Meaning of the Idiom

zi xiang mao dun(Self-Contradictory)

In ancient times, there was a man who sold spears as well as shields.

One day, he hawked his wares at the market and was very pleased with himself. He held up a shield and said: “My shield is very strong. No matter how sharp a spear is, it cannot pierce my shield.”

After that, he held up his spear and bragged: “My spear is very sharp. No matter how strong a shield is, my spear can pierce it.

When the people standing by heard this, they laughed up their sleeves. One of them asked him:

“According to what you said, your spear is the sharpest. No matter how strong a shield is, your spear can pierce it. Your shield is also the strongest. No matter how sharp a spear is, it cannot pierce your shield. Now, if I poke your shield with your spear, what will be the result?”

The man was so embarrassed that he could not utter a single word.

自相矛盾

zì xiāng máo dùn，比喻别人或自己说话做事前后抵触。

出自《韩非子·难一》。

例句

他刚才说的话前后自相矛盾，肯定是在说谎。

你刚才的发言有些部分自相矛盾，别人不知道该怎么理解。

这篇文章逻辑混乱，自相矛盾，需要进一步的修饰。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
夸口	指说大话；自夸。 例句：他这个人总是夸口自己跟明星很熟，其实只不过是给人家打杂而已。	boast
大言不惭	指说大话而不觉得难为情。 例句：他大言不惭地说自己什么都行。	audacity
吆喝	指大声喊叫。 例句：沿街设摊的商贩个个高声吆喝，露着笑脸，向顾客殷勤地兜揽生意。	yell
哄堂大笑	形容全屋子的人同时大笑。 例句：老师讲的故事生动、幽默，逗得大家哄堂大笑。	laugh
牢不可破	意思是坚固、紧密，不能摧毁或拆开。 例句：两国人民的友谊牢不可破。	unbreakable
无坚不摧	形容力量非常强大，什么坚固的东西都能摧毁。 例句：这支军队纪律严明、无坚不摧。	invincible
片面	指不全面的，偏向某一局部的。 例句：事物都有对立的两方面，我们决不能片面看问题。	one-sided
自圆其说	意思是指使自己的说法前后一致，没有自相矛盾的地方。 例句：你的话都不能自圆其说，漏洞百出，让我怎能相信。	justify
三思而后行	多次思考再行动，形容做事谨慎，小心稳妥。 例句：他非常细心，办事总是三思而后行。	second thoughts are best.

Meaning of the Idiom

jing di zhi wa(The Frog in the Shallow Well)

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.

井底之蛙

jǐng dǐ zhī wā，指井底的青蛙认为天只有井口那么大。比喻那些见识短浅的人。

出自《庄子·秋水》：“井蛙不可以语于海者，拘于虚也。”

例句

我们应该用知识来充实自己，否则就会成为井底之蛙。

一个没有经风雨，见世面的人，就似井底之蛙一样。

这个人见识短浅，只不过是个井底之蛙罢了。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
兴致勃勃	形容兴趣浓厚、情绪高涨的样子。 例句：上学的路上，同学们兴致勃勃地谈论昨晚那场足球赛。	in spirits
千里之遥	指如同几千里之外那么遥远，比喻非常远。 例句：一听说祖母生病，她不顾千里之遥，专程前往探望。	A thousand miles away
千仞（rèn）之高	古以八尺为仞，千仞之高，意思是形容极高或极深。 例句：这座山峰奇险陡峭，有千仞之高，想要攀登非常困难。	A thousand highs
目瞪口呆	形容因吃惊或害怕而发愣、发傻的样子。 例句：他惊得目瞪口呆，嘴巴大张，简直可以丢个汤团进去。	slack-jawed
茫然若失	形容心中茫茫然然，像失去了什么。 例句：瞧他茫然若失的样子，不知发生了什么事。	vacuity
微不足道	意思是指意义、价值等小得不值得一提。 例句：在广阔无垠（yín）的已知宇宙中，地球这颗行星是微不足道的。	insignificant

Meaning of the Idiom

han dan xue bu

During the Warring States Period (475 – 221 BC), a young man from the State of Yan heard that in Handan, the capital of the State of Zhao, people’s walking posture was graceful and elegant.

