In ancient times, a young man named Zhongzi fell in love with a girl and wanted to sneak to her home for a secret meeting. The girl, knowing her parents would scold her if they found out about their unapproved love, asked her lover not to do so. So she sang:
Please, I beg you, Zhongzi!
"Don't Climb My Gate Tower" — During the Warring States period, the philosopher Yang Zhu was known for his extreme self-interest. One day, his disciple Qin Guli asked him, "Master, if plucking a single hair from your body could save the entire world, would you do it?" Yang Zhu replied without hesitation, "The world would not be saved by one hair." Qin Guli pressed further, "But if it truly could, would you?" Yang Zhu fell silent, refusing to answer. Later, when Mencius heard of this exchange, he remarked, "Yang Zhu would not pluck a single hair even to benefit the world — he values himself above all." This story gave rise to the idiom "unwilling to pluck a single hair," describing extreme stinginess or selfishness. Source: *Mencius*, Chapter "Jin Xin".
Don't break the qí trees I planted.
It's not that I begrudge the tree.
The idiom "A Thousand Li a Day" originates from a story about the legendary charioteer Zaofu, who was said to be able to drive his chariot covering a thousand li in a single day. During the Warring States period, King Mu of Zhou heard of Zaofu's incredible skill and summoned him to the court. The king asked, "I have heard that you can race a thousand li in a day. Is this true?" Zaofu replied, "Your Majesty, it is not my own ability, but the strength of the horses and the precision of the chariot that allow such speed." Impressed by his humility, King Mu appointed Zaofu as his personal charioteer, and together they embarked on many journeys, with Zaofu's driving becoming a symbol of unmatched speed and excellence. Today, this idiom is used to describe rapid progress or exceptional talent, much like a horse that can cover a thousand li in a single day.
Zhongzi, I too am thinking of you.
But I'm just afraid my parents will scold me.
The girl, remembering that her brothers would scold her if they found out, continued singing:
Please, I beg you, Zhongzi!
"Don't Climb My Wall" - This phrase originates from a folk tale about a man who, upon seeing a neighbor peering over his wall, shouted, "Don't climb my wall!" The neighbor replied, "I'm not climbing, just looking." The man insisted, "Looking is the same as climbing - you're invading my privacy!" This story illustrates the Chinese concept of maintaining clear boundaries and respecting personal space, often used today to humorously warn against overstepping social or physical limits.
"Don't break the mulberry trees I've planted."
It's not that I begrudge the tree.
The idiom "Not Even One Hair" comes from the Warring States period, when the philosopher Yang Zhu and his disciple Qin Guli debated self-interest. One day, Qin Guli asked, "Master, if plucking a single hair from your body could save the entire world, would you do it?" Yang Zhu replied, "The world's problems cannot be solved by one hair." Qin Guli pressed, "But if it truly could, would you?" Yang Zhu remained silent, unwilling to sacrifice even that. This story illustrates extreme self-preservation, and today the phrase describes someone who refuses to give even the smallest help. Source: *Mencius*, Chapter "Jin Xin"
Zhongzi, I too am thinking of you.
"But I'm afraid my elder brother will scold me," the younger brother admitted, his voice trembling with hesitation.
The girl, afraid that others might gossip about her, sang again:
Please, I beg you, Zhongzi!
Don't Climb My Back Garden.
"Don't break the sandalwood tree I planted," the man warned, his voice carrying a mix of care and concern.
It's not that I begrudge the tree.
Instead, he feared what others might say.
Zhongzi, I too am thinking of you.
I'm just afraid of what people might say about me.
Later, the idiom "gossip is a fearful thing" came to describe how terrifying rumors and slander can be.
Source: *Book of Songs*, "Zheng Airs"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "人言可畏" came to describe how terrifying rumors and slander can be.