Meaning of the Idiom

chun wang chi han（If the lips are lost, the teeth will be cold.）

During the Spring and Autumn Period (707 – 476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Wanted to expand his position of strength and sphere of influence. Therefore he would like to send his troops to destroy the State of Guo on the pretest that the State of Guo often encroached on the borders of the State of Jin. But there was a third state, the State of Yu, between the State of Jin and the State of Guo, and the Jin army had to cross the State of Yu before it could reach the State of Guo .

“How can my army cross the State of Yu without a hitch?” Duke Xian of the State of Jin asked his ministers. Xun Xi , one of the ministers, said, “The monarch of the State of Yu is short – sighted and covets small advantages. If we give him priceless precious stones and fine horses, it is not unlikely that he will allow our army to pass through his country. ” Seeing that Duke Xian of the State of Jin was a little bit grudging, Xun Xi continued to say, “The State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor stated as closely related as lips and teeth. The State of Yu cannot exist independently if the state of Guo is destroyed. Your precious stones and fine horses are just left in the care of the monarch of the State of Yu.” So Duke Xian of the State of Jin accepted Xun Xi’s plan.

When the monarch of Yu saw the precious gifts, he was wild with joy, and readily promised to let the Jin army pass through his state. Hearing the news, Gong Zhiqi, one of the ministers as the State of Yu, hastened to admonish the monarch, saying,” That won’t do. For the State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor states as closely related as lips and teeth. Our two small states are interdependent, and can help catch other when problems crop up .If the State of Guo were destroyed, it would be difficult for our State of Yu to continue to exist.

As the common saying goes, if the lips are gone ,the teeth will be cold, The teeth can hardly be kept if the lips are gone.

唇亡齿寒

[chún wáng chǐ hán]，该成语的意思是指嘴唇没有了，牙齿就会感到寒冷，比喻利害密切相关。

出自《左传·僖公五年》。

例句

我们两家公司关系密切，唇亡齿寒，因此一定要帮你们渡过难关！

依战略形势来看，这两国有唇亡齿寒的利害关系。

这两大家族关系盘根错节、利益交织，如果这次案件涉及到其中之一，另一家唇亡齿寒，必定会用尽各种办法来施加影响，情况也会更加复杂。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
山水相连	意思指边界连接在一起。 例句：我们两个国家是山水相连的邻邦。	be linked by rivers and mountains
和睦相处	意思指彼此融洽地相处。 例句：邻里之间应当团结友爱，和睦相处。	get along with
狂妄自大	意思是指极其放肆，自高自大，目中无人。 例句：世界上怎会有如此狂妄自大之人。	hubris
袭扰	意思为袭击侵扰。 例句：疲劳和困倦开始袭扰着逃难的人，行进速度慢下来了。	harassing attack
心腹之患	意思是比喻隐藏在内部的严重祸害；也泛指最大的隐患。 例句：有时候处于明处的敌人不需要担心，隐于暗处的敌人才是心腹之患。	serious trouble or danger
花天酒地	形容沉湎在酒色之中。 例句：那个浪荡公子过着花天酒地的生活。	indulge in dissipation
献计	意思是进献计策。 例句：我们的老校长虽然已经退休，但他仍积极地为教育改革献计献策。	make suggestions
目光短浅	意思是缺乏远见卓识的、只顾眼前利益的性质或状态。 例句：他是一个目光短浅的人。	short-sighted
价值连城	原意是物品价值抵得上连在一起的许多城池，形容物品十分贵重。 例句：故宫博物院所藏的古物，无一不是价值连城的宝贝。	be priced at fifteen cities — very valuable
猜疑	指起疑心；对人对事不放心。 例句：这件事水落石出之前，你不要乱作猜疑。	feel jealous
兴师问罪	意思是发动军队声讨对方罪过，也指大闹意见，集合一伙人去上门责问。 例句：这些人哪里是来拜望我的，他们是来兴师问罪的。	make a punitive expedition against
眉开眼笑	意思是眉头舒展，眼含笑意。形容高兴愉快的样子。 例句：一听到这个好消息，他高兴得眉开眼笑。	look cheerful
仰慕	意思是指敬仰思慕，就是崇拜一个人 。 例句：他终于见到了仰慕已久的诺贝尔奖获得者。	admire
结交	意思是与人交往，建立情谊。 例句：我在旅途中结交了一位加拿大朋友。	make friends with
饶幸	意思是偶然的幸运。 例句：你这次饶幸逃脱，下次就没有这么好运了。	lucky
缴获	意思是指从战败的敌人或罪犯等那里取得武器，凶器等。 例句：这场战斗后，他们缴获了很多敌军的物资。	capture
如梦初醒	比喻过去一直糊涂，在别人或事实的启发下，刚刚明白过来。 例句：他的一席话，终于让我如梦初醒，明白了事情的原委。	awakened

