东郭先生是一个仁慈的学者，很乐于助人。一天，他背着书袋在路上走着。忽然，从后面跑来一只狼。狼对东郭先生说：“先生， 救救我吧!有人要杀我!”
So Mr．Dongguo took the books out of the bag，and let the wolf get in．Soon，a man came and asked，“Is there a wolf here?”Mr．Dongguo said，“No，there isn’t．” After the man went away，the wolf cried，“Let me out!”Mr．Dongguo let the wolf out，but the wolf said，“Mr．Dongguo，I’m hungry，I must eat you!” At this moment，a farmer came along．Mr．Dongguo told him what happened and asked him for heip．However，the wolf said to the farmer，“Mr．Dongguo put me into his bag．which almost choked me．Shouldn’t I eat him?”
于是东郭先生倒出口袋里的书，把狼藏了进去。 不一会儿，一个人找了来，问东郭先生：“看见一只狼没有?”东郭先生说：“我 没看见。”
猎人走了，狼在口袋里喊到：“让我出去!”东郭先生把它放了出来。狼嚷道：“我要饿死了，东郭先生，我要吃了你!”
这时有个农夫走过来。东郭先生急忙把事情的经过告诉他，求他救命。狼却对农夫说：“他把我装进口袋，差点把我闷死。我不应该 吃他吗?”
The farmer said，“The bag is so small，you are so big，how could you fit in it?”The wolf said，“OK，let me show you．”Mr．Dongguo put the wolf into the bag for the second time．The farmer said to Mr．Dongguo，“Now hurry，seal the bag and kill it with a shovel． How could you be kind to a wolf?No wolf is good．” 农夫对狼说：“那么小的口袋怎么能装得下你?”狼说：“好吧，我给你看看是怎么装的。”它让东郭先生再次把它装进口袋。 这时农夫说：“快，把口袋扎紧，用铁锹把它打死。你对狼怎么能讲仁慈? 狼都不是好东西!” 〖Please Come into the Vat〗
In order to suppress those who were against her，Wu Zetian，the Empress of Tang Dynasty，appointed a few merciless persons to be judges．Two of them were extremely brutal：one was Zhou Xing and the other was Lai Junchen．Empress Wu once received a letter which informed against Zhou Xing for plotting a rebellion in collaboration with others．She was furiously angry when she read the letter，and immediately ordered Lai Junchen to deal with the case severely． 请君入瓮
唐朝女皇武则天，为了镇压反对她的人，任用了一批酷吏。其中两个最为狠毒，一个叫周兴，一个叫来俊臣。有一回，武则天收到一封信，竟是告发周兴与人联络谋反。武则天大怒，责令来俊臣严查此事。
Lai Junchen knew that Zhou Xing could not be forced to tell the truth merely by a letter because he was very sly and crafty．So Lai Junchen had prepared a sumptuous feast，and invited Zhou Xing to his home．Both of them urged each other to drink，and they talked while drinking．Lai Junchen pretended to sigh，“When I handle cases in ordi-nary days，I often come across prisoners who stubbornly refuse to admit their guilt．I wonder if you have any effective measures．”Smiling insidiously，Zhou Xing said，“Get a big vat，scorch it hot with charcoal fire all around，and then let the prisoner come into the vat．Will the prisoner refuse to make a confession of his crime?”Lai Junchen nodded his
来俊臣知道周兴狡猾奸诈，仅凭一封信，是无法让他说实话的。于是，来俊臣准备了一
桌丰盛的酒席，把周兴请到家里。两个人你劝我 喝，边喝边聊。来俊臣假装叹气说：“兄弟我平日办案，常遇到一些犯人死不认罪，不知老兄有何办法?”周兴阴笑着说：“你找一个大
瓮，四周用炭火烤热，再让犯人进到瓮里，他还会不招供吗?”来俊
head in approval repeatedly．He then ordered his subordinates to bring a big vat，and had a charcoal fire lit all around it as Zhou Xing had said．And then he said，“Someone in the imperial court has informed against you for plotting a rebellion．The Empress has ordered me to deal with the case severely．So I beg your pardon，but would you kindly step into the vat?”Hearing this，Zhou Xing knelt down，kowtowed repeatedly and said，“I am guilty．I confess I am guilty．” 臣连连点头称是，随即命人抬来一口大瓮，按周兴说的那样，在四周点上炭火，然后对周兴说：“宫里有人密告你谋反，上边命我严
