中国寓言故事中英对照

中国寓言故事中英对照

中国寓言故事:The Emperor of Heaven Bestows Wine天帝赐酒

One day, deities from various places came to pay homage to the Emperor of Heaven.

一天，各路神仙都来朝拜天帝。

The emperor gave his minister in charge of wine cups the following order:

天帝命令司筋大臣说:

"Register the names of the deities first, then bestow wine upon them."

“先把他们的名字登记好，再赐给他们酒喝。”

The minister registered the names of the deities on bamboo slips, and prepared to bestow wine. But he kept on working for 3, 000 years and had not finished the registration yet.

司筋大臣拿着竹简，登记各路神仙的姓名，准备赐酒，可是登记了三千年，还没登记完。

The emperor inquired:

天帝查问:

"Why haven't you finished registering?"

“你为什么还没有登记完?"

The minister reported:

司筋大臣报告说:

"All the deities have brought their sedan-chair carriers."

“各路神仙都带着轿夫。”

The emperor ordered:

天帝下令:

"Then register the sedan-chair carriers as well."

“轿夫，也登记上吧!”

7, 000 years passed and the registration was still not done.

结果，又登记了七千年，还是没有登记完。

When the emperor inquired again, the minister had no way out but reported:

当天帝再次查问的时候，司筋大臣无可奈何地报告说:

"The sedan-chair carriers of the deities have brought their own carriers too."

“各路神仙的轿夫，又都带着自己的轿夫啊!”

So the wine was not bestowed after all.

赐酒一事，最终还是没有成功。

The Emperor of Heaven remained silent for a long time and then heaved a deep sigh.

天帝沉默了半天，长长地叹息了一声。

中国寓言故事:"Presenting Tall Hats"“戴高帽子"

The Chinese people call flattery to someone's face "presenting a tall hat" to someone.

中国人把当面说奉承话叫做给某人“戴高帽子”。

In the past, an official in the imperial court in Beijing was appointed to an official post outside the capital. Before departure, he went to his

teacher's home to bid farewell. His teacher warned him:

在古代，有一个在京城朝廷里做官的人，奉命去外地做官。临行前，他去老师家告别。老师叮嘱说:

"It is not easy to be an official outside the capital. You should be prudent and careful."

“外地的官不容易做，应当谨慎小心些才好。”

The official replied:

那个做官的人回答说:

"Please don't worry. I have prepared 100 `tall hats'，and will present one to each and every person I meet. I'm sure all the local people will be pleased."

“请老师放心，我准备了一百顶高帽子，逢人便送他一顶，管叫地方上人人高兴。”

The teacher said reproachingly:

老师生气地说:

"We are all honest gentlemen. How can you do that?"

“我们都是正人君子，怎么可以这样做呢?”

The official pretended he had no way out and said:

那个做官的人装着无可奈何的样子说:

"Very few people under heaven are like you who dislike being flattered or presented with tall hats."

“天下不喜欢戴高帽子的人实在太少了啊!像老师您这样的又能有几个呢!”

Hearing this, the teacher was very much pleased. He nodded and said:

老师听了很高兴，点点头说:

"What you said is true, too."

“你讲的也不错!”

After the official said farewell to his teacher and went out, he said to his friend:

那个做官的人告别老师出来后，对朋友说:

"Of my 100 `tall hats'，now only 99 are left."

“我的一百顶高帽子，现在只剩下九十九顶了!”

中国寓言故事:Prudent Reserve Between Men and Women男女有别

A man named Fu Xian was fond of reading books. Though proficient in literature and etiquette, he was stubbornly adherent to outworn rules. Being impractical and dull, he looked just like an old pedant.