S4E07 | One Bad Apple | 害群之马
Saying: “a horse that brings trouble to its herd”
Pinyin: Hài Qún Zhī Mǎ
Chinese: 害群之马
Welcome back to another CSP. This time I'm happy to present to you another great one direct from The Zhuangzi. Everyone's favorite Daoist tells us the story about a young kid from the sticks who had a chance encounter with no less a personage than The Yellow Emperor himself.
When engaging the young kid about matters regarding how to rule the world we learn the useful idiom of Hài Qún Zhī Mǎ 害群之马. This one has all kinds of uses and is worth remembering. Enjoy!
Don't forget, the Chinese terms from CSP episodes are all listed for you down below.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hài Qún Zhī Mǎ | 害群之马 | An evil member of a herd; one who brings disgrace on his group; black sheep |
| Zhuāngzǐ | 庄子 | Both the man (369-286 BC) and the eponymous book that is also referred to as The Second Book fo the Tao |
| Lǎozǐ | 老子 | Also known as Lao-tzu, a reverent term of address for the great Chinese philosopher of the final decades of the Spring and Autumn Period in Chiuna. He's often called the founder of Daoism. The work he is credited with is also called The Laozi and The Daodejing |
| Hài | 害 | To harm |
| Qún | 群 | A group |
| Zhī | 之 | a particle used in between an attribute and the word it modifies |
| Mǎ | 马 | A horse |
| Zá Piān | 杂篇 | The Miscellaneous Chapters from The Zhuangzi (a.k.a. The Second Book of the Tao) |
| Xū Wú Guǐ | 徐无鬼 | The chapter from The Zhuangzi from which we get our story |
| Xuān Yuán | 轩辕 | Huangdi or The Yellow Emperor, legendary ruler of China and ancestor of the Chinese People |
| Dà Kuí | 大隗 | Some mythical sage from the time of The Yellow Emperor |
| Jùcí Mountain | 具茨山 | The mountain location where thre sage Dakui resided, probably also in Henan |
| Xiāngchéng | 襄城 | The city where our story takes place, most likely located in Henan province in Xǔchāng 许昌 |
| 叩头 | kóutóu | To kowtow (a traditional greeting, especially to a superior, involving kneeling and pressing one's forehead to the ground |
| Chéngyǔ Yānjiū zhōngxīn | 成语研究中心 | The CSP's Chengu Research Center located in a very upscale but understated adress not far from Apple Corps in London |
