Idioms Lesson 36 A man from the state of Zheng buying shoes 郑人买履

There once was a man from the state of Zheng who wanted to buy a pair of shoes. He measured his foot and put the measurement on a chair. However, setting out for the market, he forgot to bring it along. It only occurred to him when he found the pair he wanted.

"I forgot the measurement," he said.

He then went home to get it. When he returned, the market had closed, and he did not get his shoes after all.

Someone asked, "Why didn't you try on the shoes with your feet?"

He said, "I'd rather trust the measurement than place confidence in my own feet."

Later, people use this phrase to ridicule those who completely depend on dogma, regardless of the actual conditions.

zhèng rén m?i lǚ
郑人买履

       从前，郑国有个人想买双鞋。他给自己的脚量好尺码，并将其放在了椅子上。可他赶往市集时，却忘了带量好的尺码；直到要买鞋的时候，才想了起来。

       他说：“我忘带尺码了。”

       他回家去取量好的尺码。等他赶回来时，市集已经关了，他还是没能买到鞋。

       有人问：“为什么不用你自己的脚去量鞋子呢？”

       他说：“我宁愿相信尺码也不相信我自己的脚。”

       后来，人们就用这个成语来讽刺那些只信教条，不顾实际的人。

x? x? rú shēng
栩栩如生
lifelike; lively; vivid
ēn zhòng rú shān
恩重如山
kindness as heavy as a mountain; great favor

jiāo yáng sì huǒ
骄阳似火
scorching sun

dù rì rú nián
度日如年
one day seems like a year; days wear on like years; every hour seems an eternity; time hangs heavy

huī jīn rú t?
挥金如土
throw gold about like dirt; spend money like water; play ducks and drakes with one's money

ài cái rú mìng
爱财如命
love money as if it were one's own life; love nothing better than money; be greedy for money