English Original
A man born in the state of Yan grew up in the state of Chu. When he grew old, he decided to return to his homeland.
While passing through the state of Jin, his companions pointed to the local cities and shrines, deceiving him into believing they were those of Yan. Upon hearing this, he became gloomy and sighed deeply. When they told him a certain house was his ancestral home, tears streamed down his face. Upon being shown tombs they claimed belonged to his ancestors, he could not help but weep.
Having had their fun, the companions laughed and revealed they had been lying—they were still in Jin. The man from Yan felt deeply ashamed.
When he finally arrived in Yan and truly saw its cities, temples, ancestral home, and tombs, he was left with only very few sentimental feelings.
中文翻译
一个在燕国出生的人，却在楚国长大。年老后，他决定返回故国燕国。
途经晋国时，同行的人指着当地的城池和祠庙，骗他说这就是燕国的城池和土地庙。他听后神色凄怆，悲叹不已。当别人告诉他某处房子是他祖先的故居时，他泪流满面。当被领到所谓的祖先墓地时，他更是放声大哭。
戏弄够了之后，同伴们大笑着揭穿了谎言——这里仍是晋国。这位燕国人感到十分羞愧。
当他最终抵达燕国，亲眼看到了燕国的城池、祠庙、祖屋和坟墓时，心中反而只剩下些许感伤之情了。