2
3
4
Full access at price USD $ 120 for the whole 36 stories in this series.
5
How much do you understand?
6
三十六计之第三计 :借刀杀人Strategy 3: Kill with a Borrowed Sword
二桃杀三士Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches
7
03借刀杀人二桃杀三士春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下,分别叫做公孙接,田开疆和古治子。
8
有一天,宰相晏婴从他们面前经过,照礼他们要起来行礼,他们却坐着一动也不动,晏婴当场没说话,接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事,并且劝说:「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳,现在已经是目中无人,今天只是对我无礼,难保改天不会对大王无礼,我建议尽快将这三人除去,以免后患无穷。」
9
景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话,当场点头表示同意,不过马上露出面有难色说「可是,怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺,也不是他们的对手。」晏婴听完说「我早料到了,我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。只有两个桃子的赏赐,让他们三人「计功而食桃」。
10
结果三人先是争得不可开交,公孙接先说「我的功劳最大,我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子,田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗?」便抽出剑做决斗状,没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子,
11
说:「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功,真是太惭愧了!」说完便刎颈而死,古治子看到也跟着刎颈,晏子不费吹灰之力,便铲除大患。
12
三十六计 # 03 借刀杀人 36 strategies #03 Kill with a Borrowed Sword Story: 二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches
13
「二桃杀三士」并非因为桃子有毒而致人死命,而是政治权术中的杀人工具,也可以把这件事称作「借桃杀人」。
指以冠冕堂皇的借口,假借他人之手来达到自己的目的,「刀」只是一种比喻。
14
Full access at price USD $ 120 for the whole 36 stories in this series.
15
03借刀杀人 Kill with a Borrowed Sword
二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches
16
春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下,分别叫做公孙接,田开疆和古治子。
During the Spring and Autumn Period, there were three fearless warriors in Ci by the name of Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kai Jiang and Gu zhi Zi.
17
有一天,宰相晏婴从他们面前经过,照礼他们要起来行礼,他们却坐着一动也不动,
One day, the prime minister Yan Ying walked past the three generals. Court protocol demands that they rise and bow to Yan Ying as a matter of courtesy. However, the three of them just sat there without acknowledging Yan Ying’s presence.
18
晏婴当场没说话,接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事,并且劝说:「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳,现在已经是目中无人,
Yan Ying said nothing on the spot. But afterwards, he told the king of Qi about this incident and advised him, “These three generals have become arrogant because they have accomplished much on the battlefield.
19
今天只是对我无礼,难保改天不会对大王无礼,我建议尽快将这三人除去,以免后患无穷。」
Today they only showed disrespect towards me. But who knows whether or not they will show disrespect towards your Majesty in the future. I suggest that they be removed as soon as possible so as to avoid any future troubles.”
20
景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话,当场点头表示同意,不过马上露出面有难色说
The king of Qi,Jing gong, had a high respect for Yan Ying and always followed his advice. So he agreed with him, but he added,
21
「可是,怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺,也不是他们的对手。」
“But how? No one is strong enough to beat them. Nor is anybody capable of assassinating them.”
22
晏婴听完说「我早料到了,我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。
Yan Ying replied, “I have already figured out how to deal with them.” He then told Jing Gong his plan to kill three warriors with two peaches.
23
只有两个桃子的赏赐,让他们三人「计功而食桃」。
Two peaches were to be awarded to the two who deserved it the most.
24
结果三人先是争得不可开交,公孙接先说「我的功劳最大,我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子,
The three of them argued fiercely in the beginning. Gong Sun Jie said first, “I caught a wild pig and a tiger alive with my bare hands. So I deserve the most.” Then he took one peach.
25
田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗?」
Then Tian Kai Jiang said, “I defeated a whole squad of soldiers with my spear.” Then took the other peach, too. Gu Zhi Ziturned red with anger, “Am I less worthy than you two?”
26
便抽出剑做决斗状,没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子,说:
He pulled his sword and challenged the other two to a duel. To everybody’s surprise, the other two put the peaches back onto the table and said,.
27
「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功,真是太惭愧了!」说完便刎颈而死,古治子看到也跟着刎颈,
“Honor is more important than fighting over the rewards. We should be ashamed of ourselves.” That said, Gong Sun Jie and Tian Kai Jiang slit their own throats with their swords and died. Having watched this, Gu Zhi Zi, too, killed himself the same way.
28
晏子不费吹灰之力,便铲除大患。 Thus Yan Ying was able to remove three of them without any
efforts.
29
三十六计 # 03 借刀杀人 36 strategies #03 Kill with a Borrowed Sword Story: 二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches
30
「二桃杀三士」并非因为桃子有毒而致人死命,而是政治权术中的杀人工具,也可以把这件事称作「借桃杀人」。
In this story, the peach was not poisonous but was used instead as a tool in political intrigue. The incident can therefore be referred to as “Kill with the peaches.”