查。对不起，现在就请老兄自己钻进瓮里吧。”周兴一听，连连磕头说：“我有罪，我招供。” 〖Crossing a River in the Same Boat〗 In ancient times，wars often broke out between two neighboring countries．As a re-sult，their people regarded the other side as enemies． 同舟共济
古时候，有两个相邻的国家经常打仗，两国的人民也互相将对方视为仇人。
Once，the people from the two sides were crossing a river in the same boat．The boat was about to set out when some passengers recognized their enemies．The two groups clenched their fists at once and glared at each other．A fighting was ready to explode. When the boat reached the center of the river，the wind suddenly became strong and soon it began to rain heavily．The wooden boat was thrown up and down among the waves and appeared to be bottomed up at any moment．At the moment of life and death，the people in the boat got rid of their hatred．In order to survive the disaster，they worked in union
with one mind and managed to stabilize the boat in the rough water．Thanks to everyone’s united effort，the boat finally arrived at the opposite bank safely．
有一次，两群人乘坐同一条船渡河。船快要开的时候，乘客才发现对方是敌国的人。一时间，两群人都握紧了拳头，互相瞪着对方，
一副要打架的样子。船行驶到河中间时，突然刮起了大风，下起了暴雨。木船在大浪中被抛来抛去，眼看就要翻船了。这时，船上的人
为了保住性命，都顾不得那么多了，完全忘了彼此是敌人，大家一条心紧密配合，在风浪中稳住了船身。在全船人的齐心协力下，船终于 安全到达了河对岸。
Later，this idiom figuratively means that people cooperate with each other to go through the hard time and overcome the hardship in times of danger．
于是，人们后来常用“同舟共济”这个成语比喻在危急的环境中，大家同心协力，渡过难关、战胜困难。 Devise Strovtegies 运筹帷幄
〖Everything Was Ready except the East Wind〗
The Story happened during the Period of the Three Kindoms．Once Cao Cao from wei led a 200，000 strong army down to the south to wipe out the kingdoms Of Wu and shu．Therefore，wu and Shu united to defend his attack．Cao ordered his men to link up the boats by iron chains to form a bridge for the Cao’s passing from the north bank of Yangtze River to the south bank．The
General Commander of the allied army was Zhou 万事俱备，只欠东风
故事发生在三国时期。有一次，魏国的曹操带了二十万精兵南下攻打吴国和蜀国，准备消灭它们。为了应敌，吴国利蜀国结成同盟国。曹军驻扎在长江北岸。曹操让手下用铁链将战船连在一起，好让曹军渡江攻打南岸的盟军。盟军由吴国将领周瑜带领。他仔细分析了形势，
Yu.He analyzed the situation carefully．Then he got a good idea．He decided to attack the enemy with fire．So he began to prepare for the coming battle．Suddenly he thought of the direction of wind．He needed the east wind to blow strongly in order to accomplish his scheme．However，the wind did not come for days．Thus Zhou Yu was worried about it．At that time，he got a note from Zhuge Liang，the military adviser of the State of Shu, which reads：
“To fight Cao Cao，fire will help you win．Everything is ready except the east wind．” 最后决定用火烧掉敌人的船。于是，他开始准备一切，当他将一切准备好时，发现还需要东风。可连续几天都没有东风，周瑜急得病倒了。
这时，蜀国的军师诸葛亮叫人送了一张纸条给他，上面写着： “要赢曹操，须用火攻。万事俱备，只欠东风。”
Quickly he turned to Zhuge Liang for help.Zhuge Liang told him not to worry and there would be an east wind in a couple of days．Two days later，the east wind helped Zhou accomplish his scheme．At last,the allied army won the war.
Later，people use this idiom to mean“all is ready except what is crucial”.
