Learn Chinese Idiom
- Varun Shukla
- Jun 27, 2015
- 19 min read
1.) niú jiǎo ɡuà shū|牛角挂书 |To Hang Books On The Ox's Horn.
古时候，有一个人名叫李密，非常喜欢读书。每天从早到晚从来不浪费一分钟，所有的时间都在看书。
ɡǔ shí hou ,yǒu yí ɡè rén mínɡ jiào lǐ mì ,fēi chánɡ xǐ huɑn dú shū 。měi tiān cónɡ zǎo dào wǎn cónɡ lái bú lànɡ fèi yì fēn zhōnɡ ,suó yǒu de shí jiān dōu zài kàn shū
有一次，要到远地方去办事，他担心在路上躭误时间太多。出门前想了一个可以一面赶路一面读书的好办法。
yǒu yí cì ,yào dào yuǎn dì fɑnɡ qù bàn shì ,tā dān xīn zài lù shɑnɡ dān wù shí jiān tài duō 。chū mén qián xiǎnɡ le yí ɡè ké yǐ yí miàn ɡǎn lù yí miàn dú shū de hǎo bàn fǎ 。
自己用草编了个鞍子放在牛背上，把要看的书挂在牛角上。就这样他可以舒服地骑在牛背上，一手拿著书，一手牵著缰绳，一边赶路一边看书。
zì jǐ yònɡ cǎo biān le ɡè ān zi fànɡ zài niú bèi shànɡ ， bǎ yào kàn de shū ɡuà zài niú jiǎo shànɡ . jiù zhè yànɡ tā ké yǐ shū fu dì qí zài niú bèi shànɡ ,yì shǒu ná zhe shū ,yì shǒu qiān zhe jiānɡ shénɡ ,yì biān ɡǎn lù yì biān kàn shū 。
在路上刚好遇到个很有地位的人——杨素。他看到李密专心读书的样子，不想打搅，就跟在李密后面，一直等到李密转头想换一本书，才上前打招呼，还连连夸奖李密专心读书的态度。
zài lù shɑnɡ ɡānɡ hǎo yù dào ɡè hěn yǒu dì wèi de rén — — yánɡ sù 。 tā kàn dào lǐ mì zhuān xīn dú shū de yànɡ zi ， bù xiǎnɡ dǎ jiǎo ， jiù ɡēn zài lǐ mì hòu miɑn ， yì zhí děnɡ dào lǐ mì zhuǎn tóu xiǎnɡ huàn yì běn shū ， cái shànɡ qián dǎ zhāo hu ， hái lián lián kuā jiǎnɡ lǐ mì zhuān xīn dú shū de tài dù 。
今天我们可用「牛角挂书」来形容一个人找到方法来用尽他的每分每秒学习。
In ancient times, there lived a boy named Li Mi, who loved to read. He never wasted a single minute, but spent all of his spare time every day reading. One day, Li Mi had to go to a faraway place to take care of some business. Not wanting to waste any time on the way there, he took all of the books that he wanted to read and hung them on one of the horns of his ox. He then climbed up onto his ox's back, and with a book in one hand and the reins in the other, began his journey. On the way, Li Mi was spotted by Yang Su, a very well-known scholar of the time. Not wishing to interrupt Li Mi while he was so absorbed in his reading, Yang Su instead followed behind the ox, waiting until Li Mi looked up to get a new book. Yang Su then rode up to Li Mi and greeted him, praising him highly for his attitude towards reading.
Today, we can say that a person who is son diligent in his studies that he finds a way to make use of every minute is "Hanging Books On The Ox's Horn."
2) Bàn tú ér fèi | 半途而废 |Give Up Halfway (To Leave Something Unfinished)
半 means half; 途 means way or road; 而 means but; 废 means stop
Dōnghàn shí, yǒu gè míng jiào Lèyáng zi de rén,
东汉 时， 有 个 名 叫 乐羊子 的 人，
During the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD),there was a man called Yue Yangzi.
Zài qīzi de gǔlì xià, chū yuǎn mén bàishī qiúxué.
