们岂不是无路可逃，而将活活地被压
 死，这不就太冤枉了吗？”
    从此以后，他几乎每天为这个问题发愁、烦恼，朋友见他终日精神恍惚，脸色憔悴，都
 很替他担心，但是，当大家知道原因后，都跑来劝他说：
    “老兄啊！你何必为这件事自寻烦恼呢？天空怎么会塌下来呢？在说即使真的塌下来，
那也不是你一个人忧虑发愁就可以解决的啊，想开点吧！”
    可是，无论人家怎么说，他都不相信，仍然时常为这个不必要的问题担忧。
    后来的人就根据上面这个故事，引伸成“杞人忧天”这句成语，它的主要意义在唤醒人
 们不要为一些不切实际的事情而忧愁。它与“庸人自扰”的意义大致相同。

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 百发百中

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百发百中（bǎi fā bǎi zhòng）

In the Spring and Autumn Period, there was an expert archer in the State of Chu called Yang Youji. To test his skill, someone chose three leaves at different heights on a willow tree, and challenged him to hit them in order. Yang Youji stood more than one hundred paces away, and hit the three leaves in order.This idiom describes excellent marksmanship. Later it became used to indicate great assurance.

百发百中
【词目】百发百中
【发音】 bǎi fā bǎi zhòng
【释义】 1.每次都命中目标，形容射箭或射击非常准。2.比喻做事有充分把握，办事成功，决不落空。
【出处】《战国策·西周策》：“楚有养由基者，善射，去柳叶百步而射之，百发百中。”
【示例】回见子牙，叩头在地：“丞相妙计，～。”（明·许仲琳《封神演义》第三十六回）
【用法】联合式；作谓语、定语、补语；形容射击技术高明。
【灯谜】弼；神枪手
【近义词】弹无虚发、百步穿杨、百无一失
【反义词】无的放矢、百不一存
【歇后语】靶场上的老黄忠
“百发百中”这则成语的意思是射一百次，中一百次，形容箭无虚发。泛指射击技术高明，每发必中；也比喻对事惰的预料有充分把握，从不失算。
这个成语来源于《战国策.西周策》，楚有养由基者，善射。去柳叶者百步而射之，百发百中。
苏厉，是战国时期从事政治外交活动的谋士。有一次，他听说秦国大将白起将要带兵攻打魏国都城大梁，而大梁一旦被秦占领，附近的西周王室就有危险。于是，苏厉对周王说：“白起这几年打败过韩、赵等国，夺取了许多土地。现在他将要带兵攻打大梁，大梁一旦被白起攻下，周王室危险了！您应当想办法阻止白起出兵。” 于是周王派苏厉前往秦国。苏厉对白起说：“从前，楚国有一个名叫养由基的人，是一个射箭能手，他距离柳树一百步放箭射击，每箭都射中柳叶的中心，百发百中，左右看的人都说射得很好，可是一个过路的人却说：‘这个人，可以教他该怎样射了。’
养由基听了这话，心里很不舒服，就说：‘大家都说我射得好，你竟说可以教我射了，你为什么不来替我射那柳叶呢！’
那个人说：‘我不能教你怎样伸左臂屈右臂的射箭本领；不过你有没有想过，你射柳叶百发百中，但是却不善于休息，等一会疲倦了，一箭射不中，就会前功尽弃。’” 讲完这段故事，苏厉把话题拉回来说：“你已经打败了韩、赵等国，取得了许多土地，功劳很大。现在，又要派你带兵出关，经过西周王室的所在地去进攻大梁，如果这一仗不能取胜，就会前功尽弃。你不如说自己生病，不要出兵为好。”
白起听了，笑着说：“我所向披靡，百战百胜，怎么会不能取胜呢？”
