病入膏肓
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.
春秋时候,晋景公生了一场大病,请了许多医生,都治不好。听说秦国有一位神医,他就派人把神医请来。
在神医到来的前一天晚上,晋景公做了一个梦。他梦见自己的病变成了两个小人,一个说:“这次来的是神医,我们快跑吧!”另一个说:“不用怕。我们躲到‘肓’的上面、‘膏’的下面,他就治不到我们了。”
第二天,神医来给晋景公看病。他看了很久,摇摇头说:“大王,您的病已经钻到膏和肓中间去了,针扎不到,药也到不了,我没有办法治了。”
晋景公听了,想起自己的梦,又惊又怕。没过多久,他就去世了。
“病入膏肓”这个成语,就是从这里来的。它用来形容事情已经坏到无法挽救的地步,让人劝告我们平时要爱惜身体,小问题不要拖成大问题。
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.
Let's