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英語成語故事:抱薪救火
敢談“抵抗”二字。在這大兵壓境的危急時刻,多數(shù)大臣都勸魏王,用黃河以北和太行山以南的大片土地為代價,向秦王求和。 謀士蘇代聽了這些話,很不以為然,忙上前對魏王說:“大王,他們是因?yàn)樽约耗懶∨滤?,才讓您去賣國求和,根本不為國家著想。您想,把大片土地割讓給秦國雖然暫時滿足了秦王的野心,但秦國的欲望是無止境的,只要魏國的土地沒割完,秦軍就不會停止進(jìn)攻我們?!?說到這里,蘇代講了一個故事:從前有一個人,他的房子起火了,別人勸他快用水去澆滅大火,但他不聽,偏抱起一捆柴草去救火,是因?yàn)樗欢貌癫莶坏荒軠缁鸱炊苤L火勢的道理。大王若同意拿著魏國土地去求和,不就等于抱著柴草救火嗎?” 盡管蘇代講得頭頭是道,但是膽小的魏王只顧眼前的太平,還是依大臣們的意見把魏國大片土地割讓給秦國。到公元225年,果然秦軍又向魏國大舉進(jìn)攻,包圍了國都大梁,掘開黃河大堤讓洪水淹沒了大梁城,魏國終于被秦國滅掉了。 故事出自《史記?魏世家》。成語“抱薪救火”比喻用錯誤的方法去消滅禍害,結(jié)果反而使禍害擴(kuò)大。 Carrying Faggots to Put Out a
2013-02-13 -
英語成語故事:胸有成竹
In the song Dynasty (960-1279),there was a scholar whose name was Wen Tong and who styled himself Yuke. He was not only admired by others for his great learning, but also enjoyed widespread renown for his bamboo drawing. Every day there were always quite a few peoply who called at his house to ask for one of his bamboo drawings. Actually, Wen Tong loved bamboos so much that he had grown various bamboos everywhere around his house. No matter what season it was and no matter whether it was sunny or rainy, he used to go to the bamboo forest to observe how they were growing. He pondered over the lenght and breadth of the bamboo poles as well as the shapes and colours of the leaves. Whenever he had gained a new understanding, he went back to his study, spread a piece of paper and prepareed some ink by rubbing an ink stick on an ink slab, and drew what was in his mind on the paper. Through accumulation over a long period of time, the images of the bamboo in different seasons, under different weather conditions and at different moments were deeply imprinted in his mind.So whenever he stood before the paper and picked up a painting brush with concentrated attention, the various forms of the bamboo which he had observed at ordinary times at once rose before his eyes. And so every time he was drawing bamboos he appeared confident and at ease, and all the bamboos he had painted were very vivid and true to lift. When people spoke highly of his paintings, he always said modestly that he had just put the images of the bamboo imprinted in his mind on the paper. A young man wanted to learn bamboo drawing; when he knew that Chao Buzhi had made a profound study of Wen Tong's art of drawing, he went to Chao Buzhi for instruction. Chao Buzhi wrote a poem to him. In the poem, there are the following two lines: When Yuke was painting the bamboos, He bad their images ready in his bosom. Later people have summarized the lines as " having had the images of the bamboo ready in one's bosom," which means having had ready plans or designs in one's mind before doing a certain job so that its success is guaranteed. It is also used go mean being calm and cool - headed in dealing with things. This story comes from an article writted by Su Shi concerning Wen Yuke's art of bamboo drawing. 北宋畫家文同,字與可。他畫的竹子遠(yuǎn)近聞名,每天總有不少人登門求畫。文同畫竹的妙訣在哪里呢? 原來,文同在自己家的房前屋后種上各種樣的竹子,無論春夏秋冬,陰睛風(fēng)雨,他經(jīng)常去竹林觀察竹子的生長變化情況,琢磨竹枝的長短粗細(xì),葉子的形態(tài)、顏色,每當(dāng)有新的感受就回到書房,鋪紙研墨,把心中的印象畫在紙上。目積月累,竹子在不同季節(jié)、不同天氣、不同時辰的形象都深深地印在他的心中,只要凝神提筆,在畫紙前一站,平日觀察到的各種形態(tài)的竹子立刻浮現(xiàn)在眼前。所以每次畫竹,他都顯得非常從容自信,畫出的竹子,無不逼真?zhèn)魃瘛?當(dāng)人們夸獎他的畫時,他總是謙虛地說:“我只是把心中琢磨成熟的竹子畫下來罷了?!?有位青年想學(xué)畫竹,得知詩人晁補(bǔ)之對文同的畫很有研究,前往求教?;窝a(bǔ)之寫了一首詩送給他,其中有兩句:“與可畫竹,胸中有成竹?!?“胸有成竹”,比喻做事之前已作好充分準(zhǔn)備,對事情的成功已有了十分的把握;又比喻遇事不慌,十分沉著。 故事出自北宋蘇軾《文與可yún dāng谷偃竹記》。 ?
