三十六计 03 借刀杀人 kill with a borrowed sword 二桃杀三士

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三十六计之第三计：借刀杀人Strategy 3: Kill with a Borrowed Sword

二桃杀三士Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches

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03借刀杀人二桃杀三士春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下，分别叫做公孙接，田开疆和古治子。

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有一天，宰相晏婴从他们面前经过，照礼他们要起来行礼，他们却坐着一动也不动，晏婴当场没说话，接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事，并且劝说：「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳，现在已经是目中无人，今天只是对我无礼，难保改天不会对大王无礼，我建议尽快将这三人除去，以免后患无穷。」

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景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话，当场点头表示同意，不过马上露出面有难色说「可是，怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺，也不是他们的对手。」晏婴听完说「我早料到了，我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。只有两个桃子的赏赐，让他们三人「计功而食桃」。

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结果三人先是争得不可开交，公孙接先说「我的功劳最大，我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子，田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗？」便抽出剑做决斗状，没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子，

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说：「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功，真是太惭愧了！」说完便刎颈而死，古治子看到也跟着刎颈，晏子不费吹灰之力，便铲除大患。

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三十六计 # 03 借刀杀人 36 strategies #03 Kill with a Borrowed Sword Story: 二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches

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「二桃杀三士」并非因为桃子有毒而致人死命，而是政治权术中的杀人工具，也可以把这件事称作「借桃杀人」。

指以冠冕堂皇的借口，假借他人之手来达到自己的目的，「刀」只是一种比喻。

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03借刀杀人 Kill with a Borrowed Sword

二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches

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春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下，分别叫做公孙接，田开疆和古治子。

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there were three fearless warriors in Ci by the name of Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kai Jiang and Gu zhi Zi.

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有一天，宰相晏婴从他们面前经过，照礼他们要起来行礼，他们却坐着一动也不动，

One day, the prime minister Yan Ying walked past the three generals. Court protocol demands that they rise and bow to Yan Ying as a matter of courtesy. However, the three of them just sat there without acknowledging Yan Ying’s presence.

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晏婴当场没说话，接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事，并且劝说：「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳，现在已经是目中无人，

Yan Ying said nothing on the spot. But afterwards, he told the king of Qi about this incident and advised him, “These three generals have become arrogant because they have accomplished much on the battlefield.

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今天只是对我无礼，难保改天不会对大王无礼，我建议尽快将这三人除去，以免后患无穷。」

Today they only showed disrespect towards me. But who knows whether or not they will show disrespect towards your Majesty in the future. I suggest that they be removed as soon as possible so as to avoid any future troubles.”

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景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话，当场点头表示同意，不过马上露出面有难色说

The king of Qi,Jing gong, had a high respect for Yan Ying and always followed his advice. So he agreed with him, but he added,

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「可是，怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺，也不是他们的对手。」

“But how? No one is strong enough to beat them. Nor is anybody capable of assassinating them.”

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晏婴听完说「我早料到了，我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。

Yan Ying replied, “I have already figured out how to deal with them.” He then told Jing Gong his plan to kill three warriors with two peaches.

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只有两个桃子的赏赐，让他们三人「计功而食桃」。

Two peaches were to be awarded to the two who deserved it the most.

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结果三人先是争得不可开交，公孙接先说「我的功劳最大，我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子，

The three of them argued fiercely in the beginning. Gong Sun Jie said first, “I caught a wild pig and a tiger alive with my bare hands. So I deserve the most.” Then he took one peach.

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田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗？」

Then Tian Kai Jiang said, “I defeated a whole squad of soldiers with my spear.” Then took the other peach, too. Gu Zhi Ziturned red with anger, “Am I less worthy than you two？”

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便抽出剑做决斗状，没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子，说：

He pulled his sword and challenged the other two to a duel. To everybody’s surprise, the other two put the peaches back onto the table and said,.

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「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功，真是太惭愧了！」说完便刎颈而死，古治子看到也跟着刎颈，

“Honor is more important than fighting over the rewards. We should be ashamed of ourselves.” That said, Gong Sun Jie and Tian Kai Jiang slit their own throats with their swords and died. Having watched this, Gu Zhi Zi, too, killed himself the same way.

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晏子不费吹灰之力，便铲除大患。 Thus Yan Ying was able to remove three of them without any

efforts.

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In this story, the peach was not poisonous but was used instead as a tool in political intrigue. The incident can therefore be referred to as “Kill with the peaches.”

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Openly use another to achieve one’s purpose. “Sword” is used here as a metaphor for the means to an end.

