整理/樊未晨 制圖/李晗

他山之石，可以攻玉

　　別的山上的石頭，可以用來琢磨玉器（“他”又作“它”）。出自《詩經》。本意是向周宣王委婉勸諫，應招攬那些隱逸山林的賢才為國所用。后來比喻借他人的批評、幫助來改正自己的過錯；借他人、他國的情況、經驗、方法等作為自己的鑒戒和參考，更好地提升自我。它體現了中國人的開放心態、學習精神。

Use Stones from Another Mountain

to Polish One's Jade

　　This expression, which is from The Book of Songs, was originally a subtle piece of advice to King Xuan of Zhou to recruit talented recluses to work for his country. Later, it became an allegory of using criticism from others to correct one's own mistakes, and drawing on the experiences and practices of other people or other countries to improve oneself. This phrase expresses the open-mindedness of the Chinese people and their eagerness to benefit from others' practices.

引例

　　樂彼之園，爰有樹檀，其下維榖。它山之石，可以攻玉。（《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》）（在那園中真快樂，檀樹高高枝葉密，下面楮樹矮又細。他方山上有佳石，可以用來琢玉器。）

　　The garden is so lovely, where tall sandalwood grows, below are short and slender mulberry trees. There are stones on its rockeries, which can be used to polish jade. (The Book of Songs)