英語成語故事
聞雞起舞
[讀音][wén jī抄 qǐ wǔ襲]
[解釋]東晉時，祖逖和劉琨同為司州主簿，常互相勉勵振作。半夜聽到雞鳴，立即起來舞劍。語出《晉書·祖逖傳》。後以「聞雞起舞」比喻及時奮發。
[出處]宋·松洲《念奴嬌·題鍾山樓》：「擊楫誓清；聞雞起舞；畢竟英雄得。」
[近義]然糠照薪發奮圖強鍥而不舍雞鳴而起廢寢忘食自強不息發憤圖強
[反義]自暴自棄苟且偷安
⑵ 成語故事的英文版txt
內容預覽：這故事出自「戰國策」。戰國時代，楚國有一個大臣，名叫庄辛，有一天對楚襄王說：「你在宮裡面的時候，左邊是州侯，右邊是夏侯；出去的時候，鄢陵君和壽跟君又總是隨看你。你和這四個人專門講究奢侈淫樂，不管國家大事，郢（楚都，在今湖北省江陵縣北）一定要危險啦！」襄王聽了，很不高與，氣罵道：「你老糊塗了嗎？故意說這些險惡的話惑亂人心嗎？」庄辛不慌不忙的回答說：「我實在感覺事情一定要到這個地步的，不敢故意說楚國有什麼不幸。如果你一直寵信這個人，楚國一定要滅亡的。你既然不信我的話，請允許我到趙國躲一躲，看事情究竟會怎樣。」庄辛到趙國才住了五個月，秦國果然派兵侵楚，襄王被迫流亡到陽城（今河南息縣西北）。這才覺得庄辛的話不錯，趕緊派人把庄辛找回來，問他有什麼辦法；庄辛很誠懇地說：「我聽說過，看見兔子牙想起獵犬，這還不晚；羊跑掉了才補羊圈，也還不遲。……」這是一則很有意義的故事，只知道享樂，不知道如何做事……
⑶ 成語故事英語劇本
英語成語故事-井底之蛙
The Frog in the Shallow Well (Jing Di Zhi Wa)
Have you not heard of the frog that lived in a shallow well? It said to a turtle that lived in the East Sea, "I am so happy! When I go out, I jump about on the railing beside the mouth of the well. When I come home, I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well. If I jump into the water, it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks. If I walk in the mud, it covers up my feet. I look around at the wriggly worms, crabs and tadpoles, and none of them can compare with me. Moreover, I am lord of this trough of water and I stand up tall in this shallow well. My happiness is full. My dear sir, why don't you come often and look around my place?"
Before the turtle from the East Sea could get its left foot in the well, its right knee got stuck. It hesitated and retreated. The turtle told the frog about the East Sea.
"Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea's width; even a height of a thousand ren cannot give you an idea of its depth. In the time of King Yu of the Xia dynasty, there were floods nine years out of ten, but the waters in the sea did not increase. ln the time of King Tang of the Shang dynasty there were droughts seven years out of eight, but the waters in the sea did not decrease. The sea does not change along with the passage of time and its level does not rise or fall according to the amount of rain that falls. The greatest happiness is to live in the East Sea."
After listening to these words, the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realization of his own insignificance and became very ill at ease.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
英語故事:驚弓之鳥
A Bird Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bow-String
This set phrase figuratively denotes those who have suffered disasters and so have a lingering fear when anything happen.
During the War Period ,in the Wèi State there lived a famous archer named Gēng léi.
One day,Gēng léi and the King of Wei standing on a high terrace saw some birds flying past.
At this Gēng léi said to the King:"I'll shoot a flying bird down for YourMajesty by drawing a bow with no arrow."
The King asked,"Is it possible that one's archery can attain such a level?"
A little later,a wild goose was flying from the east.
Gēng léi just drew his bow but didn't shoot an arrow.
As expected,the wild goose fell to the ground with the twang.
The King asked in surprise,"How can your archery reach such a high level?"
Gēng léi replied ,"This wild goose has been wounded."
The King got more surprised,asking,"How do you know it,sir?"
Gēng léi esplained,"This wild goose flew slowly and cried sadly.Its flying slowly suggested that it was still aching with the old wound; its crying sadly suggested that it had strayed long from its flock.When it heard the twang the wild goose had to flutter hard to fly high for its life.So it is evitably fell down with its old wound burst."
