中国成语故事奋发篇―卧薪尝胆
Sleeping onBrushwood and Tasting Gall
Explanation：
Nursing a grievance and biding one’s time for vengeance.
Story：
Goujian, king of the State of Yue during the latter part of the Spring and Autumn Period, was defeated in battle and taken captive by Fuchai, king of the State of Wu. The latter forced his royal prisoner to labor as a stable hand.
卧薪尝胆
解释：
薪：柴草。形容刻苦自励，发奋图强。
故事：
春秋末期，越王勾践每天睡在柴草上，临睡前，用舌头舔舔鹿胆的苦味，以此来提醒自己过往苦日子，要发奋图强，报仇复国。
Goujian endured these years of drudgery and humiliation with apparent resignation, performing his duties well and showing the utmost devotion to his master. In reality, he was determined to restore the fortunes of his own state and was imply biding his time.
Fuchai, convinced that Goujian had accepted his overlordship and could be used as a faithful vassal of Wu, restored him to the throne of Yue.
Returning to his own country, Goujian swore to make Yue strong enough to avenge his humiliation.
原来吴王夫差发兵打败了越国，越王勾践被捉来吴国当了马夫，日夜侍候马匹。
对于一个君王来说，这实在是非常难堪的。但是勾践暗下决心，一定要恢复自己的国家，所以他没有露出丝毫的抗拒神态，老老实实养马。
勾践还装出对夫差忠心耿耿的样子。用心替他驾驭马车，态度谦卑。夫差认为勾践真心归顺了，就放他回国。
In person he helped the common people improve their farming methods, and soon prosperity reigned throughout the land. However, fearing that comfort might sap his determination, every night he slept on a pile of brushwood and every morning sucked on a deer’s gallbladder to keep alive his resentment and bitterness. He also stationed a servant at the door of his palace, whose duty was to cry, every time the king entered or left. "Goujian, have you forgotten the disgrace inflicted on you by Wu? "
勾践回国后，决心要使越国富强起来。他亲自参加耕种，和百姓同甘共苦，他怕眼前的安逸消磨了志气，就“卧薪尝胆”，还常自问：“你忘了在吴国的耻辱吗？”
In the meantime, in order to distract Fuchai’s attention from affairs of state and bring about the degeneration of Wu, Goujian presented the beauty Xishi to Fuchai The ploy worked, and, as Fuchai sank ever deeper into debauchery his state went to rack and ruin. Finally, after 20 years’ preparation --and sleeping on faggots and tasting gall--Goujian decided that the time had come for vengeance, and in a lighting swoop he destroyed the State of Wu. Fuchai was ashamed of himself and cut his own throat.
勾践又给吴王送去美女西施。吴王夫差就更加只顾吃喝玩乐，无心国政，弄得国家日渐衰弱。经过二十年的充分准备，勾践看时机已经成熟，就在吴国没有防备的情况下，领兵把吴国打得大败。夫差感到很羞愧，举剑自刎而死。
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