成语典故(中英版)--边学英语，边学古文化

rosyhorse

自相矛盾His Spear Against His Shield


这个成语出自《韩非子·难一》。
　　古时候，矛和盾都是作战用的武器。矛用来刺杀敌人，盾则用来保护身体，以免被对方的矛刺中。
　　传说很久以前，楚国有个卖兵器的人，在市场上卖矛和盾。为了让人家愿意买他的货，他先举起盾向人们夸口道：“你们看，我的盾是世上最坚固的盾，任何锋利的东西都不能刺穿它。”接着又举起他的矛，向人吹嘘说：“你们再看看我的矛，它锋利无比，无坚不摧，无论多么坚硬的盾，都挡不住它，一刺就穿！”
　　围观的人听了他的话都觉得很好笑，人群中有人问道：“依你的说法，你的矛无论怎样坚硬的盾都能刺穿，而你的盾又是无论多么锋利的矛也不能把它刺穿。那就拿你的矛来刺你的盾吧，看看结果怎么样？”
　　卖兵器的人听了张口结舌，无从回答，只好拿着矛和盾走了。
　　“自相矛盾”就是由这个故事演变而来的。现在人们用它来比喻做事、说话前后自相抵触。　　A man of the state of Chu had a spear and a shield for sale. He was loud in praises of his shield.
　　"My shield is so strong that nothing can pierce it through."
　　He also sang praises of his spear.
　　"My spear is so strong that it can pierce through anything."
　　"What would happen," he was asked, "if your spear is used to pierce your shield?"
　　It is impossible for an impenetrable shield to coexist with a spear that finds nothing impenetrable.

rosyhorse

东施效颦Aping a Beauty


越国苎罗(今浙江诸暨南)有位姓施的美女，因为家住若耶溪西岸，所以村里人叫她西施。若耶溪东岸也有位姓施的姑娘。她长得很丑，村里人管她叫东施。 　　有一天，西施心口疼，走路的时候双手捂住胸部，并且皱着眉头。村里人见她这个模样，都同情地说：“瞧这姑娘的模样，准是疼得难受，真是可怜！”
　　西施的病态正好被东施瞧见了。她一边看，一边默默记住她难受的姿态和动作。回到溪东后，也模仿西施的模样，双手捂住胸部，同时皱着眉头。
　　东施的这副模样，使村里人大吃一惊，富人紧闭大门不出来，穷人也带着妻儿躲开。 东施只知道人家皱着眉头很美，却不知道为什么皱着眉头会美。
　　Xi Shi, a famous beauty, had a pain in her bosom, so she had afrown on her face when she went out. An ugly girl who lived nearby sawher and thought she looked very beautiful. Therefore when she wenthome, she also put her hands on her bosom and had a frown on her face.
　　When a rich man in the neighbourhood saw her, he shut his doorstightly and did not go out. When a poor man saw her, he took his wifeand children and gave her a wide berth.
　　She only knew Xi Shi's frown looked beautiful but she did not know the reason for its beauty.

rosyhorse

掩耳盗铃Plugging Ones Ears While Stealing a Bell


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。

　

Plugging One's Ears While Stealing a Bell

Duringthe Spring and Autumn period,Zhi Bo of the State of Jin destroyed Fan'sfamily.Taking advantage of this occasion,a man went to Fan's house andtried to steal something.As soon as the man entered the gate,he sawthat there hung a big bell in the courtyard.The bell was cast inhigh-quality bronza,and was beautiful in design and shape.The theif wasvery glad,and decided to carry this beautiful bell back home.But nomatter how hard he tried,he could not move the bell,because the bellwas both big and heavy.He thought and thought again,and believed therewas only one way to solve the problem.He had to break the bell topieces before he was able to carry them back to his home separately.

Thethief found a big iron hammer,with which he struck the bell with allhis might.The striking produced an enormous crashing sound,whichmight.The striking produced an enormous crashing sound,which made thethief terribly frightened.The thief got flurried,thinking that it wastoo bad to have produced the crashiing sound which would himself on thebell,trying to muffle the crashing sound with his arms.But how couldthe crashing sound of the bell be muffled?The crashing sound still keptdrifting melodiously to distant places.The more he listened to thesound,the more frightened hw became.He xubconsciously shrank back,andcovered his ears hard with his hands."Hey,the sound becomesfainter,inaudible,"the thief became cheerful at once," wonderful!Thesound of the bell can not be heard when the ears are covered."Heimmediately got some odd bits of cloth,made two rolls with them,and hadhis ears plugged with the two cloth rolls.He thought that in this waynobody could hear the sound of the bell.Feeling relieved,he beganstriking the bell,one blow after another.The resounding sound of thebell was heard at distant places,and finally people caught the thief bygracing the sound.