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
刻舟求劍
Making His Mark (Ke Zhou Qiu Jian)
A man from the state of Chu was crossing a river. In the boat, his sword fell into the water. Immediately he made a mark on the boat.
"This is where my sword fell off," he said.
When the boat stopped moving, he went into the water to look for his sword at the place where he had marked the boat.
The boat had moved but the sword had not. Is this not a very foolish way to look for a sword?
A man from the State Chu was crossing the river. In the boat, his sword fell
into the water by his carelessness. Imediately he made a mark on the boat.「This
is where my sword fell off.」He said. When the boat stopped, he jumped into the
water to look for his sword at the place where he marked the boat. The boat had
moved but the sword had not. Is this not a foolish way to look for a sword？
刻舟求劍
⑷ 英語成語故事 要有翻譯
Sweat is HuoGuang, emperor han commander-in-chief of TuoGu ministers, drinking eight years of emperor han style-came kisen, ruling pomp very heavy. HuoGuang nearby have a call YangChang people, act is timid, popular with HuoGuang recognition, rose to prime minister position, seal for anping syndrome. Actually, YangChang humanness cowardly incompetence, timid, not when the prime minister of the material. 74 B.C., was only twenty one-year-old han emperor died.both in WeiYangGong kisen, with all the princes HuoGuang counsel, chose the emperor's grandson made WangLiuHe nearbu heir. Behold LiuHe ascended the mid-north song and dance, often pleasure-resorts. HuoGuang heard later, anxieties, and bike ride general ZhangAn births, TianYanNian secret counsel, on to nullify LiuHe, set up other Yin jun. After TianYanNian HuoGuangPa goading agreed to jointly YangChang, tell gun. YangChang all of a sudden, she was scared to sweat, panic, just something indistinctly fence. YangChang wife, is TaiShiGong sima qian's daughter, quite have the guts. She saw her husband shilly-shally appearance, secretly worried, while TianYanNian change clothes walk away, infero-anterior advised her husband and said, "National affairs, will shilly-shally. General has ChengYi, you should also chosin reservoir, otherwise inevitable difficult ahead." YangChang step back and forth in the house, but had no acid attention. Just at this time TianYanNian back, SiMaFu people avoid inferior, straight-tempered without embarrassment and TianYanNian meet, told TianYanNian, her husband