[双语] 12则寓言故事/成语故事

1. 井底之蛙

The frog in the well

There was once a frog who made his home in a shallow well. One day he met a turtle from the East Sea.

从前有只青蛙，在浅井里居住。一天，它遇见一只从东海来的大鳖。

"I'm extremely happy!" the frog told the turtle. "When on the ground, I would leap up and down the railing of the well. When I'm tired, I would rest on the broken bricks."

井蛙对大鳖说：「我真是乐透了!高兴时，便在井栏上跳跃。疲倦时，就躺在破砖上休息。

"Back in the water, I would swim with only my head above the surface. When I walk in the mud, I would bury my feet. I look back at the worms, crabs, and tadpoles who share my well. They can't be as happy as I am."

回到水里，我只是露出我的头游泳。跳到泥里，我则埋没我的双腿。我回头看看井里的虫、蟹和蝌蚪。它们可不及我快乐呢!

"The pool of water belongs to me because the well is mine. This is the greatest pleasure!" the frog said proudly. "You should come visit me sometime!"

井水是我的，因为这口井属于我，这就是最大的喜乐啊!你有空不妨来探望我。」

The turtle went with the frog to the shallow well. Lifting his right foot, he tried to enter the well. But it got stuck even before he could extend his left one,so he leisurely retreated.

大鳖听了，就跟着井蛙入井里，怎知左脚还未伸进去，右脚已经绊住了，于是便从容地退了出来。

Rather amused, the turtle said, "I can't tell you how vast the East Sea is, for it is beyond measure. However, flood doesn't increase its depth the least bit, and drought can't make it lose an inch. Its depth does not change with time, nor does it change with the amount of rainfall. This is its greatest pleasure!"

大鳖给逗乐了，便对青蛙说：「东海的大，我无法给你描，因为那是无法测量的。水灾既不能增加它的深度，旱灾也不能减少它一吋。它的深度，是不会因时间的长短，或两量的多少而有所改变。这就是东海最大的喜乐啊!」

On hearing the turtle, the frog was dumbfounded.

井蛙听了，惊讶得呆一边。

2. 拔苗助长

to pull up the seedlings

to help them grow

There was a man in the State of Song who had an impatient disposition.

宋国有个人，是个急性子。

Day and night he longed for the seedlings in the field to grow tall and strong quickly.

他日日夜夜盼望田里的秧苗快快长高长大。

But the seedlings grew very slowly, not as quickly as he hoped.

可是，秧苗长得很慢，没有像他所希望的那样长得快。

One day, he hit upon a good idea.

有一天，他想出了一个好办法。

He sneaked to the field and pulled each seedling up a little bit from the soil.

他自己偷偷地跑到田里，把每一棵秧苗都从泥土里往上拔高了一些。

Seeing that all the seedlings in the field were taller than before, he felt very pleased with himself.

看到田里的秧苗都比原来高了，他心里感到乐滋滋的。

He went home. Though all worn out, he told the members of his family happily,

回到家里，他虽然筋疲力尽，但是非常高兴地告诉家人说:

"I worked for a whole day today.

“今天，我干了一整天。

How tired I am! But the seedlings in the field have grown a lot taller."

好累啊!不过，田里的秧苗倒是长高好多了。”

When his son heard that the seedlings had grown taller, he hurried to the field to take a look.

他的儿子听说秧苗长高了，连忙跑到田里去看。

Oh, what a mess! Instead of growing taller, the seedlings had all started to wither.

一看，可糟啦!不是秧苗长高了，而是秧苗都开始枯萎了。

3. 刻舟求剑

to cut a mark on the boatside

to retrieve the sword

One day, a man of the State of Chu was crossing a river by boat.

一天，有个楚国人坐船过河。

Due to carelessness, his sword which hung at his side fell into the water.

一不小心身上挂的宝剑掉进河里去了。

Not in the least worried, he slowly took out a small knife and cut a mark on the side of the boat.

他一点儿也不着急，慢腾腾地拿出小刀，在船舷上刻了一个记号。

Some one on the boat asked him, "Why don't you jump into the water at once to fish for your sword?

有人问他:“为什么不赶快下水把它捞起来?

What's the use of making this mark on the side of the boat?"

你在船舷上刻这个记号有什么用啊?”

He pointed to the mark on the side of the boat, saying unhurriedly:

他指着船舷上的记号，不慌不忙地说:

"There is no need to worry. My sword fell into the river at this marked place.

“不用着急。我的宝剑是从这个刻着记号的地方掉下去的。

As soon as the boat reaches the dock and pulls in to shore,

等舟到了码头，靠了岸，

I will jump down from here to retrieve my sword."

