脣亡齒寒
Level 6 · 寓言故事 · 46 vocabulary words
Source: 《左传·僖公五年》 · Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xi year 5
晋国想攻打虢国,要经过虞国,就送给虞公很多宝马和美玉,想借路。
Jin wanted to attack Guo but had to pass through Yu, so it sent Duke Yu fine horses and jades to borrow the road.
宫之奇劝虞公说:虢国和虞国,就像嘴唇和牙齿。嘴唇没有了,牙齿就会觉得冷。
Gong Zhiqi warned the duke: 'Guo and Yu are like lips and teeth, without the lips, the teeth grow cold.'
虞公不听,还是借路给晋国。
The duke would not listen and lent Jin the road.
晋国灭了虢国以后,回来的路上,顺便把虞国也灭了。
Jin destroyed Guo, and on the way home destroyed Yu as well.