The young man wanted to make his walking posture look better, so he decided to learn from the Handanners without telling his family. Then, he traveled a long way to Handan, where first he saw a young man walking towards him. After allowing him pass, the young man from Yan soon followed behind him, imitating his strides. When the young man of Handan took a step with his left foot, he took a step with his left foot. He then saw a middle-aged man and thought his posture attractive, too, so he followed and imitated him as well. After that, he imitated a woman’s walking style. But however he tried, he just couldn’t walk the way the Handanners did.

After a few months of learning, the young man had spent all the money he had brought. To make things worse, when he decided to give up and went home, he found he had forgotten his own way of walking. In the end, the young man had no choice but to crawl all the way back home.

邯郸学步

hán dān xué bù，比喻一味地模仿别人，不仅没学到本事，反而把原来的本事也丢了。

出自《庄子·秋水》。

例句

不管学什么，都不能邯郸学步，生搬硬套。

晓明写得一手好字，可他总觉得自己还有不足，就邯郸学步，一会儿模仿楷书、一会儿模仿仿宋，一会儿模仿隶书，结果最后写出来的字成了个“四不像”。

练习写作文不能对照范文邯郸学步，要有自己的特色。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
低人一等	意思是比别人低一级，多指社会地位低下。 例句：印度的种姓制度影响深远，低种姓的族裔无论在社会地位、婚配甚至教育等各个方面都低人一等。	inferior
花样翻新	意思是指独出心裁，创造新花样。 例句：他的雕塑作品年年花样翻新，层出不穷。	retrofitted
狗熊掰棒子	源自一个民间谚语，意思是掰一个丢一个，用来比喻我们不要只顾着追求自己没有的东西而丢弃自己手中已有的，最后，得到的只会更少。 例句：如果这个品牌不能通过服务很好地留住客源，那么它不过是“狗熊掰棒子”，无法促成自身的长远发展。	The greedy dog bear is picking up a stick and lost his own stick.
日久天长	意思是时间长，日子久。 例句：学习外语没有什么诀窍，只有靠日久天长地积累。	in (the) course of time
扬长而去	指大模大样地径直离去。 例句：吃完饭他钱也不付就扬长而去了。	to stalk off
眼花缭乱	意思是眼睛看见复杂纷繁的东西而感到迷乱。也比喻事物复杂，无法辨清。 例句：夜晚，马路两旁的霓虹灯闪闪烁烁，令人眼花缭乱。	see things in a blur; be dazzled
生搬硬套	意思是指不顾实际情况，机械地运用别人的经验，照抄别人的办法。 例句：学习不是生搬硬套，生活中的语言也不能原封不动地运用，需要提炼。	apply mechanically

Meaning of the Idiom

yi gu zuo qi

During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC) , the State of Qi launched an attack against the State of Lu.

Qi was much stronger than Lu. The King of Lu led the army by himself. The two parties met at a place named Chang Shao.

When the King of Lu prepared to start the offensive, Cao Gui, his general, stopped him and said: “Wait a moment! The time has not come.” Then they came to a high stage to observe the battle formation of the Qi’s army. At this time, they heard the sounds of drumming and saw the Qi’s army charging head-on. The King of Lu wanted to rebut the charge but Cao Gui stopped him again. After a while, the Qi’s charged for the second time. But the Lu’s took no action. The Qi soldiers’ morale lowered after two vain attempts. After the third vain advance attack, the morale greatly declined. The soldiers were so tired that they sat down to rest. “Now, our chance has come!” said the general. Then the Lu’s army attacked the enemy bravely. The Qi army fled helter-skelter. At last the Lu has won the battle.

Originally, the idiom means “The fighting strength in the first drums is the highest.” Later, it has been used to say “to press on to the finish without letup”.