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

Later,peoplehave used the set phrase "plugging one's ears while stealing a bell" torefer to the ignorance and foolishness of the person who deceiveshimself as well as others.                                               

rosyhorse

刻舟求剑Making His Mark


战国时，楚国有个人坐船渡江。船到江心，他一不小心。把随身携带的一把宝剑掉落江中。他马上掏出一把小刀，在船舷上刻上一个记号，说：“这是我宝剑落水的地方，所以我要刻上一个记号。” 　　船靠岸后，那楚人立即从船上刻记号的地方跳下水去捞取掉落的宝剑。捞了半天，仍不见宝剑的影子。其实他又怎么找得到宝剑呢？船继续行驶，而宝剑却不会再移动。像他这样去找剑，真是太愚蠢可笑了。
　　A man from the state of Chu was crossing a river. In the boat, hissword fell into the water. Immediately he made a mark on the boat.
　　"This is where my sword fell off," he said.
　　When the boat stopped moving, he went into the water to look for his sword at the place where he had marked the boat.
　　The boat had moved but the sword had not. Is this not a very foolish way to look for a sword?

rosyhorse

塞翁失马Blessing or Bane


战国时期，靠近北部边城，住着一个老人，名叫塞翁。塞翁养了许多马，一天，他的马群中忽然有一匹走失了。邻居们听说这件事，跑来安慰，劝他不必太着急，年龄大了，多注意身体。塞翁见有人劝慰，笑了笑说：“丢了一匹马损失不大，没准会带来什么福气呢。”
　　邻居听了塞翁的话，心里觉得很好笑。马丢了，明明是件坏事，他却认为也许是好事，显然是自我安慰而已。过了几天，丢失的马不仅自动返回家，还带回一匹匈奴的骏马。
　　邻居听说了，对塞翁的预见非常佩服，向塞翁道贺说：“还是您有远见，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，反而一点高兴的样子都没有，忧虑地说：“白白得了一匹好马，不一定是什么福气，也许惹出什么麻烦来。”
　　邻居们以为他故作姿态纯属老年人的狡猾。心里明明高兴，有意不说出来。
　　塞翁有个独生子，非常喜欢骑马。他发现带回来的那匹马顾盼生姿，身长蹄大，嘶鸣嘹亮，膘悍神骏，一看就知道是匹好马。他每天都骑马出游，心中洋洋得意。
　　一天，他高兴得有些过火，打马飞奔，一个趔趄，从马背上跌下来，摔断了腿。邻居听说，纷纷来慰问。
　　塞翁说：“没什么，腿摔断了却保住性命，或许是福气呢。”邻居们觉得他又在胡言乱语。他们想不出，摔断腿会带来什么福气。
　　不久，匈奴兵大举入侵，青年人被应征入伍，塞翁的儿子因为摔断了腿，不能去当兵。入伍的青年都战死了，唯有塞翁的儿子保全了性命。　　Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in thepractices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into theterritory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.
　　"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
　　After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.
　　"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said his father.
　　Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond ofriding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse.Everyone commiserated with him.
　　"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
　　One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of theborder regions. All able-bodied young men took up arms and foughtagainst the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out often men died. This man's son did not join in the fighting because hewas crippled and so both the boy and his father survived.

rosyhorse

闻鸡起舞Rising Up upon Hearing the Crow of a Rooster to Practise Sword Playing


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。

　

