中國成語故事中英對照 朝三暮四

In the Spring and Autumn Period, a man in the state of Song raised monkeys. The monkeys could understand what he said. As the man became poor, he wanted to reduce the monkeys' food. He first suggested that he give them three acorns(橡子) in the morning and four acorns in the evening. Thereupon, the monkeys protested angrily. Then their owner said, "How about four in the morning and three in the evening?" The monkeys were satisfied with that.

This idiom originally meant to befool others with tricks. Later it is used to mean to keep changing one's mind.

戰(zhàn)國時代，宋國有一個養(yǎng)猴子的老人，他在家中的院子里養(yǎng)了許多猴子。日子一久，這個老人和猴子竟然能溝通講話了。

這個老人每天早晚都分別給每只猴子四顆栗子。幾年之后，老人的經(jīng)濟越來越不充裕了，而猴子的數(shù)目卻越來越多，所以他就想把每天的栗子由八顆改為七顆，于是他就和猴子們商量說：“從今天開始，我每天早上給你們?nèi)w粟子，晚上還是照常給你們四顆栗子，不知道你們同不同意?”

猴子們聽了，都認為早上怎么少了一個?于是一個個就開始吱吱大叫，而且還到處跳來跳去，好像非常不愿意似的。

老人一看到這個情形，連忙改口說：“那么我早上給你們四顆，晚上再給你們?nèi)w，這樣該可以了吧?”

猴子們聽了，以為早上的粟子已經(jīng)由三個變成四個，跟以前一樣，就高興地在地上翻滾起來。