斂脯（liǎn fǔ）

Pronunciation: liǎn fǔ

Basic Meaning: To save up food for the winter

Detailed Explanation:

斂脯 is a Chinese idiom that originated from ancient times when people had to prepare food for the winter. It refers to the act of saving up food, especially dried fruits and meat, to be used during the winter months when fresh food is scarce. It implies the importance of being prepared and not wasting resources.

Usage Scenarios:

1. To describe someone who is thrifty and saves money for the future.

2. To describe someone who plans ahead and prepares for difficult times.

Story Origin:

The idiom "斂脯" comes from a story in the ancient Chinese book, "Huainanzi." In the story, there was a wise man named Su Qin who was serving as a diplomat for the state of Qin. Su Qin was known for his frugality and ability to save resources. Once, when he was visiting the state of Wei, he noticed that the people were wasteful and did not save food for the winter. Su Qin then used the idiom "斂脯" to criticize their behavior and advised them to be more prepared for the future.

Structure of the Idiom:

The idiom "斂脯" is a combination of two Chinese characters: "斂" and "脯." "斂" means to collect or save up, while "脯" refers to dried meat or fruit. Together, they form the image of saving up food for the winter.

Example Sentences:

1. 他一直斂脯，為了將來的生活做好準備。

Translation: He has been saving up, preparing for the future.

2. 這個家庭非常會斂脯，總是節約用錢。

Translation: This family is very good at saving up, always being frugal with money.

Memory Techniques:

To remember the idiom "斂脯," you can imagine a person collecting dried fruits and meat to save for the winter. Visualize someone carefully placing the food in a storage container, symbolizing the act of saving and being prepared.

Extended Learning:

To further understand the concept of saving up and being prepared, you can explore other related idioms such as "儲蓄" (chǔxù, savings) and "未雨綢繆" (wèi yǔ chóu móu, to make preparations in advance).

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children: 冬天來了，我們要斂脯，不要浪費食物。

Translation: Winter is here, we should save up food and not waste it.

2. Teenagers: 我要好好斂脯，為將來的大學學費做準備。

Translation: I need to save up well to prepare for future college tuition.

3. Adults: 我們應該學會斂脯，不要隨意花錢。

Translation: We should learn to save up and not spend money recklessly.