1、成语典故中英对照惊弓之鸟 Birds Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bowstring 战国时期（公元前 403221 年中国中原地区各诸侯国连年争战的时代）魏国有个名叫更羸的人。一天，他对国王说：“我只要拉开弓，空射一下，就能把天上的鸟射下来。”国王不相信。更羸便对准天上飞来的一只雁射去，果真那只雁听到拉弦的声音就掉了下来。国王感到很奇怪。更羸说，“那是一只受过伤的雁。它一听到我拉开弓弦的声响，就惊慌得支持不住，自然要掉下来了。” In the Warring States Period, there was a man in the State of We
2、i called Geng Lei. One day he said to the king: I can shoot down birds by simply plucking my bowstring. When the king expressed doubt, Geng Lei pointed his bow at a wild goose flying in the sky, twanged the bowstring, and the goose fell to the ground. Geng Lei said, This goose has been hurt in the p
3、ast. Hearing the twang of the bowstring, it assumed that it was doomed. So it simply gave up trying to live. “惊弓之鸟”这个成语比喻受过惊恐之后，有一点动静就特别害怕。 This idiom means that if one has been frightened in the past ones will may become paralysed in a similar situation.毛遂自荐 Mao Sui Recommending Himself 战国时代，秦国军队攻打
4、赵国的都城。赵国的平原君打算亲自到楚国去请救兵，想挑选一个精明能干的人一同前去。有一个名叫毛遂的人，自告奋勇愿意同去。平原君到楚国后，与楚王谈了半天，没有一点结果。毛遂怒气冲冲地拿着宝剑，逼近楚王，终于迫使楚王答应出兵，与赵国联合共同抵抗秦国。 In the Warring States Period, the State of Qin besieged the capital of the State of Zhao. Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Chu personally for assis
5、tance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. A man called Mao Sui volunteered. When the negoti-actions between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitated to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. At that, the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao, agains
6、t Qin. “毛遂自荐”这个成语用来比喻自己推荐自己，不必别人介绍。 This idiom means to recommend oneself.世外桃源 A Haven of Peace and Happiness 东晋的文学家陶渊明写了一片著名的文章叫桃花源记。叙述一个渔人出外捕鱼的时候，偶然来到了桃花源这个地方。从这里通过一个山洞，发现了一个村子，这里的居民是秦朝时避难人的后代。这是一个与世隔绝、没有剥削和压迫、人人安居乐业的美好社会。渔人告别村民回家以后，再也找不到这个地方了。 Tao Yuanming, a famous writer of the Eastern Jin Dyna
7、sty (317-420), wrote the well-known essay Peach-Blossom Spring. In it he tells a story which goes like this: A fisherman happened to come upon a place called Peach-Blossom Spring. Squeezing through a cave, he found a village, the residents of which were descendants of refugees from the Qin Dynasty.
