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Chinese Idioms in English and Chinese

Birds Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bowstring

During the Warring States period (403-221 B.C.), there was a man in the state of Wei named More... won. One day, he said to the king, "I can shoot down the birds in the sky just by drawing my bow and shooting in the air." The king did not believe him. The king did not believe him, so he shot at a wild goose flying in the sky, and the wild goose fell down when it heard the sound of the string being pulled. The king was surprised. He said, "That is a wounded goose. As soon as it heard the sound of my drawing the bowstring, it panicked so much that it could not support itself and naturally fell off."

In the Warring States Period, there was a man in the State of Wei called Geng Lei. One day he said to the king: 'I can shoot down birds by simply plucking One day he said to the king: 'I can shoot down birds by simply plucking my bowstring.' When the king expressed doubt, Geng Lei pointed his bow at a wild goose flying in the sky, twanged the bowstring, and the goose fell to the ground. Geng Lei said, 'This goose has been hurt in the past. Hearing the twang of the bowstring, it assumed that it was doomed. So it simply gave up trying to live.'

The idiom of "Bird with a Frightened Bow" is used to describe a person who has been frightened, and is especially afraid of the slightest movement.

This idiom means that if one has been frightened in the past one's will may become paralysed in a similar situation.

Mao Suui Self-Recommendation

Mao Sui Recommending Himself

During the Warring States period, the Qin army attacked the capital city of Zhao. Lord Ping Yuan of Zhao planned to go to Chu to ask for help, and he wanted to choose a smart and capable person to go with him. A man named Mao Sui volunteered to go with him. When Lord Ping Yuan arrived at Chu, he talked with the king of Chu for half a day, but there was no result. Mao Sui was so angry that he took his sword and approached the king of Chu, and finally forced the king to agree to send troops to fight against Qin together with the state of Zhao.

In the Warring States Period, the State of Qin besieged the capital of the State of Zhao. Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Chu personally for assistance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. When the negoti-actions between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitated to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. At that, the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao, against Qin. At that, the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao, against Qin.

The idiom of "Mao Sui Self-Recommendation" is used to describe a person who recommends himself without being introduced by others.

This idiom means to recommend oneself.

A Haven of Peace and Happiness

A Haven of Peace and Happiness

Tao Yuanming, a writer in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, wrote a famous piece of writing called The Record of the Peach Blossom Garden. It recounts the story of a fisherman who, while out fishing, happened to come to the place called Peach Blossom Garden. From here, he passed through a cave and discovered a village whose inhabitants were the descendants of people who had taken refuge there during the Qin Dynasty. It was a wonderful society where everyone lived peacefully and happily in isolation, free from exploitation and oppression. After the fisherman bid farewell to the villagers and returned home, he could never find the place again.

Tao Yuanming, a famous writer of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), wrote the well-known essay Peach-Blossom Spring. In it he tells a story which goes like this: A fisherman happened to come upon a place called Peach-Blossom Spring. Squeezing through a cave, he found a village, the residents of which It was a paradise isolated from the outside world, without exploitation or oppression, and everybody It was a paradise isolated from the outside world, without exploitation or oppression, and everybody living and working in peace and contentment. The fisherman left the villagers and went home. But he could never find the place again.

This story gave rise to the idiom of "paradise beyond the world", which is used to describe an isolated, ideal and beautiful world.

This idiom is derived from the above story, and is used to mean an isolated, ideal world.

South by Driving the Chariot

Going South by Driving the Chariot North

Once upon a time there was a man who wanted to go to the south, but the car in which he was riding was traveling north. The passerby said, "How is it that you go to the south and the car is traveling north?" He replied, "My horse is a good runner, and my driver is a very skillful driver, plus I have brought plenty of money for the journey." The man didn't take into account that the direction was reversed, and the better conditioned he was, the farther away he was from where he was going.

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. consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions were, the further he was away from his destination.

The story was later summarized as

The idiom derived from this story indicates that one's action was the opposite effect to one's intention.

Painting the Dragon's Touch

Putting the Finishing Touch to the Picture of a Dragon

During the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420---589 AD), there was a painter named Zhang Shengxiao. Once he visited a temple and painted four dragons on the walls, but none of them had eyes. The people who saw the paintings found it very strange and asked him why he did not paint the eyes. He said, "The eyes are the key to the dragons, and if you paint the eyes, the dragons will fly away." People did not believe what he said. Zhang Shengxiao picked up his brush and just put the eyes on the two dragons, immediately electricity flashed and thunder roared, the two dragons flew away into the sky, and there were only two dragons left on the wall with no eyes drawn on them.

In the Southern and Northern Dynasties Period (420-589), there was a painter called Zhang Sengyou. Once he visited a temple and painted on the wall Once he visited a temple and painted on the wall four dragons, but gave none of them eyes. The onlookers felt that this was odd, and asked why he hadn't painted the eyes. With the eyes painted on, the dragons would fly away.' Nobody believed this, so Zhang Sengyou took up his brush and added eyes to two of the dragons. No sooner had he finished than the two dragons flew into the sky amid a thunderstorm. The two without eyes stayed painted on the wall.

