Qin Qing was a famous singer in the State of Qin.

　　秦青是秦國著名的歌唱家。

　　A young man named Xue Tan acknowledged him as teacher to learn singing and playing musical instruments from him.

　　有個名叫薛譚的青年，拜他為師，向他學習演唱和彈奏。

　　Xue Tan learned for a certain period of time, but before he had mastered the skill of his teacher, he thought that he had learned all.

　　薛譚學習了一段時間，還沒有把師父的本領學到手，就自以為都學好了。

　　One day, Xue Tan planned to leave his teacher for home. His teacher knew he was leaving and did not urge him to stay.

　　一天，薛譚打算離開老師回家。老師知道他要走，就沒有挽留他。

　　The day Xue Tan said goodbye to his teacher and set out for home, Qin Qing accompanied him on his way and gave him an especial farewell dinner outside the city. During the dinner, Qin Qing beat time and sang a solemn and stirring song. His resounding voice shook the trees along the road; his beautiful singing kept the clouds lingering in the sky.

　　薛譚告別老師，動身回家的那天，秦青送他出城，并在城外特地為他餞行。席間，秦青打著拍子，唱起了悲壯動人的歌曲。那高亢的歌喉，震顫了路旁的樹木；那美妙的歌聲，留住了天上的行云。

　　Xue Tan heard the singing and felt ashamed of himself. He hurriedly knelt down before his teacher and apologized:

　　薛譚聽了，感到很慚愧，急忙跪著向老師道歉，說：

　　"Master, after I heard you sing, I can find no place to hide myself for shame. I am ashamed beyond words. I am far from mastering your skill."

　　“老師，學生聽了您的演唱，真是無地自容，羞愧難言！我還遠遠沒有學會老師的技藝呢！”

　　He asked his teacher to forgive him and allow him to stay and resume his learning. From then on, he learned humbly and dared not ask to go home. Later, he said to everyone he met:

　　他請求老師寬恕，同意他留下來，繼續學習。從此，他虛心學習，再也不敢要求回家了。后來，他逢人便說：

　　"To learn a skill, how can one be conceited and learn only half-baked knowledge?"

　　“學習技藝哪能驕傲自滿，一知半解呢！”