Original article: 一暴十寒
Stories Behind Chinese Idioms
Chinese idioms are derived from classics, cultural customs, or folk songs, widely known and frequently used in society. They are well-known expressions that have been passed down and structured over a long period of time, mostly composed of four characters. They serve as condensed symbols of historical events and accumulated experiences from previous generations, representing precious and brilliant linguistic resources in the Chinese language.
This idiom originated from a simplified version of a quote by Mencius, which says, "One day of exposure, ten days of freezing." It is used to metaphorically describe a lack of effort and a tendency towards negligence. It often refers to a lack of perseverance in work or study, which makes it difficult to achieve success.
During the Warring States period, Mencius, known for his profound knowledge and eloquence, used vivid and insightful metaphors to advise the kings of that time. When advising King Xuan of Qi, Mencius said, "Even though there are things in the world that are easy to grow, if you expose them to sunlight for one day and then freeze them in darkness for ten days, they will not grow." This is the origin of the idiom "One day of exposure, ten days of freezing." It implies that without sustained effort and perseverance, it is challenging to achieve accomplishments in work or learning.
At that time, King Xuan of Qi was incompetent, lacked independent thinking, and was easily influenced by corrupt officials. Mencius expressed his dissatisfaction with the king openly. He said, "Don't blame me for daring to speak the truth, Your Majesty. Although there is a type of plant that grows easily, if you expose it to sunlight for one day and freeze it in darkness for ten days, it will not thrive. Though I have spent little time with you, and your time with your ministers is much longer, perhaps when I am with you, a little seed of goodness is planted in your heart. But as soon as I leave, those treacherous ministers surround you, deceive you, and encourage you to listen only to their flattery, immediately destroying the budding goodness. What can I do in such a situation?"
Mencius further illustrated his point by using the game of chess as an example. He said, "Even in a simple game like chess, you cannot excel without concentration. Let's say Yiqiu is a national chess master, and he is asked to teach two people to play chess. One of them is dedicated, attentively listening to Yiqiu's explanations, fully engrossed in learning. The other person, though also listening to the explanations, constantly has thoughts of shooting down a passing wild goose with a bow and arrow. Both of them were taught by the same master and learned together, yet their achievements are vastly different. Why is that?It's not because one is more intelligent than the other, but rather because the one who applies themselves with focus will achieve better results."
This was part of Mencius' advice to King Xuan of Qi. Just as governing a country requires single-minded focus, whether in seeking knowledge or undertaking tasks, one must have dedication and perseverance, invest effort, and only then can one taste the sweetness of success. If one follows the path of "one day of exposure, ten days of freezing," they will remain disconnected from success.
In real life, how can we apply this idiom? For example:
- If we always approach tasks with a "one day of exposure, ten days of freezing" mindset, how can we expect to succeed?
- Learning must be consistent and persevering; we cannot afford to have periods of inconsistency.
- Any endeavor requires continuous effort to achieve success. A "one day of exposure, ten days of freezing" approach will ultimately lead to failure.
Written by Shuzhen He
Sponsored by Mei-Hua Hall