Learn Thai Get Chinese : Tales of Chinese Proverbs (262) 成语故事 (二六二)

source Column “Learn Thai, get Chinese” author Soh Sing Methathankul, Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center, MMU.

Learn Thai Get Chinese : Tales of Chinese Proverbs (262) Idiom story (262)

Chinese proverbs “Study Thai, get Chinese” will be presented in this edition is 杀鸡焉用牛刀/殺雞焉用牛刀 shā jī yān yònɡ niúdāo (ja ji yian yong niudao) by word shā/shā shā (c̣hā) means kill 鸡/雞jī (g) means chicken 焉 yān (yan) I mean why? 用 yònɡ (Yong) means to use 牛 niú (niu) means cow 刀 dāo (tao) means “knife”, so when combined, it means to kill longan chickens. You must use a knife to kill cows. Use a bull knife to kill chickens. Use the metaphor to exert a great deal of force for little result. which is not worth the effort It may have a meaning similar to riding an elephant and catching a grasshopper. Let’s look at a sample story.

Confucius 孔子 Kǒnɡzǐ Great Chinese Methi Philosophy of the Chunqiu Era with the teaching methods, teaching principles, and practices of Confucius causing his reputation to spread throughout the land It was highly revered until now. For this reason, Confucius had many disciples. As for the teachings of Confucius, there is one subject that talks regarding rituals and music, which is the strict ceremonial administrators. and understand music It will make you a good administrator. have a heart that can be generous to those under the rule

Regarding this issue, there is a story that One of the disciples of Confucius was named Ziyou 子游 Zǐ Yóu who later served as Sheriff of Wu City 武城 Wǔ chéng (Wu Cheng) which is a small town Currently in Shandong Province Even though Ziyou was given the title of a small sheriff no value in the eyes of others But Ziyou himself didn’t think so. whether to rule any city had to do his best, so he was fully focused on his work. by which he has brought the teachings of Master Confucius to use in the administration of the country seriously One of the governing principles that he took seriously was music. He emphasized that both government officials and the people under his command Must be able to learn music, play and sing.

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One day, Confucius and his disciples Traveling through this city of Wu Suddenly he heard a singing song. And the music is loud in every nook and cranny of the city. So I’m surprised When Confucius learned that the city was ruled by Ziyou, their students therefore had the opportunity to talk to Ziyou Ziyou then told Confucius, He had given the people of this town to practice music, so the city was filled with music, Confucius heard it and said that the Rituals and the music were suitable for the Lord City. Ruler level only Since you only ruled a small town like this, why did you need a ritual? and music to use Is it an overinvestment? Isn’t that different from killing a chicken with a slaughter knife?

The disciples who were following them laughed. But Ziyou mightn’t see what the teacher had said. He explained to the teacher that Master used to teach his students that the rituals and music, if the governors The city-state used It will make the governor have virtue, discipline, compassion, and generosity. Commoners will have loyalty. The administration would be smooth, so when the disciples applied it to this small town, it was to refine the civil servants here to be good civil servants. to soften the hearts of the people, so this is good for the governance of the country, isn’t it?

Confucius heard the disciples explain. I suddenly realized that who himself likened to killing a chicken with a bull’s knife Made a mistake, he laughed and said that Ziyou spoke logically. and doing it right That our words just now Just teasing Ziyou.

Thoughts from this proverb

Idiom metaphor: It doesn’t take a lot of effort to do a little thing.

Idiom metaphor: It doesn’t take a lot of effort to do a little thing.

Cénɡyǔ bǐyù: Table diǎn xiǎo shìqínɡ jiù yònɡ phuzhéo huāfèi dà luiqì.

Chengyu Biyu: Ban Dian Xiao Chiqing Jiu Yong Bu Zhao Huafei Da Liqi

The proverb compares it to a small business that doesn’t need to spend a lot of energy.

Example sentences using this proverb are:

To solve this matter, the general manager must take action himself. It’s like killing a chicken with a knife!

To solve this matter, the general manager must take action himself. It’s like killing a chicken with a knife!

Jiějué zhè diǎn shìqínɡ,dōu yào zǒnɡjīnɡlǐ qīnzì chūshǒu,zhēnrú shā jī yān yònɡ niúdāo ɑ!

Jiajue, Zhetian, Chiqing, Dou Yao, Zong, Chingli, Qin Zhi, Zhenruo, Sha Zi, Yan Yong, Niu, Dao Ah.

Solve this problem even having to let the general manager come out by himself It’s no different from using a bull’s-eye knife to kill a chicken.

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