用英語說成語:瓜田李下 （雙語）

Emperor Wen of the Tang dynasty (hàn cháo 漢朝) was a very democratic ruler. Before doing anything, he would always ask the opinion of his ministers. Once he asked Liou Gung-chiuan how the people felt about the government. Liou Gung-chiuan respectfully answered, "Concerning your sending Guo Min to be in charge of Bin-ning, some people are in favor and others are not."

Emperor Wen appeared very unhappy, and said, "Guo Min is an upright and law-abiding official; of course he is qualified for the job." Liou Gung-chuian agreed, but added, "The people who are criticizing you think that he bribed you with his two head and said, "They've misunderstood. Guo Min's daughters came to the palace to pay their respects to the empress dowager, not to act as my concubines." Liou Gung-chuian replied, "Yes, but this is like the suspicion aroused by pulling on one's shoe in a melon patch or adjusting one's cap under a plum tree. How can you make all the people understand?"

This original two-phrase saying was later shortened to "In a Melon Patch, or Under a Plum Tree." It means that if a person pulls on his shoe in a melon patch, other people are likely to think he is stealing melons; and if he adjusts his cap under a plum tree, other people are likely to think he is picking plums. Thus, it refers to being in suspicious circumstances or surroundings.

唐朝唐文宗時，大書法家柳公權(quán)忠良耿直，能言善諫，官職擔(dān)任工部侍郎。當(dāng)時有個叫郭寧的官員把兩個女兒送進(jìn)宮中，于是皇帝就派郭寧到郵寧(現(xiàn)在的陜西郵 縣)做官，人們對這件事議論紛紛?；实劬鸵赃@件事來問柳公權(quán)：“郭寧是太皇太后的繼父，官封大將軍，當(dāng)官以來沒有什么過失，現(xiàn)在只讓他當(dāng)郵寧這個小小地方 的主官，又有甚么不妥呢?”柳公權(quán)說：“議論的人都以為郭寧是因?yàn)檫M(jìn)獻(xiàn)兩個女兒入宮，才得到這個官職的。”唐文宗說：“郭寧的兩個女兒是進(jìn)宮陪太后的，并 不是獻(xiàn)給朕的。”柳公權(quán)回答：“瓜田李下的嫌疑，人們哪能都分辨得清呢?”

“瓜田李下”是從古樂府【君子行】中的詩句“瓜田不納履，李下不整冠”引申來的。這里柳公權(quán)是比喻皇帝的做法很容易讓人產(chǎn)生懷疑。

瓜田李下 【翻譯】Pulling On One's Shoe In a Melon Patch, Or Adjusting One's Cap Under A Plum Tree.