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【成語來源】?

塞翁失馬

Near China's northern borders lived a man called Sai Weng. He raised a lot of horses.
戰(zhàn)國時期,靠近北部邊城,住著一個姓塞老人, 他養(yǎng)了許多馬。

One day, he lost one of his horses. Everyone commiserated with him.
一天,他的一匹走失了,人們聽說這件事,跑來安慰他。

"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said Sai Weng.
塞翁說:“沒準會帶來什么福氣呢?!?/div>

After a few months, his horse came back, leading a fine horse from the north.
過了幾個月,丟失的馬不僅自己回了家,還帶回一匹匈奴的駿馬。

Everyone congratulated him.
所有人都來祝賀塞翁。

"Perhaps this may turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said Sai Weng.
塞翁反而說:“這或許會帶來不幸呢。”

Since he was well-off and kept good horses, his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his?leg?for?falling from a horse.
因為塞翁很富有,并且養(yǎng)馬養(yǎng)得很好,所以他的兒子也十分喜愛騎馬。但沒想到有一次騎馬時,他的兒子從馬上掉了下來,摔斷了腿。

Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
人們于是又去安慰塞翁。但塞翁卻說:“也許這次又會帶來好運呢。”

One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions.
一年以后,匈奴入侵邊境。

This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and so?he survived.
但是塞翁的兒子因為腿斷了便沒有被征入當兵隊伍之中,而其他很多當兵的青年都戰(zhàn)死在了沙場,塞翁的兒子因此保住了性命。

【文化鏈接】?

成語“塞翁失馬”如果用于英文表達,可以使用短語“blessing or bane ”,“blessing”的意思是“好運”,“bane”的意思則是“厄運,禍事”,所以放在一起就可以表達“塞翁失馬”的意思。

但是,英文表達“blessing or bane ”常會用來單純的表示“是禍是?!钡囊馑?,比如:

Technology, a blessing or a bane?
高科技,是禍是福?