Meaning of the Idiom

bei dao er chi（run in opposite directions）

Once a man wanted to go to the south, but his carriage was heading north.

A pedestrian asked him:” If you are going to south, why is your chariot heading north?” The man answered:” My horse is good at running, my driver is highly skilled at driving a carriage, and I have enough money.” The man didn’t consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions were, the farther away he is from his destination.

The idiom derived from this story indicates that one’s action was the opposite effect to one’s intention.

背道而驰

[bèi dào ér chí]，指向着相反的方向奔驰；形容背离正确目标，朝反方向走。

出自唐·柳宗元《〈杨评事文集〉后序》。

例句

我和哥哥的想法总是背道而驰。

开创流派的艺术家，大多与潮流背道而驰，自创一格。

这次学校举行机器人比赛，本来是要求设计一个可以进行投篮的机器人，而小组长却背道而驰，带领我们设计了一个踢足球的机器人，结果我们当然没有拿到好成绩。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
奉命	意思是接受使命。 例句：又过了十多分钟，几个警察奉命疏散人群。	receive orders
折返	指立刻返回。 例句：一听到这个消息，他立刻折返回家。	retrace
名驹	意思是名贵的马匹。 例句：这次参加比赛的都是各地的名驹。	Famous horse
脚程	指路程，或牲畜的腿劲。 例句：听说你新买一个骡子，脚程还挺快。	walking distance
免冠顿首	指脱下帽子磕头，古代的大礼。 例句：获罪的大臣立刻跪倒在地上，免冠顿首，不停的请罪。	Bareheaded and make a ceremonious nod
自诩	意思是自夸。 例句：他自诩为全班最聪明的人，高傲的神态，实在令人讨厌。	praise oneself
倚仗	意思是依赖；依靠。 例句：他不过是倚仗着父亲是警察局长，就在小镇上为非作歹。	rely on
愚见	指的是谦称自己的意见。 例句：依照我的愚见，这次的谈判应该取消。	in my humble opinion
恍然大悟	意思是对某一事物突然明白、突然醒悟。 例句：听了老师讲解，小明这才恍然大悟。	suddenly be enlightened

Meaning of the Idiom

an ran wu yang（be safe and sound）

During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), the king of Qi once sent an messenger to greet the mother of king of Zhao. The Queen of Zhao asked the messenger, “Is your harvest good this year? Are the people safe? Is the king safe and sound?”

Hearing this, the messenger was displeased and said, “You did not inquire about the king of Qi first, but about the harvest and the people. Shall we put the lowly first and the noble behind?”

The Queen of Zhao smiled and said, “No. If there is no harvest, how can there be people? If there are no people, how can there be a king? Is it possible to give up the basics and ask only trifles?”

The messenger of the state of Qi was speechless for a moment.

