雙語解漢字: Chinese Characters 21-tiger（虎）

The character for tiger is a pictograph.It is based on the radical虍(tiger skin)clarified by幾（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”字就像老虎立起來的樣子，描繪了老虎張大口、長腳利爪、身上有花紋的猛獸形象。甲骨文的“虎”字著力刻畫了老虎的凶猛。老虎即使死去也保持著人們對它的恐懼，因此有句成語叫“騎虎難下”。

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.

（本段英文翻譯：周苓仲）

苛政猛於虎

孔子路過泰山腳下，有一個婦人在墓前哭得很悲傷。孔子聽到婦人的哭聲，讓學生子路前去詢問。子路問道：“您這樣哭，實在像連著有了幾件傷心事似的。”婦人就說：“沒錯，之前我的公公被老虎咬死了，後來我的丈夫又被老虎咬死了，現在我的兒子又死在了另一隻老虎口中！”孔子問：“那為什麼不離開這裡呢？”婦人回答說：“這裡沒有殘暴的政令。”孔子說：“年輕人，要記住這件事，苛刻殘暴的政令比老虎還要凶猛可怕啊！”

“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.

為方便對漢字感興趣的中國朋友和外國朋友，我們開設了《雙語解字》欄目。每周一推送一個漢字的來歷和相關文化，如果其中有不恰當的地方，歡迎中外朋友指正。

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)