此處收錄的成語都是中英雙語
All idioms post here are bilingual

便利書籤 Useful bookmarks:

戰國時(公元前475-221年)，齊威王即位三年沒有管理過國家大事。臣子看到國家日趨衰落

有個叫淳于髡的人，他知道齊威王愛猜謎語，便對齊威王說：「大王！我有個不解之謎，請您猜一猜。」齊威王說：「你就說吧！」淳于髡說：「有一隻大鳥，棲息在大王的庭園已三年了，牠不飛不叫。大王知道這是為什麼?」齊威王聽了，知道這是暗示他的，便笑笑說：「這鳥三年不飛，是因為讓翅膀長得堅硬些，一飛起來，就要衝上雲霄；雖然不叫，一叫起來，就便人震驚。」

春秋時，秦國和晉國之間發生戰爭，秦穆公領兵打到晉國的韓地，晉惠公率兵抵抗。晉惠公叫人給他的戰車套上鄭國產的駿馬，大臣慶鄭勸告說：「自古以來，打仗都用本國的好馬，因為它適應本國的水土，熟悉道路，聽從使喚。如今您卻使用外國的馬，這種馬外表看起來很強壯，實際上並沒有什麼耐能，打仗起來一緊張，就會亂踢亂叫，不聽指揮。到時，進退不得，您一定會後悔的！

晉惠公沒有聽從慶鄭的勸告，結果，戰鼓一響，鄭國 馬就驚慌起來，無法駕馭，戰車就陷入泥坑，想進不能；要退不得，晉軍大敗，連晉惠公也被秦軍俘虜。

A war broke out in the Spring & Autumn Period between the state of Qin and the state of Jin. When Duke Mu of Qin led his army to Han in the state of Jin, Duke Hui of Jin prepared to resist with his army and had a fine horse from the state of Zheng harnessed to his chariot. His minister Qing Zheng advised him, 'Since ancient times, people have always used horses of their own country tofight battles because they are adapted to the local conditions, know the roads and answer to bidding but you are now using a foreign horse. It looks outwardly strong but inwardly shriveled. It'll bolt and beigh in the confusion. of a battle and refuse to heed your directions. I'm sure you'll regret it when you find yourself being unable to advance and withdrawal. '

Duke Hui did not accept Qing Zheng's advice ans as soon as the drums of battle began to sound, the horse from the state of Zheng became alarmed and uncontrolable. The chariot was bogged down in a quagmire and could neither advance nor retreat. The Jin army was utterly defected and Duke Hui himself was captured by the Qin army.

傳說古時有一種動物叫蜮，它形狀奇怪，像鱉，但只有三條腿。蜮平時躲在水中，見有人來，就會生瘡或得病，即使噴在人的影子上，此人也會得病。

It was said that in ancient time there was an animal known as Yu. Strangely shaped, it looked like a turtle but had only three legs. Hiding at the bottom of the water, it would be inflected with sores or fall ill. He would become ill even if the sand had his shadow.

從前有一個叫滿願的人，買了一顆又圓又大，光彩奪目的珍珠。他很珍重地收藏起來。有一天，滿願的鄰居壽量在路上拾到一顆又圓又大的魚眼珠，他以為是顆珍珠，也很小心地收藏起來。

後來，有人患了病，需要珍珠配藥才能治好，便出高價到處收購珍珠。滿願知道後，把珍珠拿出來，壽量也把魚眼珠拿出來。兩顆珠子放在一起，立刻就分別出來了。這正是魚目豈為硃；蓬蒿不成檟。

Long, long ago, a man named Man Yuan bought a big, round pearl and carefully stored it. His neighbor Shou Liang picked up a big, round fish eye one day and considered it as a pearl and also stored it carefully.

Later on, when a person who was ill needed a pearl for medicine, Man Yuan and Shou Liang took out their pearl and the patient said, 'How can a fish eye be a pearl?' wild grass can't be passed off as a tea.