安然无恙

[ān rán wú yàng]，原指人平安没有疾病；在现代汉语中泛指事物平安未遭损害。

出自西汉·刘向《战国策·齐策四》。

例句

虽然经历了一番惊吓，但我们总算安然无恙地被放在了一个小河边。

由于运输部门的大力支持，全部器材都安然无恙地到达目的地。

得知他安然无恙的消息，我一颗紧提的心终于放了下来。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
贤明	指有才德有见识。 例句：任何贤明的政治家都应该保持客观公正。	sapience
见识	指见解和知识。 例句：这次到农村参观，我长了许多见识。	experience; knowledge
派遣	差使人到某处做某事。 例句：我们准备派遣代表团去各友好城市访问。	send
舍弃	指选择性的放弃。 例句：他绝不可能舍弃自己的孩子。	give up
局限	限制在一定范围内。 例句：为了防止疫病的扩散，所有人的活动都被局限在一个特别的区域里。	limit

Meaning of the Idiom

bai zhe bu nao（be undaunted by repeated setbacks）

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was an official named Qiao Xuan who was honest and upright. He repeatedly reported the crimes of some officials.

Once, in order to catch robbers, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his son.

Later, he was forced to resign when he impeached minister Gai Seng. Because of Qiao Xuan’s integrity, Cao Cao, the ruler at that time, appreciated him very much, saying that he “has 100 folds and does not flinch, facing the festival and not strange wind.”

百折不挠

[bǎi zhé bù náo]，指虽然受到很多挫折，但仍不动摇、退缩或屈服。形容意志坚强。

出自汉·蔡邕《太尉乔玄碑》。

例句

不管在生活中遇到什么困难，我们要有坚忍不拔、百折不挠的精神。

伟大的成就并非来源于力量，而是来源于百折不挠。

科学家在实验中虽屡遭失败，但仍旧百折不挠，终于获得成功。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
刚直	指刚强正直。 例句：他是个刚直的人，不可能接受这种阴谋诡计。	be upright and outspoken
嫉恶如仇	指对坏人坏事如同对仇敌一样憎恨。 例句：他是个至情至性之人，平日嫉恶如仇。	hate evil as one’s enemy
大肆	比喻为毫无顾忌地。 例句：为了给自己的竞选造势，这名议员不惜重金在媒体上大肆宣传。	wantonly
搜刮	意思是动用各种方式进行掠夺。 例句：他一走进大门，口袋里的零钱就被围上来的孩子们搜刮一空了。	plunder
罢免	指免除官职。 例句：这个案件的真相一经公布，有几名官员立刻被罢免。	recall
抄没（mò）	意思是查抄没收。 例句：特斯拉刚一去世，几名联邦探员就到他的住处，将他所有研究资料抄没了。	confiscate
劫持	指要挟，挟持。 例句：他被几个人劫持到一片树林里。	kidnap
勒索	意思是指以威胁强迫手段来索取财物。 例句：骗子们假装成警察要逮捕这几个商人，以便勒索他们。	blackmail
贸然	意思是轻率地；不加考虑地。 例句：知道抢劫犯有武器，警察不敢贸然冲进银行。	rashly; without careful consideration
无法无天	形容违法乱纪，不受管束。 例句：自从父亲过世，这个青年更加无法无天，经常到场惹事生非。	unruled
放纵	指纵容；不加约束。 例句：你太放纵自己了，这样下去会出事的。	indulge
坚毅	意思是坚定刚毅。 例句：他的鼻子挺而直，像刀刻的一般，给人一种坚毅的感觉。	resolute

Meaning of the Idiom

an jian shang ren（injure sb by sordid means）

During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), The king of Zheng had two generals named Gongsun Zidu and Ying Kaoshu. Gongsun Zidu have always been jealous of Ying Kaoshu.

Once, when they attacked another country together, Ying Kaoshu climbed to the wall and commanded his soldiers follow to him, just as they were about to break through the gates. Gongsun Zidu saw Ying Kaoshu will get a great success, he is very jealous. He pulled out an arrow and shot Ying Kaoshu in the back.

