英语绘本 ▏每日一读之《东施效颦 Imitating Others》

西施是中国历史上的四大美女之一，是春秋时期越国人。

Xi Shi is one of the four great beauties in Chinese history. She was a Yue nationality in the Spring and Autumn Period.

她的一举一动都十分吸引人，只可惜她身体不好，有心痛的毛病。

Her every move was very attractive, but unfortunately she was in poor health and had a heartache.

有一天，她在河边洗完衣服准备回家。走在回家的路上，突然因为胸口疼痛，所以她就用手扶住胸口，皱着眉头。

One day, she finished washing clothes by the river and was about to go home. On the way home, she suddenly felt a pain in her chest, so she held her chest with her hands and frowned.

虽然她非常不舒服，但是见到的村民们却都在称赞，说她这样比平时更美丽。

Although she was very uncomfortable, the villagers who saw her were all praising her, saying that she was more beautiful than usual.

同村有位名叫东施的女孩，她的长相不好看。

There was a girl named Dong Shi in the same village, and she was not good-looking.

她看到村里的人都夸西施用手扶住胸口的样子很美丽。于是她也学着西施的样子，扶住胸口，皱着眉头，在人们面前慢慢地走动。

She saw that everyone in the village praised Xi Shi for her beauty when she held her chest with her hands. So she also imitated Xi Shi, holding her chest, frowning, and walking slowly in front of people.

她以为这样就有人称赞她。

She thought that people would praise her for doing so.

她本来就长得丑，再加上刻意模仿西施的动作，装腔作势的样子，让人更加厌恶。

She was ugly to begin with, and her deliberate imitation of Xi Shi's movements and pretentious appearance made people even more disgusted.

有人看到之后，赶紧关上大门。有些人则是急忙拉着妻儿躲得远远的，他们比以前更加瞧不起东施了。

After seeing this, some people quickly closed the door. Some people hurriedly pulled their wives and children away, and they looked down on Dong Shi more than before.

东施效颦的故事告诉我们，要做最真实的自己。模仿别人，不但模仿不好，反而出丑。

The story of Imitating Others tells us that we should be the most authentic version of ourselves. Imitating others not only fails to imitate well, but also makes us look bad.

有时候也做自谦之词，表示自己根底差，学别人的长处没有学到家。

Sometimes it is also used as a self-deprecating expression to express that one’s foundation is poor and one has not fully learned the strengths of others.