You are going to have a very rich Chinese idiom lesson today. You will learn a very common Chinese idiom and its origin. Based on different abilities of readers, the post is arranged by the following sections:
1 Chinese text of idiom story with audio
2 Chinese text of idiom story with audio and pinyin
3 Annotated Chinese text of idiom story with pinyin
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation and audio
5 Idiom analysis
6 Usage of idiom or how to use the idiom in daily life conversation
1 Chinese text of idiom story with audio
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese6.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
齐宣王喜欢贤士，于是让淳于推荐人才。淳于一天之内向齐王推荐了7位贤能之士。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese7.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
齐王很惊讶，就问淳于说：“寡人听说，人才是很难得的，如果一千年之内能找到一位贤人，那贤人就好像多得像肩并肩站着一样、现在，你一天之内就推荐了7个贤士，那贤士是不是太多了？”
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese8.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
淳于回答说“不能这样说。要知道，同类的鸟儿总聚在一起飞翔，同类的野兽总是聚在一起行动。这是因为天下同类的事物，总是要相聚在一起的。我淳于大既也算个贤士，所以让我推荐贤士，就如同在黄河里取水，在燧石中取火一样容易、我还要给您再推荐一些贤士，何止这七个！”
2 Chinese text of idiom story with audio and pinyin
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese6.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
齐[qí] 宣[xuān] 王[wáng] 喜欢[xǐ huan] 贤[xián] 士[shì] ，于是[yú shì] 让[ràng] 淳[chún] 于[yú] 推荐[tuī jiàn] 人才[rén cái] 。淳[chún] 于[yú] 一天[yī tiān] 之内[zhī nèi] 向[xiàng] 齐[qí] 王[wáng] 推荐[tuī jiàn] 了[le] 7位[wèi] 贤能[xián néng] 之[zhī] 士[shì] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese7.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
齐[qí] 王[wáng] 很[hěn] 惊讶[jīng yà] ，就[jiù] 问[wèn] 淳[chún] 于[yú] 说[shuì] ：“寡[guǎ] 人[rén] 听说[tīng shuō] ，人才[rén cái] 是[shì] 很[hěn] 难得[nán dé] 的[de] ，如果[rú guǒ] 一千[yī qiān] 年[nián] 之内[zhī nèi] 能[néng] 找到[zhǎo dào] 一[yī] 位[wèi] 贤[xián] 人[rén] ，那[nǎ] 贤[xián] 人[rén] 就[jiù] 好像[hǎo xiàng] 多[duō] 得[dé] 像[xiàng] 肩[jiān] 并肩[bìng jiān] 站[zhàn] 着[zhāo] 一样[yí yàng] 、现在[xiàn zài] ，你[nǐ] 一天[yī tiān] 之内[zhī nèi] 就[jiù] 推荐[tuī jiàn] 了[le] 7个[gè] 贤[xián] 士[shì] ，那[nǎ] 贤[xián] 士[shì] 是不是[shì bù shì] 太多[tài duō] 了[le] ？”
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese8.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
淳[chún] 于[yú] 回答[huí dá] 说[shuì] “不能[bù néng] 这样[zhè yàng] 说[shuì] 。要[yāo] 知道[zhī dao] ，同类[tóng lèi] 的[de] 鸟[niǎo] 儿[ér] 总[zǒng] 聚[jù] 在[zài] 一起[yì qǐ] 飞翔[fēi xiáng] ，同类[tóng lèi] 的[de] 野兽[yě shòu] 总是[zǒng shì] 聚[jù] 在[zài] 一起[yì qǐ] 行动[xíng dòng] 。这[zhè] 是[shì] 因为[yīn wèi] 天下[tiān xià] 同类[tóng lèi] 的[de] 事物[shì wù] ，总是[zǒng shì] 要[yāo] 相[xiāng] 聚[jù] 在[zài] 一起[yì qǐ] 的[de] 。我[wǒ] 淳[chún] 于[yú] 大[dà] 既[ gài] 也[yě] 算[suàn] 个[gè] 贤[xián] 士[shì] ，所以[suǒ yǐ] 让[ràng] 我[wǒ] 推荐[tuī jiàn] 贤[xián] 士[shì] ，就[jiù] 如同[rú tóng] 在[zài] 黄河[huáng hé] 里[lǐ] 取[qǔ] 水[shuǐ] ，在[zài] 燧[suì] 石[shí] 中[zhōng] 取[qǔ] 火[huǒ] 一样[yí yàng] 容易[róng yì] 、我[wǒ] 还[hái] 要[yāo] 给[gěi] 您[nín] 再[zài] 推荐[tuī jiàn] 一些[yī xiē] 贤[xián] 士[shì] ，何[hé] 止[zhǐ] 这[zhè] 七[qī] 个[gè] ！”
3 Annotated Chinese text of idiom story with pinyin