Ying Kaoshu didn’t guard against the arrows. The old general fell over and breathed his last.

Although the king of Zheng later knew that it was Gongsun Zidu who shot Ying Kaoshu to death, he could not be ruthless enough to punish him severely. He had no choice but to curse the despicable man.

暗箭伤人

[àn jiàn shāng rén]，指暗中射箭杀伤别人，即放冷箭伤害人。比喻暗中进行伤人的行为或诡计。

出自《迩言》。

例句

这样一种恶毒的谎言简直是暗箭伤人。

你可以找他讲理，但千万不能暗箭伤人。

用写匿名信的办法栽赃陷害、暗箭伤人，是要负法律责任的。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
恃（shì）宠	指依仗宠爱。 例句：这个孩子向来恃宠而骄，结果养成了任性胡为的脾气。	be haughty because of one’s master’s love and indulgence
骄横	指傲慢专横。 例句：由于父母的过度疼爱，这个小姑娘养成了骄横的坏毛病。	arrogant and imperious
目中无人	比喻自高自大，瞧不起他人。 例句：你不要目中无人，就把长辈都不放在眼睛里。	care for nobody
怀恨在心	意思是把怨恨藏在心里。形容对人记下仇恨，以伺机报复。 例句：这些孩子们显然是因为遭到了老师的处罚而怀恨在心。	Hold a grudge
奋勇当先	意思是鼓起勇气，赶在最前面。 例句：为了及时救助火灾中的民众，消防员们个个奋勇当先。	muster one’s courage and fight in the vanguard
卑鄙	指人格低下，举止不端，品性恶劣的行为。 例句：他用卑鄙的手段谋得了那个职务。	mean

Meaning of the Idiom

ru yu de shui（take to something like a duck to water）

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the country was in confusion.

In order to reunite the country, Liu Bei paid a visit to Zhu Geliang who had hidden himself in the countryside.

He went there twice but didn’t see Zhu Geliang. Then the third time he finally met him.

Liu Bei explained why he came and explained his noble ambition to Zhu Geliang. Zhu Geliang also proposed some very good strategies.

After listening, Liu Bei was so happy, he appointed Zhu Geliang as his military advisor. He said: “Zhu Geliang to me is as water is to fish.”

With the assistance of Zhu Geliang, Liu Bei’s power expanded rapidly, and finally he realized his goal.

Nowadays, this phrase is often used to describe the person who stays in the environment which suits him/her perfectly, or someone who is very adept at using the suitable or right methods.

如鱼得水

[rú yú dé shuǐ]，“如鱼得水”的原义是像鱼得到水一样，比喻得到跟自己最相投合的人或最合适的环境；也比喻有所依靠。

出自秦·李斯《用笔法》。

例句

王老师知识渊博，所以在教学上如鱼得水。

把他安排到研发部门，真是让他如鱼得水，一展长才。

小朋友进入了儿童乐园，一个个如鱼得水，玩得可痛快了。 

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
出路	意思是能够向前发展的途径；也指摆脱逆境的门路，前途。 例句：当他把所有的钱都输掉时，他没有其他的出路，只好去做工。	way out
寄居	指在外地或在别人家居住。 例句：求学期间，他一直寄居在学校附近的亲戚家！	sojourned
志节	意思指志向和节操。 例句：文天祥志节高远，宁死也不负大宋。	insistence
屈尊	指降低身份做某事。 例句：那位贵妇人竟然屈尊来这个仆人的家中做客，真是让人意外。	condescend
拜望	指拜访问候。 例句：小文让我给您捎个信，过些日子想来拜望您。	visit
安抚	指安慰、抚慰发怒或焦虑的人。 例句：母亲离家后，姐姐就一直陪着弟弟，不停得安抚他。	placate
见解	意思是对事理的认识和看法。 例句：他对这个理论有独特的见解，大家可以一起讨论。	opinion
辅佐	意思是协助，多指政治上，如协助君主治理国家。 例句：有了几位能臣的辅佐，维多利亚女王很快就稳定了国家的政权，大英帝国从此走向巅峰。	assist a ruler in governing a country

Meaning of the Idiom

ju yi fan san（to draw inferences about other cases from one instance）

Confucius was a famous educator during the Spring and Autumn Period. He put forward many famous educational theories.