8、It was a paradise isolated from the outside world, without exploitation or oppression, and everybody living and working in peace and contentment. The fisherman left the villagers and went home. But he could never find the place again. 后来，由这个故事产生了“世外桃源”这个成语，用来比喻与世隔绝的、理想的美好世界。 This idiom is derived fr
9、om the above story, and is used to mean an isolated, ideal world.南辕北辙 Going South by Driving the Chariot North 从前有个人要到南方去，他坐的车子却向北方行驶。过路人说：“你去南方，车子怎么向北行驶呢？”他回答说：“我的马很能跑路，我的车夫驾车的技术也很高明，加上我又带了充足的路费。”这个人没有考虑到，方向弄反了，他的条件越好，离他要去的地方就越远。 Once a man wanted to go to the south, but his carriage was heading no
10、rth. A passer-by 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 didnt consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions
11、 were, the further he was away from his destination. 后来人们就把这个故事概括为“南辕北辙”，比喻一个人的行为和他的目的正好相反。 The idiom derived from this story indicates that ones action was the opposite effect to ones intention.画龙点睛 Putting the Finishing Touch to the Picture of a Dragon 南北朝(公元 420-589)时期，有个画家叫张僧繇。有一次，他到一个寺庙去游玩，在墙壁上
12、面画了四条龙，可是都没有画出眼成语典故中英对照睛。看画的人觉得很奇怪，问他为什么不画出眼睛。他说：“眼睛是龙的关键，画上眼睛，龙就会飞走了。”大家不相信他说的话。张僧繇拿起笔来，刚给两条龙点上眼睛，立刻电闪雷鸣，两条龙飞向天空，墙上只剩下两条没有画眼睛的龙。 In the Southern and Northern Dynasties Period (420-589), there was a painter called Zhang Sengyou. Once he visited a temple and painted on the wall four dragons, but gave
13、 none of them eyes. The onlookers felt that this was odd, and asked why he hadnt painted the eyes. He answered, Eyes are crucial for dragons. With the eyes painted on, the dragons would fly away. Nobody believed this, so Zhang Sengyou took up his brush and added eyes to two of the dragons. No sooner
14、 had he finished than the two dragons flew into the sky amid a thunderstorm. The two without eyes stayed painted on the wall. “画龙点睛”这个成语用来比喻讲话或写文章时，在关键地方加一两句重要的话，使内容更加生动有力。 This idiom is used to describe how, when writing or speaking, one or two key sentences will enhance the contents.画蛇添足 Drawing a
15、 snake and Adding Feet 战国时代有个楚国人祭他的祖先。仪式结束后，他拿出一壶酒赏给手下的几个人。大家商量说：“我们都来画蛇，谁先画好谁就喝这壶酒。”其中有一个人先画好了。但他看到同伴还没有画完，就又给蛇添上了脚。这时，另一个人也画好了，夺过酒壶吧酒喝了，并且说：“蛇本来是没有脚的，你怎么能给它添上脚呢？” In the Warring States Period, a man in the State of Chu was offering a sacrifice to his ancestors. After the ceremony, the man gave a b
16、eaker of wine to his servants. The servants thought that there was not enough wine for all them, and decided to each draw a picture of a snake; the one who finished the picture first would get the wine. One of them drew very rapidly. Seeing that the others were still busy drawing, he added feet to t
17、he snake. At this moment another man finished, snatched the beaker and drank the wine, saying, A snake doesnt have feet. How can you add feet to a snake? “画蛇添足”这个成语比喻做了多余而不恰当的事，反而把事情弄糟了。 This idiom refers to ruining a venture by doing unnecessary and surplus things.班门弄斧 Showing Off Ones Proficiency
18、with the Axe Before Lu Ban the Master Carpenter 古代有一个建筑和雕刻技术非常高超的人，名叫鲁班，木匠行里尊称他为祖师。传说他曾用木头制作了一只五彩斑斓的凤凰，能够在空中飞翔三天不掉下来。在鲁班门前摆弄斧子，当然显得有些自不量力了。 Lu Ban was supposed to be a consummate carpenter in ancient times. It is said that he once carved a wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it actually flew in
19、 the sky for three days. Thus it was considered the height of folly to show off ones skill with an axe in front of Lu Ban. “班门弄斧”这个成语，用来比喻在行家面前显示本领。 This idiom excoriates those who show off their slight accomplishments in front of experts.怒发冲冠 So Angry That One s Hair Lifts Up One s Hat 战国时代，赵国的大臣蔺相
