Mandarin language learning HK – Chinese proverb -The Monkeys’ Ration

Mandarin Lesson

  There was once a man who raised monkeys at home. In time, he understood the monkeys quite well.
  The man was not rich and often had to cut down his household expenses to feed the monkeys. When times turned rough, he had to reduce the monkeys’feed as well.
  The man was afraid that the monkeys would not remain tame. To test their response, he told the monkeys, “Fro, now on, I’ll give each of you three chestnuts in the morning and four at night. Is that all right with you?”

 When the monkeys learned that their ration was to be reduced, they flew into a rage. Seeing how mad the monkeys were, the man corrected himself at once.

“All right,” he told them, “I’ll give you four chestnuts in the morning and three at night then.”

This satisfied the monkeys, and they all jumped for joy.

從前有個人,在家飼養了一批猴子。久而久之,他很了解猴子的感情。
養猴人並不富有,常常要節衣縮食去餵飽猴子。不過,當境況變得更壞時,他只好減少猴子的食糧。
養猴人生怕猴子會因此而變得不聽話,便用試探它們的口氣說:「從今天起,我每天早上給你們三顆栗子,晚上再給四顆,好嗎?」
猴子一聽到養猴人要減少它們的食糧,都非常生氣。
於是,養猴人馬上改口說:「那麼,改為早上給四顆,晚上再給三顆。」
猴子就感到滿意,歡欣鼓舞起來。