Meaning of the Idiom

zhi shang tan bing（to win a war with words）

In the Warring States Period, the State of Zhao had a famous general called Zhao She, whose son, Zhao Kuo, was very fond of reading books on military science and discussing strategy.

He could recite military texts by heart, and when discussing warfare he spoke so clearly and logically that it seemed that even his father was not his match.

When the State of Qin attacked the State of Zhao, the ruler of Zhao ordered Zhao Kuo to lead 400,000 men to resist the attack. But since Zhao Kuo had no practical experience of battle, he was defeated and lost his life.

纸上谈兵

zhǐ shàng tán bīng，意思是指在纸面上谈论打仗。比喻空谈理论，不能解决实际问题。也比喻空谈不能成为现实。

出自《史记·廉颇蔺相如列传》。

例句

人们都十分讨厌那些只会纸上谈兵，而不能解决实际问题的人。

纸上谈兵学不到真本事，闭门造车结不出好硕果。

我们应该将行动纳入决策当中，否则就是纸上谈兵。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
头头是道	多形容说话做事很有条理。 例句：他对汽车很在行，各种功能原理讲的头头是道。	(what one says)be clear and logical.
驳（bó）倒	指成功地否定了对方的意见。 例句：诸葛亮回头看了一眼提问的那个谋士，觉得不先驳倒他，就无法服众。	confute
生死攸（yōu）关	攸：所。意思是指生死存亡的关键。 例句：这是千百名战士生死攸关的大事，一定不能含混。	a matter of life and death
纸上谈兵	意思是指在纸面上谈论打仗。比喻空谈理论，不能解决实际问题。也比喻空谈不能成为现实。 例句：有些学者只会纸上谈兵，他们的理论在实际中却毫无价值。	to win a war with words
讨伐	指出兵征伐。  例句：纣王无道，各诸侯国纷纷起兵讨伐。	crusade against
凭险固守	意思是依靠险要地势来把守而不让敌人通过。 例句：这处山隘位置非常重要，只要我们凭险固守，援军一到就可以击退敌兵。	to guard by depending the strategic place
不战自退	意思是还没有正面交战，就自己退走了。 例句：正当大家摩拳擦掌准备决战时，敌军却不战自退了。	retreat without fighting
相峙 [zhì]许久	指双方互相对峙，持续了很长时间。 例句：两名搏击手你来我往、相峙许久，最终不分胜负。	be locked in a stalemate a long time
无计可施	意思是没有办法可用。 例句：如果每家每户都锁好门窗，那闯空门的小偷就无计可施了。	not able to carry out any plan
接济	意思是以财物等资助他人。 例句：我们应该接济贫困的人。	give material assistance to
六神无主	意思是形容惊恐万分而毫无主张。 例句：孩子发烧了，独自照顾他的父亲六神无主，不知所措。	in a state of utter stupefaction
撤换	意思为撤去原有的，换上其他的。 例句：这些广告已经过期，该撤换了。	replace
佯（yáng）装	意思是假装。 例句：妈妈问放在桌上的零钱去哪里了？我和弟弟佯装不知。	pretend

Meaning of the Idiom

bei shui yi zhan（To fight with one’s back to the river）

In 204 B.C., there is a war between the state of Han and Zhao in JingXing.

Han Xin, a general of the Han army, arranged his soldiers to fight with their backs to the river.

The soldiers found no way to escape too fight bravely.

As a result, the Han army won the battle.

背水一战

意思是背后临近河水摆阵；或布下的阵势。后来指处于绝境之中，为求出路而决一死战。

出自《史记·淮阴侯列传》。

例句

为了成功，你必须有“背水一战”的准备。

预选赛出现的全部希望就在这最后一搏，队员们决心背水一战。

虽然局势极为危险，但为了死里求生，只好背水一战了。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
抄小路	意思是选择比较近的小路。 例句：为了追上校车，小明抄小路跑到了车站。	take a shortcut pavement
辎（zī）重	指行军时由运输部队携带的军械、粮草、被服等物资。 例句：载满士兵的汽车一辆辆通过路口，最后过去的是辎重车队。	supplies and gear of an army
后援	援军。亦泛指在后面的支援力量。 例句：父母是我们强有力的后援。	backup
轻骑（jì）	指装备轻便而行动快速的骑兵。 例句：飞将军李广，一次仅带了百名轻骑去迎击匈奴，利用智慧迷惑了敌人，全身而退。	light cavalry
隐蔽	意思是指借助别的东西遮盖掩藏。 例句：狙击手隐蔽在丛林中，准备在危急时刻解救人质。	hide
策略	指可以实现目标的方案集合。 例句：教练制定了以防御为主的策略，应对这次比赛。	strategy

Meaning of the Idiom

bei gong she ying（Mistaking the Reflection of a Bow in the Cup for a Snake）

Yue Guang was very hospitable. One day he invited a friend to have a drink in his hall.

