Learn Thai Get Chinese : A Tale of Chinese Proverbs (271) 成语故故 (二七一)

source Column “Learn Thai, get Chinese” author Sirindhorn Center for Chinese Language and Culture, Mae Fah Luang University

Learn Thai Get Chinese : Tales of Chinese Proverbs (271) The story of an idiom (271)

Chinese proverbs “Study Thai, get Chinese” is presented in this issue at 坚壁清野/堅壁清野 jiān bi qīnɡ yě (Jian bi qing chi) by word 坚/ 堅jiān (Jian) means strong 壁 bì (pi) means a wall 清 qīnɡ (qing) Means to clean, sweep 野yě (yes) Means fields, forests, from combining means Strong city walls, bare forests. Build a strong wall clear the forest or strengthen the wall and clean the area outside the wall

Used to describe how to prepare for an enemy attack. by building the city wall to be big and strong and reaping all the produce outside the city walls. and to forcefully drive all the people outside the city walls into the city When the enemy arrives he will not be able to harvest anything outside the city walls. Let’s take an example from this Chinese proverb.

Discussions in the international political arena Of course, weaker countries are at a disadvantage against stronger countries. Countries with strong economic, political and military strength will play a leading role in the negotiations. As for the weaker or inferior countries, they would not be able to speak up. but really If the negotiator has real talent Maybe the use of weakness Use your inferiority to your advantage too. For example,

After Cao Cao led the troops to suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he seizedYanzhou City 兖州 (Yǎnzhōu) (present Shandong area) as their base With this initial success Cao Cao felt excited. There is a strong determination to rush to seize the troops.Xuzhou City (Xizhou) 徐州 (Xúzhōu) Of Liu Bei, this city of Xuzhou Liu Bei had just been mentioned. So internal politics are still unstable. Cao Cao knew this point well and decided to take over this city.

At this moment, a mentor stepped forward to offer advice to Cao Cao. “You have fought for a long time. no place yet It is a strong stronghold. You just captured Yanzhou City. The city management is still not good. Therefore, he was in a hurry to bring his troops to attack Xu Zhou City again. If, when you have already raised your army Other cities that had heard the news had to rely on moments when most of his army was not guarding the city. and then he secretly attacked this city The enemies would have been defeated easily too. And if you are worried, then divide your strength in two. part of this city The other part went to attack Xuzhou City, then your army would be reduced by half. Taking over Xuzhou City would not be easy.

Cao Cao heard this and hesitated in his heart. Then Cao Cao went on to say, this battle Even raising just half of it would be enough. Because the army doesn’t have to worry about food supplies. All soldiers are ready for battle at all costs. because now is the harvest season. Food supplies can also be harvested along the way.

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Suddenly, news from before reported that Liu Bei ordered the people to hurry and gather all the produce outside the walls of Xuzhou City. as well as sweeping all the people into the city by force When the news is like this Cao Cao thought the army was going he will only find emptiness outside the city walls when he went to invade the city The Xuzhou wall was very high. and become stronger in this way, not longer than ten days His army would certainly be short of supplies, short of morale, and come back defeated.

Thinking so, he gave up his original intention. and turned to building a city to build its own foundation first This is the origin of the word strong city wall. outside the empty wall the enemy army could still retreat

Thoughts from this proverb

Idiom Metaphor: Strengthen defenses, gather food crops in the wild, and move all the people to the city. Increase the difficulty after making the enemy deep, and win nothing.

Idiom Metaphor: Strengthen defenses, gather food crops in the wild, and move all the people to the city. Increase the difficulty after making the enemy deep, and win nothing.

Chénɡyǔ bǐyù: Jiāqiánɡ ɡōnɡshì,jiānɡ yěwài de liánɡshí zuòwù shōucánɡ qǐlái,bǎ rénmín quánbù qiān rù chénɡnèi. Shǐ dírén shēnrù hòu zēngɡjiā kùnnán,wú suǒ huòqǔ.

Chengyu Biyu: Jiaqiang Gongshi, Jiang Yewai Te Liangchi, Zuo Wu, Zhouchang Qilai, Pa Renmin, Quanbu, Qian Ru Chengnei. Shi Diren, Zhenruo, Huo Zhengjia, Kunnan, Wu Suo Hua Qu

The proverb compares that to strengthening the fortress Gather crops and hide them. and all the people moved to the city Increasing difficulty for invading enemies until they get nothing on their hands.

Example sentences using this proverb are:

In view of the enemy’s superior military strength, it is not allowed to go into battle. It is necessary to adopt a battle strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the fields, which will surely achieve the effect of containing the enemy.

In view of the enemy’s superior military strength, it is not allowed to go into battle. It is necessary to adopt a battle strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the fields, which will surely achieve the effect of containing the enemy.

Miàn duì dírén de yōushì jūnlì, phuxǔ chūzhàn, yô cǎiqǔ jiānbìqīnɡyě de zuòzhàn cèlüè, dádào qiānzhì di jūn de zuòyònɡ.

Mian Tui Diren Te Youchi Junli, Buxue Shuzan, Yao Cai Cai, Jianbi Qing Ye, Te Zhuo Zhan Che Lei, Bi Neng Dao Qian Zhi Di Jun De Zuoyong

when facing a superior enemy It should not be plunged directly into the battlefield. A defensive strategy is needed. by strengthening the walls and clearing the floor outside the wall that will surely be able to fight for a long time with the enemy