20、如出使到秦国。在他向秦王索回玉璧的时候，秦王蛮不讲理，蔺相如气愤得连头发都竖了起来，向上冲着帽子。 In the Warring States Period, Lin Xiangru, chief min-ister of the State of Zhao, was sent as an envoy to the State of Qin to ask the ruler of Qin to return a fine piece of jade to Zhao. But the ruler of Qin was rude and unreasonable. Lin was angry, a
21、nd his hair stood up so stiffly on his head that it lifted up his hat. 后来人们用“怒发冲冠”这个成语形容人愤怒到了极点。 This idiom came to be used to mean being extremely angry.画饼充饥 Allaying Hunger with Pictures of Cakes 三国时代魏国的皇帝曹睿，准备选拔一个有才能的人到朝廷来做官。曹睿对他的大臣说：“选择人才，不能光找有虚名的人。虚名好像是在地上画的一块饼，只能看，不能解决肚子饥饿的问题啊！” In the Three K
22、ingdoms Period (220-280), the king of the Wei, Cao Rui, wanted to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: When choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation. A false reputation is just like a picture of a cake; it can t relieve hunger. 后来人们就用“画
23、饼充饥”这个成语比喻用空想安慰自己，不能解决实际问题。 Later, this idiom came to be used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts, without solving practical problems.成语典故中英对照一鸣惊人 Amazing the World with a Single Feat 战国时代，齐威王即位后做了三年国君，只顾享乐，不理政事。有个善于说笑话的人叫淳于髡，一天对齐威王说：“城里有一只大鸟，三年不飞也不叫，你知道这是什么道理？”齐威王说：“这鸟不飞则罢，一飞就冲天；不鸣
24、则罢，一鸣就惊人。”在淳于髡的激发下，齐威王开始治理国家，取得很大成绩，齐国的声威一直保持了几十年。 In the Warring States Period, Duke Wei of Qi neglected state affairs, for the first three years of his reign, giving himself over to dissipation. One of his ministers, Chun Yukun who had a good sense of humour, said to him: There is a big bird which
25、 has neither taken wing nor sung for three years. The duke answered, Once that bird starts to fly and sing, it will astonish the world. The duke thereupon devoted himself to his duties and built his state up into a powerful one. “一鸣惊人”用来表示平时默默无闻，一旦行动起来，却做出惊人的成绩。 This idiom is used to indicate that a
26、 person may rise from obscurity and achieve greatness.守株待兔 Sitting by a Stump, Waiting for a Careless Hare 春秋时代，宋国有个农夫，一天在耕田的时候，忽然跑来一只兔子，恰巧碰在树桩上，脖子折断死了。农夫把兔子拾回家去，美美地吃了一顿兔肉。晚上他想：“我何必辛辛苦苦地种地呢？每天在树下能捡到一只兔子就够我吃的了。”于是，他从此不再耕作，每天坐在树下等待兔子的到来。 In the Spring and Autumn Period, a farmer in the State of Song w
27、as one day working in the fields when he saw a rabbit bump into a tree stump accidentally and break its neck. The farmer took the rabbit home, and cooked himself a delicious meal. That night he thought, I neednt work so hard. All I have to do is wait for a rabbit each day by the stump. So from then
28、on he gave up farming, and simply sat by the stump waiting for rabbits to come and run into it. “守株待兔”这个成语，讥笑那些不想经过努力，存在侥幸心理，希望得到意外收获的人。 This idiom satirizes those who just wait for a stroke of luck, rather than making efforts to obtain what they need.狐假虎威 Basking in Reflected Glory 老虎在山林里捉到了一只狐狸，要吃
29、掉它。狐狸连忙说：“你不能吃我，我是天帝派来统治百兽的。你要吃了我，就违抗了天帝的命令。你不信，就跟我到山林里去一趟，看百兽见了我是不是都很害怕。”老虎相信了狐狸的话，就跟在狐狸的后面走进山林。百兽见了果然都纷纷逃命。老虎以为百兽真的害怕狐狸而不知道是害怕自己，于是就把狐狸给放了。 A tiger caught a fox in a forest, and was just about to eat it, when the fox said, You mustnt eat me. I was sent by Heaven to rule the animals. By eating me,
30、you will violate the command of Heaven. If you dont believe me, just follow me to see whether the animals are afraid of me. The tiger agreed, and followed the fox as it walked around the forest. The animals all ran away on seeing them. The tiger thought they were afraid of the fox, so he let it go.