南北朝時，有個文學家叫庾信 (公元513~581)，他奉梁元帝之命出使西魏。 在他出使西域期間，梁朝被西魏滅亡。由於庾信在文壇上有聲望，被西魏留下，並做了大官。庾信在西魏的廿八年間，常常思念故土，在他寫的【征調曲】中的兩句：「落其實者思其樹；飲其流者懷其源。 」大意是吃果子時，想到生長果子的樹，喝水時，想到水的來源。

During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Yu Xin, ( 513~581 B.C.) a man of letters,was sent by Emperor Yuandi of the Liang Dynasty to the Western Wei Dynasty was sa his envoy. While he was serving as an envoy, the Liang Dynasty was subjugated by Western Wei. On account of his literary fame, Yu Xin was asked to serve in the Western Wei court and became a prominent official. During his twenty-eight years' stay in Western Wei, Yu Xin always thought about his old country and home. In a poem he wrote, there are these two lines: 'When you eat fruit, think of the tree that bore it. When you drink water, think of its source.'

東漢末年，曹操準備率兵南征，但他擔心大軍南下後，涼州太守馬騰會襲擊京都洛陽。於是他採納了謀士荀攸的建議，封馬騰為征南將軍，弔他進京。然後殺掉。

馬騰接到詔書後，和幾個子姪商量去還是不去。兒子馬超主張去，姪兒馬岱主張不要去。馬岱說：「曹操陰險毒辣，心懷叵測，叔父如果去了，恐怕會遭殺害。」

馬騰沒有聽從馬岱的話，帶著五千兵馬到京都，後來果然被曹操殺害。

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, before Cao Cao started an expedition against the South, he feared that Ma Teng, governor of Liangzhou, might attack his capital Luoyang during his absence. On the suggestion of his advisor Xun You,, he conferred the title of General of the Southern Expedition on Ma Teng with the intention of luring him into the capital and then killing him.

When Ma Teng received the edict, he discussed with his son and nephew whether he should go to the capital or not. His son Ma Chao said that he should while his nephew Ma Dai advised against it. Ma Dai said, Cao Cao is a treacherous fellow who harbours evil designs. If you go you will probably meet death at his hand.'

Unheeding Ma Dai's warning, Ma Teng led five thousand soldiers and went to the capital, where he was indeed murderer by Cao Cao.

戰國時，秦國出兵進攻趙國的都圬邯鄲，趙王派他的弟弟平原君到楚國求援。平原君決定挑選二十個文武全才的人跟他一塊去，但挑來挑去只挑了十九人。這時，門客毛遂到平原君面前說：「那就讓我去吧！」平原君問道：「先生在我門下幾年了?」毛遂回答說：「三年了。」平原君說：「有才能的人，它的尖兒委快就會露出來。先生來了三年沒有人提起您，我看你還是留下吧！」毛遂回答說：「您從來就沒有像錐子那樣把我放進您的口袋裡，要是早放進去了，它早就會整個兒挺出來，何止露出一點尖鋒呢?」平原君見他說得有道理，便答應了他的要求。

到了楚國，平原君就跟楚王商討聯合抗秦的事。由於楚王拒絕，談了半天也沒有得出結果來。這時，毛遂挺身而出，走到楚王面前，陳述利害，楚王被毛遂說服，答應了趙國的要求。

During the Warring States Period, the state of Qin launched an attack on Handan, capital of Zhao. The king of Zhao decided to send his younger brother, the Prince of Pingyuan, to seek help from Chu. The Prince wanted to pick twenty men well versed in both polite letters and material arts to go with him. He could, however, find only nineteen such men.

'Let me go, then, 'Mao Sui, one of the Prince's retainers, recommended himself. 'But how long have you been with me?' asked the Prince. 'Three years' was the answer, whereupon the Prince held forth. 'A man of ability is like an awl in a cloth bag-its point will soon pierce through for all to see. You've been here for three years, yet nobody has ever mentioned you before me. You'd better stay behind.' 'But you've never regarded me as an awl and put me in your bag. If you have, the whole-- and not merely the point--of me would have pierce through,' Convinced, the Prince granted Mao Sui's request.

