Once upon a time, there was a king who ordered his officials:

　　從前，有一個國王，命令大臣們說：

　　"Lead an elephant to me, and let several blind men feel it with their hands. Then ask each one of them to describe the shape of the elephant."

　　“你們給我牽一頭大象來，讓幾個盲人用手去摸，每個人說出大象的模樣。”

　　The officials led the elephant to the king. Several blind men surrounded it and felt it with their hands. The king asked them:

　　大臣們牽來了大象，幾個盲人都圍上去用手觸摸，

　　"What do you think the elephant resembles?"

　　“你們覺得大象的樣子像什么？”

　　All these blind men strove to be the first to answer.

　　幾個育人都爭先恐后地回答。然后，叫他們

　　One blind man felt the elephant's tusk and said:

　　國王問盲人：

　　"The elephant resembles a long, long carrot."

　　一個摸著大象的牙齒說：

　　One blind man felt the elephant's ear and said:

　　“大象好像一根長長的蘿

　　"The elephant resembles a dustpan."

　　一個摸著大象的耳朵說：

　　One blind man felt the elephant's head and said:

　　“大象好像一只簸箕。”

　　"The elephant resembles a large stone."

　　一個摸著大象的頭說：

　　One blind man felt the elephant's foot and said:

　　“大象好像是一塊大石頭。

　　一個摸著大象的腳說：

　　"The elephant resembles a stone mortar."

　　“大象好像是一只石臼。”

　　One blind man felt the elephant's back and said:

　　一個摸著大象的背脊說：

　　"The elephant resembles a bed."

　　“大象好像一張床。”

　　One blind man felt the elephant's belly and said:

　　一個摸著大象的肚子說：

　　"The elephant resembles a water vat."

　　“大象好像一只大水缸。”

　　"Ha！ Ha！ All of you are wrong." The last blind man pulled the elephant's tail and said:

　　“哈哈，你們說的都不對！”最后一個盲人拉著大象的尾巴說：

　　"Let me tell you that the elephant resembles a long, thin rope."

　　“告訴你們，大象就像一根長長的、細細的繩子。”

　　Upon this the king and his officials all burst into laughter.

　　國王和大臣們聽了都哈哈大笑。