于是，他没有被苏厉说动，率兵攻打魏国，果然又大获全胜，夺取了魏国的几十座城池。
解释: 每次都能命中目标，形容射箭或射击非常闪。比喻做事有充分把握，绝不落空。
养由基，是春秋时楚国的名将，也是我国古代著名的射箭能手。《左传》和《史记》都载有他的一些故事。例如：
有一次，晋厉公攻伐郑国。楚共王出兵援郑，和晋军相遇于鄢陵（即所谓的“鄢陵之战”。鄢陵，今属河南省）。战斗中，晋将魏錡射伤了楚共王的眼睛。楚共王恨之入骨，就约养由基两枝箭，要他代为报仇。结果，养由基只用了一枝箭就把魏錡射死，而把另一支箭还给楚共王复命。
在楚共王时，还有一个善射的人，名叫潘党，能每箭射中箭靶的靶红心。养由基对他说：“这还不算本事，要能在百步之外射中杨柳叶子，才算差不多了。”潘党不服，当即选定杨柳树上的三片叶子，并标明号数，叫养由基退到百步之外，顺序射去。养由基连射三箭，果然，第一箭中一号叶心，第二箭中二号叶心，第三箭中三号叶心，非常准确。
《史记》说：“楚有养由基者，善射者也，去柳叶百步而射之，百发而百中”。
形容射箭技术的高明，因此叫做“百发百中”，也称“百步穿杨”。王琚的《射经》说：“其的（箭靶）始于一丈，百发百中，寸而加之（一寸一寸地增加距离），至于百步，亦百发百中，乃为术成。”
“百发百中”这句成语，今天常用来形容神枪手的射击技术，还可以用来比喻料事必中和谋事必成。
解释: 每次都能命中目标，形容射箭或射击非常闪。比喻做事有充分把握，绝不落空。
养由基，是春秋时楚国的名将，也是我国古代著名的射箭能手。《左传》和《史记》都载有他的一些故事。例如：
有一次，晋厉公攻伐郑国。楚共王出兵援郑，和晋军相遇于鄢陵（即所谓的“鄢陵之战”。鄢陵，今属河南省）。战斗中，晋将魏錡射伤了楚共王的眼睛。楚共王恨之入骨，就约养由基两枝箭，要他代为报仇。结果，养由基只用了一枝箭就把魏錡射死，而把另一支箭还给楚共王复命。
在楚共王时，还有一个善射的人，名叫潘党，能每箭射中箭靶的靶红心。养由基对他说：“这还不算本事，要能在百步之外射中杨柳叶子，才算差不多了。”潘党不服，当即选定杨柳树上的三片叶子，并标明号数，叫养由基退到百步之外，顺序射去。养由基连射三箭，果然，第一箭中一号叶心，第二箭中二号叶心，第三箭中四号叶心，非常准确。
《史记》说：“楚有养由基者，善射者也，去柳叶百步而射之，百发而百中”。
形容射箭技术的高明，因此叫做“百发百中”，也称“百步穿杨”。王琚的《射经》说：“其的（箭靶）始于一丈，百发百中，寸而加之（一寸一寸地增加距离），至于百步，亦百发百中，乃为术成。”
“百发百中”这句成语，今天常用来形容神枪手的射击技术，还可以用来比喻料事必中和谋事必成。

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 爱屋及乌

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爱屋及乌（ài wū jí wū）

There was a state called zhou in the chinese history. One day, the king of zhou asked his officials for advice on dealing with prisoners of war. An official said, "i once heard if you love someone, you are intended to love even the crows on the roof of his house; if you hate someone, you are intended to hate even the walls and the parapets of his. The prisoners of war were enemies fighting against us. In my opinion, we'd better kill them all." But the king.

