Translation: A river clam had just opened its mouth to bask in the sun when a snipe came to peck at its flesh. The clam immediately closed its mouth and clamped the snipe’s mouth. The snipe said, “If it doesn’t rain today or tomorrow, the clam will die.” The clam said, “If you don’t take out your mouth today or tomorrow, the snipe will die.” They were unwilling to give up each other, and the fisherman saw this and caught them both. It warns people: When doing things, we must know how to weigh the pros and cons, resolve conflicts and give in to each other, so as not to lose sight of one thing while focusing on another and let others take advantage of us.
译文：有个河蚌刚刚打开晒太阳，一只鹬飞来啄它的肉，河蚌马上闭拢，夹住了鹬的嘴。鹬说：“今天不下雨，明天不下雨，那就会有死蚌了。”河蚌说：“今天你的嘴不取出来，明天你的嘴不取出来，那就会有死鹬了。”它们都不肯互相放弃，渔夫看见了，就把它们俩一起捉走了。告诫人们：做事要懂得权衡得失，化解矛盾互相谦让，以免顾此失彼，让别人钻空子。
《古代寓言·鹬蚌相争》
蚌方出曝，而鹬啄其肉。蚌合而莫过甘其喙。
鹬曰：“今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌！”
蚌亦谓鹬曰：“今日不出，明日不出，即有死鹬！”
两者不肯相舍，渔者得而并禽之。
——《战国策》
The Snipe and the Mussel
A mussel was opening its shell to bask in the sun when a snipe pecked at it. The mussel clamped down on the bird’s beak, and held it fast.
“If it doesn’t rain today or tomorrow,” said the snipe, “there will be a dead mussel lying there.”
“If you can’t pry loose today or tomorrow,” retorted the mussel, “there will be a dead snipe here too.”
As neither of them would give way, a passing fisherman caught them both.
Warring States Anecdotes