在 妻子的 鼓励下，出 远 门 拜师 求学。
Encouraged by his wife, he left home to visit scholars and enrich his knowledge.
Yì nián hóu, Lèyáng zi tūrán huí dào jiāzhōng.
一 年 后， 乐羊子 突然 回 到 家中。
A year later, he came back home suddenly.
Tā de qīzi hěn jīnyà de wèn:”Nǐ zěnme huílái le? Nǐ cái hé nàxiē xuézhe xué le yìnián ya !”
他 的 妻子很 惊讶 地 问：“你 怎么 回来 了? 你 才 和 那些 学者 学了 一年 呀！”
"Why have you returned?" asked his wife in surprise, "You've only spent one year studying with scholars."
Lèyáng zi shuō:” Wǒ tài xiǎng nǐ le, suǒyǐ huílái kànkan.
乐羊子 说： “我 太 想 你了，所以 回来 看看。” "I come back because I missed you very much,"Yue Yangzi replied.
Tā de qīzi tīng le zhihóu, èrhuà bùshuō, náqǐ bǎ jiǎndāo zǒu dào tā de zhībùjī qián,
他 的 妻子 听 了 之后， 二话 不说，拿起 把 剪刀 走 到 她 的 织布机前， Without saying anything, his wife took a pair of scissors and went to the loom at which she had worked.
Zhǐzhe nà kuài yǐjīn wánchéng le yíbàn de jǐnduàn shuō:” zhè kuài jǐnduàn yóng de shì zuìhǎo de sī, wǒ yì sīsi de jīlěi lái zhīchéng zhè jǐnduàn.
指着 那 块 已经 完 成 了 一半 的 锦缎 说： “这 块 锦缎 用 的 是 最好 的 丝, 我 一丝丝 的 累积来 织成 这 锦缎。
Pointing at the half-done brocade, she proclaimed, "This brocade is woven from the finest silk. I wove one strand after another to produce the brocade.
Rúguǒ wǒ xiànzài bǎ tā jiǎnduàn, jiù děng yú qiángōngjìnqì.
如果 我 现在 把 它 剪断， 就 等 于 前功尽弃。
Now if I cut it, all my previous work willbe wasted.
Nǐ qiúxué yě shì zhèyàng, rúguǒ xiànzài tíngzhǐ, hé jiǎn duàn zhībùjī shàng de jǐnduàn yǒu shénme qūbié?”
你 求学 也 是 这样， 如果 现在 停止， 和 剪 断 织布机 上 的 锦缎 有 什么 区别？”
It's the same with your studies. Now,you've stopped halfway. Isn't it the same as cutting the brocade on theloom?"
Lèyáng zi bèi qīzi de huà shēnshen gǎndòng, yúshì lìkè líkāi jiā, jìxù bài shī qiúxué. 乐羊子 被 妻子的 话 深深 感动， 于是 立刻离开家, 继续拜 师求 学。 Deeply moved by what she said, Yue Yangzi left homeright away to continue his studies.
Jǐ nián hòu, Lèyáng zi zōng yú wánchéng xuéyè, chéng wéi yí gè bóxué de rén. 几 年 后， 乐洋子 终 于 完成 学业， 成 为 一个 博学 的人。
Several years later, he finished his studies and became a learned man.
3) Bù hán ér lì |不寒而栗 | Shiver Though Not Cold
不寒 [bù hán]: not cold , 而 [ér]: but , 栗 [lì]: tremble
漢武帝時，有一個人名叫義縱，因為受到太后的恩寵，做了上黨郡某縣令。上任以後，公務辦得很出色，案子處理上敢作敢為，不論是有錢有勢的豪紳，還是平民，只要犯了法，義縱秉公審辦，皇上很讚賞他，調他做河內郡都尉。一到任，他立即把禍害一方的豪門大族滿門抄斬，一時間，河內郡的治安和社會風氣大有好轉，有人不慎把東西失落在道路上，也沒有人搶走據為已有。義縱調到南陽任太守時，一個做惡多端的豪強地主寧成，正在南陽居住。寧成為了討好義縱，每次迎送都裝出謙恭的樣子。但是，義縱對他的惡行早有所聞，到南陽後立即展開調查，很快就查清他的罪行，把他關押起來。後來，漢武帝又任命義縱做定襄太守。當時定襄的社會治安歷史學家混亂。義縱到任以後，把押在獄中的沒有加開具的二百多名重犯，以及為重犯開脫罪責進行賄賂的二百多名門客親屬，一律嚴加追究，拘捕治罪，一天之內處死的就有四百多名。從此以後，定襄的人一聽到義縱的名字就「不寒而慄」－－天氣不冷卻渾身發抖。
During the reign of Emperor Wudi (156–87 B.C.) of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – A.D. 23), there was a man named Yi Zong who was well known for his ethics and righteousness.
