春秋時，楚莊王即位三年整，
整日處在沉默中。
政事從來不料理，
也不給臣下發命令。
右司馬看在眼裏急在心，
想勸莊王勤理政。
有一天，他要給莊王講故事，
語調自如又輕鬆，
莊王微微把頭點，
表示願意靜心聽。
司馬講南山有種鳥，
已落山上三年整，
既不展翅學高飛，
也不登枝唱歌聲。
講完後笑問莊王為什麼？
莊王回答帶笑容：
“此鳥三年未展翅，
隻因羽翼未長成；
此鳥三年不鳴叫，
是體察事理觀民情；
此鳥不飛並非笨，
一飛必衝九霄雲；
此鳥不鳴並非啞，
一鳴定使眾吃驚！
你的意思我明白，
請卿靜候觀動靜。”
這話說過半年後，
莊王親自來理政，
他廢止了十項舊製度，
建立了九項新章程，
誅殺了五名不法臣，
任用六位賢德隱士做大臣。
從此楚國得大治，
莊王之舉果英明。
“一鳴驚人”作成語，
常比喻經過充分準備後，
才會有驚人的大成功。
Give the World a Shock
with a Single Singing
During the Spring and Autumn Period（770—476B。C。），King Zhuang of Chu had been on the throne for three long years，but he only remained silent in the court。He didn't handle state affairs，and never gave orders to his subordinates。The prime minister was worrying in his heart，and tried to persuade him to pay more attention。
One day he was telling King Zhuang a tale in a light and easy tune。King Zhuang was nodding gently，showing that he was willing to listen。The minister said that in the southern mountains there was a kind of bird，which had perched there for three whole years，but he remained there without stretching his wings to practice flying，nor mounting a branch to practice singing。Having finished the story，the minister asked King Zhuang with a smile what bird it was。King Zhuang answered smilingly，for three years the bird hasn't extend his wings，was only because his wings hadn't grown to full length For three years the bird hasn't sung a note，was only because he had to make a careful study。This bird is not dumb at all，when he flies，he will soar into heaven This bird is not mute at all，when he sings，he will give the world a shock。