S6E02 | Do As I Say, Not As I Do
Saying: “The magistrates are free to burn down the houses, while the common people are forbidden to even light lamps”
Pinyin: Zhǐ xǔ Zhōuguān fànghuǒ, Bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng
Chinese: 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯
We're back with another good one, this time with a rare appearance of a twelve-character Chinese Saying. This one is perfect for our modern times. It' become a regular thing to see politicians, celebrities, and everyday people, talking the talk on social media about how to act, but not following through so much with walking the walk. Politicians stand on soapboxes and tell the people to obey the Covid regulations. But next thing you know, they're caught on video flaunting their own rules. This chéngyǔ is perfect to use in those kinds of situations. Zhǐ xǔ Zhōuguān fànghuǒ, Bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng, 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng | 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 | The magistrates are free to burn down the houses, while the common people are forbidden to even light lamps; double standards |
| Zhǐ xǔ | 只许 | Only permit |
| zhōu | 州 | a prefect |
| guān | 官 | an official |
| Fànghuǒ | 放火 | to commit arson, light a fire |
| Bùxǔ | 不许 | Not permitted |
| bǎixìng | 百姓 | "The 100 Surnames", a term used to represent the Chinese masses |
| Bǎi | 百 | One hundred |
| xìng | 姓 | a surname |
| Lǎobǎixìng | 老百姓 | "The Old 100 Surnames", a term used to represent the Chinese masses |
| diǎndēng | 电灯 | To light a lantern |
| Zhōu | 周朝 | Ancient Chinese dynasty that ran 1046 to 256 BC |
| Hàn | 汉朝 | Dynasty in China that ran 202 BC-220 AD |
| Jìn | 晋朝 | Dynasty in China that ran 266-420 |
| Northern Song | 北宋 | 960-1127, the part of the Song Dynasty when the capital was up in Kaifeng |
| Lù Yóu | 陆游 | 1125-1210, Chinese historian and poet during the Southern Sing |
| Kāifēng | 开封 | City in Henan province that served as the capital of the Northern Song |
| Hēilóngjiāng | 黑龙江 | Province in Manchuria |
| Jìngkāng Incident | 靖康事变 | 1125-1127, an agonizing period of invasions during the Jin-Song Wars that led to the defeat of Song and the capture of the entire royal family |
| Yuè Fēi | 岳飞 | 1103-1142, Song military general and Chinese patriot who fought to reestablish the Song Dynasty in the north after it was defeated by the Jürchen's |
| Jīn Dynasty | 金朝 | Not to be coinfused with the 晋朝 (see above),this one was founded by the Jürchen's and lasted 1115-1234 |
| Emperor Gāozōng | 高宗 | There were many "Emperor Gaozong's but this one was the 9th Song Dynasty emperor, 9th son of Huizong who reestablished the Song in the south of China after it was vanquished by the Jürchens. He reigned 1127-1129 |
| Qín Huì | 秦桧 | 1090-1155, Chancellor during the Song for Emperor Gaozong, considered to be a reviled traitorous figure of his time. |
| Lǎo xué ān bǐ jì | 老学庵笔记 | Lu You's book, "Notes from the Abode of an Aging Scholar" |
| Tián Dēng | 田登 | The tyrannical and egotistical prefect from our chengyu |
| Liáng Shíqiū | 梁实秋 | 1903-1987, renowned educator, writer, translator and lexicographer, famous for his Chinese-English dictionary (that I use all the time) |