Because of her excellent medical skill, Yi Zong’s sister had earned the special kindness of the emperor’s mother who later introduced him to the emperor. Subsequently, Yi Zong became a county magistrate.
Yi Zong implemented laws in a very strict manner. Without mercy or prejudice, he would bring anyone who violated the laws to justice. Because he greatly diminished the corruption of the nobility and powerful locals, Yi Zong was highly regarded by the emperor and he had a successful civil career.
When Yi Zong was appointed as the governor of Nanyang province, he heard that there was a local official, Ning, who was very vicious and whom none dared offend.
After discovering all the wicked things that Ning had done, Yi Zong immediately put him on trial and executed him.
The other corrupt officials fled. All the remaining officials and the common folk in Nanyang were afraid to break the law. They watched their words and deeds every moment in order to avoid doing something illegal.
With no corrupt officials and a greater social conscience, Nanyang became a peaceful place for people to live.
Later, Yi Zong was assigned to be the chief of Dingxiang. At that time, there were many skirmishes in the area between the Han army and the Huns and Dingxiang had become a battlefield. Some officials were easily bribed, residents suffered greatly. As a result, the region was in chaos.
After taking office there, Yi Zong interrogated more than 200 prisoners and arrested 200 or more of their relatives and friends who had offered bribes in order to absolve the serious offenders of guilt.
Consequently, Yi Zong had over 400 convicts executed in a single day.
From that day on, whenever the name of Yi Zong was mentioned, guilty people would become frightened and they would shiver as if they were cold.
This story about Yi Zong was mentioned in the “Records of the Grand Historian,” or “Shiji” (1). The phrase 不寒而慄 (bù hán ér lì) comes from that story.
Later, the phrase was used as an idiom. It means to shiver though not cold. It is used to describe the state of being extremely fearful or when something makes one’s hair stand on end
4) qián jù hòu gōng |前倨后恭| First Arrogant, Then Respectful
蘇秦是戰國時期的人。開始蘇秦來到秦國, 向秦王推行自己的政治主張, 但是秦王對此沒有興趣, 最後旅費用完了，衣服也破了，蘇秦只得回到洛陽家中。見蘇秦這樣狼狽，父母懶得同他講話，妻子只顧織布，也不看他一眼，他要求嫂子給他弄點吃的，嫂子不但不給，還數落了他一頓。蘇秦很難過，於是立志苦讀，研究兵法。有時看書看瞌睡了，他就用錐子猛刺大腿，讓自己繼續讀下去。 後來，蘇秦學問有成了，遊與國、趙國，使燕、趙、齊、楚、韓、魏六國結成同盟，自己統領了六國的軍隊。有一次，他路過洛陽老家。蘇秦的父母，拄著拐杖，早早在大路口等候。回到家裏，妻子不敢正眼看他。蘇秦的嫂子對他畢恭畢敬。蘇秦笑道：“嫂子，你以前瞧不起我，現在為甚麼卻這樣謙卑？”嫂子說： “如今叔叔做了大官，發了大財，我哪敢象從前一樣。” “前倨後恭” 指待人接物態度前後不一。
During the Warring States Period, there lived a politician named Su CHin who tried to get a job as a governement official, but to no avail. His parents, his sister-in-law, and his wife were all ashamed of him, but it was his sister-in-law who treated him worst. She would ofter mock him, saying that he would never amount to anything. Su CHin felt very hurt, but he did not lose hope. He studied hard every day, and finally discouvered what he called the "zong-heng" principle. Su Chin traveled to many kingdoms explaining his ideas, and at first he was rejected everywhere he went. But his suggestion that the kingdoms of Yan, Chao, Ch'i Ch'u, Wei and Han all unite to fight against Ch'in was heartily accepted in both Yan and Chao. What's more, the leaders of these two kingdoms asked him to go persuade the other four leaders to go along with the plan. Later, these six kingdoms were united, and Su Chin became their very well-known and highly respected prime minister. One time, he was passing through his home town, and his parents and sister-in-law all came out to welcome him. Su Chin laughed and sad to his sister-in-law, "You were always so arrogant; why is it that you've suddenly become huble?" His sister-in-law felt very ashamed. Today, this idiom can be used to describe anyone wo acts haughtily towards another person, but then becomes respectful upon learning that that person is of high status.
