成语典故中英对照

概要：“望洋兴叹”原来的意思是：看到人家的伟大，才感到自己很渺小。现在多用来比喻做事力量不够，无从着手，而感到无可奈何。 This idiom originally meant feeling one's own insignificance upon seeing another's might. Now it is mostly used to indicate being able to do nothing but sigh in the face of a huge task. details: 秋水时至，百川灌河；泾流之大，两渚崖之间，不辨牛马。于是焉河伯欣然自喜，以天下之美，为尽在己。顺流而东行，至于北海，东面而视，不见水端。 于是焉年，河伯始旋其面目，望洋向若而叹曰：“野语有之曰：‘闻道百，以为莫己若者’，我之谓也。 且夫我尝闻少仲尼之闻而轻伯夷之义者。始吾弗信，今我睹子之难穷也。之门，则殆矣，吾吾非至于子长见笑于大方之家。” 注释 灌―――－灌溉、注入的意思。 泾――――泾水，这里指水脉。 涘渚崖――涘，水边。渚，水中间现出的小块陆地。崖

　　“望洋兴叹”原来的意思是：看到人家的伟大，才感到自己很渺小。现在多用来比喻做事力量不够，无从着手，而感到无可奈何。
　　This idiom originally meant feeling one's own insignificance upon seeing another's might. Now it is mostly used to indicate being able to do nothing but sigh in the face of a huge task.

details:
　　秋水时至，百川灌河；泾流之大，两渚崖之间，不辨牛马。于是焉河伯欣然自喜，以天下之美，为尽在己。顺流而东行，至于北海，东面而视，不见水端。

　　于是焉年，河伯始旋其面目，望洋向若而叹曰：“野语有之曰：‘闻道百，以为莫己若者’，我之谓也。

　　且夫我尝闻少仲尼之闻而轻伯夷之义者。始吾弗信，今我睹子之难穷也。之门，则殆矣，吾吾非至于子长见笑于大方之家。”

注释
灌―――－灌溉、注入的意思。
泾――――泾水，这里指水脉。
涘渚崖――涘，水边。渚，水中间现出的小块陆地。崖，河岸。
河伯―――水神。
若――――海神的名字。
殆――――糟糕、危险的意思 www.99youjiao.com

评点

　　本文嘲讽了那类“听讲过一些道理，便自以为什么都懂，再没有比得上自己的人”，教导我们要善于看到别人的长处，学会取长补短。

偃旗息鼓
To Lower the Banners and Silence the Drums

　　三国时代，一次曹操与刘备交战。刘备命令大将赵云、黄忠去抢夺曹操的粮食。曹操带领大军追赶赵云。赵云边打边退，一直退到营寨前，叫士兵打开营门，放倒军旗，停止擂鼓，在营外设好埋伏。曹军追到，看到这种情景，怀疑有埋伏，就撤退了。
　　In the Three Kingdoms Period, during a battle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, the latter ordered his generals Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong to capture Cao Cao's supplies. Cao Cao led a large force against Zhao Yun, who retreated as far as the gates of his camp. There, he ordered that the banners be lowered and the war drums silenced, and that the camp gates be left wide open. Zhao Yun then stationed his troops in ambush nearly. When Cao Cao arrived and saw the situation, he immediately suspected a trap and withdrew his forces.

　　“偃旗息鼓”这个成语现在用来比喻停止攻击或者事情中止。
　　This idiom is nowadays used to indicate metaphorically halting an attack or ceasing all activities.

望梅止渴
Looking at Plums to Quench the Thirst

　　三国时代，有一次曹操带领军队去打仗。在行军的路上，找不到水源，士兵们都感到口渴难忍。曹操想出一个计策，指着前面一片树林说：“那里就是一大片梅林，树上的梅子又甜又酸，可以解渴。”士兵们听了，想起梅子的酸味，一个个都留出了口水，再也不觉的口渴了。
　　In the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), Cao Cao was once on a campaign during which his men failed to find any water. Cao Cao told them: "There are plum trees ahead. The sweet and sour plums will relieve your thirst." Hearing this, the soldiers thought of the plums and their mouths watered. This cured their thirst.

