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Chinese Idiom
枯鱼之肆 (kū yú zhī sì)
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During the Warring States Period (zhàn guó 战国), Juang-tz's family was very poor. When they had nothing left to eat, Juang-tz went to borrow some money from a local official. However, the official told Juang-tz that he would not be able to lend him any money until after he had collected the rent.

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老马识途 (lǎo mǎ shí tú)
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In the Spring and Autumn Period (chūn qiū 春秋时期,770-476 BC), Duke Huan of Qi (qí huán gōng 齐桓公) led an army to attack a small state in the north. They went in spring when green grass covered the ground. But when they came back it was winter. Everywhere was white with snow and the wind was howling. The troops lost their way. While everybody was worrying, Guan Zhong, the duke's chief minister, said: "An old horse may know the way." So the duke ordered several old horses to be choosed to lead the army. In the end, they found the way back home.This idiom refers to the value of experience.

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滥竽充数 (làn yū chōng shù)
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During the Warring States Period (zhàn guó 战国,475-221BC),the King of the State of Qi (qí guó 齐国) was very keen on listening to a traditional musical instrument called Yu (yǖ, 竽) ensembles. He used to require 300 Yu players to form a grand music together thus to express his generosity. These musicians could get rather handson payment through playing for the ruler. A man named Nanguo (nán guō 南郭) learned about that and he wanted badly to become a member of the band due to the big money,even though he was not good at playing the instrument at all. Things went on very smoothly just as Nanguo planed. He successfully got a positon in the Yu band. Whenever the band played for the king,Nanguo just stood in the line,pretending that he was playing with his home heart and soul. However, not even one person paid attention to his fake playing.

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狼狈为奸 ( láng bèi wéi jiān )
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A wolf and a jackal often went hunting together. Once they came to a sheepfold the walls of which were toohigh for them to get over.Then the wolf stood on the back of the jackal. In this way the wolf climbed over the wall to where the sheep were. This idiom is used to describe doing evil things in collusion with others.

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乐不思蜀 (lè bù sī shǔ)
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altLiu Shan (líu shàn刘禅), son of Liu Bei (líu bèi 刘备), was ruler of the kingdom of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms Period (sān guó 三国时代,220-280AD). He was a coward who cared only about amusing himself and knew nothing about ruling a country.

One time, the kingdom of Wei attacked Shu and took Liou Shan prisoner.

The people of Wei gave Liou Shan the title "Duke of peace and Happiness", and took him to live in their capital. Liou Shan had so much fun in the Wei capital that he soon forgot he was the ruler of a defeated kingdom. One day, Sz-ma Jau, a very powerful Wei general, invited Liou Shan over to dinner. Sz-ma Jau intenetionally hired some people to perform traditional Shu songs and plays at dinner, in order to insult Liou Shan.

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乐极生悲 (lè jí shēng bēi)
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Chunyu Kun (chún yú kūn 淳于髡) lived in the state of Qi (qí guó 齐国) during the Warring States Period (zhàn guó,475-221 BC). He was wise, humorous and eloquent. He skillfully advised the king on many occasions and successfully went to many states as an envoy.

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