拈轻怕重 to pick and choose the easy tasks; to shy away from difficult tasks
Explanation
形容做事挑拣轻松的,害怕承担困难的。
To describe someone who prefers easy tasks and shies away from difficult ones.
Origin Story
从前,在一个小山村里,住着一位老木匠和他的两个徒弟。老木匠年纪大了,身体也不如从前硬朗,但他手艺精湛,村里人都很喜欢找他做家具。一天,村长来请老木匠做一套新桌椅,这套桌椅需要用到上好的木材,制作工艺也比较复杂。老木匠的两个徒弟,一个叫阿强,一个叫阿力。阿强听到这个任务后,立刻就表示愿意承担,他觉得自己年轻力壮,完全可以胜任。而阿力却犹豫了,他觉得这活太重,而且很费时间,还不如做一些简单的活计来得轻松。阿强做事认真仔细,一丝不苟,他每天都坚持工作到很晚,终于在规定的时间内完成了任务。而阿力则拈轻怕重,挑挑拣拣,找各种借口推脱。结果,他不仅耽误了进度,还把活做得马马虎虎。最后,村长对阿强的认真负责赞赏有加,对阿力的行为非常失望。这个故事告诉我们,做人做事要认真负责,不能拈轻怕重,要勇于承担责任,克服困难,才能获得成功。
Once upon a time, in a small mountain village, there lived an old carpenter and his two apprentices. The old carpenter was old and not as strong as he used to be, but he was a master craftsman, and the villagers liked to ask him to make furniture. One day, the village chief asked the old carpenter to make a new set of tables and chairs. This set of tables and chairs required high-quality wood and complex craftsmanship. The old carpenter had two apprentices, one named Ah Qiang and the other named Ah Li. After hearing about this task, Ah Qiang immediately expressed his willingness to undertake it. He felt that he was young and strong, and he could completely handle it. Ah Li, however, hesitated. He felt that the work was too heavy and time-consuming, and it would be easier to do simpler tasks. Ah Qiang was careful and meticulous in his work. He persisted in working until very late every day, and finally completed the task within the specified time. However, Ah Li picked and chose, making various excuses to shirk his responsibilities. As a result, not only did he delay the progress, but he also did a shoddy job. In the end, the village head highly praised Ah Qiang's diligence and responsibility, and was very disappointed with Ah Li's behavior. This story tells us that we should be conscientious and responsible in our work, and that we should not shirk our responsibilities or choose the easy tasks. We must be courageous enough to take on responsibilities and overcome difficulties, in order to achieve success.
Usage
用于形容一个人做事挑拣轻松的,害怕承担困难的。
Used to describe someone who picks easy tasks and avoids difficult ones.
Examples
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他总是拈轻怕重,不愿意承担责任。
ta zongshi nian qing pa zhong, buyuan yi chengdan zeren.
He always shirks responsibility and picks only the easy jobs.
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这次的任务很艰巨,可不能拈轻怕重。
zhei ci de renwu hen jianju, ke buneng nian qing pa zhong.
This task is very challenging, we cannot shirk our responsibility.