When Chickens Fly and Dogs Jump

Thursday, December 14, 2023

"鸡飞狗跳" (jī fēi gǒu tiào) is a Chinese tale originating from ancient China, depicting a humorous anecdote from rural life. This story has been passed down for centuries, offering inspiration for maintaining optimism and courage during challenging times.

The Story (故事内容 - Gùshì Nèiróng)

Long ago, in a tranquil village, there lived a singing chicken named Xiaohong (小红 - xiǎo hóng). Xiaohong's melodious songs brought joy to all the villagers. Nearby, in the woods, resided a curious dog named Xiaohei (小黑 - xiǎo hēi).

Upon hearing about Xiaohong's songs, Xiaohei decided to investigate the matter. However, every time Xiaohong sang, Xiaohei leaped and bounded after the sound of her song, creating a peculiar scene of chickens 飞行 (fēi xíng) flying and dogs jumping around the village.

飞行 (fēi xíng), verb, flying

Examples:

  1. The birds are flying in the sky.
    鸟儿在天空中飞行。
    Niǎo ér zài tiānkōng zhōng fēixíng.
  2. The airplane is flying above the clouds.
    飞机在云层上方飞行。
    Fēijī zài yún céng shàngfāng fēixíng.

The Inspiration (故事启发 - Gùshì Qǐfā)

This story reminds us that, like Xiaohong, life can present us with perplexing situations. Yet, just as Xiaohong's singing brought joy to the villagers, we too can find enjoyment and inspiration in adversity.

When facing challenges, it's advisable to emulate Xiaohong's attitude by maintaining a positive outlook and using our unique strengths to bring happiness to ourselves and others. Simultaneously, like Xiaohei, 培育 (péi yù) fostering curiosity and actively exploring the unknown can lead to personal growth.

培育 (péi yù), verb, fostering

Examples:

  1. She was passionate about fostering young talents in her community.
    她热衷于在她的社区培育年轻人才。
    Tā rèzhōng yú zài tā de shèqū péiyù niánqīng réntài.
  2. Fostering creativity in children is essential for their development.
    培育儿童的创造力对他们的成长至关重要。
    Péiyù értóng de chuàngzàolì duì tāmen de chéngzhǎng zhìguān zhòngyào.

Modern Application (现代如何运用 - Xiàndài Rúhé Yùnyòng)

The story of "鸡飞狗跳" (jī fēi gǒu tiào) carries contemporary significance as well. In our lives, we frequently encounter challenges and difficulties, just as Xiaohei chased after Xiaohong's song. However, as the story suggests, we should maintain optimism and approach these challenges with a positive mindset. Whether it's in our work, education, or daily life, we can draw from Xiaohong's attitude to embrace challenges with enthusiasm.

Furthermore, the story underscores the importance of curiosity. In our fast-paced, ever-changing modern world, nurturing a positive sense of curiosity can stimulate innovative thinking, helping us adapt to change and explore uncharted territories.

Key Sentences:

  1. His performance at the concert made the audience ecstatic, with chickens flying and dogs jumping.
    他在音乐会上的演奏让观众鸡飞狗跳。
    Tā zài yīnyuèhuì shàng de yǎnzòu ràng guānzhòng jī fēi gǒu tiào.
  2. The children had so much fun at the carnival that they were overjoyed, creating a scene of chickens flying and dogs jumping.
    孩子们在嘉年华上玩得太高兴，简直是鸡飞狗跳。
    Háizimen zài jiāniánhuá shàng wán dé tài gāoxìng, jiǎnzhí shì jī fēi gǒu tiào.
  3. His performance in this intense competition had the coach on edge, witnessing chickens flying and dogs jumping.
    在这场紧张的比赛中，他的表现让教练鸡飞狗跳。
    Zài zhè chǎng jǐnzhāng de bǐsài zhōng, tā de biǎoxiàn ràng jiàoliàn jī fēi gǒu tiào.

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