门可罗雀You Can Trap Sparrows at the Quiet Door

You Can Trap Sparrows at the Quiet Door（成语 门可罗雀 英文)


When Zhai Gong, whose native place was Xiangui(1), was made administrator of justice, guests swarmed to his residence. But, when he was dismissed from office, it was so quiet at the door of his mansion that a sieve-trap for sparrows could be set there without fear of being disturbed.

Later, on his resuming office, his guests wanted to call on him again. He at once wrote some big words on a piece of paper and had it posted up at the gate. The words were: If one wats to know who is true-hearted, the best moment is when he becomes dead or, fortunately,escapes from death; and to find out who has a sincere attitude, then it is when he becomes poor or as the case may be rich. The best time to test friendship is when he is exalted or, unfortunately, humiliated.

_____________remark_______________
(1) present-day Weinart County in Shanxi Province.

门可罗雀(chinese idioms)

下邽人翟公，乃汉文帝时大臣，任廷尉时，为九卿之一，位高权重。每日车马盈门，宾客如云，络绎不绝，水泄不通。其失官后，宾客绝迹，门可罗雀。后官复原职，众宾客复登门求见。此一失一得，一贫一富之况，令翟公感世态炎凉，人多趋炎附势者，顿感忿懑，便于门首书一行大字曰：“一死一生，乃知交情；一贫一富，乃知交态；一贵一贱，交情乃见。”

门可罗雀,形容门庭冷清