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传奇篇

2022-12-04 来源:步旅网
Introduction

The Chinese language has a very long history ,and is rich incolorful idioms ,which can beused to enhance the language's powers ofexpression enormously.

Here we present the 24 nost common Chinese idioms in fourcategories: Stirring Deeds , Virtuous Conduct, Wisdom and Legends,Each idiom has a brief explanation ,followed by the story ,in Chineseand English ,of how it arose. The profuse the historical backgroundto the idioms.

内容简介

汉语历史悠久,丰富多彩。在语言表达中,恰当地运用成语可以使语言精炼,富有感染力。

本画册选出常用24则成语进行分类:奋发、美德、机智、传奇共四篇。每个成语的“解释”部分,说明成语的意义和用法。“故事”部分介绍了成语的来源和出处,并配以插图,文图对照,能加深读者对成语含义的理解,以便更准确地加以应用。

中国成语故事

The Stories Behind Common Chinese Idioms

Legends传奇篇

To Crow like a Cock and Bark like a Dog

  

Explanation:

Even  petty abilities can be useful.Story:

In the Warring States Period the prime minister of the State ofQi, Lord Mengchang, was renowned for his generosity. He supported some3,000 hangers-on.

Whenever one of these clients came to him with some problem orcomplaint, Lord Mengchang had a secretary hide behind a screen andtake down the details. Later, men  would be despatched to thecomplainant's home with costly presents.

  鸡鸣狗盗

解释:

比喻有一手模仿鸡鸣狗叫的卑微的技能,有时却能解决大问题。故事:

战国时代,齐国的宰相孟尝君慷慨好客,门下的食客多达三千多人。孟尝君与食客谈话时,总让人在屏风后作记录,把食客的住处及有何困难等一一记下,随后便派人去看望其亲属并赠送礼物。

  

King Zhao of the State of Qin admired Lord Meiigchang and invitedlum to visit his court.  Lord Mengchang went there accompanied by some1,000 of his clients.

Lord Mengchang presented a magnificent robe made out of pure whitefox fur to lus host.  The king of Qin was delighted with this presentand had it stored in his treasury.

However, during his stay Lord Mengchang was the victim ofslanderous gossip, as a result of which the king of Qin had him placedunder arrest.  Lord Mengchang asked the king's favorite concubine秦昭王对孟尝君最为敬慕,派特使迎接孟尝君入秦。孟尝君带着门客千余人来到秦都咸阳。

孟尝君献给秦昭王一件纯白狐狸皮袍子,秦昭王很高兴地把它藏在内库里。

秦昭王听了谗言,把孟尝君软禁起来,孟尝君请秦昭王的宠妃帮忙解救,妃子说:“这不难,但是我要一件白色狐皮袍。”

孟尝君为难了,仅有的一件已经送给秦王了,哪来第二件呢?有个门客  

to intercede with the king for him. The concubine promised to doso, but only on condition that he give her a robe like the one he hadpresented to the king.

   This put Lord Mengchang in a dilemma , as the robe he hadpresented to the kmg was the only one of the kind he possessed. Then

one of his clients said, "Don't worry, my lord, I can manage it." Thatnight he crawled along the foot of the wall of the treasury, barkinglike a dog.  The guards took no notice of what they thought was a realdog, and the client was able to slip inside and steal the fox-fur robe.He gave it to the king's favorite, and she persuaded the king to releaseLord Mengchang and his companions.

They fled from Qin the same night,hoping to be across the borderof the state before the trick was discovered. However, when theyreached the border pass they found the gate firmly shut ,and were toldthat it would not open until dawn. This time another of Lord Mengchang'sresourceful clients saved the situation by crowing like a cock.Immediately all the neighborhood cocks started crowing too, and thefrontier guards ,thinking that it must be daybreak, opened the gate .By the time the ruse had been discovered and a hunt was launched forthe fugitives, Lord Mengchang and his clients were out of reach.

