InthesongDynasty(960-1279),therewasascholarwhosenamewasWenTongandwhostyledhimselfYuke.Hewasnotonlyadmiredbyothersforhisgreatlearning,butalsoenjoyedwidespreadrenownforhisbamboodrawing.Everydaytherewerealwaysquiteafewpeoplywhocalledathishousetoaskforoneofhisbamboodrawings.
北宋画家文同,字与可。他画的竹子远近闻名,每天总有不少人登门求画。文同画竹的妙诀在哪里呢?
Actually,WenTonglovedbamboossomuchthathehadgrownvariousbambooseverywherearoundhishouse.Nomatterwhatseasonitwasandnomatterwhetheritwassunnyorrainy,heusedtogotothebambooforesttoobservehowtheyweregrowing.Heponderedoverthelenghtandbreadthofthebamboopolesaswellastheshapesandcoloursoftheleaves.Wheneverhehadgainedanewunderstanding,hewentbacktohisstudy,spreadapieceofpaperandprepareedsomeinkbyrubbinganinkstickonaninkslab,anddrewwhatwasinhismindonthepaper.Throughaccumulationoveralongperiodoftime,theimagesofthebambooindifferentseasons,underdifferentweatherconditionsandatdifferentmomentsweredeeplyimprintedinhismind.Sowheneverhestoodbeforethepaperandpickedupapaintingbrushwithconcentratedattention,thevariousformsofthebamboowhichhehadobservedatordinarytimesatoncerosebeforehiseyes.Andsoeverytimehewasdrawingbamboosheappearedconfidentandatease,andallthebambooshehadpaintedwereveryvividandtruetolift.
原来,文同在自己家的房前屋后种上各种样的竹子,无论春夏秋冬,阴睛风雨,他经常去竹林观察竹子的生长变化情况,琢磨竹枝的长短粗细,叶子的形态、颜色,每当有新的感受就回到书房,铺纸研墨,把心中的印象画在纸上。目积月累,竹子在不同季节、不同天气、不同时辰的形象都深深地印在他的心中,只要凝神提笔,在画纸前一站,平日观察到的各种形态的竹子立刻浮现在眼前。所以每次画竹,他都显得非常从容自信,画出的竹子,无不逼真传神。
Whenpeoplespokehighlyofhispaintings,healwayssaidmodestlythathehadjustputtheimagesofthebambooimprintedinhismindonthepaper.
当人们夸奖他的画时,他总是谦虚地说:“我只是把心中琢磨成熟的竹子画下来罢了。”
Ayoungmanwantedtolearnbamboodrawing;whenheknewthatChaoBuzhihadmadeaprofoundstudyofWenTong'sartofdrawing,hewenttoChaoBuzhiforinstruction.ChaoBuzhiwroteapoemtohim.Inthepoem,therearethefollowingtwolines:
WhenYukewaspaintingthebamboos,
Hebadtheirimagesreadyinhisbosom.
有位青年想学画竹,得知诗人晁补之对文同的画很有研究,前往求教。晃补之写了一首诗送给他,其中有两句:“与可画竹,胸中有成竹。”
Laterpeoplehavesummarizedthelinesas"havinghadtheimagesofthebambooreadyinone'sbosom,"whichmeanshavinghadreadyplansordesignsinone'smindbeforedoingacertainjobsothatitssuccessisguaranteed.Itisalsousedgomeanbeingcalmandcool-headedindealingwiththings.
“胸有成竹”,比喻做事之前已作好充分准备,对事情的成功已有了十分的把握;又比喻遇事不慌,十分沉着。
ThisstorycomesfromanarticlewrittedbySuShiconcerningWenYuke'sartofbamboodrawing.
延伸阅读:
指鹿为马-中国成语故事中英对照
CallingaStagaHorse指鹿为马
InthereignofEmperortheSecondoftheQinDynasty(221-207B.C.),theprimeministerZhaoGao,obsessedwithambitions,wasplanningtousurpthethronedayandnight.Buthedidnotknowhowmanyoftheministersinthecourtwereallowedtobeorderedaboutbyhimandhowmanyofthemwerehisopponents.Sohethoughtoutawaytotesthowhighhisprestigeamongtheministerswasandalsotofindoutwhodaredtoopposehim.