齐宣王[qí xuān wáng, King Xuan of Qi (reigned 342-324 BC)] 喜欢[xǐ huan, verb, like] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 士[shì, noun, person or scholar] ，于是[yú shì, conjunction, thus] 让[ràng, verb, let] 淳于[chún yú, person name] 推荐[tuī jiàn, verb, recommend] 人才[rén cái, talented person] 。淳于[chún yú, person name] 一天[yī tiān, yī one, tiān, day ] 之内[zhī nèi, preposition, within] 向[xiàng, preposition, toward] 齐王[qí wáng, King of Qi] 推荐[tuī jiàn, verb, recomend] 了[le, particle to show action occured] 7 位[wèi, measure word for person] 贤能[xián néng, adjective, virtuous and talented] 之[zhī, particle to connect the attributive and the noun it modifies] 士[shì, noun, scholar] 。
齐王[qí wáng, King Qi] 很[hěn, adverb, very] 惊讶[jīng yà, adjective, surprised] ，就[jiù, then] 问[wèn, verb, ask] 淳于[chún yú, person name] 说[shuì, verb, say] ：“寡人[guǎ rén, original meaning is only one person; I — first person pronoun used by royalty or nobility ] 听说[tīng shuō, verb, heard] ，人才[rén cái, noun, talented people] 是[shì, verb, is] 很[hěn, adverb, very] 难得[nán, adverb, hard] 得[dé, verb, attain or get ] 的[de, here is the 是的 structure usage, this construction is used to clarify a situation or to provide an explanation. ] ，如果[rú guǒ, if, conjuctiion, introducing a conditional clause] 一千[yī qiān, number 1000] 年[nián, noun, year] 之内[zhī nèi, preposition, within] 能[néng, adjective, able] 找到[zhǎo dào, resultative compliment, found; tried to find and found it] 一[yī] 位[wèi, measure word] 贤人[xián rén, noun, virtuous person] ，那[nǎ, transition word, then] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 人[rén, noun people] 就[jiù, then, transition word] 好像[hǎo xiàng, verb, seem] 多[duō, adjective, many] 得[dé, structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc] 像[xiàng, verb, like] 肩[jiān, noun, shoulder] 并肩[bìng jiān, shoulder by shoulder] 站[zhàn, verb, stand] 着[zhāo, particle to put after verb] 一样[yí yàng, adjective, the same] 、现在[xiàn zài, adverb, now] ，你[nǐ, noun, you] 一天[yī tiān, one day] 之内[zhī nèi, within, preposition] 就[jiù, conjunction, then] 推荐[tuī jiàn, recommended] 了[le, particle to show action occurred] 7个[gè, measure word for person] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 士[shì, noun scholar] ，那[nǎ, pronoun, that] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 士[shì, noun, scholar] 是不是[shì bù shì, is or is not] 太多[tài duō, too many] 了[le, modal particle intensifying preceding clause] ？”
淳 于[chún yú, person name] 回答[huí dá, noun, answer] 说[shuì, verb, say] “不能[bù néng, verb, can’t] 这样[zhè yàng, adverb, like this] 说[shuì, verb, say] 。要[yāo, verb, have to] 知道[zhī dao, verb, understand or know] ，同类[tóng lèi, same species or same kind] 的[de, particle to connect the attributives and the noun it modifies] 鸟[niǎo, noun, bird] 儿[ér, suffix, no meaning] 总[zǒng, adverb, always] 聚[jù, verb, gather together] 在[zài, preposition, at] 一起[yì qǐ, adverb, together] 飞翔[fēi xiáng, verb, fly] ，同类[tóng lèi, same species, same kind] 的[de, connecting particle] 野兽[yě shòu, noun, beast] 总是[zǒng shì, adverb, always] 聚[jù, verb, gather] 在[zài, preposition, at] 一起[yì qǐ, adverb, together] 行动[xíng dòng, verb, action] 。