精选中国成语故事《邯郸学步》中英文版
精选中国成语故事《邯郸学步》中英文版
ImitatingAnotherwithoutSuccessandLosingWhatUsedtoBeOne'sOwnAbility
Traditionhasitthatmorethan2,oooyearsago,therelivedayoungmanintheShoulingareaoftheStateofYan.Ashisnameisnotknown,wejustcallhimShoulingyoungmanforconvenience'ssake.
selfconfidentHewasatalossastohowtobehaveallthetime.
Hisfamilymembersadvisedhimtoovercomethisshortcoming,buthethoughttheywerefondofpokingtheirnosesintohisbusinessandwereunwillingtoprovidehimwithtuitionfee.Hisrelativesandneighbourssneeredathim,sayingthathewouldneverbeabletolearnanything.Asthedayswentby,heevenbegantodoubtwhetherheshouldwalkthewayhedid,forhefeltmoreandmorethathiswalkinggesturesweretooclumsyandawkward.
Oneday,hemetsomepeopleontheroadwhowerechattingandlaughing.OneofthemsaidthatpeopleinHandanwalkedmostgracefully.Andthatwasjustwhathewasmostconcernedabout,sohehurreedtowardsthemandwantedtomakefurtherinquiries.Tohissurprise,whenthesepeoplesawhim,theystalkedofflaughing.
Hecouldnotpicturetohimselfinwhatwaytheirwalkinggesturesweregraceful,nomatterhowhardherackedhisparentsoneday.HewenttoHandanwhichwasfarawaytolearnhowtowalk.
AssoonashearrivedinHandan,hewasdazzledtofindthateverythingwasnovel.Helearnedfromthechildrentherehowtowalk,becausehethoughtthatthechildren'swalkinggestureswerelivelyandpleasingtotheeye.Helearndfromtheoldpeopletherehowtowalk,becausehethoughttheoldpeople'swalkinggesturesweresteady.Helearndfromthewomentherehowtowalk,becausehethoughtthewomen'swayingwalkinggestureswerebeautiful.Thatbeingthecasewithhim,inlessthanhalfamonthheevenforgothowtowalk.Ashehadalreadyuseduphistravelingexpenses,hehadtocrawlbackhome.
Thisstorycomefromthearticle"AutumnWater"inTheWorksofXhuangZi(ZhuangZiwasafamousancientChinesephilosopherofabout300B.c.).Laterthesetphrase"initatinganotherwithoutsuccessandlosingwhatusedtobeone'sownability"isusedtorefertoactsofcopyingothersmechanisallyindisregardofspecififcconditions.
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。
延伸阅读：
中国成语故事《不合时宜》中英文版
IntheStateofLu,therewasacoupleofhusbandandwife,theformerbeinganexpertshoemakerandthelatteraskilledhandinwearingtaffeta.OnedayafterconsultationstheydecidedtogotothestateofYuetoearnalivelihood.Theneighborsadvisedthemnottogowhentheylearnedabouttheirplan."Don'tgothere,"saidoneneighbor,"Ifyougo,youcanneverearnalivelihood."
"Wecannotunderstandyou,"interrogatedthecouple,"Wehaveafindcommandofourart,howcouldwenotearnourlivingwithourwork?Don'tmakeafoolofus,please."
"Indeed,youhaveyourskill,"explainedtheman,"Buthaveyoutakennoticeofthefactthatshoesaremadeforpeopleandthesilktaffetaareforhat-making?ThepeopleofYuedon'twearshoes,fortheyarebarefooted.Again,theyliketohavetheirhairspreadoutovertheirheadsandtheyneverusehats.Towhomshouldyousellyourshoesandhatsthen?"Experiencedthoughyouareinthearts,yettheartsyouhavemasteredareuselessthere."
Afterthisexplanation,thehusbandandwifenowunderstoodthatanythingthatwasnotadaptabletotheobjectiveworldwouldbeuselessandunpractical.
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。
中国成语故事《南辕北辙》中英文版
GoingSouthbyDrivingtheChariotNorth
Onceamanwantedtogotothesouth,buthiscarriagewasheadingnorth.Apasser-byaskedhim:"Ifyouaregoingtosouth,whyisyourchariotheadingnorth?"Themaanswered,"Myhorseisgoodatrunning,Mydriverishighlyskilledatdrivingacarriage,adIhaveenoughmoney."Themandidintconsiderthatthedirectionmightbewrong;thebetterhisconditionswere,therfurtherhewasawayfromhisdestination.
Theidiomderivedfroimthisstoryindicatesthatone'sactionwastheoppositeeffecttoone'sintention.
南辕北辙
从前有个人要到南方去，他坐的车子却向北方行驶。过路人说：“你去南方，车子怎么向北行驶呢?”他回答说：“我的马很能跑路，我的车夫驾车的技术也很高明，加上我又带了充足的路费。”这个人没有考虑到，方向弄反了，他的条件越好，离他要取得地方就越远。
后来人们就把这个故事概括为“南辕北辙”。比喻一个人的行动和他的目的`正好相反。
中国成语故事《玩火自焚》中英文版
DuringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod(770-476BC),princeZhouXuoftheStateofWeikilledhisbrotherandbecamethenewemperor.ZhouXuwasatyrant.HeoppressedhispeopleandindulgedinwarsofagGREssion.Bylaunchingwars,hetriedtodivertthepeople'sattentionandreducetheirdiscontentwithhiminordertoconsolidatehisdictatorship.
TheDukeoftheStateofLuleantaboutZhouXu'susurpationofstatepowerandhisambitiousplan,heaskedaseniorofficial,"WhatdoyouthinkaboutZhouXu'smove?"Theofficialanswered,"Heindulgesinwars,bringinghispeoplemuchdisaster.Hewon'tgettheirsupport.Andhe'scapricious,sofewofhisclosefriendsfollowhim.Hecanneverachievehissuccess.Inaddition,warislikefire.Ifonelauncheswarsendlesslywithoutrestraint,he'lleventuallyburnhimself."
Sureenough,thepeopleofWeiwiththehelpoftheStateofChenoverthrewZhouXuandkilledhiminlessthanayear.
Later,peopleuseittomeanthatthosewhodoevilwillfinallyruinthemselves.
春秋时期，卫国的王子州吁杀死了他的哥哥卫桓公，成为了卫国的国君。州吁是个暴君，他压迫百姓，到处侵略别的国家。他想利用战争来分散百姓的注意力，减少人们对他的不满，巩固他的专政。
鲁国的君王知道州吁篡夺了王位，还想吞并其他国家，就问他手下的一名官员："你认为州吁的目的能达到吗？"那位官员说道："州吁到处打仗，给人民来了灾难。人民不会支持他。他这个人又反复无常，身边没有什么亲信。他不可能实现自己的野心。而且，战争就象火。无休止地打仗，最后，火会烧到自己身上。"
果然，不到一年，卫国人民就在陈国的帮助下推翻了州吁的统治，并处死了他。
后来，人们用这个成语来比喻干害人的勾当，最后受害的还是自己。
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。
