During the Tang Dynasty, Liu Zongyuan was bad-mouthed to Liuzhou after committing a few errors in posiiton. He was slandered by enemies in Liuzhou and died melancholy. Han Yu, his friend, wrote an epitaph. Besides praising Liu's moral character, he harshly criticized others. This is his epitaph:
"There is a kind of person in the world who, when living in a slum district will get along well with others, like bosom friends. Sometimes, they even shed tears and vow to go through thick and thin together. They look sincere, but once there is a conflict relating to profit, they turn hostile. In addition, when others are suffering, they will not lend a hand, but add insult to injury by adding to their suffering. "
词语注释:
贬: (biǎn) v. to be demoted
谗言: (chányán) n. evil tongue
忧郁: (yōuyù) adj. sullen
打抱不平: (dǎ bào bù píng) v. take sides with sb. out of a sense of justice
墓志铭: (mù zhì míng) n. epitaph
陋巷: (lòuxiàng) n. mean alley
知己: (zhījǐ) n. confidant
誓言: (shìyán) n. oath
翻脸: (fān liǎn) v. turn against a friend
意义:
"落井下石"比喻在别人有危难时不但不帮助,反而还要加以陷害。
"落井下石"is a metaphor which means somebody does not help others who have trouble, but to add insult to injury.
例句:
1、每次同学被人欺负,他不但不去关心同学,还喜欢去嘲笑一番,真是落井下石。 When his classmates were bullied, he did not care about, and only laughed at them. It's like hitting a person when he's down.
2、他妻子抛弃了他,接着他的公司又落井下石,把他开除了。 His wife left him. Then his company added insult to injury and he was fired.