Rising Up upon Hearing the Crow of a Rooster to Practise Sword Playing

ZuTi of the Jin Dynasty（265-420）was a big-hearted and farsighted personwho,however,was very naughty and did not like to study when he was asmall kid.When he became a young man,he felt acutely that his knowledgewas inadequate and that he could not serve his country well if he didnot study hard.So he put all his energies into his study.He readextensively,seriously studied history from which he absorbed richknowledge,and made good progresss in his studies.He had been to thecapital city Luoyang several times,and all the people who had to thecapital city Luoyang several times,and all the people who had come intocontact with him said that Zu Ti was a talented person who was capableof assisting the emperor in governing the country.When he was24,someone recommended hem to be an official,but he refused the post.Hewas still making a sustained effort in his studies.Later,both Zu Ti andLiu Kun,his close frined since early childhood,were appointed chiefclerks responsible for document administration in the SizhouPrefecture.he and Liu Kun cherished a deep affection for eachother.They not only often shared the same bed in sleeping,but alsoshared the same lofty ideals;to render meritorious service inrejuvenating the Jin Dynasty and play the part of the pillars of thestate.Once,Zu Ti heard a cock crow in the wasteland in his dream atmidnight.He kicked Liu Kun a wake,saying to him:"People say it isinaupicious to hear a cock crow in the wasteland.I don's think so.Whatabout getting up and practicing sword playing the moment we hear thecock crow form now on?"Liu Kun agreed readily.So every day when thecock crow,they got up and practied sword playing,the cold steel of theswords glinting and flashing.Day by day and year in,year out,they neverstopped.As the saying goes,constant effort yields sure success.Throughlong periods of hard study and training,they finally becaome versatilepersons versed in both civil and military affairs.They could write goodessays,and were capable of leading troops in fighting victoriously.ZuTi was invested with the title the General for Guarding the WesternRegions,thus realizing his wish of rendering meritorious service to thecountry.Liu Kun became a governor,and at same time was in charge of themilitary affairs of the three prefectures of Bingzhou,Jizhou andYouzhou.In discharging his duties,Liu Kun also fully displayed histalent in both polite letters and martial arts.This stroy appears in"The Life of Zu Ti" in The History of the Jin Dynasty.From this storypeople have coined the set phrase" rising up upon hearing the crow of arooster to practise sword playing' to signify that someone is exertinghimself to do something worthwhile.It is also used to signify that aperson of noble aspirations exerts himeself in time.

rosyhorse

抱薪救火Carrying Faggots to Put Out a Fire


战国末期，秦国向魏国接连发动大规模的进攻，魏国无力抵抗，大片土地都被秦军占领了。到公元前273年，秦国又一次向魏国出兵，势头空前猛烈。

　　魏王把大臣们召来，愁眉苦脸地问大家有没有使秦国退兵的办法。大臣们由于经过多年的战乱，提起打仗就吓得哆嗦，谁也不敢谈“抵抗”二字。在这大兵压境的危急时刻，多数大臣都劝魏王，用黄河以北和太行山以南的大片土地为代价，向秦王求和。

　　谋士苏代听了这些话，很不以为然，忙上前对魏王说：“大王，他们是因为自己胆小怕死，才让您去卖国求和，根本不为国家着想。您想，把大片土地割让给秦国虽然暂时满足了秦王的野心，但秦国的欲望是无止境的，只要魏国的土地没割完，秦军就不会停止进攻我们。”

说到这里，苏代讲了一个故事：从前有一个人，他的房子起火了，别人劝他快用水去浇灭大火，但他不听，偏抱起一捆柴草去救火，是因为他不懂得柴草不但不能灭火反而能助长火势的道理。大王若同意拿着魏国土地去求和，不就等于抱着柴草救火吗？”

　　尽管苏代讲得头头是道，但是胆小的魏王只顾眼前的太平，还是依大臣们的意见把魏国大片土地割让给秦国。到公元225年，果然秦军又向魏国大举进攻，包围了国都大梁，掘开黄河大堤让洪水淹没了大梁城，魏国终于被秦国灭掉了。

　　故事出自《史记·魏世家》。成语“抱薪救火”比喻用错误的方法去消灭祸害，结果反而使祸害扩大。

　