秦二世时,丞相赵高野心勃勃,日夜盘算着要篡夺皇位。可朝中大臣有多少人能听他摆布,有多少人反对他,他心中没底。于是,他想了一个办法,准备试一试自己的威信,同时也可以摸清敢于反对他的人。
Onedaywhencourtwasheld,ZhaoGaoletsomeonebringastagtothecourtand,withabroadsmileonhisface,hesaidtoEmperortheSecondoftheQinDynasty:"YourMajesty,hereisafinehorseI'mpresentingtoyou."Lookingattheanimal,EmperortheSecondthoughtthatitwasobviouslyastagandthatitcouldn'tbeahorse.SohesaidsmilinglytoZhaoGao:"MisterPrimeMinister,youarewrong.Thisisastay.Whydoyousayitisahorse?"Remainingcalm,ZhaoGaosaid:"WillyourMajestypleaseseemoreclearly?Thisreallyisahorsethatcoversathousandliaday."Filledwithsuspicion,EmperortheSecondlookedatthestagagainandsaid:"Howcantheantlersbegrownontheheadofahorse?"Turningaroundandpointinghisfingerattheministers,ZhaoGaosaidinaloudvoice:"ifourMajestydonotbelieveme,youcanasktheministers."
一天上朝时,赵高让人牵来一只鹿,满脸堆笑地对秦二世说:“陛下,我献给您一匹好马。”秦二世一看,心想:这哪里是马,这分明是一只鹿嘛!便笑着对赵高说:“丞相搞错了,这里一只鹿,你怎么说是马呢?”赵高面不改色心不跳地说:“请陛下看清楚,这的确是一匹千里马。”秦二世又看了看那只鹿,将信将疑地说:“马的头上怎么会长角呢?”赵高一转身,用手指着众大臣,大声说:“陛下如果不信我的话,可以问问众位大臣。”
ThenonsenseofZhaoGaomadetheministerstotallyatalose,andtheywhisperedtothemselves:WhattrickswasZhaoGaoplaying?Wasitnotobviouswhetheritwasastagorahorse?ButwhentheysawthesinistersmileonZhaoGao'sfaceandhistworollingeyeswhichweregazingateachofthem,theysuddenlyunderstoodhisevilintentions.
大臣们都被赵高的一派胡言搞得不知所措,私下里嘀咕:这个赵高搞什么名堂?是鹿是马这不是明摆着吗!当看到赵高脸上露出阴险的笑容,两只眼睛骨碌碌轮流地盯着赵高脸上露出阴险的笑容,两只眼睛骨碌碌轮流地盯着每个人的时候,大臣们忽然明白了他的用意。
Someoftheministerswhoweretimidandyethadasenseofrighteousnessdidnotdaretosayanything,becausetotelllieswouldmaketheirconscienceuneasyandtotellthetruthwouldmeanthattheywouldbepersecutedbyZhaoGaolater.Someministerswithasenseofjusticepersistedthatitwasastagandnotahorse.TherewerestillsomecraftyandfawningministerswhofollowedZhaoGaocloselyinordinarytimes.TheyimmediatelyvoicedtheirsupporttoZhaoGao,sayingtotheemperor:"Thisreallyinahorsethatcoversathousandliaday."
一些胆小又有正义感的人都低下头,不敢说话,因为说假话,对不起自己的良心,说真话又怕日后被赵高所害。有些正直的人,坚持认为是说明书而不是马。还有一些平时就紧跟赵高的奸佞之人立刻表示拥护赵高的说法,对皇上说,“这确是一匹千里马!”
Aftertheevent,ZhaoGaopunishedbyvariousmeansthoseministerswithasenseofjusticewhowerenotobedienttohim,evenwithwholefamiliesofsomeofthoseministersexecuted.
事后,赵高通过各种手段把那些不顺从自己的正直大臣纷纷治罪,甚至满门抄斩。
Thisstoryappearsin"TheLifeoftheFirstEmperoroftheQinDynasty"inTheHistoricalRecordswrittenbySimaQian.Fromthisstorypeoplehavederivedthesetphrase"callingastagahorse"tomeandeliberatelymisrepresentingsomethingandmisleadingthepublic.
故事出自《史记·秦始皇本纪》。成语“指鹿为马”比喻故意颠倒是非,混淆黑白。
枕戈待旦-中国成语故事中英对照
IntheWesternJinDynastythereweretwoyoungmen.OneofthemwasZuTiandtheotherwasLiuKun.Bothofthemweremenofidealsandintegritywhowerechivalrousandofasanguinedisposition.Theynotonlywroteexcellentarticlesbutalsowerefondofpractisingmartialartstokeepfit,inordertorendermeritoriousservicetothecountry.BothofthemwerechiefclerksresponsiblefordocumentadministrationinLuoyang.AlthoughinappearancetheJinDynastyhadjurisdictionoftheCentralPlainscomprisingthemiddleandlowerreachesoftheHaunchandthreatenedbyforeigninvasion.ZuTiandLiuKunoftentalkedaboutthecountry'ssituationtilllateintothenight,andeachtimetheytalkingveryexcitedlyagain.