『成语故事』爱屋及乌

作者：一斗

【大纪元12月22日讯】纣王死了，商朝灭了，周武王仍忧心忡忡，问：“进了殷都，对商朝的旧部怎么处置呢？”

太公说：“我听说：喜爱一个人，会喜欢他屋上的乌鸦（爱屋及乌）；讨厌一个人，会讨厌他家的墙壁篱笆。应该杀尽那些敌对分子。”武王认为不行。

召公说：“杀了那些有罪的；放了那些无罪的。”武王认为不好。

周公说：“释放所有的人，用仁德来感化他们。”

周武王听了，心中豁然开朗，觉得天下可以安定了。

“爱屋及乌”比喻喜欢一个人，就会喜欢和这个人相关的东西。

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 不学无术

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不学无术(bù xué wú shù)

In the reign of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, Grand General Huo Guang was a minister who occupied a decisive position at court and was deeply trusted by the emperor. when Emperor Wudi was dying, he entrusted Huo Guang with the task of assisting his youngest son Liu fuelling (Emperor Zhaodi)in go verning the country. After the death of Emperor Zhaodi,Huo Guang made Liu Xun the emperor. who was Emperor Xuandi of the Han Dynasty. Controlling the imperial government for more than 40 years ,Huo Guang had rendered fairly outstanding service to the Western Han Dynasty. After Liu Xun ascended the throne, he made Imperial Concubine Xu his queen. Hankering after wealth and rank, Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian tried to make her youngest daughter Chengjun the queen of Lin Xun. So ,taking the opportunity of the queen's illness, Huo Xian bribed a woman doctor who poisoned the queen to death. The venomous scheme was brought to light,and the woman doctor was put into jail. Huo Guang knew nothing about it beforehand, and it was not until after the event that his wife told him about it. Seized with terror, Huo Guang reproached his wife for doing such a thing, He thought of reporting his wife for her crime, but at the same time did not have the beart to have her wife punished. After much hesitation, he conceited the thing offensive to God and reason in the end. After Huo Guang died,Emperor Xuandi was informed of the case. Someone was sent to investigate it. Hearing this,Huo Guang's wife discussed with her family members and trusted followers in order to find a way to deal with her family members and trusted followers in order to find a way to deal with the situation. Three decided to call the clansmen together to stage a rebellion. But the secret was divulged. Emperor Xuandi sent troops to surround Hue's home, and all the members of Hue's family were executed. Commenting on the merits and demerits of Huo Guang, historian Ban Gu(32-92) said in "The Life of Huo Guang "in his History of the Han Dynasty that Huo Guang "had neither knowledge nor skill and did not understand the major principles". That is to say, Huo Guang did not understand the truths concerning the overall situation because he did not study and had no knowledge. The set phrase" having neither knowledge nor skill" is later used to refer to being ignorant and incompetent.

汉武帝在位的时候，大将军霍光是朝廷举足轻重的大臣，深得武帝信任。武帝临死前，把幼子刘弗陵（昭帝）托付给霍光辅佐。昭帝去世后，霍光又立刘询做皇帝（宣帝）。霍光掌握朝政大权四十多年，为西汉王进立下了不小的功勋。刘询承皇位以后，立许妃做皇后。霍光的妻子霍显，是个贪图富贵的女人，她想把自己的小女儿成君嫁给刘询做皇后，就趁许娘娘有病的机会，买通女医下毒害死了许后。毒计败露，女医下狱。此事霍光事先一点也不知道，等事情出来了，霍显才告诉他。霍光非常惊惧，指责妻子不该办这种事情。他也想去告发，但又不忍心妻子被治罪，前思后想，还是把这件伤天害理的事情隐瞒下来了。霍光死后，有人向宣帝告发此案，宣帝派人去调查处理。霍光的妻子听说了，与家人、亲信商量对策，决定召集族人策划谋反，不想走漏了风声，宣帝派兵将霍家包围，满门抄斩。东汉史学家班固在《汉书·霍光传》中评论霍光的功过。说他“不学无术，暗于大理”，意思是：霍光不读书，没学识，因而不明关乎大局的道理。成语“不学无术”，指没有学问，没有本领。

不学无术(bù xué wú shù)
【翻译】ignorant and incompetent
【释义】原指没有学问因而没有办法。现指没有学问，没有本领。
【例句】小明整天不学无术，游手好闲。
【近义词】目不识丁、胸无点墨
【反义词】博古通今、博学多才

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 歧路亡羊

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歧路亡羊 （qí lù wáng yáng）

One neighbor of Yang Zi-a famous scholar lost a sheep. He asked all his relatives and friends and Yang Zi's servant for help. Yang Zi asked, "Why do you send so many people out just for one lost sheep?"

