薇儿的悲伤
邯郸学步English 相传在两千年前,燕国寿陵地方有一位少年,不知道姓啥叫啥,就叫他寿陵少年吧! 这位寿陵少年不愁吃不愁穿,论长相也算得上中等人材,可他就是缺乏自信心,经常无缘无故地感到事事不如人,低人一等——衣服是人家的好,饭菜是人家的香,站相坐相也是人家高雅。他见什么学什么,学一样丢一样,虽然花样翻新,却始终不能做好一件事,不知道自己该是什么模样。 家里的人劝他改一改这个毛病,他以为是家里人管得太多。亲戚、邻居们,说他是狗熊掰棒子,他也根本听不进去。日久天长,他竟怀疑自己该不该这样走路,越看越觉得自己走路的姿势太笨,太丑了。 有一天,他在路上碰到几个人说说笑笑,只听得有人说邯郸人走路姿势那叫美。他一听,对上了心病,急忙走上前去,想打听个明白。不料想,那几个人看见他,一阵大笑之后扬长而去。 邯郸人走路的姿势究竟怎样美呢?他怎么也想象不出来。这成了他的心病。终于有一天,他瞒着家人,跑到遥远的邯郸学走路去了。 一到邯郸,他感到处处新鲜,简直令人眼花缭乱。看到小孩走路,他觉得活泼、美,学;看见老人走路,他觉得稳重,学;看到妇女走路,摇摆多姿,学。就这样,不过半月光景,他连走路也不会了,路费也花光了,只好爬着回去了。 故事出自《庄子·秋水》。成语“邯郸学步”,比喻生搬硬套,机械地模仿别人,不但学不到别人的长处,反而会把自己的优点和本领也丢掉。Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One'sOwn Ability Tradition has it that more than 2,oooyears ago,there lived a young man in the Shouling area of the State of Yan.As his name is not known ,we just call him Shouling young man for convenience's sake. self confident He was at a loss as to how to behave all the time. His family members advised him to overcome this shortcoming,but he thought they were fond of poking their noses into his business and were unwilling to provide him with tuition fee.His relatives and neighbours sneered at him,saying that he would never be able to learn anything.Asthe days went by,he even began to doubt whether he should walk the way he did,for he felt more and more that his walking gestures were too clumsy and awkward. One day,he met some people on the road who werechattingand laughing.One of themsaid that people in Handan walked most gracefully.And thatwas just what he was most concerned about,so he hurreed towards themand wanted to make further inquiries.To his surprise,when these people saw him,they stalked off laughing. He could not picture to himself in what way their walking gestures were graceful,no matter how hard he racked his parents one day.He went to Handanwhich was far away to learn how to walk. As soon as he arrived in Handan,he was dazzled to find that everything was novel.He learned from the children there how to walk,because he thought that the children's walking gestures were lively and pleasing to the eye.He learnd from the old people there how to walk,because he thought the old people's walking gestures were steady .He learnd from the women there how to walk,because he thought the women' swaying walking gestures were beautiful.That being the case with him ,in less than half a month he even forgot how to walk.As he had already used up his traveling expenses,he had to crawl back home. Thisstory come from the article"Autumn Water"in The Works of Xhuang Zi(Zhuang Zi was a famous ancient Chinese philosopher of about 300B.c.).Later the set phrase"initating another without success and losing what used to be one's own ability"is used to refer to acts of copying others mechanisally in disregard of specififc conditions. 汲黯是西汉武帝时代人,以刚直正义、敢讲真话而受人尊重。他为人和做官都不拘小节,讲求实效。虽然表面上不那么轰轰烈烈,却能把一个郡治理得井井有条,因此,朝廷把他从东海太守调到朝廷当主爵都尉——一种主管地方吏任免的官职。 有一次,汉武帝说要实行儒家的仁义之政,为老百姓办好事了。没等皇帝把话说完,汲黯就说:“陛下内心里那么贪婪多欲,表面上却要装得实行仁政,这是何苦呢?”一句话把皇帝噎了回去。汉武帝登时脸色大变,宣布罢朝,满朝文武都为汲黯捏着一把汗,担心他会因此招来大祸。武帝回到宫里以后,对身边的人说,汲黯这个人也未免太粗太直了。 从此以后,汲黯的官职再也没有提升。他当主爵都尉的时候,公孙弘、张汤都还是不起眼的小官,后来,他们一个劲儿住上升,公孙弘当上了丞相,张汤做上了御史大夫,可他汲黯还蹲在原地没动窝。有一天,汲黯对武帝说,陛下使用群臣,跟码劈柴一样,是“后来者居上”啊!汉武帝当然听得出这是发牢骚。于是,转脸对臣下们说:“人真是不能不学习啊!你们听汲黯说话,越来越离谱了!” 故事出自《史记·汲郑列传》。成语“后来居上”,往往指后起的可以胜过先前的。和汲黯说这话的原意,大不相同。