A small crucian carp living in a small
puddle of water(涸轍之鮒)
Zhuang Zhou, one of the most famous
thinkers and philosophers in Chinese history, wrote a story.
He was living in poverty and one day he
went to visit a friend.
He said to his friend
I've been having financial difficulties
lately. I haven't eaten for several days. I would like to borrow some money
from you.
His friend said to him.
No problem, I'll lend you the money, but
you have to wait three months.
I happen to be short of money lately, but
in three months' time I will have some income in my account, and then I will be
able to lend you a lot of money.
Zhuang Zhou said after listening to his
friend.
On my way to your house to look for you, I
heard someone calling me. I turned around, but I couldn't see who was calling
me.
After searching for several minutes, I
found a long dent left by a wheel by the side of the road. Some water had
collected in the dent to form a small puddle, and in the puddle was a small
crucian carp.
This little crucian carp said to me.
I was accidentally caught in this little
puddle. There was very little water in this puddle and I would die when the
water was evaporated by the sun.
I would like to ask you to help me pour
some water into this puddle so that I can live a few more days.
I said to the crucian carp.
I'd like to help you, but I don't think a
little water will solve your problem.
I will find a way to dig a canal from the
nearest river and connect it to the small puddle where you live. You just wait
for me for a few months and then you will never have to worry about not having
enough water again.
Having heard my answer, the crucian carp
said to me angrily.
I won't live to see that day. After a few
days, when the water in this puddle dries up, I will be dried up into a jerky
fish. If you really don't want to help me, just say so. Don't use such empty
words to deceive me.
The idiom literally means a long dent left by a wheel. Some water
collects in the dent and forms a small puddle. A small crucian carp lies in
this puddle.
This idiom is used to describe people or
things that are in trouble and need urgent help.
It is also used to remind us that when
others are in trouble, we should take real action to help them.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Have you ever had to borrow money from a
friend because of financial difficulties? How would you help your friend if he
was in trouble?
I hope this story can give you some new insights.
涸轍之鮒(A small crucian carp living in a small puddle of water)
莊周是中國歷史上最著名的思想家禹哲學家之一，他寫過一個故事。
他的生活過得很貧困，有一天他去找他的一個朋友。
他對他的朋友說。
我最近經濟上有點困難，我好幾天沒有吃飯了，我想要跟你借一些錢。
他的朋友對他說。
沒問題，我願意借你錢，但是你要等三個月。
我最近身上剛好沒有現金，我三個月後會有一筆收入到帳，到時候我就可以借你很多錢。
莊周聽完他的朋友的話後說。
我來你家找你的路上我聽到有人叫我，我轉頭後但沒有看到是誰叫我。
我找了好幾分鐘後，我在路邊有一條車輪走過後的一條長長的凹痕，這條凹痕中積了一些水形成了一個小水窪，這個小水窪中有一隻小小的鯽魚。
這隻小小的鯽魚對我說。
我不小心受困這個小小的水窪中，這個小水窪中的水很少，當這些水被太陽蒸發乾了之後我就會死亡。
我想要請你幫忙舀一些水到這個小水窪中，這樣我或許還可以多活幾天。
我對這隻鯽魚說。
我很願意幫助你，但我認為只有一些水無法解決你的問題。
我會想辦法從最近的一條河邊挖一條溝渠來連通到你生活的這個小水窪中，你等我幾個月，到時候你就永遠不願擔心水量不夠的問題了。
這隻鯽魚聽完我的回答後很生氣地對我說。
我根本活不到那個時候，等幾天後這個水窪中的水乾掉後，我就會被曬成一片魚乾了。你如果真的不想幫忙我你就直接告訴我，你不要用這種空洞的大話來忽悠我。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一條車輪走過後的一條長長的凹痕，這條凹痕中積了一些水形成了一個小水窪，這個小水窪中的一隻小小的鯽魚
這句成語被用來形容比喻一些正遭遇困境且急切需要救援的人或物。
這句成語也被用來提醒我們，當別人有困難的時候，要真實的付出行動去幫助別人。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你曾經因為經濟情況不好跟朋友借錢的經驗嗎?你的朋友有困難時你會怎樣幫助他呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為莊子-雜篇-外物
https://ctext.org/zhuangzi/what-comes-from-without/zh
2025/02/16更新