One year, there was a great famine in the State of Qi.

有一年，齐国发生了特大的饥荒。

A rich man named Qian Ao set up a stall by the roadside with lots of food, waiting for hungry people to come to give it in charity.

有个富人，名叫黔敖。他在大路旁边设摊，摆了许多食物，等饥饿的人来了，就施舍给他们。

After a short while, an awfully¹ hungry man walked over, with his head covered by his sleeve and his shoes tied up with strings².

不一会儿，一个饿得发慌的人，用衣袖蒙着头，用绳子绑着鞋，昏昏沉沉地走了过来。

When Qian Ao saw this, he held food in his left hand and tea in his right, shouting:

黔敖见了，左手捧着食物，右手拿着茶水，吃喝道:

"Hey, come and eat your fill."

“喂!来吃个饱吧!”

The man raised his head suddenly, opening his eyes wide and said angrily:

那个人猛地抬起头来，双眼圆睁，生气地说:

"It is exactly because I don't want to take this kind of hand-out food given by people shouting charity that I have starved to such an extent!"

“我就是因为不吃这种人家吃喝着施舍的食物，才饿到这种地步的啊!”

As soon as Qian Ao heard this, he quickly apologized to the man.

黔敖一听，连忙向他表示歉意。

But eventually the man starved to death because he was unwilling³ to take the food.

但那人终因不肯吃他的东西而饿死了。