兒童英文成語故事 畫餅充飢
Relieving hunger with a picture of cakes
畫餅充飢
Once in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280)， the duke of the Wei, Cao Rui, planed to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: 'When choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation. A false reputation is just like a picture of a cake; it can' t ease hunger.'
三國時代魏國的皇帝曹睿，準備選拔一個有才能的人到朝廷來做官。曹睿對他的大臣説：“選擇人才，不能光找有虛名的人。虛名好像是畫的一塊餅，只能看，不能解決肚子飢餓的問題啊!”
兒童英文成語故事 如魚得水
to feel just like a fish in water如魚得水
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the country was in confusion。東漢末年，天下大亂。
In order to reunite the country, Liu Bei paid a visit to Zhu Geliang who had hidden himself in the countryside。劉備為統一天下，特意拜訪隱居的諸葛亮尋求幫助。
He went there twice but didn't see Zhu Geliang. Then the third time he finally met him. 他連去了兩次都沒見到諸葛亮，第三次才見到了他。
Liu Bei explained why he came and explained his noble ambition to Zhu Geliang also proposed some very good strategies。劉備説明來意，並暢談了自己的宏圖大志。諸葛亮也提出了周詳的戰略方針。
After listening, Liu Bei was so happy, he appointed Zhu Geliang as his military said: "Zhu Geliang to me is as water is to fish."劉備聽後大喜，於是立諸葛亮為軍師。他説：“我劉備有了諸葛亮，就好像魚兒有了水一樣。”
With the assistance of Zhu Geliang, Liu Bei's power expanded rapidly, and finally he realized his goal。劉備在諸葛亮的幫助下，勢力不斷擴大，最終實現了目標。
Nowadays, this phrase is often used to describe the person who stays in the environment which suits him/her perfectly, or someone who is very adept at using the suitable or right methods。如今，這個短語常常被用來形容一個人處在完全適合自己的環境中，或者一個人能夠熟練地應用合適的或正確的方法。
兒童英文成語故事 紙上談兵
to win a war with words紙上談兵
In the Warring States Period (戰國)， the State of Zhao (趙國) had a famous general called Zhao She, whose son, Zhao Kuo, was very fond of reading books on military science and discussing strategy. 戰國時，趙國名將趙奢 (shē) 的兒子趙括，喜歡看兵書，並且喜愛討論軍事戰術。
He could learn military texts by heart, and when discussing warfare he spoke so clearly and logically that it seemed that even his father was not his match. 他把兵書背得滾瓜爛熟，談起打仗來頭頭是道，好像他的父親都不是他的對手。
When the State of Qin attacked the State of Zhao, the ruler of Zhao ordered Zhao Kuo to lead 400,000 men to resist the attack. 當秦國攻進軍攻擊趙國的時候，趙王派趙括率領四十萬大軍去抵抗。
But since Zhao Kuo had no practical experience of battle, he was defeated and lost his life。由於他只知道死摳書本而不會在實際中靈活運用，最後指揮失策，以致全軍覆滅，他自己也中箭身亡。
Later people used this idiom to describe those who are good only at theorizing, and lack practical experience。最後人們根據這一歷史故事，把死摳書本，沒有實際經驗，只會誇誇其談稱為“紙上談兵”。