我从这里跳下去，就能把宝剑捞上来。”

4. 掩耳盗铃

to cover the ears 

to steal the doorbell

Once upon a time, a man saw a doorbell hanging from someone's door and wanted to steal it.

从前，有个人看见人家大门上挂着一只门铃，就想把它偷来。

But he knew that if he were to steal the bell, it would start ringing the moment his hand touched it.

但是，他知道，如果去偷这只门铃，只要手一碰到，就会发出“铃铃铃”的响声。

If he were discovered, not only he couldn't get the bell, but he himself might also be caught.

如被人发觉，不但偷不到铃，而且还会被捉住。

He thought this over and said to himself, "Why will there be trouble when a bell rings?

他想了想，自言自语地说: “为什么铃响了，就会闯出祸来呢?

This is because our ears can hear it.

这是因为耳朵能听见。

If I cover my ears, I won't be able to hear it.

假如把耳朵捂住，不是听不见铃声了么?

This way I won't be caught."

这样，就不会被人家捉住了。”

Later, he eventually got an idea.

后来，他终于想出了一个办法。

He first covered his own ears, then went on to steal the bell.

先把自己耳朵捂住，再去偷那只门铃。

However, in the end he was still discovered and caught red-handed.

结果，他还是被人当场发现捉住了。

5. 讳疾忌医

to conceal one's illness

and avoid treatment

One day, the miracle-working doctor Bian Que saw Huan Gong, King of the State of Cai, and said,

一天，神医扁鹊见到蔡桓公，就说:

"Your Majesty, I think you are ill.

“大王，我看您身体有病。

But your illness is only under the skin and can be easily cured.

不过，您的病还只是在皮肤里，不难治好。

If you do not treat it now, I’m afraid your condition will become serious."

如果现在不治，恐怕病情就会加重。”

Huan Gong did not believe him. He said, "I am not ill."

桓公不相信，说: “我没有病。”

After Bian Que left, Huan Gong said to his subjects around him,

扁鹊走后，桓公对左右的大臣说:

"These doctors always like to treat people who are not ill in order to brag about their superb medical skill."

“这些医生，就是喜欢给没有病的人治病，好夸耀自己医术高明。”

Ten days later, Bian Que saw Huan Gong again.

过了十天，扁鹊又见到蔡桓公。

He said, "Your Majesty, your illness has invaded your muscles.

说, “大王，您的病已侵人到肌体里了。

If you do not treat it now, your condition will become more serious."

如果现在不治，病情还会加重。”

Huan Gong was displeased with what he heard and did not listen to Bian Que.

桓公听了很不高兴，也不理睬扁鹊。

Another ten days later, Bian Que saw Huan Gong and said anxiously:

又过了十天，扁鹊看见蔡桓公，着急地说:

"Your Majesty, your illness has invaded your stomach and intestines.

“大王，您的病已经侵人肠胃。

If your do not treat it, your condition will worsen."

再不治的话，病情会恶化的啊!”

Huan Gong still would not listen to Bian Que.

桓公还是没有理睬扁鹊。

Another ten days later, when Bian Que saw Huan Gong, he turned round at once and left.

再过了十天，扁鹊一见桓公，转身就走。

Huan Gong was surprised and sent someone to catch up Bian Que to ask him for the reason.

桓公很奇怪，就命人追去询问扁鹊。

Bian Que said, "When a person gets ill and his illness is only under the skin, it can be easily cured with medical plaster or decoction.

扁鹊说:“一个人生了病，当病在皮肤表面时，只要用膏药和汤药洗，就能够治好;

When it is between the skin and the flesh, it can still be cured by acupuncture;

如果发展到皮肉之间，用针灸还可以治好;

Even if it develops into the stomach and intestines, medical decoctions will still be effective.

即使发展到肠胃里，服用汤药还有疗效;

But when it reaches the marrow, then one can only resign to one's fate, for the doctor can no longer do anything about it.

而发展到了骨髓，那么只好听天由命，医生就无能为力了。

Now His Majesty's illness has penetrated into the marrow. I can do nothing to cure him."

现在，大王的病已经深人到了骨髓，我再也没有办法治好他了。”

Five days afterwards, Huan Gong felt pain all over his body.

五天以后，蔡桓公全身疼痛。

He sent for Bian Que.

派人去请扁鹊来给他治病。

Since Bian Que had anticipated that Huan Gong would ask him for treatment and that he would get into trouble if he couldn't cure the illness, he had escaped to the State of Qin a few days before.

