双语解汉字: Chinese Characters 21-tiger（虎）

The character for tiger is a pictograph.It is based on the radical虍(tiger skin)clarified by几（hind legs）:虎. Characterised by its vicious ferocity,the tiger strikes fear even when dead.Hence the saying:“He who rides the tiger finds it difficult to dismount.”

 甲骨文的“虎”字就像老虎立起来的样子，描绘了老虎张大口、长脚利爪、身上有花纹的猛兽形象。甲骨文的“虎”字着力刻画了老虎的凶猛。老虎即使死去也保持着人们对它的恐惧，因此有句成语叫“骑虎难下”。

Tyranny is Fiercer Than a Tiger

Confucius was once passing by Mount Tai(泰山),when he heard a woman,who was standing in front of a grave,wailing bitterly.He sent one of his disciples to enquire the reason.“By the sound of your lamentation”,he said,“you seem to be afflicted by some grievous sorrow.”

The woman replied,“Yes,a tiger killed and devoured my father-in-law,and then my husband suffered the same fate.Now my son has been gobbled up by another tiger.”

Hearing this, Confuciusasked her,“Then why don’t you leave this place?”The woman answered,“Because here there is no tyrannical rule.”Thereupon, Confucius turned to his disciples and said,“Keep this mind,young fellows:tyranny is fiercer than a tiger.”

Later,this saying came to be used to warn rulers not to act in a tyrannical fashion and to criticize governments which oppress their people.

（本段英文翻译：周苓仲）

苛政猛于虎

孔子路过泰山脚下，有一个妇人在墓前哭得很悲伤。孔子听到妇人的哭声，让学生子路前去询问。子路问道：“您这样哭，实在像连着有了几件伤心事似的。”妇人就说：“没错，之前我的公公被老虎咬死了，后来我的丈夫又被老虎咬死了，现在我的儿子又死在了另一只老虎口中！”孔子问：“那为什么不离开这里呢？”妇人回答说：“这里没有残暴的政令。”孔子说：“年轻人，要记住这件事，苛刻残暴的政令比老虎还要凶猛可怕啊！”

“Analysis of Chinese Characters by bilingual”，is opened for the convenience of Chinese and foreign friends who are interested in Chinese characters. We’ll push a Chinese character every Monday，analyze its originand related culture. If there is any impropriety，welcome to correct us.

为方便对汉字感兴趣的中国朋友和外国朋友，我们开设了《双语解字》栏目。每周一推送一个汉字的来历和相关文化，如果其中有不恰当的地方，欢迎中外朋友指正。

Is there any relationship between“一”and the origin of the universe?

Is “二”the heaven andearth separated from “一”?

“三”is the three most important thing? three kinds of light?even more than 3?

……

一二三四五，Great wisdom in simplicity.

六七八九十，Great inspiration in thinking.

Two weeks, we're waiting for you on-line!

2017.11.27-12.08, 19:00-19:30 ( Beijingtime )

Ten lessons;Two weeks(from Monday to Friday)