《史记》中的格言与成语 （汉英对照）（3） 

漏网之鱼                              《酷吏列传》

(as) fish escape from the net // escape unpunished

                         (From )

漏瓮沃焦釜                        《田敬仲完世家》

Pour water into a burning pot from a leaking urn----Take measures to stop harms in imminent danger

                                 (From )

论功行赏                          《萧相国世家》

Offer people posts according to their contributions

                     (From )

荦荦大端                        《天官书》

The key items and obvious main point

                      (From )

履寫交错                       《滑稽列传》

Mixed shoes and soles of shoes---a number of male and female guests gathered// shoes lie about in disorder

                        (From

每饭不忘                            《张释之冯唐列传》

Remember at every meal // remember all the time

                           (From

毛遂自荐                              《平原君列传》

Volunteer one’s services

                                  (From )

昧死以闻                                 《赵世家》

To appeal (to the emperor) at the risk of death

                                  (From)

面如冠玉                                 《陈丞相世家》

One’s complexion is clear as jade // as handsome as the ornamental jade on the cap

                            (From )

面折廷争                                     《吕太后本纪》

Suggest in person and argue in court

                   (From ü>)

渑池之功                            《廉颇蔺相如列传》

Great  contributions (made in Mianchi)

                            (From )

民不聊生                                       《张耳陈余列传》

The masses have no meant to live

                       (From )

明修栈道暗渡陈仓                     《高祖本纪》

Repair the plank road openly but covertly assault Chencang// attach Chencang under the cover of repairing the blank road

(From < Biographic Sketch of Emperor Liu Bang>

明珠暗投                      《邹阳列传》

Cast pearl before swine // throw pearl to the pigs

                          (From )

名不虚传                        《游侠列传》

Deserve the reputations one enjoys

                            (From< Collected Biography of Chivalrous Swordsman >)

名高天下                       《 鲁仲连邹阳列传》

Well-known throughout the country

                    (From )

 

名山事业                       《太史公自序》

An author’s works destined for posterity

                           (From )

名声籍甚                       《俪生陆贾列传》

To gain one’s reputation or fame

                    （From《Collected Biographies of Li Sheng and Lu Jia》）

没石饮羽                 《李将军列传》

Shooting an arrow to a stone and the arrowhead into the stone----having super strength

                     (From )

目不交睫                《袁盎晁错列传》

Have one’s eyes open throughout the night

                    (From )

目挑心招              《货殖列传》

Seduce sb. by attractive looks     

(From )

沐猴而冠               《项羽本纪》

A monkey with a hat on-----a worthless person in imposing attire

（From < The Biographic Sketch of the Conqueror Xiang Yu >）

讷口少言              《李将军列传》

Tight-lipped

                           (From )

囊血射天            《殷本纪》

A swagger is defying his superiors and starts a rebellion

                                 (From < Biographic Sketch of the Yin Dynasty>)

牛口之下                《商君列传》

Under the cow’s mouth ----be at a humble position

                  (From )

弄法舞文             《货殖列传》

Play with words and distort legal clauses

                       (From )

泥而不滓                  《屈原贾生列传》

Not to be infected under foul

                       (From )

溺于旧闻                                  《商君列传》

Be confined to the old knowledge  

                        (From )

鸟尽弓藏                  《越王勾践世家》

Cast sb. Aside when he has served his purpose

                    (From )

 

怒发冲冠               《廉颇蔺相如列传》

Be so angry that one’s hair raised up to his hat------bristle with anger

     (From )

虐老兽心                      《王世家》

Maltreatment of senior citizens without manly kindness

                            (From )

判若鸿沟                   《高祖本纪》

As if separated by a wide ditch // the difference  is as far-reaching as between the water course

                       (From )

旁若无人                    《刺客列传》

Act as if there is no one else present

                     (From )

剖心坼肝                   《鲁仲连邹阳列传》

Remain faithful to sb.

