King Hui of Liang watched the cook dissecting1 an ox. Up went his hand, down went the knife, cutting it just right with dexterous2 movements. The King praised: “Your skill is excellent!”
The cook answered: “I can do it so dexterously3 because I am familiar with the physiological4 structure of the ox. I see perfectly5 well each and every part of the ox which is no longer a whole ox to me. I have a clear mental picture of where its joints6 and main and collateral7 channels are, and know exactly where to start cutting and how much force is needed.”
The cook continued: “The knives of others become blunt after being used for a short time, whereas I have used my knife for 19 years and slaughtered8 nearly 1,000 oxen, and it is still as sharp as a new one. However, when I come across a complicated structure, I would be cautious and conscientious9 and dare not be the least negligent10. I cut swiftly but lightly with great concentration and care.
After hearing this, King Hui of Liang said: “What you said is wonderful!From you I have learned the way of cultivating my mind and developing my character.”
梁惠王看庖丁解牛，手起刀落，动作利索，恰到好处，连声夸奖说：“你的技术真是太好了！”
庖丁答道：“我所以能干得这样利索，是因为熟悉牛的生理结构。现在，我看到的牛已经不是一头全牛了：哪里是关节？哪里有经络？从哪里下刀？需要用多大的力气？我胸中有数，眼前清清楚楚。”
庖丁接着说：“别人的牛刀，用不了多久就会钝掉，而我这把刀已经用了十九年，宰了上千头牛，但是还同新刀一样锋利。不过，如果碰到错综复杂的结构，我还是兢兢业业，丝毫不敢怠慢，动作很快，下刀却很轻，聚精会神，小心翼翼。”
梁惠王听后说：“你说得好极了！我从你这里悟到了修身养性的道理。”
1 dissecting
v.解剖（动物 等）( dissect的现在分词 )；仔细分析或研究
参考例句：
Another group was dissecting a new film showing locally. 另外一批人正在剖析城里上演的一部新电影。 来自辞典例句 Probe into Dissecting Refraction Method Statics Processing under Complicated Surface Conditions. 不同地表条件下土壤侵蚀的坡度效应。 来自互联网
2 dexterous
adj.灵敏的；灵巧的
参考例句：
As people grow older they generally become less dexterous.随着年龄的增长，人通常会变得不再那么手巧。 The manager was dexterous in handling his staff.那位经理善于运用他属下的职员。
3 dexterously
adv.巧妙地，敏捷地
参考例句：
He operates the machine dexterously. 他操纵机器动作非常轻巧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 How dexterously he handled the mite. 他伺候小家伙，有多么熟练。 来自辞典例句
4 physiological
adj.生理学的，生理学上的
参考例句：
He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。 Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。
5 perfectly
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。 Everything that we’re doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
6 joints
接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）
参考例句：
Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。 Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。
7 collateral
adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品
参考例句：
Many people use personal assets as collateral for small business loans.很多人把个人财产用作小额商业贷款的抵押品。 Most people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.由于拿不出东西作为抵押，这里大部分人无法从银行贷款。
8 slaughtered
v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 conscientious
adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的
参考例句：
He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。 He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。
10 negligent
adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的
参考例句：
The committee heard that he had been negligent in his duty.委员会听说他玩忽职守。 If the government is proved negligent,compensation will be payable.如果证明是政府的疏忽，就应支付赔偿。