31
指以冠冕堂皇的借口,假借他人之手来达到自己的目的,「刀」只是一种比喻。
Openly use another to achieve one’s purpose. “Sword” is used here as a metaphor for the means to an end.
33
Vocabulary Builder:Find and list out the
connections among Chinese Characters according the
features of language such as Radical, the basic components
of Chinese characters.
34
03借刀杀人 Kill with a Borrowed Sword
二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches
35
春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下,分别叫做公孙接,田开疆和古治子。
During the Spring and Autumn Period, there were three fearless warriors in Ci by the name of Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kai Jiang and Gu zhi Zi.
36
勇猛 yǒngměng (形) full of valour; intrepid
勇 yǒng (形) brave; valiant; courageous:
猛 měng 1 (形) fierce; violent; vigorous:
37
有一天,宰相晏婴从他们面前经过,照礼他们要起来行礼,他们却坐着一动也不动,
One day, the prime minister Yan Ying walked past the three generals. Court protocol demands that they rise and bow to Yan Ying as a matter of courtesy. However, the three of them just sat there without acknowledging Yan Ying’s presence.
38
照礼按照 礼数按照 ànzhào according to; in accordance with; in the light of; on the basis of:
39
礼数 lǐshu courtesy; etiquette
无礼 wú lǐ Rude; no manner
40
行礼 xínglǐ (动) salute
敬礼 jìnglǐ 1 (动) salute; give a salute
41
晏婴当场没说话,接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事,并且劝说:「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳,现在已经是目中无人,
Yan Ying said nothing on the spot. But afterwards, he told the king of Qi about this incident and advised him, “These three generals have become arrogant because they have accomplished much on the battlefield.
42
当场 Dāngchǎng (副) on the spot; then and there:
43
仗 zhàng 1 ( 动) hold (a sword) 2 rely on; depend on:
狗仗人势 gǒuzhàngrénshì be a bully who has the backing of a powerful person
44
立功 lìgōng 动 render meritorious service; win honour; make contributions:
立了大功 lìle dàgōng have performed exceptionally meritorious services.
功劳 gōngláo (名) credit; contribution (to a cause)
45
目中无人 mùzhōngwúrén consider nobody worth his notice; be supercilious
46
今天只是对我无礼,难保改天不会对大王无礼,我建议尽快将这三人除去,以免后患无穷。」
Today they only showed disrespect towards me. But who knows whether or not they will show disrespect towards your Majesty in the future. I suggest that they be removed as soon as possible so as to avoid any future troubles.”
47
无礼没有礼貌你对老年人这样无礼,像话吗? nǐ duì lǎonián rén zhèyàng wú lǐ, xiànghuà ma? Aren't you ashamed of yourself when you are so rude to old
people?
48
难保很难保证 nánbǎo (动) one cannot say for sure:
今天难保不下雨 jīntiān nánbǎo bu xià yǔ You can't say for sure that it won't rain today
49
保证 bǎozhèng 1 pledge; guarantee; assure; ensure : 2 guarantee:
50
以免 Yǐmiǎn (连) in order to avoid or prevent:
以免产生误会 yǐmiǎn chǎnshēng wùhuì to avoid or prevent misunderstanding
51
后患 hòuhuàn (名) future trouble:
后患无穷 hòuhuàn wúqióng a source of endless trouble
52
后患无穷今后的祸害及忧患没有穷尽。祸害 1 (名) disaster; curse; scourge 2 ( 动) damage; destroy
53
祸患 Huòhuàn (名) disaster; calamity
忧患 yōuhuàn (名) suffering; misery
忧 yōu 1 (动) worry:
54
穷尽 qióngjìn (名) limit; end:
55
景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话,当场点头表示同意,不过马上露出面有难色说
The king of Qi,Jing gong, had a high respect for Yan Ying and always followed his advice. So he agreed with him, but he added,
56
向来 xiànglái (副) always; all along:
向来如此 xiànglái rúcǐ It has always been so
57
敬重 jìngzhòng respect.
58
面露难色脸上露出难色露出 lùchū show: reveal;
露出原形 lùchū yuánxíng reveal one's true colours
59
露出愉快的神情 lùchū yúkuài de shénqíng look happy; wear a happy expresslon
60
难色 nánsè ( 名) a show of reluctance or embarrassment
61
「可是,怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺,也不是他们的对手。」
“But how? No one is strong enough to beat them. Nor is anybody capable of assassinating them.”
