学进去

When the people around us feel down, we usually say jiayou. When we watch the dragon boat races, we can also hear jiayou. We usually say it when we 1． someone. It means “add oil” in English. But where is it from? And why do we 2． it ?

There is a story behind “add oil”. It took place during the Qing Dynasty. ‘‘Add oil” started 3． an official (官员) named Zhang Ying. He was the zhifu, or mayor (市长), of Xingyi in Guizhou. He believed that good 4． could help build a strong country, 5． he tried to develop local education better. What he did made much 6． people study.

He sent lower officials to walk around the city at night with buckets (桶) of 7．. In ancient China, people used oil lamps (灯) at night. If these officials saw the light of oil lamps in someone’s home and heard the sound of reading, they would knock on the door and say, ‘‘The mayor 8． oil for your lamp!” The officials would then give the person oil so that he could study till the night.

Zhang did this and paid for the oil for 13 years. Many young people in Xingyi later became officials, poets and scholars (学者). “Add oil” is 9． used today. Next time, say jiayou to your 10． when they need you to cheer them up. It’s very useful.