爱华网Relieving hunger with a picture of cakes
画饼充饥
Once in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280)， the duke of the Wei, Cao Rui, planed to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: 'When choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation. A false reputation is just like a picture of a cake; it can' t ease hunger.'
三国时代魏国的皇帝曹睿，准备选拔一个有才能的人到朝廷来做官。曹睿对他的大臣说：“选择人才，不能光找有虚名的人。虚名好像是画的一块饼，只能看，不能解决肚子饥饿的问题啊!”
儿童英文成语故事 如鱼得水to feel just like a fish in water如鱼得水
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the country was in confusion。东汉末年，天下大乱。
In order to reunite the country, Liu Bei paid a visit to Zhu Geliang who had hidden himself in the countryside。刘备为统一天下，特意拜访隐居的诸葛亮寻求帮助。
He went there twice but didn't see Zhu Geliang. Then the third time he finally met him. 他连去了两次都没见到诸葛亮，第三次才见到了他。
Liu Bei explained why he came and explained his noble ambition to Zhu Geliang.Zhu Geliang also proposed some very good strategies。刘备说明来意，并畅谈了自己的宏图大志。诸葛亮也提出了周详的战略方针。
After listening, Liu Bei was so happy, he appointed Zhu Geliang as his military advisor.He said: "Zhu Geliang to me is as water is to fish."刘备听后大喜，于是立诸葛亮为军师。他说：“我刘备有了诸葛亮，就好像鱼儿有了水一样。”
With the assistance of Zhu Geliang, Liu Bei's power expanded rapidly, and finally he realized his goal。刘备在诸葛亮的帮助下，势力不断扩大，最终实现了目标。
Nowadays, this phrase is often used to describe the person who stays in the environment which suits him/her perfectly, or someone who is very adept at using the suitable or right methods。如今，这个短语常常被用来形容一个人处在完全适合自己的环境中，或者一个人能够熟练地应用合适的或正确的方法。
儿童英文成语故事 纸上谈兵to win a war with words纸上谈兵
In the Warring States Period (战国)， the State of Zhao (赵国) had a famous general called Zhao She, whose son, Zhao Kuo, was very fond of reading books on military science and discussing strategy. 战国时，赵国名将赵奢 (shē) 的儿子赵括，喜欢看兵书，并且喜爱讨论军事战术。
He could learn military texts by heart, and when discussing warfare he spoke so clearly and logically that it seemed that even his father was not his match. 他把兵书背得滚瓜烂熟，谈起打仗来头头是道，好像他的父亲都不是他的对手。
When the State of Qin attacked the State of Zhao, the ruler of Zhao ordered Zhao Kuo to lead 400,000 men to resist the attack. 当秦国攻进军攻击赵国的时候，赵王派赵括率领四十万大军去抵抗。
But since Zhao Kuo had no practical experience of battle, he was defeated and lost his life。由于他只知道死抠书本而不会在实际中灵活运用，最后指挥失策，以致全军覆灭，他自己也中箭身亡。
Later people used this idiom to describe those who are good only at theorizing, and lack practical experience。最后人们根据这一历史故事，把死抠书本，没有实际经验，只会夸夸其谈称为“纸上谈兵”。