西晋人祖逖和刘琨,都是性格开朗、仗义好侠的志士。年轻时不但文章写得好,而且都喜欢练武健身,决心报效祖国。当时,晋朝表面上还管辖着中原大地,但实际上已是内忧外患,风雨飘摇了。祖逖和刘琨一谈起国家局势,总是慷慨万分,常常聊到深夜。
LiuKunfellasleepwithoutknowingit,butZuTiwastooexcitedtofallasleep."Cock-a-doodle-doo,"camethecrowofroosterinthewasteland.ZuTijumpedupandkickedLiuKunawake:"Listen.Howinspiringtherooster'scrowis.Let'sgetupandpractisedonaslope.Fromthenon,theykeptpractisingswordplayingvigorouslyandenergeticallyinthewastelandeverydaywhentheyheardthefirstcrowinthemorning.
一天,祖逖又和刘琨谈得十分兴奋,刘琨不知什么时候睡着了,祖逖却久久沉浸在谈话的兴奋之中,不能入睡。“喔,喔,喔--”荒原上的雄鸡叫了起来,祖逖一跃而起,踢醒了刘琨:“听,这雄鸡啼鸣多么振奋人心呀,快起来练剑吧!”于是,两人操起剑来,在高坡上对舞。从此,他俩每天清早听到头一声鸣叫,一定来到荒原上抖擞神练起剑来。
DeeplymovedbyZuTi'spatrioticpassion,LiuKunwasdeterminedtodevotehimselftohishomeland.Oncehewrotetohisfamily:"Atthetimewhenthecountryisindireperil,Iamresolvedtodedicatemyselttotheserviceofmycountry.IoftenfearthatImightlagbehindZuTiinrenderingservicetothecountry,and,infact,Iambehindhim..."
刘琨被祖逖的爱国热情深深感动,决心献身于祖。一次他给家人的信中写道:“在国家危难时刻,我经常‘枕戈待旦’(枕着兵器睡觉一直到天明),立志报国,常担心落在祖逖后边,不想他到底走到我的前头了!……”
Thewords"sleepwithmyheadpillowedonaspear,waitingforthedaytobreak"vividlydescribedLiuKun'sdeterminationtodedicatehimselftotheserviceofthecountryandtofighttheenemyatanytime.Later,thissetphraseisusedtomeanmaintainingsharpvigilanceandbeingreadytofightatanytime."
故事出自《晋书·祖逖传》。“枕戈待旦”出自刘琨《与亲故书》,形象地写出了刘琨随时准备杀敌报国的决心。后来用作成语,形容时刻警惕敌人,准备作战。
后来居上-中国成语故事中英对照
JiAnlivedatthetimeofEmperorWudioftheWesternHanDynasty(206B.C.-A.D.24).Hewasrespectedforbeinguprightandjustandfordaringtospeakthetruth.Hedidnotbotheraboutamallmattersinpersonalbehaviourandinbeinganofficial.Hewasparticularaboutactualeffectsand,althoughhedidnotcauseastir,hecouldkeeptheprefecturehegovernedinperfectorder.Becauseofthis.theimperialcourttransferredhimtothecentralgovernmentfrombeingtheperfectoftheDonghaiPrefecturetobeingacommanderinchargeoftheappointmentanddismissalofthelocalofficals.
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。
Once,EmperorWudisaidthathewouldimplementthepolicyofbenevolenceandjusticeofConfucianismandwoulddogoodturnstothepeople.EmperorWudiHadhardlyfinishedhisremardswhenJiAnsaidthattherewasnoneedfortheemperortosayso.Whyshouldtheemperorbother,JiAnsaid,aboutpretendingtoimplementthepolicyofbenevolenceandjusticesincehewassogreedyandavariciouswithinhimself?Thischokedtheemperoroff.TheemperorsuddenlyChangedhiscountenanceanddeclaredthemeetingover.AllthecivilianandmilitaryofficersatcourtwerebreathlesswithanxietyforfearthatJiAnmightbringdisasteruponhimselfbecauseofthis.Afterreturning,EmperorWudisaidtothepeoplearoundhimthatJiAnwasalittletoorudeandtoostraightforward.
