出關 Leaving the Pass

，。Laozi sat without stirring at all, like a block of dumb wood.

“，！”，，。"Master, Kongqiu has come again!" His student Gengsang Chu walked in, seemingly impatient, and said softly.

先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
孔丘: Kǒng Qiū — Confucius
又來了: yòu lái le — Here we go again.
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
學生: xué sheng — 1. student 2. schoolchild (HSK 1)
庚: gēng — 1. age 2. seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) 3. seventh in order 4. letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc 5. ancient Chinese compass point: 255° 6. hepta
桑: Sāng — surname Sang
楚: Chǔ — 1. surname Chu 2. abbr. for Hubei 湖北省 (Hú běi Shěng) and Hunan 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng) provinces together 3. Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
不耐煩: bù nài fán — 1. impatient 2. to lose patience (HSK 5)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
走進: zǒu jìn — to enter; to step into (HSK 2)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
輕輕: qīng qīng — lightly; softly
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

“……”"Show him in..."

“，？”，。"Master, how are you?" Kongzi said, bowing with the utmost respect.

“，”。“？"I'm always like this," Laozi answered. "How about you?，？”Have you read through all the books stored here?"

“。"I've read them all.……”，。“《》，《》，《》，《》，《》，《》，，。But..." Kongzi looked somewhat agitated, which was quite unlike him. "I have studied the Six Classics—the Odes, the Documents, the Rites, the Music, the Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals—for a very long time now, by my own reckoning, and consider myself thoroughly versed in them.，。I went and paid calls on seventy-two rulers, and not one of them would employ me.。People really are hard to make understand.‘’？”Or is it the Dao that is hard to make clear?"

都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
焦躁: jiāo zào — 1. fretful 2. impatient (HSK 7-9)
模樣: mú yàng — 1. look 2. style 3. appearance 4. approximation 5. about 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. also pr. (mó yàng) (HSK 5)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
從來: cóng lái — 1. always 2. at all times 3. never (if used in negative sentence) (HSK 3)
所: suǒ — 1. actually 2. place 3. classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc 4. that which 5. particle introducing a relative clause or passive 6. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
研究: yán jiū — 1. research 2. a study 3. classifier: 項 (xiàng) 4. to research 5. to look into (HSK 4)
詩: Shī — abbr. for Shijing 詩經 (Shī jīng), the Book of Songs (HSK 4)
書: Shū — abbr. for 書經 (Shū jīng) (HSK 1)
禮: Lǐ — 1. surname Li 2. abbr. for 禮記 (Lǐ jì), Classic of Rites (HSK 5)
樂: Lè — surname Le (HSK 3)
易: Yì — 1. surname Yi 2. I Ching; Book of Changes (abbr. for 易經 (Yì jīng))
春秋: Chūn qiū — 1. Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) 2. Spring and Autumn Annals, chronicle of Lu State (722-481 BC)
六經: Liù jīng — Six Classics, namely: Book of Songs 詩經 (Shī jīng), Book of History 尚書 (Shàng shū), Book of Rites 儀禮 (Yí lǐ), the lost Book of Music 樂經 (Yuè jīng), Book of Changes 易經 (Yì jīng), Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋 (Chūn qiū)
自: zì — 1. (bound form) self; oneself 2. from; since 3. naturally; as a matter of course (HSK 4)
以為: yǐ wéi — to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief) (HSK 2)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
長久: cháng jiǔ — 1. long-time; long-term 2. lasting; enduring; permanent 3. for a long time (HSK 6)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
夠: gòu — 1. enough (sufficient) 2. enough (too much) 3. (coll.) (before adj.) really 4. (coll.) to reach by stretching out (HSK 2)
熟透: shú tòu — 1. completely ripe 2. ripened 3. well-cooked
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
拜見: bài jiàn — 1. to pay a formal visit 2. to call to pay respects 3. to meet one's senior or superior (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
七十: qī shí — 1. seventy 2. 70
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
位: wèi — 1. position 2. location 3. place 4. seat 5. classifier for people (honorific) 6. classifier for binary bits (e.g. 十六位 16-bit or 2 bytes) 7. (physics) potential (HSK 2)
主子: zhǔ zi — 1. Master (term used by servant) 2. Your Majesty 3. operator (of machine)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
採用: cǎi yòng — 1. to adopt 2. to employ 3. to use (HSK 3)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
可: kě — 1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able 2. to approve; to permit 3. to suit 4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very 5. but; however (HSK 5)
真是: zhēn shi — 1. indeed; truly 2. (coll.) (used to express disapproval, annoyance etc)
難得: nán dé — 1. seldom 2. rare 3. hard to come by (HSK 5)
說明: shuō míng — 1. to explain 2. to illustrate 3. to indicate 4. to show 5. to prove 6. explanation 7. directions 8. caption 9. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
呵: ā — variant of 啊 (ā)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
難以: nán yǐ — hard to (predict, imagine etc) (HSK 5)
說明: shuō míng — 1. to explain 2. to illustrate 3. to indicate 4. to show 5. to prove 6. explanation 7. directions 8. caption 9. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)

“，”，“。"You may count yourself lucky," Laozi said, "not to have met with a capable ruler.，。The Six Classics, that sort of thing, are merely the stale traces of the former kings.？How could they be the thing that produces the traces?，。What you speak of is just the same as those traces.，？”，：“［］，，；Traces are made by shoes treading upon the ground, but are traces the same as the shoes?" He paused a moment, then went on: "The white waterbirds need only gaze at each other, without so much as moving their eyes, and yet they naturally conceive;，，，；as for insects, the male cries upwind and the female answers downwind, and they naturally conceive;，。there is also a kind that has both male and female in the one body, and so it naturally conceives.，；Nature cannot be altered;，；destiny cannot be exchanged;，；time cannot be held back;，。the Dao cannot be obstructed.，，，。”Once you have attained the Dao, anything is possible; but if you have lost it, then nothing is possible."

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
算: suàn — 1. to calculate; to figure out 2. to include; to count in 3. to count; to be valid; to carry weight 4. to regard as; to consider (to be ...) (HSK 2)
運氣: yùn qi — luck (good or bad) (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
哩: lǐ — mile
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
遇: Yù — surname Yu (HSK 4)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
能幹: néng gàn — 1. capable 2. competent (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
主子: zhǔ zi — 1. Master (term used by servant) 2. Your Majesty 3. operator (of machine)
六經: Liù jīng — Six Classics, namely: Book of Songs 詩經 (Shī jīng), Book of History 尚書 (Shàng shū), Book of Rites 儀禮 (Yí lǐ), the lost Book of Music 樂經 (Yuè jīng), Book of Changes 易經 (Yì jīng), Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋 (Chūn qiū)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
玩藝兒: wán yì r — variant of 玩意兒 (wán yì r)
只是: zhǐ shì — 1. merely; only; just; nothing but 2. simply 3. but; however (HSK 3)
先王: xiān wáng — former sovereigns
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
陳跡: chén jì — traces of the past; vestiges; historical remains
呀: yā — 1. ah (used to express surprise) 2. (onom.) creaking (HSK 4)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
弄: lòng — 1. lane 2. alley (HSK 2)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
跡: jì — 1. (bound form) trace; mark; vestige; clue 2. Taiwan pr. (jī)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
東西: dōng xī — east and west (HSK 1)
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
跡: jì — 1. (bound form) trace; mark; vestige; clue 2. Taiwan pr. (jī)
一樣: yī yàng — 1. same 2. like 3. equal to 4. the same as 5. just like (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
跡: jì — 1. (bound form) trace; mark; vestige; clue 2. Taiwan pr. (jī)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
鞋子: xié zi — shoe
踏: tā — see 踏實 (tā shi) (HSK 6)
成: Chéng — 1. surname Cheng 2. short name for Chengdu 成都 (Chéng dū) (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
跡: jì — 1. (bound form) trace; mark; vestige; clue 2. Taiwan pr. (jī)
難道: nán dào — 1. don't tell me ... 2. could it be that...? (HSK 3)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
鞋子: xié zi — shoe
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
停: tíng — 1. to stop 2. to halt 3. to park (a car) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一會: yī huì — 1. a moment 2. a while 3. in a moment 4. also pr. (yī huǐ)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
接著: jiē zhe — 1. to catch and hold on 2. to continue 3. to go on to do sth 4. to follow 5. to carry on 6. then 7. after that 8. subsequently 9. to proceed 10. to ensue 11. in turn 12. in one's turn (HSK 2)
說道: shuō dào — 1. to state 2. to say (the quoted words) (HSK 7-9)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
兒: ér — 1. child 2. son
鳥: diǎo — 1. variant of 屌 (diǎo) 2. penis (HSK 2)
們: men — plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
瞧: qiáo — 1. to look at 2. to see 3. to see (a doctor) 4. to visit (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
眼珠子: yǎn zhū zi — 1. eyeball 2. fig. the apple of one's eye (i.e. favorite person)
動: dòng — 1. (of sth) to move 2. to set in movement 3. to displace 4. to touch 5. to make use of 6. to stir (emotions) 7. to alter 8. abbr. for 動詞 (dòng cí), verb (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不動: bù dòng — motionless
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
孕: yùn — pregnant
蟲: chóng — 1. lower form of animal life, including insects, insect larvae, worms and similar creatures 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo), 隻 (zhī) 3. (fig.) person with a particular undesirable characteristic
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)
雄: xióng — 1. male 2. staminate 3. grand 4. imposing 5. powerful 6. mighty 7. person or state having great power and influence
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
上風: shàng fēng — 1. on the up 2. currently winning 3. rising (in popularity etc)
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
雌: cí — 1. female 2. Taiwan pr. (cī)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
在下: zài xià — 1. under 2. myself (humble)
風: fēng — 1. wind 2. news 3. style 4. custom 5. manner 6. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 絲 (sī) (HSK 1)
應: Yīng — 1. surname Ying 2. Taiwan pr. (Yìng) (HSK 4)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
孕: yùn — pregnant
類: lèi — 1. kind; type; class; category 2. (classifier) kind; type 3. (bound form) to resemble; to be similar to (HSK 3)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
一身: yī shēn — 1. whole body 2. from head to toe 3. single person 4. a suit of clothes (HSK 5)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
兼具: jiān jù — 1. to combine 2. to have both
雌雄: cí xióng — male and female
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
孕: yùn — pregnant
性: xìng — 1. nature 2. character 3. property 4. quality 5. attribute 6. sexuality 7. sex 8. gender 9. suffix forming adjective from verb 10. suffix forming noun from adjective, corresponding to -ness or -ity 11. essence 12. classifier: 個 (gè)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
改: gǎi — 1. to change 2. to alter 3. to transform 4. to correct (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
命: mìng — 1. life 2. fate 3. order or command 4. to assign a name, title etc (HSK 6)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
換: huàn — 1. to exchange 2. to change (clothes etc) 3. to substitute 4. to switch 5. to convert (currency) (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
塞: sāi — 1. to plug; to stop up; to stuff in 2. (bound form) a stopper; a cork (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
得了: dé le — 1. all right! 2. that's enough! (HSK 5)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
行: háng — 1. (bound form) row; line 2. (bound form) line of business; trade; profession 3. (bound form) commercial firm 4. (bound form) to rank (first, second etc) among one's siblings (by age) 5. (in data tables) row; (Tw) column 6. classifier for rows or lines (HSK 1)
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
如果: rú guǒ — if; in case; in the event that (HSK 2)
失掉: shī diào — 1. to lose 2. to miss
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
不行: bù xíng — 1. won't do 2. be out of the question 3. be no good 4. not work 5. not be capable (HSK 2)

，，。Kongzi looked as though he had been struck a blow on the head, and sat there dazed and stupefied, exactly like a block of dumb wood.

