中国寓言故事双语版 第73期:弹就是弹
Someone mocked at Hui Zi before the King of Liang. "This Hui Zi likes to use metaphors when he speaks.
有人在梁王面前嘲笑惠子:“这个惠子说话爱用比喻。
If he is not allowed to use metaphors, he surely won't be able to explain anything at all."
假如不准他用比喻，那他一定什么也说不清楚了。”
The following day the King of Liang met Hui Zi and said to him:
第二天，梁王见到惠子，就对他说:
"From now on, when you speak, come straight to the point and do not use metaphors and beat about the bush."
“你以后讲话直截了当讲，不要再用比喻，拐弯抹角的。”
Hui Zi said: "Now someone does not know what a slingshot is.
惠子说:“现在有个人不知道‘弹’是一种什么东西。
You tell him, A slingshot' is `a slingshot'.’Can he understand?"
你告诉他:‘弹’就是‘弹’，他听得明白吗?”
"How can he understand?" said the King of Liang.
梁王说:“那怎么能明白呢?”
Hui Zi went on: "If I tell him a slingshot is like a bow, its bowstring is made of bamboo, and it is a device for shooting, can he understand?"
惠子说: “如果我告诉他，弹的形状像弓，弦是用竹子做的，是一种射具，他能明白吗?”
The King of Liang said: "Yes, he can."
梁王说: “可以明白了。”
Hui Zi said: "The purpose of drawing an analogy between the thing people have already known and the thing they don't know yet is to make them understood.
惠子说: “用别人已经了解的事物来比喻他还不了解的事物，目的是要使他了解。
You want me to speak without using metaphors. How can that be done?"
你让我说话不用比喻，那怎么行呢?”
The King of Liang said: "What you said is right."
梁王说: “你说得对呀!”