willing to listen to the general's command. TianYanNian after listening pleased to take leave walk. TianYanNian returns HuoGuang, HuoGuang very satisfied. YangChang brought all the princes immediately arrange table, playing please dowager. The next day, YangChang advice, ernie see luang nearbu king unbearable successin statement of reason. Queen letter removed immediately LiuHe, another sign of emperor of the once SunLiu enquiry for jun, was said han XuanDi.
Idioms citations, han shu YangChang biography of our afraid, not words. Jia sweated back ACTS yes just.
Idioms interpretations ", "Jia drenched, sweating much soaked backbone. Describe sweat. Also describe extreme fear or ashamed excessive.
汗流浹背 漢大將軍霍光，是漢武帝的託孤重臣，輔佐八歲即位的漢昭帝執政，威勢很重。霍光身邊有個叫楊敞的人，行事謹小慎微，頗受霍光賞識，升至丞相職位，封為安平候。其實，楊敞為人懦弱無能，膽小怕事，根本不是當丞相的材料。公元前74年，年僅廿一歲的漢昭帝駕崩於未央宮，霍光與眾臣商議，選了漢武帝的孫子昌邑王劉賀作繼承人。誰知劉賀繼位後，經常宴飲歌舞，尋歡作樂。霍光聽說後，憂心忡忡，與車騎將軍張安世、大司馬田延年秘密商議，打算廢掉劉賀，另立賢君。計議商定後，霍光派田延年告訴楊敞、以便共同行事。楊敞一聽，頓時嚇得汗流浹背，驚恐萬分，只是含含糊糊，不置可否。楊敞的妻子，是太史公司馬遷的女兒，頗有膽識。她見丈夫猶豫不決的樣子，暗暗著急，趁田延年更衣走開時，上前勸丈夫說；「國家大事，豈能猶豫不決。大將軍已有成議，你也應當速戰速決，否則必然太難臨頭。」楊敞在房裡來回酸步，卻拿不定注意。正巧此時田延年回來，司馬夫人迴避不及，索性大大方方地與田延年相見，告知田延年，她丈夫願意聽從大將軍的吩咐。田延年聽了後高興地告辭走了。田延年回報霍光，霍光十分滿意，馬上安排楊敞領眾臣上表，奏請皇太後。第二天，楊敞與群臣遏見皇太後，陳述昌邑王不堪繼承王位的原因。太後立即下詔廢去劉賀，另立漢武帝的曾孫劉詢為君，史稱漢宣帝。
成語出處《漢書·楊敞傳》敝驚懼，不知所言。汗出浹背徒唯唯而已。
成語釋義「浹」，濕透，出汗多，濕透脊樑。形容滿身大汗。也形容極度惶恐或慚愧過度。
⑸ 英語成語故事《南轅北轍》
【成語】： 南轅北轍
【拼音】： nán yuán běi zhé
【解釋】： 想往南而車子卻向北行。比喻行動和目的正好相反。
【出處】： 《戰國策·魏策四》：「猶至楚而北行也。」
【舉例造句】： 你想這六條要求，與中央開出的六條款約，簡直是南轅北轍，相差甚遠，有甚麼和議可言。 ★蔡東藩、許廑父《民國通俗演義》第六十八回
【拼音代碼】： nybz
【近義詞】： 背道而馳
【反義詞】： 有的放矢
【燈謎】： 反其道而行之
【用法】： 作賓語、定語；指行動和目的正好相反
【英文】： try to go south by driving the chariot north-act in a way that defeats one's purpose
【故事】： 戰國時期，魏安王決定攻打趙國都城邯鄲，大臣們都反對他，季梁給他講一個故事：太行山的一個人駕車准備到楚國去，但他卻堅持往北走，這樣越走越遠。爭霸不是靠打仗，而是靠贏得民心，靠打仗就像南轅北轍一樣。魏安王決定不打仗了
⑹ 英語版中國成語故事帶翻譯，短一點
塞翁失馬Blessing
or
Bane
戰國時期，靠近北部邊城，住著一個老人，名叫塞翁。塞翁養了許多馬，一天，他的馬群中忽然有一匹走失了。鄰居們聽說這件事，跑來安慰，勸他不必太著急，年齡大了，多注意身體。塞翁見有人勸慰，笑了笑說：「丟了一匹馬損失不大，沒准會帶來什麼福氣呢。」
鄰居聽了塞翁的話，心裡覺得很好笑。馬丟了，明明是件壞事，他卻認為也許是好事，顯然是自我安慰而已。過了幾天，丟失的馬不僅自動返回家，還帶回一匹匈奴的駿馬。
鄰居聽說了，對塞翁的預見非常佩服，向塞翁道賀說：「還是您有遠見，馬不僅沒有丟，還帶回一匹好馬，真是福氣呀。」
塞翁聽了鄰人的祝賀，反而一點高興的樣子都沒有，憂慮地說：「白白得了一匹好馬，不一定是什麼福氣，也許惹出什麼麻煩來。」
鄰居們以為他故作姿態純屬老年人的狡猾。心裡明明高興，有意不說出來。
塞翁有個獨生子，非常喜歡騎馬。他發現帶回來的那匹馬顧盼生姿，身長蹄大，嘶鳴嘹亮，膘悍神駿，一看就知道是匹好馬。他每天都騎馬出遊，心中洋洋得意。
一天，他高興得有些過火，打馬飛奔，一個趔趄，從馬背上跌下來，摔斷了腿。鄰居聽說，紛紛來慰問。
塞翁說：「沒什麼，腿摔斷了卻保住性命，或許是福氣呢。」鄰居們覺得他又在胡言亂語。他們想不出，摔斷腿會帶來什麼福氣。
不久，匈奴兵大舉入侵，青年人被應征入伍，塞翁的兒子因為摔斷了腿，不能去當兵。入伍的青年都戰死了，唯有塞翁的兒子保全了性命。
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.