5) ɡāo zhěn wú yōu |高 枕 无 忧 | Fluffing up the Pillows for Sleep With No Worries
chūn qiū shí dài ， zài qí ɡuó yǒu wèi mínɡ jiào mènɡ chánɡ jūn de rén ， tā fēi chánɡ xǐ huɑn yǔ wén xué jiā hái yǒu xiá kè fēnɡ fàn de rén jiāo pénɡ you ， wèi le nénɡ yǔ tā men chánɡ tǎo lùn ɡuó jiā dà shì ， zǒnɡ xǐ huɑn yāo qǐnɡ zhè xiē rén dào jiā zhōnɡ chánɡ zhù 。 春秋时代，在齐国有位名叫孟尝君的人，他非常喜欢与文学家还有侠客风范的人交朋友，为了能与他们常讨论国家大事，总喜欢邀请这些人到家中长住。
zài zhè xiē rén dānɡ zhōnɡ ， yǒu wèi jiào fénɡ xuān de rén ， tā chánɡ chánɡ yí zhù jiù shì zhù shànɡ hěn chánɡ yí duàn shí jiān ， dàn shì què shén me shì dōu bú zuò ， mènɡ chánɡ jūn suī rán jué dé hěn qí ɡuài ， dàn shì hào kè de tā hái shì rè qínɡ zhāo dài fénɡ xuān 。 在这些人当中，有位叫冯谖的人，他常常一住就是住上狠长一段时间，但是却什么事都不做，孟尝君虽然觉得狠奇怪，但是好客的他还是热情招待冯谖。 yǒu yí cì ， fénɡ xuān tì mènɡ chánɡ jūn dào xuē dì zhè dì fɑnɡ tǎo zhài ， dàn shì tā bú dàn méi ɡēn dānɡ dì bǎi xìnɡ yào zhài ， fǎn ér hái bǎ zhài juàn quán shāo le ， xuē dì rén mín dōu yǐ wéi zhè shì mènɡ chánɡ jūn de ēn dé ， ér xīn lǐ chōnɡ mǎn ɡǎn jī 。 有一次，冯谖替孟尝君到薛地这地方讨债，但是他不但没跟当地百姓要债，反而还把债倦全烧了，薛地人民都以为这是孟尝君的恩德，而心里充满感激。 zhí dào hòu lái ， mènɡ chánɡ jūn bèi qí wánɡ jiě chú xiānɡ ɡuó de zhí wèi ， qián wǎnɡ xuē dì dìnɡ jū ， shòu dào xuē dì rén rè liè de huān yínɡ ， mènɡ chánɡ jūn cái zhī dào fénɡ xuān de cái nénɡ 。 直到后来，孟尝君被齐王解除相国的职位，前往薛地定居，受到薛地人热烈的欢迎，孟尝君才知道冯谖的才能。 yì zhí dào zhè shí hou ， bù duō huà de fénɡ xuān cái duì mènɡ chánɡ jūn shuō ： 「 tōnɡ chánɡ cōnɡ mínɡ de tù zi dōu yǒu sān ɡè dònɡ xué ， cái nénɡ zài jǐn jí de shí hou táo ɡuò liè rén de zhuī bǔ ， ér miǎn chú yì sǐ 。 一直到这时候，不多话的冯谖才对孟尝君说：「通常聪明的兔子都有三个洞穴，才能在紧急的时候逃过猎人的追捕，而免除一死。 dàn shì nǐ què zhí yǒu yí ɡè cánɡ shēn zhī chù ， suó yǐ nǐ hái bù nénɡ bǎ zhěn tou diàn dé ɡāo ɡāo dì shuì jiào ， wǒ yuàn yì zài wéi nǐ ān pái lìnɡ wài liǎnɡ ɡè ké yǐ ān xīn de cánɡ shēn zhī chù 。 但是你却只有一个藏身之处，所以你还不能把枕头垫得高高地睡觉，我愿意再为你安排另外两个可以安心的藏身之处。 