He said, “If you teach a learner an example of an Angle, and he can’t infer from it what the other three angles are, stop teaching him because he doesn’t think.”

This idiom means to to draw inferences about other cases from one instance.

举一反三

[jǔ yī fǎn sān]，比喻从一件事情类推而知道其他许多事情。

出自春秋·孔子《论语·述而》。

例句

教学方法多种多样，选择一种好的教学方法，可以让学生举一反三，取得事半功倍的效果。

经过练习，我掌握了解题方法，并且已经能举一反三了。

我们要学会活学活用，举一反三，这样才能真正的掌握知识。 

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
开创	意思是开辟；开拓，或指创建国家，也泛指创业。 例句：普朗克提出的量子理论，开创了以量子力学为基础的微观物理世界研究。	create
深远	意思是指思虑﹑计谋等深刻而长远。 例句：第二次世界大战对后来的世界政治格局影响是非常深远的！	far-reaching
体会	意思是指体验领会。 例句：他体会到把外语作为一种工具使用的重要性。	understand; realize
冥思苦想	冥：深沉；苦：尽力；绞尽脑汁，深入地思索。 形容动脑筋，反复的思考。 例句：我冥思苦想了一个晚上，但还是想不出来这道题怎么做。	think much and think hard
适时	意思是适合的时间。 例句：这场春雨来的正适时，很大的缓解了旱情。	timely

Meaning of the Idiom

da cao jing she（beat the grass and frighten away the snake）

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Wang Lu, who often accepted bribes when he was an official.

One day, a man accused Wang Lu’s subordinates of breaking the law and accepting bribes. When Wang Lu looked at it, the various crimes written in the report were exactly the same as his own daily illegal acts. Wang Lu looked at it and thought: Isn’t this talking about me?

Wang Lu was very frightened. He wrote on it: “You have beaten the grass and frightened a snake.”

This idiom refers to alerting the target of one’s scheme by being incautious.