这[zhè, pronoun, this] 是[shì, verb, is] 因为[yīn wèi, because] 天下[tiān xià, the world, or under the sky] 同类[tóng lèi, same species, or same kind] 的[de, connecting particle] 事物[shì wù, things or matter] ，总是[zǒng shì, adverb, always] 要[yāo, verb, want] 相[xiāng, adverb, together] 聚[jù, verb, gather] 在[zài, prepositon, at] 一起[yì qǐ, together] 的[de, connecting particle] 。我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 淳于[chún yú] 大既[dà gài, adverb, probably] 也[yě, adverb, also] 算[suàn, verb, be counted as ] 个[gè, measure word] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 士[shì, noun, scholar] ，所以[suǒ yǐ, conjunction, so] 让[ràng, verb, let] 我[wǒ, pronoun, me] 推荐[tuī jiàn, verb, recommend] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 士[shì, noun, scholar] ，就[jiù, adverb, just] 如同[rú tóng, verb, like] 在[zài, preposition, at] 黄河[huáng hé, noun, Yellow River] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] 取[qǔ, verb, get] 水[shuǐ,noun, water] ，在[zài, preposition, at] 燧石[suì shí, noun, flint] 中[zhōng, preposition, within] 取[qǔ, verb, gather] 火[huǒ, noun, fire] 一样[yí yàng, adverb, the same] 容易[róng yì, adjective, easy] 、我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 还[hái, adverb, still] 要[yāo, verb, want] 给[gěi, verb, give] 您[nín, pronoun, you] 再[zài, adverb, again] 推荐[tuī jiàn, verb, recommend] 一些[yī xiē, adjective, some] 贤[xián, adjective, virtuous] 士[shì, noun, scholar] ，何止[hé zhǐ, far more than] 这[zhè, pronoun, this] 七[qī, number, seven] 个[gè, measure word] ！”
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation and audio
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese6.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
齐宣王喜欢贤士，于是让淳于推荐人才。淳于一天之内向齐王推荐了7位贤能之士。
Jì Xuānwáng xǐhuān xián shì , yúshì ràng chún yú tuījiàn réncái . chún yú yītiānzhīnèi xiàng Jì Wáng tuījiàn le qī wèi xiánnéng zhī shì .
King Xuan of Qi like virtuous scholars, thus, he let Chun Yu recommend talented people (to him). Chun Yu, in one day, recommended seven virtuous and talented people to King Qi.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese7.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
齐王很惊讶，就问淳于说：“寡人听说，人才是很难得的，如果一千年之内能找到一位贤人，那贤人就好像多得像肩并肩站着一样、现在，你一天之内就推荐了7个贤士，那贤士是不是太多了？”
Jì wáng hěn jīngyà , jiù wèn chún yú shuō : ” guǎ rén tīngshuō , réncái shì hěn nánděi , rúguǒ yīqiānnián zhīnèi néng zhǎodào yī wèi xiánrén, nà xiánrénjiù hǎoxiàng duōděi xiàng jiānbìngjiān zhàn zhe yīyàng , xiànzài , nǐ yītiānzhīnèi jiù tuījiàn le qī ge xián shì , Nā Xiánshì shì bù shì tài duō le ? ”
King Qi was greatly surprised, then he asked Chun Yu and said: ” I heard that virtuous people are hard to obtain. If within one thousand years, (we) can find one sage, then ( the amount of ) sages looks like so many that they stand shoulder by shoulder. Now, you recommended seven virtuous scholars in one day, then, doesn’t it seem sages are too many?”