yú shì fénɡ xuān qù jiàn liánɡ huì wánɡ ， tā ɡào su liánɡ huì wánɡ shuō ， rú ɡuǒ liánɡ huì wánɡ nénɡ qǐnɡ dào mènɡ chánɡ jūn bānɡ tā zhì lǐ ɡuó jiā ， nà me liánɡ ɡuó yí dìnɡ nénɡ ɡòu biàn dé ɡènɡ qiánɡ shènɡ 。 于是冯谖去见梁惠王，他告诉梁惠王说，如果梁惠王能请到孟尝君帮他治理国家，那么梁国一定能够变得更强盛。 yú shì liánɡ huì wánɡ pài rén yāo qǐnɡ mènɡ chánɡ jūn dào liánɡ ɡuó ， zhǔn bèi rànɡ tā dān rèn zhì lǐ ɡuó jiā de zhònɡ yào ɡuān zhí 。 kě shì ， liánɡ ɡuó de shí zhě yì lián lái le sān cì ， fénɡ xuān dōu jiào mènɡ chánɡ jūn bú yào dā yìnɡ 。 于是梁惠王派人邀请孟尝君到梁国，准备让他担任治理国家的重要官职。可是，梁国的使者一连来了三次，冯谖都叫孟尝君不要答应。 liánɡ ɡuó pài rén qǐnɡ mènɡ chánɡ jūn qù zhì lǐ liánɡ ɡuó de xiāo xi chuán dào qí wánɡ nà lǐ ， qí wánɡ yì jí ， jiù ɡán jǐn pài rén qǐnɡ mènɡ chánɡ jūn huí qí ɡuó dānɡ xiānɡ ɡuó 。 梁国派人请孟尝君去治理梁国的消息传到齐王那里，齐王一急，就赶紧派人请孟尝君回齐国当相国。 fénɡ xuān yào mènɡ chánɡ jūn xiànɡ qí wánɡ tí chū xī wànɡ nénɡ ɡòu yōnɡ yǒu qí ɡuó zǔ chuán jì qì de yāo qiú ， bìnɡ qiě jiānɡ tā men fànɡ zài xuē dì ， tónɡ shí xīnɡ jiàn yí zuò cí miào ， yǐ què bǎo xuē dì de ān quán 。 冯谖要孟尝君向齐王提出希望能够拥有齐国祖传祭器的要求，并且将它们放在薛地,，同时兴建一座祠庙，以确保薛地的安全。 cí miào jiàn hǎo hòu ， fénɡ xuān duì mènɡ chánɡ jūn shuō ： 「 xiàn zài shǔ yú nǐ de sān ɡè ān shēn zhī dì dōu jiàn zào hǎo le ， cónɡ cǐ yǐ hòu nǐ jiù ké yǐ diàn ɡāo zhěn tou ， ān xīn dì shuì dà jiào le 。 祠庙建好后，冯谖对孟尝君说：「现在属于你的三个安身之地都建造好了，从此以后你就可以垫高枕头，安心地睡大觉了。
The Chinese idiom “fluffing up the pillows to sleep with no worries” originates from a story about the wisdom of being prepared and having options so that one can rest easy and is ready to face any difficulty that may arise.
Meng Changjun (孟嚐君), a prime minister of the state of Qi during the Warring States Period (475–221 B.C.), was a very generous man who constantly had many houseguests staying at his home, including many who stayed for long periods of time. One of them was a man named Feng Xuan (馮諼).