⑺ 英語成語故事：枕戈待旦
枕戈待旦
zhěn gē dài dàn
【解釋】戈：古代的一種兵器；旦：早晨。意思是立志殺敵，枕著武器睡覺等天亮。形容時刻准備作戰，。
【出處】《晉書·劉琨傳》：「吾枕戈待旦，志梟逆虜。」
【結構】連動式。
【用法】用作褒義。一般作謂語、定語、狀語。
【正音】戈；不能讀作「ɡě」。
【辨形】枕；不能寫作「忱」或「沈」；待；不能寫作「侍」。
【近義詞】枕戈坐甲、枕戈以待
【反義詞】醉生夢死、高枕無憂
【辨析】～和「嚴陣以待」都有「警惕性高；等待敵人」的意思。但「嚴陣以待」偏重在做好了充分准備；以嚴整的陣勢；等待來犯的敵人；～偏重在殺敵心切；指睡覺時仍不放鬆戒備；等待著殺敵。
【例句】這支英雄艦隊；～；日夜守衛在東海前哨。
【英譯】makeapillowofone』sspearwaitingfordaybreak
【成語故事】西晉人祖逖和劉琨，都是性格開朗、仗義好俠的志士。年輕時不但文章寫得好，而且都喜歡練武健身，決心報效祖國。當時，晉朝表面上還管轄著中原大地，但實際上已是內憂外患，風雨飄搖了。祖逖和劉琨一談起國家局勢，總是慷慨萬分，常常聊到深夜。
一天，祖逖又和劉琨談得十分興奮，劉琨不知什麼時候睡著了，祖逖卻久久沉浸在談話的興奮之中，不能入睡。「喔，喔，喔－－」荒原上的雄雞叫了起來，祖逖一躍而起，踢醒了劉琨：「聽，這雄雞啼鳴多麼振奮人心呀，快起來練劍吧！」於是，兩人操起劍來，在高坡上對舞。從此，他倆每天清早聽到頭一聲鳴叫，一定來到荒原上抖擻神練起劍來。
劉琨被祖逖的愛國熱情深深感動，決心獻身於祖。一次他給家人的信中寫道：「在國家危難時刻，我經常『枕戈待旦』（枕著兵器睡覺一直到天明），立志報國，常擔心落在祖逖後邊，不想他到底走到我的前頭了！……」
⑻ 英語成語故事
邯鄲學步
English
相傳在兩千年前，燕國壽陵地方有一位少年，不知道姓啥叫啥，就叫他壽陵少年吧！
這位壽陵少年不愁吃不愁穿，論長相也算得上中等人材，可他就是缺乏自信心，經常無緣無故地感到事事不如人，低人一等——衣服是人家的好，飯菜是人家的香，站相坐相也是人家高雅。他見什麼學什麼，學一樣丟一樣，雖然花樣翻新，卻始終不能做好一件事，不知道自己該是什麼模樣。
家裡的人勸他改一改這個毛病，他以為是家裡人管得太多。親戚、鄰居們，說他是狗熊掰棒子，他也根本聽不進去。日久天長，他竟懷疑自己該不該這樣走路，越看越覺得自己走路的姿勢太笨，太丑了。
有一天，他在路上碰到幾個人說說笑笑，只聽得有人說邯鄲人走路姿勢那叫美。他一聽，對上了心病，急忙走上前去，想打聽個明白。不料想，那幾個人看見他，一陣大笑之後揚長而去。
邯鄲人走路的姿勢究竟怎樣美呢？他怎麼也想像不出來。這成了他的心病。終於有一天，他瞞著家人，跑到遙遠的邯鄲學走路去了。
一到邯鄲，他感到處處新鮮，簡直令人眼花繚亂。看到小孩走路，他覺得活潑、美，學；看見老人走路，他覺得穩重，學；看到婦女走路，搖擺多姿，學。就這樣，不過半月光景，他連走路也不會了，路費也花光了，只好爬著回去了。
故事出自《莊子·秋水》。成語「邯鄲學步」，比喻生搬硬套，機械地模仿別人，不但學不到別人的長處，反而會把自己的優點和本領也丟掉。
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.
汲黯是西漢武帝時代人，以剛直正義、敢講真話而受人尊重。他為人和做官都不拘小節，講求實效。雖然表面上不那麼轟轟烈烈，卻能把一個郡治理得井井有條，因此，朝廷把他從東海太守調到朝廷當主爵都尉——一種主管地方吏任免的官職。
有一次，漢武帝說要實行儒家的仁義之政，為老百姓辦好事了。沒等皇帝把話說完，汲黯就說：「陛下內心裡那麼貪婪多欲，表面上卻要裝得實行仁政，這是何苦呢？」一句話把皇帝噎了回去。漢武帝登時臉色大變，宣布罷朝，滿朝文武都為汲黯捏著一把汗，擔心他會因此招來大禍。武帝回到宮里以後，對身邊的人說，汲黯這個人也未免太粗太直了。
從此以後，汲黯的官職再也沒有提升。他當主爵都尉的時候，公孫弘、張湯都還是不起眼的小官，後來，他們一個勁兒住上升，公孫弘當上了丞相，張湯做上了御史大夫，可他汲黯還蹲在原地沒動窩。有一天，汲黯對武帝說，陛下使用群臣，跟碼劈柴一樣，是「後來者居上」啊！漢武帝當然聽得出這是發牢騷。於是，轉臉對臣下們說：「人真是不能不學習啊！你們聽汲黯說話，越來越離譜了！」
故事出自《史記·汲鄭列傳》。成語「後來居上」，往往指後起的可以勝過先前的。和汲黯說這話的原意，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.
