Now you can learn the stories behind the most popular Chinese idioms, such as, "One word worth a thousand pieces of gold," and, "When a Man Attains the Dao, Even His Pets Go To Heaven." Each idiom is presented in Chinese, Pinyin, and English, with an illustration, and is followed by the story of its origin in Chinese and English. Some obscure expressions are clarified with the help of annotations in both Chinese and English. You'll never be at a loss for a conversation starter again after you read this book!
1.割鸡焉用牛刀
2.苛政猛于虎
3.伐柯
4.多行不义必自毙
5.退避三舍
6.假途灭虢唇亡齿寒
7.问鼎
8.染指
9.鞭长莫及
10.尔虞我诈
11.余勇可贾
12.上下其手
13.管鲍之交
14.风马牛不相及
15.结草衔环
16.顾左右而言他
17.坐山观虎斗
18.狡兔三窟高枕无忧
19.危如累卵势如累卵
20.前倨后恭
21.作法自毙
22.奇货可居
23.逐客令
24.一字千金
25.燕雀焉知鸿鹄之志
26.取而代之
27.先发制人
28.一败涂地
29.孺子可教
30.壁上观
31.成也萧何，败也萧何
32.逐鹿中原
33.约法三章
34.鸿门宴项庄舞剑，意在沛公
35.人为刀俎，我为鱼肉
36.明修栈道，暗度陈仓
37.背水一战
38.匹夫之勇妇人之仁
39.养虎遗患
40.衣锦夜行
41.沐猴而冠
42.韩信将兵，多多益善
43.无面目见江东父老
……
After a year he went travelling in search of employment again.This time, he managed to persuade the rulers of six states to form an alliance against the powerful and aggressive State of Qin.He himself was made chief administrator of the alliance.Wearing the stamps of the prime minister of all the six states, Su Qin returned home with all the pomp and circumstance befitting his high rank.Hearing of his approach, his parents cleaned the house, rebuilt the local road, prepared wine and dishes, and went out thirty li from the city to greet him with music.His wife dared not look him in the face.His sisterm-law crawled on all fours and kowtowed to him again and again to apologize for her former offence.Su Qin smiled and asked her, Why were you so arrogant before and so humble now?" She answered, "It is because you hold a high position and have great wealth now." Su Qin sighed and said, "I am the same person as I was before.Now that I am rich and hold a high position, all my kin are in awe of me.But when I was Poor and humble, they slighted me.If even my own kith and kin behave like this, how can I expect others to behave?"
Later, the phrase came to be used to indicate how people's attitudes toward one can easily change, depending on one's change of fortune.