His neighbor said, "Because there are a lot of branch road."

After a while, all the people came back. "Have you found the sheep?" Yang Zi asked."No," they answered, "Each road has branch roads and each branch has its forked roads. We just do not know which road to follow. So we give up."

On hearing this, Yang Zi became silent. His student did not understand what the teacher was thinking about. He passed the question to Xin Du Zi, a friend of Yang Zi. Xin Du Zi replied, "Your tutor is worrying about your study. What have happened reminds him of the difficulty of learning and researching. He thinks that if you fail to find the right orientation and method of study, you can accomplish nothing, just like those people trying to find the lost sheep."

学者杨子的邻居丢了一只羊，叫了亲戚朋友又请了杨子的仆人一起去找羊。杨子问：“丢了一只羊，为什么要找这么多的人去追呢？”邻居说：“因为路上有很多岔路啊！”过了一会儿，人们回来了。“找到羊了吗？”，杨子问。“没有”，大家回答，“路上有岔路，岔路上又有岔路。我们不知该往哪儿找，只好回来了。”杨子听了沉默不语。他的学生不明白老师在想什么，跑去问老师的朋友心都子。心都子说：“你们的老师在担心你们的学业呀。这件事让他想到你们的学习和研究上有很多困难。如果你们找不到正确的学习方向和方法，最终将没有任何成就，就像大家找不到这只跑丢了的羊。”

歧路亡羊（qí lù wáng yáng）
【翻译】 to go on the wrong track; to lose or miss one's way; to go astray
【释义】因岔路太多无法追寻而丢失了羊。比喻事物复杂多变，没有正确的方向就会误入歧途。
【例句】面对众说纷纭，我们应冷静地作出正确判断，否则就会无所适从、“歧路亡羊”。
【近义词】误入歧途
【反义词】改邪归正

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 南辕北辙

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南辕北辙（nán yuán běi zhé）

Once a man wanted to go to the south, but his carriage was heading north. A passer-by asked him: 'If you are going to the south, why is your chariot heading north? ' The man answered, 'My horse is good at running, my driver is highly skilled at driving a carriage, and I have enough money. ' The man didn't consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions were, the further he was away from his destination. The idiom derived from this story indicates that one's action was the opposite effect to one's intention.

从前有个人要到南方去，他坐的车子却向北方行驶。过路人说：“你去南方，车子怎么向北行驶呢？”他回答说：“我的马很能跑路，我的车夫驾车的技术也很高明，加上我又带了充足的路费。”这个人没有考虑到，方向弄反了，他的条件越好，离他要去的地方就越远。后来人们就把这个故事概括为“南辕北辙”，比喻一个人的行为和他的目的正好相反。

南辕北辙（nán yuán běi zhé）
【翻译】one's action was the opposite effect to one's intention.
【释义】想往南而车子却向北行。比喻行动和目的正好相反。
【例句】图书馆在左边，你往右走，这不是南辕北辙吗？
【近义词】背道而驰
【反义词】殊途同归背道而驰异途同归

posted by vann0000 February 12, 2009

Chinese Idiom - 嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗

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嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗 - Follow the man you marry, be he a cock or dog.

In ancient, China arranged marriages by parents and matchmakers were the rule. A woman had no right to choose her husband, no freedom to love a man of her own choice. As a matter of fact, many girls did not meet their fiancés until the wedding day when their wedding veil was lifted by the bridegroom.

In the idiom, the “fowl/cock” and “cur/dog” refer to different kinds of men.