When he arrived Chu, the Prince of Pingyuan held talks with its king on uniting to resist Qin. The meeting dragged on for a long time and no agreement was reached because of the Chu King's reluctance to held Zhao. His patience taxed, Mao Sui walked up to the king. He analysed the pros and coins of the whole issue and finally convinced the Chu ruler to comply with the request of Zhao.

南北朝時，北魏孝文帝遷都洛陽，派元志做洛陽令。有一天，元志乘車外出，在馬路上和御史中尉李彪的車馬相遇。按規定，百姓要為官員讓路，下級官員要為上級官員讓路。可是，元志毫不謙讓，李彪非常生氣，雙方爭執起來。一直鬧到孝文帝那裡，並要他斷定哪一方對。李彪說：「我是朝廷近臣，元志只是地方長官，哪有我抗衡的道理?」元志說：為什麼要我「皇帝任命我管理京城，凡是居住在洛陽的人麵編在我的戶籍內，讓路給你呢?」孝文帝看看二人，不好評判是非，只好說：「你們就分開道路，驅馬而行吧！」元志從宮廷出來找來標尺，在街道上測量劃線，從此，他們就各走各路。

Yuan Zhi was appointed governor of Luoyang when Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved his capital to Luoyang during the period of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. One day when Yuan Zhi went out, his carriage met head-on with that of Li Biao, the Imperial Censor, According to regulations, common people were to give way to officials and officials of lower ranks to officials of higher ranks. but Yuan Zhi refused to give way. Li Biao was very angry. The two of them started to quarrel and together they went to see Emperor Xiaowen and asked him to say which side was right. 'I'm an official of the court while Yuan Zhi is only a local official. what right does he have to block my path?' said Li Biao. 'The emperor has appointed me to gover the cpital. All people living in Luoyang are listed in my census register. Why do I have to give way?' coutered Yuan Zhi. Finding it difficult to say which side was right, Emperor Xiaowen said, 'Divide the path so that each of you can go talong different ways.' when they came out of the court, Yuan Zhi found a measuring rod and divided the road in the middle. from then on, each of them travelling along a different path..

春秋時，鄭國攻打宋國，宋國大將華元率兵抵抗。決戰前夕，華元為了鼓舞士氣，特地宰羊設酒犒勞將士。將士吃昔羊肉，喝著美酒，一片歡騰。唯獨不讓駕車的羊斟參加宴會。他獃獃地坐在一旁，饞涎欲滴。

決戰開始，華元命令羊斟把戰車趕向鄭軍右方，兵力薄弱的地方，以便指揮宋軍向這裡突破，可是羊斟卻反向而馳，將戰車趕往鄭軍左方兵卒密集的地方。華元大叫：「停車！停車！」羊斟得意地回答說：「先前吃羊肉的事你作主，今日趕車的事我作主！」說完，揮鞭把戰車趕到鄭軍陣地。一群鄭兵趁機蜂擁而上，把華元捉住，宋軍見主將被俘，軍心大亂，便委快敗北了。

It happened in the Spring and Autumn Period. The state of Zheng started an attack against the state of Song. The Song geberal Hua Yuan resisted with his army. On the eve of the decisive battle, Hua Yuan gave a feast of mutton and wine to his soldiers to raise their morale. The feast went on with much merry-making. but Yang Zhen, the driver of Hua's chariot, was not allowed to come to the feast. He had to sit lonely on the side with his mouth waterin.

When the decisive battle began, Hua Yuan ordered Yang Zhen to driver the chariot to the weak right flank of the Zheng army so that the Song army could make a breakthrough there but Yang Zhen drove the chariot in the oppsite direction to the left flank of the Zheng army where there was a large concentration of soldiers. 'Stop the chariot! Stop the chariot!' cried Hua Yuan. 'It was you who decided who was to eat mutton. It's now my turn to decide where the chariot is to go!' answered complacently Yang Zhen. As he said so, he drove the chariot right to the positions of Zheng army. The Zheng soldiers swarmed over and captured Hua Yuan. When the Song soldiers saw that their general had been taken prisoner, their morale was greatly shaken and they were soon defeated by the enemy.