Carrying Faggots to Put Out a Fire

Inthe last years of the Warring States period, the State of Qin attackedthe State of Wei on a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areasof land, for the State of Wei was too weak to defend itself. In 273B.B., the qin army launched another attack upon the State of Wei with amomentum more vigorous than ever. The king of the State of Wei summonedhis officials,and asked with a worried look if anyone could propose away to defeat the Qin army. After years of chaos caused by the wars,theofficials trembled when fighting was mentioned, and no one dared tospeak ofresistance. At the critical moment when a large enemy force wasbearing down upon the border, most of the offinials persuaded the kingto sue for peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin thelarge area of land north of the Huanghe River and south of the TaihangMountain. However Su Dai, a counsellor, did not agree. He hurried up tothe king and said:"Your Majesty, they don't think about the interestsof the country at all.It is just because they are cowardly and afraidof death that they ask you to sue for peace by betraying the country.Of course you can temperarily satisfy the ambition of the king of theState of Qin is insatiably greedy. It will never stop assaulting usuntil our land is totally given away."Once there was a man whose housewas on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but hewould not listen. Instead, he carried a faggot to put out the fire,only to make the fire fiercer. That was because he didn't knowthat,instead of putting out the fire, faggots could only make itburning more vigorously. Isn't it equivalent to carrying faggots to putout a fire if you agree to sue for peace at the cost of the land of theState of Wei?"Though Su Dai's argument was very convincing, the kingaccepted the suggestion of those officials and gave away to the Stateof Qin a large area of the land of the State of Wei. For the king ofthe State of Wei was cowardly and only cared for peace at the moment.Asmight be expected,the Qin army assaulted the State of Wei on a largescale in 225 B.C.,surrounding the capital city Daliang and flooding itby digging open the dykes of the Huanghe River.The State of Wei wasfinally destroyed by the State of Qin.This story appears in theHistorical Records Written by Sima Qian.The set phrase"carrying faggotsto put out a fire"is used to mean adopting a wrong method to save asituation and ending up by making it worse.

rosyhorse

邯郸学步Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be OnesOwn Ability

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。

　

　　Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One'sOwn Ability

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

　　self confident He was at a loss as to how to behave all the time.

　　His family members advised him to overcome this shortcoming,but hethought they were fond of poking their noses into his business and wereunwilling to provide him with tuition fee.His relatives and neighbourssneered at him,saying that he would never be able to learnanything.Asthe days went by,he even began to doubt whether he shouldwalk the way he did,for he felt more and more that his walking gestureswere too clumsy and awkward.

　　One day,he met some people on theroad who werechattingand laughing.One of themsaid that people in Handanwalked most gracefully.And thatwas just what he was most concernedabout,so he hurreed towards themand wanted to make further inquiries.Tohis surprise,when these people saw him,they stalked off laughing.

　　He could not picture to himself in what way their walking gestureswere graceful,no matter how hard he racked his parents one day.He wentto Handanwhich was far away to learn how to walk.

　　As soon ashe arrived in Handan,he was dazzled to find that everything wasnovel.He learned from the children there how to walk,because he thoughtthat the children's walking gestures were lively and pleasing to theeye.He learnd from the old people there how to walk,because he thoughtthe old people's walking gestures were steady .He learnd from the womenthere how to walk,because he thought the women' swaying walkinggestures were beautiful.That being the case with him ,in less than halfa month he even forgot how to walk.As he had already used up histraveling expenses,he had to crawl back home.

　　Thisstory comefrom the article"Autumn Water"in The Works of Xhuang Zi(Zhuang Zi was afamous ancient Chinese philosopher of about 300B.c.).Later the setphrase"initating another without success and losing what used to beone's own ability"is used to refer to acts of copying othersmechanisally in disregard of specififc conditions.

