{"id":1909,"date":"2024-09-09T16:04:45","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T16:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/?p=1909"},"modified":"2024-09-09T16:13:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T16:13:28","slug":"must-know-chinese-idioms-from-romance-of-the-three-kingdoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2024\/09\/09\/must-know-chinese-idioms-from-romance-of-the-three-kingdoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Must Know Chinese Idioms from Romance of the Three Kingdoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1909\" class=\"elementor elementor-1909\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e765c04 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e765c04\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-560cf2a\" data-id=\"560cf2a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0910c46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0910c46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>One of the many things that makes Chinese such a fascinating language to learn is the wealth of idioms, proverbs, and expressions that you\u2019ll come across, many of which come directly from ancient literature.<\/p><p>While digging into this side of Chinese might seem a bit overwhelming at first, the ancient historical novel \u201cRomance of the Three Kingdoms\u201d is a great place to start! While the book is somewhat difficult to approach, its plot and characters are often referred to in the form of idioms and other expressions.\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Knowing how to use these expressions and references is a sure-fire way to sound extra eloquent and well-read!<\/span><\/p><p>For more background on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, check out our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2024\/07\/22\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-romance-of-the-three-kingdoms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">timeline<\/a>\u00a0here, or check out our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/courses\/28-three-kingdoms-1-the-beauty-trap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Kingdoms series<\/a>\u00a0to read an abridged version of the story yourself!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-13f64ee elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"13f64ee\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6bee62e\" data-id=\"6bee62e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf55a11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cf55a11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Idioms <ruby>\u6210\u8bed<rt>ch\u00e9ngy\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby><\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-461fcf4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"461fcf4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0352971\" data-id=\"0352971\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-945be31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"945be31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Chinese idioms, usually referred to as &#8220;chengyu&#8221;, are four-character idiomatic expressions used to express a complex idea or message in a concise way. Here are some famous chengyu derived from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36c370b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"36c370b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u4e09\u987e\u8305\u5e90<rt>s\u0101n g\u00f9 m\u00e1o l\u00fa<\/rt><\/ruby>: \"To make three visits to the thatched cottage.\"<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-125fe83 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"125fe83\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a9517c9\" data-id=\"a9517c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-186b71c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"186b71c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom references Liu Bei\u2019s three visits to the home of Zhuge Liang, a prodigy who would become his chief advisor and change the course of history! Nowadays, this idiom refers to persistence in asking for the help of a talented person. If you ever find yourself having to beg someone capable to lend you a hand, this idiom might come in handy! <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-686da55\" data-id=\"686da55\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-511b57c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"511b57c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"828\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/92646b4ea3cf5fb270b1b164c4e576024cb35fc9.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2098\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/92646b4ea3cf5fb270b1b164c4e576024cb35fc9.jpg 828w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/92646b4ea3cf5fb270b1b164c4e576024cb35fc9-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/92646b4ea3cf5fb270b1b164c4e576024cb35fc9-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f707994 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f707994\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u4e4c\u5408\u4e4b\u4f17<rt>w\u016b h\u00e9 zh\u012b zh\u00f2ng<\/rt><\/ruby>: \"A trick to buy time\"; \"To stall\"<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be33ec8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be33ec8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This one refers to tactics employed by the aforementioned Zhuge Liang to slow down an enemy army. Nowadays, it refers to any tactic or trick used to stall or otherwise buy time. If you\u2019ve ever pulled a stunt to extend an impending deadline, then you\u2019re already familiar with this advanced war tactic!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-789a412 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"789a412\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6b65\u6b65\u4e3a\u8425<rt>b\u00f9 b\u00f9 w\u00e9i y\u00edng<\/rt><\/ruby>: \"To dig in at every step\"<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5993eb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5993eb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Literally \u201cto make camp with every step forward\u201d, this one again calls back to the brilliance of Zhuge Liang\u2019s war strategy. It\u2019s used to describe taking extreme caution and prudence when advancing towards a goal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6983fbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6983fbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u8349\u8239\u501f\u7bad<rt>c\u01ceo chu\u00e1n ji\u00e8 ji\u00e0n <\/rt><\/ruby>: \u201cTo borrow arrows with straw boats\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06c2dcb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06c2dcb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This one requires a bit of background information. During the Battle of Red Cliffs, a pivotal moment in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, our favorite Zhuge Liang is challenged to procure 100,000 arrows in three days, lest he lose his head. To no one\u2019s surprise, he managed to achieve this monumental feat by sending straw boats into enemy waters, pulling them back along with the staggering number of arrows that had been fired into them. Nowadays, this idiom is used to describe a situation where someone turns overwhelming odds in their favor through cunning. