Idioms
拔苗助長[拔苗助长]
Meaning: Refers to destructive enthusiasm and that people ignore the natural process of things and act due to anxiousness or their own wishes and make things worse.
Traditional 古代宋國有一個農夫,是個急性子的人。他每天總是起早睡晚,辛勤地勞動,他盼著禾苗快快成長,今天去量量、明天又去量量,可是一天、兩天、三天、五天,他總感到禾苗好像一點兒也未見長,心中十分著急。晚上躺在床上睡不著,他一直在想:怎麼能幫助禾苗長高呢?
想著想著,想出辦法了,於是美滋滋地睡著了。 第二天他早早起來,跑步到田地裏,頭頂著炎炎的烈日把禾苗一棵一棵地往上拔高。從早晨幹到中午,又從中午拔到太陽快要落山,把田裏的禾苗一棵棵全都拔了一遍,他幹得精疲力竭,累得腰酸腿痛,可是,他心裏非常高興,以為這辦法非常高明。 他拖著啤憊的雙腿,搖搖晃晃回到家裏,顧不得擦幹身上的汗水,興奮地告訴家人:“你們等著瞧,今年的莊稼,哪家也比不過我。” 妻子問他:“你有什麼好辦法?” 他驕傲地說:“今天我幫助禾苗快長,都往上拔了拔。” 他的兒子聽了不明白是怎麼回事,馬上跑到田裏去看,糟了,田裏的禾苗全都枯萎了、死了。 | Simplified古代宋国有一个农夫,是个急性子的人。他每天总是起早睡晚,辛勤地劳动,他盼着禾苗快快成长,今天去量量、明天又去量量,可是一天、两天、叁天、五天,他总感到禾苗好像一点儿也未见长,心中十分着急。晚上躺在床上睡不着,他一直在想:怎么能帮助禾苗长高呢?
想着想着,想出办法了,于是美滋滋地睡着了。 第二天他早早起来,跑步到田地里,头顶着炎炎的烈日把禾苗一棵一棵地往上拔高。从早晨干到中午,又从中午拔到太阳快要落山,把田里的禾苗一棵棵全都拔了一遍,他干得精疲力竭,累得腰酸腿痛,可是,他心里非常高兴,以为这办法非常高明。 他拖着啤惫的双腿,摇摇晃晃回到家里,顾不得擦干身上的汗水,兴奋地告诉家人:“你们等着瞧,今年的庄稼,哪家也比不过我。” 妻子问他:“你有什么好办法?” 他骄傲地说:“今天我帮助禾苗快长,都往上拔了拔。” 他的儿子听了不明白是怎么回事,马上跑到田里去看,糟了,田里的禾苗全都枯萎了、死了。 |
English Translation:
In the ancient state of Song, there lived an impatient farmer. He always worked hard from very early in the day until very late at night. He was looking forward to his seedlings growing quickly. Everyday he would measure its volume of his seedlings but even after one, two, three then five days he felt as if the seedlings were not even growing and became very anxious. As he lay awake in bed at night, he kept thinking: how do I help the seedlings grow taller it?
After thinking for a long time, he finally came up with a way, and fell asleep.
The next day he woke up early, ran to his fields under the scorching sun, and pulled each seedling higher and higher one by one. From morning till noon, and from noon to sunset, the farmer pulled each seedling higher one by one. He was exhausted, had a backache, and had leg pain, but he felt very happy, thinking that his method was very wise.
He dragged his tired legs and staggered back home, wiped the sweat off his body, and excitedly told his family: "You wait and see, this year's crops will be more than the other houses!"
His wife asked him: "Do you have a good way to get more crops?"
He said proudly: "Today I wanted to help the seedlings grow quickly, so i pulled all of them upward."
After listening to this, his son did not understand how that was possible and immediately ran to the fields to see what he meant. However,all the seedlings had already withered and died.
In the ancient state of Song, there lived an impatient farmer. He always worked hard from very early in the day until very late at night. He was looking forward to his seedlings growing quickly. Everyday he would measure its volume of his seedlings but even after one, two, three then five days he felt as if the seedlings were not even growing and became very anxious. As he lay awake in bed at night, he kept thinking: how do I help the seedlings grow taller it?
After thinking for a long time, he finally came up with a way, and fell asleep.