rosyhorse

指鹿为马Calling a Stag a Horse


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。

Calling a Stag a Horse

Inthe reign of Emperor the Second of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), theprime minister Zhao Gao, obsessed with ambitions, was planning to usurpthe throne day and night. But he did not know how many of the ministersin the court were allowed to be ordered about by him and how many ofthem were his opponents. So he thought out a way to test how high hisprestige among the ministers was and also to find out who dared tooppose him. One day when court was held, Zhao Gao let someone bring astag to the court and, with a broad smile on his face, he said toEmperor the Second of the Qin Dynasty:"Your Majesty, here is a finehorse I'm presenting to you." Looking at the animal, Emperor the Secondthought 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 Gaosaid:"Will your Majesty please see more clearly? This really is a horsethat covers a thousand li a day." Filled with suspicion, Emperor theSecond looked at the stag again and said:"How can the antlers be grownon the head of a horse?" Turning around and pointing his finger at theministers, Zhao Gao said in a loud voice:"if our Majesty do not believeme, you can ask the ministers." The nonsense of Zhao Gao made theministers totally at a lose, and they whispered to themselves: Whattricks was Zhao Gao playing? Was it not obvious whether it was a stagor a horse? But when they saw the sinister smile on Zhao Gao's face andhis two rolling eyes which were gazing at each of them, they suddenlyunderstood his evil intentions. Some of the ministers who were timidand yet had a sense of right eousness did not dare to say anything,because to tell lies would make their conscience uneasy and to tell thetruth would mean that they would be persecuted by Zhao Gao later. Someministers with a sense of justice persisted that it was a stag and nota horse. There were still some crafty and fawning ministers whofollowed Zhao Gao closely in ordinary times. They immediately voicedtheir support to Zhao Gao, saying to the emperor:"This really in ahorse that covers a thousand li a day." After the event, Zhao Gaopunished by various means those ministers with a sense of justice whowere not obedient to him, even with whole families of some of thoseministers executed. This story appears in "The Life of the FirstEmperor of the Qin Dynasty" in The Historical Records written by SimaQian. From this story people have derived the set phrase "calling astag a horse" to mean deliberately misrepresenting some thing andmisleading the public.

rosyhorse

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

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。
　

　　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 Statesperiod（475-221 B.C.）.Tradition has it that in the State of Song at thattime there was a man who was famous for staying by a stump waiting formore hares to come and dash themselves against it.

　　He was ayong farmer,and his family had been farmers for generations.Year afteryear and generation after generation, farmers used to sow in spring andharvest in autumn,beginning to work at sunrise and retiring atsunset.In good harvest years,they could only have enough food to eatand enough clothing to wear.If there was a famine due to cropfailure,they had to go hungry.

　　This young farmer wanted toimprove his life.But he was too lazy and too cowardly.Being lazy andcowardly over everything,he often dreamed of having unexpectedblessings.

　　A miracle took place at last. One day in lateautumn,when he was ploughing in the field,two groups of people werehunting nearby.As shoutings were rising one after another,scared hareswere running desperately.Suddenly,a blind hare dashed itself headlongagainst 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 morningtill night,he stayed by that miraculous stump,waiting for miracles totake place again.

　　This story comes from"The Five Vermin"in TheWorks of Han Feizi.Later generations often use the set phrase"stayingby a stump waiting for more hares to come and dash themselves againstit"to show grusting to chance and windfalls or dreaming to reap withoutsowing.It is also used to show adhering to narrow experiences and notbeing able to be flexible.

rosyhorse

不寒而栗Shivering All Over Though Not Cold


汉武帝时，有一个人名叫义纵，因为受到太后的恩宠，做了上党郡某县令。上任以后，公务办得很出色，案子处理上敢作敢为，不论是有钱有势的豪绅，还是平民，只要犯了法，义纵秉公审办，皇上很赞赏他，调他做河内郡都尉。一到任，他立即把祸害一方的豪门大族满门抄斩，一时间，河内郡的治安和社会风气大有好转，有人不慎把东西失落在道路上，也没有人抢走据为已有。

　　义纵调到南阳任太守时，一个做恶多端的豪强地主宁成，正在南阳居住。宁成为了讨好义纵，每次迎送都装出谦恭的样子。但是，义纵对他的恶行早有所闻，到南阳后立即展开调查，很快就查清他的罪行，把他关押起来。

　　后来，汉武帝又任命义纵做定襄太守。当时定襄的社会治安历史学家混乱。义纵到任以后，把押在狱中的没有加开具的二百多名重犯，以及为重犯开脱罪责进行贿赂的二百多名门客亲属，一律严加追究，拘捕治罪，一天之内处死的就有四百多名。从此以后，定襄的人一听到义纵的名字就“不寒而栗”－－天气不冷却浑身发抖。
　