  

说:“我有办法。”当天夜里,这个门客模仿狗叫声,从狗洞潜入秦王内库,看守以为是自己养的狗,未加怀疑。于是这个门客盗出了那件白色狐皮袍送给秦王的爱妃,孟尝君也得了自由,并急忙带领门客连夜逃离秦国。

他们逃呀逃呀,半夜来到边界的函谷关。这关口要到鸡叫的时候才许出入,忽然有个门客学起了公鸡叫。一声跟着一声,附近的公鸡全都叫了起来。守关的人开了城门,让孟尝君出了关。等到秦昭王派人追到函谷关时,孟尝君和他的门客已经走远了。

The Old Man on the Border Loses a Horse

Explanation:

Temporary setbacks may be blessings in disguise.Story:

Long ago there lived on the far western border of China an old manand his son who raised horses. One day one of their best stallions

  塞翁失马

解释:

比喻虽然受到暂时的损失,却因此得到了好处。故事:

从前,在边塞有父子俩靠放牧马匹为生。这天有匹骏马忽  

suddenly ran away.  The son pursued it, but failed to catch it."Never mind," said his father, "it may return some day.,, sure enough,after some months the horse really did return, and it was leading alarge herd of other horses.  The son was overjoyed at this unexpectedgood fortune, but his father was not carried away. "Good and bad fortunehave a habit of following each other in succession in this world, MYson," he said.  "Do not be too happy lest you tempt fate."

One day, while taming the new horses, the son fell from a horseand

然逃跑了,儿子怎么追也没追回来。父亲安慰儿子说:“我们养马人,失掉马匹是常有的事。也许它还会回来呢!”

过了一段日子,那匹失去的骏马竟带回来一大群马。儿子高兴极了,父亲倒没有太大的惊喜。他对儿子说:“这件事确实意外。不过,世事祸福无常,很难预料。你要小心乐极生悲啊!”

  

broke a leg.  Again, his father was not dismayed.  "This is anaccident that is common in our line of business.  Let it be a lessonto you and benefit from the experience," he said.

  At this time commissioners arrived m the district drafting allfit young men into the army.  The old man's son, of course, was exemptedbecause of his broken leg.  Thus, when all the other young men fromthe neighborhood were killed in the wars, the old ma's son survived.

  

有一天,儿子在驯马时,一个不小心,竟从马上掉了下来,把一条腿摔断了。父亲又说:“驯马的人,难免会被摔着。如果你能吸取教训,日后会有益处。”

正在这时,其他年轻人全被抓去打仗,全都战死在沙场。儿子因腿骨折,免去了从军,因而保存了性命。对他来说,可算是因祸而得福了。

在汉语里“塞翁失马,安知非福”,用得比较普遍。

Giving One's Life for Righteousness

Explanation:

To sacrifice oneself for a just cause.Story:

In the Spring and Autumn Period there lived a martial hero namedYu Rang. When his patron,  Zhi Bo, was killed by Zhao Xiangzi, Yu Rangswore to avenge him.  Gaining employment as a servant  in thehousehold of Zhao Xiangzi,  his identity was discovered before  he hada chance to assassinate  Zhao. His intended victim, however, was movedby Yu Rang's loyalty to his late master and set him  free, despite  YuRang's admission that he would still     to kill him.

  

舍生取义

解释:

为正义事业而牺牲生命。故事:

春秋时,晋国有个勇士名叫豫让,投靠在智伯门下,很受重用。后来,智伯被赵襄子杀害。豫让躲了起来,下决心要为智伯报仇。过了几个月,豫让装扮成仆役混进赵府,伺机刺杀赵襄子。结果在茅厕里被发现,赵襄子见豫让为主人报仇就放了他。豫让说:“你虽然放了我,但我还会刺杀你的!”

  

Returning home, Yu Rang cut off his eyebrows and beard, andswallowed burning charcoal to hoarsen his throat ,in order to escaperecognition both in apperance and voice . Some of his friends suggested,"Would it not be easier if you pretended to switch allegiance to ZhaoXiangzi and then killed him when he was off his guard?" Indignantly,Yu Rang replied," How could a righteous man do such a thing?"

