《一鸣惊人》成语英译与典故

八十六、一鸣惊人

春秋时，楚庄王即位三年整，

整日处在沉默中。

政事从来不料理，

也不给臣下发命令。

右司马看在眼里急在心，

想劝庄王勤理政。

有一天，他要给庄王讲故事，

语调自如又轻松，

庄王微微把头点，

表示愿意静心听。

司马讲南山有种鸟，

已落山上三年整，

既不展翅学高飞，

也不登枝唱歌声。

讲完后笑问庄王为什么？

庄王回答带笑容：

“此鸟三年未展翅，

只因羽翼未长成；

此鸟三年不鸣叫，

是体察事理观民情；

此鸟不飞并非笨，

一飞必冲九霄云；

此鸟不鸣并非哑，

一鸣定使众吃惊！

你的意思我明白，

请卿静候观动静。”

这话说过半年后，

庄王亲自来理政，

他废止了十项旧制度，

建立了九项新章程，

诛杀了五名不法臣，

任用六位贤德隐士做大臣。

从此楚国得大治，

庄王之举果英明。

“一鸣惊人”作成语，

常比喻经过充分准备后，

才会有惊人的大成功。

Give the World a Shock with a Single Singing

During the Spring and Autumn Period（770—476B.C.），King Zhuang of Chu had been on the throne for three long years，but he only remained si⁃lent in the court.He didn't handle state affairs，and never gave orders to his subordinates.The prime min⁃ister was worrying in his heart，and tried to persuade him to pay more attention.

One day he was telling King Zhuang a tale in a light and easy tune.King Zhuang was nodding gently，showing that he was willing to listen.The minister said that in the southern mountains there was a kind of bird，which had perched there for three whole years，but he remained there without stretching his wings to practice flying，nor mounting a branch to practice singing.Having finished the story，the minis⁃ter asked King Zhuang with a smile what bird it was.King Zhuang answered smilingly，for three years the bird hasn't extend his wings，was only because his wings hadn't grown to full length；For three years the bird hasn't sung a note，was only because he had to make a careful study.This bird is not dumb at all，when he flies，he will soar into heaven；This bird is not mute at all，when he sings，he will give the world a shock.

“I know what you meant to say，but please just wait and see.”This said，and half a year passed by，the king came to deal with the state affairs on his own.He removed ten old policies，and built up nine new ones.He put to death five unlawful ministers.He put to use six virtuous hermits.Since then the State of Chu was run quite well，and King Zhuang was a wise governor after all.

“Give the World a Shock with a Single Singing”then became an idiom，implying that he who has been well⁃prepared，and can make a great achievement.