，，，。After about eight minutes had passed, he drew a deep breath, then rose to take his leave, thanking Laozi very politely as usual for his instruction.

大約: dà yuē — 1. approximately 2. probably (HSK 3)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
八: bā — eight (HSK 1)
分鐘: fēn zhōng — minute (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
深深: shēn shēn — 1. deep 2. profound (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
倒: dǎo — 1. to fall; to collapse; to lie horizontally 2. to fail; to go bankrupt 3. to overthrow 4. to change (trains or buses) 5. to move around 6. to resell at a profit (HSK 2)
抽: chōu — 1. to draw out; to pull out from in between 2. to remove part of the whole 3. to inhale (esp. smoke) 4. (of fabric etc) to shrink 5. (of certain plants) to sprout; to bud 6. to whip; to thrash 7. classifier for sheets (of tissues, wet wipes etc) (HSK 4)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一口氣: yī kǒu qì — 1. one breath 2. in one breath 3. at a stretch (HSK 5)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
起身: qǐ shēn — 1. to get up 2. to leave 3. to set forth
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
告辭: gào cí — 1. to say goodbye 2. to take one's leave (HSK 7-9)
一面: yī miàn — 1. one side 2. one aspect 3. simultaneously... (and...) 4. one's whole face (HSK 7-9)
照例: zhào lì — 1. as a rule 2. as usual 3. usually (HSK 7-9)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
客氣: kè qi — 1. polite 2. courteous 3. formal 4. modest (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
致謝: zhì xiè — 1. expression of gratitude 2. to give thanks 3. a thank-you note 4. acknowledgement
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
教訓: jiào xun — 1. to provide guidance; to lecture sb; to upbraid 2. a talking-to; a bitter lesson 3. classifier: 番 (fān), 頓 (dùn) (HSK 4)

，，。Laozi made no attempt to keep him, but rose, leaning on his staff, and saw him all the way out to the gate of the library.，：Just as Kongzi was about to board his carriage, Laozi spoke up, like a phonograph:

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
輓: wǎn — 1. variant of 挽 (wǎn) 2. to draw (a cart) 3. to lament the dead (HSK 7-9)
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
站起來: zhàn qǐ lai — to stand up
扶: fú — 1. to support with the hand 2. to help sb up 3. to support oneself by holding onto something 4. to help (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
拄: zhǔ — 1. to lean on 2. to prop on (HSK 7-9)
杖: zhàng — 1. a staff 2. a rod 3. cane 4. walking stick 5. to flog with a stick (old)
一直: yī zhí — 1. straight (in a straight line) 2. continuously; always; all the way through (HSK 2)
送: sòng — 1. to send; to deliver; to transmit 2. to give (as a present) 3. to see (sb) off 4. to accompany; to go along with (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
圖書館: tú shū guǎn — 1. library 2. classifier: 家 (jiā), 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大門: Dà mén — the Doors, US rock band (HSK 2)
外: wài — 1. outside 2. in addition 3. foreign 4. external (HSK 1)
孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
就要: jiù yào — 1. will 2. shall 3. to be going to (HSK 2)
上車: shàng chē — to get on or into (a bus, train, car etc) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
留聲機: liú shēng jī — 1. gramophone 2. phonograph
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
說道: shuō dào — 1. to state 2. to say (the quoted words) (HSK 7-9)

“？"You're leaving?？……”Won't you have some tea before you go?..."

“”，，；Kongzi replied, "Yes, yes," and boarded the carriage, his hands clasped together, leaning most respectfully against the crossbar;，“”，。Ran You gave a flick of the whip in the air, calling out "Giddup!" and the carriage started off.，。Only after the carriage had gone off some ten paces or more from the gate did Laozi turn back into his own room.

孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
答應: dā ying — 1. to answer; to respond 2. to answer positively; to agree; to accept; to promise (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
車: Chē — surname Che (HSK 1)
拱: gǒng — 1. to cup one's hands in salute 2. to surround 3. to arch 4. to dig earth with the snout 5. arched (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
隻: zhī — classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc (HSK 2)
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
極: jí — 1. extremely 2. pole (geography, physics) 3. utmost 4. top (HSK 4)
恭敬: gōng jìng — 1. deferential 2. respectful
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
靠: kào — 1. to lean against or on 2. to stand by the side of 3. to come near to 4. to depend on 5. to trust 6. to fuck (vulgar) 7. traditional military costume drama where the performers wear armor (old) (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
橫: héng — 1. horizontal 2. across 3. crosswise 4. horizontal stroke (in Chinese characters) 5. to place (sth) flat (on a surface) 6. to cross (a river, etc) 7. in a jumble 8. chaotic 9. (in fixed expressions) harsh and unreasonable 10. violent (HSK 6)
板: bǎn — 1. board 2. plank 3. plate 4. shutter 5. table tennis bat 6. clappers (music) 7. classifier: 塊 (kuài) 8. accented beat in Chinese music 9. hard 10. stiff 11. to stop smiling or look serious (HSK 3)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
冉: Rǎn — surname Ran
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
鞭子: biān zi — 1. whip 2. classifier: 根 (gēn)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
空中: kōng zhōng — 1. in the sky 2. in the air (HSK 5)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
揮: huī — 1. to wave 2. to brandish 3. to command 4. to conduct 5. to scatter 6. to disperse (HSK 7-9)
嘴裡: zuǐ lǐ — 1. mouth 2. in the mouth 3. on one's lips 4. speech 5. words
喊: hǎn — 1. to yell 2. to shout 3. to call out for (a person) (HSK 2)
一聲: yī shēng — first tone in Mandarin (high, level tone)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
車子: chē zi — car or other vehicle (bicycle, truck etc)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
走動: zǒu dòng — 1. to walk around; to move about; to stretch one's legs; to go for a walk 2. to be mobile (e.g. after an illness) 3. to visit one another; to socialize 4. to pay a visit (go to the toilet)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
待: dāi — to stay; to remain (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
車子: chē zi — car or other vehicle (bicycle, truck etc)
離開: lí kāi — to depart; to leave (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
大門: Dà mén — the Doors, US rock band (HSK 2)
十幾: shí jǐ — more than ten; a dozen or more
步: Bù — surname Bu (HSK 3)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
回: Huí — Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims) (HSK 1)
進: jìn — 1. to go forward 2. to advance 3. to go in 4. to enter 5. to put in 6. to submit 7. to take in 8. to admit 9. (math.) base of a number system 10. classifier for sections in a building or residential compound (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
屋: wū — 1. (bound form) house 2. (bound form) room (HSK 5)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)

“，”，，，。“……”"Master, you seem quite pleased with yourself today," said Gengsang Chu, waiting until Laozi had settled into his seat before standing to one side, hands at his sides. "You said a good deal more than usual..."

先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
今天: jīn tiān — 1. today 2. the present time; now (HSK 1)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (HSK 1)
庚: gēng — 1. age 2. seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) 3. seventh in order 4. letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc 5. ancient Chinese compass point: 255° 6. hepta
桑: Sāng — surname Sang
楚: Chǔ — 1. surname Chu 2. abbr. for Hubei 湖北省 (Hú běi Shěng) and Hunan 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng) provinces together 3. Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
坐定: zuò dìng — to be seated
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (HSK 1)
在旁: zài páng — 1. alongside 2. nearby
邊: biān — 1. side 2. edge 3. margin 4. border 5. boundary 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. simultaneously (HSK 2)
垂: chuí — 1. to hang (down) 2. droop 3. dangle 4. bend down 5. hand down 6. bequeath 7. nearly 8. almost 9. to approach (HSK 7-9)
著手: zhuó shǒu — 1. to put one's hand to it 2. to start out on a task 3. to set out (HSK 7-9)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
話說: huà shuō — 1. It is said that ... (at the start of a narrative) 2. to discuss; to recount
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
不少: bù shǎo — many; quite a few; a good number of (HSK 2)

“。”，。“。”，“，，？"You're right." Laozi sighed faintly and answered with a somewhat dejected air. "I really did talk too much." Then, as though something had suddenly occurred to him, he added, "Oh, that wild goose Kongqiu gave me—wasn't it cured into a dried goose?。Go and steam it and eat it.，。”I have no teeth left anyway, and can't chew it."