31、He didnt realise that it was him that the beasts were really afraid of. “狐假虎威”这个成语用来比喻倚仗别人的势力去欺压人或吓唬人。 This idiom means relying on anothers power to bully or frighten others.破镜重圆 A Broken Mirror Made Whole Agian 南朝陈国(公元 557-589)将要灭亡的时候，驸马徐德言把一面铜镜破开，跟妻子各留下一半。双方约定：如果将来夫妻失散了，就把它当作信物。后来，夫妻二人真的失散了，凭借着各人留
32、下的半面镜子，他们最终又得到团圆。 In the Northern and Southern Dynasties when the State of Chen (A.D. 557-589) was facing its demise, Xu Deyan, husband of the princess, broke a bronze mirror into halves. Each of them kept a half as tokens in case they were separated. Soon afterwards, they did lose touch with each o
33、ther, but the two halves of the mirror enabled them to be reunited. “破镜重圆”这个成语比喻夫妻失散或分离后重新团聚。 This idiom is used to refer to the reunion of a couple after they lose touch or break up.一鼓作气 Rousing the Spirits with the First Drum Roll 成语典故中英对照春秋时代，齐国派兵攻打鲁国。鲁国的国王鲁庄公带着谋士曹刿指挥作战。齐军第一次击鼓以后，鲁军准备发起进攻。曹刿说：“不行
34、。”齐军三次击鼓以后，曹刿才说：“现在可以进攻了。”结果齐军大败。战斗结束后，鲁庄公问曹刿胜利的原因。曹刿说：“打仗要考勇气。第一次击鼓，士气十分旺盛；第二次击鼓，士气有些衰落；第三次击鼓，士气就消耗尽了。敌人士气耗尽，我们发起进攻，所以取得了胜利。” During the Spring and Autumn Period, an army from the State of Qi confronted one from the State of Lu. After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle,
35、 the Lu ruler wanted to attack. But his counsellor Cao Gui said, We should wait until the third drum roll, sire. After the Qi side had beaten the drums three times, the Lu army attacked and defeated the Qi army. After the battle, the king asked Cao Gui the reason for his odd advice. Cao Gui answered
36、, Fighting needs spirit. Their spirit was aroused by the first roll or the drums, but was depleted by the second. And it was completely exhausted by the third. We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted. Thats why we won. 后来，“一鼓作气”形容鼓起劲头，一下子把事情干完。 This idiom later meant to get something do
37、ne with one sustained effort.叶公好龙 Lord Ye Loves Dragons 传说古代有个叶公，非常喜欢龙。他家里的墙上、柱子上、门窗上到处都画满了龙，连日常生活用的东西上也画着龙。天上的真龙知道了。非常感动，就下降到他住的地方，将头伸进窗户，尾巴拖在厅堂。叶公一见真龙。吓得脸都变了颜色，拔腿就跑。 In ancient times there was a man called Ye Gong who was very fond of dragons. In his home everything, including the walls, windows,
38、doors and even articles of daily use, were decorated with dragon designs. A real dragon was quite impressed when it heard about this, so it went to visit Ye Gong. However, when it stuck its head through the window Ye Gong was frightened and ran away. “叶公好龙”这个成语比喻表面上爱好某种事物，但实际上并不真正爱好。或者假装爱好，实际惧怕。 Thi
39、s idiom satirizes those who profess to like or support something, but are averse to it in actual practice.滥竽充数 Passing Oneself Off as a Member of the Orchestra 战国时代，齐宣王非常喜欢听吹竽，而且每次总要三百人同时吹。有一个南郭先生，本来不会吹竽，也混在中间凑数。后来，齐宣王死了，他的儿子齐湣王继位。湣王不喜欢听很多人同时吹竽，而要听一个人一个人地吹。南郭先生知道自己没办法再混下去了，就偷偷地溜走了。 In the Warring St
40、ates Period, King Xuan of the State of Qi loved to listen to the yu - an ancient wind instrument. He would order 300 musicians at a time to play the yu for him. Mr Nan Guo, who couldnt play the instrument, passed himself off as one of the musicians. When King Xuan died, his son King Min succeeded to