The Latecomers Surpass the Old-timers This set phrase is derived from the complaints Ji An made to the emperor. Ji Anlived at the time of Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.24). He was respected for being upright and just and for daring to speak the truth. He did not bother about amall matters in personal behaviour and in being an official. He was particular about actual effects and ,although he did not cause a stir ,he could keep the prefecture he governed in perfect order. Because of this. the imperial court transferred him to the central government from being the perfect of the Donghai Prefecture to being a commander in charge of the appointment and dismissal of the local officals. Once,Emperor Wudi said that he would implement the policy of benevolence and justice of Confucianism and would do good turns to the people.Emperor Wudi Had hardly finished his remards when Ji An said that there was no need for the emperor to say so.Why should the emperor bother,Ji An said, about pretending to implement the policy of benevolence and justice since he was so greedy and avaricious within himself? This choked the emperor off. The emperor suddenly Changed his countenance and declared the meeting over. All the civilian and military officers at court were breathless with anxiety for fear that Ji An might bring disaster upon himself because of this. After returning, Emperor Wudi said to the people around him that Ji An was a little too rude and too straightforward. For this reason ,Ji An was never promoted again. When he was the commander in charge of the appointment and dismissal of the local officials, both Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were low -ranking lfficials of little importance. Later ,they were promoted continuously. Gongsun Hong became the prime minister and Zhang Tang became the imperial censor. However, JiAn's post remained thesame. One day, Ji An said to Emperor Wudi that the way the emperor used his ministers was just like piling up firewood, which meant that the latecomers surpassed the old-timers. Of course, Emperor Wudi could see that Ji An was complaining. So,turning to his ministers, Emperor Wudi said, "It is true that no one can stop learning.You see, Ji An is making more and more indiscreet remarks." This story comes from The Historical Records. Later generations use the set phrase "the latecomers surpass the old-timers " to indicate that successors can cxcel the predecessors, which is quite different from the original idea when Ji An said that the latecomers surpassed the old-timers.

汤糖躺烫湯
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), prince Zhou Xu of the State of Wei killed his brother and became the new emperor. Zhou Xu was a tyrant. He oppressed his people and indulged in wars of agGREssion. By launching wars, he tried to divert the people's attention and reduce their discontent with him in order to consolidate his dictatorship.
The Duke of the State of Lu leant about Zhou Xu's usurpation of state power and his ambitious plan, he asked a senior official, "What do you think about Zhou Xu's move? "The official answered, "He indulges in wars , bringing his people much disaster. He won't get their support. And he's capricious, so few of his close friends follow him. He can never achieve his success. In addition, war is like fire. If one launches wars endlessly without restraint, he'll eventually burn himself. "
Sure enough, the people of Wei with the help of the State of Chen overthrew Zhou Xu and killed him in less than a year.
Later, people use it to mean that those who do evil will finally ruin themselves.
Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One'sOwn Ability
Tradition has it that more than 2,oooyears ago,there lived a young man in the Shouling area of the State of Yan.As his name is not known ,we just call him Shouling young man for convenience's sake.
self confident He was at a loss as to how to behave all the time.