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
對: duì — 1. right; correct 2. towards; at; for 3. concerning; regarding 4. to treat (sb a certain way) 5. to face 6. (bound form) opposite; facing; matching 7. to match together; to adjust 8. to fit; to suit 9. to answer; to reply 10. to add; to pour in (a fluid) 11. to check; to compare 12. classifier: couple; pair (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
微微: wēi wēi — 1. slight 2. faint 3. humble
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
嘆: tàn — 1. to sigh 2. to exclaim
一口氣: yī kǒu qì — 1. one breath 2. in one breath 3. at a stretch (HSK 5)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
頹唐: tuí táng — 1. dispirited 2. depressed
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
回答: huí dá — 1. to reply; to answer 2. reply; answer (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)
真: zhēn — 1. really 2. truly 3. indeed 4. real 5. true 6. genuine (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
多: duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
仿佛: fǎng fú — 1. to seem; as if; seemingly 2. alike; similar (HSK 6)
突然: tū rán — sudden; abrupt; unexpected (HSK 3)
記起: jì qǐ — 1. to recall 2. to recollect
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
件: jiàn — 1. item 2. component 3. classifier for events, things, clothes etc (HSK 2)
事情: shì qing — 1. affair; matter; thing; business 2. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng) (HSK 2)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
哦: é — to chant (HSK 7-9)
孔丘: Kǒng Qiū — Confucius
送: sòng — 1. to send; to deliver; to transmit 2. to give (as a present) 3. to see (sb) off 4. to accompany; to go along with (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
隻: zhī — classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc (HSK 2)
雁: yàn — wild goose
鵝: é — 1. goose 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)
不是: bù shì — 1. no 2. is not 3. not
曬: shài — 1. (of the sun) to shine on 2. to bask in (the sunshine) 3. to dry (clothes, grain etc) in the sun 4. (fig.) to expose and share (one's experiences and thoughts) on the Web (loanword from "share") 5. (coll.) to give the cold shoulder to (HSK 4)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
臘: là — 1. ancient practice of offering sacrifices to the gods in the 12th lunar month 2. the 12th lunar month 3. (bound form) (of meat, fish etc) cured in winter, esp. in the 12th lunar month
鵝: é — 1. goose 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
蒸: zhēng — 1. to evaporate 2. (of cooking) to steam 3. torch made from hemp stalks or bamboo (old) 4. finely chopped firewood (old) (HSK 7-9)
蒸: zhēng — 1. to evaporate 2. (of cooking) to steam 3. torch made from hemp stalks or bamboo (old) 4. finely chopped firewood (old) (HSK 7-9)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
橫豎: héng shu — anyway
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
牙齒: yá chǐ — 1. tooth 2. dental 3. classifier: 顆 (kē) (HSK 7-9)
咬: yǎo — 1. to bite 2. to nip (HSK 5)
不動: bù dòng — motionless

。Gengsang Chu went out.，。Laozi grew quiet again, and closed his eyes.。The library was very still.，。The only sound was a bamboo pole knocking against the eaves—it was Gengsang Chu taking down the dried goose hanging under the eaves.

庚: gēng — 1. age 2. seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) 3. seventh in order 4. letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc 5. ancient Chinese compass point: 255° 6. hepta
桑: Sāng — surname Sang
楚: Chǔ — 1. surname Chu 2. abbr. for Hubei 湖北省 (Hú běi Shěng) and Hunan 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng) provinces together 3. Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
出去: chū qù — to go out (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
靜: jìng — 1. still 2. calm 3. quiet 4. not moving (HSK 3)
下來: xià lai — 1. to come down 2. (completed action marker) 3. (after verb of motion, indicates motion down and towards us, also fig.) 4. (indicates continuation from the past towards us) 5. to be harvested (of crops) 6. to be over (of a period of time) 7. to go among the masses (said of leaders) (HSK 3)
合: gě — 1. 100 ml 2. one-tenth of a peck 3. measure for dry grain equal to one-tenth of sheng 升 or liter, or one-hundredth dou 斗 (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
眼: yǎn — 1. eye (classifier: 隻 (zhī), 雙 (shuāng)) 2. (often used with 一 (yī)) a look; a glance 3. small hole 4. (bound form) salient point 5. classifier for wells, cave-dwellings etc (HSK 2)
圖書館: tú shū guǎn — 1. library 2. classifier: 家 (jiā), 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
寂靜: jì jìng — quiet (HSK 7-9)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
竹竿: zhú gān — bamboo pole (HSK 7-9)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
碰: pèng — 1. to touch 2. to meet with 3. to bump (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
屋檐: wū yán — 1. eaves 2. roof (i.e. home)
響: xiǎng — 1. echo 2. sound 3. noise 4. to make a sound 5. to sound 6. to ring 7. loud 8. classifier for noises (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
庚: gēng — 1. age 2. seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) 3. seventh in order 4. letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc 5. ancient Chinese compass point: 255° 6. hepta
桑: Sāng — surname Sang
楚: Chǔ — 1. surname Chu 2. abbr. for Hubei 湖北省 (Hú běi Shěng) and Hunan 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng) provinces together 3. Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
取: qǔ — 1. to take 2. to get 3. to choose 4. to fetch (HSK 2)
掛: guà — 1. to hang; to suspend (from a hook etc) 2. to hang up (the phone) 3. (of a line) to be dead 4. to be worried; to be concerned 5. (dialect) to make a phone call 6. to register (at a hospital); to make an appointment (with a doctor) 7. (slang) to kill; to die; to be finished; to fail (an exam) 8. classifier for sets or clusters of objects (HSK 3)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
檐: yán — 1. eaves 2. ledge or brim
下: xià — 1. down 2. downwards 3. below 4. lower 5. later 6. next (week etc) 7. second (of two parts) 8. to decline 9. to go down 10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) 11. measure word to show the frequency of an action (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臘: là — 1. ancient practice of offering sacrifices to the gods in the 12th lunar month 2. the 12th lunar month 3. (bound form) (of meat, fish etc) cured in winter, esp. in the 12th lunar month
鵝: é — 1. goose 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)

。Three months passed just like that.，。Laozi still sat without stirring at all, like a block of dumb wood.

“，！”，，。“？"Master, Kongqiu has come!" His student Gengsang Chu walked in, looking rather surprised, and said softly. "Hasn't it been a long time since he last came?，？……”I wonder what brings him this time?..."

先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
孔丘: Kǒng Qiū — Confucius
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
哩: lǐ — mile
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
學生: xué sheng — 1. student 2. schoolchild (HSK 1)
庚: gēng — 1. age 2. seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) 3. seventh in order 4. letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc 5. ancient Chinese compass point: 255° 6. hepta
桑: Sāng — surname Sang
楚: Chǔ — 1. surname Chu 2. abbr. for Hubei 湖北省 (Hú běi Shěng) and Hunan 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng) provinces together 3. Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
詫異: chà yì — 1. flabbergasted 2. astonished (HSK 7-9)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
走進: zǒu jìn — to enter; to step into (HSK 2)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
輕輕: qīng qīng — lightly; softly
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
不是: bù shì — 1. no 2. is not 3. not
長久: cháng jiǔ — 1. long-time; long-term 2. lasting; enduring; permanent 3. for a long time (HSK 6)
沒: méi — (negative prefix for verbs) have not; not (HSK 1)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
不知: bù zhī — 1. not to know 2. unaware 3. unknowingly 4. fig. not to admit (defeat, hardships, tiredness etc) (HSK 7-9)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
怎的: zěn de — 1. what for 2. why 3. how

“……”。"Show him in..." Laozi, as usual, said only this one word.

“，？”，。"Master, how are you?" Kongzi said, bowing with the utmost respect.

“，”。“，？”"I'm always like this," Laozi answered. "It's been a long while since I've seen you—you must have been shut away at home, hard at your studies?"

“，”。“，。"Not at all, not at all," Kongzi said modestly. "I haven't gone out—I've been thinking.：；I've worked something out: crows and magpies bill and kiss;；fish exchange spittle;；the slender-waisted wasp transforms another creature into its own kind;，。and when a younger brother is conceived, the elder brother weeps.，！……”I myself have long failed to cast myself into the stream of transformation—how then could I transform others!..."

那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
謙虛: qiān xū — 1. modest 2. self-effacing 3. to make modest remarks (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
出門: chū mén — 1. to go out 2. to leave home 3. to go on a journey 4. away from home 5. (of a woman) to get married (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
想通: xiǎng tōng — 1. to figure out 2. to realize 3. to become convinced 4. to come round (to an idea) 5. to get over it
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一點: yī diǎn — 1. a bit; a little bit 2. (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit 3. (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more, -er 4. a point (in a discussion etc) 5. (calligraphy) dot stroke (、) 6. one o'clock (abbr. for 一點鍾 (yī diǎn zhōng))
鴉: yā — crow
鵲: què — magpie
親嘴: qīn zuǐ — to kiss (on the mouth)
魚: Yú — surname Yu (HSK 2)
兒: ér — 1. child 2. son
塗: tú — 1. to apply (paint etc) 2. to smear 3. to daub 4. to blot out 5. to scribble 6. to scrawl 7. (literary) mud 8. street (HSK 7-9)
口水: kǒu shuǐ — saliva (HSK 7-9)
細腰: xì yāo — 1. slender waist 2. fig. pretty woman 3. mortise and tenon joint on a coffin
蜂: fēng — 1. bee 2. wasp
兒化: ér huà — (Chinese phonetics) to rhotacize a syllable final; to apply r-coloring to the final of a syllable
別: Bié — surname Bie (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
懷: Huái — surname Huai
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
弟弟: dì di — 1. younger brother 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
做: zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)
哥哥: gē ge — 1. older brother 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
哭: kū — to cry; to weep (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
久: jiǔ — (of a period of time) long (HSK 3)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
投: tóu — 1. to throw (sth in a specific direction: ball, javelin, grenade etc) 2. to cast (a ballot) 3. to cast (a glance, a shadow etc) 4. to put in (money for investment, a coin to operate a slot machine) 5. to send (a letter, a manuscript etc) 6. to throw oneself into (a river, a well etc to commit suicide) 7. to go to; to seek refuge; to place oneself into the hands of 8. (coll.) to rinse (clothes) in water (HSK 4)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
變化: biàn huà — 1. (intransitive) to change; to vary 2. change; variation (HSK 3)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
怎麼: zěn me — 1. how? 2. what? 3. why? (HSK 1)
能夠: néng gòu — 1. to be capable of 2. to be able to 3. can (HSK 2)
變化: biàn huà — 1. (intransitive) to change; to vary 2. change; variation (HSK 3)
別人: bié ren — other people; others; other person (HSK 1)
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)

“！”。“！”"Right, right!" said Laozi. "You've worked it out!"

，。From then on neither of them said a word, like two blocks of dumb wood.

，，，。After about eight minutes had passed, Kongzi at last let out a deep breath, then rose to take his leave, thanking Laozi very politely as usual for his instruction.

