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!…
Ān bù dàng chē (安步當車 – 安步当车)
安步當車 (ān bù dàng chē) Literally: to go on foot is just as good as riding in a chariot/cart Figuratively: to do things at a leisurely pace Originated from 《戰國策·齊策四》(ZhanGuo Ce – Qi Ce Si: Annals of the Warring States – 4th Book of Qi State) (Note: nếu đọc được tiếng Việt, xin tham khảo…
074. The Lost Son
074. The Lost Son (El Hijo Perdido) Sometime ago, the wife of an old gnome was searching for strawberries in a forest. She was carrying her son on her back, with him fastened securely in a knapsack. She was putting the strawberries in a basket when she saw a farmer coming toward her on horseback,…
Ài wū jí wū (愛屋及烏 – 爱屋及乌)
愛屋及烏 (ài wū jí wū) Literally: love the house and its crow Figuratively: involvement with somebody and everyone connected to that person Explanation: When you love someone and, by extension, have great care for everything connected to him/her (people or things). It is said that in the Yin period at the end of the Shang…