                     (From )

 

佩紫怀黄                  《范睢蔡泽列传》

With purple seal and its silk ribbon in one’s waist and gold official register in one’s bosom

 (From)

烹狗藏弓                      《越王勾践世家》

Cast away or even kill people who worked for him

                              (From )

披坚执锐                    《陈涉世家》

Well armed with armor and weapons // be fully prepared for battle

                            (From )

贫贱骄人                              《巍世家》

Be proud of poverty

                          (From< Aristocratic Family of Wei>)

平易近人                            《鲁周公世家》

As common ass an old shoe // be approachable all year

                        (From )

破釜沉舟                   《项羽本纪》

 Cut off one’s means of retreat// burn one’s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end         

 （From < Biographic Sketch of Xiang Yu, the Conqueror >）

破觚斫雕                《酷吏列传》 

Delect the multifarious and conform to the principle of simplicity/ get rid of vanity and uphold plain

                              (From

                                   

期期艾艾                   《张丞相列传》

A stutter speak with a lisp

                               (From )

漆身吞炭                      《刺客列传》

Smear one’s body to disguise oneself and eat charcoal to change one’s voice---sacrifice oneself to pay a debt of gratitude

                                    (From )

奇货可居                  《吕不韦列传》

Some goods in short supply, hoarded or cornered for making excess or enormous profit

                                (From üBuwei>)

弃道任术                  《商君列传》

Abandon kingly way and pursue rule by force of dictators

                        (From )  

弃书捐剑                              《项羽本纪》

An ambitious man distains trivial    

（From < The Biographic Sketch of Xiang Yu,  the Conqueror >）

千金之裘                                《刘敬叔孙通列传》

A fur coat worthy a thousand ounces of gold-----many a little makes a mickle

                             (From)

千金之子 坐不垂堂                   《袁盎晁错列传》

Rich kids do not sit under the eave

                           (From

千门万户                     《孝武本纪》

Numerous households and palaces

                                  (From )

前倨后恭                    《苏秦列传》

Change from arrogance to humility

                      (From )          

翘足而待                         《高祖本纪》

Be on the tiptoe of expectation; wait on tiptoe

                    (From )

禽困覆车                    《甘茂列传》

A cornered wild beast will fight desperately.

                             (From )

青云直上                     《范睢蔡泽列传》

Float upon the clouds // be promoted quickly in an official career

                     (From )

取而代之                    《项羽本纪》

Take over from him.    

（From < Biographic Sketch of Xiang Yu, the Conqueror >

浅见寡闻                      《五帝本纪》

With very limited knowledge and scanty

                      (From )

堑山堙谷                      《秦始皇本纪》

Dig out the mountain to fill in the valley

                     (From )

强干弱枝                   《汉兴以来诸侯王年表》

Strengthen the central forces and weaken the local ones

                      (From )

强弩之末                 《韩安国列传》

A spent bullet // a spent force

                      (From )

切齿腐心                 《刺客列传》

Hate with all one’s soul; detest to the extreme

                          （From《Collected Biographies of Assassins》）

切齿痛心                 《刺客列传》

To make one burn with anger

                          （From《Collected Biographies of Assassins》）

情见势屈                   《淮阴侯列传》

The military intelligence has been detected and it is at a disadvantage

                        (From )

请自隗始                     《燕召公世家》

Recommend oneself to a post; be willing to set oneself as an example to attract a bunch of worthies

                           (From

秋毫不犯                 《项羽本纪》

(an army) not in the least infringe upon the interest of the people

                        (From )

驱羊攻虎                   《张仪列传》

Driving sheep to attack a tiger ---It will be defeated to attach a powerful army with a weak force

                             (From )

去故就新                 《律书》

Remove the old and keep back the new

                     (From )

犬吠之盗                《酷吏列传》

Pick and steal

                  (From )

犬牙相制            《孝文帝本纪》

Seduce sb. by attractive looks   // Face each other across a zigzag front 

 (From < Biographic Sketches of Emperor Xiaowen>)

攘往熙来                  《货殖列传》

Coming and going in crowds // hustling and bustling about

                     (From )

人给家足                 《平准书》     

Each family is provided for and each person is well-fed and well-clothed

                              （From ）

人取我与                               《货殖列传》

Part with whatever others want

                               (From)

人人自危                             《李斯列传》

Everybody will be deterred by the danger

                              (From )

 

人头畜鸣                             《秦始皇本纪》

An animal in human form // a person as foolish as an animal

                      (From < Biographic Sketches of the First Emperor of Qin>)

人微言轻                                  《平原君列传》

In one’s humble position, one’s word does not carry much weight.