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fa8a3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3fa8a3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6843\u56ed\u7ed3\u4e49<rt>t\u00e1o yu\u00e1n ji\u00e9 y\u00ec<\/rt><\/ruby>: \u201cTo make a pact of brotherhood\u201d\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f75be56 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f75be56\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-dc9c6a9\" data-id=\"dc9c6a9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-652eea5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"652eea5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom refers to the unshakeable bond that was formed between Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu. These three heroes\u2019 loyalty to each other throughout Romance of the Three Kingdoms has reached legendary status, and it all began with an oath that they swore in a peach garden.\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">In modern Chinese, this idiom is used to describe a strong bond of brotherhood.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e224d82\" data-id=\"e224d82\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddbb5c0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ddbb5c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"828\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bea0e94847c57a7e65dd345b5a1310353fe5bed9.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2099\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bea0e94847c57a7e65dd345b5a1310353fe5bed9.jpg 828w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bea0e94847c57a7e65dd345b5a1310353fe5bed9-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bea0e94847c57a7e65dd345b5a1310353fe5bed9-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab29b4f elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab29b4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To read more about these three blood-brothers\u2019 pact, check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/courses\/38-three-kingdoms-prologue-oath-of-the-peach-garden?chapter=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Kingdoms Prologue: Oath of the Peach Garden<\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-973bc68 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"973bc68\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-630f074\" data-id=\"630f074\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-089d03f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"089d03f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Allusions and Other Expressions <ruby>\u5178\u6545<rt>di\u01cen g\u00f9<\/rt><\/ruby>\n<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84ba1b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"84ba1b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u519b\u4ee4\u72b6<rt>j\u016bn l\u00ecng zhu\u00e0ng<\/rt><\/ruby>: \"Military Pledge\"\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8a25bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8a25bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe \u201c<ruby>\u519b\u4ee4\u72b6<rt>j\u016bn l\u00ecng zhu\u00e0ng<\/rt><\/ruby>\u201d, or \u201cmilitary pledge\u201d, was a part of the culture of the armies of ancient China where failure to complete a given task would result in severe punishment. The best example of this would be Zhuge Liang\u2019s mission to produce 100,000 arrows. Nowadays, people use this word to express their commitment to completing a task. For example, someone might say, \u201cThank you for believing in me. I am willing to write a \u2018military pledge\u2019 and guarantee that it\u2019ll get done!\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-342a7b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"342a7b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u82e6\u8089\u8ba1<rt>k\u01d4 r\u00f2u j\u00ec<\/rt><\/ruby>: \"Ruse of self-injury\"<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2e2e57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d2e2e57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The \u201cruse of self-injury\u201d refers to the tactic of deliberately hurting oneself to garner sympathy or further some aim. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Huang Gai allows himself to be beaten in order to convince the enemy that he\u2019d switched sides. Nowadays, a husband might do extra housework in order to gain forgiveness from his wife.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21709f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"21709f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u7f8e\u4eba\u8ba1<rt>m\u011bi r\u00e9n j\u00ec\n<\/rt><\/ruby>: \"Honey trap\"<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f201dd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f201dd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is yet another tactic used in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where the beautiful Diao Chan leverages her charm to lure the tyrant Dong Zhuo into a weak position. Just like the English \u201choney pot\u201d, this expression refers to the act of catching a target off-guard with the charm of a beautiful woman. Read\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/928-the-honey-trap-of-the-three-kingdoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this article<\/a>\u00a0to learn Diao Chan\u2019s story!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1796f30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1796f30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Two Part Allegorical Sayings <ruby>\u6b47\u540e\u8bed<rt>xi\u0113 h\u00f2u y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby><\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e56deb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e56deb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA <ruby>\u6b47\u540e\u8bed<rt>xi\u0113 h\u00f2u y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> is a type of traditional Chinese saying or folk idiom that consists of two parts. The first part typically presents a situation, action, or description, while the second part provides a witty, humorous, or clever twist that offers a resolution or conclusion to the initial statement. Here are two examples from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms! These sayings are particularly interesting because oftentimes the second half of the saying is omitted. An example of how this in English would be like saying, \u201cWell, you know what they say about the early bird\u2026\u201d Notice how the second half of the expression, \u201cgets the worm\u201d, is left out!