S3E10 | “Always Expect the Unexpected” | 万事俱备, 只欠东风
Saying: “All was prepared except for the East Wing”
Pinyin: Wànshì Jùbèi Zhǐ Qiàn Dōngfēng
Chinese: 万事俱备, 只欠东风
In this Season 3 finale, Laszlo closes with one of the classics from the Three Kingdoms era. Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang star in this drama played against the backdrop of the Battle of Red Cliff. Who hasn’t fallen victim to something big or small that resulted when your best-laid plans didn’t quite work out as you expected.
Listen On Your Favorite Podcast Player
Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bèi | 备 | prepare, get ready |
| Chéngyǔ | 成语 | Chinese idiom or proverb |
| Chìbì | 赤壁 | Red Cliff |
| Chìbì zhī zhàn | 赤壁之战 | Battle of Red Cliffs, fought during the winter of 208-209 |
| Cáo Cāo | 曹操 | Lived 155-220, first king of Cao Wei, famous statesman and military man |
| Cáo Wèi | 曹魏 | The northernmost of the Three Kingdoms and the most powerful. Founded in 220 by Cao Cao's son Cao Pi. Lasted until 265 |
| Dōng | 东 | East |
| Dōngfēng | 东风 | The east wind |
| Fēng | 风 | Wind |
| Huáng Gài | 黄盖 | One of Sun Quan's generals and a major figure in Wu history |
| Hàn Emperor Xiàn | 汉献帝 | The final Han emperor, first a puppet of Dong Zhuo and later forced by Cao Pi to abdicate. |
| John Woo | 吴宇森 | Wú Yǔsēn - Great film director best known for Red Cliff, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer and Hard Boiled |
| Jù | 俱 | all, completely, entirely |
| Jùbèi | 俱备 | all ready |
| Liú Bèi | 刘备 | Lived 161-223, founder of the Han kingdom of Shǔ |
| Liú Bāng | 刘邦 | Founder of the Han Dynasty and reigned from 202 to 195 BCE |
| Luó Guànzhōng | 罗贯中 | Author of the classic "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Lived 1330-1400 |
| Qiàn | 欠 | Lack, missing |
| Shì | 事 | Matter, affair, thing to do, business |
| Shǔ Hàn | 蜀汉 | The kingdom of Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms. Made up of parts of Sichuan, Yunnan and southern Shaanxi |
| Sūn Quán | 孙权 | Reigned as king of the state of Wu from 222-252 |
| Sūn Wú | 孙吴 | Another name for the Kingdom of Wu, led by Sun Quan |
| Wuhan | 武汉 | The three cities of Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang combined |
| Wàn | 万 | Ten Thousand |
| Wànshì | 万事 | all things, everything |
| Wànshì Jùbèi | 万事俱备 | Everything was all ready |
| Wànshì Jùbèi Zhǐ Qiàn Dōngfēng | 万事俱备只欠东风 | All was prepared except for the East Wing |
| Wán Bì Guī Zhào | 完璧归赵 | To return the complete jade to Zhao, featured in Season 3 Episode 1 |
| Yángzǐ River | 扬子江 | The longest river in China, also called the Chang Jiang |
| Zhōu Yú | 周瑜 | Lived 175-210, famous general for the Wu Kingdom (a.k.a. Sun Wu) |
| Zhūgé Liàng | 诸葛亮 | Shu Kingdom statesman, strategist and all around metaphor for clever guy. Lived 181-234 |
| Zhǐ | 只 | Only |
| Zhǐ qiàn | 只欠 | Only missing |
| Zhǐ Qiàn Dōngfēng | 只欠东风 | Only lacked the East Wing |