扁鹊因为早料到桓公会来请他去治病，而且治不好会惹祸的，所以几天前就逃到秦国去了。

Soon afterwards, Huan Gong of Cai died of his illness.

不久，蔡桓公就病死了。

6. 守株待兔

to watch by the tree

to wait for the hare

In the past, there was a farmer in the State of Song.

从前，宋国有一个农夫。

There stood a big tree in the field he cultivated.

在他耕种的田地里，有一棵很大的树。

One day, while working in the field, he suddenly saw a hare running by in front of him.

一天，他正在田里耕作，突然看见一只兔子在他面前飞奔而过。

The hare bumped against the big tree, broke its neck and died under the tree.

正好撞在那棵大树上，撞断脖子死在了树下。

Without any effort, the farmer happily enjoyed a meal of bare meat.

农夫没花多少气力，就美滋滋地吃了一顿兔肉。

He was very pleased and thought how nice it would be if every day were like this.

心里非常高兴。他想，要是天天这样，该多好啊!

Thereupon, he no longer cultivated his land, but watched by that tree and waited for the chance to pick up another hare which knocked itself dead against the tree.

于是，他不再耕地了，每天守候在那棵树旁，等待着能再捡到一只撞死在树上的兔子。

He waited and waited and watched. His field lay waste, but he never got a second hare.

等呀等，守呀守，田地也荒芜了，却再也没有守到第二只兔子。

The people in the village laughed at him for taking the accidental for the inevitable.

乡里的人都暗暗地笑他把偶然当成了必然。

 
7. 杞人忧天

A man in the State of Qi worried

that the shy might collapse.

In the past, a man in the State of Qi went off into wild flights of fancy all day long.

从前，祀国有个人整天胡思乱想。

He was afraid that the sky might collapse, the land might cave in and he would have no place to live.

他害怕天会塌下来，地会陷下去，自己会没有地方生存。

He was so worried that he could neither eat nor sleep.

急得饭也吃不下，觉也睡不好。

One man who was worried about him came to enlighten him by saying, "The sky is only an air mass.

有一个人，很为他担心，就跑来开导他说:“天只不过是一团气体。

All men's activities are inside this mass. Why do you worry that the sky would fall?"

人的一切活动都在这团气体当中，你为什么要担心它会塌下来呢?”

The man of Qi asked, "If the sky were really an air mass, then wouldn't the sun, the moon and the stars fall down?"

祀人问道:“天如果真的是一团气体的话，那么日月星辰会不会掉下来呢?”

That man said, "The sun, the moon and the stars are only things that can shine in this mass.

那个人说: “日月星辰只不过是这团气体中会发光的东西罢了。

Even if they fall down, they would not harm people."

即使掉下来，对人也不会有什么伤害的。”

The man of Qi asked again, "Then what can I do when the land sinks?"

祀人又问道: “那么，如果地陷下去了怎么办呢?”

The man said, "The land is only piled-up earth.

那个人说: “地只不过是堆积起来的土罢了。

There is earth everywhere. Every day you walk on the land. Why do you worry that it would sink?"

四面八方都是土。你每天都行走在大地上，为什么还要担忧它会陷下去呢?”

When the man of Qi heard this, his worries vanished at once and he became very glad.

祀人听了，不但疑虑立刻消失了，而且十分高兴。

The man who enlightened him and cured his melancholia was very pleased too.

那个跑来开导的人，帮助祀人治好了忧郁症，也十分高兴。

8. 愚公移山

Yu Gong moved themountains.

In ancient times, there was an old man named Yu Gong.

古时候，有一老人，名字叫愚公。

He was nearly 90 years old.

快九十岁了。

There were two mountains in front of his house.

他家的门口有两座大山。

One was the Taihang Mountain, the other the Wangwu Mountain.

一座叫太行山，一座叫王屋山。

It was very inconvenient for people to come and go.

人们进出非常不方便。

One day, Yu Gong said to the whole family, "These two mountains block the doorway of our house.

一天，愚公对全家人说: “这两座大山，挡在了咱们家的门口。

It is very inconvenient for us to come and go.

进出很不方便。

Let our whole family exert efforts to move away these two mountains. How about it?"

咱们全家出力，移走这两座大山，好不好?”

Upon hearing this, all his sons and grandsons said, "You are right. Let us start tomorrow!"

他的儿子、孙子一听，都说:“你说得对，咱们明天就开始干!”

But his wife felt it too difficult to move the mountains.

可是，他的妻子觉得搬山太难了。

She said,"Do you know how high these two mountains are?

她说: “你们知道，这两座山有多高吗?

How can you move such big mountains? Where can you put all the stones and earth?"

