Launching Eggs For A Chicken Flight
"鸡飞蛋打" (jī fēi dàn dǎ) is a well-known Chinese idiom with a story that imparts a valuable lesson. Despite its simplicity, this idiom conveys profound wisdom applicable to various aspects of life.
The Story
The story takes place in a small village where one day, a chicken flew up into a tall tree. It cackled with delight but accidentally knocked its egg down, shattering it. The village children rushed to collect the broken egg but found it 无法弥补的（wúfǎ míbǔ de）irreparable. The village elders used this incident as a valuable lesson to teach the children to be cautious and avoid situations that could lead to irreversible consequences.
无法弥补的（wúfǎ míbǔ de），adj，irreparable
The damage to the ancient artifact was irreparable.
对古代文物的损坏是无法弥补的。
Duì gǔdài wénwù de sǔnhuài shì wúfǎ míbǔ de.
Her betrayal caused irreparable harm to their friendship.
她的背叛对他们的友情造成了无法弥补的伤害。
Tā de bèipàn duì tāmen de yǒuqíng zàochéngle wúfǎ míbǔ de shānghài.
Inspiration
"鸡飞蛋打" translates literally as "the chicken flies away, and the egg breaks." However, its deeper meaning highlights that careless actions may lead to irreversible 后果（hòuguǒ）consequences. This idiom serves as a reminder to exercise caution, make thoughtful decisions, and act responsibly to avoid potential losses.
后果（hòuguǒ），noun，consequences
His actions had serious consequences.
他的行为有严重的后果。
Tā de xíngwéi yǒu yánzhòng de hòuguǒ.
I still don't understand the consequences of this matter.
我还不明白这件事的后果是什么。
Wǒ hái bù míngbai zhè jiàn shì de hòuguǒ shì shénme.
Meaning of the Idiom
The idiom "鸡飞蛋打" emphasizes that hasty or careless actions can result in irreversible losses. It underscores the importance of being cautious and responsible in one's actions to prevent undesirable outcomes.
Modern Application
"鸡飞蛋打" remains relevant in contemporary society. It reminds people to be cautious in decision-making and actions, particularly in situations with potential risks. In business and finance, the idiom emphasizes the importance of risk management and professional ethics. In daily life, it encourages individuals to take responsibility for their actions and choices.
Adhering to traffic rules is crucial; otherwise, "chicken flew, egg broke," accidents can occur.
遵守交通规则是非常重要的，否则鸡飞蛋打，事故可能发生。
Zūnshǒu jiāotōng guīzé shì fēicháng zhòngyào de, fǒuzé jī fēi dàn dǎ, shìgù kěnéng fāshēng.
He accidentally deleted all the work files, and "chicken flew, egg broke.
他不小心删除了所有的工作文件，鸡飞蛋打。
Tā bù xiǎoxīn shānchúle suǒyǒu de gōngzuò wénjiàn, jī fēi dàn dǎ.
Every day at my home is chaotic, with "chicken flying and eggs breaking" all the time.
我家每天都鸡飞蛋打的乱。
Wǒ jiā měitiān dōu jī fēi dàn dǎ de luàn.