经典英语成语故事：曾子杀彘(中英对照)_经典英语成语故事：投鼠忌器(中英对照)
经典英语成语故事：曾子杀彘(中英对照)
zengzi's wife was going to the market. her little son insisted on going with her， making a tearful scene. “stay at home，” she said to the boy. “when i come back， i will slaughter1 a pig for you.” when she came back， zengzi got ready to slaughter the pig. his wife stopped him， saying： “i was just kidding.” “a child is not to be kidded like that！” he replied. “a child does not know much and cannot judge for himself. he learns from his parents and listens to what they day. to lie to him is to teach him to lie to others. if a mother lies to her son， he will not trust her anymore. how is she then to educate him？” with that zengzi went to slaughter the pig and prepare a good meal for their son.
曾子的妻子到集市上去， 他的儿子哭着要跟去。 他的母亲说： “你回家呆着，待会儿我回来杀猪给你吃。” 她刚从集市上回来， 曾子就要捉猪去杀。 妻子劝止他说： “只不过是跟孩子开玩笑罢了。” 曾子说： “不能跟孩子开玩笑啊！ 小孩子没有思考和判断能力， 要向父母亲学习， 听从父母的教导。 现在你欺骗他，这是教孩子骗人啊！ 母亲欺骗儿子， 儿子就不再相信自己的母亲了， 这不是实现教育的方法。” 于是曾子就杀猪煮肉给孩子吃。
经典英语成语故事：投鼠忌器(中英对照)
do not burn you house to get rid of a mouse
there is a story in "hanshu" telling of a rich man, who being a lover of s and had a large collection. among them was a rare vase made of jade1. the vase of exquisite2 workmanship and of historical value and he loved it dearly. one night he noticed a mouse passing near the precious vase. the mouse jumped into the vase and was trying to eat some food which the man had carelessly left there. the sigh infuriated the man and in a fit of rage he threw a stone at the mouse. for sure, the mouse was killed, but the precious vase was broken also. the loss of the vase pained the man greatly and he deeply regretted his own thoughtlessness, which bought him this unrecoverable loss. he now realized that any one, who cares for the present and overlooks consequences is apt to bring disasters upon himself. so he exclaimed to warn people by saying do not burn you house to get rid of a mouse.
投鼠忌器
《汉书》中有这么个故事：有个富人，很喜欢古董并收藏了很多。其中有一件稀有的玉盂，工艺精湛，具有很高的历史价值，深受这个富人的喜爱。一天晚上，一只老鼠跳进了这个玉盂，想去吃里边的一些剩菜，正巧被这个富人看到了。他非常恼火，盛怒之下，他拿了块石头砸向老鼠。当然，老鼠是被砸死了，可是那个珍贵的玉盂也被打破了。这件事使富人非常难过，他深深后悔自己的鲁莽带来的不可挽回的损失。他认识到只考虑眼前，而忽视后果，将给自己带来灾难。他向世人发出警告，不要为了除掉一只老鼠而烧毁自己的房子。
经典英语成语故事：李代桃僵(中英对照)
the plum tree sacrifices itself for the peach tree-sacrifice oneself for another person
this idiom comes from a old folk song. the last two stanzas1 go like this:
one family has five brothers, all serving to a minister as attendants. every five days, they go back home for a reunion, decorating their horses and garments with shining gold. they vie with each other for ostentation2 and extravagance, attracting crowds of onlookers3 along the road.
now there is a peach tree by a well, and a plum tree next to it. when worms come to gnaw4 at the root of the peach tree, the plum tree invites them to gnaw at its own root. finally, the plum dies, ossified5.
even trees know how to sacrifice for other trees, why can't brothers do the same?
李代桃僵
这个成语来自于一首古老的民歌。 歌曲的最后两段说的是：
一户人家有兄弟五人，都在一个大官的家中做仆人。每隔五天，他们会回家团聚一次。他们用金子装饰马匹和衣服，吸引了许多路人来看。五人互不相让，相互比较谁的排场大。
如今一口井边有一棵桃树，桃树旁是一棵李树。有虫子来咬桃树的根，李树便让虫子来咬自己的根。最终，李树变得僵硬，枯死了。
连树都知道为了别的树牺牲自己，为什么兄弟之间反而做不到呢？
经典英语成语故事：滥竽充数(中英对照)
be there just to make up the number
during the warring states period (475-221bc), the king of the state of qi was very fond of listening to yu ensembles1. he often got together 300 yu players to form a grand music. the king treated his musician very well. a man named nanguo heard about that and he managed to become a member of the band, even though he wan2 not good at playing the instrument at all. whenever the band played for the king, nanguo just stood in the line and pretended to play. nobody realized he was making no sound at all. as a result, he enjoyed his treatment just as the other musician did. when the king died, his son became the new ruler who also liked the music played on the yu. however, he preferred solos3 so that he ordered the musicians to play the yu one by one. therefore, nanguo had to run out of the palace.
the idiom "be there just to make up the number" is used to mock4 someone who passes for a specialist. you can also hear people saying it about themselves to show their modesty5.