大約: dà yuē — 1. approximately 2. probably (HSK 3)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
八: bā — eight (HSK 1)
分鐘: fēn zhōng — minute (HSK 2)
孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
深深: shēn shēn — 1. deep 2. profound (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
呼出: hū chū — 1. to exhale; to breathe out 2. to make an outgoing call 3. (computing) to bring up (a menu, search bar, virtual keyboard etc)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一口氣: yī kǒu qì — 1. one breath 2. in one breath 3. at a stretch (HSK 5)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
起身: qǐ shēn — 1. to get up 2. to leave 3. to set forth
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
告辭: gào cí — 1. to say goodbye 2. to take one's leave (HSK 7-9)
一面: yī miàn — 1. one side 2. one aspect 3. simultaneously... (and...) 4. one's whole face (HSK 7-9)
照例: zhào lì — 1. as a rule 2. as usual 3. usually (HSK 7-9)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
客氣: kè qi — 1. polite 2. courteous 3. formal 4. modest (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
致謝: zhì xiè — 1. expression of gratitude 2. to give thanks 3. a thank-you note 4. acknowledgement
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
教訓: jiào xun — 1. to provide guidance; to lecture sb; to upbraid 2. a talking-to; a bitter lesson 3. classifier: 番 (fān), 頓 (dùn) (HSK 4)

。Laozi made no attempt to keep him.，。He rose, leaning on his staff, and saw him all the way out to the gate of the library.，：Just as Kongzi was about to board his carriage, Laozi spoke up, like a phonograph:

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
輓: wǎn — 1. variant of 挽 (wǎn) 2. to draw (a cart) 3. to lament the dead (HSK 7-9)
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
站起來: zhàn qǐ lai — to stand up
扶: fú — 1. to support with the hand 2. to help sb up 3. to support oneself by holding onto something 4. to help (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
拄: zhǔ — 1. to lean on 2. to prop on (HSK 7-9)
杖: zhàng — 1. a staff 2. a rod 3. cane 4. walking stick 5. to flog with a stick (old)
一直: yī zhí — 1. straight (in a straight line) 2. continuously; always; all the way through (HSK 2)
送: sòng — 1. to send; to deliver; to transmit 2. to give (as a present) 3. to see (sb) off 4. to accompany; to go along with (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
圖書館: tú shū guǎn — 1. library 2. classifier: 家 (jiā), 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大門: Dà mén — the Doors, US rock band (HSK 2)
外: wài — 1. outside 2. in addition 3. foreign 4. external (HSK 1)
孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
就要: jiù yào — 1. will 2. shall 3. to be going to (HSK 2)
上車: shàng chē — to get on or into (a bus, train, car etc) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
留聲機: liú shēng jī — 1. gramophone 2. phonograph
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
說道: shuō dào — 1. to state 2. to say (the quoted words) (HSK 7-9)

“？"You're leaving?？……”Won't you have some tea before you go?..."

孔子: Kǒng zǐ — Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese thinker and social philosopher, also known as 孔夫子 (Kǒng fū zǐ)
答應: dā ying — 1. to answer; to respond 2. to answer positively; to agree; to accept; to promise (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
車: Chē — surname Che (HSK 1)
拱: gǒng — 1. to cup one's hands in salute 2. to surround 3. to arch 4. to dig earth with the snout 5. arched (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
隻: zhī — classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc (HSK 2)
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
極: jí — 1. extremely 2. pole (geography, physics) 3. utmost 4. top (HSK 4)
恭敬: gōng jìng — 1. deferential 2. respectful
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
靠: kào — 1. to lean against or on 2. to stand by the side of 3. to come near to 4. to depend on 5. to trust 6. to fuck (vulgar) 7. traditional military costume drama where the performers wear armor (old) (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
橫: héng — 1. horizontal 2. across 3. crosswise 4. horizontal stroke (in Chinese characters) 5. to place (sth) flat (on a surface) 6. to cross (a river, etc) 7. in a jumble 8. chaotic 9. (in fixed expressions) harsh and unreasonable 10. violent (HSK 6)
板: bǎn — 1. board 2. plank 3. plate 4. shutter 5. table tennis bat 6. clappers (music) 7. classifier: 塊 (kuài) 8. accented beat in Chinese music 9. hard 10. stiff 11. to stop smiling or look serious (HSK 3)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
冉: Rǎn — surname Ran
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
鞭子: biān zi — 1. whip 2. classifier: 根 (gēn)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
空中: kōng zhōng — 1. in the sky 2. in the air (HSK 5)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
揮: huī — 1. to wave 2. to brandish 3. to command 4. to conduct 5. to scatter 6. to disperse (HSK 7-9)
嘴裡: zuǐ lǐ — 1. mouth 2. in the mouth 3. on one's lips 4. speech 5. words
喊: hǎn — 1. to yell 2. to shout 3. to call out for (a person) (HSK 2)
一聲: yī shēng — first tone in Mandarin (high, level tone)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
車子: chē zi — car or other vehicle (bicycle, truck etc)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
走動: zǒu dòng — 1. to walk around; to move about; to stretch one's legs; to go for a walk 2. to be mobile (e.g. after an illness) 3. to visit one another; to socialize 4. to pay a visit (go to the toilet)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
待: dāi — to stay; to remain (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
車子: chē zi — car or other vehicle (bicycle, truck etc)
離開: lí kāi — to depart; to leave (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
大門: Dà mén — the Doors, US rock band (HSK 2)
十幾: shí jǐ — more than ten; a dozen or more
步: Bù — surname Bu (HSK 3)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
回: Huí — Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims) (HSK 1)
進: jìn — 1. to go forward 2. to advance 3. to go in 4. to enter 5. to put in 6. to submit 7. to take in 8. to admit 9. (math.) base of a number system 10. classifier for sections in a building or residential compound (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
屋: wū — 1. (bound form) house 2. (bound form) room (HSK 5)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)

“，”，，，。“……”"Master, you don't seem too pleased today," said Gengsang Chu, waiting until Laozi had settled into his seat before standing to one side, hands at his sides. "You said very little..."

先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
今天: jīn tiān — 1. today 2. the present time; now (HSK 1)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
不大: bù dà — 1. not very (clear, far away etc); not too 2. not often; infrequently (HSK 1)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (HSK 1)
庚: gēng — 1. age 2. seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) 3. seventh in order 4. letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc 5. ancient Chinese compass point: 255° 6. hepta
桑: Sāng — surname Sang
楚: Chǔ — 1. surname Chu 2. abbr. for Hubei 湖北省 (Hú běi Shěng) and Hunan 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng) provinces together 3. Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
坐定: zuò dìng — to be seated
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (HSK 1)
在旁: zài páng — 1. alongside 2. nearby
邊: biān — 1. side 2. edge 3. margin 4. border 5. boundary 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. simultaneously (HSK 2)
垂: chuí — 1. to hang (down) 2. droop 3. dangle 4. bend down 5. hand down 6. bequeath 7. nearly 8. almost 9. to approach (HSK 7-9)
著手: zhuó shǒu — 1. to put one's hand to it 2. to start out on a task 3. to set out (HSK 7-9)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
話說: huà shuō — 1. It is said that ... (at the start of a narrative) 2. to discuss; to recount
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
少: shǎo — 1. few 2. less 3. to lack 4. to be missing 5. to stop (doing sth) 6. seldom (HSK 1)

“。”，。“：。”"You're right." Laozi sighed faintly and answered with a somewhat dejected air. "But you don't know this: I think I ought to leave."

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
對: duì — 1. right; correct 2. towards; at; for 3. concerning; regarding 4. to treat (sb a certain way) 5. to face 6. (bound form) opposite; facing; matching 7. to match together; to adjust 8. to fit; to suit 9. to answer; to reply 10. to add; to pour in (a fluid) 11. to check; to compare 12. classifier: couple; pair (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
微微: wēi wēi — 1. slight 2. faint 3. humble
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
嘆: tàn — 1. to sigh 2. to exclaim
一口氣: yī kǒu qì — 1. one breath 2. in one breath 3. at a stretch (HSK 5)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
頹唐: tuí táng — 1. dispirited 2. depressed
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
回答: huí dá — 1. to reply; to answer 2. reply; answer (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
不知: bù zhī — 1. not to know 2. unaware 3. unknowingly 4. fig. not to admit (defeat, hardships, tiredness etc) (HSK 7-9)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
應該: yīng gāi — ought to; should; must (HSK 2)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

“？”，。"Why is that?" Gengsang Chu was utterly astonished, as though struck by a thunderclap out of a clear sky.

“。"Kongqiu has already understood my meaning.，，。He knows that I am the only one who can see through to the bottom of him, and that must weigh on his mind.，……”If I don't leave, it will be rather awkward..."

孔丘: Kǒng Qiū — Confucius
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
懂得: dǒng de — to understand; to know; to comprehend (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
意思: yì si — 1. idea 2. opinion 3. meaning 4. wish 5. desire 6. interest 7. fun 8. token of appreciation, affection etc 9. classifier: 個 (gè) 10. to give as a small token 11. to do sth as a gesture of goodwill etc (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
能夠: néng gòu — 1. to be capable of 2. to be able to 3. can (HSK 2)
明白: míng bai — 1. clear; obvious; unequivocal 2. sensible; reasonable 3. to understand; to realize (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
底細: dǐ xì — 1. inside information 2. the ins and outs of the matter 3. how things stand 4. what's up
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
只有: zhǐ yǒu — 1. only have ...; there is only ... 2. (used in combination with 才 (cái)) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通過治療才能痊愈 (zhǐ yǒu tōng guò zhì liáo cái néng quán yù) "the only way to cure it is with therapy") 3. it is only (someone) who ... (as in 只有男性才有此需要 (zhǐ yǒu nán xìng cái yǒu cǐ xū yào) "only men would have such a requirement") 4. (used to express lack of alternatives) can only; have no choice but to (as in 只有屈服 (zhǐ yǒu qū fú) "the only thing you can do is give in") (HSK 3)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
一定: yī dìng — 1. surely; certainly; definitely 2. fixed; settled 3. a certain ...; a given ... (HSK 2)
放心: fàng xīn — 1. to feel relieved 2. to feel reassured 3. to be at ease (HSK 2)
不下: bù xià — to be not less than (a certain quantity, amount etc)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
不大: bù dà — 1. not very (clear, far away etc); not too 2. not often; infrequently (HSK 1)
方便: fāng biàn — 1. convenient; suitable 2. to facilitate; to make things easy 3. having money to spare 4. (euphemism) to relieve oneself (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

“，？"But then, aren't you of the same Way as he is?？”Why should you leave at all?"

