Legend has it that on Mount Wutai there lived a bird called the Hanhao. In summer, its plumage was dazzling and colorful. It would spread its wings and cry proudly: 'How beautiful I am! How beautiful I am!' In autumn, while other birds hurried to build nests for winter, the Hanhao sang and danced without a care. When deep winter came, its feathers fell out, its beauty vanished, and it huddled shivering in a rock crevice at night. But when the morning sun appeared, it would comfort itself again: 'Just get by... just get by...'
传说五台山上有一种鸟叫寒号虫。每当夏天来临，它的羽毛就变得绚丽斑斓，这时它就展开翅膀，自鸣得意叫道：我真美丽，我真美丽！秋天，其它鸟都忙着做窝避寒时，寒号虫仍满不在乎地跳着唱着。到深冬季节，它的羽毛脱落了，美丽的外表顿时消失，晚上只好缩在石缝里，浑身哆嗦。但当早上太阳出来，它又会自我安慰说：得过且过，得过且过。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
The idiom describes someone who drifts through life without ambition or plan, doing just enough to survive each day. The Hanhao bird is a cautionary tale: those who refuse to prepare will suffer when the cold comes.
The idiom describes someone who drifts through life without ambition or plan, doing just enough to survive each day. The Hanhao bird is a cautionary tale: those who refuse to prepare will suffer when the cold comes.