While drinking, his friend thought he caught a glimpse of a small snake swimming around in his cup. Though disgusted, he swallowed the wine down, but the thought of the snake nauseated him. As soon as he got home, he fell ill.

After a few days, Yue Guang heard about his friend’s illness and its cause. He thought that there couldn’t be a snake in the wine cup. So he went to inspect the place where they had the drink and eventually found the cause: on the wall of the hall hung a colourful bow, the shadow of which happened to throw exactly at the place where his friend had put his wine cup.

Yue Guang hurried to his friend’s home and told him about this. As soon as his friend came to understand that it was not a snake but the reflection of a bow in his cup, he got over his illness at once.

杯弓蛇影

bēi gōng shé yǐng ，原义是将映在酒杯里的弓影误认为蛇，后比喻因疑神疑鬼而引起恐惧。

出自《风俗通义·怪神》。

例句

他胆子很小，常常杯弓蛇影，自己吓自己。

大伙儿看了都没事，只有他杯弓蛇影地吓了一身汗。

做了亏心事的人，就会整天杯弓蛇影，心神不宁。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
宴请	意思是设宴招待。 例句：新闻发布会后，大使还宴请了所有出席的嘉宾。	fete; entertain
觥筹（gōng chóu）交错	觥：古代的一种酒器；筹：行酒令的筹码。觥筹交错表示酒杯和酒筹杂乱地放着，形容许多人聚会喝酒时的热闹场景。 例句：婚礼后的酒会上，宾客们觥筹交错，并纷纷祝贺新人。	toast each other
猜拳行令	意思是划拳行酒令。形容宴饮欢畅。 例句：宴会刚开始，这一桌的客人就开始猜拳行令、大声喧哗，让周围的宾客不胜其扰。	play drinker’s wager game
瞥见	意思是很快地看了一下，也指无意中看到某事。 例句：小明路过邻居家，无意中瞥见有个陌生人在院子里鬼鬼祟祟。	to glimpse at
碍于	指被某种原因阻挡而不能做某事。 例句：虽然小明知道小文也喜欢自己，但碍于周围都是同学，他不敢向小文表白。	for fear of hurting somebody’s feelings
情面	意思是私人间的情分和面子。 例句：他这个人非常有原则，即使批评朋友也毫不留情面。	feeling
硬着头皮	意思是勉强去做难度较大的事情。 例句：爸爸说过，无论什么困难的事，只要硬着头皮去做，就闯过去了。	forced myself to do it
纳闷	意思是因为疑惑而发闷。 例句：小雨不明白师傅的意思，又不敢问，只能在心里纳闷。	puzzled; wonder
支支吾吾	指说话时言语遮遮掩掩，含混躲闪。 例句：在妈妈询问下，小明一直支支吾吾，不敢把学校发生的事说出来。	falter; hesitate in speaking
再三追问	指反复不停、多次的询问。 例句：经过妈妈的再三追问，小明才说出学校里发生的事情。	repeatedly ask
盛情难却	意思指浓厚的情意难以推辞。 例句：朋友们再三要为我饯行，因盛情难却，我只好接受。	be hard to turn down the warm-hearted offer
勉强	意思是能力不够的情况下还尽力做；或做非自愿的事，也有将就或凑合的意思。 例句：虽然最近身体一直不好，但这项工作我勉强还能坚持下来。	reluctantly
一病不起	意思是得病后就再也起不了床；比喻得病后病情一天天恶化，终至死亡。 例句：在创作完成后，画家却终因积劳成疾，一病不起。	to take to one’s bed and never leave it again
目瞪口呆	形容因吃惊或害怕而瞪大眼睛、说不出话的样子。 例句：福尔摩斯刚讲出凶手的名字，所有在场的人全都目瞪口呆，愣在那里。	stunned
恍然大悟	意思是对某一事物突然明白、突然醒悟。 例句：听了小明的解释，爸爸这才恍然大悟。	suddenly be enlightened
疑窦顿开	意思是所有的疑问突然得到了解释和答案。 例句：读完了信，小明疑窦顿开，终于明白了小文的良苦用心。	all the questions were suddenly answered

Meaning of the Idiom

zhi lu wei ma（calling a stag a horse）

In Qin dynasty, there was a powerful and evil counselor named Zhao Gao.

Zhao Gao wanted to rebel, but he didn’t know how many people in the court would stand by his side.

So he worked out a way to test the people.

He presented a deer as a tribute to the emperor in front of the court, and said that it was a swift horse.

The emperor not accepting his statement said, “This is obviously a deer.”

Then, Zhao Gao took this opportunity to ask the court, “Is this a deer or a horse?”