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Vocabulary Builder:Find and list out the

connections among Chinese Characters according the

features of language such as Radical, the basic components

of Chinese characters.

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03借刀杀人 Kill with a Borrowed Sword

二桃杀三士 Killing Three Warriors With Two Peaches

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春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下，分别叫做公孙接，田开疆和古治子。

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there were three fearless warriors in Ci by the name of Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kai Jiang and Gu zhi Zi.

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勇猛 yǒngměng (形) full of valour; intrepid

勇 yǒng (形) brave; valiant; courageous:

猛 měng 1 (形) fierce; violent; vigorous:

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有一天，宰相晏婴从他们面前经过，照礼他们要起来行礼，他们却坐着一动也不动，

One day, the prime minister Yan Ying walked past the three generals. Court protocol demands that they rise and bow to Yan Ying as a matter of courtesy. However, the three of them just sat there without acknowledging Yan Ying’s presence.

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照礼按照礼数按照 ànzhào according to; in accordance with; in the light of; on the basis of:

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礼数 lǐshu courtesy; etiquette

无礼 wú lǐ Rude; no manner

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行礼 xínglǐ (动) salute

敬礼 jìnglǐ 1 (动) salute; give a salute

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晏婴当场没说话，接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事，并且劝说：「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳，现在已经是目中无人，

Yan Ying said nothing on the spot. But afterwards, he told the king of Qi about this incident and advised him, “These three generals have become arrogant because they have accomplished much on the battlefield.

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当场 Dāngchǎng (副) on the spot; then and there:

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仗 zhàng 1 ( 动) hold (a sword) 2 rely on; depend on:

狗仗人势 gǒuzhàngrénshì be a bully who has the backing of a powerful person

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立功 lìgōng 动 render meritorious service; win honour; make contributions:

立了大功 lìle dàgōng have performed exceptionally meritorious services.

功劳 gōngláo (名) credit; contribution (to a cause)

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目中无人 mùzhōngwúrén consider nobody worth his notice; be supercilious

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今天只是对我无礼，难保改天不会对大王无礼，我建议尽快将这三人除去，以免后患无穷。」

Today they only showed disrespect towards me. But who knows whether or not they will show disrespect towards your Majesty in the future. I suggest that they be removed as soon as possible so as to avoid any future troubles.”

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无礼没有礼貌你对老年人这样无礼，像话吗? nǐ duì lǎonián rén zhèyàng wú lǐ, xiànghuà ma? Aren't you ashamed of yourself when you are so rude to old

people?

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难保很难保证 nánbǎo (动) one cannot say for sure:

今天难保不下雨 jīntiān nánbǎo bu xià yǔ You can't say for sure that it won't rain today

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保证 bǎozhèng 1 pledge; guarantee; assure; ensure : 2 guarantee:

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以免 Yǐmiǎn (连) in order to avoid or prevent:

以免产生误会 yǐmiǎn chǎnshēng wùhuì to avoid or prevent misunderstanding

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后患 hòuhuàn (名) future trouble:

后患无穷 hòuhuàn wúqióng a source of endless trouble

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后患无穷今后的祸害及忧患没有穷尽。祸害 1 (名) disaster; curse; scourge 2 ( 动) damage; destroy

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祸患 Huòhuàn (名) disaster; calamity

忧患 yōuhuàn (名) suffering; misery

忧 yōu 1 (动) worry:

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穷尽 qióngjìn (名) limit; end:

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景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话，当场点头表示同意，不过马上露出面有难色说

The king of Qi,Jing gong, had a high respect for Yan Ying and always followed his advice. So he agreed with him, but he added,

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向来 xiànglái (副) always; all along:

向来如此 xiànglái rúcǐ It has always been so

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敬重 jìngzhòng respect.

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面露难色脸上露出难色露出 lùchū show: reveal;

露出原形 lùchū yuánxíng reveal one's true colours

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露出愉快的神情 lùchū yúkuài de shénqíng look happy; wear a happy expresslon

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难色 nánsè ( 名) a show of reluctance or embarrassment

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「可是，怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺，也不是他们的对手。」

“But how? No one is strong enough to beat them. Nor is anybody capable of assassinating them.”

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暗杀 ànshā assassinate ; assassination

行刺 xíngcì (动) assassinate

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对手 duìshǒu 1 (名) opponent; adversary 2 match; equal:

他不是你的对手 tā bùshì nǐ de duìshǒu He's no match for you.

