make sincere repeated invitations; visit three times in earnest
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to make three visits to a thatched cottage; to invite someone with sincere and repeated efforts
formalAlludes to the Eastern Han dynasty story of Liu Bei visiting the hermit Zhuge Liang three times at his thatched cottage in Longzhong to invite him to serve as military strategist. Conveys the idea of persistent, humble, and sincere efforts to recruit talented people.
Xiào校
zhǎng长
sān三
gù顾
máo茅
lú庐
，
zhōng终
yú于
qǐng请
dào到
le了
zhè这
wèi位
tuì退
xiū休
de的
zhù著
míng名
jiào教
shòu授
lái来
xiào校
jiǎng讲
xué学
。
The principal made three earnest visits and finally succeeded in inviting this retired famous professor to give lectures at the school.
Wèi为
le了
yāo邀
qǐng请
tā他
jiā加
méng盟
，
gōng公
sī司
lǎo老
bǎn板
sān三
gù顾
máo茅
lú庐
，
duō多
cì次
qīn亲
zì自
bài拜
fǎng访
。
In order to invite him to join the company, the boss made repeated sincere visits and called on him personally many times.
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Jiù就
xiàng像
dāng当
nián年
Liú刘
Bèi备
sān三
gù顾
máo茅
lú庐
qǐng请
Zhū诸
Gě葛
Liàng亮
yī一
yàng样
，
wǒ我
men们
yě也
yào要
biǎo表
xiàn现
chū出
zú足
gòu够
de的
chéng诚
yì意
。
Just as Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times in those days, we too must show sufficient sincerity.