It means that whoever your husband is, whether he is good or bad, a girl has no alternative but to live with the man obediently for the rest of her life. There is a connotation of helplessness on the part of the married woman. Life has changed a great deal since then. When people use this idiom today, they do it half jokingly.

Examples
① A: Life was really a misery for women in ancient China, for even if they were badly treated by their husbands they had no alternative but to bear with them. B: This is called “follow the man you marry, be he a cock or dog”. Fortunately, today’s women enjoy much more freedom.

② A: Your husband is just an ordinary office clerk and he treats you so badly. Why don’t you divorce him?
B: Well, “follow the man you marry, be he a cock or dog”. As the children are already so big, I will just put up with him.

中国古代盛行“包办婚姻”。女人没有自主的权利，不能自由恋爱，很多女孩子常常是举行婚礼时才见到自己未来的丈夫。
“嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗”这个俗语中的鸡、狗是指各种各样的人。这句话的意思是说，不管结婚对象好还是不好，女人都没有选择的余地，都要顺从地跟对方过一辈子。这里面有无可奈何的意思。现代人的生活有了很大的变化，现在人们说这句话的时候也有半开玩笑的意思。
例句
① A：古代的女子真是不幸，即使丈夫对她不好也只能忍受。
B：这叫嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗，想想现在的人真是自由多了。
② A：你的丈夫不过是个普通的小职员，还对你这么不好，你怎么不跟他分手呢？ B：唉，嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗。孩子们都这么大了，凑合着过吧

Though Chinese Today are more open, but they still regard family as an important thing in life.

posted by vann0000 February 13, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 鸡毛蒜皮

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鸡毛蒜皮 - Chicken feathers and garlic skin

Both chicken feathers and garlic skin are the rubbish left when cooking a chicken. Being worthless, they attract little attention. The Chinese use the expression chicken feathers and garlic skin to describe something unimportant or worthless, which usually does not merit people’s attention. Sometimes the phrase also refers to something very boring or trivial.

Examples

① A: He doesn’t seem very happy these days. When he sees me he doesn’t even say hello to me. B: Well, don't take offence at such a trivial matter.

② A: The young married couple often quarrel over which dress to wear and which dish to eat. B: It is stupid to quarrel over such trivial matters.

鸡的羽毛、蒜的外皮儿都是做饭剩下的垃圾，不是什么贵重的东西，引不起人们的注意。汉语里用“鸡毛蒜皮”来比喻不重要的、没有意义的小事，通常不值得人们注意或计较，有时也用来指无聊的事。
例句
① A：最近他好像不太高兴，见了面也不和我打招呼。 B：咳，别去计较那些鸡毛蒜皮的小事。
② A：他们小两口经常因为穿什么衣服出门、吃什么饭吵架。 B：为这些鸡毛蒜皮的事儿吵架真不值得。

posted by vann0000 February 13, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 鸡蛋里挑骨头

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鸡蛋里挑骨头 - Looking for a bone in an egg

(jī dàn lĭ tiāo gŭ tou)
There is of course no bone in an egg. Therefore, if one wants to find a bone inside an egg, it is out of the question. The phrase looking for a bone in an egg means trying deliberately to find a fault with someone or something faultless.

The idiom is often used to describe someone who is very picky, who finds faults with others on purpose. If you have a colleague or neighbour who is a nit-picker, you had better be cautious. In addition, you yourself had better not be such a picky person.
Examples

① A: One moment he says the size is too big, another moment he says the colour is too dark. What shall I do? B: He is just looking for a bone in an egg.

② A: I think Manager Liu is a very strict person. B: Do you think so? I think he is often simply looking for a bone in an egg. Sometimes, we have done a very good job, but he still complains. and that, looking rather dissatisfied.

