Historical Tales
历史故事
Dongshi, an Ugly Woman, Imitates the Frowning of the Beauty Xi Shi
东施效颦
“Once in the Spring and Autumn Period, Xi Shi, a beauty in Yue State felt an ache in her chest, so she crossed her arms on her chest and bent forward to relieve her ache.
“春秋时期，有一天，越国美女西施感到胸口痛，于是她交叉双臂按住胸口来减缓疼痛。
When her neighbour, an ugly woman named Dong Shi, saw this, and followed suit，considering it so beautiful.
当她的邻居，丑女东施看到这个画面觉得非常美丽，就模仿了西施的动作。
But at the sight of her, the rich in her neighborhood shut their doors and stayed inside for fear of meeting her, and the poor immediately took their wives and children away.
但是，当周围的富人邻居们看到东施时，他们都关上了门，待在屋子里不愿见到她，穷人们则赶快将自己的妻子和孩子拉走。
The ugly woman knew that Xi Shi's ill look was beautiful ，but she didn't know why. ”
东施只知道西施的病态很美却不知道为什么。”
Later the allusion was used to satirize that blind imitations will cause even worse effects.
后来，人们用这个典故比喻模仿别人，不但模仿不好，反而出丑。
。