                     (From

人心难测                           《淮阴侯列传》

Difficult to predict heart // hard to fathom a person’s mind

                                (From )

肉袒面缚                           《宋微子世家》

Be willing to be punished and give up resisting

                       (From )

如胶似漆                           《曹仲连鄒阳列传》

Be deeply attached to each other

                  (From )

如狼牧羊                         《酷吏列传》

Like a wolf shepherding sheep ----to rule the people oppressively

                     (From )

 

如左右手                          《淮阴侯列传》

Right-hand assistant // two persons with close relations and act in close coordination

                       (From )

孺子可教                         《留侯世家》

The young man is promising and worthy to be taught.

                  (From

三寸不烂之舌                  《平原君列传》

Have kissed the Blamey stone // a glib tongue

                                 (From )

三令五申                         《孙子吴起列传》

Give repeated orders and injunctions // have repeatedly issued orders

                         (From )

三吐三握                          《鲁世家》

Be eager for wise men

                      (From )

叁天二地                           《司马相如列传》

One’s noble moral can be matched with that of the Heaven and Earth

                      (From )

丧家之犬                           《孔子世家》

A homeless dog // the stray dogs

                     (From )

杀妻求将                   《孙子吴起列传》

Kill one’s wife from the hostile country in order to be promoted to be a general // to seek success by hook or by crook

                         (From )

善始善终                              《陈丞相列传》

Begin well and end well; do well from start to finish

                             (From)

歃血为盟                              《平原君列传》

Smear the blood as a sign of the oath----an old Chinese practice

                           (From )  

舌桥不下                         《扁鹊列传》

 Be amazed greatly

                             (From )

蛇化为龙，不变其文        《外戚世家》

Although the form is changed, the essence does not.

                        (From )

身先士卒                        《淮南衡山列传》

Be in the van of one’s officers and men // lead one’s men in a charge

                         (From )  

 神州赤县                        《孟子荀卿列传》

  The divine land and the loyal counties----another name of China

                       (From   )            

深藏若虚                        《老庄申韩列传》

Hide one’s candle under a bushel // be modest about one’s talent

                                   (From )

深沟高垒                         《淮阴侯列传》

Deep channel and high horst-----cast-iron defense works

                        (From

深切著明         《太史公自序》

 Profound and distinct

                                (From )

深思熟虑                          《穰侯列传》

Careful consideration // be well thoughtful

                           (From ) 

深文巧诋                           《汲郑列传》

Cook up charges and deliberately frame sb. 

                              (From )  

深文周纳                           《酷吏列传》

Use every means to have an innocent person pronounced guilty                               (From )    

声名狼藉                           《蒙恬列传》

Gain extreme notoriety // a tattered reputation

                      (From )

胜任愉快                           《酷吏列传》

Be able pleasant to take a post

                    (From )                   

十日之饮                           《范睢蔡泽列传》

Days of joyful gathering and drinking

                       (From )

是古非今                            《秦始皇本纪》

Denounce the present and praise antiquity

                             (From )

失之毫厘谬以千里         《太史公自序》

A minimal error or deviation may result in wide divergence.

                                         (From )

时绌举赢                    《韩世家》

 Seek extravagant life in difficult time  

                (From )

食不重味                      《吴太伯世家》

Be frugal in meals

                       (From Aristocratic Family of Wu Taibo)

食马留肝                       《孝武本纪》

Eat horse meat but the liver of the horse

                        (From )

食租衣税                          《司马相如列传》

Live on rents and taxes

                                           (From )

使酒骂座                    《魏其武安侯列传》

To call one’s name in wine ----be upright and outspoken and be shameful to flatter others

                      (From )

使羊将虎                   《留侯世家》

Not competent to command a troop

                          (From )

施而不费                  《吴太伯世家》

Give in charity without any loss

                    (From )

释知遗形                  《屈原贾生列传》

Holding aloof from the affairs of human life and in harmony with the rest of the world

                     (From )

识二五而不知十                 《越王勾践世家》

Knowing only one aspect of sth., but not know to observe the problem all-sidedly

                         (From)

视同儿戏                  《将侯周勃世家》

Regard as a game; consider sth. As a laughing matter; fail to regurd it as a serious business

                       (From)

舐糠及米                     《吴王濞列传》

A country finally falls after its territory has been nibbly away.

                    (From )

螫手解腕                《田儋列传》

To cut off one’s hand after it was stung by a poisonous insect----It is unnecessary to spoil the overall situation because of small local loss.