昭平君是漢武帝的女婿，倚仗皇親國戚的關係，橫行無忌。 有一次，昭平君酒後殺人，論罪應判死刑。漢武帝很為難，妹妹隆慮公主臨終時，請求他照顧昭平君。最後漢武帝不想壞了法制，處死了昭平君。

漢武帝為此悶悶不樂，東方朔勸解他說：「陛下已做到賞功不分仇敵，罰罪不論親疏，四海之內的平民百姓各得其所。」

Lord Zhaoping, the son-in-law of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, ran amuck relying on his kinship with the Emperor. Once,Lord Zhaoping committed murder after drinking, and should be sentenced to death according to law. Emperor Wudi was embarrassed, for his sister Princess Longlu, on her deathbed, had begged him to give Zhaoping preferentil treatment. At last, unwilling to violate the legal system, Emperor Wudi executed Zhaoping, but was in low spirits afterward. So Dongfang Shou comforted him, 'Your Majesty gave rewards for merits and punishment for crimes, irrespective of enemies and relatives, so the common people throughout the whole nation can enjoy their own places.  

從前，有個音樂家叫公明儀。一天他正在彈琴，看見旁邊有頭牛在吃草。 他心想，我來彈幾支曲子讓牠聽聽吧。他先彈了一支高深的樂曲，可是那牛毫不理會，仍然在那裡頭吃草。 公明儀想，牛怎能欣賞這種高深的樂曲呢?他又彈了一支曲子，這支曲子彈得一會兒像蚊子叫，一會兒像牛犢叫。 這頭牛才搖起尾巴，豎起耳朵留心聽起來。

Once when the musician Gongming Yi was playing a lute, he saw a cow muching grass nearby. He thought that maybe he could play some music for the cow. He began to play an exquisite melody, but the cow took no notice of him and continued to munch grass. 'How can I expect a cow to understand this kind of profound music?' Gongming Yi relized. So he began to play another melody which imitated the buzzing of the mosquitoes an the cry of calf. The cow wagged it tail, pricked up its ears and began to listen attentively.

一天，齊莊公乘車出去打獵，看見一隻綠色小昆蟲舉起兩隻前腳， 向馬車輪子撲過來。齊莊公覺得很奇怪，就問車伕這是什麼昆蟲。車伕回答說：「這是螳螂。這種蟲只知道前進，不知道後退，從不估量自己的力量，總是逕直地攻擊敵人。」

莊公聽了，深有感觸地說：「 如果牠是人的話，一定會是天下無敵的勇士啊！」然後命令馬伕從螳螂身邊駛過，不要輾過牠。」

One day when Duke Zhuanggong of the state Qi went out hunting on a chariot, he saw a green insect rushing straight at the wheel of the chariot with its two forelegs raised. Puzzled, the Duke asked his driver 'What is this insect?' ' This is a mantis,' the driver answered. 'This insect knows only to advance and not to back off. It always pounces straight at the enemy without considering its own strength.' The Duke was deeply moved. He said, 'If it were a man, it would become an invincible hero.' He then ordered the driver to make a detour so that the chariot would not crush the mantis.

楚國有一家人，祭過了祖先之後，便將一壺祭祀用過的酒留給辦事人員喝。辦事人員很多，僅僅一壺酒，到底給誰好呢?有人提議：每人在地上畫一條蛇，誰畫得最好就給誰。大家都認為這個辦法很好。

有一個人很快就把蛇畫好了。這壺酒就歸他了。 此時，他回頭看看別人，都沒有畫好，就得意洋洋地說：「你們畫得很慢，讓我玥畫上幾隻蛇腳吧！」另一個人也把蛇畫好了，便把酒壺奪過來，說：「蛇是沒有腳的，你怎麼畫了腳?」說罷，就喝起酒來。

A family in the state of Chu gave a pot of wine used in the ancestor memorial ceremony to the family stewards. As there was only one pot of wine for many stewards, the stewards could not decide who was to drink it. Someone suggested that each of them draw a snake on the ground, and the one who finished first with a good picture of a snake would have the wine. They all agreed, saying it was a good method.