41、 the throne. King Min also loved yu, but he preferred solo performances. Mr Nan Guo thereupon slipped away from the orchestra. “滥竽充数”这个成语比喻没有本领而冒充有本领，或者拿次货冒充好货。 This idiom is used to describe those who have no actual skills but pretend to be experts, or the passing off of inferior things as high qua
42、lity ones.草木皆兵 Every Bush and Tree Looks like an Enemy 公元 383 年，前秦国王苻坚带了 80 万大军攻打东晋。在淝水一带，被晋朝大将谢玄的前锋部队打得大败。苻坚登上寿阳城，看见晋军阵容严整，心里害怕起来。再远望八公山上长着许多草和树木，也以为是东晋的士兵，更加惊恐万分。后来苻坚终于全军覆没，带着少数残余的队伍逃了回去。 In AD 383, the king of Former Qin, Fu Jian, led a huge army to attack Eastern Jin. After losing the first roun
43、d of fighting, Fu Jian looked down from a city wall, and was terrified when he saw the formidable battle array of the Eastern Jin army. And then looking at the mountain around, he mistook the grass and trees for enemy soldiers. As a result, when the nervous Fu Jian led his army into battle, it suffe
44、red a crushing defeat. 这个成语用来形容人在极度惊恐时，疑神疑鬼的心理状态。 This idiom describes how one can defeat oneself by imagining difficulties.三顾茅庐 Paying Three Visits to the Cottage 三国时，诸葛亮居住在隆中的茅芦里，刘备听说诸葛亮很有学识，又有才能，就带着礼物去请他出来辅助自己打天下。刘备一共成语典故中英对照去了三次，最后才见到诸葛亮。诸葛亮见刘备十分诚恳，终于答应了他的请求。从此，诸葛亮用全部精力辅助刘备，在军事上和政治上取得了巨大的胜利。 In
45、the Three Kingdoms Period, Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion in a thatched cottage. Liu Bei, hearing that Zhuge Liang was very knowledgeable and capable, went to visit him, taking gifts, hoping that Zhuge Liang would agree to assist him with statecraft. He had to make three visits before Zhuge Liang ag
46、reed to do so, impressed by his sincerity. From then on, Zhuge Liang helped Liu Bei with all his heart, and made great achievements in both the military and political spheres. “三顾茅庐”这个成语用来比喻诚心诚意地一再邀请人家。 This idiom means persisting with sincerity.掩耳盗铃 Plugging Ones Ears While Stealing a Bell 春秋时代，晋国有
47、一个人看中了别人的一口铜钟，想把它偷回自己家里。钟又大又重，抱不动也背不动。他脑子一转，想出了一个办法：把钟砸碎，再一块一块地拿回家。于是他拿起了锤子就砸。刚一砸，钟就发出“当，当，当”的响声。他怕别人听见，急忙把自己的耳朵堵了起来。这个人以为自己听不见别人也就听不见了。 In the Spring and Autumn Period, a man in the State of Jin took a fancy to a bronze bell and wanted to steal it. The bell was too large and heavy to be moved away,
48、 so he decided to smash it to pieces. But when his hammer struck the bell, it gave out a deep booming sound. Fearing that he might be heard, he covered his ears, and carried on with the work. “掩耳盗钟”后来变成“掩耳盗铃”，用来讽刺自作聪明，自己欺骗自己。 This idiom comes from the above story. It is used to satirize those who th
49、ey are smart but only deceive themselves. 卧薪尝胆 Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall 春秋时代，越国被吴国打败了。越王勾践和他的妻子都被带到吴国做苦工。后来勾践被放回越国，他立志要报亡国之仇。从此，他每天夜里睡在柴草上面，不用被褥。在他住的地方，悬挂着一个苦胆，吃饭前，都要尝一尝苦胆的味道，以提醒自己不忘过去的耻辱。经过十年的艰苦奋斗，越国终于战胜了吴国。 In the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Wu defeated the State of Yue, and took the king of Yue, Gou Jian, and his wife prisoner. For several years, Gou Jian laboured as a slave in Wu. When he was released and returned to Yue, Gou Jian was determined to take revenge for losing his state. So that he would never forget