2013-02-13 -
英語成語故事:后來居上
御史大夫,可他汲黯還蹲在原地沒動窩。有一天,汲黯對武帝說,陛下使用群臣,跟碼劈柴一樣,是“后來者居上”??!漢武帝當(dāng)然聽得出這是發(fā)牢騷。于是,轉(zhuǎn)臉對臣下們說:“人真是不能不學(xué)習(xí)??!你們聽汲黯說話,越來越離譜了!” 故事出自《史記?汲鄭列傳》。成語“后來居上”,往往指后起的可以勝過先前的。和汲黯說這話的原意,大不相同。 ?
2013-02-13 -
英語成語故事:枕戈待旦
In the Western Jin Dynasty there were two young men.One of them was Zu Ti and the other was Liu Kun.Both of them were men of ideals and integrity who were chivalrous and of a sanguine disposition.They not only wrote excellent articles but also were fond of practising martial arts to keep fit, in order to render meritorious service to the country.Both of them were chief clerks responsible for document administration in Luoyang.Although in appearance the Jin Dynasty had jurisdiction of the Central Plains comprising the middle and lower reaches of the Haunch and threatened by foreign invasion.Zu Ti and Liu Kun often talked about the country's situation till late into the night,and each time they talking very excitedly again. Liu Kun fell asleep without knowing it,but Zu Ti was too excited to fall asleep." Cock-a-doodle-doo,"came the crow of rooster in the wasteland.Zu Ti jumped up and kicked Liu Kun awake:"Listen.How inspiring the rooster's crow is.Let's get up and practised on a slope.From then on,they kept practising sword playing vigorously and energetically in the wasteland every day when they heard the first crow in the morning. Deeply moved by Zu Ti's patriotic passion,Liu Kun was determined to devote himself to his homeland.Once he wrote to his family:"At the time when the country is in dire peril,I am resolved to dedicate myselt to the service of my country.I often fear that I might lag behind Zu Ti in rendering service to the country,and,in fact,I am behind him..." The words" sleep with my head pillowed on a spear,waiting for the day to break"vividly described Liu Kun's determination to dedicate himself to the service of the country and to fight the enemy at any time.Later,this set phrase is used to mean maintaining sharp vigilance and being ready to fight at any time." 西晉人祖逖和劉琨,都是性格開朗、仗義好俠的志士。年輕時不但文章寫得好,而且都喜歡練武健身,決心報效祖國。當(dāng)時,晉朝表面上還管轄著中原大地,但實(shí)際上已是內(nèi)憂外患,風(fēng)雨飄搖了。祖逖和劉琨一談起國家局勢,總是慷慨萬分,常常聊到深夜。 一天,祖逖又和劉琨談得十分興奮,劉琨不知什么時候睡著了,祖逖卻久久沉浸在談話的興奮之中,不能入睡。“喔,喔,喔--”荒原上的雄雞叫了起來,祖逖一躍而起,踢醒了劉琨:“聽,這雄雞啼鳴多么振奮人心呀,快起來練劍吧!”于是,兩人操起劍來,在高坡上對舞。從此,他倆每天清早聽到頭一聲鳴叫,一定來到荒原上抖擻神練起劍來。 劉琨被祖逖的愛國熱情深深感動,決心獻(xiàn)身于祖。一次他給家人的信中寫道:“在國家危難時刻,我經(jīng)?!砀甏ㄕ碇魉X一直到天明),立志報國,常擔(dān)心落在祖逖后邊,不想他到底走到我的前頭了!……” 故事出自《晉書?祖逖傳》?!罢砀甏背鲎詣㈢杜c親故書》,形象地寫出了劉琨隨時準(zhǔn)備殺敵報國的決心。后來用作成語,形容時刻警惕敵人,準(zhǔn)備作戰(zhàn)。 ?