The man who finished first took the wine. When he turned and saw that the others had not finished, he said complacently,' You've all been so slow. I'm adding some legs to my snake.' As he was adding legs to his snake, another man finished his. 'Why should you add legs?' As he said so, he began to drink the wine.

　　春秋时候，晋献公想要扩充自己的实力和地盘，就找借口说邻近的虢（guó）国经常侵犯晋国的边境，要派兵灭了虢国。可是在晋国和虢国之间隔着一个虞国，讨伐虢国必须经过虞地。“怎样才能顺利通过虞国呢？”晋献公问手下的大臣。大夫荀息说：“虞国国君是个目光短浅、贪图小利的人，只要我们送他价值连城的美玉和宝马，他不会不答应借道的。”晋献公一听有点舍不得，荀息看出了晋献公的心思，就说：“虞虢两国是唇齿相依的近邻，虢国灭了，虞国也不能独存，您的美玉宝马不过是暂时存放在虞公那里罢了。”晋献公采纳了荀息的计策。  

　　虞国国君见到这两们珍贵的礼物，顿时心花怒放，听到荀息说要借道虞国之事时，当时就满口答应下来。虞国大夫宫之奇听说后，赶快阻止道：“不行，不行，虞国和虢国是唇齿相依的近邻，我们两个小国相互依存，有事可以自彼帮助，万一虢国灭了，我们虞国也就难保了。俗话说：‘唇亡齿寒’，没有嘴唇，牙齿也保不住啊！借道给晋国万万使不得。”虞公说：“人家晋国是大国，现在特意送来美玉宝马和咱们交朋友，难道咱们借条道路让他们走走都不行吗？”宫之奇连声叹气，知道虞国离灭亡的日子不远了，于是就带着一家老小离开了虞国。

　　果然，晋国军队借道虞国，消灭了虢国，随后又把亲自迎接晋军的虞公抓住，灭了虞国。   故事出自《左传·僖公五年》。成语“唇亡齿寒”，比喻双方关系密切，相互依存。

If the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Will Be Cold

    During the Spring and Autumn Period (707 - 476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Wanted to expand his position of  strength and sphere of influence. Therefore he would like to send his troops to destroy the State of Guo on the pretest that the State of Guo often encroached on theborders of the State of Jin. But there was a third state, the State of Yu,between the State of Jin and the State of Guo, and the Jin army had to cross the State of Yu before it could reach the State of Guo . "How can my army cross the State of Yu without a hitch?" Duke Xian of the State of Jin asked his ministers.Xun Xi , one of the ministers, said, "The monarch of the State of Yu is   short - sighted and covets small advantages. If we give him priceless precious stones and fine horses, it is not unlikely that he will allow our army to pass through his country. " Seeing that Duke Xian of the State of Jin was a little bit grudging, Xun Xi continued to say, "The State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor stated as closely related as lips and teeth. The State of Yu cannot exist independently if the state of Guo is destroyed. Your precious stones and fime hores are just left in the care of the monarch of the State of Yu." So Duke Xian of the State of Jin accepted Xun Xi's plan. When the monarch of Yu saw the precious gifts, he was elated,and readily promised to let the Jin army pass through his state. Hearing the news, Gong Zhiqi, one of the ministers as the State of Yu, hastened to admonish the monarch, saying," That won't do.For   the State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor states as closely related as lips and teeth. Our two small states are interdependent, and can help cach other when problems crop up .If the State of Guo were destroyed, it would be difficult for our State of Yu to continue to exist. As the common saying goes, if the lips are gone ,the teeth will be cold, The teeth can hardly be kept if the lips are gone. So it won't do at all to allow the Jin army pass our state." The monarch of the State of Yu said," The State of Jin is a big state. Now they here specially to present gifts to us with the intention of being on friendly terms with us. Under such circumstances, how can we refuse to allow them to pass through our state?" Hearing this, Gong Zhiqi sighed repeatedly. Knowing that the State of Yu would soon be destroyed, Gong Zhiqi left the State of Yu together with his whole family.

    As expected, the troops of the State of Jin, allowed to pass through the State of Yu, destroyed the State of Guo and on their return  trip captured the monarch of the State of Yu who went out personally to meet them, htus destroying the State of Yu as Well.