Unlike the other guests, Feng was not very vocal about what he could offer Meng in return.
One day, Meng sent Feng to the Xue region to collect rent from the local citizens. This opportunity let Feng find a way to repay Meng.
Feng showed the statements of accounts to the Xue residents, but instead of asking for payment, he burned the documents in front of the debtors.
Meng is a good master. He is not concerned about this money and mainly just wishes to help all of you improve your lives.
— Feng Xuan
Feng then hosted a banquet and told the locals that Meng had ordered all their debts to be forgiven.
“Meng is a good master. He is not concerned about this money and mainly just wishes to help all of you improve your lives,” Feng said.
The people cheered, grateful for Meng’s generosity.
Feng thus helped Meng establish a good reputation in the Xue region and gain the residents’ loyalty and gratitude. However, Meng did not understand and was quite displeased instead. Nevertheless, he allowed Feng to continue staying at his home.
Later, the new king of Qi removed Meng from his post and sent him to live in the Xue region.
When Meng arrived with his family, he received a warm and unexpected welcome by the local residents, who recalled his earlier generosity and wanted to repay his kindness.
Meng realized then the good that Feng had done for him. Yet, Feng told Meng it was not enough. He wanted to help Meng win back his position in Qi.
Feng had a plan. He visited the king of Wei and told him Meng was extremely capable and would be very useful to Wei. Meng was soon offered an important ministerial position in the Wei court.
When the new king of Qi heard the news, he was worried and promised to reinstate Meng in his former position in Qi.
With these two options in place, Feng advised Meng to politely refuse the Wei position.
Feng also suggested that Meng advise the Qi king to transport the memorial tablets for Qi’s ancestors to Xue and to build an ancestral temple in the Xue region, as the presence of such a sacred shrine would assure the safety of the region.
It is wise not to be conceited or complacent in life, but to always be prepared and have options and contingency plans in place.
After the temple was built, Feng told Meng: “You now have three places where you can live worry-free. Now, you can fluff up the pillows and sleep well.”
The Chinese idiom 高枕無憂 (gāo zhěn-wú yōu) literally means “to rest on a high pillow (高枕, gāo zhěn) and have no worries (無憂, wú yōu).” It conveys the idea of being able to live a peaceful life without anxiety.
The phrase describes a situation in which all matters and concerns in one’s life have been attended to with great care and thoughtfulness, and thus one can rest easy and secure, with nothing to fear or worry about.
It also suggests that it is wise not to be conceited or complacent in life, but to always be prepared and have options and contingency plans in place.
6) zì shǐ zhì zhōng |自始至终 |from beginning to end
辨析：自始至终和“始终如一”，都有“一直不改变”的意思。但自始至终只表示从“开始到结束”；“始终如一”偏重于“始终不改变”。
E.g | 比如 :
tā zì shǐ zì zhōng dōu zhǐ ài tā yí gè rén。
她自始自终都只爱他一个人。
She loved him from all the time.
wŏ zì shĭ zhì zhōng dōu huì zhī chí tā。
我自始至终都会支持他。
I'll support him all the way.
zhĕng gè jiă qī zì shĭ zhì zhōng dōu hĕn hăo，wǒ wán de hĕn yú kuài。
整个假期自始至终都很好，我玩得很愉快。
The whole holiday was really enjoyable, from start to finish.
7）qián suǒ wèi yǒu|前所未有 |unprecedented; hitherto unknown
以前没有出现过。
如果某件事是第一次出现、发生，就可以用这个成语。
E.g. |比如
qián suǒ wèi yǒu de hǎo
前所未有的好
better than ever
yù dào qián suŏ wèi yŏu de kùn nán
遇到前所未有的困难
encounter greater difficulties than ever
shì jiè zhèng jīng lì yī chăng qián suŏ wèi yŏu de jīn róng wēi jī。
世界正经历一场前所未有的金融危机。
The world is going through an unprecedented financial crisis.
