Sai Weng Loses His Horse

HSK 4 · 304 characters · Chinese Idioms

Story behind the idiom: 塞翁失马，焉知非福 - Misfortune may be blessing in disguise

很久hěn jiǔ以前yǐ qián，在zài中国zhōng guó的de边境biān jìng，有yǒu一个yī ge老人lǎo rén叫jiào塞翁sài wēng。Long ago, at China's border, there lived an old man named Sai Weng.他tā养yǎng了le一yī匹pǐ马mǎ。He owned a horse.一天yī tiān，这zhè匹pǐ马mǎ突然tū rán跑pǎo到dào山shān里lǐ去qù了le，不bù见jiàn踪影zōng yǐng。One day, the horse suddenly ran into the mountains and disappeared.邻居lín jū们men听说tīng shuō后hòu，都dōu来lái安慰ān wèi他tā：“你nǐ丢diū了le马mǎ，真zhēn是shì不幸bù xìng啊ā！”When neighbors heard, they came to comfort him: 'Losing your horse is terrible luck!'

但dàn塞翁sài wēng平静píng jìng地de说shuō：“谁shéi知道zhī dào呢ne？也许yě xǔ这zhè会huì变成biàn chéng好事hǎo shì。”But Sai Weng calmly said: 'Who knows? This might turn out well.'

没méi过guò几天jǐ tiān，塞翁sài wēng的de马mǎ回来huí lai了le，还hái带dài回huí一yī匹pǐ漂亮piào liang的de野马yě mǎ。Days later, the horse returned with a beautiful wild horse.邻居lín jū们men赶来gǎn lái恭喜gōng xǐ他tā：“你nǐ真zhēn幸运xìng yùn啊ā！”Neighbors rushed to congratulate him: 'How lucky you are!'

塞翁sài wēng只是zhǐ shì微笑wēi xiào：“谁shéi知道zhī dào呢ne？也许yě xǔ这zhè会huì带来dài lái麻烦má fan。”Sai Weng smiled: 'Who knows? This might bring trouble.'

果然guǒ rán，塞翁sài wēng的de儿子ér zi骑qí那nà匹pǐ野马yě mǎ时shí，摔断shuāi duàn了le腿tuǐ。Soon after, Sai Weng's son broke his leg while riding the wild horse.邻居lín jū们men又yòu来lái安慰ān wèi他tā：“这zhè真zhēn不幸bù xìng！”Neighbors came again: 'This is so unfortunate!'

塞翁sài wēng依旧yī jiù平静píng jìng：“谁shéi知道zhī dào呢ne？也许yě xǔ这zhè会huì带来dài lái好处hǎo chu。”Sai Weng remained calm: 'Who knows? This might bring benefits.'

没méi多久duō jiǔ，边境biān jìng发生fā shēng战争zhàn zhēng，所有suǒ yǒu年轻人nián qīng rén都dōu必须bì xū当兵dāng bīng，许多xǔ duō人rén再没zài méi回来huí lai。Soon war broke out. All young men had to fight, and many never returned.但dàn塞翁sài wēng的de儿子ér zi因为yīn wèi受伤shòu shāng，留在liú zài家里jiā lǐ，保住bǎo zhù了le性命xìng mìng。But Sai Weng's son stayed home safely because of his injury.

这个zhè ge故事gù shì的de成语chéng yǔ叫jiào“塞翁失马sài wēng shī mǎ，焉知非福yān zhī fēi fú”，意思yì si是shì：坏事huài shì可能kě néng变biàn成chéng好事hǎo shì，好事hǎo shì可能kě néng带来dài lái麻烦má fan。This story's idiom '塞翁失马，焉知非福' means: Bad things may bring good results, and good things may bring trouble.例如lì rú，一个yī ge女生nǚ shēng叫jiào丽莎Lì shā失去shī qù工作gōng zuò后hòu，利用lì yòng时间shí jiān创业chuàng yè，最后zuì hòu非常fēi cháng成功chéng gōng。For example, Lisa lost her job but started a business during that time, eventually becoming very successful.这zhè就jiù是shì“塞翁失马sài wēng shī mǎ”——看起来kàn qǐ lai的de坏事huài shì，结果jié guǒ却què变好biàn hǎo了le。This shows how 'Sai Weng's lost horse' works - what seemed bad actually brought good results.