2013-02-13 -
成語故事《塞翁失馬》中英文版
許是好事,顯然是自我安慰而已。過了幾天,丟失的馬不僅自動返回家,還帶回一匹匈奴的駿馬。 鄰居聽說了,對塞翁的預(yù)見非常佩服,向塞翁道賀說:“還是您有遠(yuǎn)見,馬不僅沒有丟,還帶回一匹好馬,真是福氣呀?!?塞翁聽了鄰人的祝賀,反而一點(diǎn)高興的樣子都沒有,憂慮地說:“白白得了一匹好馬,不一定是什么福氣,也許惹出什么麻煩來?!?鄰居們以為他故作姿態(tài)純屬老年人的狡猾。心里明明高興,有意不說出來。 塞翁有個獨(dú)生子,非常喜歡騎馬。他發(fā)現(xiàn)帶回來的那匹馬顧盼生姿,身長蹄大,嘶鳴嘹亮,膘悍神駿,一看就知道是匹好馬。他每天都騎馬出游,心中洋洋得意。 一天,他高興得有些過火,打馬飛奔,一個趔趄,從馬背上跌下來,摔斷了腿。鄰居聽說,紛紛來慰問。 塞翁說:“沒什么,腿摔斷了卻保住性命,或許是福氣呢?!编従觽冇X得他又在胡言亂語。他們想不出,摔斷腿會帶來什么福氣。 不久,匈奴兵大舉入侵,青年人被應(yīng)征入伍,塞翁的兒子因?yàn)樗嗔送?,不能去?dāng)兵。入伍的青年都戰(zhàn)死了,唯有塞翁的兒子保全了性命。 ?
2013-02-14 -
成語故事《狐假虎威》中英文版
A tiger caughta fox in a forest, and was just about to eat it, when the fox said, "You mustn't eat me. I was sent by Heaven to rule the animals. By eating me, You will violate the command of Heaven. If you dont believe me, just follow me to see whether the animals are afraid of me." The tiger agreed, and followed the fox as it walked around the forest. The animals all ran away on seeing them. The tiger thought they were afraid of the fox, so he let it go. He didnt realise that it was him that hte beasts were really afraid of. This idiom means relying on another 's power to bully or frighten others. 老虎在山林里捉到了一只狐貍,要吃掉它。狐貍連忙說:“你不能吃我,我是天帝派來統(tǒng)治百獸的。你要吃了我,就違抗了天帝的命令。你不信,就跟我倒山林里走一趟,看百獸見了我是不是都很害怕?!崩匣⑾嘈帕撕偟脑挘透诤偟暮竺孀哌M(jìn)山林。百獸見了果然都紛紛逃命。老虎以為百獸真的害怕狐貍而不知道是害怕自己,于是就把狐貍給放了。 這個成語用來比喻依仗別人的勢力去欺壓人或嚇唬人。 ?
2013-02-14 -
英語成語故事帶翻譯:破鏡重圓
面的銅鏡。徐德言馬上認(rèn)出了這面鏡子。他向那名仆人打聽妻子的下落。當(dāng)他得知妻子的痛苦遭遇后,他不禁淚流滿面。他在妻子的那半面銅鏡上題了首詩:"鏡與人俱去,鏡歸人不歸。無復(fù)嫦娥影,空留明月輝"。 那個仆人把題了詩的銅鏡帶回來,交給了樂昌公主。一連幾天,她都終日以淚洗面,因?yàn)樗勒煞蜻€活著而且想念她,但他們卻無法再相見了。 楊素終于發(fā)現(xiàn)了這件事。他也被兩人的真情所打動,覺得自己也不可能贏得樂昌的愛。于是,他派人找來了徐德言,讓他們夫妻團(tuán)圓了。 "破鏡重圓"這個成語就是從這個故事來的。形容夫妻分開后,又高興的團(tuán)圓。 ?
