Interesting Chinese Expressions

汉林原创 Original article of Hanlin Language Center

汉语小典故 

日常生活中，我们会用到许多词语，但关于这些词语的由来和典故，你了解多少呢？这些词语背后的故事，你又知道多少？HLC就整理了许多词语的起源，定期更新推送，一起来涨知识吧！

In daily life, we will use many words and phrases, behind which there are many interesting stories. But how much do you know about these?  HLC has sorted out the origins of some interesting words, which will be regularly posted on our WeChat: hlchanlin. Let`s learn together!

— 装 蒜 —zhuāng suàn 

zhuāng suàn (Indicate people who employ trickery or pretend to know something but actually they don‘t;)

相传乾隆皇帝有一年春天到南方某地巡查，看到地里一片青蒜长得绿油油，便称赞了一番。

It is said that, emperor Qianlong made an inspection tour to the south and he saw a host of green garlic which grew very well. The emperor was greatly pleased and praised the local officials.

翌年冬天又去巡查，可惜这一季节青蒜尚未长出。

In the next year 's winter, the emperor went to the same place for inspection again, but unfortunately the garlic had not grown yet in this season.

为了讨好皇帝，当地官吏差人把许多水仙移植到一起，远远望去其叶子酷似青蒜，乾隆看后果然赞不绝口，这位官吏也因此得以升迁。

To please the emperor, the local officials transplanted many daffodils together. The daffodils leaves looked like garlic from the distance, so Qianlong was very delighted and therefore the official got promoted.

从这以后，人们就把弄虚作假或不懂装懂嘲讽为“装蒜”了。

Since then, we use 装蒜 (zhuāng suàn ) to indicate those people who employ trickery or pretend to know something but actually they don‘t.

 — 吃 醋 —  chī cù 

 chī cù(Describe people who are easy to get jealous)

唐朝宰相房玄龄的夫人好嫉妒，唐太宗有意赐房玄龄几位妾室。

Fang Xuanling , the prime minister of Tang Dynasty had a wife who was easy to get jealous. Tang Taizong ,the emperor of the Tang Dynasty wanted to reward Fang with several concubines.

房玄龄的妻子出于嫉妒，加以干涉。唐太宗便对房玄龄夫人说：若要嫉妒就选择死，并给她准备了一壶“毒酒”。

Fang Xuanling's wife was so jealous that she tried to stopped it. The emperor told Mrs. Fang “If you cannot bear it. Then you can choose to die”. Then she was given a pot of "poisonous wine."

房夫人接过“毒酒”一饮而尽，以示“宁死而妒”。其实，唐太宗给她的只是一壶醋，于是就有了“吃醋”之典。

Mrs. Fang took the "poison wine" and drained the cup with one gulp. She would rather to die than bear his husband`s new marriage, but in fact, what she drank was only a pot of vinegar in stead of poisonous wine.  Since then, people use 吃醋 (chī cù ) to describe those people who are easy to get jealous.

汉林语言中心是一家专业的语言机构，我们提供汉语课程和英语课程，我们也提供丰富的文化活动和游学，如果你对语言课程或者文化活动感兴趣，请随时联系我们。

Hanlin Language Center is a professional language school, providing Chinese courses and English courses. We also offer various culture activities and study tours. If you are interested in our courses or culture events, please feel free to contact us!

Place Name:  HLC汉林

Phone Number: 0755-21616006  18927405201

WeChat: Angela-HLC or Maya-HLC

Email: [e-mail]

Place Address: 706, 7F, Building A, Li'an Business Tower, Wanghai Road, Shekou (dōng jiǎo tóu station Exit A) 深圳蛇口望海路利安商务大厦 A 座 706（东角头 A 出口，中国海关旁蓝色大楼）

Editor's Favorites, Tap the Links Below:

---

Long-press the QR Code, tap "Extract QR Code" to Follow "shenzhenparty" on Wechat:

For more details, please click "Read More".

↓↓↓↓