Shivering All Over Though Not Cold

　　In the reignof Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty,there was a man whose name was YiZong.Because of the special Kindness of the mother of the emperor, YiZong was made a county magistrate in the Shangdanh Prefecture. Aftertaking up the official post ,he did very well in managing the officialbusiness. He Was courageous and resolute in bandling cases,and punishedaccording to law anybody who violated the law ,no matter whether he wasa despotic gentleman who was rich and powerful or was one of the commonpeople .Once the son of Prince Xiucheng violated the law . PrinceXiucheng was the son of the daughter of the mother of the emperor.YiZong handled the case impartially,for which he was thought of highlyby the emperor and was transferred to be the commander of the armedforces in the Henei Prefecture.As soon as he took office ,he had allthe members of a wealthy and influential family that had broughtcalamities to the people there executed. For a while , the public orderand the general mood of society in the Henei Prefectures were greatlyimproved.If someone should lose something on the road throughcarelessness,nobody would pick it up and take it as his own. WhenYiZong was transferred to be the prefect of the NanyangPrefecture,NingCheng,a despotic landlord who stopped at nothing indoing evil,wsa living there,In order to ingratiate himself withYiZong,Ning Cheng pretended to be very modest and courteous every timehe met Yi Zong and saw him off. But Yi Zong had heard of the evilconducts of Ning Zong and saw him off. But Yi Zong had heard of theevil conducts of Ning Cheng already and ,soon after he took office inNanyang,he made investigations.It did not take much time for him tofind out Ning cheng's crimes and had him put in prison.Later ,EmperorWudi of the Han Dynasty appointed YiZong the prefect of the DingxiangPrefecture .At that time, the publica order in Dingxiang was verychaotic.When he took office there, there were 200 convicts in prisonwho had committed felonies had no implements of punishment onthem.There were also more than 200 persons who offered bribes in orderto absolve those serious offenders trom guilt.YiZong treated the matterseverely.He arrested all those bribers and punished the bribers andthose serious offenders already in prison severely. More than 400convicts were executed in a bay .From that day on ,whenever the name ofYiZong was mentioned.people in Dingxinang would tremble with fear--they would shiver all over though not cold. This story appears in the"Lives of the Merciless Judges and Prison Wardens "in The HistoricalRecords written by Sima Pian. The set phrase "shivering all over thoughnot cold "is used to refer to the state of being extremely afraid.                                               

rosyhorse

拨苗助长 To Pull up the Seedlings to Help Them Grow

To Pull up the Seedlings to                                                                 Help Them Grow

                                                               

                                                                　　Once upon a time, an old farmer planted a plot                                                                 of rice. Everyday he went to the field to watch                                                                 the seedlings grow. He saw the young shoots                                                                 break through the soil and grow taller each day.                                                                 But still, he thought they were growing too                                                                 slowly. He got impatient with the young plants.                                                                 "How could the plants grow faster?" He tossed in                                                                 bed during the night and could not sleep.                                                                 Suddenly he hit upon an idea. He had an idea not                                                                 wait for daybreak. He jumped out of the bed and                                                                 dashed to the field. By the moonlight, he began                                                                 working on the rice seedlings. One by one, he                                                                 pulled up the young plants by half an inch. When                                                                 he finished pulling, it was already morning.                                                                 Straightening his back, he said to himself,                                                                 "What a wonderful idea! Look, how much taller                                                                 the plants have grown one night!" With great                                                                 satisfaction, he went back home. He told his son                                                                 what he had done in a triumphant tone. His son                                                                 was shocked. Now the sun had risen. The young                                                                 man was heart-broken to see all the pulled-up                                                                 young plants dying.
                                                               
                                                                　　People now use " Ba Miao Zhu Zhang" to                                                                 describe the behavior of those who are too eager                                                                 to get something done only to make it worse. The                                                                 idiom is a bit like the English proverb "Haste                                                                 makes waste" ------to spoil things by excessive                                                                 enthusiasm.

                                                               

拨苗助长

                                                               

                                                                从前，有个农夫，种了稻苗后，便希望能早早收成。每天他到稻田时，发觉那些稻苗长得非常慢。
                                                               
                                                                他等得不耐烦，心想：“怎么样才能使稻苗长得高，长很快呢?
                                                               
                                                                想了又想，他终了想到一个“最佳方法”，就是将稻苗拨高几分。
                                                               
                                                                经过一番辛劳后，他满意地扛锄头回家休息。心想：明天稻苗长得一定更高了。
                                                               
                                                                隔天早晨．一早起身，他迫不及待地起去稻田看他的“成果”。
                                                               
                                                                哪知，他跑到稻田时，却看到所有的稻苗都枯萎了。
　

rosyhorse

杯弓蛇影 Snake-like Reflection of a Bow in the Cup

Snake-like Reflection of a                                                                 Bow in the Cup
　

