興高采烈 (Xìng gāo cǎi liè) (1) happy and excited (idiom)(2) in high spirits(3) in great delight From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=388 From Southern Dynasties – Liang – Liu Xie – The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons: 叔夜俊俠，故興高而采烈 (Shuye was handsome and chivalrous, so he [his poetry] is cheerful and full of enthusiasm). Liu Xie (劉勰), courtesy…
Month: March 2024
042. The Chumaco
From Cuentos Populares en Chile (Chilean Folktales) – by Ramón A. LavalPart 2 – Myths, Traditions, Things (Mitos, Tradiciones, Casos) 042. El Chumaco (The Chumaco) (Information provided to me in 1921 by the dental surgeon D. Roberto Sundt, a native of the Coquimbo Region.) A legendary character with whom women were frightened in the fields…
Xiǎo xīn yì yì (小心翼翼 – 小心翼翼)
小心翼翼 (Xiǎo xīn yì yì) (1) cautious and solemn (idiom); very carefully(2) prudent(3) gently and cautiously From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=435 The Classic of Poetry is the earliest extant collection of poems and songs. It was not written by one person at a point in time nor in a single place, but is mainly a collection of folksongs…
041. The Chanchillo
From Cuentos Populares en Chile (Chilean Folktales) – by Ramón A. LavalPart 2 – Myths, Traditions, Things (Mitos, Tradiciones, Casos) 041. The Chanchillo (El Chanchillo) (Told by 17-year old D. H. Iribarren Charlín on July 8th, 1911.) The Chanchillo is a fish from the shores of Coquimbo, of about one and a half meter long…
Xiān shēng duó rén (先聲奪人 – 先声夺人)
先聲奪人 (Xiān shēng duó rén) To gain the upper hand by a show of strengthTo seize at the first sound From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=445 This idiom means to first inflate one’s own influence (prestige) in order to suppress the enemy’s morale. This is a commonly used tactic when two armies are facing one another in battle. It…
040. The Herons And The Toad
From Cuentos Populares en Chile (Chilean Folktales) – by Ramón A. LavalPart 1 – Magnificent Stories, Stories of Animals, Anecdotes (Cuentos maravillosos, Cuentos de animales, Anécdotas) 040. The Herons And The Toad (Los Guairaos Y El Sapo) Two Herons were flying [over a lake] when they saw a Toad lying on his back with his…
Wò xīn cháng dǎn (臥薪嚐膽 – 卧薪尝胆)
臥薪嚐膽 (Wò xīn cháng dǎn) Lit. to lie on firewood and taste gall (idiom);Fig. suffering patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=199 According to the “Records of the Grand Historian – Volume 41 – King Goujian of Yue“, in the ending years of the Spring and Autumn Period, Wu and Yue often fought wars…
039. The Heron And The Little Toad
From Cuentos Populares en Chile (Chilean Folktales) – by Ramón A. LavalPart 1 – Magnificent Stories, Stories of Animals, Anecdotes (Cuentos maravillosos, Cuentos de animales, Anécdotas) 039. The Heron And The Little Toad (El Guairao Y El Sapito) A Heron was flying over an estuary when he saw a Little Toad, so he came down…
Wén jī qǐ wǔ (聞雞起舞 – 闻鸡起舞)
聞雞起舞 (Wén jī qǐ wǔ) (1) to start practicing at the first crow of the cock (idiom)(2) to be diligent in one’s studies From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=367 According to the Book of Jin – Volume 62 – Biography of Zu Ti, Zu Ti from the Jin Dynasty was of bold character and conducted himself chivalrously toward others….