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This idiom is used to describe a speech or an article in which one or two important words are added at key places to make the content more vivid and powerful.

This idiom is used to describe how, when writing or speaking, one or two key sentences will enhance the contents.

Drawing a snake and Adding Feet

Drawing a snake and Adding Feet

Drawing a snake and Adding Feet

During the Warring States period, a man from Chu sacrificed to his ancestors. After the ceremony, he took out a jug of wine and rewarded several of his men. They all agreed, "Let's all draw snakes, and whoever finishes first will drink from this jug of wine." One of them drew it first. But when he saw that his companions had not finished, he added feet to the snake. Then the other, having finished his drawing, seized the jug and drank from it, saying, "How can you add feet to a snake which has no feet?"

In the Warring States Period, a man in the State of Chu was offering a sacrifice to his ancestors. After the ceremony, the man gave a beaker of wine to his servants. The servants thought that there was not enough wine for all them, and decided to each draw a picture of a snake; the one who finished the picture first would get the wine. The servants thought that there was not enough wine for all them, and decided to each draw a picture of a snake; the one who finished the picture would get the wine. One of them drew very rapidly. Seeing that the others were still busy drawing, he added feet to the snake. At this moment another man finished, snatched the beaker and drank the wine, saying, 'A snake doesn't have feet. "

This idiom is used to describe a person who does something superfluous and inappropriate, but makes things worse instead.

This idiom refers to ruining a venture by doing unnecessary and surplus things.

Banmen juggle axes

Showing Off One's Proficiency with the Axe Before Lu Ban the Master Carpenter

Anciently, there was a very skilled builder and carver named Lu Ban, who was honored in the carpenter's trade as the Grandmaster. Legend has it that he once made a colorful phoenix out of wood and was able to fly through the air for three days without falling off. Fiddling with an axe in front of Lu Ban's door certainly seems a bit presumptuous.

Lu Ban was supposed to be a consummate carpenter in ancient times. It is said that he once carved a wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it It is said that he once carved a wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it actually flew in the sky for three days. Thus it was considered the height of folly to show off one's skill with an axe in front of Lu Ban.

Lu Ban was supposed to be a consummate carpenter in ancient times.

This idiom excoriates those who show off their slight accomplishments in front of experts.

Lovely Much 2005-6-13 08:38

Angry That One' s Hair

So Angry That One' s Hair Lifts Up One' s Hat

During the Warring States period, Lin Xiangru, a minister of the state of Zhao, traveled to the state of Qin. When he asked the king of Qin for the jade jade, the king of Qin was unreasonable, and Lin Xiangru was so angry that even his hair stood up and rushed upwards towards his hat.

In the Warring States Period, Lin Xiangru, chief min-ister of the State of Zhao, was sent as an envoy to the State of Qin to ask the ruler of Qin to Lin Xiangru, chief min-ister of the State of Zhao, was sent as an envoy to the State of Qin to ask the ruler of Qin to return a fine piece of jade to Zhao. But the ruler of Qin was rude and unreasonable.

Later people used the idiom "怒发冲冠" to describe a person who was furious to the extreme.

This idiom came to be used to mean being extremely angry.

Allaying Hunger with Pictures of Cakes

Allaying Hunger with Pictures of Cakes

Cao Rui, the emperor of the State of Wei in the Three Kingdoms period, was going to select a talented person to come to the court. talented person to be an official at the court. Cao Rui said to his ministers, "When choosing talents, we should not just look for people with false names. False fame is like a piece of cake drawn on the ground, it can only be looked at but cannot solve the problem of hungry stomach!"

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, people used the idiom of "drawing a cake to fill a hunger" to refer to comforting oneself with empty thoughts, but not solving real problems.

Later, this idiom came to be used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts, without solving practical problems.

Amazing the World with a Bang

In the Warring States Period, Duke Wei of Qi neglected state affairs, for the first three years of his reign, giving himself over to dissipation. One of his ministers, Chun Yukun who had a good sense of humour, said to him: 'There is a big bird which has neither taken wing nor sung for three years. The duke answered, 'Once that bird starts to fly and sing, it will astonish the world.' The duke thereupon devoted himself to his duties and built his state up

The duke answered, 'Once that bird starts to fly and sing, it will astonish the world.' The duke thereupon devoted himself to his duties and built his state up into a powerful one.

Sitting by a Stump, Waiting for a Careless Hare

In the Spring and Autumn period, there was a farmer in the state of Song who was plowing his field one day when a rabbit suddenly came along and happened to hit a tree stump, breaking its neck and dying. The farmer took the rabbit home and ate a good meal of rabbit meat. At night he thought, "Why do I have to work so hard at farming? One rabbit a day that I can pick up under a tree is enough for me." So he never plowed again and sat under the tree every day waiting for the rabbit.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, a farmer in the State of Song was one day working in the fields when he saw a rabbit bump into a tree stump accidentally and break its neck. The farmer took the rabbit home, and cooked himself a delicious meal. That night he thought, 'I needn't work so hard. All I have to do is wait for a rabbit each day by the stump.' So from then on he gave up farming, and simply sat by the stump waiting for rabbits to come and run into it.