打草惊蛇

dǎ cǎo jīng shé，意思是打的是草，却惊动了藏在草丛里的蛇，原指惩罚了别人，也警戒了自己，后比喻做事不密，致使对方有了警觉和防范。

出自北宋·郑文宝《南唐近事》。

例句

你这样轻举妄动只会打草惊蛇，给下一步的工作带来困难。

警方为了避免打草惊蛇，所以派出便衣警察埋伏在四周。

这次行动千万要保密，不能打草惊蛇。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
贪得无厌	意思指贪心没有满足的时候；形容人的贪婪。 例句：这个人贪得无厌，你应少与他打交道。	Be greedy of gain.
见钱眼开	意思是看到钱财，眼睛就睁大了；形容人贪财。 例句：他这个人见钱眼开，绝不会放过这个赚钱的机会。	One’s eyes grow round with delight at the sight of money
有利可图	意思是有利益可谋求。 例句：只要政局上起点风潮，股票市场就受影响，很多投机者就有利可图了。	profitable
是非曲直	指正确与错误，有理与无理。 例句：我们再争辩下去也没有意思，是非曲直，自有公论。	the right and wrong (of parties in a quarrel)
颠倒黑白	原义是把黑的说成白的，白的说成黑的；比喻歪曲事实，混淆是非。 例句：编写历史的人却如此颠倒黑白，实在是不应该的。	confuse right and wrong
贪赃枉法	指贪污受贿，违反法纪。 例句：他身为法官，却贪赃枉法，犯下了不可饶恕的罪行。	embezzle public property
上梁不正下梁歪	意思是比喻在上面的人行为不正，下面的人也跟着做坏事。 例句：作为一个父亲，要言传身教，否则上梁不正下梁歪，那么你的孩子也会和你一样。	Fish begins to stink at the head
明目张胆	形容公开放肆地干坏事。 例句：要是纵容他这次的行为，那以后他不就更加明目张胆，无所顾忌了。	in a flagrant way [manner]
敲诈勒索	利用职权或抓住别人的把柄用威胁手段逼取他人财物。 例句：这帮黑社会的团伙，敲诈勒索，无恶不作。	extortion
巧立名目	指变着法地出一些名目来达到某种不正当的目的。 例句：向企业巧立名目收费的做法是不利于企业发展的。	concoct various pretexts
搜刮	指动用各种方式进行掠夺。 例句：他口袋里的零钱被妹妹搜刮一空，拿去买冰淇淋了。	plunder
苦不堪言	意思是指痛苦或困苦到了极点，已经不能用言语来表达。 例句：这些磨难真是令他苦不堪言。	suffer unspeakably
惩治	意思为惩办。 例句：他给我们出了一个惩治坏人的妙计。	punish
纠纷	指争执不下的事情。 例句：这一对夫妇有了两个女儿，生活虽不算宽裕，家庭中却没有纠纷。	dispute
争吵不休	指不停的争论，没有结论。 例句：课堂上遇到难题，同学们常常争论不休。	debated
分辨	意思是区分辨别。 例句：一轮明月升起来，那个人的眉目已经可以清楚地分辨出来。	differentiate; distinguish
公断	指由非当事人居中裁断，判断。 例句：此事法官自有公断，不容他在法庭强词夺理，狡辩耍赖！	arbitrate
霸占	意思是霸道地占有。指仗势占为己有。 例句：这个人霸占了别人的座位，还对周围劝说的人恶言相向。	forcibly occupy
诬告	指无中生有地控告别人有犯罪行为。 例句：他因为被坏人诬告而被学校开除。	falsely accused
明鉴	指能够引以为戒的明显的前例 。 例句：这些证据都放在这里，希望陪审团能明鉴。	bright mirror
眉开眼笑	意思是眉头舒展，眼含笑意。形容高兴愉快的样子。 例句：一听到这个好消息，他高兴得眉开眼笑。	beam with joy; look cheerful
呵斥	指大声或粗暴地责骂。 例句：一个高个子红头发工头总是呵斥工人。	bawl out
敲诈	用暴力、恐吓手段向他人索取不合理或不合法的财物。 例句：歹徒敲诈了她一大笔钱。	extort
批阅	指对文件阅后加的评语或批示。 例句：他正批阅什么文件，看见我，立即迎上来和我握手。	marking
眼帘	指眼皮或眼内。 例句：满架书籍，而突然投入我们眼帘的却是几个中国字。	eye
暗地	指私下；暗中。 例句：小人总爱暗地里算计好人。	secretly
追究	指事后追查推究原因、责任等。 例句：这次的事我们就暂不追究，但下不为例。	find out; investigate
牵扯	意思是发生关联。 例句：这是你自己的事；不要牵扯别人。	involved

Meaning of the Idiom

nan yuan bei zhe（Act in a way that defeats one’s purpose）

Once a man wanted to go to the south, but his carriage was heading north.

A pedestrian asked him: “If you are going to the south, why is your chariot heading north? ” The man answered, “My horse is good at running, my driver is highly skilled at driving a carriage, and I have enough money. ”

The man didn’t consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions were, the further he was away from his destination.

The idiom derived from this story indicates that one’s action was the opposite effect to one’s intention.