周瑜收到后，立刻向诸葛亮求助。诸葛亮叫周瑜不要着急，两天后，将有东风。果然，两天后，刮起东风。周瑜趁这个机会将曹军的 战船烧毁，最后，曹操被打败了。
后来，人们用这个成语来比喻样样都准备好了，只差最后一个重要条件。 〖To Lower the Banners and Silence the Drums〗
In me Three Kingdoms Period，during a battle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei，the latter ordered his generals Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong to capture Cao Cao’s supplies.Cao Cao led a large force against Zhao Yun，who retreated as far as the gates ofhis camp. There,he ordered that the banners be lowered and the war drums silenced，and that the camp gates be left wide open．Zhao Yun then stationed his troops in ambush nearly. When Cao Cao arrived and saw the situation，he immediately suspected a trap and with-drew his forces．
This idiom is nowadays used to indicate metaphorically halting an attack or ceasing all activities． 偃旗息鼓
三国时代，一次曹操与刘备交战。刘备命令大将赵云、黄忠去抢夺曹操的粮草。曹操带领大军追赶赵云。赵云一直退到营寨前，叫士兵
打开营门，放倒军旗，停止擂鼓，在营外设好埋伏。曹军追到，看到这种情景，怀疑有埋伏，就撤退了。
“偃旗息鼓”这个成语现在用来比喻停止攻击或者事情中止。 〖Rousing the Spirits with the First Drum Roll〗
During the Spring and Autumn Period，an army from the State of Qi confronted one from the State of Lu．The King Zhuang of Lu and counselor Cao Gui were the generals of the battle． 一鼓作气
春秋时期，齐国派兵攻打鲁国。鲁国的国王鲁庄公带着谋士曹刿指桎作战。
After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle，the King of Lu wanied to attack.But his counselor Cao Gui said，“We should wait until the third drum roll,your Majesty．”After the Qi side had beaten the drums three times，the Lu at- tacked and defeated the Qi army．After the battle，the King asked Cao Gui the reason for his odd advice．Cao Gui answered，“Fighting needs spirit．Their spirit was aroused by the first roll of the drums，but was depleted by the second．And it was completely ex-hausted by the third．We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted．That’s why we
齐军第一次击鼓以后，鲁王准备发起进攻。曹刿却说：“不行，等齐军击鼓三次后再进攻。”齐军三次击鼓以后，曹刿才指挥进攻。结果齐军大败。战斗结束后，鲁庄公问曹刿为什么提出这样奇怪的建议。曹刿回答说：“打仗要靠勇气。第一次击鼓，士气十分旺盛；第二次击
鼓，士气有些衰落；第三次击鼓，士气就消耗尽了。敌人士气耗尽，我们发起进攻，所以取得了胜利。” 后来，“一鼓作气”形容做事情要鼓足勇气，一气呵成。 〖Retreating about Thirty Miles as Condition for Peace〗
During the Spring and Autumn Period，Duke Xian of the State of Jin killed the crown prince Shen Sheng because he had heard slander about Shen Sheng and believed it.He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er，Shen Sheng’s bs other．After hearing the news，Chong Er escaped from the State of Jin，remaining a fugitive for more than ten years．After innumerable hardships，Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu at last.King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect as he would have treated the ruler of a state，believing that he would have a bright future． 退避三舍
春秋时期，晋献公听信谗言，杀了太子申生，又派人捉拿申生的弟弟重耳。重耳闻讯，逃出了晋国，在外流亡十几年。经过千辛万苦，
重耳来到楚国。楚成王认为重耳口后必有大作为，就以国君之礼相迎，待他如上宾。
King Cheng of the State of Chu gave a banquet in honor of Chong Er．Suddenly, amid the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and talking，King Cheng of the State of Chu asked Chong Er，“How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become its ruler one day?”Chong Er answered，“If I should be fortunate enough to return to the State of Jin and become its ruler，the State of Jin would be friendly to the State Chu．If,one day，there should be a war between the two states，I would definitely order my troops to retreat thirty miles as a condition for peace．If,under that condition，you were still not reconciled，then I would fight with you．”
