Idioms Lesson 25 Utopia 世外桃源

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was an old fisherman in Wuling. One day, he took his boat out to go fishing. As the boat floated downstream, the fisherman lost his way. Suddenly, a beautiful forest of peach trees with flowers in full bloom caught his eyes. He carried on sailing to the end of the forest wher he found a mountain with a small cave at its foot. After the fisherman walked through the cave, a new world opened up before him. The people seemed happy and gentle, and lived peaceful lives with no arguments or disputes. The old rested quietly while the young played happily. Unlike the world outside the cave, there was no conflict or turbulence. When they saw the fisherman, the people asked him not to tell others what he had seen there.

But when he got home the fisherman told the other villagers about his experiences. They did not really believe him but followed him back to the cave out of curiosity. But he never found the place again.

The idiom is used to describe a haven of peace, or utopia.

shì wài táo yuán
世外桃源

       东晋年间，武陵有一个老渔夫。一天，他驾着渔船出去打鱼。船沿着溪水行驶，老渔夫不知怎么迷了路。忽然，一片美丽的桃花林出现在他眼前。渔夫觉得很奇怪，继续往前寻找桃花林的尽头。树林的尽头是一座山，山脚下有个小洞。渔夫穿过了山洞，竟然看到了另外一个世界。那里的人们过着幸福安宁的生活，大家和睦相处，没有纷争，老人们安静地休息，儿童愉快地玩耍，没有外界那样动荡不安。大家看见了老渔夫，嘱咐他不要把在那儿看到的一切告诉别人。

       渔夫回到了家，把整件事告诉了村庄里的人。大家都不相信，于是跟着他去看看到底有没有这个地方。可是，这次去他们再也找不到桃花林尽头的这个世界了。

       这个成语用来形容一个与世隔绝、生活安乐的理想国家。

bù ch? xià wèn
不耻下问
Not feel ashamed to seek advice from one’s subordinates; learn from those beneath oneb
bù dé rén xīn
不得人心
Not enjoy popular support; be unpopular

chuī máo qiú cī
吹毛求疵
Find fault; pick holes; nitpick; cavil at

chuī kāng jiàn m?
吹糠见米
Rice appears when the chaff is blown off; produce speedy results

dāo shān huǒ h?i
刀山火海
Mountain of swords and sea of flames – immense dangers and difficulties; most severe trials

dāo qiāng bù rù
刀枪不入
(Of a human body) no weapon can harm; be invincible; figuratively, (of a person) immune to criticism or admonition