《滴水穿石》成语英译与典故

十、滴水穿石

古时候有个县令叫张咏，

一生中为官清廉两袖清风。

他最恨下属私心重，

一文钱币也要查清。

有一天他从钱库门前过，

见有人拿一枚铜钱藏袖中。

张县令罚打那人五十板，

打得他皮开肉绽叫连声：

“难道只因这一文钱，

老爷今天就要我的命？”

张县令闻听更生气，

朱笔提起批得明：

“一日偷了一个钱，

千日就是一千整！

绳软却能锯木断，

滴水穿石古语明。

库房钱币虽然多，

偷拿久了也会空。

此时就是要杀你，

儆戒那些吸血虫！”

“滴水穿石”作成语，

也比喻力小持久事成功。

Dripping Water Wears Holes in Stone

In ancient times there was a county leader by the name of Zhang Yong.He was an honest and upright official all his life.He hated those subordinates of his who were selfish and greedy.No matter how small the amount of money they had got improperly，he would make a thorough investigation of it.

One day while passing the treasure storehouse，he saw a servant put a copper coin in his sleeve.Mas⁃ter Zhang ordered that the servant be beaten 50 strokes.

The man was bruised and lacerated and cried out：“Is it because of this single coin that you my lord，will take my life？”

Master Zhang was even angrier when he heard this.He then wrote down these words with his scarlet pen：“If you steal one coin a day，a thousand days a thousand coins！A flexible string can saw a log in two，and dripping water wears holes in stone.These are wise old sayings.Though the treasure house has much money，you may make it empty by always steal⁃ing from it，therefore I am going to kill you.”

“Dripping Water Wears Holes in Stone”as an idi⁃om means that little things can grow into a great a⁃mount in the long run.