Meaning of the Idiom
tui bi san she（Retreating about Thirty Miles as Condition For Peace）
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Killed the crown prince Sheng because he had heard slanders about Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er, Shen Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er, Shen Sheng’s brother. Hearing the news, Chong Er escaped from the state of Jin, remaining a fugitive for more than ten years.
After innumerable hardships, Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu at last. King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect as he would have treated the ruler of a state, believing that he would have a great achievements.
One day, King Cheng of the State of Chu gave a banquet in honor of Chong Er. Suddenly, amid the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and talking, King Cheng of the State of Chu asked Chong Er. “How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become its ruler one day?” After thinking for a moment, Chong Er said, “You have plenty of beauties and attendants as well as jewelry and silk cloth, and the state of Chu abounds in rare brides and animals. What treasure can the State of Jin boast having to present to your majesty?” King Cheng of the State of Chu said, “You are too modest. Nevertheless, you still have to show your gratitude to me in one way or another, I presume?” Smiling, Chong Er answered, “If I should be fortunate enough to return to the State of Jin and become its ruler, the State of Jin would be friendly to the State of Chu. If, one day, there should be a war between the two states, I would definitely order my troops to retreat three SHE (one SHE is equivalent to thirty LI. The LI is a Chinese unit of length equivalent to 1/2 kilometer. And, therefore, three SHE is about thirty miles.) as a condition for peace. If, under that condition, you were still not reconciled, I would have to fight with you.”
Four years later, as might be expected, Chong Er returned to the State of Jin and became its ruler. He was none other than Duke Wen of the State of Jin famous in ancient Chinese history. Ruled by him, the State of Jin became increasingly powerful.
In the year 533 B.C., the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted each other in a battle. Faithful to his promise, Duke Wen of the State of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles. After retreating, the Jin troops were stationed at Chengpu. Seeing that the Jin troops were retreating, the Chu troops thought that the enemy troops were afraid, and began chasing them. Taking advantage of the Chu troops’ arrogance and their talking the Jin troops lightly, the Jin troops concentrated their forces and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chu troops, thus winning the victory of the battle of Chengpu.
The idea of this set phrase is to give way to somebody in order to avoid a conflict.
退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè，退避三舍（舍，古时行军以三十里为一舍）原意指为了回避与对方的冲突，主动退让九十里；常用于比喻退让和回避，避免冲突。
出自《左传·僖公二十三年》。
例句
我说不过姊姊，只得退避三舍了。
今天我是敬重他，所以退避三舍，别误以为我是在怕他。
今天对方来势汹汹，且让我先退避三舍，思谋良策。
Reading The Paragraphs!
Meaning of Words
| 词语 | 华文解释 | 英文解释 |
|---|---|---|
| 谗言 | 指说坏话诽谤人。亦指坏话，指挑拨离间的话。 例句：不管你怎么说，也没有人听信你这谗言! | calumny |
| 千辛万苦 | 指各种各样的艰难困苦。 例句：不过几年，千辛万苦修起来的路被冲毁了。 | go through untold [many] hardships |
| 作为 | 意思是行为，所作所为；或指建树，成就。 例句：这几年，她在科研方面有作为。 | achievement; accomplishment |
| 融洽（qià） | 彼此感情好，没有隔阂和抵触。 例句：他俩交往时间虽然不长，却相处融洽。 | harmonious; friendly |
| 思索 | 意思是反复思考探索。 例句：聪明的弟弟不假思索地回答出了爸爸的问题。 | ponder |
| 日益 | 意思是一天比一天更加（好或坏）。 例句：空气污染日益严重，很多人外出都戴上口罩。 | increasingly |
| 轻敌 | 指轻视敌手而不认真对待。 例句：他打球灵活多变，令人防不胜防，我只能全神贯注，不敢轻敌！ | take the enemy lightly |
Daily Language 