In the watermelon field and under the plum tree(瓜田李下)
There are many folk poems from China's Han Dynasty that have been passed down to the present day.
There is one point mentioned in a famous poem.
We should remember to be careful in our behaviour and avoid putting ourselves in a situation where we might be misunderstood by others.
The general meaning of the first six lines of this poem is as follows.
A person of high moral character should also have a wise mind. This person should anticipate the possible causes of a problem before it occurs.
This person should avoid putting himself or herself in situations where someone with bad intentions might take the opportunity to do him or her harm.
Some examples are given below.
If you're in someone else's watermelon field, don't squat down to tie your shoelaces, lest others misinterpret this as you trying to steal the watermelons in the field.
If you are under someone else's plum tree, don't reach out to touch your hat, lest you be mistaken for someone trying to steal the plums from the tree.
If you are not yet married, avoid being alone in a room with married people, lest others misinterpret that there is an abnormal relationship between you.
If you are walking with your boss, you should avoid walking next to your boss. You should walk slightly behind your boss so as not to be misunderstood by your boss as looking down on him or trying to replace him.
The direct translation of this idiom is in the watermelon field and under the plum tree.
It is used to describe situations that are likely to cause misunderstanding and suspicion from others.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts do you have after listening to this story?
Do you watch your own behaviour to avoid misunderstanding by others? Have you ever been maliciously slandered by others?
I hope this story can give you some new insights.
瓜田李下(In the watermelon field and under the
plum tree)
中國的漢朝時代有許多民間的詩歌流傳至今。
其中在一首著名的詩中提到了一個觀點。
我們應該提醒自己保持行為上的謹慎，我們應該避免自己陷入一種容易被他人所誤會的場景。
這首詩的前六句詩的大概意思如下。
一個品德高尚的人同時也應該具備聰明的頭腦，這個人應該在問題尚未發生之前就先預想到可能會造成這個問題的原因。
這個人應該避免使自已處於會讓一些惡意的人藉機中傷自己的情境之中。
舉幾個例子如下。
如果你在別人的西瓜田中你就不要蹲下來綁鞋帶，以免被他人誤會你想要偷這片西瓜田中的西瓜。
如果你在別人的李子樹下你就不要伸出手摸帽子，以免被他人誤會你想要偷這株李子樹上的李子。
你如果尚未結婚，你要避免與那些已經結婚的人單獨待在一個房間內，以免被他人誤會你們兩個人之間有不正常的關係。
你如果跟你的老闆走在一起，你要避免走在你的老闆地旁邊與走在你的老闆地旁邊，你要走在你的老闆地稍微後方一點點的位置，以免被你的老闆誤會你瞧不起他或是想要取代他。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是西瓜田裡與李子樹下。
這句成語被用來形容一些容易引起別人的誤會與懷疑的場合。
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。
你是否會留意自已的行為避免自己的行為造成他人的誤會呢?你是否曾經他人惡意中傷呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為樂府詩集-卷32-相和歌辭七
https://ctext.org/wiki.pl?if=gb&chapter=336522