The next day he woke up early, ran to his fields under the scorching sun, and pulled each seedling higher and higher one by one. From morning till noon, and from noon to sunset, the farmer pulled each seedling higher one by one. He was exhausted, had a backache, and had leg pain, but he felt very happy, thinking that his method was very wise.
He dragged his tired legs and staggered back home, wiped the sweat off his body, and excitedly told his family: "You wait and see, this year's crops will be more than the other houses!"
His wife asked him: "Do you have a good way to get more crops?"
He said proudly: "Today I wanted to help the seedlings grow quickly, so i pulled all of them upward."
After listening to this, his son did not understand how that was possible and immediately ran to the fields to see what he meant. However,all the seedlings had already withered and died.
Idiom: 積沙成塔
ji1sha1cheng2ta3
Sentence: 你每天存一塊錢,一年之後積沙成塔,他就有三白多快。
Meaning: to collect sand to form a tower; if you save a little everyday it will accumulate to a lot.
Summary:
有一個人用一粒一粒的沙子造成一個大塔.
A tower was built with small grains of sand.
ji1sha1cheng2ta3
Sentence: 你每天存一塊錢,一年之後積沙成塔,他就有三白多快。
Meaning: to collect sand to form a tower; if you save a little everyday it will accumulate to a lot.
Summary:
有一個人用一粒一粒的沙子造成一個大塔.
A tower was built with small grains of sand.
盲人摸象 [Traditional]從前,有五個盲人碰到一頭大象。 第一個瞎子摸到大象的呀,說,“大象像根尖長的蘿蔔。” 第二個瞎子摸了大象的耳朵,說,“大像是個簸箕。” 第三個瞎子摸到的是大象的腿,說,“大像是根柱子!” 第四個瞎子爬到大像上面,就說,“不對!大象真的像一張床!” 第五個瞎子正好摸到了大象的尾巴,說到,“你們都在說什麼呢?大象真的是有根繩子!” 這時候,一個人聽見了這五位盲人說的話,就走過來哈哈大笑,說,“真是盲人摸象,越摸越不像。
| 盲人摸象 [Simplified]从前,有五个盲人碰到一头大象。第一个瞎子摸到大象的呀,说,“大象像根尖长的萝卜。” 第二个瞎子摸了大象的耳朵,说,“大象是个簸箕。” 第三个瞎子摸到的是大象的腿,说,“大象是根柱子!” 第四个瞎子爬到大象上面,就说,“不对!大象真的像一床!” 第五个瞎子正好摸到了大象的尾巴,说到,“你们都在说什么呢?大象真的是有根绳子!” 这时候,一个人听见了这五位盲人说的话,就走过来哈哈大笑,说,“真是盲人摸象,越摸越不象。
|
盲人摸象
mang2ren2mo1xiang4
Sentence:
Meaning: When looking at problems, one must look at the whole picture and not just at one part.
Summary:
五個盲人摸一個大象,每一個盲人摸的地方不一樣,就覺得大象是不樣的東西。
Five blind men feel an elephant, and each of them feel different parts of it. They each concluded that the elephant was different things based on their observations.
mang2ren2mo1xiang4
Sentence:
Meaning: When looking at problems, one must look at the whole picture and not just at one part.
Summary:
五個盲人摸一個大象,每一個盲人摸的地方不一樣,就覺得大象是不樣的東西。
Five blind men feel an elephant, and each of them feel different parts of it. They each concluded that the elephant was different things based on their observations.
點石成金
diăn shí chéng jīn
Sentence: 他有點石成金的能力,可以把一塊破布變成一件藝術品。
Meaning: To be in possession of unbelievable ability.
Summary:
有一個人有很大的能力:他可以把石頭變成金子。
A person has the magic touch, they can turn stone into gold.
diăn shí chéng jīn
Sentence: 他有點石成金的能力,可以把一塊破布變成一件藝術品。
Meaning: To be in possession of unbelievable ability.
Summary:
有一個人有很大的能力:他可以把石頭變成金子。
A person has the magic touch, they can turn stone into gold.