“，”，“。"No," Laozi waved his hand, "our Ways are still not the same.，，。”Take, for instance, a pair of shoes—mine are for walking through the shifting sands, while his are for going up to court."

不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
擺: bǎi — 1. to arrange 2. to exhibit 3. to move to and fro 4. a pendulum (HSK 4)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
擺手: bǎi shǒu — 1. to wave one's hand 2. to gesture with one's hand (beckoning, waving good-bye etc) 3. to swing one's arms
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
不同: bù tóng — 1. different 2. distinct 3. not the same 4. not alike (HSK 2)
譬如: pì rú — for example; for instance; such as (HSK 7-9)
同: tóng — 1. like 2. same 3. similar 4. together 5. alike 6. with (HSK 6)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
雙: Shuāng — surname Shuang (HSK 3)
鞋子: xié zi — shoe
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
流沙: liú shā — 1. quicksand 2. (patisserie) (usu. attributive) semi-liquid filling (typically custard); lava
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
朝廷: cháo tíng — 1. court 2. imperial household 3. dynasty
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

“！”"But you are, after all, his teacher!"

“，，”，“，。"You've studied here with me all these years, and you're still so guileless," Laozi said, laughing. "This is truly a case of nature that cannot be altered, destiny that cannot be exchanged.：，，，。”You should know that Kongqiu is not like you: from now on he will not come again, nor will he call me Master anymore—he'll just call me 'the old fellow,' and behind my back he'll play his tricks besides."

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
這裡: zhè lǐ — here (HSK 1)
學: xué — 1. to learn 2. to study 3. to imitate 4. science 5. -ology (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
許多: xǔ duō — 1. many 2. a lot of 3. much (HSK 2)
年: Nián — surname Nian (HSK 1)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
這麼: zhè me — 1. so much 2. this much 3. how much? 4. this way 5. like this (HSK 2)
老實: lǎo shi — 1. honest; sincere 2. well-behaved 3. naive; gullible (HSK 4)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
笑: xiào — 1. to laugh; to smile 2. to laugh at (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
真是: zhēn shi — 1. indeed; truly 2. (coll.) (used to express disapproval, annoyance etc)
性: xìng — 1. nature 2. character 3. property 4. quality 5. attribute 6. sexuality 7. sex 8. gender 9. suffix forming adjective from verb 10. suffix forming noun from adjective, corresponding to -ness or -ity 11. essence 12. classifier: 個 (gè)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
改: gǎi — 1. to change 2. to alter 3. to transform 4. to correct (HSK 2)
命: mìng — 1. life 2. fate 3. order or command 4. to assign a name, title etc (HSK 6)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
換: huàn — 1. to exchange 2. to change (clothes etc) 3. to substitute 4. to switch 5. to convert (currency) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
孔丘: Kǒng Qiū — Confucius
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
不同: bù tóng — 1. different 2. distinct 3. not the same 4. not alike (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
以後: yǐ hòu — 1. after 2. later 3. afterwards 4. following 5. later on 6. in the future (HSK 2)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
不再: bù zài — no more; no longer (HSK 6)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
再不: zài bù — or else; alternatively
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
老頭子: lǎo tóu zi — 1. (coll.) old man 2. (said of an aging husband) my old man
背地裡: bèi dì li — behind sb's back; secretly
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
玩: wán — 1. to play 2. to have fun 3. to trifle with 4. toy 5. sth used for amusement 6. curio or antique (Taiwan pr. (wàn)) 7. to keep sth for entertainment
花樣: huā yàng — 1. pattern 2. way of doing sth 3. trick 4. ruse 5. fancy-style (as in 花樣滑冰 (huā yàng huá bīng) figure skating) (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
呀: yā — 1. ah (used to express surprise) 2. (onom.) creaking (HSK 4)

“。"I really would never have thought it.……”But Master, your judgment of people is never wrong..."

“，。”"No, in the beginning I was often mistaken too."

“，”，“……”"Well then," Gengsang Chu thought it over, "shall we have it out with him..."

，：Laozi laughed again, and opened his mouth wide at Gengsang Chu:

“：？”。"You see: do I still have any teeth?" he asked.

“。”。"No, none left," Gengsang Chu answered.

“？”"Is my tongue still there?"

“。”"Yes, it is."

“？”"Do you understand now?"

“：，？”"Do you mean, Master, that the hard things fall out early, while the soft ones remain?"

先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
意思: yì si — 1. idea 2. opinion 3. meaning 4. wish 5. desire 6. interest 7. fun 8. token of appreciation, affection etc 9. classifier: 個 (gè) 10. to give as a small token 11. to do sth as a gesture of goodwill etc (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
硬: yìng — 1. hard; stiff; solid 2. (fig.) strong; firm 3. resolutely; uncompromisingly 4. laboriously; with great difficulty 5. good (quality); able (person) 6. (of food) filling; substantial (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
早: zǎo — 1. early 2. morning 3. Good morning! 4. long ago 5. prematurely (HSK 1)
掉: diào — 1. to fall 2. to drop 3. to lag behind 4. to lose 5. to go missing 6. to reduce 7. fall (in prices) 8. to lose (value, weight etc) 9. to wag 10. to swing 11. to turn 12. to change 13. to exchange 14. to swap 15. to show off 16. to shed (hair) 17. (used after certain verbs to express completion, fulfillment, removal etc) (HSK 2)
軟: ruǎn — 1. soft 2. flexible (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)

“。"You're right.，。I think you'd best pack up too, and go home to see your wife.，。But first give my black ox a brushing, and air out the saddle-blanket.。”I'll be riding him first thing tomorrow morning."

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
對: duì — 1. right; correct 2. towards; at; for 3. concerning; regarding 4. to treat (sb a certain way) 5. to face 6. (bound form) opposite; facing; matching 7. to match together; to adjust 8. to fit; to suit 9. to answer; to reply 10. to add; to pour in (a fluid) 11. to check; to compare 12. classifier: couple; pair (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
還不如: hái bù rú — 1. to be better off ... 2. might as well ...
收拾: shōu shi — 1. to put in order 2. to tidy up 3. to pack 4. to repair 5. (coll.) to sort sb out 6. to fix sb (HSK 5)
收拾: shōu shi — 1. to put in order 2. to tidy up 3. to pack 4. to repair 5. (coll.) to sort sb out 6. to fix sb (HSK 5)
回家: huí jiā — to return home (HSK 1)
看看: kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
老婆: lǎo pó — (coll.) wife (HSK 4)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
先: xiān — 1. beforehand; first; earlier 2. at first; originally 3. for the time being; for now 4. (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself) (HSK 1)
給: gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
匹: pǐ — 1. (bound form) matching; comparable to 2. (bound form) alone; single; one of a pair 3. classifier for horses, mules etc (Taiwan pr. (pī)) 4. classifier for cloth: bolt 5. horsepower (HSK 5)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
刷: shuā — 1. a brush 2. to paint; to daub 3. to brush; to scrub 4. (fig.) to remove; to eliminate (from a contest); to fire (from a job) 5. (onom.) swish; rustle 6. to swipe (a card) 7. to scroll on (a phone) 8. (gaming) to grind; to farm (for experience points, equipment, levels etc) (HSK 4)
一下: yī xià — 1. (after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or softening the tone, or suggesting giving sth a try) 2. all at once; suddenly
鞍韉: ān jiān — (literary) a saddle with a saddle blanket
曬: shài — 1. (of the sun) to shine on 2. to bask in (the sunshine) 3. to dry (clothes, grain etc) in the sun 4. (fig.) to expose and share (one's experiences and thoughts) on the Web (loanword from "share") 5. (coll.) to give the cold shoulder to (HSK 4)
一下: yī xià — 1. (after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or softening the tone, or suggesting giving sth a try) 2. all at once; suddenly
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
明天: míng tiān — tomorrow (HSK 1)
一早: yī zǎo — 1. early in the morning 2. at dawn (HSK 7-9)
就要: jiù yào — 1. will 2. shall 3. to be going to (HSK 2)
騎: jì — 1. (Tw) saddle horse 2. mounted soldier (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

，，，，。When Laozi reached Hangu Pass, instead of going straight along the main road leading to the checkpoint, he reined in his black ox and turned off onto a side path, slowly circling along the foot of the city wall.。He was thinking of climbing over the wall.，，，；The wall was not, in fact, very high; if he stood on the ox's back and gave a heave, he could just manage to scramble up;，。but the black ox, left inside the city, could not then be got out over the wall.，，，。If he wanted to move it, he would need a crane, but unfortunately Lu Ban and Mo Di had not yet been born at this time, and Laozi himself could not conceive of such a device existing.：，。In short, he exhausted his philosophical brain, and still there was simply no way.

