断章取义 take things out of context
Explanation
断章取义是一个成语，意思是截取一段文字或话语中的某一部分，而忽略了其他部分，从而歪曲了原文的意思。它指的是片面理解，只看到部分，看不到整体，从而得出错误的结论。
断章取义 is a Chinese idiom, which means to take a passage out of context and distort its meaning. It refers to a one-sided understanding, seeing only a part and not the whole, thus drawing a wrong conclusion.
Origin Story
战国时期，齐国有个著名的政治家叫晏婴，他以聪明机智著称。一次，齐景公问晏婴：“你说，人应该怎样对待朋友？”晏婴回答说：“朋友之间要真诚相待，患难相助，才能长久。”齐景公点点头，表示赞同。 过了一会儿，齐景公又问：“你说，对待敌人应该怎样？”晏婴笑着说：“对待敌人，就要像对待朋友一样真诚，这样才能使敌人真心归顺。”齐景公听到这话，大吃一惊，连忙问道：“这是什么意思？难道要我们对敌人也像对待朋友一样吗？” 晏婴解释说：“人与人之间交往，最重要的是真诚。即使是敌人，如果真心相待，他们也会被你的真诚所感动。反之，如果对敌人虚情假意，他们也会对你不信任。所以，对待敌人，要像对待朋友一样真诚，才能真正化敌为友。” 齐景公听了晏婴的话，若有所思。他终于明白，真诚是人与人之间交往的根本，即使是敌人，也要真诚相待，才能获得真正的友谊。
During the Warring States period in China, there was a famous statesman in the state of Qi named Yan Ying, who was known for his intelligence and wit. One day, Duke Jinggong of Qi asked Yan Ying, “Tell me, how should one treat a friend?” Yan Ying replied, “Friends should treat each other sincerely, help each other in times of need, and only then can they last long.” Duke Jinggong nodded his head in agreement.
Usage
这个成语用于批评那些不顾全篇，只抓住其中一部分文字或话语，断章取义，歪曲原意的人。
This idiom is used to criticize those who ignore the context and only seize on a part of the text or speech, taking it out of context and distorting its original meaning.
Examples
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这篇文章断章取义，歪曲了作者的本意。
zhe pian wen zhang duan zhang qu yi, wai qu le zuo zhe de ben yi.
This article takes things out of context and distorts the author's original intention.
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不要断章取义，要看问题的全貌。
bu yao duan zhang qu yi, yao kan wen ti de quan mao.
Don't take things out of context, you should look at the whole picture.
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他断章取义，引经据典，以此来证明自己的观点。
ta duan zhang qu yi, yin jing ju dian, yi ci lai zheng ming zi ji de guan dian.
He takes things out of context and quotes from classic works to prove his point.
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他的话断章取义，不能代表他的全部观点。
ta de hua duan zhang qu yi, bu neng dai biao ta de quan bu guan dian.
His words are taken out of context and cannot represent his entire point of view.
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我们要避免断章取义，以免造成误解。
wo men yao bi mian duan zhang qu yi, yi mian zao cheng wu jie.
We should avoid taking things out of context to avoid misunderstandings.