The idiom of "guarding the stump and waiting for rabbits" ridicules those who do not want to go through the effort, and hope to get a windfall by taking a chance.

This idiom satirizes those who just wait for a stroke of luck, rather than making efforts to obtain what they need.

Zengzi Slaughters a Pig <

Zengzi Slaughters a Pig

engzi's wife was going to the market. Her little son insisted on going with her, making a tearful scene." When she came back, Zengzi got ready to slaughter the pig. His wife stopped him, saying: "I was just kidding." "A child is not to be kidded like that!" he replied. "A child is not to be kidded like that!" he replied. "A child does not know much and cannot judge for himself. To lie to him is to teach him to lie to others. If a mother lies to her son, he will not trust her anymore. How is she then to educate him?" With that Zengzi went to slaughter the pig and prepare a good meal for their son.

Zengzi's wife went to the market, and his son cried and wanted to go with her. His mother said, "Go home and stay there, I'll come back later and slaughter the pig for you." When she came back from the market, Zengzi was about to catch a pig and kill it. His wife stopped him, saying, "It's just a joke with the kid." Zeng Zi said, "You can't joke with children! A child is incapable of thought and judgment, and must learn from his parents and obey them. Now you're teaching the child to lie by deceiving him! When a mother deceives her son, the son no longer trusts his mother. This is not the way to realize education." So Zeng Zi killed a pig and cooked meat for the boy.

The Fox and the Tiger

Basking in Reflected Glory

The tiger caught a fox in the mountain forest and wanted to eat it. The fox quickly said, "You can't eat me, I am sent by the Emperor of Heaven to rule over all the beasts. If you want to eat me, you will disobey the order of the Heavenly Emperor. If you don't believe me, take a trip with me to the mountains and forests and see if all the hundred beasts are afraid when they see me." The tiger believed the fox's words and followed him into the mountain forest. When the beasts saw me, they all fled for their lives. The tiger thought that the beasts were really afraid of the fox and did not realize that they were afraid of themselves, so he let the fox go.

A tiger caught a fox in a forest, and was just about to eat it, when the fox said, 'You mustn't eat me. By eating me, you will violate the command of Heaven. If you don't believe me, just follow me to see whether the animals are afraid of me. The animals all ran away on seeing them. The tiger thought they were afraid of the fox, so he let it go. He didn't realize that it was him that the beasts were really afraid of.

The idiom of "Fox Faking Tiger Wei" is used to describe the use of someone else's power to bully or scare people.

This idiom means relying on another's power to bully or frighten others.

A Broken Mirror Made Whole Agian

The state of Chen in the Southern Dynasty (557-589 AD) was about to fall.

A Broken Mirror Made Whole Agian

A Broken Mirror Made Whole Agian

When the Chen Kingdom (557-589 AD) of the Southern Dynasty was about to be destroyed, the emperor's son-in-law Xu Deyin broke a bronze mirror and left half of it with his wife. Both sides agreed: if the couple is separated in the future, it will be used as a token. Later, the husband and wife were really separated, and with the half mirror left by each of them, they were eventually reunited.

In the Northern and Southern Dynasties when the State of Chen (A.D. 557-589) was facing its demise, Xu Deyan, husband of the princess, broke a bronze mirror into halves. Each of them kept a half as tokens in case they were separated. Soon afterwards, they did lose touch with each other, but the two halves of the mirror enabled them to Soon afterwards, they did lose touch with each other, but the two halves of the mirror enabled them to be reunited.

The idiom of "breaking the mirror and reuniting" refers to the reunion of husband and wife after they were separated.

This idiom is used to refer to the reunion of a couple after they lose touch or break up.

Rousing the Spirits with the First Drum

Rousing the Spirits with the First Drum Roll

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Qi sent troops to attack Lu. The king of the state of Lu, Duke Lu Zhuang, commanded the battle with his strategist Cao Jun. After the first drum roll of the Qi army, the Lu army was ready to attack. Cao Jun said, "No." Qi army after three drums, Cao Jun said: "Now you can attack." The results of the Qi army defeated. After the end of the battle, Lu Zhuang Gong asked Cao Jun the reason for the victory. Cao Jun said: "Fighting to test the courage. The first drum, the morale is very strong; the second drum, the morale of some decline; the third drum, the morale is exhausted. The enemy's morale is exhausted, we launched an attack, so we achieved victory."

During the Spring and Autumn Period, an army from the State of Qi confronted one from the State of Lu. After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle, the Lu ruler wanted to attack. But his counsellor Cao Gui said, 'We should wait until the third drum roll, sire. After the battle, the king asked Cao Gui the reason for his odd advice. Cao Gui answered, 'Fighting needs spirit. After the battle, the king asked Cao Gui the reason for his odd advice. Cao Gui answered, 'Fighting needs spirit. Their spirit was aroused by the first roll or the drums, but was depleted by the second. We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted. That's why we won.'

Later, "一鼓作气" describes to gather strength and finish things at once.

This idiom later meant to get something done with one sustained effort.