Meaning of the Idiom
dai ruo mu ji（Dumb as a wooden chicken）
During the Warring States Period (475-221BC), cockfighting was an activity for aristocrats to enjoy themselves. The King of Qi was a fan of cockfighting. In order to win the cockfighting field, the king of Qi asked an expert, Ji Shengzi, to train his chickens for him.
The king of Qi was eager to win the battle. A few days later, he sent someone to ask ji Shengzi, “The chicken is not well trained. When it sees its opponent, it is eager to try and will not be calm.”
A few days later, the King of Qi sent someone to ask Ji Shengzi again. Ji said, “It is not ready yet. It looks like the chicken is still, but it is not composed enough.”
After several more days, Ji Shengzi finally said to the man, “Please tell the King of Qi that I have worked hard to train the chickens well.” When it came to the cock fighting, his opponent’s chicken screamed and jumped, but Ji Shengzi’s trained chicken looked like a wooden chicken. There was no reaction at all. The other chickens were scared away when they saw his dumb look. Therefore, the king of Qi used the chicken to fight others, and naturally won. Forget his happy look.
Later, people extended this idiom to mean very stupid, but also to mean looking dazed with fear or surprise.
呆若木鸡
[dāi ruò mù jī]，原意指呆得像木头雕成的鸡一样，形容一个人有些痴傻发愣的样子，或因恐惧或惊异而发愣的样子。
出自《庄子·达生》。
例句
人们第一眼看见将军的时候，都吃惊得呆若木鸡。
听到了这个消息，他一下子变得呆若木鸡。
这个出乎意料的结局令他呆若木鸡，不知道该怎么办才好。
Reading The Paragraphs!
Meaning of Words
| 词语 | 华文解释 | 英文解释 |
|---|---|---|
| 好（hào）大喜功 | 比喻一切脱离实际，一心只想做大事、贪大求功的浮夸作风。 例句：订计划要实事求是，不要好大喜功，脱离实际。 | crave for greatness and success |
| 劝谏 | 意思是规劝建议。 例句：他不顾大臣们的劝谏，执意要发起战争。 | remonstrate |
| 矫健 | 是指强壮健力，英勇威武，身手敏捷。 例句：他的身手真是矫健啊！ | strong and vigorous |
| 常胜不败 | 比喻一直保持胜利，没有败绩。 例句：棋艺再精的人也总会棋逢对手，不会总是常胜不败。 | undefeated |
| 性急 | 意思是性情急躁。 例句：他一时性急，撞到了门口的花瓶。 | impatient |
| 恃气 | 意思是凭意气。 例句：被父亲训斥了一顿，他就恃气出走。 | With passion |
| 盛气 | 意志旺盛、蓄怒欲发的神态。 例句：同学们都讨厌小王盛气凌人的样子。 | be grand and heroic |
| 疑惑不解 | 意思是因为有疑问而困惑不能理解。 例句：他最近的行为使我疑惑不解。 | Be very much puzzled by |
| 勇猛善斗 | 形容勇敢凶猛，善于战斗。 例句：他个性勇猛善斗，经常惹祸。 | Fierce competitive |
| 凝寂 | 意思是寂静，端庄镇定。 例句：凝寂的山麓之上几个身影在飞快的晃动着。 | silent |
| 交锋 | 指锋刃相交，就是交战，双方正面冲突。也泛指互相争论。 例句：今天的辩论赛是正反双方的初次交锋。 | cross swords |
| 迟钝 | 指反应迟缓；脑子不灵敏。 例句：就是神经迟钝的人也嗅得出到处都是紧张的空气。 | obtuse |
| 沉着 | 形容人从容镇定，不慌不忙。 例句：他冷静沉着，聚精会神地判断如何打败对手。 | composure |
Daily Language 