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese8.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
淳于回答说“不能这样说。要知道，同类的鸟儿总聚在一起飞翔，同类的野兽总是聚在一起行动。这是因为天下同类的事物，总是要相聚在一起的。我淳于大既也算个贤士，所以让我推荐贤士，就如同在黄河里取水，在燧石中取火一样容易、我还要给您再推荐一些贤士，何止这七个！”
chún yú huídá shuō ” bù néng zhèyàng shuō . yào zhīdào , tónglèi de niǎoérzǒng jù zài yīqǐ fēixiáng , tónglèi de yěshòu zǒngshì jù zài yīqǐ xíngdòng . zhè shì yīnwèi tiānxià tónglèi de shìwù , zǒngshì yào xiāngjù zài yīqǐ de . Wǒ chún Yú Dàjì yě suàn ge xián shì , suǒyǐ ràng wǒ tuījiàn xián shì , jiù rútóng zài Huánghé lǐ qǔ shuǐ , zài suìshí zhōng qǔ huǒ yīyàng róngyì, Wǒ hái yào gěinínzài tuījiàn yī xiē xián shì , hézhǐ zhè qī ge ! ”
Chun Yu answered: ” You can’t say like this. You have to know that birds of same species always gather together flying. Beasts of same species always gather together and move together. It is because the same species things under the sky always have to gather together. I, Chun Yu, probably can be counted as a sage, so, let me recommended sages is like taking water from Yellow River, as easy as making fire in the flint, I would like to recommend more sages to you, far more than these seven. ”
`
5 Idiom analysis
“To have a good friend is one of the highest delights in life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
What does the quote ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ mean?
It means people with similar interests or shared characteristics group together or you are who you surround yourself with.
This idiom 物以类聚 wù yǐ lèi jù makes perfect sense. If you want to make yourself savvy in the learning Chinese, then it is a good idea to spend time with someone who knows a lot about Chinese language or Chinese culture. This is an idiom that can apply to positive and negative sides. If you spend time with people who lie, cheat and betray, then it’s inevitable that you will end up having a ton of bad habit, too.
In Chinese we have a proverb that says:
近朱者赤，近墨者黑
jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi
He who stays near vermilion gets stained red,and he who stays near ink gets stained black.
Or
One takes on the color of one’s company.
There are some similar expressions in English language:
One takes the behavior of one’s company
One takes on the attributes of one’s associates.
As one who lies with dogs will ride with fleas, how could your son learn
anything good by mixing with those people?
Watch the company you keep!
6 Usage of idioms or how to use the idioms in daily life conversation
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese9.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
1 小张的朋友和他一样都很喜欢看书， 真是物以类聚，人以群分啊.
Xiǎo Zhāng de péngyou hé tā yīyàng dōu hěn xǐhuān kànshū , zhēnshì wù yǐ lèi jù , rén yǐ qún fēn ā .
Little Zhang’s friends all are like him, like to read books. It is really like birds of the same feather flock together!
2 近朱者赤，近墨者黑， 结交朋友可要谨慎小心啊.
jìnzhūzhěchì, jìnmòzhěhēi , jié jiāo péngyou kě yào jǐnshèn xiǎoxīn ā .
He who stays near vermilion gets stained red,and he who stays near ink gets stained black. Making friends, you had better be careful.
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