这么大的山，你们怎么把它移走呢? 哪儿放得下这么多的石头和泥土呢?”

Everybody said, "So long as we work hard together, we can certainly move away these two mountains.

大家说: “只要我们一起努力干，就一定能够移走这两座大山。

We can carry the stones and earth of the mountains to the sea."

山上的石头和泥土，我们可以把它们填放到海里去。”

The following day, Yu Gong led the whole family and started to move the mountains.

第二天，愚公带着一家人开始搬山了。

His neighbour was a widow with a son, only 7 or 8 years old.

他的邻居是寡妇，她有一个孩子，才七八岁。

When he heard of this, she also came to help happily.

听说要搬山，也高高兴兴地来帮忙。

They worked nonstop every day, fearing neither heat in summer nor cold in winter, neither wind nor rain.

他们夏天不怕热，冬天不怕冷，不怕刮风，不怕下雨，每天不停地搬。

When a shrewd old man named Zhi Sou saw Yu Gong's family moving the mountains, he thought it ridiculous and said to Yu Gong,

有个老人叫智叟，很精明。看见愚公一家人在搬山，他觉得很可笑，就对愚公说:

"You are so old that you can hardly walk. Can you move the mountains?"

“你这么大岁数了，路也走不动了，能搬得动山吗?

Yu Gong replied, "You are not even as clever as a child.

愚公回答说:“你还没有小孩子聪明!

Though I am about to die, I have sons.

我虽然快要死了，但是我还有儿子。

When my sons die, there are still grandsons.

儿子死了，还有孙子。

Generation after generation, my offsprings are endless.

子子孙孙，一直传下去，这是无穷无尽的。

But with more and more stones being removed, smaller and smaller will the mountains become.

山上的石头却是搬走一点儿就少一点儿。

Not a grain of earth or a piece of stone will grow on the mountains.

再也长不出一粒泥、一块石头来的。

If we work without stop every day, why can't we move away the mountains?"

我们每天这样不停地搬，为什么搬不走山呢?”

Zhi Sou, who thought himself clever, had nothing more to say.

自以为聪明的智叟听了，再也没有话说了。

Yu Gong led his family digging the mountains continually from early morning till late night.

愚公带领一家人每天起早摸黑挖山不止。

They finally moved God, who sent two celestials to the world to move away these two mountains.

终于感动了上帝，上帝派了两个神仙下凡，把这两座大山搬走了。

9. 南辕北辙

to go south by driving the chariot north

One day, Ji Liang went to see the King of Wei and reported,

一天，季梁去见魏王，报告说:

"When I was coming here, I saw a man on the road driving a horse carriage north in great haste.

“这次，我来的时候，在路上看到一个人，驾着马车往北走，走得很急。

"I asked him, `Where are you going in such haste?'

“我问他: ‘走得这么急，你要去哪儿?’

"He replied, `I am going to the State of Chu.'

“他回答说: ‘我要到楚国去。’

"I said, `If you want to go to the State of Chu, you should go south.

“我说: ‘你去楚国，应该朝南走。

Why are you going north? You are going the wrong way!’

怎么往北呢?你走错了!’

"He said, `My horse is big and strong. It can run as fast as flying. It doesn't matter to run a little more.'

“他说: ‘我的马很好，又高又大，跑起来跟飞一样快。多跑点儿没关系。’

"I told him, `Though your horse is good, you are going in the wrong direction.'

“我告诉他: ‘你的马虽然好，可是去楚国的方向不对呀!

"He said: `It doesn't matter. I have lots of money.'

“他说: ‘没关系，我有很多钱。’

"I told him again, `Though you have lots of money, this is not the road to the State of Chu.'

“我又告诉他:‘你钱虽然多，但是这不是去楚国的路呀!’

"He said: `It doesn't matter. My driver is good and strong.'

“他说:‘没关系，我的车夫好，他身强力壮。’

"Finally I told him, `Though your driver is good and strong, this is not the road to the State of Chu."

“最后我告诉他: ‘你的车夫虽然好，但是这不是去楚国的路呀!'

The King of Wei blurted out, "Alas, this man is too obstinate.

魏王脱口说道: “唉!这个人真固执。

He doesn't realize that if his direction is wrong, the better he is equipped, the farther he would be away from his destination."

他不知道方向错了，条件越好，离开目的地就越远。”

10. 亡羊补牢

to mend the fold 

after the loss of sheep

In the past, there was a man who kept thirty sheep.

从前，有一个人，养了三十只羊。

One morning, he discovered that one sheep was missing.

一天早上，他发现少了一只羊。

Where had it gone?

