Shieth, a famous beauty, had a pain in her bosom, so she had a frown on herface when she went out. One day, she felt the pain again and as usual, put herhands on her chest and frowned. Although people couldn't help taking a glanceat her, they liked the way she acted nevertheless.

An ugly girl, named Dongth, from a village nearby, happened to see Shieth'sconduct in the street that day. And it suddenly occurred to her that this might bethe reason why Shieth was generally regarded as a beauty. Therefore Dongthaped Shieth, putting her hands on her chest and frowning too.

When a rich man in the neighbourhood saw her, he shut his doors tightly anddid not go out. When a poor man saw her, he took his wife and children andgave her a wide berth.

It was not Dongth's fault for being ugly, but aping with blindness was reallystupid. She only knew Shieth's frown looked beautiful but did not know thecause of the frown.

东施效颦，成语，效：效仿;颦：同矉，皱眉头的意思。东施：越国的丑女，代指丑妇。比喻模仿别人，不但模仿不好，反而出丑。有时也作自谦之词，表示自己根底差，学别人的长处没有学到家。

越国苎罗(今浙江诸暨南)有位姓施的美女，因为家住若耶溪西岸，所以村里人叫她西施。若耶溪东岸也有位姓施的姑娘。她长得很丑，村里人管她叫东施。

有一天，西施心口疼，走路的时候双手捂住胸部，并且皱着眉头。村里人见她这个模样，都同情地说：“瞧这姑娘的模样，准是疼得难受，真是可怜!”

西施的病态正好被东施瞧见了。她一边看，一边默默记住她难受的姿态和动作。回到溪东后，也模仿西施的模样，双手捂住胸部，同时皱着眉头。

东施的这副模样，使村里人大吃一惊，富人紧闭大门不出来，穷人也带着妻儿躲开。 东施只知道人家皱着眉头很美，却不知道为什么皱着眉头会美。