《七擒七纵》成语英译与典故

五十二、七擒七纵

三国时，诸葛亮辅佐刘备打天下，

南征北战功劳大。

有一次，他到云南平战乱，

有个孟获不服他。

诸葛亮一连七次把他擒，

心未服，又一连七次放了他。

到后来，孟获才真服诸葛亮，

钦佩孔明本领大。

这说明，对敌人，

要有收有放巧控制，

心服才算制服他。

Seven Times Caught⁃Seven Times Released

During the reign of the Three Kingdoms（220—265A.D.），Zhuge Liang helped Liu Bei fight for politi⁃cal power.They fought their way south and north and achieved great victories.Once Zhuge went to Yunnan to fight against the rebels.The chief of the rebels named Meng Huo wasn't converted.Zhuge Liang caught him seven successive times，and seven succes⁃sive times Zhuge set him free.

At last Meng Huo was subjected to Zhuge，and he admired Zhuge Liang's capability.This illustrated，to his enemy，that you should be in the position of catching and releasing them freely，and you won't beat him until you win his heart.