站着说话不腰疼 (zhànzhe shuōhuà bù yāo téng) It’s easier said than done
秦朝的时候，孝公的宠臣景监将商鞅引荐给秦孝公。
Qíncháo de shíhou, Xiào Gōng de chǒngchén Jǐng Jiān jiāng Shāng Yāng yǐnjiàn gěi Qín Xiào Gōng.
In the Qin dynasty, Jing Jian, the King’s minion, recommended Shang Yang to Qin Xiaogong.
孝公在朝殿与商鞅讨论治国策略，景监作陪。
Xiào Gōng zài cháodiàn yǔ Shāng Yāng tǎolùn zhìguó cèlüè, Jǐng Jiān zuòpéi.
Qin Xiaogong discussed the strategy of governing the country with Shang Yang in the palace. And Jing Jian accompanied.
当时孝公端坐，商鞅和景监把膝盖跪于地，双足垫于臀下。
Dāngshí Xiào Gōng duān zuò, Shāng Yāng hé Jǐng Jiān bǎ xīgài guì yú dì, shuāngzú diàn yú tún xià.
At that time, Qin Xiaogong was sitting on the seat, Shang Yang and Jing Jian were kneeling on the ground and their buttocks were sitting on the back of the feet.
商鞅从早晨畅谈至黄昏，说到激扬之处，起身立于殿中继续畅谈，浑然不觉。
Shāng Yāng cóng zǎochén chàngtán zhì huánghūn, shuō dào jīyáng zhī chù, qǐshēn lì yú diàn zhōng jìxù chàngtán, húnránbùjué.
Shang Yang talked from the morning till nightfall. When he became excited, he stood up and talked continuously.
景监长跪一日，身心俱疲，见孝公和商鞅并无结束之意，所以不断向商鞅暗使眼色，想让他停下。
Jǐng Jiān cháng guì yí rì, shēnxīn jù pí, jiàn Xiào Gōng hé Shāng Yāng bìng wú jiéshù zhī yì, suǒyǐ búduàn xiàng Shāng Yāng àn shǐ yǎnsè, xiǎng ràng tā tíngxià.
Jing Jian was exhausted for kneeling for the entire day; it seemed that there was no ending to the discussion between Qin Xiaogong and Shang Yang. So Jing Jian secretly winked at Shang Yang continually, hoping him to stop.
但商鞅并不理会，直至深夜才被孝公打断，孝公赏赐他们御膳，并离去了。
Dàn Shāng Yāng bìng bú lǐhuì, zhí zhì shēnyè cái bèi Xiào Gōng dǎduàn, Xiào Gōng shǎngcì tāmen yùshàn, bìng líqù le.
But Shang Yang ignored him. Qin Xiaogong interrupted Shang Yang in the midnight and bestowed a sumptuous meal to them, and then the King left.
席间商鞅问景监为何频使眼色，景监道：“我跪得浑身都麻木了，酸软如泥，你倒站着说话不腰疼”。
Xíjiān Shāng Yāng wèn Jǐng Jiān wèihé pín shǐ yǎnsè, Jǐng Jiān dào: “wǒ guì dé húnshēn dōu mámù le, suānruǎn rúní, nǐ dǎo zhàn zhe shuōhuà bù yāo téng.”
During the meal, Shang Yang asked Jing Jian why he winked at him continually. Jing Jian said: “my body was numb and sore from kneeling for the entire day. It’s much easier for you to speak while standing.”
Key learning points
站着说话不腰疼 (zhànzhe shuōhuà bù yāo téng) It’s easier said than done
“站 (zhàn)” means to stand, “着 (zhe)” here hasn’t special meaning, “说 (shuō)” means to say, “话 (huà)” means words, “不 (bù)” means no, “腰 (yāo)” means waist and “疼 (téng)” means pain. People can also use this phrase to describe people who are boastful.
Example:
你别站着说话不腰疼啊，这个问题实际操作要比想象中复杂很多。
Nǐ bié zhàn zhe shuōhuà bù yāo téng ā, zhège wèntí shíjì cāozuò yào bǐ xiǎngxiàng zhōng fùzá hěnduō.
It is easy said than done–this issue is much complex in real practice than you have imagined.
生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary
引荐 (yǐnjiàn): v to recommend
腰 (yāo): n waist
黄昏 (huánghūn): n nightfall
The phrase “黄昏 (huánghūn)” means nightfall, the character “黄 (huáng)” refers to yellow and the character “昏 (hūn)” means twilight.
Example:
莉莉喜欢黄昏时的景色。
Lìlì xǐhuan huánghūn shí de jǐngsè.
Lily enjoys the scenery of nightfall.
跪 (guì): v to kneel
The character “跪 (guì)” means to kneel.
Example:
全家人跪在跪垫上祈祷。
Quán jiārén guìzài guìdiàn shàng qídǎo.
The whole family knelt on cushions to pray.
打断 (dǎduàn): v to interrupt
“打断 (dǎduàn)” means to interrupt. The character “打 (dǎ)” means to beat and the character “断 (duàn)” means to break.
Example:
我在房间思考问题，他进来把我打断了。
Wǒ zài fángjiān sīkǎo wèntí, tā jìnlái bǎ wǒ dǎduàn le.
I was thinking in the room when he came in, and he interrupted me.
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[ Last edited by jennifer at 2-2 2010 13:49 ]