九牛一毛 (Jiǔ niú yī máo) (1) lit. one hair from nine oxen (idiom) (2) fig. a drop in the ocean When Emperor Wu of Han heard that Li Ling had led his troops deep into the territory of the Xiongnu, he was overjoyed and in good spirit. At that time, many court officials flatteringly congratulated…
Author: nlt
034. The Three Little Golden Apples
034. (Las Tres Manzanitas De Oro) The Three Little Golden Apples A shepherd couple had three sons and they loved all three equally. As time went by, the three children grew older until one day when the two oldest ones said to their parents that they wanted to leave home and go work at a…
Jǐng dǐ zhī wā (井底之蛙 – 井底之蛙)
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…
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]…