鸡蛋里面没有骨头，要从鸡蛋里找出骨头来，那当然是不可能的。“鸡蛋里挑骨头”的意思就是，从没有毛病的人身上或没有问题的事物中故意找毛病，找问题。这个俗语常用来指有的人过分挑剔，故意为难别人。如果你身边有这样的人，你可要当心。还有，你最好不要做“鸡蛋里挑骨头”的人哦。
例句
① A：他一会儿说尺寸有点大，一会儿又说颜色太深。我怎么办呀？ B：他这是鸡蛋里挑骨头，没事找事。
② A：我看咱们刘经理是个很严格的人。 B：严格？我看他多半是鸡蛋里挑骨头，有时我们已经做得很好了，他还说这说那，一副很不满意的样子

posted by vann0000 February 13, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 黄鼠狼给鸡拜年, 没安好心

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黄鼠狼给鸡拜年, 没安好心 - A weasel paying a New Year call to a chicken, with no good intentions

(huáng shŭ láng gĕi jī bài nián, méi ān hăo xīn)

A weasel is an enemy of the chicken, often attacking and eating them when it is dark. If it pays a courtesy call to a chicken during New Year, it sounds strange, doesn't it? Indeed, it does this not out of kindness or politeness, but with an ulterior motive—to find an opportunity to catch the chicken and eat it up. So, never trust the apparent friendliness of a weasel. In this idiom, the weasel is a metaphor for someone with an evil intention, and the chicken is a metaphor for someone weak and vulnerable. This idiom is used to describe someone pretending to be kind and friendly, but with an evil intention at heart or having an axe to grind.

Examples
① A: Well, isn’t it strange? Our boss Mr Zhang brought some watermelons to the female workers’ dormitory. B: He is just a weasel that pays a New Year call to a chicken. I wonder who is his target this time.

② A: Mr Wang is so generous, buying you such expensive gifts. B: This is a weasel paying a New Year call to a chicken! He is afraid of me exposing his scandalous deeds.

黄鼠狼经常趁天黑偷鸡吃，是鸡的敌人。黄鼠狼在过年的时候去看望鸡，给鸡拜年，这事听起来很奇怪，是吧？对了，它并不是出于好心，而是另有目的，它要找机会把鸡吃掉，所以可千万别相信黄鼠狼的热情。在这里，黄鼠狼比喻不怀好心的人，鸡比喻弱小的人，这句话的意思就是表面上装作对别人亲热友好，实际上心里打着坏主意，另有图谋。
例句
① A：哎，今天真奇怪，张老板到女工宿舍送西瓜去了呢！ B：他呀，黄鼠狼给鸡拜年，不知道心里又在打谁的主意呢！
② A：老王够大方的啊，给你买这么贵重礼物啊！ B：这是黄鼠狼给鸡拜年嘛！他啊，是怕我把他的丑事抖搂出去。

posted by vann0000 February 13, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 专横跋扈

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专横跋扈

专横跋扈 [zhuānhènɡbáhù]

1. 1. [Chinese idiom] Arrogant and despotic.

对于总经理助理专横跋扈的行为，员工们敢怒不敢言。

duì yú zŏngjīng lĭ zhù lĭ zhuān héng bá hù de xíng wéi, yuán gōng men găn nù bù găn yán.

The staff felt indignant but dared not say a word about the imperious and despotic acts of the general manager.

posted by vann0000 February 13, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 对牛弹琴

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Duì niú tán qín
对牛弹琴

Play the lute to a cow

对牛弹琴－　Dui Niu Tan Qin

Literal Meaning - Face cow, play (stringed) instrument．
Figurative meaning - Reasoning with Stubborn people or talking to the wrong audience

The Story:

In ancient times, there lived a musician named Gong Mingyi. He was a master of the Zheng, a plucked string instrument. Unfortunately, his rash behavior often led him astray.

