Making his mark -- Acting foolishly

Once, a Chu person (Chu is one of the seven hegemonic states of the period of the Warring States in 11th century BC-223 BC) was crossing the river by boat. Carelessly, he dropped his sword into the water and he immediately made a mark on the boat.

"This is where my sword fell" he said. After the boat stopped, he jumped into the river to look for his sword.

The boat had moved, but the man's sword had not. Isn't this a foolish way to look for a sword? Future generations use this analogy to illustrate people who are inflexible and stubborn.

kè zhōu qiú jiàn
刻舟求剑

       从前，一个楚国人在坐船过河时，不小心把他的剑掉入了水中。他马上在船上做了个记号。

       “这是我的剑掉下去的地方”，他说。船停下来后，他就根据船上的记号跳入水中寻找他的剑。

       船在移动但这个人的剑并没有移动, 用这种方式来找剑难道不是非常愚蠢的吗？后人用这个典故来形容那些办事拘泥固执、不知变通的人。

luò huāng ér táo
落荒而逃
Take to the wilds; be defeated and flee the battle

luò jǐng xià shí
落井下石
Drop stones on someone who has fallen into a well; hit a person when he is down

qí gǔ xiāng dāng
旗鼓相当
Be equal in strength; be well matched

qí kāi dé shèng
旗开得胜
Win a battle soon after the standard is raised; triumph in the first battle

xīn hěn shǒu là
心狠手辣
Cruel and evil; vicious and merciless

xīn huāng yì luàn
心慌意乱
Be fidgety and flustered; be alarmed and confused

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