人类的思想和文化通过语言文字传承着，从时代上来说，老子、孔子、孟子等圣贤先哲与我们相隔两千多年了，我们通过读他们的书在继承着中华民族的文化；而从地缘上来说，中国文化的发源地距离我和杨增强先生的家乡新沂——苏鲁豫皖四省交界处非常接近，我们的方言里至今还保留着许多古代文化信息。所以当读《诗经·硕鼠》时就得到了意外的惊喜，原来它的韵脚就是我们苏北地区方言的发音：“硕鼠硕鼠，无食我麦（měi）！三岁贯汝，莫我肯德（děi）。逝将去汝，适彼乐国（guǐ）。乐国乐国，爰得我直。”由此我猜想，孔子当年讲话大概是带着鲁南和苏北口音的。
在当今全球化、信息化时代，文化和信息跨越时空，逐渐被整合到一个五光十色的国际化平台。基于这个理念，我们几个人尝试着把这些折射着中国古代智慧光芒的成语以讲故事的形式传播出来。
在苏北和鲁南等很多地区我们所喜闻乐见的一个曲艺形式就是山东快书，虽说它具有浓重的地方色彩，但它却有着深厚的历史背景。本书的中文部分就是由杨增强先生借助这种具有地缘特色的传统韵诵体诗歌编写而成，叙事手法简洁明快，语言生动活泼，故事讲得有声有色。相信一定会给中外读者留下深刻印象，读来也定会受益匪浅。
英文部分由我仿照美国诗人惠特曼的“用音步不用韵脚”的风格，将我多年收听收看《空中英语教室》学到的成语、习语和惯用法等融合在故事叙述中，虽然没有像原文那样押韵脚，但却尽量照顾了内韵和节奏，使故事读起来颇有点英语古体诗的味道。英语译文完成后，承蒙澳大利亚英语专家朱莉安·威廉斯女士（2000—2004年任职于中国无锡某教育机构）的悉心审校，文字更加精准和洗练，相信本书英文可作为广大大中学生、英语爱好者很好的阶进读物。
当然，英语译文中也难免会存在一些疏漏，欢迎读者和专家提出宝贵意见，以便我们把弘扬中华文化这项工作做得更好。
张翔真
Foreword
Living in China is an amazing cultural experience。The opportunity to see firsthand the life styles and to share in the amazing tapestry that is China，such an ancient nation，is shared by comparatively few。To increase this awareness with so many other people through the production of Chinese books translated into English，is a worthwhile endeavour。
One of the greatest opportunities offered to me has been the chance to examine and proof this wonderful book that was written firstly in Chinese and then translated into English。
The retelling of traditional stories，be they folk tales or myths，is an important part of any country's culture。This is especially true of this charming book，“100 Chinese Idioms and Their Stories”。Through these stories it is possible to gain a greater understanding and awareness of where so many Chinese idioms are founded。The translation of such a book into English allows the richness of Chinese culture to have greater meaning for those who take the time to enjoy it。
For those of us unable to read the Chinese language，such a book is invaluable。Each story places its characters in a time period and cultural setting giving an historical meaning to their content。China's history is both ancient and rich as we can see in its story telling。
I hope this book bring as much enjoyment and interest to those who read it，as was gained by those of us who worked on it。
by Julianne Williams，English Tutor from Australia，2000—2004，Wuxi，China
