The Chinese Sayings Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S5E03 | Be All That You Can Be Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

The story behind this Chinese Saying is a great one from Chinese history. The story of Tóu Bǐ Cóng Róng 投笔从戎 revolves around the esteemed Ban Family of historians. The patriarch was Ban Biao who co-wrote the Book of Han. Unfortunately, he passed away before completing this momentous work. His children Ban Gu and Ban Zhao completed the Book of Han. They had another sibling named Ban Chao who also toiled away as a historian. In this episode, we'll look at the story of Ban Chao before we went on to serve the Han Dynasty out in the Western Regions of Xinjiang. He threw down his pen and in a fit of patriotism and yearning for glory, he joined the army. You can also apply it to anyone is puts their life on hold and joins up to fight for a cause, such as the invasion of one's country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S5E02 | It's Too Late Baby Feb 13, 2022

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Another good one for you today from the golden age of chengyu's, The Warring States Period. This Chinese Sayings is taken from the Zuo Zhuan 左转 and concerns Duke Jing of the powerful State of Jin 晋景公. This gruesome story of revenge and deceit gave us the chengyu 病入膏肓. Bìng Rù Gāo Huāng. When any kind of situation reaches this Bìng Rù Gāo Huāng condition, it's hopeless. There's nothing that can be done. It's too late baby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S5E01 | Everything's Good Feb 01, 2022

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We're back with another season of wonderful and useful chengyu's for your Chinese sayings repertoire. Everyone knows this one. Well, maybe not everyone but it's pretty well-known. We ended last season in the Later Han Dynasty and that's where we'll start Season 5. Though this story was written during the Ming dynasty it concerns the 3rd Century character Sima Hui 司马徽. He was the original Hǎo Hǎo Xiānshēng 好好先生 who lived not to upset anyone or take a contrarian stance against anything that was ever said to him (by anyone). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E10 | Salvation, Zhang Gang style Dec 19, 2021

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For the Season 4 closer, we end with a story taken from the Later Book of Han from the chapter all about the model official Zhang Gang. Not even the evil Liang Ji of Han Emperor Shun's time could poison the reputation and deeds of Zhang Gang. In this week's CSP offering, we see Zhang Gang talk some sense with the rebel bandit Zhang Ying. We'll see how he throws Zhang Ying a lifeline to rescue him from a situation that this remorseful bandit leader described as Fǔ Dǐ Yóu Yú 釜底游鱼. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E09 | Rejected! Dec 06, 2021

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Laszlo dredges up another great one from China's ancient times. This one not only features a story from Zhuangzi's Second Book of the Dao (a.k.a. The Zhuangzi) but also stars the great Confucius himself. In this story from the 5th century BC, Confucius is taken on a wild and bumpy ride with the violent and course "Robber" Zhi 盗跖. After trying to convince "Robber" Zhi of the error in his ways, Confucius is given a major dressing down and his philosophy is utterly rejected, leaving The Great Sage with a feeling of Hǔ Kǒu Yú Shēng 虎口余生. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E08 | Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out Nov 21, 2021

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Here's another good one to remember if your life should temporarily hit the skids and your friends scatter. This one comes from the Grand Historian himself, Sima Qian, who tells us all about Lord Zhai, a loyal and respected public servant during the long reign of Han Emperor Wu. I hope you never have to use this one in your life but keep Mén Kě Luǒ Què 门可罗雀 handy just in case. And take a page out of the Record of the Grand Historian and what Lord Zhai's classy response was to his fair-weather-friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E07 | One Bad Apple Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Welcome back to another CSP. This time I'm happy to present to you another great one direct from The Zhuangzi. Everyone's favorite Daoist tells us the story about a young kid from the sticks who had a chance encounter with no less a personage than The Yellow Emperor himself. When engaging the young kid about matters regarding how to rule the world we learn the useful idiom of Hài Qún Zhī Mǎ 害群之马. This one has all kinds of uses and is worth remembering. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E06 | From the Sublime to the Ridiculous Oct 24, 2021

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In the latest CSP episode, we harken back to the early Jin Dynasty 晋朝 and the zaniness of the Sima Clan following the death of Emperor Wu of Jin. Plenty of blood flowed during the shake-out period as the 3rd century AD came to a close. But it wasn't all bad. From this period we get the great Chinese Saying, Gǒu Wěi Xù Diāo 狗尾续貂. Keep this one in your back pocket for use in case of something that started off good but ended up turning into a major farce in the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E05 | That's Worth a Lot! Oct 10, 2021

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Today's CSP offering goes way way back to the time of Ancient Chu State during the 7th century BC. The famous "Hé Shì Bì" 和氏璧 Jade ornament discussed years ago in CSP episode S3E01 once again takes center stage. In this prequel to that S3E01 episode, we see how a poor farmer (He Shi) discovers this priceless jade and makes multiple failed attempts to hand it over to the King of Chu. This is really the prequel to that Season 3 opener that saw King Zhaoxiang of Qin renege on his offer to trade a bunch of cities to Zhao State if they would only bring him this priceless Jade Bi Ornament. Ifr you recall Lin Xiangru had to head to Qin to bring the whole jade back to Zhao. If something has immense and immeasurable value, today's Saying is perfect to use: Jiàzhí Liánchéng 价值连城. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E04 | Showing Paul How to Write a Song Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Today's Chinese Saying, Bān Mén Nòng Fǔ 班门弄斧 comes to us courtesy of the Tang and Song Dynasty luminaries Liu Zongyuan and Ouyang Xiu who teach us about the Zhou Dynasty hero Lu Ban. He knew how to use an ax to build stuff like no one else. You don't want to stand outside his doorway and brag about your ax-wielding skills. This is a good one to use when you see people talking up their skillset in front of a true master. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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