learn mandarin hong kong -An Old Horse Knows the Way

Mandarin Lesson

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Huan of Qi led an army to attack a small state in the north. They went in spring when green grass covered the ground. But when they came back it was winter. Everywhere was white with snow and the wind was howling. The troops lost their way. While everybody was worrying, Guan Zhong, the duke’s chief minister, suggested: ‘An old horse may know the way.’ So the duke ordered several old horse to be selected to lead the army. Finally, they found the way back home.

  This idiom refers to the value of experience.

老馬識途
春秋時代,齊桓公出征攻打北方一個小國。去的時候是春天,遍地綠草茵茵。回來的時候是冬天,白雪茫茫,狂風怒吼,於是齊桓公的隊伍迷失了方向。找不到回去的路,大家都很著急。這時,齊桓公的宰相管仲說:“可以利用老馬的經驗。”於是齊桓公派人挑選了幾匹老馬在前面引路,果然走出了迷谷,找到了回去的道路。
“老馬識途”這個成語用來比喻有經驗的人,熟悉情況,辦事效果好。