南辕北辙

[nán yuán běi zhé]，比喻行动和目的正好相反。

出自西汉·刘向《战国策·魏策四》。

例句

只有目标明确，才不会南辕北辙。

这两个人在创作方法上根本是南辕北辙，完全无法合作下去。

如今我的生活方式和原本的构想，可说是南辕北辙，全不相干。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
劝谏	意思是规劝建议。 例句：虽然很多大臣都苦苦劝谏，但自负的国王还是发动了战争。	advice
急驰	意思是急速的奔跑或行驶。 例句：忽然一辆汽车急驰过来，差点儿撞到了路边的行人！	galloped
攀谈	意思是闲谈，为接近对方而与之交谈。 例句：开学第一天，小明很快跟同桌攀谈起来。	discuss
无可奈何	指事已如此，想挽回已无能为力。 例句：他无可奈何地摇了摇头，说：“哎，这件事情还真不好办！“	resignedly

Meaning of the Idiom

bao xin jiu huo（to add insult to injury/to add fuel to the fire）

In the last years of the Warring States period (475-221BC), the State of Qin attacked the State of Wei on a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areas of land, for the State of Wei was too weak to defend itself.

In 273 BC, the Qin army launched another attack upon the State of Wei with a momentum more vigorous than ever. The king of the State of Wei summoned his officials, and asked with a worried look if anyone could propose a way to defeat the Qin army.

After years of chaos caused by the wars, the officials trembled when fighting was mentioned, and no one dared to speak of “resistance”.

At the critical moment when a large enemy force was approaching the border, most of the officials persuaded the king to sue for peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin the large area of land north of the Huanghe River and south of the Taihang Mountain.

However Su Dai , a counsellor, did not agree. He hurried up to the king and said:” Your Majesty, they don’t think about the interests of the country at all. It is just because they are cowardly and afraid of death that they ask you to sue for peace by betraying the country. Of course you can temporarily satisfy the ambition of the king of the State of Qin is insatiably greedy. It will never stop assaulting us until our land is totally given away.”

Once there was a man whose house was on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but he would not listen. Instead, he carried a faggot to put out the fire, only to make the fire fiercer. That was because he didn’t know that, instead of putting out the fire, faggots could only make it burning more vigorously. Isn’t it equivalent to carrying faggots to put out a fire if you agree to sue for peace at the cost of the land of the State of Wei?”

Though Su Dai’s argument was very convincing, the king accepted the suggestion of those officials and gave away to the State of Qin a large area of the land of the State of Wei.

The State of Wei was finally destroyed by the State of Qin. This story appears in the Historical Records Written by Sima Qian. The set phrase “carrying faggots to put out a fire” is used to mean adopting a wrong method to save a situation and ending up by making it worse.

抱薪救火

[bào xīn jiù huǒ]，指抱着柴火救火，比喻以错误的方法消除灾祸，结果反而使灾祸扩大。

出自西汉·司马迁《史记·魏世家》。

例句

你这种抱薪救火的教育方式，只会让孩子走向歪路。

我们做事要讲究方法，不能抱薪救火。

他们斗得这么激烈，是因为你那次调解不当，有如抱薪救火。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Meaning of Words

 

词语	华文解释	英文解释
空前	意思为前所未有。 例句：二战爆发后，法西斯主义横行，人类遭受着空前的危险。	unprecedented
愁眉苦脸	意思是指皱着眉头，哭丧着脸。形容愁苦的神色。 例句：既然你的经济问题已经得到解决，就没必要每天还愁眉苦脸的吧！	to wear a sad face
大兵压境	意思是大规模的军队临近边境，形容形势紧迫。 例句：眼看敌军大兵压境，很多有钱人都纷纷出逃他国。	The army presses the border.
不以为然	不认为是正确的。表示不同意或否定。 例句：我劝告他不要赌博，可他不以为然，不改恶习。	disapprovingly
卖国求和	指出卖国家的利益来求得和平。 例句：为了维护权贵的利益，这位首相不惜卖国求和，最终获得可耻的下场。	Traitor to peace
头头是道	多形容说话做事很有条理。 例句：看他说的头头是道，不知道做的怎么样。	clear and logical