037. The Golden Slipper (La Zapatilla De Oro) A king went hunting with his guests and, following a [game] kill, he got separated from the group. After a while, it got late in the evening and he [looked back and] saw that no one was following him except for a count in his court. Then…
Kāi chéng bù gōng (開誠布公 – 开诚布公)
開誠布公 (Kāi chéng bù gōng) (1) lit. deal sincerely and fairly (idiom); frank and open-minded (2) plain speaking (3) Let’s talk frankly and openly between ourselves. (4) to put one’s cards on the table From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=233 Zhuge Liang was a statesman and military strategist from the Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period. He lived…
036. The Greedy Pauper
036. (El Pobre Avaricioso) The Greedy Pauper A pauper went through these roads begging from house to house and living poorly on what was given to him. One day, as was his custom, he knocked on [the door of] a house to ask for alms, but the people from the house told him that they,…
Jǔ yī fǎn sān (舉一反三 – 举一反三)
舉一反三 (Jǔ yī fǎn sān) (1) to raise one and infer three (2) to deduce many things from one case (idiom) From https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/bookView.jsp?ID=13 In The Analects – Shu’er (述而) chapter, Kongzi (e.g. Confucius) said that his way of teaching places great emphasis on motivation and inspiration for knowledge. He wanted his students to actively think…
035. Juan The Soldier
035. (Juan Soldado) Juan The Soldier Juan Soldado was a lad who enlisted as a soldier and fought in the wars when one day he was discharged as he had completed his service and decided to return home. He set out on his journey, walking through the lands and sleeping wherever he could find, and…
Jiǔ niú yī máo (九牛一毛 – 九牛一毛)
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…
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…