    This story appears in the chapter " The Fifth Year of Duke Xi " in Zuo zhuan, the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The Spring and Autumn Annals. The set phrase " if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold " is used to mean that two persons or things share a common lot and that is one fails ,the other is in danger.

国末年，晋武帝司马炎灭掉蜀国，夺取魏国政权以后，准备出兵攻打东吴，实现统一全中国的愿望。他召集文武大臣们商量灭大计。多数人认为，吴国还有一定实力，一举消灭它恐怕不易，不如有了足够的准备再说。

　　大将杜预不同意多数人的看法，写了一道奏章给晋武帝。杜预认为，必须趁目前昊国衰弱，忙灭掉它，不然等它有了实力就很难打败它了。司马炎看了杜预的奏章，找自己的最信任的大臣张华征求意见。张华很同意杜预的分析，也劝司马炎快快攻打吴国，以免留下后患。于是司马炎就下了决心，任命杜预作征南大将军。   公元279年，晋武帝司马炎调动了二十多万兵马，分成六路水陆并进，攻打吴国，一路战鼓齐鸣，战旗飘扬，战士威武雄壮。第二年就攻占了江陵，斩了吴国一员大将，率领军队乘胜追击。在沅江、湘江以南的吴军听到风声吓破了胆，纷纷打开城门投降。司马炎下令让杜预从小路向吴国国都建业进发。此时，有人担心长江水势暴涨，不如暂收兵等到冬天进攻更有利。杜预坚决反对退兵，他说：“现在趁士气高涨，斗志正旺，取得一个又一个胜利，势如破竹（像用快刀劈竹子一样，劈过几节后竹子就迎刃破裂），一举攻击吴国不会再费多大力气了！” 晋朝大军在杜预率领下，直冲向吴都建业，不久就攻占建业灭了吴国。晋武帝统一了全国。

　　故事出自《晋书·杜预传》。成语“势如破竹”，形容战斗节节胜利，毫无阻挡。

Like Splitting a Bamboo

    In the last years of the Three Kingdoms period,Sima Yan conquered the Kingdom of Shu and seized the state power of the Kingdom of Wei, and became Emperor Wudi of the Jin Dynasty. Then he planned to send his troops to attack the Kingdom of   Wu so as to unify China. He called his civil and military officials to discuss the plan to destroy the Kingdom of Wu. Most of the them thought that it would be difficult to try to destroy the Kingdom of Wu with one action because the Kingdom of Wu was still powerfou. So it would be better to wait until fuller preparations were made. However,General Du Yu did not agree with them, so he wrote a memorial to the throne. According to Du Yu, it would be better to destroy the Kingdom of Wu as soon as possible, because it was still weak at that time. It would be more difficult to defeat the Kingdom of Wu later if it became stronger. After reading it, Emperor Wudi to send troops to attack the Kingdom of Wu as early as possible, so as to avoid future trouble. So Emperor Wudi made up his  mind, and

    appointed Du Yu the Grand General for Conquering the south . In 279, sima Yan, Emperor Wudi of the Jin Dynasty, mustered more than two hundred thousand troops who were divided into six army divisions to proceed by both land and water to attack the kingdom of Wu. Battle drums thundering and the colours fluttering, the soldiers were full of power and grandeur. The next day, Jiangling city was captured, and a general of the Kingdom of Wu was killed. And the Jin army pushed on in the flush of victory. Hearing this, the troops of the Kingdom of Wu south of the Yuanjiang River and the Xiangjiang River were overwhelmed with fear, and they opened the gates of cities and surrendered one after another. Sima Yan ordered Du Yu to advance to Jianye, capital city of the Kingdom of Wu, by water.Someone feared that the Yangtze River might have a sharp rise and thought it more advantageous to withdraw the troops for the time being and wait until winter came. Du Yu resolutely opposed the idea, saying ," Now our army's morale is high,and our army is winning one victory after another, just like a sharp knife splitting a bamboo. It won't be too strenuous to conquer the Kingdom of Wu with one action. " Under Du Yu's command , the Jin army charged at the capital city Jianye, occupied it ,and thus destroyed the Kingdom of wu. In this way, Emperor Wudi of the Jin Dynasty unified the whole country. This story appears in "The Life of Du Yu "in The History of the Jin Dynasty. Later the set phrase" like splitting a bamboo" is used to refer to irresistible force or victorious advance.

