暗箭傷人 (Àn jiàn shāng rén) Literally: Injuring others with an arrow in the back [hidden/secret/sniping arrow] Explanation:It is a metaphor for secretly conducting a nefarious act or plot to injure others In the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Zhuang of Zheng obtained backing from the states of Lu and Qi for its plan to conquer…
Author: nlt
079. The Young Pilgrim
079. The Young Pilgrim (La Peregrinita) Once there was a cursed prince [who lived] in a beautiful palace. While being cursed, the prince was not able to leave the palace; however, he was able to walk around in all of his gardens or to go on hunts even, as long as he never crossed the…
Àn dù Chéncāng (暗渡陳倉 – 暗渡陈仓)
暗渡陳倉 (Àn dù chén cāng) (1) lit. secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河[Wei4 He2] at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiang4 Yu3] of Chu)(2) fig. to feign one thing while doing another(3) to cheat under cover of a diversion Explanation: This is…
078. Metamorphosis
078. Metamorphosis, e.g. Transformation (Metamorfosis) [Note: I still don’t fully understand a key description of this tale, which you can see below. Please note this deficiency in the translation before you decide to read on.] There was a girl, of plebeian class and from a poor family, who had an idea planted in her head…
077. The Little House of Sugar
077. The Little House [made] of Sugar (La Casita de Azúcar) There were two very very poor siblings, a boy and a girl, who had nothing to eat other than the leftovers sometimes handed to them by others. Because of this, they decided one day to travel the world to see if they can find…
Ān rú Tài Shān (安如泰山 – 安如泰山)
安如泰山 (Ān rú TàiShān) (1) as secure as Mount Tai(2) as solid as a rock Note: for a background of this idiom, in particular the Rebellion of the Seven States, please see this Wikipedia article. Explanation:To be as steady [secure] as Mount Tai. This phrase describes full steadiness, without any slight chance of wavering. Mei…
076. The Golden Cloak
076. The Golden Cloak (El Manto de Oro) Around here was a man who had a red-colored, eye-catching bird; and when it sang, it was a delight to listen to. The man had put this bird in a cage, and the cage was hung in a room whose door was always closed under seven bolts,…
Ān rán wú yàng (安然無恙 – 安然无恙)
安然無恙 (ān rán wú yàng) (1) safe and sound (idiom) (2) to come out unscathed (e.g. from an accident or illness) Explanation: To be safe and sound, without encountering disasters or unwanted accidents. 恙 (yàng – literally means ‘sickness’) metaphorically refers to disasters. In the year 266 B.C., King Huiwen of Zhao passed away. His…
Ān jū lè yè (安居樂業 – 安居乐业)
安居樂業 (Ān jū lè yè) Originates from 《老子》(LaoZi) “Sweet delicacies, beautiful clothes, to reside in peace, a happy life.” Explanation: To indicate a blissful, calm and orderly life. In the Spring and Autumn period, there was a well-known philosopher and thinker whose last name was Li (李 – plum), first name was Er (耳 –…
075. The Enchanted Forest
075. The Enchanted Forest (La Selva Encantada) There was once a very happy and well-matched couple; moreover, they had honor, health, and wealth; and as if this was not enough, they also had a daughter so beautiful that all were mesmerized upon seeing her, and would say: – Oh my God, such a beautiful girl!…