                             （From < Collected Biography of Tian Dan>）

兽聚鸟散                  《平津侯主父列传》

Get together and disperse like animals and birds

                      (From )

首鼠两端                  《魏其武安侯列传》

Vacillate in one’s opinion // irresolute

              (From )

书缺有间                  《五帝本纪》

The ancient books have been incomplete

                     (From )

数见不鲜                 《俪生陆贾列传》

Nothing new after one has seen it for times.

                               （From《collected Biographies of Li Sheng and Lu JIa》）

黍油麦秀                 《宋微子世家》

The pain of national subjugation

                                          (From )

鼠窃狗盗                        《刘敬叔孙通列传》

To play petty tricks on the sly // filch like rats and snatch like dogs

                  (From )

霜露之病                    《平津侯主父列传》

Sickness cause by wind-cold

                               (From )

爽然若失                     《屈原贾生列传》

Be at a loss // not know what to do

                        (From )

吮痈舐痔                    《佞幸列传》

Such the ulcers and piles of another person----to play the lick-boot

                      (From )

铄金毁骨                《张仪列传》

Slander  may destroy a man of virtue.

四面楚歌             《项羽本纪》

Be besieged on all sides  

（From < The Biographic Sketch of Xiang Yu,  the Conqueror >）

四战之国                《乐毅列传》

A place or country having no reliable defense position

                          (From )

松枝挂剑                          《吴太伯世家》

To hang a sword on a tree branch----attach importance to faith

颂古非今                       《秦始皇本纪》

Extol the past and deplore the present

                              (From < Biographic Family of the First Emperor of Qin>)

孙庞斗智                         《孙子吴起列传》

Story about military strategy and tactics between Sun Bin and Pang Juan

                             (From )

所向披靡                        《项羽本纪》

Make a clean sweep of aall obstacles wherever one goes; have uninterrupted success

                              (From)

泰山不让土壤                 《刺客列传》

A learned man never stops his pursuit of knowledge.

                    (From )

谈言微中                     《滑稽列传》

Speak tactfully but to the point // make one’s point through hints

                           (From )

贪夫徇财                      《伯夷列传》

Skin a flea for its hide

                       (From )

汤去三面                     《殷本纪》

Leave three sides of the net -----A chartable monarch can attract able men of the world

                       (From )

天高听卑                        《宋微子世家》

Heaven is high but listen to the lowliest

                                 (From )

天粟马角                《刺客列传》

Something impossible to be realized

               (From )

天下汹汹                       《高祖本纪》

The whole nation is clamoring, tumultuous in upheaval

                                   (From < Biographic Sketches of Emperor Liu Bang>)

 

添兵减灶                《孙子·吴起列传》  

Adding soldiers and reducing stoves, an apprearance of weakness made to cheat the enemy

                                   （ From ）

同功一体                              《黥布列传》

One’s merit corrects ponds to his position

                 (From )

同舟敌国                           《孙子吴起列传》

People in the same boat become enemy

                  (From )

头会箕敛                      《张耳陈余列传》

Collect exorbitant taxes and levies

(From )

偷合取容                               《白起王翦列传》

To fall in with other’s wishes and acquire in order to drag out an ignoble existence

                           (From)

土崩瓦解                               《秦始皇本纪》

Fall apart

                                (From )

土穰细流                                  《李斯列传》

Profound learning is an accumulation of knowledge

                          (From )

途遥日暮                               《平津侯王父列传》

Approaching the end of one’s days

                            (From

徒读父书                       《廉颇蔺相如列传》

It is no use in reading his father’s book on the art of war if he is a bookworm, not knowing how to apply what he has read.

                               (From )

图穷匕见                      《刺客列传》

The real intention is revealed in the end.

                      (From )

兔死狗烹                     《越王勾践世家》

Trusted aids are eliminated when they finish their mission

                       (From )

吐哺辍洗                      《高祖本纪》

Be courteous to the wise and condescending to scholars

                            (From < Biographic Sketches of Emperor Liu Bang>)

吐哺握发                      《鲁周公世家》

One’s eagerness to look for worthies and virtuous officials

                                      (From )

推食解衣                         《淮阴侯列传》

Offer one’s own clothes and food to help others

                           (From )

豚蹄穰田                        《滑稽列传》

Hoping much more than what paid off

                        (From )

吞舟之鱼                       《酷吏列传》

A huge fish

                         (From

托之空言                      《太史公自序》

To give empty promises

                           (From )

脱颖而出                     《平原君列传》

Talent showing itself