One day Yu Rang hid under a bridge on a route that he knew ZhaoXiangxi was to take. But when the latter's carnage drew near the bridgethe horses began to neigh in fear. A search soon found Yu Rang underthe bridge, and he was hauled out by Zhao Xiangzi's men. Zhao said tohim: "I admire your devotion to your late master, but this time I reallycannot pardon you." Yu Rang replied, "I thank Your Excellency for yourkindness.

  

豫让回去后,剃去眉毛和胡子,又吞食热炭,把声音弄嘶哑,以便从形象到声音都不让人认出来。朋友们对他说:“你如投靠赵襄子,得到他的信任后,再行刺他,不是更方便吗?”豫让回答说:“作为一个勇士,怎么可以做这样不仁不义的事呢!”

这一天,豫让得知赵襄子外出办事,他就预先埋伏在桥下,赵襄子来到桥边,马匹突然惊叫起来。赵襄子命人到处搜查,在桥下把豫让抓了出来。赵襄子说:“你舍生取义,确实令人尊敬。但这次我不能饶恕你了!”

  

But I have one last request.  Please take off your coat and let

me thrust my sword through it three times, so that I can satisfy myselfthat I have avenged my ex-master.  Then I can die contented." ZhaoXiangzi was touched by Yu Rang's sincerity, and took off his coat.Thereupon, Yu Rang thrust his sword through it three times beforecutting his own throat.

豫让说:“多谢赵公厚义,但我临死前请求你能把外袍脱下来,让我刺三剑,偿我为主复仇的意愿。我死而无怨了。”赵襄子见他这样忠诚,大为感动,便脱下外袍。豫让刺了外袍之后,自刎而亡。

豫让甘愿舍弃生命,也要完成道义的行为,便成了“舍生取义”的成语。

Mao Sui Recommends Himself

  

Explanation:

To put oneself forward for a certain  job or position.Story:

In the Warring States Period the  army of the State of Qin attackedHandan, the capital of the State of

毛遂自荐

解释:

指自己推荐自己去担任某项工作或职务。故事:

战国时,秦国军队包围了赵都邯郸。  

Zhao. The king of Zhao ordered Lord Pingyuan to go to the Stateof Chu and ask its king for help. Lord Pingyuan needed 20 able men fromamong men multitude of clients, but was only able to decide on 19.Thereupon, a client named Mao Sui stepped forward and offered toaccompany his patron to Chu. But Lord Pingyuan simply smiled and said,"An able man's talents will soon shine out no matter in what situationhe finds himself. Just like an awl in a sack - the sharp hp will soonshow through. But you have been living under my roof for three year-salready, and I have detected no sign of any ability in you." whereupon,Mao sui retorted, "If I had been put in a bag a long time ago I wouldhave completely broken out of it, never mind just my tip." Lord Pingyuanwas convinced and took Mao Sui along with the other 19 with him to Chu.

Unfortunately, the negotiations   

赵王派平原君去说服楚王与赵国结盟出兵,解救赵国。平原君打算从手下三千多门客中挑选二十人做随从,但挑来挑去只有十九人符合要求,正在着急时,有个名叫毛遂的门客自我推荐说:“让我去吧!”平原君笑笑:“有本事的人,随便到哪里,都好象锥子放在布袋中,一定会露出尖锋来。可你来了三年,没人说起你的大名,可见没有什么才能啊。”毛遂说:“我如果早被放在布袋里,早就会脱颖而出,何止露出一点尖锋呢!”平原君见他说的有理,便带毛遂等二十人来到了楚国。平原君请楚王结盟出兵,从早晨谈到中午,还没有结果。十九个门客十分着急,但却没了主意。

  

got nowhere, as the king of Chu was unwilling to fight against Qin.When all the arguments of Lord Pingyuan and the other 19 envoys  hadfailed to move the king of Chu, Mao Sui stepped forward and addressedthe king thus: "Your state, Your Majesty,  has a vast territory anda huge army.  However, Qin is gobbling up the other states one by

one. If you fail to fight Qin now, when you have the chance of analliance with Zhao, how do you expect to resist Qin when it hasconquered all the states and you stand alone? Do you think that Qin

will be satisfied to leave Chu in peace?" The king of Chu saw the wisdomof this argument and forthwith declared an alliance with Zhao.

