Welcome, kids, to LingoAce Story Time! Today, Teacher Xiao Yu is going to tell you a fable about "Mending the Fold After the Sheep Are Lost."
The Moral of Mending the Fold After the Sheep Are Lost
Firstly, let's talk about the idiom "Mending the fold after the sheep are lost." In Chinese, it's pronounced as "wáng yáng bǔ láo." The literal meaning is to repair the sheepfold after the sheep have run away, but it's not too late. The metaphorical meaning of this idiom is taking timely measures to remedy a situation after a problem arises, preventing further and potentially greater losses.
Let's Begin the Story
Now, let's get into the story. Kids, pay close attention as the story unfolds.
In ancient times, there was a peaceful mountainous area inhabited by a group of kind and hardworking villagers. In this village lived a lazy shepherd named Jinbao. Jinbao always liked to procrastinate and leave things until the last moment. He was unwilling to prepare in advance, always carrying a mindset of luck. The villagers gradually became displeased with Jinbao because his laziness caused them to worry, fearing that his sheep would be lost due to his procrastination.
One day, Jinbao once again displayed his laziness. He found that the gate of the sheepfold wasn't properly locked, but he thought it didn't matter because the sheep probably wouldn't run away. However, the next morning, Jinbao was surprised to find one sheep missing from the fold. He started to panic, realizing that his procrastination and mindset of luck had cost him a sheep. The neighbors in the village advised him to immediately repair the sheepfold to prevent more sheep from being lost. However, Jinbao remained unconvinced, thinking that since one sheep was already lost, the wolf wouldn't come again. His attitude provoked dissatisfaction and concern among everyone.
The next morning, the situation got worse. Jinbao lost another sheep. This time, Jinbao finally woke up, realizing that his laziness and mindset of luck had cost him two sheep. He decided to change, working hard to repair the sheepfold and taking better care of the remaining sheep. Day by day, he maintained diligence and effort, and the sheep gradually became healthier and stronger.
Question Time!
The story is over, and now there's a question for the kids. The question is: Do any of the kids know the moral of this story?
The Answer Revealed:
This story teaches us that "repairing the sheepfold after losing the sheep" is not "too late." Jinbao eventually realized his mistake. Despite losing two sheep, he didn't give up. Instead, he worked hard to repair the sheepfold, preventing further losses. Jinbao in this story represents those who have missed opportunities due to procrastination and a mindset of luck. By changing his attitude and putting in effort, he achieved positive results, conveying an optimistic value.
As the fable says, the moral of the idiom "亡羊补牢" (repairing the sheepfold after losing the sheep) is that taking measures to remedy a situation after a problem arises can prevent further losses.
Story Source:
At the end of the story, I'll share a little tip with the kids: This interesting fable comes from an ancient book called "战国策·楚策" (Strategies of the Warring States - Chu). The original text goes like this: "见兔而顾犬，未为晚也；亡羊而补牢，未为迟也." The meaning is that repairing the sheepfold after the sheep has escaped is not too late. Later on, it metaphorically means that taking measures to remedy a situation after a problem can prevent further losses. So, "亡羊补牢" is a highly positive idiom!If you also want your child to excel in Chinese, LingoAce, the No.1 brand in international language education, is an unmissable choice. At LingoAce, we are committed to providing high-quality courses for your child. Each course is the result of our team's efforts, including over a hundred hours of curriculum design, textbook production, simulated teaching, teacher training, and quality control. We invite you and your child to join a free trial class and experience the extraordinary Chinese learning experience at LingoAce!
The next one is the idiom story of "Amazing", please stay tuned
If you also want your child to excel in Chinese, LingoAce, the No.1 brand in international language education, is an unmissable choice. At LingoAce, we are committed to providing high-quality courses for your child. Each course is the result of our team's efforts, including over a hundred hours of curriculum design, textbook production, simulated teaching, teacher training, and quality control. We invite you and your child to join a free trial class and experience the extraordinary Chinese learning experience at LingoAce!
