In the Warring States, there was a chef who was very skilful at killing cows. King Hui of Liang was surprised at his skill and asked: How skilful you are! How did you make it? The chef replied: At the beginning, I didn’t know the inner structure of a cow. So it often took me not only a lot of time but also great strength to kill them. Later on, I kept practising again and again. And finally I mastered the inner structure of a cow. That’s why I can do it skilfully. Now look at my knife, which I have used for nineteen years. It is still as sharp as a new one.

　　Hearing this, King Hui of Liang nodded with his thumb up: Nice! Nice! I am inspired a lot by your words.

　　故事梗概

　　战国时有个厨师宰起牛来又快又好，见过他宰牛的人都连连称赞。梁惠王见他宰牛如此娴熟，就惊奇地问：你的技术能达到这么高深的境界，究竟是怎样练就的呢?厨师说：刚宰牛时因为不知道牛的内部结构，我总是手忙脚乱，不仅速度慢，而且要用很大的力气才行。后来经过不断地练习，我把牛的骨骼、肌肉、筋络的结构都完全掌握了，所以再宰起牛来就得心应手。宰牛刀在牛的骨节空隙之间轻巧地运行，不用蛮力就可以破开骨骼。您看我的刀，已经用了十九年，还如同新的一样。

　　梁惠王听了不由点头称赞：不错不错，听了你的话，胜读十年书，我果然受到很多启发。

　　难点点拨

　　1. skilful：熟练的

　　2. master：掌握

　　3. make it：做到，做成

　　4. sharp：锋利

　　5. thumb up：称赞

　　6. inspire：鼓舞，启发

　　小朋友们，今天的故事是一个成语(idiom)，你们能猜出来这个成语的名字吗?请大家留言告诉我吧。