  

毛遂按剑上前说:“订盟的事,非利即害,非害即利,无非利害二字而已,这样明白为何现在还不决定!”楚王大怒,斥道:“我与你主人说话,你来干什么?还不与我退下!”

哪知毛遂不但没有退下,反而又上前几步说:“现在大王的性命掌握在我手上,你的十万兵马都没有用了!”楚王自知理亏,又怕毛遂真的动武,一时无言对答。毛遂继续进逼说:“其实,楚国有五千里辽阔的土地,几十万雄师,这么强大的国家,为什么要害怕秦国呢?大王不同意楚赵联盟,难道要等秦国逐个击破,坐以待毙吗?”楚王听了连连点头,答应与赵国订盟,出兵解赵国之围。

Leaving a Seat Vacant

Explanation:

To wait for someone for whom  one has the greatest respect.Story:

In the Warring States Period Lord Xinling of the State of Weiinvited Hou Ying, a virtuous and

able man, to join his household as one of his clients.  Hou Yingwas over 70 years old.  He and his family were very poor, and he himselfwas an official of low rank who was mcharge of the city gate of Daliang,the Wei capital.  The first invitation was refused, but when LordXinhng himself drove his carriage, leaving the seat of honor empty,to Hou Ying's house, the latter had no choice but to accept.  Wearinghis shabbiest clothes, Hou Ying seated  himself in the vacant placewithout even one  polite word.

虚位以待

解释:

空着位置等候故事:

战国时,魏国的信陵君为人忠厚、仁爱,对门客都以谦逊的态度对待。当时,信陵君听说大梁城门的守门官七十岁老人侯嬴是个贤人,家境贫穷,便派人带着大量财宝,前去聘请他。但是,侯嬴并不接受。

信陵君知道自己怠慢了高人。于是便让人驾车,亲自前去迎接侯嬴。还把车上最好的位置留给侯嬴。侯嬴故意穿上破衣服,毫不客气地坐在空位上,一句谦让的话也没说。

  

On the way back Hou Ying insisted on visiting his friend, a butchernamed Zhu Hai. Hou Ying  expected Lord Xinling to be annoyed at beingleft waiting for him in the carriage, but his new patron showed nodispleasure.

The same year the State of Qin besieged the State of Zhao's capital,Handan, and the king of Wei sent Commander Jin Bi with 100,000 troopsto help Zhao. Thereupon, the king of Qin sent envoys to threaten theking of Wei and get him to order Jin Bi to halt, which he did.

Again and again Lord Xinling pleaded with the king of Wei to orderJin Bi to advance, but all in vain. Then Hou Ying advised LordXinling:"If only you had the Commander's Seal ,which is bestowed onlyby the king himself ,you could take Jin Bi's place and lead his troopsto the help of Zhao." He suggested that the king's favorite concubinebe induced to steal the seal.

  

马车行到中途,侯嬴又忽然提出要去探访一位屠夫朋友朱亥。他在朋友那里故意拖延时间,要看信陵君的反应,但信陵君一片和颜悦色。

这年,秦国围攻赵都邯郸,魏国派大将晋鄙率军十万前去救赵。为此秦

王派使者威胁魏王。魏王忙命晋鄙大军留在路上,不再前进。

信陵君多次恳求魏王让晋鄙发兵,魏王终是不肯。

侯嬴给信陵君出主意说:“只要派人偷取大王的兵符,便可假传命令,要晋鄙出兵了。”

  

The plot worked and Lord Xinling prepared to set out with the sealfor Jin Bi's camp. Just before he left, Hou Ying advised him to takehis friend Zhu Hai, the butcher, along with him . Lord Xinling couldnot understand what use the butcher could be to him ,but he did as HouYing bid.