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
到了: dào liǎo — 1. at last 2. finally 3. in the end
函谷關: Hán gǔ Guān — Hangu Pass in modern day Henan Province, strategic pass forming the eastern gate of the Qin State during the Warring States Period (770-221 BC)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
直: Zhí — 1. surname Zhi 2. Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God (HSK 3)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
通: tōng — 1. to go through 2. to know well 3. (suffix) expert 4. to connect 5. to communicate 6. open 7. to clear 8. classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls etc (HSK 2)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
關口: guān kǒu — 1. pass 2. gateway 3. (fig.) juncture
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大道: dà dào — 1. main street 2. avenue (HSK 6)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
勒: lè — 1. (literary) bridle; halter; headstall 2. to rein in 3. to compel; to force 4. (literary) to carve; to engrave 5. (literary) to command; to lead (an army etc) 6. (physics) lux (abbr. for 勒克斯 (lè kè sī)) (HSK 7-9)
轉入: zhuǎn rù — to change over to; to shift to; to switch to
岔路: chà lù — fork in the road
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
城根: chéng gēn — sections of a city close to the city wall
下: xià — 1. down 2. downwards 3. below 4. lower 5. later 6. next (week etc) 7. second (of two parts) 8. to decline 9. to go down 10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) 11. measure word to show the frequency of an action (HSK 1)
慢慢: màn màn — slowly; gradually (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
繞: rào — 1. to wind 2. to coil (thread) 3. to rotate around 4. to spiral 5. to move around 6. to go round (an obstacle) 7. to by-pass 8. to make a detour 9. to confuse 10. to perplex (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
爬: pá — 1. to crawl 2. to climb 3. to get up or sit up (HSK 2)
城: chéng — 1. city walls 2. city 3. town 4. classifier: 座 (zuò), 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
城牆: chéng qiáng — city wall (HSK 7-9)
倒: dǎo — 1. to fall; to collapse; to lie horizontally 2. to fail; to go bankrupt 3. to overthrow 4. to change (trains or buses) 5. to move around 6. to resell at a profit (HSK 2)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
將: jiāng — 1. will 2. shall 3. to use 4. to take 5. to checkmate 6. just a short while ago 7. (introduces object of main verb, used in the same way as 把 (bǎ)) (HSK 5)
身: shēn — 1. body 2. life 3. oneself 4. personally 5. one's morality and conduct 6. the main part of a structure or body 7. pregnant 8. classifier for sets of clothes: suit, twinset 9. Kangxi radical 158
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
聳: sǒng — 1. to excite 2. to raise up 3. to shrug 4. high 5. lofty 6. towering
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
勉強: miǎn qiǎng — 1. to do with difficulty 2. to force sb to do sth 3. reluctant 4. barely enough (HSK 7-9)
爬: pá — 1. to crawl 2. to climb 3. to get up or sit up (HSK 2)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
但是: dàn shì — but; however (HSK 2)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
城: chéng — 1. city walls 2. city 3. town 4. classifier: 座 (zuò), 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
沒法: méi fǎ — 1. at a loss 2. unable to do anything about it 3. to have no choice
搬: bān — 1. to move (i.e. relocate oneself) 2. to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky) 3. to shift 4. to copy indiscriminately (HSK 3)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
城外: chéng wài — outside of a city
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
倘: cháng — used in 倘佯 (cháng yáng)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
搬: bān — 1. to move (i.e. relocate oneself) 2. to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky) 3. to shift 4. to copy indiscriminately (HSK 3)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
起重機: qǐ zhòng jī — crane
無奈: wú nài — 1. to have no alternative 2. frustrated 3. exasperated 4. helpless 5. (conjunction) but unfortunately (HSK 5)
這時: zhè shí — 1. at this time 2. at this moment (HSK 2)
魯: Lǔ — 1. surname Lu 2. Lu, an ancient state of China 魯國 (Lǔ guó) 3. short name for Shandong 山東 (Shān dōng)
般: bān — 1. sort 2. kind 3. class 4. way 5. manner
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
墨翟: Mò Dí — original name of Mozi 墨子 (Mò zǐ)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
出世: chū shì — 1. to be born 2. to come into being 3. to withdraw from worldly affairs
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
想不到: xiǎng bu dào — 1. unexpected 2. hard to imagine 3. it had not occurred to me 4. who could have thought that (HSK 6)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
玩意: wán yì — 1. toy 2. plaything 3. thing 4. act 5. trick (in a performance, stage show, acrobatics etc)
總而言之: zǒng ér yán zhī — 1. in short 2. in a word 3. in brief (HSK 7-9)
他用: tā yòng — 1. other use 2. other purpose
盡: jìn — 1. to use up 2. to exhaust 3. to end 4. to finish 5. to the utmost 6. exhausted 7. finished 8. to the limit (of sth) 9. all 10. entirely (HSK 6)
哲學: zhé xué — philosophy (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
腦筋: nǎo jīn — 1. brains 2. mind 3. head 4. way of thinking (HSK 7-9)
只是: zhǐ shì — 1. merely; only; just; nothing but 2. simply 3. but; however (HSK 3)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
沒有法: méi yǒu fǎ — 1. at a loss 2. unable to do anything about it 3. to have no choice

，，。But what he even less expected was that, the moment he had turned off onto the side path, a scout had already spotted him and gone at once to report it to the pass official.，。So before he had circled even seventy or eighty feet, a band of men on horseback came chasing after him from behind.，，，。The scout galloped in the lead, followed by the pass official—none other than Guan Yinxi—who had brought along four patrolmen and two men with probing spikes.

然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
更: gēng — 1. to change or replace 2. to experience 3. one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided 4. watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard) (HSK 2)
料: liào — 1. material 2. stuff 3. grain 4. feed 5. to expect 6. to anticipate 7. to guess (HSK 6)
不到: bù dào — 1. not to arrive 2. not reaching 3. insufficient 4. less than
當: dāng — 1. to be 2. to act as 3. manage 4. withstand 5. when 6. during 7. ought 8. should 9. match equally 10. equal 11. same 12. obstruct 13. just at (a time or place) 14. on the spot 15. right 16. just at (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
彎: wān — 1. to bend 2. bent 3. a bend; a turn (in a road etc) 4. classifier: 道 (dào) (HSK 4)
進: jìn — 1. to go forward 2. to advance 3. to go in 4. to enter 5. to put in 6. to submit 7. to take in 8. to admit 9. (math.) base of a number system 10. classifier for sections in a building or residential compound (HSK 1)
岔路: chà lù — fork in the road
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
給: gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)
探子: tàn zi — 1. intelligence gatherer 2. spy 3. detective 4. scout 5. sound (medical instrument) 6. long and narrow probing and sampling utensil
望見: wàng jiàn — 1. to espy 2. to spot (HSK 6)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
報告: bào gào — 1. to inform 2. to report 3. to make known 4. report 5. speech 6. talk 7. lecture 8. classifier: 篇 (piān), 份 (fèn), 個 (gè), 通 (tòng) (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
官: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 4)
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
繞: rào — 1. to wind 2. to coil (thread) 3. to rotate around 4. to spiral 5. to move around 6. to go round (an obstacle) 7. to by-pass 8. to make a detour 9. to confuse 10. to perplex (HSK 5)
不到: bù dào — 1. not to arrive 2. not reaching 3. insufficient 4. less than
七: qī — 1. seven 2. 7 (HSK 1)
八: bā — eight (HSK 1)
丈: zhàng — 1. measure of length, ten Chinese feet (3.3 m) 2. to measure 3. husband 4. polite appellation for an older male
路: Lù — surname Lu (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
群: qún — 1. group 2. crowd 3. flock, herd, pack etc (HSK 3)
人馬: rén mǎ — 1. men and horses 2. troops 3. group of people 4. troop 5. staff 6. centaur
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
後面: hòu mian — 1. the back; the rear; the last bit 2. behind; near the end; at the back 3. later; afterwards (HSK 3)
追: duī — 1. to sculpt 2. to carve 3. musical instrument (old) (HSK 3)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
那個: nà ge — 1. that one 2. that thing 3. that (as opposed to this) 4. (used before a verb or adjective for emphasis) 5. (used to humorously or indirectly refer to sth embarrassing, funny etc, or when one can't think of the right word) 6. (used in speech as a filler, similar to "umm", "you know" etc) 7. (euph.) menstruation 8. sex 9. also pr. (nèi ge)
探子: tàn zi — 1. intelligence gatherer 2. spy 3. detective 4. scout 5. sound (medical instrument) 6. long and narrow probing and sampling utensil
躍馬: yuè mǎ — 1. to gallop 2. to spur on a horse 3. to let one's steed have his head
當: dāng — 1. to be 2. to act as 3. manage 4. withstand 5. when 6. during 7. ought 8. should 9. match equally 10. equal 11. same 12. obstruct 13. just at (a time or place) 14. on the spot 15. right 16. just at (HSK 2)
先: xiān — 1. beforehand; first; earlier 2. at first; originally 3. for the time being; for now 4. (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself) (HSK 1)
其次: qí cì — 1. next 2. secondly (HSK 3)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
官: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 4)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
帶: dài — 1. band 2. belt 3. girdle 4. ribbon 5. tire 6. area 7. zone 8. region 9. classifier: 條 (tiáo) 10. to wear 11. to carry 12. to take along 13. to bear (i.e. to have) 14. to lead 15. to bring 16. to look after 17. to raise (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
巡警: xún jǐng — 1. police patrol 2. patrol officer 3. (old) police officer
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)

“！”。"Halt!" several of them shouted.

，，。Laozi hastily reined in the black ox, and sat there himself without moving at all, like a block of dumb wood.

“！”，，，，，：“，。"Oh!" The pass official rushed forward, and the moment he saw Laozi's face, he gave a cry of surprise, at once tumbled off his saddle, and clasping his hands together, said, "I wondered who it could be—it's none other than Curator Lao Dan!。”This is truly the last thing I ever expected."

阿: ā — 1. prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity 2. used in transliteration 3. (bound form) Afghanistan (abbr. for 阿富汗 (Ā fù hàn)) 4. (bound form) Albania (abbr. for 阿爾巴尼亞 (Ā ěr bā ní yà)) 5. (bound form) Algeria (abbr. for 阿爾及利亞 (Ā ěr jí lì yà)) 6. (bound form) Argentina (abbr. for 阿根廷 (Ā gēn tíng)) 7. also pr. (à)
呀: yā — 1. ah (used to express surprise) 2. (onom.) creaking (HSK 4)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
官: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 4)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
衝: chōng — 1. thoroughfare 2. to go straight ahead 3. to rush 4. to clash (HSK 4)
上前: shàng qián — to advance; to step forward
看見: kàn jiàn — to see; to catch sight of (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
驚叫: jīng jiào — to cry out in fear
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一聲: yī shēng — first tone in Mandarin (high, level tone)
即刻: jí kè — 1. immediately 2. instant 3. instantly
滾: gǔn — 1. to boil 2. to roll 3. to take a hike 4. Get lost! (HSK 5)
鞍: ān — (bound form) saddle
下馬: xià mǎ — 1. to dismount from a horse 2. (fig.) to abandon (a project)
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
拱: gǒng — 1. to cup one's hands in salute 2. to surround 3. to arch 4. to dig earth with the snout 5. arched (HSK 7-9)
說道: shuō dào — 1. to state 2. to say (the quoted words) (HSK 7-9)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
原來: yuán lái — 1. original; former 2. originally; formerly; at first 3. so, actually, as it turns out (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
老聃: Lǎo Dān — another name for Laozi 老子 (Lǎo zǐ)
館: guǎn — 1. building 2. shop 3. term for certain service establishments 4. embassy or consulate 5. schoolroom (old) 6. classifier: 家 (jiā)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
真是: zhēn shi — 1. indeed; truly 2. (coll.) (used to express disapproval, annoyance etc)
萬: Wàn — surname Wan (HSK 2)
想不到: xiǎng bu dào — 1. unexpected 2. hard to imagine 3. it had not occurred to me 4. who could have thought that (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

，，，，“……”Laozi too hurriedly climbed down off the ox's back, and narrowing his eyes, looked the man over, saying vaguely, "My memory is poor..."