滥竽充数
战国时，齐宣王喜欢听竽，通常是三百人的大合奏。因为他给予乐师非常优厚的待遇，所以一个叫南郭的人尽管并不擅长吹竽，也设法混进乐队。当乐队演奏时，他就站在队伍里假装也在吹。没有人注意到其实他连一点声音也没吹出来，所以南郭也享受到和其他乐师一样的待遇。宣王死后，他的儿子继承了王位。他也喜欢听竽，可是他喜欢听独奏，让乐师一个个吹给他听，于是南郭不得不逃跑了。
"滥竽充数"这个成语用来嘲笑那些没有真正才干，混在行家里的人。 人们有时也用"滥竽充数"来表示自谦。
经典英语成语故事：一言为重(中英对照)
what is said carries weight
in ancient times, there was a prime1 minister named shang yang in the state of qin. he was held in high regard by the king. in the year 359 bc, he prepared for a political reform to promote the economic development. but he was afraid that the people would not believe local authorities2. he thought an idea.
one day, he had a 10-meter long pole erected3 at the south gate outside the capital. then he told the crowd whoever took the pole to the north gate would be awarded 10 ounces4 of silver. everyone was astonished, but nobody dared to have a try. after seeing that, shang yang raised his voice and said:" anyone who carries the pole to the north gate will get 50 ounces of silver." a brave man did it and was be given 50 ounces of silver. others felt very regretful.
in this way, shang yang achieved his aim successfully. soon the state of qin became the strongest country.
later, people use it to praise the man who keeps his promise.
一言为重
古时候秦国有个相国叫商鞅，秦王非常器重他。公元前359年，他打算在秦国实行变法，但他怕百姓们不相信官府，就决定做件事以取得他们的信任。
有一天。他把一根10米长的竿子竖在都城南门外，然后告诉百姓如果谁把这根竹竿拿到城边北门，就赏给他10两银子。开始，大家听到这个消息都很吃惊，但没人敢试。于是商鞅又提高声音说："谁把这根竹竿拿到北门，赏50两银子。"这时，有一个胆子挺大的人愿意去试一试。当他把竹竿拿到北门时，商鞅立刻赏给他50两银子。其他人看见了，都非常后悔自己没去试。
经过这件事，大家都相信了官府。后来商鞅的变法进行地很成功，秦国因此成为了当时最强大的国家。
后来，人们就用"一言为重"来比喻一个人信守诺言。
经典英语成语故事：不合时宜(中英对照)
ignorance of the objective world
in the state of lu, there was a couple of husband and wife, the former being an expert shoemaker and the latter a skilled hand in wearing taffeta. one day after consultations1 they decided2 to go to the state of yue to earn a livelihood3. the neighbors advised them not to go when they learned about their plan. "don't go there," said one neighbor, "if you go, you can never earn a livelihood."
"we cannot understand you," interrogated4 the couple, "we have a find command of our art, how could we not earn our living with our work? don't make a fool of us, please."
"indeed, you have your skill," explained the man, "but have you taken notice of the fact that shoes are made for people and the silk taffeta are for hat-making? the people of yue don't wear shoes, for they are barefooted. again, they like to have their hair spread out over their heads and they never use hats. to whom should you sell your shoes and hats then?" experienced though you are in the arts, yet the arts you have mastered are useless there."
after this explanation, the husband and wife now understood that anything that was not adaptable5 to the objective world would be useless and unpractical.