8）wú rén wèn jīn | 无人问津 | No one shows any interest in; be left without anybody to care for it
méi yǒu rén tàn wèn dù kǒu 。 没有人探问渡口。
bǐ yù shì wù yǐ bèi rén lěng luò 。 比喻事物已被人冷落。
E.g. | 比如
xīn de fā míng zǒng huì zài shí yàn shì lǐ duō nián wú rén wèn jīn 。 新的发明总会在实验室里多年无人问津。 New inventions often languish in the laboratory for years.
chéng lǐ hái yǒu xiē zhù zhái wú rén wèn jīn 。 城里还有些住宅无人问津。 There is other housing going begging in town.
9) Diàohŭlíshān | 调虎离山 |To lure the tiger out of the mountains
Dōnghàn mò nián, jūnfá bìng qĭ, gè bà yì fāng. 东汉 末 年，军阀 并 起，各 霸 一 方。 Sūn Cè nián jĭn shíqī suì, què niánshàoyŏuwéi, shìlì zhújiàn qiángdà. 孙 策 年 仅 十七 岁，却 年少有为， 势力 逐渐 强大。 Gōngyuán 199 nián, Sūn Cè yù xiàng bĕi tuījìn, duóqŭ jiāngbĕi Lújiāng jùn. 公元 199 年， 孙 策 欲 向 北 推进，夺取 江北 卢江 郡。 Lújiāng yìshŏunángōng, érqiĕ zhànjù Lújiāng de jūnfá Liú Xūn shìlì qiángdà, yĕxīnbóbó 卢江 易守难攻， 而且 占据 卢江 的 军阀 刘 勋 势力 强大， 野心勃勃。 Yúshì Sūn Cè xiăng chū le yì tiáo miàojì. 于是 孙 策 想 出 了 一 条 妙计。 Jūnfá Liú Xūn, jíqí tāncái, Sūn Cè biàn pài rén gĕi tā sòngqù yí fèn hòulĭ, 军阀 刘 勋，极其 贪财，孙 策 便 派 人 给 他 送去 一 份 厚礼， Bìng zài xìn zhōng bă Liú Xūn dàsì chuīpĕng yì fān, 并 在 信 中 把 刘 勋 大肆 吹捧 一 番， Hái yĭ ruòzhĕ de shēnfèn xiàng Liú Xūn qiújiù, qĭng qí xiángfú shàngliáo. 还 以 弱者 的 身份 向 刘 勋 求救，请 其 降服 上缭。 Liú Xūn wànfēn déyì. Shàngliáo yí dài, shífēn fùshù, 刘 勋 万分 得意。上缭 一 带，十分 富庶， Liú Xūn zăo xiăng duóqŭ, jīn jiàn Sūn Cè ruănruò wúnéng, 刘 勋 早 想 夺取，今 见 孙 策 软弱 无能， Miănqù le hòugùzhīyōu, juédìng fābīng shàngliáo. 免去 了 后顾之忧， 决定 发兵 上缭。 Sūn Cè jiàn Liú Xūn shuàilĭng bīngmă qù gōng shàngliáo, 孙 策 见 刘 勋 率领 兵马 去 攻 上缭， Chéng nèi kōngxū, xīnzhōng dàxĭ, 城 内 空虚， 心中 大喜， Shuō:”Láohŭ yǐ bèi wŏ diào chū shān le, wŏmen gănkuài qù zhànjù tā de lăowō ba!” 说：“老虎 已 被 我 调 出 山 了，我们 赶快 去 占据 它 的 老窝 吧！“ Yúshì shùnlì de kòngzhì le Lújiāng. 于是 顺利 地 控制 了 卢江。
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, warlords possessed many parts of the land. Sun Ce was only 17 years old, but young and promising. He followed in his father’s footsteps and his power began to grow. In AD 199, Sun Ce wanted to advance further and managed to occupy Lu Jiang county in Jiangbei. Liu Xun was the ambitious and powerful warlord of Lu Jiang county and so in order to neutralize him Sun Ce organized a Coup. Sun Ce knew that Liu Xun was extremely greedy and so sent him a precious gift with a letter praising his achievements and asking for him to kindly surrender Jiangxi. After receiving the gift and reading the letter Liu Xun decided to banish Sun Ce from his kingdom once and for all and ordered his army to attack. On seeing the soldiers readying for attack Sun Ce reportedly said “The tiger has come out, and we will now occupy Lu Jiang.” And Lo and behold they did. Now this phrase is used to mean luring or manipulating others into a position of weakness which can then be exploited.
