Chinese Idioms Learning (15)

Chinese Idioms Learning (15)
Dec 28, 2007 03:40
ZOEY Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: offline	No.1 磨杵成针 (Mo 2 Chu 3 Cheng 2 Zhen 1). It means " To grind an iron rod into a needle---perserance spells success." History: Do you know Li Bai, a great poet in Tang Dynasty? It is said that he did not word hard on his study when he was young. One day, he found an old granny beside a creek grinding an iron rod on a rub stone. Li Bai asked:"What are you doing, granny?" She answered:" I am grinding this iron rod into a needle." Li Bai said:"It must need a long time to grind the iron rod into a needle." The old granny said:" As long as you work hard, you will have ground the iron rod into a needle." Li Bai was inspired by this granny's words and understood that he would be successful as long as he worked hard on his study. Finally, he became a great poet in Tang Dynasty.

Dec 28, 2007 03:40

ZOEY
Points:
Join Date: Nov 29, 2004
Status: offline

No.1 磨杵成针 (Mo 2 Chu 3 Cheng 2 Zhen 1). It means " To grind an iron rod into a needle---perserance spells success."

History: Do you know Li Bai, a great poet in Tang Dynasty? It is said that he did not word hard on his study when he was young. One day, he found an old granny beside a creek grinding an iron rod on a rub stone. Li Bai asked:"What are you doing, granny?" She answered:" I am grinding this iron rod into a needle." Li Bai said:"It must need a long time to grind the iron rod into a needle." The old granny said:" As long as you work hard, you will have ground the iron rod into a needle." Li Bai was inspired by this granny's words and understood that he would be successful as long as he worked hard on his study. Finally, he became a great poet in Tang Dynasty.

Dec 28, 2007 03:46	#1
ZOEY Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: Offline	No.2 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 (Zhi 3 Xu 3 Zhou 1 Guan 1 Fang 4 Huo 3 , Bu 4 Xu 3 Bai 3 Xing 4 Dian 3 Deng 1). It refers to" the magistrates are free to burn down houses, while the common people are forbidden even to light lamps---one may steal a horse while another may not look over the hedge."

Dec 28, 2007 09:43

GRIZ326
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Join Date: Jun 12, 2006
Status: Offline

Zoey, these are always interesting...

The first one about grinding an iron rod into a needle is translated by my Wenlen as "little strokes fell great oaks" ...but in both cases the meaning is the strength of perseverance.

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 sounds like business as usual around here ;-) The expression that grew up during the Nixon presidency was that "officials thought of themselves as 'above the law'" ...which they did but always denied.

Thank you, Zoey...

Dec 28, 2007 19:52	#3
ZOEY Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: Offline	Griz, glad to hear that you say" these are always interesting". Just enjoy your learning and I will show you more Chinese idioms.

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