不自量力 (Bù zì liàng lì) – Lit. to not properly gauge one’s own strength
In the Spring and Autumn Period, there were two vassal states in what is now Henan Province: one was the State of Zheng (鄭國), one [the other] was the State of Xi (息國). In 712 B.C., the State of Xi launched a war against the State of Zheng.
However, both of these vassal states were very small, although the State of Xi’s manpower and material resources were much less than those of the State of Zheng, [and] its military power was also weaker [than Zheng’s]. The war naturally ended in the defeat of the State of Xi.
Afterwards, some insightful men analyzed [and predicted] that the State of Xi was about to perish. The basis of their analysis was that Xi, firstly, did not consider their own virtues; secondly, did not assess if their own strength was sufficient to win [the war]; thirdly, did not get on good terms with neighboring states; fourthly, did not clearly explain their rationale for attacking Zheng; fifthly, did not recognize [identify] who was responsible for the defeat. Even after committing these five mistakes, they still sent troops out on an expedition against other states. Isn’t it natural then that they were going to end up in failures?
Sure enough, the State of Xi was soon conquered by the State of Chu.
—– VOCABULARY —–
度 dù – to pass; to spend (time); measure; limit; extent; degree of intensity; degree (angles, temperature etc); kilowatt-hour; classifier for events and occurrences [[độ: các dụng cụ dùng để đo dài ngắn, như trượng, thước, v.v.; mức, trạng huống đạt tới (của vật thể); phép tắc, quy phạm; tiêu chuẩn; khí lượng (của người); dáng dấp, phong cách, nghi thái (hiện ra bên ngoài); qua, trải qua; từ bờ này sang bờ bên kia; đi tới; đo]]
征 zhēng – journey; trip; expedition; to go on long campaign; to attack [[chinh: đi xa; đánh, dẹp; trưng thu, lấy thuế; tranh đoạt; thuế;]]
徵 zhēng – to invite; to recruit; to levy (taxes); to draft (troops); phenomenon; symptom; characteristic sign (used as proof); evidence [[trưng: vời, triệu tập; chứng minh, làm chứng; thành, nên; thu, lấy; hỏi; mong tìm, cầu; điềm, triệu, dấu hiệu]]
匙 chí, shi – spoon [[thi: cái thìa]]
估計 gū jì – to estimate; to reckon; (coll.) to suppose
估 gū – estimate [[cổ: đánh giá, ước tính]]
告終 gào zhōng – to end; to reach an end
快要 kuài yào – almost; nearly; almost all
考慮 kǎo lǜ – to think over; to consider; consideration
考 kǎo – to check; to verify; to test; to examine; to take an exam; to take an entrance exam for; deceased father [[khảo: già, lớn tuổi; cha đã chết rồi gọi là “khảo”; dấu vết; xem xét, kiểm tra; thí, xem xét khả năng; nghiên cứu, tham cứu; xong, hoàn thành; đánh để tra hỏi; đánh, khua; hết, trọn]]
慮 lǜ – to think over; to consider; anxiety [[lự: nỗi lo, mối ưu tư; tâm tư, ý niệm; nghĩ toan, mưu toan; lo lắng, ưu sầu; thẩm sát, xem xét]]
德行 dé xíng – morality and conduct
取 qǔ – to take; to get; to choose; to fetch [[thủ: lấy, cầm; chọn lấy; chuốc lấy, tìm lấy; dùng; lấy vợ; làm]]
籠絡 lóng luò – to coax; to beguile; to win over [[ràng buộc]]
籠 lóng – basket; cage; flat bamboo basket used to serve dimsum; to cover; to cage; to embrace; to manipulate through trickery [[lung: lồng đan bằng tre để đựng hay đậy đồ vật; bu, cũi, lồng (để nhốt chim, thú hay người); bao chứa, bao gồm; bao trùm, bao phủ; quấn, bó, ràng rịt, mang theo; dẫn, dắt; nắm giữ, ngự trị, khống chế (bằng quyền hành, thủ đoạn); đốt cháy]]
絡 luò – net-like object; to hold sth in place with a net; to wind; to twist [[lạc: lưới, mạng; dây thừng; sợi bông còn thô; dàm ngựa; xo, thớ (rau, quả); hệ thống thần kinh và mạch máu trong thân thể (đông y); quấn quanh, chằng chịt, triền nhiễu; bao trùm, bao la; liên hệ, lôi kéo]]
辨 biàn – to distinguish; to recognize [[biện: phân tích, phân biệt, nhận rõ; tranh luận, biện bác]]
罪過 zuì guo – sin; offense
錯誤 cuò wù – error; mistake; mistaken; false; wrong
誤 wù – mistake; error; to miss; to harm; to delay; to neglect; mistakenly [[ngộ: sự sai lầm; lầm lẫn; lỡ, bỏ lỡ; mê hoặc; làm hại, làm lụy]]