His family members advised him to overcome this shortcoming,but he thought they were fond of poking their noses into his business and were unwilling to provide him with tuition fee.His relatives and neighbours sneered at him,saying that he would never be able to learn anything.Asthe days went by,he even began to doubt whether he should walk the way he did,for he felt more and more that his walking gestures were too clumsy and awkward.
One day,he met some people on the road who werechattingand laughing.One of themsaid that people in Handan walked most gracefully.And thatwas just what he was most concerned about,so he hurreed towards themand wanted to make further inquiries.To his surprise,when these people saw him,they stalked off laughing.
He could not picture to himself in what way their walking gestures were graceful,no matter how hard he racked his parents one day.He went to Handanwhich was far away to learn how to walk.
As soon as he arrived in Handan,he was dazzled to find that everything was novel.He learned from the children there how to walk,because he thought that the children's walking gestures were lively and pleasing to the eye.He learnd from the old people there how to walk,because he thought the old people's walking gestures were steady .He learnd from the women there how to walk,because he thought the women' swaying walking gestures were beautiful.That being the case with him ,in less than half a month he even forgot how to walk.As he had already used up his traveling expenses,he had to crawl back home.
Thisstory come from the article"Autumn Water"in The Works of Xhuang Zi(Zhuang Zi was a famous ancient Chinese philosopher of about 300B.c.).Later the set phrase"initating another without success and losing what used to be one's own ability"is used to refer to acts of copying others mechanisally in disregard of specififc conditions.
Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said his father.
Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse. Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All able-bodied young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of ten men died. This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and so both the boy and his father survived.
陌陌上阡
想要学好英语,一定要懂得学习方法。有趣的学习方法能让你的英语水平提升得更快,我在此献上英语故事,希望对你有所帮助。
成语寓言故事:Killing the Pig to Educate the Son杀猪教子
Zeng Zi was one of Confucius' disciples.
曾子是孔子的一个学生。
One day, Zeng Zi's wife wanted to go to market. Their son wanted to go together with her. He made a row, crying and fussing without stop. His wife could do nothing but bend down to humour him, saying:
有一天,曾子的妻子要上街。儿子吵着要跟妈妈一起去,又哭又闹,吵个不停。妻子没有办法,只好弯腰哄他,说:
"My darling, go home now. Mama will be back soon. When I'm back, I'll kill the pig to make a meal for you."
“我的小宝贝,回家去吧!妈妈去了就回来,一回来就杀猪给你吃。”
When the son heard this, he went home happily.
儿子听了,高高兴兴地回家去了。
Not long after, the wife returned home from the market. Zeng Zi tied up their fat pig, took out a shining sharp knife and prepared to kill it. When his wife saw this, she hurriedly held Zeng Zi by the hand and said:
过了不久,妻子从街上回到了家。曾子就把家里的肥猪捆住,拿出雪亮的尖刀,准备杀猪。妻子看见了就急忙拉住曾子的手,说:
"What's the matter with you? I was only trying to humour the child."
“你这是怎么了?我只不过是哄哄小孩的。”
Zeng Zi said seriously:
曾子严肃地说:
"How can you cheat a child? The child is still small and doesn't understand things. He only follows the example of his parents. Now you cheat him, then he will follow your example and cheat others. Furthermore, when a mother cheats her child, the child will no longer trust his mother. Then, how can you educate the child well?"
“你怎么能够哄骗孩子呢?现在,孩子还小,不懂事,他只会照着父母的样子去做。你现在哄骗孩子,孩子就会学你的样子,去哄骗别人。做母亲的哄骗儿子,做儿子的就不会再信任母亲。这样,怎么能教育好孩子呢?”
Having said this, Zeng Zi raised his knife and killed the fat pig.
曾子话一说完,就一刀宰了肥猪。
成语寓言故事:Buying the Case but Returning the Pearl买犊还珠
In the past, a man of the State of Chu intended to go to the State of Zheng to sell pearls.