In the court, those who didn’t dare to go against Zhao Gao agreed with him and said that it was a horse, those who dared to go against Zhao Gao said that it was a deer. Later, Zhao Gao remembered the counselors who didn’t agree with him and persecuted them to solidify his power. This story is still popular even today.

People use this idiom to describe someone who calls white black。

指鹿为马

zhǐ lù wéi mǎ，意思是指着鹿，说是马；比喻故意颠倒黑白，混淆是非。

出自《史记·秦始皇本纪》。

例句

在正义与真理面前，指鹿为马、颠倒黑白的人终究是要受到惩罚的。

这件事情的真相，就在有心人指鹿为马地误导下真假莫辨了。

这个嫌疑犯一直指鹿为马，企图掩饰罪证、推卸刑责。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
离谱	意思是形容事物的发展脱离了规律性。比喻一个人在说话、办事等方面不遵循习惯和规则。 例句：他的这个玩笑开的太离谱了，让朋友们都无法理解。	far away from what is normal
不妨	表示可以这样做，没有什么妨碍。 例句：这次演出正在挑选演员，你不妨去试试看。	might as well
阿谀奉承(ē yú fèng chéng)	意为迎合别人，竭力向人讨好。 例句：这几个围着你整天阿谀奉承的人，根本不是真正的朋友。	flattery; greasiness
摸了底	指了解底细、内情。 例句：这次测验让老师对大家的水平摸了底，后面的复习就有方向了。	know the real situation
加官进爵	指官职提升。 例句：新部长一上任，就立刻对自己的部下加官进爵，引起了民众的不满。	be promoted in rank
把持	意思是指拿，握；比喻揽权专断，不让别人参与。 例句：家里的钱都是被儿子把持，根本不给父母用。	hold; control
混淆（xiáo）是非	意思是故意把正确的说成错误的，把错误的说成正确的。 例句：他不仅不承认自己的错误，还试图混淆是非，把过错推给别人。	confuse right and wrong

Meaning of the Idiom

shu neng sheng qiao（Practice makes perfect.）

Chen Yaozi, Duke Kang Su was unsurpassed in archery, and he had a very high opinion of himself.

One day, when he was shooting arrows in his own garden, an old oil peddler happened to pass by. The old man laid down his shoulder pole with its load, stood to one side, watched askance for a long while and didn’t go away.

When the old man saw him hit the target every time, he didn’t cheer, but only nodded slightly. Duke Kang Su asked:

“Do you know archery too? Isn’t my skill excellent?”

The old man said:

“This is nothing, only skillful technique.”

Duke Kang Su was angry and rebuked him loudly:

“How dare you belittle my archery skill?”

The old man replied unhurriedly:

“I know this from pouring oil.”

As he spoke, he put a bottle gourd on the ground, and a copper coin with a hole in its centre on the mouth of the bottle gourd. Then he slowly poured oil into the bottle gourd with a ladle. The oil, like a thin string, went straight into the bottle gourd through the hole in the copper coin without staining the coin at all.

The old man smiled and said:

“This is nothing either, only skillful technique.”

熟能生巧

shú néng shēng qiǎo，意思是熟练了就能产生巧办法、好办法。

出自《镜花缘》。

例句

要想掌握技术，只有勤学苦练，才能熟能生巧。

吹制这个玻璃花瓶需要高超的技巧，这位师傅已经做了十几年。俗话说熟能生巧，只见他一套流畅的动作后，花瓶制成了 。

奶奶说熟能生巧，果不其然，经过一遍遍的尝试，我终于做出了美味佳肴。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
精良	意思是精致优良；十分完善。 例句：这部小说字体清晰，印制精良，可以作为收藏版了。	excellent
举世无双	指世界上再没有第二个这样的人或物，形容极其罕见稀有；无与伦比。 例句：圆明园位于北京西郊，是一座举世无双的大型皇家园林。	have no equal in the world
夸耀	意思是指向人炫耀自己的长处、优势、功劳等，属于贬义词。 例句：她很谦逊，从不夸耀自己。	flaunt
恭维	指出于讨好对方的目的而去称赞、颂扬。 例句：他们当面恭维你，可是转过背去又在说你的坏话呢！	flatter
光说不练	意思是指只会说而不干实事。 例句：他是个光说不练的人。	all talk, no action
窍门	比喻解决问题的好办法。 例句：告诉你一个小窍门，这样会使做这件事方便得多。	key(to a problem); know-how
得心应手	意思是心手相应，运用自如，多形容技艺纯熟。 例句：这把斧子他用了很久，砍起树来得心应手的。	handy with facility / with facility
琢磨	原指琢和打磨玉石。现比喻反复思考；研究。 例句：他话中的意思，我当然可以琢磨出来！	ponder