传说春秋时有个老菜子，很孝顺，七十岁了有时还穿着彩色衣服，扮成幼儿，引父母发笑。后作为孝顺父母的典故。

dressing in motley and clowning to amuse his parents

形容态度和气，使人愿意接近。

affable/affability

比喻不能长久的权势，难于依靠。

Difficult to rely on an iceberg

飘、泊：随流飘荡。原形容书法笔势潇洒飘逸，后比喻夫妻离散或文人失意。

separation of husband and wife free and powerful calligraphic style/husband and wife separated

比喻指知己朋友所在之处。

Green forest, black block

比喻事物盛极将衰。同“日中则昃”。

The sun is about to decline

铜铸的头，铁打的额。形容人勇猛强悍。

brass head and iron foreheadto be courageous and cruel bold and courageous extremely courageous head of brass and brow of iron

合璧：圆形有孔的玉叫璧，半圆形的叫半璧，两个半璧合成一个圆叫“合璧”。比喻中国和外国的好东西合到一块。

blending the east and the west

比喻朋友相知之深。

Hui Zi knows me

考绩：考核官吏政绩；幽：昏暗；明：清白。指考核官吏政绩得失。

Assessing merits and faults

指买卖双方之间的关系。比喻人与人之间以利害关系为转移的交情。

Business dealings

形容很短的时间。同“一朝一夕”。

From one morning to one night

终身：一生。关系一辈子的大事情，多指婚姻。

a great event affecting ones whole life (especially in reference to marriage)

告老：因年老而告退；还：回，返；家：故乡、故里。因年老而辞职回归故乡安度晚年。

Retire and Return Home

间：离间。关系疏远者不参与关系亲近者的事。

Not visiting relatives far away

治：治理；安：安定。治理国家，安定人民。

rule the country and bring the people stability

比喻兄弟相残。

Bean stalks burn beans

指使国家富足，民力强盛。

make ones country rich and powerful so that its people can enjoy a prosperous life

葭莩：芦苇杆内壁的薄膜。比喻关系疏远的亲戚。

ones distant relatives be distantly related to sb.

方言。犹言中间人。多指婚姻介绍人。

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