In ancient times, there was a great general named Xiang Yu.
在古代，有一位名叫项羽的伟大将领。
Xiang Yu was brave and skilled in battle, earning the respect of his soldiers.
项羽勇猛善战，深得士兵们的尊敬。
He once achieved great victories in the Chu-Han Contention, almost becoming the ruler of the world.
他曾在楚汉战争中立下赫赫战功，几乎能称霸天下。
But in a decisive battle, he was defeated by Liu Bang.
但在一次决定性的战争中，他被刘邦击败。
Liu Bang adopted a policy of mercy, trying to persuade Xiang Yu to surrender.
刘邦采取了宽恕政策，试图说服项羽投降。
Xiang Yu’s friends urged him to surrender, thinking that survival was more important than pride.
项羽的朋友们劝他投降，他们认为活命比什么都重要。
However, Xiang Yu’s heart was filled with pride and defiance.
然而，项羽的心中充满了骄傲与不屈。
He would rather die fighting than surrender, believing he should never become a loser.
他宁愿死战，也不愿屈服，认为自己不应成为失败者。
One day, he told his soldiers, "Rather be broken like jade than intact like tiles."
有一天，他对着自己的将士们说：“宁为玉碎，不为瓦全。”
This meant he would rather be shattered like jade than remain intact but humiliated like tiles.
意思是，宁愿像玉石一样破碎，也不愿像瓦片一样完好无损、屈辱。
Xiang Yu continued to fight Liu Bang with a few thousand loyal soldiers.
项羽带着几千名忠诚的士兵继续与刘邦作战。
Despite tremendous sacrifices in several battles, Xiang Yu refused to surrender.
尽管他们在数次战斗中付出了巨大的牺牲，项羽始终不肯投降。
Finally, after the Battle of Gaixia, Xiang Yu was surrounded and isolated.
最后，在垓下之战后，项羽陷入了绝境。
He was surrounded on all sides, with no way out.
他被包围在四面八方，孤立无援。
At the moment of being captured, Xiang Yu chose to commit suicide rather than be captured.
在即将被捕的瞬间，项羽选择了自刎，而不是被俘。
His death became a symbol of loyalty and dignity.
他的死，成为忠诚与尊严的象征。
"Rather be broken like jade than intact like tiles" means to prefer death for one’s ideals and dignity rather than living in humiliation.
“宁为玉碎，不为瓦全”字面意思是宁愿像玉一样破碎，也不愿像瓦片一样完好。
This idiom expresses the idea of choosing to die for one’s principles and honor rather than live in disgrace.
它的意义是宁愿为自己的理想、尊严而死，也不愿忍辱苟活。