楚成王设宴招待重耳，两人饮酒叙话，气氛十分融洽。忽然楚成王问重耳：“你若有一天回晋国当上国君，该怎么报答我呢?”重耳 笑笑回答道：“要是托您的福，果真能回国当政的话，我愿与贵国友好。假如有一天，晋楚两国之间发生战争，我一定命令军队先退避三 舍，如果还不能得到您的原谅，我再与您交战。”
Four years later，as might be expected，Chong Er returned to the State of Jin and be-came its ruler．He was the famous Duke Wen in history books．Under his management， the State of Jin became increasingly powerful．In the year 633 B．C．，the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted each other in a battle．Faithful to his promise，Duke Wen of the State of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles，before he fought back and de-feated the Chu army．
四年后，重耳如期回到晋国当了国君，即历史上有名的晋文公。晋国在他的治理下日益
强大。公元前633年，楚国和晋国的军队在作战
时相遇。晋文公为了实现他许下的诺言，下令军队后退二十里，后来反击，大败楚军。 〖Like a Raging Fire〗
During the Spring and Autumn Period，Duke Fu Chai of Wu led a huge army against the State of Jin．He ordered his men to form three square contingents．The middle one was dressed in white and holding white flags，which looked from a distance just like the flowers of a field full of reeds．The left unit was in red and holding red flags，which looked from afar like flaming fire all over the mountains．The right unit was in black and holding black flags，which looked from a distance like thick black clouds covering the sky．Fu Chai was trying to present to the enemy a show ofoverwhelming force．
This idiom describes a scene of great momentum and exuberance． 如火如荼
春秋时期，吴王夫差率领大队人马向晋军进军。他命令将士们摆成三个方阵。当中的都穿白色衣服，拿着白色的旗帜，远远望去就
像遍地盛开着白色荼花。左边的穿红色衣服，拿着红色的旗帜，远远望去就像满山燃烧着熊熊火焰。右边的穿黑色衣服，拿着黑色的
旗帜，远远望去就像满天结集着浓密的乌云。夫差想利用这种声势去压倒对方。 “如火如荼”这个成语形容气势旺盛，场面热烈的景象。 〖Songs of Chu on All Sides〗
At the end of the Qin Dynasty(221—206 BC)，the State of Chu and the State of Han fought for control of the coumry．Xiang Yu，the King of Chu，was besieged at a place called Gaixia by the Han army led by Liu Bang．Xiang Yu was in a desperate situa-tion．with little food and only a few soldiers.
四面楚歌
秦朝末年公元前221—206年，楚和汉争夺天下。楚王项羽被汉王刘邦的军队紧紧地围困在垓下这个地方。项羽已身处绝境，粮食几乎 吃光了，将士也所剩无几。
At night，the surrounding Han troops started to sing Chu folk songs.Xiang Yu was very surprised at this，and said，“Has Liu Bang occupied the whole of Chu?How can he have drafted so many Chu people into his army?”Then he fled together with the remain-der of his forces．Seeing no way out，he eventually committed suicide by the side of the Wu River．A great hero met with his tragic end.
夜里，四面包围着的汉军唱起了楚国的民歌。项羽听了，非常吃惊地说：“汉军已经全部占领了整个楚国的土地吗?为什么在汉军中有
这么多的楚国人呢?”说完便带着残余的士兵惊慌地逃走了。项羽看到自己末路途穷，终于在乌江边拔剑自刎。一代英豪以悲剧结束了自己的 一生。
This idion is used metaphorically to mean to be in a helpless and critical situation,surrounded by the enemy on all sides.
“四面楚歌”这个成语比喻四面受到敌人的攻击，处于孤立危急的困境。 〖To Wait at One’s Ease for an Exhausted Opponent〗
In the late Xi Han Dynasty．a warlord Wei Xiao betrayed his sovereign Liu Xiu and went to seek help from Gongsun Shu who founded a new state in Si Chuan area．Liu Xiu flared up and sent army to attack Wei Xiao，but unfortunately his troops was defeated．