中國寓言故事雙語版 第73期:彈就是彈
Someone mocked at Hui Zi before the King of Liang. "This Hui Zi likes to use metaphors when he speaks.
有人在樑王面前嘲笑惠子:“這個惠子說話愛用比喻。
If he is not allowed to use metaphors, he surely won't be able to explain anything at all."
假如不准他用比喻，那他一定什麼也說不清楚了。”
The following day the King of Liang met Hui Zi and said to him:
第二天，樑王見到惠子，就對他說:
"From now on, when you speak, come straight to the point and do not use metaphors and beat about the bush."
“你以後講話直截了當講，不要再用比喻，拐彎抹角的。”
Hui Zi said: "Now someone does not know what a slingshot is.
惠子說:“現在有個人不知道‘彈’是一種什麼東西。
You tell him, A slingshot' is `a slingshot'.’Can he understand?"
你告訴他:‘彈’就是‘彈’，他聽得明白嗎?”
"How can he understand?" said the King of Liang.
樑王說:“那怎麼能明白呢?”
Hui Zi went on: "If I tell him a slingshot is like a bow, its bowstring is made of bamboo, and it is a device for shooting, can he understand?"
惠子說: “如果我告訴他，彈的形狀像弓，弦是用竹子做的，是一種射具，他能明白嗎?”
The King of Liang said: "Yes, he can."
樑王說: “可以明白了。”
Hui Zi said: "The purpose of drawing an analogy between the thing people have already known and the thing they don't know yet is to make them understood.
惠子說: “用別人已經瞭解的事物來比喻他還不瞭解的事物，目的是要使他了解。
You want me to speak without using metaphors. How can that be done?"
你讓我說話不用比喻，那怎麼行呢?”
The King of Liang said: "What you said is right."
樑王說: “你說得對呀!”