一鼓作气

yī gǔ zuò qì，比喻趁劲头大的时候鼓起干劲，一口气把工作做完。

出自《左传·庄公十年》。

例句

大家一鼓作气，很快就把剩余的工作全部做完了。

同学们！且让我们一鼓作气攻上山顶。

做这种事就要一鼓作气，拖三阻四，难有成就。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
率兵	指带领、统领士兵。 例句：刘邦听从了萧何的计策，立即率兵从褒斜道进入汉中，并烧了栈道。	lead troops
决一死战	意思是同敌人作一次你死我活的战斗。 例句：十字军和土耳其帝国的战士们都汇聚在耶路撒冷城下，似乎准备为他们的宗教矛盾决一死战。	burn one’s boats
先声夺人	意思是指先张扬自己的声势以压倒对方；也比喻做事抢先一步。 例句：他初次参加今年的拳击比赛就先声夺人，以15场全胜的记录遥遥领先。	to forestall one’s opponent by a show of strength
应战	意思为与前来进犯的敌人作战；或接受对方的挑战条件。 例句：面对敌兵的突然进攻，将军只好仓促应战。	face a challenge face an attack and meet it.
时机	意思是具有时间性的客观条件，即机会。 例句：他敏锐的发现政策开始转向，现在不是资金投入最有利的时机。	opportunity
按兵不动	意思是使军队暂不行动。现也比喻暂不开展工作。 例句：我们所需要做的是按兵不动，看看他们采取什么步骤。	to halt the troops and wait
挑衅（xìn）	指借端生事，企图引起冲突或战争。 例句：对于他的挑衅，我毫不示弱、积极应对。	provoke
当机立断	意思是在紧要时刻立即做出决断。 例句：船长一看漏水无法堵住，当机立断地宣布弃船。	make a prompt decision
摩拳擦掌	意思是形容战斗或劳动之前，人们精神振奋、跃跃欲试的样子。 例句：马上就要上场了，队员们个个摩拳擦掌，准备来一场空前的战斗。	rub one’s fists and wipe one’s palms — to be eager for a fight
奋勇	释义为鼓起勇气。 例句：只有不畏艰险、奋勇攀登的人，才有希望达到光辉的顶点。	courageously
士气大减	士气是维持意志行为的具有积极主动性的动机，外在表现为勇气、耐心等心理状态，士气大减是指士气急剧减少。 例句：这次战役的失利使法军士气大减，拿破仑决定暂缓进攻。	discouraged
猝（cù）不及防	形容事情来得突然，来不及防备。 例句：妻子的意外事故让他猝不及防，全部生活都被打乱。	be taken by surprise
溃不成军	意思是被打得零七八落，不成队伍；形容惨败。 例句：敌人被我们打得溃不成军。	retreat
松懈（xiè）	意思是放松懈怠。 例句：虽然老板没来办公，大家可是也并不敢松懈一点。	loose

Meaning of the Idiom

hua she tian zu（To draw a snake and add feet to it）

A native of Chu after worshiping his ancestors gave his retainers a pot of wine.

One of the retainers said: “It’s insufficient for all of us, but too much for one of us. I suggest, therefore, that we draw snakes on the ground, and the one who first finishes drawing the snake will win the pot of wine.”

When one retainer had completed his drawing, he took the pot to drink. As he held it in his left hand, he continued to draw the snake with his right hand, saying: “I can add feet to it.”

While he was adding feet to his snake, another man who had then drawn his snake snatched the pot from his hand, protesting: “No snake has feet. How can you add feet to it?” Then he drank the wine.

The man who added feet to the snake lost his prize at last.

Meaning is to ruin the effect by adding something superfluous.

画蛇添足

huà shé tiān zú，意思是画蛇时给蛇添上脚，后比喻一个人做了一件事，不但无益，反而不合适，也比喻虚构事实，无中生有，多此一举。

出自《战国策·齐策二》。

例句

他想接上去说，又觉得是画蛇添足，只好惋惜地坐着没动。

这让我明白了一个道理，做事情要适可而止，不能画蛇添足。

这事就说到此为止，你别再画蛇添足了。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
祭祖	指祭祀先祖，是一项隆重的民俗活动。 例句：清明祭祖扫墓，是汉族敦（dūn）亲睦（mù）族、行孝报德的具体表现，清明节因此也成为全球华人的重要节日之一。	ancestor worship
祭祀	是中国的一种信仰活动，一般祭天地或祖先。 例句：他们家非常尊重传统，每年都会举办仪式祭祀祖先。	worship
显而易见	意思是事情或道理很明显，极容易看清。 例句：这个道理显而易见，谁都能弄明白。	easily visible
过瘾	指满足某种特别深的嗜好，泛指满足爱好。 例句：这段京剧唱腔优美，听起来真过瘾。	enjoyable
洋洋得意	形容得意时神气十足的神态。 例句：一个学生应该保持谦虚的心态，不能因为一次考试得到第一就洋洋得意。	triumphantly
自作聪明	意思是自以为聪明而乱作主张。指过高地估计自己、主观地办事。 例句：要不是他自作聪明，怎么会闹出这样的笑话来？	smart
无中生有	意思是把没有的说成有。比喻毫无事实、凭空捏造。 例句：对于这种无中生有的小道消息，小李没有理会，而是全身心的投入到工作中。	fabricated