The original text of the idiom and fable is the death of the Fan family ①, and the common people

Someone who has the bell ② wants to carry it and walk away, but the bell is too big to bear ③; destroy it with a hammer ④, and the bell condition will be the same ⑤With sound. Afraid that others might hear it and take it away from you, cover their ears suddenly.

If evil people hear it, it is acceptable; if evil people hear it themselves, it is contrary to (7)!

———————— Selected from "Lü's Spring and Autumn Period·Self-Knowledge"

Notes (1) The death of the Fan family: The Fan family was an aristocrat of the Jin Kingdom at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. , was defeated by the other four noble families and fled to Qi State.

Flee, escape.

(2) Bell: an ancient percussion instrument.

(3) Negative: Carrying things on the back.

(4) Hammer (chuí): hammer or stick.

(5) huàngran: describes the sound of a bell.

Pictures of hiding one's ears and stealing one's bell

(6) 遽(jù): rapid.

(7) ambiguity (bèi): ??absurd.

Translation: When Fan was on the run, a man

took the opportunity to steal a bell and tried to escape with it on his back. However, the bell was too big to carry, so he planned to smash it with a hammer and then carry it again. Unexpectedly, as soon as it was smashed, the bell made a loud "bang" sound. He was afraid that someone would hear the bell and take it away, so he hurriedly covered his ears tightly and continued to ring.

It is understandable to be afraid that others will hear the sound of the bell; but it is ridiculous to cover your ears and think that others cannot hear it.

Edit the Chinese version of this idiom story

hiding one's ears and stealing the bell

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the noble Zhi Bo of the Jin State destroyed the Fan family. Someone took the opportunity and ran to Fan's house to steal something, and saw a big bell hanging in the yard. The bell is made of fine bronze and has exquisite shapes and patterns. The thief was very happy and wanted to carry this beautiful clock back to his home. But the clock was so big and heavy that it couldn't be moved. After much deliberation, he found only one way, which was to break the clock into pieces and then move them home separately.

The thief found a big hammer and hit the clock with all his strength. A loud bang made him jump. The thief panicked, thinking that this was too bad, didn't the sound of the bell tell people that I was stealing the bell here? He was so anxious that he threw himself on the clock and opened his arms to cover the sound of the bell, but how could he cover it! The sound of the bell still sounds long and distant.

The more he listened, the more frightened he became. He involuntarily withdrew his hands and covered his ears with all his strength. "Hey, the sound of the bell has become smaller and can't be heard!" The thief became happy. "It's wonderful! If you cover your ears, you won't be able to hear the sound of the bell!" He immediately found two cloth balls and plugged his ears. Stay, I thought, no one can hear the bell now. So he let go and hit the clock. Every time, the bell sounded loudly and spread far away. People heard the bell and swarmed to catch the thief.

Synonym: self-deception

Antonym: seek truth from facts