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晏婴听完说「我早料到了，我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。

Yan Ying replied, “I have already figured out how to deal with them.” He then told Jing Gong his plan to kill three warriors with two peaches.

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料到 liào dào (动) foresee ; expect:

没料到他会来 méi liào dào tā huì lái We didn't expect him to come.

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意料 yìliào (动) anticipate; expect:

这是意料中的事 zhè shì yìliào zhōng de shì That's what is to be expected.

出乎意料 chū hū yìliào unexpectedly:

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料 liào 1 (动) expect; predict; anticipate:

料事如神 liào shì rú shén predict things like a prophet

不出所料 bù chūsuǒ liào as was expected

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对付 duìfù cope with.

这事他们自己能对付.用不着我插手.

zhè shì tāmen zìjǐ néng duìfù. Yòng bùzháo wǒ chāshǒu.

1 don't have to join in since they can manage it by themselves.

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计谋 jìmóu (名) scheme; stratagem

计 jì 3 idea; stratagem; plan:

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只有两个桃子的赏赐，让他们三人「计功而食桃」。

Two peaches were to be awarded to the two who deserved it the most.

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赏赐 shǎngcì grant (or bestow) a reward

赐 cì 1 (动) grant 2 (名) gift:

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计功而食桃计 jì 1 ( 动) count; compute; calculate; estimate:

不计其数 bù jì qí shù countless; innumerable

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计件 jìjiàn (动) reckon by the piece:

计件工资 jìjiàn gōngzī piece-rate wage.

计件工作 jjìjiàn gōngzuò piecework

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结果三人先是争得不可开交，公孙接先说「我的功劳最大，我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子，

The three of them argued fiercely in the beginning. Gong Sun Jie said first, “I caught a wild pig and a tiger alive with my bare hands. So I deserve the most.” Then he took one peach.

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争 Zhēng (动)contend; vie ; compete; strive: 2 argue; dispute :

这是意气之争 Zhēng liǎn The dispute was a display of personal feelings

争吵 Zhēng chǎo (动) quarrel; wrangle; squabble:

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争论不休 zhēnglùn bùxiū argue endlessly: keep on arguing

不休 bùxiū (动) [used as adverbial modifier ] endlessly; ceaselessly :

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不可开交 bùkě kāijiāo [used only after 得 as its complement to indicate what one

cannot free oneself from]:

忙得不可开交 máng dé bùkě kāijiāo be up to one's eyes in work; be awfully (or terribly) busy

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功劳 gōngláo (名) credit; contribution (to a cause)

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我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎空手 Kōngshǒu Empty-handed

制服 Zhìfú Subdued

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野猪 Yězhū Boar

野 yě 4 (形) wild; uncultivated; undomesticated:

野兽 yěshòu wild animal.

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活捉 huózhuō capture alive

捉 zhuō 1 (动) catch; arrest;

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田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子

气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗？」

Then Tian Kai Jiang said, “I defeated a whole squad of soldiers with my spear.” Then took the other peach, too. Gu Zhi Ziturned red with anger, “Am I less worthy than you two？”

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矛 Máo (名) spear

矛头 máotóu (名) spearhead:

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我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人击 jī 1 ( 动) beat; hit; strike: 2 attack; assault:

声东击西 shēngdōngjīxī make a feint to the east and attack in the west

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退 Tuì 1 (动) move back; retreat: 2 cause t o move back; withdraw; remove:

败退 bàituì retreat in defeat

退敌 tuì dí repulse the enemy

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通红 tōnghóng (形) very red; red through and through:

她羞得满脸通红 tā xiū dé mǎn liǎn tōnghóng She blushed scarlet

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便抽出剑做决斗状，没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子，说：

He pulled his sword and challenged the other two to a duel. To everybody’s surprise, the other two put the peaches back onto the table and said,.

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抽 chōu 1 (动) take out (from in between)

从书架上抽出一本书 cóng shūjià shàng chōuchū yī běn shū take a book from the shelf

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决斗 Juédòu Duel

决 jué 1 (动) decide; determine:

斗 dòu (动) 1 fight; struggle against:

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决赛 juésài (名) finals:

决死 juésǐ (形) life-and-death:

决心 juéxīn (名) determination; resolution:

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没想到我没想到这事儿还是真难办 wǒ méi xiǎngdào zhè shì er háishì zhēn nán bàn I didn't realize that the matter was so difficult to handle.