不合时宜
鲁国有对夫妻，男的是鞋匠，鞋子做的很好；女的是织绢能手。有一天，他们商量想到越国去谋生。消息传到四邻后，有人对他们说："不要到那儿去！否则你们一定无法生存的！"那对夫妇说："我们不明白你的意思， 我们都有一套手艺，怎么 会生活不了呢？别胡说了！" 那人说："对呀，你们虽然都有一套手艺，可是你们要知道，鞋子是给人穿的，但越国人都赤脚不穿鞋子，你们织的丝绢原是做帽子用的，但越国人喜欢披着头发，不戴帽子，你们的本领虽大，手艺虽高，但你们做的鞋子、帽子去卖给谁呢？那对夫妇这才明白，凡事如果不合时宜，不适合客观环境就不中用了。
经典英语成语故事：怒发冲冠(中英对照)
战国时代，赵国的大臣蔺相如出使到秦国。在他向秦王索回玉璧的时候，秦王蛮不讲理，蔺相如气愤得连头发都竖了起来，向上冲着帽子。
in the warring states period， lin xiangru， chief min-ister of the state of zhao， was sent as an envoy1 to the state of qin to ask the ruler of qin to return a fine piece of jade2 to zhao. but the ruler of qin was rude and unreasonable3. lin was angry， and his hair stood up so stiffly on his head that it lifted up his hat.
后来人们用“怒发冲冠”这个成语形容人愤怒到了极点。
this idiom came to be used to mean being extremely angry.
经典英语成语故事：东施效颦(中英对照)
越国苎罗(今浙江诸暨南)有位姓施的美女，因为家住若耶溪西岸，所以村里人叫她西施。若耶溪东岸也有位姓施的姑娘。她长得很丑，村里人管她叫东施。
有一天，西施心口疼，走路的时候双手捂住胸部，并且皱着眉头。村里人见她这个模样，都同情地说：“瞧这姑娘的模样，准是疼得难受，真是可怜！”
西施的病态正好被东施瞧见了。她一边看，一边默默记住她难受的姿态和动作。回到溪东后，也模仿西施的模样，双手捂住胸部，同时皱着眉头。
东施的这副模样，使村里人大吃一惊，富人紧闭大门不出来，穷人也带着妻儿躲开。 东施只知道人家皱着眉头很美，却不知道为什么皱着眉头会美。
xi shi, a famous beauty, had a pain in her bosom1, so she had a frown on her face when she went out. an ugly girl who lived nearby saw her and thought she looked very beautiful. therefore when she went home, she also put her hands on her bosom and had a frown on her face.
when a rich man in the neighbourhood saw her, he shut his doors tightly and did not go out. when a poor man saw her, he took his wife and children and gave her a wide berth2.
she only knew xi shi's frown looked beautiful but she did not know the reason for its beauty.
经典英语成语故事：探骊得珠(中英对照)
groping about the chin of the black dragon to get a pearl-bringing out the best
long,long age,there lived a family by the yellow river.they lived a very poor lift,depending on cutting reeds,weaving hanging screens and dustpans for a livelihood1.
one day,the son was cutting reeds by the riverside.with the scroching sun directly overhead,his head was swimming,so he sat down to take a rest.looking at the river water in front which was his father had once told him.in the depths of the river there were a lot of rare treasures,but nobody dared to get them because a fierce black dragon was residing there.he thought that,if he could spane into the depts of the river and get the treasures,the whole family would not have to toil2 from morning till night and yet could not have enough to eat as now.he thought it would be better to have a try,and he was resolved to try in desperation.so he took off his clothes nimbly and spaned into the cold water with a splash.
at first,he could see small fish here and there all around.however,the deeper he spaned ,the darker it became,and the colder the river water.at last,it was pitch-dark all around,and he could see nothing.he became frightened,and was at a loss where he should swim to.just at that time,he noticed a round object which was glittering not far away.he fixed3 his eyes on it,and saw it was a bright pearl.he held his breath and swam over there,held the pearl with both hands,pulled it with a great effort,and the bright pearl come into his arms.he came out from the water immediately,climbed up the bank,and made off for home at once.
his father saw the bright pearl,and asked where he had got it.he told his father the whole story exactly as it had happened.hearing this,his father said repeatedly,"how dangerous it was!this precious pearl was grown on the chin of the black dragon.the black dragon must have been sleeping when you were pulling the pearl.if the black dragon were awake,you would be dead."when the son heard this,he considered himself very lucky indeed.
this story appears in the works of zhuang zi.from this story,later generations have derived4 the set phrase "groping about the chin of the black dragon to get a pearl-- bringing out the best" to indicate that an article is to the point.