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
趕緊: gǎn jǐn — 1. hurriedly 2. without delay (HSK 3)
爬: pá — 1. to crawl 2. to climb 3. to get up or sit up (HSK 2)
下: xià — 1. down 2. downwards 3. below 4. lower 5. later 6. next (week etc) 7. second (of two parts) 8. to decline 9. to go down 10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) 11. measure word to show the frequency of an action (HSK 1)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
細: xì — 1. thin or slender 2. finely particulate 3. thin and soft 4. fine 5. delicate 6. trifling 7. (of a sound) quiet 8. frugal (HSK 4)
著眼: zhuó yǎn — 1. to have one's eyes on (a goal) 2. having sth in mind 3. to concentrate (HSK 7-9)
睛: jīng — eye; eyeball
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
含: hán — 1. to keep in the mouth 2. to contain (HSK 4)
含胡: hán hu — variant of 含糊 (hán hu)
胡: Hú — surname Hu
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
記性: jì xing — memory (ability to retain information)
壞: huài — 1. bad 2. spoiled 3. broken 4. to break down 5. (suffix) to the utmost (HSK 1)

“，，。"Of course, of course, you would have forgotten, sir.，《》，……”I am Guan Yinxi—some time ago I went to the library to look up The Essentials of Taxation, and had the honor of calling on you, sir..."

自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
忘記: wàng jì — to forget (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
先前: xiān qián — before; previously (HSK 5)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
圖書館: tú shū guǎn — 1. library 2. classifier: 家 (jiā), 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
查: Zhā — surname Zha (HSK 2)
稅收: shuì shōu — taxation (HSK 7-9)
精義: jīng yì — 1. quintessence 2. essentials
曾經: céng jīng — 1. once 2. already 3. former 4. previously 5. ever 6. (past tense marker used before verb or clause) (HSK 3)
拜訪: bài fǎng — to pay a visit; to call on (HSK 5)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)

，，，，。Meanwhile the men with the probing spikes turned over the saddle-blanket on the black ox, then jabbed a hole in it with a spike, poked a finger in to feel about, and without a word, walked off pouting.

這時: zhè shí — 1. at this time 2. at this moment (HSK 2)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
便: biàn — 1. plain 2. informal 3. suitable 4. convenient 5. opportune 6. to urinate or defecate 7. equivalent to 就 (jiù): then 8. in that case 9. even if 10. soon afterwards (HSK 6)
翻: fān — 1. to turn over 2. to flip over 3. to overturn 4. to rummage through 5. to translate 6. to decode 7. to double 8. to climb over or into 9. to cross (HSK 4)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
通: tōng — 1. to go through 2. to know well 3. (suffix) expert 4. to connect 5. to communicate 6. open 7. to clear 8. classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls etc (HSK 2)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
鞍韉: ān jiān — (literary) a saddle with a saddle blanket
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
刺: cī — (onom.) whoosh (HSK 4)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
洞: dòng — 1. cave 2. hole 3. zero (unambiguous spoken form when spelling out numbers) 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
伸: shēn — 1. to stretch 2. to extend (HSK 5)
進: jìn — 1. to go forward 2. to advance 3. to go in 4. to enter 5. to put in 6. to submit 7. to take in 8. to admit 9. (math.) base of a number system 10. classifier for sections in a building or residential compound (HSK 1)
指頭: zhǐ tou — 1. finger 2. toe 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 6)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
掏: tāo — 1. to fish out (from pocket) 2. to scoop (HSK 6)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一下: yī xià — 1. (after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or softening the tone, or suggesting giving sth a try) 2. all at once; suddenly
一聲不響: yī shēng bù xiǎng — 1. to keep totally silent 2. noiselessly
橛: jué — 1. a peg 2. low post
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
嘴: zuǐ — 1. mouth 2. beak 3. nozzle 4. spout (of teapot etc) 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
走開: zǒu kāi — 1. to leave; to walk away; to beat it 2. to move aside (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

“？”。"Are you out for a stroll around the city walls, sir?" Guan Yinxi asked.

“，，……”"No, I was thinking of going out, for a bit of fresh air..."

“！"That's excellent!！That's simply wonderful!，。Everyone nowadays talks about hygiene—hygiene is the most important thing of all.，，……”But such an opportunity is rare, and we must ask you, sir, to come stay at the pass for a few days, so we can hear your instruction..."

那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
好: hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
好: hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)
極了: jí le — 1. extremely 2. exceedingly
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
講: jiǎng — 1. to speak 2. to explain 3. to negotiate 4. to emphasize 5. to be particular about 6. as far as sth is concerned 7. speech 8. lecture (HSK 2)
衛生: wèi shēng — 1. hygienic; sanitary 2. hygiene; sanitation (HSK 3)
衛生: wèi shēng — 1. hygienic; sanitary 2. hygiene; sanitation (HSK 3)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
頂: dǐng — 1. apex 2. crown of the head 3. top 4. roof 5. most 6. to carry on the head 7. to push to the top 8. to go against 9. to replace 10. to substitute 11. to be subjected to (an aerial bombing, hailstorm etc) 12. (slang) to "bump" a forum thread to raise its profile 13. classifier for headwear, hats, veils etc (HSK 4)
要緊: yào jǐn — 1. important 2. urgent (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
機會: jī huì — 1. opportunity 2. chance 3. occasion 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
難得: nán dé — 1. seldom 2. rare 3. hard to come by (HSK 5)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
請: qǐng — 1. to ask 2. to invite 3. please (do sth) 4. to treat (to a meal etc) 5. to request (HSK 1)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
關上: guān shàng — 1. to close (a door) 2. to turn off (light, electrical equipment etc) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
幾天: jǐ tiān — several days
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
教訓: jiào xun — 1. to provide guidance; to lecture sb; to upbraid 2. a talking-to; a bitter lesson 3. classifier: 番 (fān), 頓 (dùn) (HSK 4)

，，，，，，。Before Laozi could answer, the four patrolmen crowded forward and hoisted him back onto the ox's back; one of the spike-men gave the ox a jab in the rump with his spike, the ox gave its tail a curl, and broke into a trot, and they all set off together toward the pass.

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
回答: huí dá — 1. to reply; to answer 2. reply; answer (HSK 1)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
巡警: xún jǐng — 1. police patrol 2. patrol officer 3. (old) police officer
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
擁: yōng — 1. to hold in one's arms; to embrace 2. to surround; to gather around 3. to throng; to swarm 4. (bound form) to support (as in 擁護 (yōng hù)) 5. (literary) to have; to possess 6. Taiwan pr. (yǒng)
上前: shàng qián — to advance; to step forward
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
扛: gāng — 1. to raise aloft with both hands 2. (of two or more people) to carry sth together (HSK 7-9)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
手用: shǒu yòng — 1. hand-used 2. hand (tool)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
屁股: pì gu — 1. buttocks 2. bottom 3. butt 4. back part
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
刺: cī — (onom.) whoosh (HSK 4)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一下: yī xià — 1. (after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or softening the tone, or suggesting giving sth a try) 2. all at once; suddenly
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
尾巴: wěi ba — 1. tail 2. colloquial pr. (yǐ ba) (HSK 4)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
捲: juǎn — 1. to roll up 2. to sweep up; to carry along 3. a roll 4. classifier for rolls, spools etc (HSK 4)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
放開: fàng kāi — 1. to let go 2. to release
腳步: jiǎo bù — 1. footstep 2. step (HSK 5)
一同: yī tóng — together (HSK 6)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
關口: guān kǒu — 1. pass 2. gateway 3. (fig.) juncture
跑: páo — (of an animal) to paw (the ground) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，。Once they reached the pass, the great hall was at once opened up to receive him.，，，；This hall was the middle chamber of the watchtower; looking out through the window, one saw nothing but a plain of yellow earth outside, sinking lower and lower into the distance;，。the sky was a vast grey-blue, and the air was truly fine.，，，。This mighty pass sat perched high atop a steep slope; outside the gate, to left and right, were all earthen banks, with a single cart-road running between them, as though threading between sheer cliffs.。The truth was, a single pellet of mud would have sufficed to seal it shut.