62
暗杀 ànshā assassinate ; assassination
行刺 xíngcì (动) assassinate
63
对手 duìshǒu 1 (名) opponent; adversary 2 match; equal:
他不是你的对手 tā bùshì nǐ de duìshǒu He's no match for you.
64
晏婴听完说「我早料到了,我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。
Yan Ying replied, “I have already figured out how to deal with them.” He then told Jing Gong his plan to kill three warriors with two peaches.
65
料到 liào dào (动) foresee ; expect:
没料到他会来 méi liào dào tā huì lái We didn't expect him to come.
66
意料 yìliào (动) anticipate; expect:
这是意料中的事 zhè shì yìliào zhōng de shì That's what is to be expected.
出乎意料 chū hū yìliào unexpectedly:
67
料 liào 1 (动) expect; predict; anticipate:
料事如神 liào shì rú shén predict things like a prophet
不出所料 bù chūsuǒ liào as was expected
68
对付 duìfù cope with.
这事他们自己能对付.用不着我插手.
zhè shì tāmen zìjǐ néng duìfù. Yòng bùzháo wǒ chāshǒu.
1 don't have to join in since they can manage it by themselves.
69
计谋 jìmóu (名) scheme; stratagem
计 jì 3 idea; stratagem; plan:
70
只有两个桃子的赏赐,让他们三人「计功而食桃」。
Two peaches were to be awarded to the two who deserved it the most.
71
赏赐 shǎngcì grant (or bestow) a reward
赐 cì 1 (动) grant 2 (名) gift:
72
计功而食桃计 jì 1 ( 动) count; compute; calculate; estimate:
不计其数 bù jì qí shù countless; innumerable
73
计件 jìjiàn (动) reckon by the piece:
计件工资 jìjiàn gōngzī piece-rate wage.
计件工作 jjìjiàn gōngzuò piecework
74
结果三人先是争得不可开交,公孙接先说「我的功劳最大,我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子,
The three of them argued fiercely in the beginning. Gong Sun Jie said first, “I caught a wild pig and a tiger alive with my bare hands. So I deserve the most.” Then he took one peach.
75
争 Zhēng (动)contend; vie ; compete; strive: 2 argue; dispute :
这是意气之争 Zhēng liǎn The dispute was a display of personal feelings
争吵 Zhēng chǎo (动) quarrel; wrangle; squabble:
76
争论不休 zhēnglùn bùxiū argue endlessly: keep on arguing
不休 bùxiū (动) [used as adverbial modifier ] endlessly; ceaselessly :
77
不可开交 bùkě kāijiāo [used only after 得 as its complement to indicate what one
cannot free oneself from]:
忙得不可开交 máng dé bùkě kāijiāo be up to one's eyes in work; be awfully (or terribly) busy
78
功劳 gōngláo (名) credit; contribution (to a cause)
79
我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎空手 Kōngshǒu Empty-handed
制服 Zhìfú Subdued
80
野猪 Yězhū Boar
野 yě 4 (形) wild; uncultivated; undomesticated:
野兽 yěshòu wild animal.
81
活捉 huózhuō capture alive
捉 zhuō 1 (动) catch; arrest;
82
田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子
气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗?」
Then Tian Kai Jiang said, “I defeated a whole squad of soldiers with my spear.” Then took the other peach, too. Gu Zhi Ziturned red with anger, “Am I less worthy than you two?”
83
矛 Máo (名) spear
矛头 máotóu (名) spearhead:
84
我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人击 jī 1 ( 动) beat; hit; strike: 2 attack; assault:
声东击西 shēngdōngjīxī make a feint to the east and attack in the west
85
退 Tuì 1 (动) move back; retreat: 2 cause t o move back; withdraw; remove:
败退 bàituì retreat in defeat
退敌 tuì dí repulse the enemy
86
通红 tōnghóng (形) very red; red through and through:
她羞得满脸通红 tā xiū dé mǎn liǎn tōnghóng She blushed scarlet
87
便抽出剑做决斗状,没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子,说:
He pulled his sword and challenged the other two to a duel. To everybody’s surprise, the other two put the peaches back onto the table and said,.
88
抽 chōu 1 (动) take out (from in between)
从书架上抽出一本书 cóng shūjià shàng chōuchū yī běn shū take a book from the shelf
89
决斗 Juédòu Duel
决 jué 1 (动) decide; determine:
斗 dòu (动) 1 fight; struggle against:
90
决赛 juésài (名) finals:
决死 juésǐ (形) life-and-death:
决心 juéxīn (名) determination; resolution:
91
没想到我没想到这事儿还是真难办 wǒ méi xiǎngdào zhè shì er háishì zhēn nán bàn I didn't realize that the matter was so difficult to handle.