⑼ 英語的成語故事
畫蛇添足
An official of the ancient State of Chu awarded a pot of wine to his men after the ceremony of Spring Sacrifice. One man said， 「We have only one pot of wine. It's not enough for all of us but sufficient for one. Let's determine who'll have the wine by drawing a snake on the ground. He who finishes first will have the wine.」
The others agreed. Very soon， one man finished his snake. He was about to drink the wine when he saw the others were still busy drawing. He said complacently，「How slowly you are！ I still have enough time to add feet to my snke.」 But before he finished the feet， another man finished his snke and grabbed the pot from him， saying，「Whoever has seen a snake with feet？ Yours is not a snke. So the wine should be mine！」 He drank the wine. The man adding the feet to the snake had to give in and could only regret his foolishness.
楚國有一個官員，在春天祭過了祖宗之後，便將一壺酒賞給他的辦事人員喝。有人提議：「我們只有一壺酒，肯定不夠我們大家喝的，一個人喝倒是綽綽有餘。我們每人在地上畫一條蛇，誰畫得最快，就把這壺酒給他。」 大家都同意了。
有一個人很快就把蛇畫好了。他正打算喝這壺酒時，看見別人都還忙著畫呢。他就得意揚揚地說：「你們畫得好慢呀，等我再畫上幾只腳吧！」 他的蛇腳還沒畫完，另一個人已經把蛇畫好了。那人把酒壺奪了過去說：「有誰見過長腳的蛇？你畫的不是蛇，這壺酒應該是我的了。」說罷，就喝起酒來。那個給蛇畫腳的人沒辦法，只能懊悔自己的愚蠢。
一鳴驚人
In the Warring States Period, Duke Wei of Qi neglected state affairs, for the first three years of his reign, giving himself over to dissipation. One of his ministers, Chun Yukun who had a good sense of humour, said to him: 'There is a big bird which has neither taken wing nor sung for three years.' The ke answered, 'Once that bird starts to fly and sing, it will astonish the world.' The ke thereupon devoted himself to his ties and built his state up into a powerful one.
戰國時代，齊威王即位後做了三年國君，只顧享樂，不理政事。有個善於說笑話的人叫淳於髡，一天對齊威王說：「城裡有一隻大鳥，三年不飛也不叫，你知道這是什麼道理？」齊威王說：「這鳥不飛則罷，一飛就沖天；不鳴則罷，一鳴就驚人。」在淳於髡的激發下，齊威王開始治理國家，取得很大成績，齊國的聲威一直保持了幾十年。
杞人憂天
In the Spring and Autumn Period, in the State of Qi there was a man who always let his imagination run away with him. One day he even worried that the sky would fall on his head. He was so worried that he could neither eat nor sleep. Later, someone persuaded him that his fears were Ground-less.
春秋時代，杞國有一個喜歡胡思亂想的人。一天，他竟然想到，天會塌下來，地會陷下去，自己到哪裡去安身？這個人越想越害怕，整天愁眉苦臉，坐立不安，白天吃不下飯，晚上睡不著覺。後來有人耐心地開到他，他才放下了心。
精衛填海
Once upon a time, the youngest daughter of Emperor Yan, legendary ruler of primitive China, went boating on the Eastern Sea. While she was enjoying herself, a strong wind rose on the sea and her boat capsized. Just before she was buried by the surging waves, her spirit turned into a beautiful bird. As it flew over the roaring sea, it cried sadly in the sound "jinwei, jingwei". That was why people called it "Jingwei".
The bird lived on a mountain near the sea. It hated the sea so much that it decided to fill it up. Every day, it flew to and fro between the mountain and the sea, carrying in a twig or a pebble from the mountain and dropping it into the sea.