晋代文学家左思，小时候是个非常顽皮、不爱读书的孩子。父亲经常为这事发脾气，可是小左思仍然淘气得很，不肯好好学习。

    有一天，左思的父亲与朋友们聊天，朋友们羡慕他有个聪明可爱的儿子。左思的父亲叹口气说：“快别提他了，小儿左思的学习，还不如我小时候，看来没有多大的出息了。”说着，脸上流露出失望的神色。这一切都被小左思看到听到了，他非常难过，觉得自己不好好念书确实很没出息。于是，暗暗下定决心，一定要刻苦学习。

    日复一日，年复一年，左思渐渐长大了，由于他坚持不懈地发奋读书，终于成为一位学识渊博的人，文章也写得非常好。他用一年的时间写成了《齐都赋》，显示出他在文学方面的才华，为他成为杰出的文学家奠定了基础。这以后他又计划以三国时魏、蜀、吴首都的风土、人情、物产为内容，撰写《三都赋》。为了在内容、结构、语言诸方面都达到一定水平，他潜心研究，精心撰写，废寝忘食，用了整整十年，文学巨著《三都赋》终于写成了。

    《三都赋》受到谅也评，人们把它和汉代文学杰作《两都赋》相比。由于当时还没有发明印刷术，喜爱《三都赋》的人只能争相抄阅，因为抄写的人太多，京城洛阳的纸张供不应求，一时间全城纸价大幅度上升。

    故事出自《晋书·文苑·左思传》。成语“洛阳纸贵”，称颂杰出的作品风行一进。

  Overwhelming Popularity of a New Work Causes Shortage of Printing Paper

  In the Jin Dynasty (265-420) there was a famous writer whose name was Zuo Si who, however, was very naughty and did not like to study when he was a small kid.His father often got angry, and yet young Zuo Si was as naughty as ever and would not study hard.

  One day, Zuo Si's father was chatting with his friends. his friends envied him his clever and loverly son. Hearing this, Zuo si's father sighed, "Please do not mention him. My son Zuo si does not study as well as I did when I was young, although I did not study well enough myself. It appears that he is actually a good-for-nothing." So saying, he looked disappointed. All this was witnessed by young Zuo Si. He felt very sad, feeling intensely that he would not be able to have a bright future if he did not study hard. So he was determined to study assiduously from then on. Day after day and year after year, Zuo Si gradually grew up. Because of his unremitting afforts in hard study, he became an erudite scholar and wrote very excellent essays. The "Ode to the Capital of the State of Qi", which took him one year to write, showed his brilliant literary talent and laid the foundation for his becoming an outstanding writer. then he planned to write an "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu" with the local conditions and customs as well as the produce of the three capitals as its content. In order to achieve the desired effect in content, structure and language, he applied himself to research work with great concentration, and was so absorbed in creative writing as to forget food and sleep. It took him ten whole years to finish the writing of "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu", a literary masterpiece.

  The "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu" was well received by the broad masses of readers after it made its appearance to the public, and people considered it as superbly written as the "Ode to the Western Capital (Changan) and to the Eastern Capital (Luoyang)" written by Ban Gu (32-92) and the "Ode to the Western Capital and to the Eastern Capital" written by Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D.220). As the art of printing had not been invented at that time, people who were fond of this "Ode" had to make handwritten copies of it themselves. As there were so many people who vied with each other in making handwritten copies, the supply of writing paper fell short of the demand in Luoyang went up greatly.

  This story comes from "The life of Zuo Si" in the book "Literary Field" of The History of the Jin Dynasty. Based on this story, people have coined the set phrase "the price of writing paper went up greatly", meaning the overwhelming popularity of a new work causes shortage of printing paper, to show how popular an outstanding piece of literary work is.