My lips were chapped and my tongue was
parched.(焦唇乾舌)
During the Spring and Autumn period in
ancient China, there was a famous king of the Yue kingdom named Goujian. His
story is recorded in historical texts.
In 496 BC, he succeeded his father as King
of Yue. That same year, the King of the neighbouring Wu Kingdom suddenly
launched a large-scale attack.
Goujian led the Yue army in a
counterattack, successfully repelling the Wu forces. The Wu king was wounded and
died in this battle.
In 494 BC, the new Wu king led a
well-trained army to attack Yue. He sought revenge for his father's death three
years earlier.
This time, however, Goujian failed to repel
the enemy. Most of his army was annihilated, leaving only 5,000 survivors.
Following this defeat, Goujian sent an
envoy to the King of Wu to request peace. In order to save his life, Goujian
volunteered to become the King of Wu's servant.
Goujian later described his feelings during
those years as a servant:
'Years ago, the King of Wu mobilised his
army to ravage my country. Our people were trampled and killed like small fish
and turtles in a river. Our ancestral temples were razed to the ground and our
land was left in ruins.
I resented the King of Wu deeply, but I
forced myself to become his servant in order to survive. I served him with the
respect that a son has for his father, or a younger brother for his elder
brother.
For the past three years, I have felt
extremely uneasy every day. I sleep poorly, have no appetite for delicious
food, no desire to listen to pleasant music and no desire to admire beautiful
women.
During my time as a servant, my lips were
chapped and my tongue was parched. My body was subjected to strenuous labour
every day, leaving me utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically.
Although I maintained a very respectful
attitude towards the King of Wu, deep down I yearned for change. I longed for
the opportunity to rebuild the Yue army and defeat the Wu army on the
battlefield. I longed to secure a victory.
However, reality was harsh. After careful
consideration, I realised that Yue's current strength was insufficient to
defeat Wu. I secretly hoped for support from the other kingdoms, but none of
them were willing to help me. I was extremely disappointed.
This idiom translates literally as 'My lips
were chapped and my tongue was parched'.
It is used to describe someone who is
extremely thirsty.
It is also used to describe someone who is
so worried and anxious that their mouth feels dry, both inside and out.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Have you ever experienced extreme dryness
in your mouth? Have you ever had to do things you didn't want to do?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
焦唇乾舌(My lips were chapped and my tongue
was parched)
中國的春秋時代，越王國有一位非常著名的國王，他的名字是(勾踐)，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
西元前496年，勾踐的父親過世後他繼任為越王國的國王。同年，與越王國鄰近的吳王國的國王突然發動大軍來攻打越王國。
勾踐帶領著越王國的軍隊反擊，他成功帶領越王國的軍隊擊退吳王國，在這場戰爭中，吳王國的國因為王受傷因而死亡。
西元前494年，吳王國的新任國王率領著一支經過嚴格訓練的吳王國的軍隊攻打越王國，這個新任的國王要他在三年前戰死的父親報仇。
這一次勾踐沒有擊退敵人，他率領的軍隊大部分被消滅，最後只剩下5000人存活。
勾踐在戰敗之後派出一個使者向吳王國的國王求和，勾踐為了活命，他自願成為吳王國的國王的僕人。
勾踐曾經這樣描述自己在成為僕人後的那幾年的內心感受，這段感受的大意如下。
幾年前，吳王國的國王調動他的軍隊來殘害我的國家，我們的百姓就像是河中的小魚小烏龜一樣地被隨意地踐踏與殺害，我們的宗廟被夷平，我們的國土變廢墟。
我內心非常怨恨吳王國的國王，但是我為了活下去，我強迫我自己成為一個僕人去侍奉吳王國的國王，我用一種兒子畏懼父親或是弟弟尊敬哥哥一樣的態度去恭敬的侍奉吳王國的國王。
這三年來，我每天都感到非常的不安穩，我睡的睡眠情況很差，我不想品嘗美食，我不想要聽悅耳的音樂。我不想要欣賞那些美麗的女子。
成為僕人的這些日子中，我的嘴唇感覺非常乾裂與舌頭感到非常的乾燥，我的身體每天都要強力的勞動，我的心靈與身體都感到極度的疲勞。
我對吳王國的國王表現出一種非常恭敬的態度，但我的內心非常渴望可以改變，我希望可以有機會再次集結越王國軍隊在戰場上打敗吳王國的軍隊，我渴望在戰場上可以重新獲得勝利。
但是現實的情況非常的殘酷，經過我的仔細評估後，我知道目前的越王國的力量無法打敗吳王國，我曾經暗中希望其他的王國來支持我的行動，但是沒有一個王國願意幫助我。我感到極度的失望
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是我的嘴唇乾裂，舌頭乾渴。
這句成語被用來形容一個人非常的口渴。
這句成語被引申用來形容一個人非常的憂慮與憂愁所以導致嘴巴內外感覺很乾燥。
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。
你曾經感受過那種嘴巴內感覺到非常乾燥的狀態呢?你是否被迫做你不想做的事情嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為吳越春秋-夫差內傳