三兄弟
导读
把这则格林童话改写成中国寓言，是因为它的骨架与我们老祖宗的故事天然相通。三兄弟各学一门手艺、各显神通，很像民间常说的“各有所长”；而结尾一笔没有停在“谁赢了房子”，却落在兄弟和睦、同住到老，正应了《周易》里那句老话：“二人同心，其利断金”。中国人讲家庭，向来把“和”字看得最重——兄弟同心，胜过良田万顷。寓言体的好处也在这里：人物是符号，情节是例子，三兄弟的身份可以换成任何一家人，道理却处处通用。读的时候，不妨提醒孩子留意两个“反差”：比赛只有一个赢家，兄弟却一个都没输；房子只有一座，装下的却是一家人的一辈子。读完了，问问孩子：要是你来当这位父亲，你还会想出比赛这个办法吗？
《三兄弟》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
A job that you learn to do with your hands and skill.
手艺；行当，靠手上功夫吃饭的活儿。
"Go out into the world," he said, "and learn a trade, each of you. When you come home, the son who shows the finest skill shall have the house."
“你们到外面去，各自学一门手艺。等你们学成回来，谁的看家本领最漂亮，房子就归谁。”
Someone who makes and fixes things out of iron.
铁匠。
The eldest decided to become a blacksmith.
老大去学打铁。
Skills in making or doing things with your hands.
手艺；本领。
All three found wise masters and learned their crafts well.
三个儿子都遇上了高明的师傅，把本事学得扎扎实实。
The white foam that soap makes when you mix it with water.
肥皂泡沫。
He took out his basin and soap and made a fine lather as the hare drew near.
他取出脸盆和肥皂，趁野兔跑近，先打起了泡沫。
The long stiff hairs that grow on an animal's face.
胡须；触须。
The barber soaped its whiskers and shaved them off, with no cut and not one hurt hair.
理发匠给它胡子上好皂，手起刀落，刮得干干净净。
Ran very fast and suddenly.
飞奔；猛冲。
The hare dashed past at full speed.
野兔撒开四蹄飞跑，从眼前一掠而过。
Running at a horse's fastest speed.
疾驰；飞奔。
The horse was galloping fast, yet the blacksmith pulled off its four old shoes and nailed on four new ones.
那马跑得正欢，铁匠却卸下它的四只旧马掌，又钉上了四只新的。
A rich man of high rank in old Europe.
贵族。
Soon a nobleman rode by in a coach, rushing at great speed.
没过多久，一位贵族坐着马车飞驰而来。
Felt very deep sadness, especially after a death.
悲痛；哀伤。
The other two grieved so deeply that they too fell ill, and soon they followed him.
另外两个伤心太过，也跟着病倒，不久相继离世。
Feeling angry or sad because someone else has what you want.
嫉妒的；眼红的。
His brothers were not jealous, for they had agreed to the contest from the start.
两个哥哥并无怨言，因为打从一开始，他们就说好了这场比试。
Pulled back suddenly out of fear or pain.
退缩；畏缩。
The swordsman was struck many times, but he never flinched.
学击剑的挨了不少打，可他从不退缩。
The feeling you get when something surprises you very much.
惊奇；惊叹。
His father stared in wonder.
父亲看得目瞪口呆。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
兄弟同心，其利断金。三兄弟各有所长，谁也不比谁差；房子只有一座，手足之情却无法衡量——一家人和和睦睦、各展所长，便是最贵重的家业。
教育价值
这则寓言教孩子两件事：一是各有所长、精益求精，把一门手艺练到极致；二是比赛可以有输赢，兄弟情谊却不必分高下——赢了房子不算赢，一家人和和睦睦、各展所长，才是真本事。
家长共读提示
读完可以和孩子聊聊：三兄弟的绝活哪一个最了不起？如果比赛输了，心里会难受吗？再问问孩子：家里的什么东西最值钱——是房子，还是一家人在一起的时光？
和孩子聊一聊
- 三兄弟的绝活——给飞跑的兔子剃须、给奔驰的马换掌、挥剑挡雨——哪一个最难？为什么父亲最后把房子判给了老三？
- 剑客挨了那么多打也不退缩。学一样真本领，为什么常常要先吃苦？你学骑车、学写字的时候，有没有过这样的时刻？
- 父亲爱三个儿子一样深，才想不出把房子给谁。他出的这个“比本领”的主意公平吗？如果你是这位父亲，你会怎么办？
- 房子只有一座，赢家只有一个，可三兄弟谁也没有记恨谁。比赛输了却不伤感情，你觉得难在哪里？
- 故事结尾说兄弟三人被葬在了同一座坟墓里。作者为什么要这样收尾？“和”字当头的一家人，你觉得“和”值多少钱？
