Chinese Idioms Learning (14)

Chinese Idioms Learning (14)
Dec 27, 2007 01:23
ZOEY Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: offline	No.1 黄梁美梦 (Huang 2 Liang 2 Mei 3 Meng 4). It means "Golden Millet Dream---pipe dream" . History: Long long ago, there was a poor scholar who wanted to take part in imperial examination so that he could be an official and his poor days would be over. On his way to the imperial city, he passed by a village and lived in a guesthouse there. In the guesthouse he met a Taoist priest and they chatted happily with each other. Before going to sleep, the Taoist priest gave a pillow to the poor scholar. With this magic pillow, the poor scholar had a fantastic dream. He dreamt that he became an official and married a very beautiful woman. Later, he had a son and they lived happily. After awaking, he found that it was just a dream and the pot of millet was still cooking on the fire. Later on, people derive an idiom for this story, that is, 黄梁美梦。

Dec 27, 2007 01:23

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No.1 黄梁美梦 (Huang 2 Liang 2 Mei 3 Meng 4). It means "Golden Millet Dream---pipe dream" .

History: Long long ago, there was a poor scholar who wanted to take part in imperial examination so that he could be an official and his poor days would be over. On his way to the imperial city, he passed by a village and lived in a guesthouse there. In the guesthouse he met a Taoist priest and they chatted happily with each other. Before going to sleep, the Taoist priest gave a pillow to the poor scholar. With this magic pillow, the poor scholar had a fantastic dream. He dreamt that he became an official and married a very beautiful woman. Later, he had a son and they lived happily. After awaking, he found that it was just a dream and the pot of millet was still cooking on the fire.

Later on, people derive an idiom for this story, that is, 黄梁美梦。

Dec 27, 2007 01:45

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No.2 一字千金 (Yi 1 Zi 4 Qian 1 Jin 1). It mean "each word worth a thousand pieces of gold--- a highly finished literary product."

History: At the end of the Warring period, there was a famous businessman named Lv Buwei. Afterward, he became the chancellor of Qin. However, other officials in the court felt Lv shouldn't be the chancellor. As a chancellor he should be very knowledgeable so that he could serve the king and the state. But Lv Buwei was just a businessman.

Lv was very annoyed by this. One of his backroom staff said that he should write a book to prove that he was not just a businessman. Lv accepted his suggestion and ordered his people to compile a book. Finally, the book was finished and was called Lvshi-Chunqiu. Lv Buwei ordered to hand a copy of Lvshi-Chunqiu on the gate of Xianyang City. Meanwhile, he made a notice that those who could increase, decrease or correct a word would be awarded a thousand pieces of gold. However, no one dare to do so because they were afraid of Lv Buwei.

From this story, people derive 一字千金。

Dec 27, 2007 11:36	#2
GRIZ326 Points: Join Date: Jun 12, 2006 Status: Offline	My literal translation of 黄梁美梦 is: yellow bridge fond dream. Millet is yellow bridge? I always thought that a pipe dream had to do with an opium smoker's pipe. ??? Thank you for posting these.

Dec 28, 2007 01:34	#3
ZOEY Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: Offline	Griz, you are so funny. Now you must understand 黄梁美梦 deeply. It has nothing to do with a 'yellow bridge'.

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