Example
Tā shĭyòng diàohŭlíshān zhī jì dă yíng le zhè chăng zhànzhēng. 他 使用 调虎离山 之 计 打 赢 了 这 场 战争。 He used the way of luring the tiger out of the mountains to win the war.
10) Wángyángbŭláo | 亡羊补牢 | Do when it needs
Cóngqián yǒu gè rén, yǎngle jǐ zhī yáng. 从前 有 个 人，养了 几只 羊。
Once upon a time, there was a shepherd who kept several sheep.
Yìtiān zǎoshang, tā fāxiàn shǎole yìzhī yáng. 一天 早上， 他 发现 少了 一只 羊。
One morning, the shepherd discovered that one of his sheep was missing.
Yuánlái yángjuàn pòle gè kūlong, yèjiān láng cóng 原来 羊圈 破了个 窟窿， 夜间 狼 从 kūlong lǐ zuān jìnlái bǎ yáng diāo zǒule. 窟窿 里 钻 进来 把 羊 叼 走了。
It turned out that, during the night, a wolf had stolen his sheep through a hole in the sheep pen.
Línju quàngào tā shuō: "gǎnkuài bǎ 邻居 劝告 他 说：“赶快 把 yángjuàn xiūyīxiū, dǔ shàng nàgè kūlong ba." 羊圈 修一修，堵 上 那个 窟窿 吧。”
His neighbor suggested to him: "You should fix the pen and cover the hole right away."
Tā shuō: "yáng yǐjīng diūle, hái xiū yángjuàn gàn shénme ne?" 他说： “羊 已经 丢了，还 修 羊圈 干 什么 呢？” Tā méi jiēshòu línju de quàngào. 他 没 接受 邻居 的 劝告。
But the shepherd said: "The sheep are already lost, so I don't need to repair it." And so he rejected the neighbor's suggestion.
Dìèrtiān zǎoshang, tā qù fàngyáng, fāxiàn yòu shǎole yìzhī yáng. 第二天 早上， 他 去 放羊， 发现 又 少了 一只 羊。
The next morning, he discovered that another sheep was missing.
Yuánlái láng yòu cóng kūlong lǐ zuān jìnlái bǎ yáng diāo zǒule. 原来 狼 又 从 窟窿 里 钻 进来 把 羊 叼 走了。
Once again, the wolf had stolen the sheep through the hole in the fence.
Tā hěn hòuhuǐ, bùgāi bù jiēshòu línju de quàngào. 他 很 后悔， 不该 不 接受 邻居 的 劝告。
The shepherd regretted not taking the neighbor's advice.
Tā gǎnkuài dǔshàng nàgè kūlong, 他 赶快 堵上 那个 窟窿， bǎ yángjuàn xiūde jiējieshíshi de. 把 羊圈 修得 结结实实 的
So he plugged the hole to secure the sheep pen
Cóngcǐ, tā de yáng zài méiyǒu bèi láng diāo zǒule. 从此， 他的 羊 再 没有 被 狼 叼 走了。
From then on, the wolf stole no more sheep.
E.g. |比如
Example:
1.Zhè cì méi kǎo hǎo, yào zhǎochū yuányīn xīqǔ jiāoxùn, wángyáng-bǔláo, wéishí-bùwǎn. 这次没考好，要找出原因吸取教训，亡羊补牢，为时不晚。
You should find out the reason why you failed the exam. Just like亡羊补牢, it’s never too late to draw a lesson from it.
2.Fàn le cuòwù bú yàojǐn, yào yǒng yú chéngrèn hé gǎizhèng, zuò dào wángyáng-bǔlá. 犯了错误不要紧，要勇于承认和改正，做到亡羊补牢。
It doesn’t matter that you made a mistake this time. You should亡羊补牢.
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