                                                                　　 Nearly 2,000 years ago, during the Han                                                                 Dynasty, there was a county magistrate called                                                                 Ying Chen. One summer day, he invited his                                                                 secretary Du Xuan to his house and treated him                                                                 with wine. On the north wall of the room hung a                                                                 red bow. It was reflected in Du Xuan's cup. Du                                                                 Xuan took the reflection for a squirming snake.                                                                 He was very frightened but he dared not turn                                                                 down Ying Chen's offer because Ying was his                                                                 superior. He had to swallow the wine with his                                                                 eyes closed.
                                                               
                                                                　　When he was back at home he felt so painful in                                                                 his chest and stomach that he could hardly eat                                                                 and drink any more. He sent for the doctor and                                                                 took some medicine, but nothing could cure him.                                                                 When Ying Chen asked Du Xuan how he got so                                                                 seriously ill, Du told him he drank the wine                                                                 with a snake in his cup the other day. Ying Chen                                                                 found something strange about that. He returned                                                                 home , thought hard, but he could not find an                                                                 answer. Suddenly the shadow thrown by the bow on                                                                 the wall caught his eye. "That's it!" he                                                                 shouted. He immediately sent his man to fetch Du                                                                 Xuan. He seated him where he sat before and                                                                 offered him a cup of wine. Du Xuan saw the                                                                 snake-like shadow again. Before Du was scared                                                                 out of his wits again, Ying Chen said , pointing                                                                 at the shadow, "The 'snake' in the cup is                                                                 nothing but a reflection of the bow on the                                                                 wall!" Now that Do Xuan knew what it was, he                                                                 felt much easier. And strange enough, his                                                                 illness disappeared the next moment.
                                                               
                                                                　　This story was later contracted into the idiom                                                                 "Bei Gong She Ying'. It is used to describe                                                                 someone who is very suspicious. It is like                                                                 saying someone is afraid of his own shadow.
                                                                                                                                “杯弓蛇影”这则成语的意思是误把映入酒杯中的弓影当成蛇。比喻因错觉而疑神疑鬼，自已惊扰自已。                                                                 
                                                                这个成语来源于东汉.应劭《风俗通义》，时北壁上有悬赤弩，照于杯，形如蛇。宣畏恶之，然不敢不饮。                                                                 
                                                                有一年夏天，县令应郴请主簿（办理书事务的官员）杜宣来饮酒。酒席设在厅堂里，北墙上悬挂着一张红色的弓。由于光线折射，酒杯中映入了弓的影子。杜宣看了，以为是一条蛇在酒杯中蠕动，顿时冷汗涔涔。但县令是他的上司，又是特地请他来饮酒的，不敢不饮，所以硬着头皮喝了几口。仆人再斟时，他借故推却，起身告辞走了。
                                                                回到家里，杜宣越来越疑心刚才饮下的是有蛇的酒，又感到随酒入口的蛇在肚中蠕动，觉得胸腹部疼痛异常，难以忍受，吃饭、喝水都非常困难。                                                                 
                                                                家里人赶紧请大夫来诊治。但他服了许多药，病情还是不见好转。
                                                                过了几天，应郴有事到杜宣家中，问他怎么会闹病的，杜宣便讲了那天饮酒时酒杯中有蛇的事。应郴安慰他几句，就回家了。他坐在厅堂里反复回忆和思考，弄不明白杜宣酒杯里怎么会有蛇的。                                                                 
                                                                突然，北墙上的那张红色的弓引起了他的注意。他立即坐在那天杜宣坐的位置上，取来一杯酒，也放在原来的位置上。结果发现，酒杯中有弓的影子，不细细观看，确实像是一条蛇在蠕动。                                                                 
                                                                应郴马上命人用马车把杜宣接来，让他坐在原位上，叫他仔细观看酒杯里的影子，并说：“你说的杯中的蛇，不过是墙上那张弓的倒影罢了，没有其他什么怪东西。现在你可以放心了！”                                                               
                                                                杜宣弄清原委后，疑虑立即消失，病也很快痊愈了。

rosyhorse

退避三舍 tuì bì sān shě

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。
      
      

Retreating       about Thirty Miles as Condition For Peace   

          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.