鄭人買履 [Traditional]中國戰國時期,鄭國有個愚蠢的人。一天,他的鞋壞了,於是他打算去集市買一雙新鞋。在去集市之前,這個人在家先用一根小繩量好了自己腳的長短尺寸,隨手將小繩放在座位上,起身就出門了。
等他走到集市,看到那裡十分熱鬧,人群熙熙攘攘,各種各樣的小商品擺滿了櫃檯。這個鄭國人徑直走到鞋舖前,裡面有各式各樣的鞋子。這個人讓掌櫃的拿了幾雙鞋,他左挑右選,最後選中了一雙自己覺得滿意的鞋子。他正準備掏出小繩,用事先量好的尺碼來比一比新鞋的大小, 忽然想起小繩被擱在家裡忘記帶來。 於是這個人放下鞋子趕緊回家去。他急急忙忙地返回家中,拿了小繩又急急忙忙趕往集市。儘管他快跑慢跑,還是花了差不多兩個時辰。等他到了集市,太陽快下山了。集市上的小販都收了攤,大多數店鋪已經關門。他來到鞋鋪,鞋鋪也打烊了。他鞋沒買成,低頭瞧瞧自己腳上,原先那雙破鞋,十分沮喪。 有幾個好事的人圍過來,知道情況後問他:“買鞋時為什麼不用你的腳去穿一下,試試鞋的大小呢?” 他回答說:“那可不成,量的尺碼才可靠,我的腳是不可靠的。我寧可相信尺碼,也不相信自己的腳。” | 郑人买履 [Simplified]中国战国时期,郑国有个愚蠢的人。一天,他的鞋坏了,于是他打算去集市买一双新鞋。在去集市之前,这个人在家先用一根小绳量好了自己脚的长短尺寸,随手将小绳放在座位上,起身就出门了。
等 他走到集市,看到那里十分热闹,人群熙熙攘攘,各种各样的小商品摆满了柜台。这个郑国人径直走到鞋铺前,里面 有各式各样的鞋子。这个人让掌柜的拿了几双鞋,他左挑右选,最后选中了一双自己觉得满意的鞋子。他正准备掏出小绳,用事先量好的尺码来比一比新鞋的大小, 忽然想起小绳被搁在家里忘记带来。 于是这个人放下鞋子赶紧回家去。他急急忙忙地返回家中,拿了小绳又急急忙忙赶往集市。尽管他快跑慢 跑,还是花了差不多两个时 辰。等他到了集市,太阳快下山了。集市上的小贩都收了摊,大多数店铺已经关门。他来到鞋铺,鞋铺也打烊了。他鞋没买成,低头瞧瞧自己脚上,原先那双破鞋, 十分沮丧。 有几个好事的人围过来,知道情况后问他:“买鞋时为什么不用你的脚去穿一下,试试鞋的大小呢?” 他回答说:“那可不成,量的尺码才可靠,我的脚是不可靠的。我宁可相信尺码,也不相信自己的脚。” |
开卷有益
kai1juan4you3yi4
Sentence:
Meaning: Reading helps promote knowledge; even when one has no time for other things, one should still have time to read.
Summary:
有一個國王很慢,但是他每天還是有時間看書。別人讓他休息他也繼續讀,一年就把好幾個全給讀完了。
There was an emperor who always found time to read books. Even when other people told him to rest, he would read; he finished the entire volume in a year.
kai1juan4you3yi4
Sentence:
Meaning: Reading helps promote knowledge; even when one has no time for other things, one should still have time to read.
Summary:
有一個國王很慢,但是他每天還是有時間看書。別人讓他休息他也繼續讀,一年就把好幾個全給讀完了。
There was an emperor who always found time to read books. Even when other people told him to rest, he would read; he finished the entire volume in a year.
