Another two stories of chinese idiom
In mandarin Chinese learning, you will find out many witty idioms reflecting the wisdom of common people in a subtle way. To learn Chinese language is not only to learn the language itself but also the politics, economy, history, people’s lives and other aspect of the nation. Four Chinese characters makes up an idiom, bringing you some inspiration by a hilarious, sad, or a significant story.
画蛇添足 (huà shé tiānzú - Draw Snake Add Feet)
During the Zhan guo period (Warring States period 475 B.C. to 221 B.C.), in the country of Chu, a large household held a ceremony and made a sacrifice in memory of their ancestors. After the ceremony was completed, the master of the household gave his servants a jug of wine to thank them for their help. But there wasn't enough wine for all the servants. One of them proposed that they should all draw a picture of a snake. The one who finished a good picture first would get the wine.
One of the servants finished a good drawing. He looked around and saw that the others had not finished, so he triumphantly seized the jug of wine and then added feet to his snake. When one of the other servants finished his drawing, he said: "It's a general rule that snakes do not have feet, so that isn't a snake." Having said this, he snatched the wine back and drank it down.
Chinese idiom: 画蛇添足 ( huà shé tiānzú - literally "draw snake add feet." ) You're adding feet to a snake.
Meaning: You are doing unnecessary work that is ruining your result. (very useful when students use unnecessary phrases in a composition, generally speaking.)
守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù - Guard Tree Wait Rabbit)
In the country of Song during the Chun Qui period (literally "Spring Fall period" 770 to 476 B.C.), there lived a farmer who had a tree in his field. Whenever he was tired from working, he would rest under the tree.
On day he was tilling his field. Suddenly a panic stricken rabbit ran past him, crashed into the tree and killed itself. The farmer caught it with less effort than it takes to blow ashes. He was very happy to take it home for a delicious rabbit stew dinner.
From then on, he did no work in his field. He waited by his tree for another rabbit to run into it and kill itself. This didn't happen, and his fields lay fallow and bare.
Chinese idiom:守 株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù - literally "guard tree wait rabbit" ) You're waiting for a rabbit.
Meaning: Foolishly waiting for a most unlikely windfall instead of doing any work.
During your mandarin Chinese learning, you must be familiar with Learning Chinese idioms. Chinese idiom is a great important step on the way you learn Chinese. Each idiom or Chengyu, is a short phrase, usually with a Chinese story with significant and interesting meaning, and accompanied with Pinyin and English annotation. Chinese idioms usually consist of four Chinese characters. And Chinese idioms (Cheng Yu) do not follow the usual grammatical structure and syntax of the modern Chinese language, and are instead highly compact and synthetic. A Chinese idiom story will not only tell you the meaning of a phrase, but also attract you to learn Chinese language and help you learn more about ancient Chinese culture.
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