Chengmenshihuo Yangjichiyu or Gates of Fire Adverse Impacts to Fish

Chengmenshihuo Yangjichiyu in English is Gates of Fire Adverse Impacts to Fish. This is an ancient Chinese idiom. I found this idiom from my friend Helen but finding a good English translation was a little challenging but anyway here we go. The Chinese idioms and proverbs are always so thought provoking to me. Evidently this idiom dates back to the Ming dynasty or Song Dynasty and the English translation is not so known but I am going to give it go anyway. Here is here one translation. Calamity makes disaster. The gate near the moat is on fire then everyone runs to the moat and takes water out of the moat to put the fire out. The water runs out and all the fish die. My interpretation of this idiom is cause and effect. A fire broke out then the innocent fish died. Something bad happened then innocent suffered from the bad happening. I think this is a correct interpretation of this idiom. A modern day example of this idiom could be like this a house burned down next door to a house that was for sale. The house could not be sold because no one wanted live next door to a burned down house. This is definitely a thought provoking Chinese idiom. If you would like to be a favorite link or if you would like information on teaching English in China contact me at tanukichamptranslation@gmail.com