Making his mark -- Acting foolishly

Once, a Chu person (Chu is one of the seven hegemonic states of the period of the Warring States in 11th century BC-223 BC) was crossing the river by boat. Carelessly, he dropped his sword into the water and he immediately made a mark on the boat.

"This is where my sword fell" he said. After the boat stopped, he jumped into the river to look for his sword.

The boat had moved, but the man's sword had not. Isn't this a foolish way to look for a sword? Future generations use this analogy to illustrate people who are inflexible and stubborn.

kè zhōu qiú jiàn
刻舟求劍

       從前，一個楚國人在坐船過河時，不小心把他的劍掉入了水中。他馬上在船上做了個記號。

       “這是我的劍掉下去的地方”，他說。船停下來后，他就根據船上的記號跳入水中尋找他的劍。

       船在移動但這個人的劍并沒有移動, 用這種方式來找劍難道不是非常愚蠢的嗎？后人用這個典故來形容那些辦事拘泥固執、不知變通的人。

luò huāng ér táo
落荒而逃
Take to the wilds; be defeated and flee the battle

luò jǐng xià shí
落井下石
Drop stones on someone who has fallen into a well; hit a person when he is down

qí gǔ xiāng dāng
旗鼓相當
Be equal in strength; be well matched

qí kāi dé shèng
旗開得勝
Win a battle soon after the standard is raised; triumph in the first battle

xīn hěn shǒu là
心狠手辣
Cruel and evil; vicious and merciless

xīn huāng yì luàn
心慌意亂
Be fidgety and flustered; be alarmed and confused

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