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成語故事《葉公好龍》中英文版
[en]There is a young man, Lord Ye. He likes dragons vey much. He draws many dragons in his house. The house becomes a world of dragon.[/en][cn]有個年輕人,姓葉,非常喜歡龍.他在屋里里面了許多許多龍。這屋子都快成了龍的世界。[/cn] [en]A red dragon hears of Lord Ye, and is deeply moved. He wants to visit Lord Ye and makes a friend with him.[/en][cn]一龍真龍聽說了葉公的事,很受感動,就想去拜訪葉公,和他交個朋友。[/cn] [en]“Hi, Mr. Ye! Nice to meet you,” the real dragon comes to visit Mr. Ye runs away as fast he can. “Oh, my God! Help! Help!” he runs and shouts.”[/en][cn]“嘿。葉先生!很高興見到你?!边@條真龍拜訪葉先生了??墒侨~先生飛快地逃了。忒邊跑邊喊:“啊,我的天??!救命!救命!”[/cn] ?
2016-03-24 -
英語成語故事:a pig in a poke
經(jīng)過檢查便“沖動的購買”。而“裝在袋中的豬”便是指沖動購買的物品。 另外有一個同源成語:sell a pig in a poke/ bag, 指的是以欺騙手法出售貨物,類似中文的“掛羊頭賣狗肉”。 看下面例句: It is getting popular to buy various products on the internet. However, consumers need to be careful in case they buy a pig in a poke and find no legal means of protecting their rights. 通過網(wǎng)絡(luò)購買各類產(chǎn)品已漸趨流行。但是消費(fèi)者要謹(jǐn)慎小心,以免在沖動之下購物,而沒有法律途徑可以保障自己的權(quán)益。 ?
2013-06-02 -
成語故事翻譯:指鹿為馬
聽他擺布,有多少人反對他,他心中沒底。于是,他想了一個辦法,準(zhǔn)備試一試自己的威信,同時也可以摸清敢于反對他的人。 一天上朝時,趙高讓人牽來一只鹿,滿臉堆笑地對秦二世說:“陛下,我獻(xiàn)給您一匹好馬?!鼻囟酪豢矗南耄哼@哪里是馬,這分明是一只鹿嘛!便笑著對趙高說:“丞相搞錯了,這里一只鹿,你怎么說是馬呢?”趙高面不改色心不跳地說:“請陛下看清楚,這的確是一匹千里馬?!鼻囟烙挚戳丝茨侵宦?,將信將疑地說:“馬的頭上怎么會長角呢?”趙高一轉(zhuǎn)身,用手指著眾大臣,大聲說:“陛下如果不信我的話,可以問問眾位大臣?!?大臣們都被趙高的一派胡言搞得不知所措,私下里嘀咕:這個趙高搞什么名堂?是鹿是馬這不是明擺著嗎!當(dāng)看到趙高臉上露出陰險的笑容,兩只眼睛骨碌碌輪流地盯著趙高臉上露出陰險的笑容,兩只眼睛骨碌碌輪流地盯著每個人的時候,大臣們忽然明白了他的用意。 一些膽小又有正義感的人都低下頭,不敢說話,因?yàn)檎f假話,對不起自己的良心,說真話又怕日后被趙高所害。有些正直的人,堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為是說明書而不是馬。還有一些平時就緊跟趙高的奸佞之人立刻表示擁護(hù)趙高的說法,對皇上說,“這確是一匹千里馬!” 事后,趙高通過各種手段把那些不順從自己的正直大臣紛紛治罪,甚至滿門抄斬。 故事出自《史記?秦始皇本紀(jì)》。成語“指鹿為馬”比喻故意顛倒是非,混淆黑白。 ?
2013-02-13