这只羊到哪儿去了呢?

Upon examination, he found that his fold was damaged.

再一查看，原来是他的羊圈坏了。

During the night a wolf had broken into the fold and devoured the sheep.

夜里狼闯进羊圈，羊是被狼吃掉的。

His friend said to him, "You had better mend the fold quickly."

他的朋友对他说:“快把羊圈修理修理吧!”

He said, "The sheep had already been devoured by the wolf. What is the use of mending the fold?"

他说: “羊已经被狼吃了，修理羊圈还有什么用呢?”

He did not listen to his friend's advice.

他没有听取朋友的意见。

The following morning, he discovered that during the night the wolf had again broken into the fold and devoured another sheep.

第二天早上，他发现夜里狼又闯进羊圈，又吃掉了一只羊。

Not until then did he realize that his friend was right.

这时候，他才明白，朋友的意见是对的。

Consequently, he mended the fold at once, and thereafter no more sheep were devoured by the wolf.

于是，他马上把羊圈修理好。从此，他的羊再也没有被狼吃掉过。

11. 盲人摸象

Blind men touched the elephant.

Once upon a time, there was a king who ordered his officials, "Lead an elephant to me, and let several blind men feel it with their hands.

从前，有一个国王，命令大臣们说: “你们给我牵一头大象来，让几个盲人用手去摸。

Then ask each one of them to describe the shape of the elephant."

每个人说出大象的模样。”

The officials led the elephant to the king.

大臣们牵来了大象。

Several blind men surrounded it and felt it with their hands.

几个盲人都围上去用手触摸。

The king asked them: "What do you think the elephant resembles?"

国王问他们：“你们觉得大象的样子像什么?”

All these blind men strove to be the first to answer.

几个盲人都争先恐后地回答。

One blind man felt the elephant's tusk and said, "The elephant resembles a long, long carrot."

一个摸着大象的牙齿说:“大象好像一根长长的萝卜。

One blind man felt the elephant's ear and said, "The elephant resembles a dustpan."

一个摸着大象的耳朵说:“大象好像一只簸箕。”

One blind man felt the elephant's head and said, "The elephant resembles a large stone."

一个摸着大象的头说:“大象好像是一块大石头。

One blind man felt the elephant's foot and said, "The elephant resembles a stone mortar."

一个摸着大象的脚说:“大象好像是一只石臼。”

One blind man felt the elephant's back and said, "The elephant resembles a bed."

一个摸着大象的背脊说:“大象好像一张床。”

One blind man felt the elephant's belly and said, "The elephant resembles a water vat."

一个摸着大象的肚子说:“大象好像一只大水缸。”

"Ha! Ha! All of you are wrong." The last blind man pulled the elephant's tail and said,

“哈哈，你们说的都不对!”最后一个盲人拉着大象的尾巴说:

"Let me tell you that the elephant resembles a long, thin rope."

“告诉你们，大象就像一根长长的、细细的绳子。”

Upon this the king and his officials all burst into laughter.

国王和大臣们听了都哈哈大笑。

12. 铁杵成针

to grind an iron rod into a needle

Li Bai was a great poet in the Tang Dynasty of China.

李白是中国唐朝的一位伟大诗人。

It is said that in his childhood, he was very fond of playing and afraid ofdifficulties, and made slow progress in his studies.

传说，他小时候很贪玩，怕困难，读书进步很慢。

One day, on his way home after school, he walked by a creek and saw an old woman grinding a very, very thick iron rod.

有一天，李白放学回家，路过一条小河边，看见一位老婆磨一根很粗很粗的铁棒。

Being curious, he went to the old woman and asked, “Old grandma, why are you grinding this iron rod?”

他觉得很奇怪，就走到老婆婆跟前问道：“老婆婆，您磨这根铁棒干什么?”

The old woman replied, “To make a needle.”

老婆婆说:“磨成针。”

At this moment, Li Bai felt more curious and asked again:

这时候，李白更觉得奇怪了，又问:

“How can you grind such a thick iron rod into a needle?”

“这么粗的铁棒，您怎么能磨成针呢?”

“Yes, I can. I certainly can, ” the old woman said. “If one works with constant effort, one can grind an iron rod into a needle.”

“能，一定能!”老婆婆说，“只要功夫深，铁棒就能磨成针。”

Hearing the old woman’s words, Li Bai was enlightened.

李白听了老婆婆的话，心里忽然明白了。

Since then, Li Bai studied hard and made rapid progress. Eventually he became a famous poet.

从此，李白刻苦读书，进步很快。后来，他终于成了一位有名的诗人。

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