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。
Forthisreason,JiAnwasneverpromotedagain.Whenhewasthecommanderinchargeoftheappointmentanddismissalofthelocalofficials,bothGongsunHongandZhangTangwerelow-rankinglfficialsoflittleimportance.Later,theywerepromotedcontinuously.GongsunHongbecametheprimeministerandZhangTangbecametheimperialcensor.However,JiAn'spostremainedthesame.Oneday,JiAnsaidtoEmperorWudithatthewaytheemperorusedhisministerswasjustlikepilingupfirewood,whichmeantthatthelatecomerssurpassedtheold-timers.Ofcourse,EmperorWudicouldseethatJiAnwascomplaining.So,turningtohisministers,EmperorWudisaid,"Itistruethatnoonecanstoplearning.Yousee,JiAnismakingmoreandmoreindiscreetremarks."
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!”
ThisstorycomesfromTheHistoricalRecords.Latergenerationsusethesetphrase"thelatecomerssurpasstheold-timers"toindicatethatsuccessorscancxcelthepredecessors,whichisquitedifferentfromtheoriginalideawhenJiAnsaidthatthelatecomerssurpassedtheold-timers.
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。
洛阳纸贵-中国成语故事中英对照
IntheJinDynasty(265-420)therewasafamouswriterwhosenamewasZuoSiwho,however,wasverynaughtyanddidnotliketostudywhenhewasasmallkid.Hisfatheroftengotangry,andyetyoungZuoSiwasasnaughtyaseverandwouldnotstudyhard.
晋代文学家左思,小时候是个非常顽皮、不爱读书的孩子。父亲经常为这事发脾气,可是小左思仍然淘气得很,不肯好好学习。
Oneday,ZuoSi'sfatherwaschattingwithhisfriends.hisfriendsenviedhimhiscleverandloverlyson.Hearingthis,Zuosi'sfathersighed,"Pleasedonotmentionhim.MysonZuosidoesnotstudyaswellasIdidwhenIwasyoung,althoughIdidnotstudywellenoughmyself.Itappearsthatheisactuallyagood-for-nothing."Sosaying,helookeddisappointed.AllthiswaswitnessedbyyoungZuoSi.Hefeltverysad,feelingintenselythathewouldnotbeabletohaveabrightfutureifhedidnotstudyhard.Sohewasdeterminedtostudyassiduouslyfromthenon.
有一天,左思的父亲与朋友们聊天,朋友们羡慕他有个聪明可爱的儿子。左思的父亲叹口气说:“快别提他了,小儿左思的学习,还不如我小时候,看来没有多大的出息了。”说着,脸上流露出失望的神色。这一切都被小左思看到听到了,他非常难过,觉得自己不好好念书确实很没出息。于是,暗暗下定决心,一定要刻苦学习。
Dayafterdayandyearafteryear,ZuoSigraduallygrewup.Becauseofhisunremittingaffortsinhardstudy,hebecameaneruditescholarandwroteveryexcellentessays.The"OdetotheCapitaloftheStateofQi",whichtookhimoneyeartowrite,showedhisbrilliantliterarytalentandlaidthefoundationforhisbecominganoutstandingwriter.thenheplannedtowritean"OdetotheCapitalsoftheThreeKingdomsofWei,ShuHanandWu"withthelocalconditionsandcustomsaswellastheproduceofthethreecapitalsasitscontent.Inordertoachievethedesiredeffectincontent,structureandlanguage,heappliedhimselftoresearchworkwithgreatconcentration,andwassoabsorbedincreativewritingastoforgetfoodandsleep.Ittookhimtenwholeyearstofinishthewritingof"OdetotheCapitalsoftheThreeKingdomsofWei,ShuHanandWu",aliterarymasterpiece.