从前,有个楚国人准备到郑国卖珍珠。
First he used rare lily magnolia to make a small exquisite case which he fumigated with the delicate fragrance of osmanthuses and Chinese prickly ashes. Furthermore, the case was inlaid with emerald-green jadeite, and adorned with attractive rosy jade. The whole case was decorated in an extremely exquisite way.
他先用名贵的木兰做了一只精巧的小匣子,又用幽香的牡桂和花椒把匣子熏了一下,并且在匣子上面镶了碧绿的翡翠,还嵌上引人注目的玫瑰石,整个匣子装演得十分考究。
A man of the State of Zheng saw this exquisite case and liked it very much. He bought it with a great deal of money, but he returned the pearl in the case to the man of Chu.
有个郑国人看到这只精美的匣子,非常喜欢,就用重金买了下来。但是,他却把匣子里的珍珠退还给了那个楚国人。
Later, people ridiculed the man of Chu by saying that he was good at selling cases, but not good at selling pearls.
后来,人们都嘲笑这个楚国人,说他很善于卖匣子,却不善于卖珍珠。
To go too far in the pursuit of form just like letting a presumptuous guest usurp the host's role, which brings about opposite results.
过分追求形式,反而会喧宾夺主,效果适得其反。
成语寓言故事:Be There Just to Make Up the Number滥竽充数
During the Warring States Period, King Xuan of the State of Qi loved to listen to the yu (an ancient wind instrument), especially in the ensemble.
战国时期齐国的齐宣王喜欢欣赏吹竿,特别爱听合奏。
In the palace, there was a band of fully 300 yu players. King Xuan of Qi often ordered this band to play for him.
王宫里,专门有个吹竿的乐队,足足有三百人。齐宣王常常叫这个三百人的乐队为他演奏。
A man named Nan Guo could not play the yu. But when he learned of King Xuan's hobby, he volunteered his service and bragged about how well he could play. He asked for permission to play for the king with other players. King Xuan was very glad to hear this and granted his request.
有一个名叫南郭的人,不会吹竿。但是,当他了解了齐宣王的这个嗜好以后,就毛遂自荐,吹嘘自己吹竿吹得如何好,请求跟别的乐师一道为大王演奏。齐宣王听了非常高兴,批准了他的要求。
Thereupon, in each performance he would mingle with others, put on an act, play at random, and swindled the same amount of remuneration as paid to others. In this way, he drifted along till King Xuan of Qi died.
于是,每次演奏时,他混在里面,装模作样,胡乱地吹奏一番,却骗得了跟别人同样的报酬。就这样,他一直混到齐宣王去世。
After King Xuan of Qi died, King Min succeeded to the throne.
齐宣王死后,滑王继位。
Under his father's influence, King Min also loved to listen to the yu. The only difference was that he liked to listen to solos, not ensembles. King Min proclaimed that the players must perform one by one for him.
齐洛王受父亲的影响,也喜欢欣赏吹竿。不同的是,齐滑王只爱听独奏,不爱听合奏。滑王宣布,吹竿的乐师必须一个一个地为他演奏。
When Nan Guo heard of this, he was afraid. He knew he could not drift along any longer, so he sneaked away that very night.
南郭先生一听就害怕了,知道自己再也混不下去,只好连夜溜走了。
Dark大先生
郑人买履(AmanfromtheStateofZhengboughtshoes)Onceuponatime,amanintheStateofZhengwenttothemarkettobuyapairofshoes.Beforeheleftforthemarket,hehadmeasuredhisfeetwithapiecemestraw.However,hecouldn'tfindthemeasurementbecausehehadleftitathome.Sohehadtosaysorrytotheownerthathehadtogohomeforit,whichconfusedtheownerwhyhedidn'ttrytheshoesonwithhisownfeet.Themansmiledtotheowner,"Iwouldratherbelieveinthemeasuremensthanmyownfeet."