万万没想到他也来了。 wàn wàn méi xiǎngdào tā yě láile. I had neνer imagined of his coming
92
竟然 jìngrán 1 (副) unexpectedly; to one's surprise; actually:
这样宏伟的建筑竟然只用十个月就完成了
zhèyàng hóngwěi de jiànzhú jìngrán zhǐ yòng shí gè yuè jiùwánchéngle
It is amazing that it took merely ten months to complete such a magnificent building.
93
「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功,真是太惭愧了!」说完便刎颈而死,古治子看到也跟着刎颈,
“Honor is more important than fighting over the rewards. We should be ashamed of ourselves.” That said, Gong Sun Jie and Tian Kai Jiang slit their own throats with their swords and died. Having watched this, Gu Zhi Zi, too, killed himself the same way.
94
重视 zhòngshì (动) attach importance to; pay attention to:
重视这件事 zhòngshì zhè jiàn shì take this matter seriously
荣誉 róngyù (名) honour; credit :
95
抢 qiǎng 1 (动) snatch; grab: 2 rob; loot 3 vie for; scramble for:
她从我手里把信抢了过去 tā cóng wǒ shǒu lǐ bǎ xìn qiǎngle guòqù She snatched the letter from me.
96
惭愧 cánkuì (形) feel ashamed or abashed
97
刎 Wěn (动) one's own throat
自刎 zìwěn one's own throat; commit suicide
吻 Wěn 1 ( 名) lips 3 (动 kiss
98
颈 Jǐng (名) neck
长颈鹿 Chángjǐnglù (名) giraffe
99
晏子不费吹灰之力,便铲除大患。 Thus Yan Ying was able to remove three of them without any
efforts.
100
不费吹灰之力 bù fèi chuīhuīzhīlì with the slightest effort; effortlessly
没有费一点力气,即使像吹灰尘这样的小力气。
101
铲除 chǎnchú (动) root out; eradicate
铲 chǎn 1 (名) shovel:
102
患 huàn 1 ( 名) trouble ; peril ; disaster:
防患于未然 fáng huàn yú wèirán take preventive measures; provide against a rainy day
103
「二桃杀三士」并非因为桃子有毒而致人死命,而是政治权术中的杀人工具,也可以把这件事称作「借桃杀人」。
In this story, the peach was not poisonous but was used instead as a tool in political intrigue. The incident can therefore be referred to as “Kill with the peaches.”
104
权术 quánshù (名) political trickery
105
指以冠冕堂皇的借口,假借他人之手来达到自己的目的,「刀」只是一种比喻。
Openly use another to achieve one’s purpose. “Sword” is used here as a metaphor for the means to an end.
106
冠冕堂皇 guānmiǎntánghuáng high-sounding
借口 jièkǒu 1 (动) use as an excuse (or pretext) 2 (名) excuse; pretext:
107
比喻 bǐyù metaphor; analogy; figure of speech:
打个比喻 by way of analogy.
这只是一个比喻的说法 This is only a metaphor.
108
后患 hòuhuàn (名) future trouble:
后患无穷 hòuhuàn wúqióng a source of endless trouble
109
110
111
Do you understand now?
112
03借刀杀人二桃杀三士春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下,分别叫做公孙接,田开疆和古治子。
113
有一天,宰相晏婴从他们面前经过,照礼他们要起来行礼,他们却坐着一动也不动,晏婴当场没说话,接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事,并且劝说:「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳,现在已经是目中无人,今天只是对我无礼,难保改天不会对大王无礼,我建议尽快将这三人除去,以免后患无穷。」
114
景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话,当场点头表示同意,不过马上露出面有难色说「可是,怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺,也不是他们的对手。」晏婴听完说「我早料到了,我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。只有两个桃子的赏赐,让他们三人「计功而食桃」。
115
结果三人先是争得不可开交,公孙接先说「我的功劳最大,我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子,田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗?」便抽出剑做决斗状,没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子,
116
说:「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功,真是太惭愧了!」说完便刎颈而死,古治子看到也跟着刎颈,晏子不费吹灰之力,便铲除大患。
117
三十六计 # 03 借刀杀人 36 strategies #03 Kill with a Borrowed Sword Story: 二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches
118
「二桃杀三士」并非因为桃子有毒而致人死命,而是政治权术中的杀人工具,也可以把这件事称作「借桃杀人」。
指以冠冕堂皇的借口,假借他人之手来达到自己的目的,「刀」只是一种比喻。
119
Can you retell the whole story?
120
Full access at price USD $ 120 for the whole 36 stories in this series.
121
122
123
Acknowledgments: The content and voice are from: http://huayuworld.org/
Images used within this paper may be from www.clipart.com& Google search.
The background music: Title: On My Way HomeContributing artists: The 126ersAlbum: Youtube Audio Library