病入膏肓

Bìng Rù Gāo Huāng

病已经严重到了膏肓,没办法治了。形容事情已经到了无法挽救的地步。

The illness has reached the vital region — a situation so far gone that nothing can save it.

chūnqiūshíhòujìnjǐnggōngshēnglechǎngbìngqǐngleduōshēngdōuzhìhǎotīngshuōqínguóyǒuwèishénjiùpàirénshénqǐnglái

zàishéndàoláideqiántiānwǎnshàngjìnjǐnggōngzuòlemèngmèngjiàndebìngbiànchéngleliǎngxiǎorénshuō:“zhèláideshìshénmenkuàipǎoba!”lìngshuō:“yòngmenduǒdàohuāngdeshàngmiàn、‘gāodexiàmiànjiùzhìdàomenle。”

èrtiānshénláigěijìnjǐnggōngkànbìngkànlehěnjiǔyáoyáotóushuō:“wángníndebìngjīngzuāndàogāohuāngzhōngjiānlezhēnzhādàoyàodàoleméiyǒubànzhìle。”

jìnjǐnggōngtīnglexiǎngdemèngyòujīngyòuméiguòduōjiǔjiùshìle

bìnggāohuāngzhèchéngjiùshìcóngzhèláideyòngláixíngróngshìqíngjīnghuàidàowǎnjiùderàngrénquàngàomenpíngshíyàoàishēnxiǎowènyàotuōchéngwèn

During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Jing of Jin fell seriously ill. Many doctors came, but none could cure him. Hearing that the state of Qin had a brilliant physician, he sent for him.

The night before the doctor arrived, Duke Jing had a strange dream. He saw his illness take the shape of two little figures. One said, “A great doctor is coming. We'd better run!” The other answered, “No need. Let's hide above the huang and below the gao — the spots deep inside. He won't be able to reach us.”

The next day, the physician examined him. After a long look he shook his head. “My lord, your illness has slipped into the space between the gao and the huang. No needle can reach it, no medicine can follow. I cannot cure you.”

Remembering his dream, Duke Jing was shaken. Not long after, he died.

From this comes “the illness has reached the vital region” — used when a situation has gone so far beyond help that nothing remains to be done. It also reminds us to care for small troubles before they grow.