Magpie Nest, Dove Occupy-鸠占鹊巢 (jiū zhàn què cháo)
In a dense forest, there was a magpie skilled in building nests. It invested much time and effort constructing its nest. However, one day, a pigeon invaded the magpie's territory and occupied the nest it had diligently built. The magpie felt furious, but the pigeon boldly proclaimed, "鸠占鹊巢, (jiū zhàn què cháo), might makes right!" This Chinese story tells us that sometimes the powerful take 优势 (yōu shì) advantage of others' efforts.
优势 (yōu shì), noun, advantage
Examples:
- Having good communication skills is an advantage in the workplace.
在职场中，具备良好的沟通技巧是一种优势。
Zài zhíchǎng zhōng, jùbèi liánghǎo de gōutōng jìqiǎo shì yī zhǒng yōushì. - Her experience gave her an advantage when applying for the job.
她的经验让她在申请工作时占有优势。
Tā de jīngyàn ràng tā zài shēnqǐng gōngzuò shí zhànyǒu yōushì.
Inspiration of 鸠占鹊巢 (jiū zhàn què cháo)
"鸠占鹊巢" symbolizes the rule of the strong, implying that in certain situations, power and strength may prevail over justice and 公平 (gōng píng) fairness. It's not a positive value, but it warns us to be vigilant against the potential abuse of power, urging society to prioritize fairness and justice.
公平 (gōng píng), noun, fairness
Examples:
- Fairness is essential for a just society.
公平对于一个公正的社会至关重要。
Gōngpíng duìyú yīgè gōngzhèng de shèhuì zhìguān zhòngyào. - They emphasized the importance of fairness in the competition.
他们强调了比赛中公平的重要性。
Tāmen qiángdiàole bǐsài zhōng gōngpíng de zhòngyào xìng.
Meaning of the Phrase
鸠占鹊巢 (jiū zhàn què cháo): Idiom, metaphorically indicating the powerful encroaching on the territory of the weak.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, "鸠占鹊巢" still holds relevance. It calls for our attention to uphold justice and avoid the dominance of power over righteousness. It also reminds people to protect individual rights and prevent occurrences of unfairness.
Key Sentences:
- The bigger bird took the smaller one's nest, bird usurps the magpie's nest.
大鸟霸占了小鸟的巢穴，鸠占鹊巢。
Dà niǎo bà zhànle xiǎo niǎo de cháoxué, jiū zhàn què cháo. - In the forest, a pigeon claimed a magpie's nest, bird usurps the magpie's nest.
森林里，一只鸽子霸占了喜鹊的巢穴，鸠占鹊巢。
Sēnlín lǐ, yī zhǐ gēzi bàzhànle xǐquè de cháoxué, jiū zhàn què cháo. - He took credit for others' achievements, bird usurps the magpie's nest.
他将他人的成就归功于自己，鸠占鹊巢。
Tā jiāng tārén de chéngjiù guīgòng yú zìjǐ, jiū zhàn què cháo.