When Lord Xinling showed him the seal and announced that he wasgoing to take charge of the army, Jin Bi demurred and refused to believethat the king had ordered any such action .But before he could haveLord Xinling arrested, Zhu Hai pulled a hammer from his sleeve, leaptforward and slew Jin Bi.

With the help of the Commander's Seal, Lord Xinling selected 80,000crack troops ,defeated Qin's armies and saved Zhao.

  

接着,侯嬴又给信陵君出主意,叫他去找大王的宠妃如姬,让她去偷大王的兵符。

信陵君拿到了兵符,便想马上出发。侯嬴提醒他说:“你把我的屠夫朋友朱亥带上,以防万一。”

信陵君带着朱亥来到大军驻扎地。晋鄙见了兵符怀疑说:“大王既叫我暂不前进,又怎会随便叫你替代我呢?”晋鄙的话音刚落,朱亥从袖里拿出四十斤重的大铁锥来,一下就把晋鄙打死了。

信陵君高举兵符,筛选了八万精兵,打败了秦军,解救了赵国。

To Collapse Like an Earthen Wall

Explanation:

To suffer a crushing defeat from  which one can never recover.Story:

Liu Bang, the founder of the   Han Dynasty, was originally a minorofficial in Peixian County in   the later part of the Qin Dynasty. Hewas ordered to escort a large  group of laborers north to work

on the Great Wall, which was just being built at that time.Because he was not a harsh disciplinarian, large numbers of thelaborers took advantage of this to escape, and Liu Bang, knowing thathe would be punished harshly when he reached his destination, decidedto free the rest of the laborers and flee himself.

With only about a dozen companions, Liu Bang became an outlaw.  Hegained a reputation for courage when the band came across a giant snakelying in their path.  None of the other outlaws dared to approach it,but Liu Bang strode fearlessly forward and drove it away with his sword.

一败涂地

解释:

形容失败到不可收拾的地步。故事:

秦朝末年,刘邦是沛县一名亭长(管理十里以内的小官)。他性格豪爽,乐于帮助别人。有一次,刘邦奉命押送一批民夫到骊山去做苦工。在路上,每天总有几个民夫逃走。有天晚上,他对大家说:“你们到骊山做苦工也是累死,你们都走吧!”当时就有十几个民夫情愿跟随刘邦。

刘邦带这十几个人正往别处逃走,忽然有条大蛇挡在路上,别人吓得不敢前进,刘邦手提宝剑,把大蛇赶走,大家很佩服他这种勇敢精神。

  

At that time the Qin Dynasty was collaping under the pressure ofwidespread rebellion. Xiao He and Cao Can, respectively secretary andprison governor of Peixian County ,admired Liu Band and had secretcontacts with him ,urging him to help overthrow the corrupt andtyrannous Qin Dynasty.

As the first step ,they occupied the county seat of Peixian. Thelocal people chose Liu Bang as their leader ,and his acceptance speechcontained the following words:"To overthrow the Qin Dynasty will bea most arduous task . If we fail we will be like an earthen wall whichhas collapsed-there is no way that it can be put together again."

Starting with a rag-tag army of only 3,000 men , Liu Bang went onto overthrow the decadent Qin Dynasty and establish a new and vigorousdynasty, that of the Han.  

那时候秦朝政治腐败,各地百姓纷纷起来造反。沛县衙里的文书萧何和监狱官曹参知道刘邦是个好汉,便经常暗地与他来往,商量准备起兵反秦。

在萧何和曹参的帮助下,刘邦决定起义,他们首先攻下了沛县。大家推举刘邦为起义军的首领;刘邦说:“抗秦大业是艰巨的,如果一败涂地,就要赔上性命啊!我刘邦愿带领大家大干一场!”

刘邦从这天开始,便率领沛县的三千弟子展开反抗暴秦的斗争,最后终于推翻了秦朝,建立了汉朝。

  

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