亡羊補牢 [Traditional]從前有一個牧民,養了幾十只羊,白天放牧,晚上趕進一個用柴草和木樁等物圍起來的羊圈內。
一天早晨,這個牧民去放羊,發現羊少了一只。原來羊圈破了個窟窿,夜間有狼從窟窿裏鑽了進來,把一只羊叼走了。 鄰居勸告他說:“趕快把羊圈修一修,堵上那個窟窿吧。” 他說:“羊已經丟了,還去修羊圈幹什麼呢?”沒有接受鄰居的好心勸告。 第二天早上,他去放羊,發現又少了一只羊。原來狼又從窟窿裏鑽進羊圈,又叼走了一只羊。 這位牧民很後悔沒有認直接受鄰居的勸告,去及時采取補救措施。於是,他趕緊堵上那個窟窿,又從整體進行加固,把羊圈修得牢牢實實的。 從此,這個牧民的羊就再也沒有被野狼叼走過了。 牧民的故事告訴我們:犯了錯誤,遭到挫折,這是常見的現象。只要能認真吸取教訓,及時采取補救措施,就可以避免繼續犯錯誤,遭受更大的損失。 | 亡羊补牢 [Simplified]从前有一个牧民,养了几十只羊,白天放牧,晚上赶进一个用柴草和木桩等物围起来的羊圈内。
一天早晨,这个牧民去放羊,发现羊少了一只。原来羊圈破了个窟窿,夜间有狼从窟窿里钻了进来,把一只羊叼走了。 邻居劝告他说:“赶快把羊圈修一修,堵上那个窟窿吧。” 他说:“羊已经丢了,还去修羊圈干什幺呢?”没有接受邻居的好心劝告。 第二天早上,他去放羊,发现又少了一只羊。原来狼又从窟窿里钻进羊圈,又叼走了一只羊。 这位牧民很后悔没有认直接受邻居的劝告,去及时采取补救措施。于是,他赶紧堵上那个窟窿,又从整体进行加固,把羊圈修得牢牢实实的。 从此,这个牧民的羊就再也没有被野狼叼走过了。 牧民的故事告诉我们:犯了错误,遭到挫折,这是常见的现象。只要能认真吸取教训,及时采取补救措施,就可以避免继续犯错误,遭受更大的损失。 |
亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
Sentence:
Meaning:This story says that if we make mistakes, as long as we learn from them, we will not make the mistake ever again.
Summary:
從前有一個農婦養了好幾只羊。有一天,那個農夫發現有一只狼在偷他的羊因為他的籬笆有一個大洞。他的鄰居叫他把洞快給修好,但是那個農夫說這個事情已經發生了,不用修。下一天,狼又把一只羊給偷走了,農夫就知道要把籬笆給修好。
There once was a farmer who raised many sheep. One day, he found a hole in the fence that allowed wolves to steal his sheep. His neighbor told him to fix it, but he said the sheep was already stolen. The next day, another sheep was stolen; the farmer then realized his mistake and fixed the fence.
wáng yáng bǔ láo
Sentence:
Meaning:This story says that if we make mistakes, as long as we learn from them, we will not make the mistake ever again.
Summary:
從前有一個農婦養了好幾只羊。有一天,那個農夫發現有一只狼在偷他的羊因為他的籬笆有一個大洞。他的鄰居叫他把洞快給修好,但是那個農夫說這個事情已經發生了,不用修。下一天,狼又把一只羊給偷走了,農夫就知道要把籬笆給修好。
There once was a farmer who raised many sheep. One day, he found a hole in the fence that allowed wolves to steal his sheep. His neighbor told him to fix it, but he said the sheep was already stolen. The next day, another sheep was stolen; the farmer then realized his mistake and fixed the fence.
八九不離十
ba1 jiu3 bu4 li1 shi2
Sentence:
Meaning: Pretty Close, Very Near, About Right
ba1 jiu3 bu4 li1 shi2
Sentence:
Meaning: Pretty Close, Very Near, About Right
識途老馬
shi4tu2lao3ma3
Sentence:
Meaning: An old horse knows the way; this refers to experienced people who are wise.
Summary:
從前,有一些人在沙漠裏面找不到路了。這些人都不知道怎麼辦。有一個人就說讓幾匹老馬把他們帶出去,應為老馬知道路,所以跟著幾匹老馬,這些人就從沙漠出來了。
Once there a group of people lost their way in the desert and didn't know what to do. Someone suggested following some old horses because they know their way, and they successfully exited the desert.
shi4tu2lao3ma3
Sentence:
Meaning: An old horse knows the way; this refers to experienced people who are wise.
Summary:
從前,有一些人在沙漠裏面找不到路了。這些人都不知道怎麼辦。有一個人就說讓幾匹老馬把他們帶出去,應為老馬知道路,所以跟著幾匹老馬,這些人就從沙漠出來了。
Once there a group of people lost their way in the desert and didn't know what to do. Someone suggested following some old horses because they know their way, and they successfully exited the desert.