日复一日,年复一年,左思渐渐长大了,由于他坚持不懈地发奋读书,终于成为一位学识渊博的人,文章也写得非常好。他用一年的时间写成了《齐都赋》,显示出他在文学方面的才华,为他成为杰出的文学家奠定了基础。这以后他又计划以三国时魏、蜀、吴首都的风土、人情、物产为内容,撰写《三都赋》。为了在内容、结构、语言诸方面都达到一定水平,他潜心研究,精心撰写,废寝忘食,用了整整十年,文学巨著《三都赋》终于写成了。
The"OdetotheCapitalsoftheThreeKingdomsofWei,ShuHanandWu"waswellreceivedbythebroadmassesofreadersafteritmadeitsappearancetothepublic,andpeopleconsidereditassuperblywrittenasthe"OdetotheWesternCapital(Changan)andtotheEasternCapital(Luoyang)"writtenbyBanGu(32-92)andthe"OdetotheWesternCapitalandtotheEasternCapital"writtenbyZhangHengoftheHanDynasty(206B.C.toA.D.220).Astheartofprintinghadnotbeeninventedatthattime,peoplewhowerefondofthis"Ode"hadtomakehandwrittencopiesofitthemselves.Asthereweresomanypeoplewhoviedwitheachotherinmakinghandwrittencopies,thesupplyofwritingpaperfellshortofthedemandinLuoyangwentupgreatly.
《三都赋》受到谅也评,人们把它和汉代文学杰作《两都赋》相比。由于当时还没有发明印刷术,喜爱《三都赋》的人只能争相抄阅,因为抄写的人太多,京城洛阳的纸张供不应求,一时间全城纸价大幅度上升。
Thisstorycomesfrom"ThelifeofZuoSi"inthebook"LiteraryField"ofTheHistoryoftheJinDynasty.Basedonthisstory,peoplehavecoinedthesetphrase"thepriceofwritingpaperwentupgreatly",meaningtheoverwhelmingpopularityofanewworkcausesshortageofprintingpaper,toshowhowpopularanoutstandingpieceofliteraryworkis.
故事出自《晋书·文苑·左思传》。成语“洛阳纸贵”,称颂杰出的作品风行一进。
嗟来之食中国成语故事中英对照
foodhandedoutincontempt嗟来之食
【成语来源】
OneyearduringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod(春秋时期,770-476BC),therewasatheQiState(齐国)wasseverelystrickendbyafamine.
春秋时代,有一年齐国发生大饥荒。
QianAo(qiánào黔敖),averyrichbutarrogantmantooktheoccasiontoshowcasehisgenerositythroughpreparingfoodbytheroadsideandgivingittothepassingrefugeesincharity.
有一位叫做黔敖有钱贵族,在街边准备食物分发给来往的难民,以显示自己的慷慨。
Amanwithshabbyclotheshappenedtowalkbywithhisshoestrailingalong,hewassohungryasnottoopenhiseyes.
有一个饥民,用衣袖蒙着脸,拖着鞋,饿得眼睛都睁不开的样子,慢慢地走过来。
Seeingthepoorman,QianAoheldthefoodbylefthandandthedrinkbyrighthand,andshoutedathim,"Hi,cometoeat!”
黔敖见了,就左手拿着吃的,右手捧着喝的,向他喊道:“喂,来吃吧!”
Hearingtheword,themanglaredhiseyesandsaid,“ItisbecauseIamnotwillingtoeatthefoodhandedoutincontemptthatIhavebeenfamishedtosuchadegree."
那人一听这话,立即瞪着眼睛,说道:“我就是因为不吃‘嗟来之食,才饿到这般地步的。"
ThoughQianAomadeanapologytohimforthat,themanstillresolutelyrefusedtoeatthefoodandthushediedofhungerintheend.
尽管黔敖向他道歉,那人仍然坚决不吃,终于饿死了。
Thissetphrasenowextensivelydenotesthedisrespectfulaims.Thisstorymeansthatapersonwhohasastrongsenseofself-respectwouldratherdieofhungerthanbedespised.
此故事讲的是一个怀有强烈自尊心的人,宁可饿死也不肯接受人轻视。现在这个成语泛指带有侮辱性的施舍。
【文化链接】
中文中“嗟来之食”的意思就是“带有侮辱性的施舍”,英语直译就是“somethinghandedoutincontempt”,那如果是“主动去乞求帮助或是施舍”的话,英语该如何表达呢?
英文中常用惯语有“comehatinhand”,也就是是乞求或请求别人“施舍”,求人给一些原本不属于你的东西,源自英国民俗,根据当时英国的民间习俗,当一个人穷困潦倒、无以为生时,就可以手持帽子,低声下气地向别人乞讨,以获取他人的同情,这是一种非常丢脸的行为,所以一般人除非迫不得已,否则是不会这样做的。
所以,comehatinhand常用来比喻“走投无路”、“穷困潦倒”、“有求于人”。
例如:Retiredworkersneednotcomehatinhandtoaskforsupplementaryallowance.(退休工人就不必卑躬屈膝地请求追加补助费了。)