很久很久以前，有一户人家住在黄河边上，靠割芦苇、编帘子簸箕为生，日子过得非常贫困。
有一天，儿子在河边割芦苇，烈日当空，晒得他头昏眼花，于是他就坐下来休息。他望着眼前的河水在阳光下闪耀着粼粼波光，想起父亲说过，在河的最深处有许多珍宝，可是谁也不敢去，因为那里住着一条凶猛的黑龙叫骊龙，他想，要是潜到河底，找到珍宝，我们一家人就用不着像现在这样一天干到晚，三顿还吃不饱，不如豁出去试一试。他把心一横，三下两下脱了衣服，一头扎进冰冷的河里。
开始他还看得见四周的小鱼在游来游去，再往深处，光线变得越来越暗，水也越来越凉，最后，他什么都看不见了，四周一团漆黑。他心里有点害怕，不知该往哪儿游。就在这时，不远处有一个圆圆的物体在闪闪发光，定睛细看，啊，原来是明珠！他憋足一口气游过去，双手抱住明珠，使劲一拽，明珠就到了他怀里。他迅速浮出水面，上岸后撒腿就往家跑。
父亲一见明珠，就问他是从哪儿得到的。他把经过一五一十地向父亲讲述一遍。父亲听了说：“好险哪！这颗价值千金的明珠是长在黑龙下巴底下的，你摘它的时候黑龙必定是睡着了。它要是醒着，你可就没命了。”故事见于《庄子列御寇》。成语“探骊得珠”，比喻写文章能紧扣主题，抓住要点。
经典英语成语故事：大公无私(中英对照)
perfectly1 impartial2
during the spring and autumn period (770-476 bc), a very noble official caled qi huangyang lived in the state of jin. one day, the king summoned him to court and asked, "now that the magistrate3 position of nanyang county is vacant, who do you think is suitable for the post?"
"xie hu is the right man for the job," qi replied without hesitation4.
surprised, the king asked, "did you say xie hu? i thought he's your enemy. why did you recommend him to take such an important position?"
smiling, qi huangyang said, "your majesty5 didn't ask me my personal opinions o xie hu. you simply asked me who i thought would be competent for the position. therefore i recommended xie hu.
the king followed qi's advice and made xie hu magistrate of nanyang county. and sure enough, xie hu administered the county very well and won respect from local people and his colleagues.
some days later, the king again asked qi huangyang for his opinions. this time, the king was trying to find a suitable candidate for a court judge position. qi huangyiang recommended qi wu for the job. once again, the king was surprised again by the recommendation because qi wu was the son of qi huangyang. the king asked: "who do you recommend your son? aren't you afraid people will gossip?"
qi huangyang replied, "your majesty, you asked me who was the most capable person for the position of a judge, and i think qi wu is."
although the king was a bit hesitant about making qi wu the judge, he nevertheless gave him the position. as it turned out, qi wu was an upright and talented judge, who people greatly respected.
qi huangyang's actions were praised by confucius who said, "qi huangyang was right. he recommended people according to their abilities and talents, not because of personal sentiments， not because of fearing others' gossip. therefore, people like qi huangyang are referred to as people "without selfish motives6".
from confucious' comment came the idiom "unselfish". anyone who handles affairs fairly and impartially7 can be described as "unselfish; perfectly impartial".
大公无私
春秋时，晋国有位品格非常高尚的大臣祁黄羊。有一次，晋王召祁黄羊入宫问他："南阳县缺个县令，你看，应该派谁去当比较合适呢？」祁黄羊毫不迟疑地回答说："解狐去，最合适了。"平公惊奇的问他："你是说解狐？ 他不是你的仇人吗？你为什么还要推荐他担任这么重要的职位？"
祁黄羊笑着说："陛下只问我什么人能够胜任这个职位，并没有问我对解狐的个人看法呀！因此我推荐解狐。"于是，晋王采纳了他的建议，派解狐到南阳县去上任了。当然，解狐到任后，治理有方，他的同僚和当地百姓都尊敬他。
过了一些日子，平公又向祁黄羊征求意见。这回，晋王想找个合适的人选担任朝廷法官。"祁黄羊推荐了祁午。平公又奇怪起来了，因为祁午是祁黄羊的儿子。他问道："你怎么推荐你的儿子，不怕别人讲闲话吗？"祁黄羊说："陛下只问我谁最是合适的，我认为祁午是。"
尽管晋王还有些犹豫，他还是派了祁午去做法官。事实证明，祁午是个正直，有才能的法官，很受人们的爱戴。孔子听说这两件事，十分称赞祁黄羊。孔子说: "祁黄羊是对的。他推荐人，完全是以才能做标准，不因为个人偏见，便不推荐他；也不因为怕人议论，便不推荐。像黄祁羊这样的人，才够得上说"大公无私"啦！"
"大公无私"这个成语就是由孔子的评论而来的，用来形容那些公正无私处理事物的人。
