古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。
Ancient fables were originally folk oral creations and a literary genre. A story with allegorical or obvious lesson significance. Its structure is short. The protagonist can be a human, an animal, or an inanimate object. The difference between Western fables and Western fables lies in the use of metaphorical techniques to convey meaningful themes or profound truths in simple stories, while also requiring one’s own understanding and contemplation.
《古代寓言·半日闲》
有贵人游僧舍，酒甜，诵唐人诗云：“因过竹院逢僧话，又得浮生半日闲”。僧闻而笑之。贵人问僧何笑？僧曰：“尊官得半日闲，老僧却忙了三日。”
——《谭概》
A Moment of Idleness
A high official paid a visit to a monastery. The monk in charge, having been notified of this previously, had made meticulous preparations for this occasion. After several drinks, the official recited a Tang poem:
Passing by the monastery I drop in to have a chat with the monk;
Out of this busy life a moment of idleness I enjoy.
The monk laughed. When asked why he laughed, he replied, “Your Worship has enjoyed a moment of idleness, but I’ve been busy for three days.”
Tan Gai
（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）