One day, he saw a cow grazing in a field near his house. He was inspired by the scene and ran outside to play a tune for the cow. Gong Mingyi played beautifully, finding himself intoxicated by the music. But the cow paid no heed to the elegant sounds, simply focusing its attention on eating the grass. Gong Mingyi was surprised at this and could not comprehend the cow’s flippant indifference. He felt that since his performance had been masterful, this means that the cow neither understood nor appreciated his elegant music!

Explanation:

"Play the lute to a cow", implies that someone speaks or writes without considering his audience. Generally speaking, it means the speaker or writer has over-estimated his listeners or readers. In these cases, the idiom mocks the audience rather than the speaker.

Usage Example:

Don't play the lute to a cow; he will not understand your feeling.

对牛弹琴(對牛彈琴)

【拼音】duì niú tán qín

【出处】公明仪为牛弹清角之操，伏食如枚。非牛不闻，不合其耳矣。　　汉·牟融《理惑论》

【释义】讥笑听话的人不懂对方说得是什么。用以讥笑说话的人不看对象。

【用法】作谓语、宾语、定语；用于讥讽别人

【结构】偏正式

【近义词】对牛鼓簧、白费口舌

【反义词】对症下药、有的放矢

【同韵词】病国殃民、平步青云、一登龙门、山中白云、血口喷人、自己人、藏诸名山，传之其人、以力服人、遁世离羣、偃武觌文、......

【年代】古代

【灯谜】牧童拉二胡

【邂逅语】抱着琵琶进磨坊

【英语】castpearlsbeforeswine<preachtodeafears;talktoapost;whistlejigstoamilestone>

【德文】einerKuhdieLautevorspielen<indenWindreden>

【日语】馬の耳に念仏(ねんぶつ)

【法语】perdresasalive<parleràunmur,àunsourd>

【俄语】трáтитьзряврéмя

【语文课本】但是，他太卑微，太渺小，太愚昧，最大的倾泄也只是对牛弹琴，换得一个漠然的表情。　　余秋雨《道士塔》高中三册·课文·１１

【成语故事】古代音乐家公明仪每次弹琴时，他的琴声引来很多鸟儿与蝴蝶。当看到水牛在吃草，就对水牛弹奏几曲，结果水牛无动于衷地走开，公明仪大叹：“对牛弹琴，一窍不通。”

【成语示列】对牛弹琴，牛不入耳，骂得很好，咱们一总再算账！　　清·李当珍《镜花缘》第九十回

【成语连句】

我也知道这是对牛弹琴，他这样敷衍我欺骗我也不止一次了。
毛主席在《反对党八股》就说：＂＇对牛弹琴＇这句话，含有讥笑对象的意思。
我想，这不是对牛弹琴吗？再说，＂人类灵魂的工程师－－这岂不是吹牛吗？我算老几？＂我又轻轻地在她的头上拍了一下，把她抱起来，在她颊上亲了一个吻，然后把她推向门外。

posted by vann0000 February 15, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 白面书生

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白面书生

bai2 mian4 shu1 sheng1

lit. pale-faced scholar / young and inexperienced person without practical experience

posted by vann0000 February 15, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 不学无术

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不学无术
bù xué wú shù

英译 (English)

Have neither learning nor skill;be ignorant and incompetent; lack neither knowledge nor ability

释义(paraphrase)

学：学问；术：技能。原指没有学问因而没有办法。现指没有学问，没有本领。

示例(demonstration)

在现代化的社会里，不学无术、没有专长的人是很难有发展机会的。

posted by vann0000 February 15, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 不远千里

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不远千里
bù yuăn qiān lĭ

英译 (English)     to come for a visit from a faraway place
释义 (paraphrase)     不以千里为远。形容不怕路途遥远。
示例 (demonstration)     王华不远千里从山西太原来重庆“相亲”。

posted by vann0000 February 15, 2009

Chinese Idioms - 杀鸡吓猴

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杀鸡吓猴

sha1 ji1 xia4 hou2

lit. killing the chicken to scare the monkey; to punish an individual as an example to others

posted by vann0000 February 15, 2009