井底之蛙 (Jǐng dǐ zhī wā) (1) the frog at the bottom of the well (idiom) (2) fig. a person of limited outlook and experience From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=381 Zhuangzi was a philosopher from the Warring States Period; in the era that he lived in, the common people were suffering from the calamities of wars, with their lives…
Month: December 2022
033. The Dwarf And The Giant
033. (El Enano Y El Gigante) The Dwarf And The Giant A dwarf was barely two feet from the ground, but who was as sharp as a needle, went out to search for work because he was in great needs [of spending money]. And he looked here and there yet no one would give him…
Jīngwèi tián hǎi (精衛填海 – 精卫填海)
精衛填海 (Jīng wèi tián hǎi) (1) lit. mythical bird Jingwei tries to fill the ocean with stones (idiom); futile ambition (2) task of Sisyphus (3) determination in the face of impossible odds Prior to the Xia Dynasty when the different states had yet to be established, the emperors of those times were not as prodigal…
032. King Hijón’s Fats
032. King Hijón’s Fats (Las Mantecas del Rey Hijón) There was a count, whom they called count Arnaldo, who fell ill one day and no matter how many doctors and healers were called to come to examine him, no one could find the source of his illness. First the doctors came from the county and…
Jiāng láng cái jìn (江郎才盡 – 江郎才尽)
江郎才盡 (Jiāng láng cái jìn) (1) Jiang Yan has exhausted his talent (idiom) (2) fig. to have used up one’s creative powers (3) to have writer’s block From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=14 The idiom “Young Jiang has exhausted his talent” came from the story of Jiang Yan, a great poet from the Southern Liang dynasty. Although Jiang Yan…
031. Fearless Juan
031. Fearless Juan (Juan Sin Miedo) There was a young man called Juan who did not know what fear was. Everyone in his village knew fear, but he did not; he was not afraid of anything because he did not know what fear was. So that one day he decided to travel the world to…
Jì Chāng xué shè (紀昌學射 – 纪昌学射)
紀昌學射 (Jì Chāng xué shè) Lit. Ji Chang learns archery From https://baike.baidu.hk/item/%E7%B4%80%E6%98%8C%E5%AD%B8%E5%B0%84/1239153 Gan Ying (甘蠅) was a master of archery in ancient times. When he drew the bow, both animals and birds dropped [to the ground]. Gan Ying had a student called Fei Wei (飛衞) who learned archery from Gan Ying, where his archery skills…
030. Perico The Wizard
030. Perico The Wizard (Perico El Mago) In a certain village there was a woman who had a very clever son. In addition to being so, the child [also] loved to study from books, which is why his mother told him one day: Perico, my son, I’d love to have you study a profession [field]…
Jī míng gǒu dào (雞鳴狗盜 – 鸡鸣狗盗)
雞鳴狗盜 (Jī míng gǒu dào) (1) crowing like a cock and stealing like a dog (idiom)(2) bag of tricks(3) useful talents(4) lowly skill set, or person with lowly skill set From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=476 According to the “Records of The Grand Historian – Volume 75 – Biography of Lord Mengchang“, Lord Mengchang was a nobleman with great…
029. The Buried Daughter
029. The Buried Daughter (La Hija Enterrada) A king had only one daughter, whom he pampered and loved above all else [in the world]. The two of them lived in a beautiful palace when one day a gypsy woman who was begging for alms happened to pass by. The king did not want to let…