万万没想到他也来了。 wàn wàn méi xiǎngdào tā yě láile. I had neνer imagined of his coming

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竟然 jìngrán 1 (副) unexpectedly; to one's surprise; actually:

这样宏伟的建筑竟然只用十个月就完成了

zhèyàng hóngwěi de jiànzhú jìngrán zhǐ yòng shí gè yuè jiùwánchéngle

It is amazing that it took merely ten months to complete such a magnificent building.

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「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功，真是太惭愧了！」说完便刎颈而死，古治子看到也跟着刎颈，

“Honor is more important than fighting over the rewards. We should be ashamed of ourselves.” That said, Gong Sun Jie and Tian Kai Jiang slit their own throats with their swords and died. Having watched this, Gu Zhi Zi, too, killed himself the same way.

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重视 zhòngshì (动) attach importance to; pay attention to:

重视这件事 zhòngshì zhè jiàn shì take this matter seriously

荣誉 róngyù (名) honour; credit :

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抢 qiǎng 1 (动) snatch; grab: 2 rob; loot 3 vie for; scramble for:

她从我手里把信抢了过去 tā cóng wǒ shǒu lǐ bǎ xìn qiǎngle guòqù She snatched the letter from me.

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惭愧 cánkuì (形) feel ashamed or abashed

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刎 Wěn (动) one's own throat

自刎 zìwěn one's own throat; commit suicide

吻 Wěn 1 ( 名) lips 3 (动 kiss

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颈 Jǐng (名) neck

长颈鹿 Chángjǐnglù (名) giraffe

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晏子不费吹灰之力，便铲除大患。 Thus Yan Ying was able to remove three of them without any

efforts.

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不费吹灰之力 bù fèi chuīhuīzhīlì with the slightest effort; effortlessly

没有费一点力气，即使像吹灰尘这样的小力气。

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铲除 chǎnchú (动) root out; eradicate

铲 chǎn 1 (名) shovel:

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患 huàn 1 ( 名) trouble ; peril ; disaster:

防患于未然 fáng huàn yú wèirán take preventive measures; provide against a rainy day

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In this story, the peach was not poisonous but was used instead as a tool in political intrigue. The incident can therefore be referred to as “Kill with the peaches.”

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权术 quánshù (名) political trickery

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Openly use another to achieve one’s purpose. “Sword” is used here as a metaphor for the means to an end.

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冠冕堂皇 guānmiǎntánghuáng high-sounding

借口 jièkǒu 1 (动) use as an excuse (or pretext) 2 (名) excuse; pretext:

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比喻 bǐyù metaphor; analogy; figure of speech:

打个比喻 by way of analogy.

这只是一个比喻的说法 This is only a metaphor.

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后患 hòuhuàn (名) future trouble:

后患无穷 hòuhuàn wúqióng a source of endless trouble

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Do you understand now?

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03借刀杀人二桃杀三士春秋时齐景公有三位勇猛无比的手下，分别叫做公孙接，田开疆和古治子。

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有一天，宰相晏婴从他们面前经过，照礼他们要起来行礼，他们却坐着一动也不动，晏婴当场没说话，接着便马上告诉齐景公这件事，并且劝说：「这三个人仗着自己立下不少大功劳，现在已经是目中无人，今天只是对我无礼，难保改天不会对大王无礼，我建议尽快将这三人除去，以免后患无穷。」

114

景公向来十分敬重晏婴的话，当场点头表示同意，不过马上露出面有难色说「可是，怎样去除呢没有人打得过他们;派人暗杀行刺，也不是他们的对手。」晏婴听完说「我早料到了，我已经想好对付他们的计谋了。」便将「二桃杀三士」之计告诉了景公。只有两个桃子的赏赐，让他们三人「计功而食桃」。

115

结果三人先是争得不可开交，公孙接先说「我的功劳最大，我空手制服野猪及活捉老虎」便拿走一个桃子，田开疆说「。我曾用长矛击退一整队敌人。」也拿走一个桃;古治子气得满脸通红说「难道我的功劳就比你们小吗？」便抽出剑做决斗状，没想到其他两个人竟然把桃子放回桌子，

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说：「我们应该重荣誉怎么可以抢功，真是太惭愧了！」说完便刎颈而死，古治子看到也跟着刎颈，晏子不费吹灰之力，便铲除大患。

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Can you retell the whole story?

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Acknowledgments: The content and voice are from: http://huayuworld.org/

Images used within this paper may be from www.clipart.com& Google search.

The background music: Title: On My Way HomeContributing artists: The 126ersAlbum: Youtube Audio Library

三十六计 03 借刀杀人 kill with a borrowed sword 二桃杀三士

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