One day, the roaring sea said to Jingwei, "Poor little bird, stop doing that meaningless thing! You'll never fill me up." Jingwei replied, "I'll fill you up no doubt! I will, even if it'll take me thousands of years! I'll fight on until doomsday!"
The brave little bird kept carrying twigs and pebbles from the mountain to the Eastern Sea without taking a rest.
From this fable comes the idiom "The bird Jingwei trying to fill the sea". We use it to describe people who are firm and indomitable and will not stop until they reach their goal.
從前，炎帝（傳說中中國原始社會的統治者）的小女兒在東海上劃船。正當她劃得高興時，海面上突然升起一陣大風，把她的小船弄翻了。就在她要被洶涌的波浪吞 沒時，她的靈魂變成了一隻美麗的小鳥。它飛過那咆哮的海面，傷心的叫著"精衛，精衛"的聲音。所以人們就叫她"精衛"。
精衛鳥住在靠海的一座山上。它非常恨大海，所以決心要把它填平。它每天來回於山海之間，把從山上銜來的小樹枝和小石子扔在大海里。
一天，咆哮的大海對精衛說："可憐的小鳥，停止你那無謂的舉動吧！你是永遠都填不平我的。" 精衛回答說："我當然會把你填平的！即使這需要千千萬萬年的時間，我也一定會斗爭到底，直到你的末日來臨！"
這只勇敢的小鳥繼續從山上銜來小樹枝和小石子，扔到東海中，從未有片刻休息。
"精衛填海"這個成語就是由這個傳說而來的，形容那些堅定不移，不屈不撓，不到目的決不罷休的人。
⑽ 英語版中國成語故事
江郎才盡
Southern Dynasties of Jiang Yan, word Wen-tung, when he was young, became a Dingdingyouming writer, his poems and articles at the time received high acclaims. However, when he is getting older, he has not previously written an article good, but a lot of setbacks. His poems written in prosaic; and pick up a pen-yin grip for a long time, still can not write a word, the occasional inspiration came; poem written, but the textual Kuse, content, plain were completely useless. So some people to legend, once a boat parked in Chan Jiang Yan-Ling Monastery river and dream of a self-named Zhang Jingyang person; to his followers repay a silk, he would arrest a few feet from her, he is also silk. Thus, his article there will be no wonderful. It was also legend; once the rule of Jiang Yan in the booth sleeping too; dreamed that a person claiming to Guo Pu, walked over to his side, his claim to the pen, said to him: "Man Michie, I have a pen in your place has been a long time, and now should be able to give it to me the bar! "Jiang Yan heard, they dig out from his arms, he is also a five-color pen. Reportedly Since then, Jiang Yan on Evans exhausted and could not write the article in any good.
Jiang Yan's talent has not really run out, but he was an officer after the one hand, as the Chief busy, on the other hand also because of career proud of, without their own write, to sweat, they did not write the. Over time, the article will bring out less, lacking in talent. (Excerpt from "Practical Writing" 1995 No. 8 "I hope," Jiang "was not exactly")
南朝的江淹，字文通，他年輕的時候，就成為一個鼎鼎有名的文學家，他的詩和文章在當時獲得極高的評價。 可是，當他年紀漸漸大了以後，他的文章不但沒有以前寫得好了，而且退步不少。他的詩寫出來平淡無奇；而且提筆吟握好久，依舊寫不出一個字來，偶爾靈感來了；詩寫出來了，但文句枯澀，內容 平淡得一無可取。於是就有人傳說，有一次江淹乘船停在禪靈寺的河邊，夢見一 個自稱叫張景陽的人；向他討還一匹綢緞，他就從懷中拘出幾尺綢緞還他。因此,他的文章以後便不精彩了。又有人傳說；有一次江淹在冶亭中睡午覺；夢見一個自稱郭璞 的人，走到他的身邊，向他索筆，對他說：「文通兄，我有一支筆在你那兒已經很久了，現在應該可以還給我了吧!」 江淹聽了，就順手從懷里取出一支五色筆來還他。據說從此以後，江淹就文思枯竭，再也寫不出什麼好的文章了。
其實並不是江淹的才華已經用完了，而是他當官以後，一方面由於政務繁忙，另一方面也由於仕途得意，無需自己動筆，勞心費力，就不再動筆了。久而久之，文章自然會逐漸遜色，缺乏才氣。（節選自《應用寫作》1995年第8期《但願「江郎」才不盡》）