　　“望梅止渴”这个成语比喻用空想来安慰自己。
　　This idiom means to comfort oneself with fantasy. www.99youjiao.com

病入膏肓
The Disease Has Attacked the Vitals

　　春秋时代，晋景公生了病。病中梦见自己的疾病变成两个小人再他旁边谈话。一个说：“我害怕医生会伤害我们。”另一个说：“不要怕，我们躲到肓的上面，膏的下面，医生能把我们怎样！”第二天，医生来给他诊断病情时说：“你的病没法子治啦！病在肓上面，膏的下面，药剂的效力无法到达了。”
　　In the Spring and Autumn Period, King Jing of the State of Jin fell ill. One night he dreamed that the disease turned into two small figures talking beside him. One said, "I'm afraid the doctor will hurt us." The other said, "Don't worry. We can hide above huang and below gao. Then the doctor will be able to do nothing to us." The next day, having examined the king, the doctor said, "Your disease is incurable, I am afraid, Your Majesty. It's above huang and below gao, where no medicine can reach."

　　这个成语比喻事情已经非常严重，到了不可挽救的程度。
　　This idiom indicates a hopeless condition.

Notes:

膏肓：我国古代医学上把心尖脂肪叫膏，心脏和隔膜之间叫肓，认为是药力达不到的地方。

四面楚歌
Songs of Chu on All Sides

　　秦朝末年，楚和汉争夺天下。楚王项羽被汉王刘邦的军队紧紧地围困在垓下这个地方。项羽的兵士已经很少，粮食也没有了，危机万分。夜里，四面包围着的汉军唱起了楚地的民歌。项羽听了，非常吃惊地说：“汉军已经全部占领了楚国的土地吗？为什么在汉军中有这么多的人会唱楚歌呢？”说着就从床上爬起来，带着残余的士兵惊慌地逃走了。
　　At the end of the Qin Dynasty (BC 221-206), the State of Chu and the State of Han fought for control of the country. Xiang Yu, the king of Chu, was besieged at a place called Caixia by the Han army led by Liu Bang. Xiang Yu was in a desperate situation, with little food and only a few soldiers. At night, the surrounding Han troops started to sing Chu folk songs. Xiang Yu was very surprised at this, and said, "Has Liu Bang occupied the whole of Chu? How can he have drafted so many Chu people into his army?" Then he fled together with the remainder of his forces. www.99youjiao.com

　　“四面楚歌”这个成语比喻四面受到敌人的攻击，处于孤立危急的困境。
　　This idiom is used metaphorically to mean to be in a helpless and critical situation, surrounded by the enemy on all sides.

杞人忧天
The Man of Qi who Worried That the Sky Would Fall

　　春秋时代，杞国有一个喜欢胡思乱想的人。一天，他竟然想到，天会塌下来，地会陷下去，自己到哪里去安身？这个人越想越害怕，整天愁眉苦脸，坐立不安，白天吃不下饭，晚上睡不着觉。后来有人耐心地开导他，他才放下了心。
　　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 groundless.

　　“杞人忧天”这个成语讥笑那些没有必要或毫无根据的忧虑。
　　This idiom satirizes those who worry unnecessarily.

自相矛盾
Contradicting Oneself

　　古代有个卖矛和盾的人。他一手举起他的矛夸耀说：“我的矛锋利无比，无论多么坚硬的东西都能刺穿。”过了一会儿，他又举起另一只手里的盾说：“我的盾坚硬无比，无论多么锋利的东西也刺不破。”观众中有一个人问他：“用你的矛刺你的盾，结果会怎样呢？”这个人被问得哑口无言了。
　　In ancient times, there was a man who sold spears and shields. He used to boast, "My spears are the sharpest things in the world. They can penetrate anything." A moment later he would boast, "My shields are the toughest things in the world. Nothing can penetrate them." One day, a passerby asked him: "What would happen if you threw one of your spears at one of your shields?" www.99youjiao.com

　　“自相矛盾”用来比喻说话或做事不一致，互相抵触。
　　This idiom, "contradicting oneself", and the noun 矛盾, contradiction, all came from the above story.

名落孙山
Failing to Pass an Examination

　　宋朝（公元960-1279）时有一个擅长幽默的人，名叫孙山。有一年，他去参加科举考试。榜发出来，孙山考上了最后一名。回到家乡，一位同乡向他打听自己的儿子考上没有。孙山笑了一笑说：“孙山考上最后一名，您儿子的名字还在孙山后面呢。”

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