\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94cce46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"94cce46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u5468\u745c\u6253\u9ec4\u76d6<rt>zh\u014du y\u00fa d\u01ce hu\u00e1ng g\u00e0i<\/rt><\/ruby>\u2026\u2026 <ruby>\u4e00\u4e2a\u613f\u6253<rt>y\u00ed g\u00e8 yu\u00e0n d\u01ce<\/rt><\/ruby>\uff0c <ruby>\u4e00\u4e2a\u613f\u6328<rt>y\u00ed g\u00e8 yu\u00e0n \u01cei<\/rt><\/ruby>: <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7f7bc0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d7f7bc0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"When Zhou Yu beat Huang Gai, one was willing to beat, the other to be beaten.\"<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e1497e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0e1497e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This one again calls back to Huang Gai being beaten by Zhou Yu to prove to the enemy that he\u2019s defected, although this saying expresses a different meaning than <ruby>\u82e6\u8089\u8ba1<rt>k\u01d4 r\u00f2u j\u00ec<\/rt><\/ruby>: \u201cRuse of Self-Injury\u201d. Here, the emphasis is on the fact that both parties were willing participants in what happened, specifically Huang Gai.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">In everyday life, this phrase refers to someone who allows themselves to be victimized. For example, if someone stays at a job despite complaining constantly about a nasty boss, someone might say \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know what to say! One was willing to beat\u2026!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa8e152 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fa8e152\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u4e07\u4e8b\u4ff1\u5907<rt>w\u00e0n sh\u00ec j\u00f9 b\u00e8i<\/rt><\/ruby>\u2026\u2026 <ruby>\u53ea\u6b20\u4e1c\u98ce<rt>zh\u01d0 qi\u00e0n d\u014dng f\u0113ng<\/rt><\/ruby>: <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce257d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ce257d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"All is in place, all that\u2019s missing is an Eastern wind.\"<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3f1942 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3f1942\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This saying, \u201cAll is in place, all that\u2019s missing is an Eastern wind\u201d, is a direct reference to the Battle of Red Cliffs, where our heroes\u2019 find that their elaborate plan hinges on the wind blowing Eastward. In daily life, it\u2019s used when preparations have been made, but one crucial condition needs to be met before action can be taken.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;\">For example, say today is your mom\u2019s birthday. After she goes out to work, you and your dad bake a cake and set up a surprise party. In this situation, you might say to your dad, <\/span><ruby style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;\">\u4e07\u4e8b\u4ff1\u5907<rt>w\u00e0n sh\u00ec j\u00f9 b\u00e8i<\/rt><\/ruby><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;\">\uff0c <\/span><ruby style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;\">\u53ea\u6b20\u4e1c\u98ce<rt>zh\u01d0 qi\u00e0n d\u014dng f\u0113ng<\/rt><\/ruby><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;\">\u201d (All is in place, all that\u2019s missing is an Eastern wind)! In English, you might say: \u201cThe stage is set, now we wait!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71482eb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71482eb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-78f08cb\" data-id=\"78f08cb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a0c284 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a0c284\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Want to learn more?<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13ff135 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13ff135\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Check out our&nbsp;<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff; transition-property: all;\" href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/courses\/28-three-kingdoms-1-the-beauty-trap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Kingdoms series<\/a>&nbsp;to learn the stories and characters that gave us these wonderful expressions!<\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">If you are interested in more Chinese idioms, check out our Upper Intermediate course:&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/courses\/116-the-stories-behind-chinese-idioms\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Stories Behind Chinese Idioms<\/a><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea5f66c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea5f66c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ac9876b\" data-id=\"ac9876b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab7c3bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ab7c3bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Articles<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-63a09e6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"63a09e6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3862f4e\" data-id=\"3862f4e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1d53bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b1d53bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2024\/07\/22\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-romance-of-the-three-kingdoms\/\" target=\"_blank\">Everything you need to know about Romance of the Three Kingdoms&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2024\/08\/12\/romance-of-the-three-kingdoms-collection\/\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Romance of the Three Kingdoms Collection&nbsp;<\/a><br><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2024\/09\/02\/clash-of-legends-the-battle-of-red-cliffs\/\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Clash of Legends: The Battle of Red Cliffs<\/a><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the many things that makes Chinese such a fascinating language to learn is the wealth of idioms, proverbs, and expressions that you\u2019ll come across, many of which come directly from ancient literature. While digging into this side of Chinese might seem a bit overwhelming at first, the ancient historical novel \u201cRomance of the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[14,32,33],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/\u65b0\u520a\u6821\u6b63\u53e4\u672c\u5927\u5b57\u97f3\u91ca\u4e09\u56fd\u5fd7\u901a\u4fd7\u6f14\u4e49_\u660e\u4e07\u5386\u5341\u4e5d\u5e74\u4e66\u6797\u5468\u66f0\u6821\u520a\u672c_002-e1723494920969.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1909"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1909"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2106,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1909\/revisions\/2106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}