到得: dào dé — to arrive at (some place or time)
關上: guān shàng — 1. to close (a door) 2. to turn off (light, electrical equipment etc) (HSK 1)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
開: kāi — 1. to open (transitive or intransitive) 2. (of ships, vehicles, troops etc) to start 3. to turn on; to put in operation; to operate; to run 4. to boil 5. to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc) 6. (directional complement) away; off 7. carat (gold) 8. abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文 (Kāi ěr wén) 9. abbr. for 開本 (kāi běn), book format (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
大廳: dà tīng — hall; concourse; public lounge; (hotel) lobby (HSK 5)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
招待: zhāo dài — to hold a reception; to offer hospitality; to entertain (guests); to serve (customers) (HSK 7-9)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
大廳: dà tīng — hall; concourse; public lounge; (hotel) lobby (HSK 5)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
城樓: chéng lóu — city gate tower
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
間: jiān — 1. between 2. among 3. within a definite time or space 4. room 5. section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars 6. classifier for rooms (HSK 1)
臨: lín — 1. to face 2. to overlook 3. to arrive 4. to be (just) about to 5. just before (HSK 7-9)
窗: chuāng — 1. window 2. classifier: 扇 (shàn)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
望: wàng — 1. full moon 2. to hope 3. to expect 4. to visit 5. to gaze (into the distance) 6. to look towards 7. towards (HSK 7-9)
只見: zhǐ jiàn — 1. to see (the same thing) over and over again 2. to see, to one's surprise, (sth happen suddenly) (HSK 5)
外面: wài miàn — 1. outside (also pr. (wài mian) for this sense) 2. surface 3. exterior 4. external appearance (HSK 3)
全: Quán — surname Quan (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
黃土: huáng tǔ — loess (yellow sandy soil typical of north China)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
平原: píng yuán — 1. field 2. plain 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
愈: yù — 1. the more...(the more...) 2. to recover 3. to heal 4. better
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
愈: yù — 1. the more...(the more...) 2. to recover 3. to heal 4. better
低: dī — 1. low 2. beneath 3. to lower (one's head) 4. to let droop 5. to hang down 6. to incline (HSK 2)
天色: tiān sè — 1. color of the sky 2. time of day, as indicated by the color of the sky 3. weather
蒼蒼: cāng cāng — 1. ash gray 2. vast and hazy 3. flourishing
真是: zhēn shi — 1. indeed; truly 2. (coll.) (used to express disapproval, annoyance etc)
好: hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)
空氣: kōng qì — 1. air 2. atmosphere (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
雄: xióng — 1. male 2. staminate 3. grand 4. imposing 5. powerful 6. mighty 7. person or state having great power and influence
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
踞: jù — 1. to be based upon 2. to squat
峻: jùn — 1. (of mountains) high 2. harsh or severe
阪: bǎn — 1. slope 2. hillside
之上: zhī shàng — above
門外: mén wài — outside the door
左右: zuǒ yòu — 1. left and right 2. nearby 3. approximately 4. attendant 5. to control 6. to influence (HSK 3)
全: Quán — surname Quan (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
土: Tǔ — 1. surname Tu 2. Tu ethnic group (HSK 3)
坡: pō — 1. slope 2. classifier: 個 (gè) 3. sloping 4. slanted (HSK 6)
中間: zhōng jiān — 1. the middle; the inside 2. in the middle; within; between; among 3. during; in the meantime (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
條: tiáo — 1. strip 2. item 3. article 4. clause (of law or treaty) 5. classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc) (HSK 2)
車道: chē dào — 1. traffic lane 2. driveway (HSK 7-9)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
峭壁: qiào bì — 1. cliff 2. steep 3. precipice
之間: zhī jiān — 1. (after a noun) between; among; amid 2. (used after certain bisyllabic words to form expressions indicating a short period of time, e.g. 彈指之間 (tán zhǐ zhī jiān)) (HSK 4)
實在: shí zài — 1. really 2. actually 3. indeed 4. true 5. real 6. honest 7. dependable 8. (philosophy) reality (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
丸: wán — 1. ball 2. pellet 3. pill (HSK 7-9)
泥: ní — 1. mud 2. clay 3. paste 4. pulp (HSK 6)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
可以: kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)
封: Fēng — surname Feng (HSK 2)
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

，。After everyone had drunk some boiled water, they ate buns.，。Once Laozi had been allowed to rest awhile, Guan Yinxi proposed that he give them a lecture.，。Laozi had long known there was no getting out of this, so he readily agreed.，。There followed a great commotion, and the room gradually filled with people who had come to hear the lecture.，，，，，。Besides the eight who had come with him, there were four constables, two clerks with tally-sticks, five detectives, a secretary, the accountant, and the kitchen staff.，，，。Several had even brought brushes, knives, and wooden slips, ready to take down the lecture notes.

大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
喝: hē — 1. to drink 2. variant of 嗬 (hē) (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
開水: kāi shuǐ — 1. boiled water 2. boiling water (HSK 4)
再: zài — 1. again; once more; re- 2. further; beyond this point of time 3. (before an adjective) more 4. then (after sth, and not until then) 5. no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也 (yě) or 都 (dōu) for emphasis) 6. (used to introduce additional information, as in 再則 (zài zé), 再就是 (zài jiù shì) etc) 7. (literary) to reappear; to reoccur (HSK 1)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
讓: ràng — 1. to yield 2. to permit 3. to let sb do sth 4. to have sb do sth 5. to make sb (feel sad etc) 6. by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被 (bèi)) (HSK 2)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
休息: xiū xi — 1. rest 2. to rest (HSK 1)
一會: yī huì — 1. a moment 2. a while 3. in a moment 4. also pr. (yī huǐ)
之後: zhī hòu — 1. after; behind 2. (at the beginning of a sentence) afterwards; since then (HSK 4)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
提議: tí yì — to propose; to suggest; proposal; suggestion (HSK 7-9)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
講學: jiǎng xué — to lecture (on branch of learning) (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
早知: zǎo zhī — to know in advance
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
免: miǎn — 1. to excuse sb 2. to exempt 3. to remove or dismiss from office 4. to avoid 5. to avert 6. to escape 7. to be prohibited (HSK 7-9)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
掉: diào — 1. to fall 2. to drop 3. to lag behind 4. to lose 5. to go missing 6. to reduce 7. fall (in prices) 8. to lose (value, weight etc) 9. to wag 10. to swing 11. to turn 12. to change 13. to exchange 14. to swap 15. to show off 16. to shed (hair) 17. (used after certain verbs to express completion, fulfillment, removal etc) (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
滿口答應: mǎn kǒu dā ying — to readily consent
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
轟轟: hōng hōng — 1. booming 2. roaring
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一陣: yī zhèn — 1. a burst 2. a fit 3. a peal 4. a spell (period of time) (HSK 7-9)
屋: wū — 1. (bound form) house 2. (bound form) room (HSK 5)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
逐漸: zhú jiàn — gradually (HSK 4)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
滿: Mǎn — Manchu ethnic group (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
聽講: tīng jiǎng — 1. to attend a lecture 2. to listen to a talk (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人們: rén men — people (HSK 2)
同: tóng — 1. like 2. same 3. similar 4. together 5. alike 6. with (HSK 6)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
八: bā — eight (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
之外: zhī wài — 1. outside 2. excluding (HSK 5)
還有: hái yǒu — 1. there still remain(s); there is (or are) still 2. in addition (HSK 1)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
巡警: xún jǐng — 1. police patrol 2. patrol officer 3. (old) police officer
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
探子: tàn zi — 1. intelligence gatherer 2. spy 3. detective 4. scout 5. sound (medical instrument) 6. long and narrow probing and sampling utensil
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
賬房: zhàng fáng — 1. an accounts office (in former times) 2. an accountant 3. a cashier
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
廚房: chú fáng — 1. kitchen 2. classifier: 間 (jiān) (HSK 5)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
幾個: jǐ ge — 1. a few 2. several 3. how many
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
帶: dài — 1. band 2. belt 3. girdle 4. ribbon 5. tire 6. area 7. zone 8. region 9. classifier: 條 (tiáo) 10. to wear 11. to carry 12. to take along 13. to bear (i.e. to have) 14. to lead 15. to bring 16. to look after 17. to raise (HSK 2)
著筆: zhuó bǐ — to put pen to paper
刀: Dāo — surname Dao (HSK 3)
木: Mù — surname Mu
札: zhá — 1. thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) 2. a kind of official document (in former times) 3. letter 4. note 5. plague
預備: yù bèi — 1. to prepare 2. to make ready 3. preparation 4. preparatory (HSK 5)
抄: chāo — 1. to make a copy 2. to plagiarize 3. to search and seize 4. to raid 5. to grab 6. to go off with 7. to take a shortcut 8. to make a turning move 9. to fold one's arms (HSK 4)
講義: jiǎng yì — teaching materials

，，，。Laozi sat in the middle like a block of senseless wood. After a spell of silence, he coughed several times; only then did the lips within his white beard begin to move.，。At once everyone held his breath and cocked an ear to listen.：They heard him say slowly:

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
像: xiàng — 1. to resemble 2. to be like 3. to look as if 4. such as 5. appearance 6. image 7. portrait 8. image under a mapping (math.) (HSK 2)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
段: Duàn — surname Duan (HSK 2)
呆: dāi — 1. foolish; stupid 2. expressionless; blank 3. variant of 待 (dāi) (HSK 5)
木頭: mù tou — 1. wood; log (classifier: 塊 (kuài), 根 (gēn)) 2. (fig.) blockhead; dolt (HSK 3)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
中央: zhōng yāng — 1. central 2. middle 3. center 4. central authorities (of a state) (HSK 5)
沉默: chén mò — 1. taciturn 2. uncommunicative 3. silent (HSK 4)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一會: yī huì — 1. a moment 2. a while 3. in a moment 4. also pr. (yī huǐ)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
咳嗽: ké sou — 1. to cough 2. classifier: 陣 (zhèn) (HSK 7-9)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
聲: shēng — 1. sound 2. voice 3. tone 4. noise 5. reputation 6. classifier for sounds (HSK 5)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
鬍子: hú zi — 1. beard 2. mustache or whiskers 3. facial hair 4. classifier: 撮 (zuǒ), 根 (gēn) 5. (coll.) bandit (HSK 5)
裡面: lǐ miàn — 1. inside 2. interior 3. also pr. (lǐ mian) (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
嘴唇: zuǐ chún — 1. lip 2. classifier: 片 (piàn) (HSK 7-9)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
動: dòng — 1. (of sth) to move 2. to set in movement 3. to displace 4. to touch 5. to make use of 6. to stir (emotions) 7. to alter 8. abbr. for 動詞 (dòng cí), verb (HSK 1)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
即刻: jí kè — 1. immediately 2. instant 3. instantly
屏: bīng — used in 屏營 (bīng yíng)
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
呼吸: hū xī — to breathe (HSK 4)
側: cè — 1. the side 2. to incline towards 3. to lean 4. inclined 5. lateral 6. side (HSK 6)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
耳朵: ěr duo — 1. ear 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 個 (gè), 對 (duì) 3. handle (on a cup) (HSK 5)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
慢慢: màn màn — slowly; gradually (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
說道: shuō dào — 1. to state 2. to say (the quoted words) (HSK 7-9)

“，；“The Way that can be spoken is not the constant Way;，。The name that can be named is not the constant name.，；The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth;，。……”The named was the mother of all things....”

道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
可: kě — 1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able 2. to approve; to permit 3. to suit 4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very 5. but; however (HSK 5)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
名: míng — 1. name 2. noun (part of speech) 3. place (e.g. among winners) 4. famous 5. classifier for people (HSK 2)
可: kě — 1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able 2. to approve; to permit 3. to suit 4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very 5. but; however (HSK 5)
名: míng — 1. name 2. noun (part of speech) 3. place (e.g. among winners) 4. famous 5. classifier for people (HSK 2)
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
名: míng — 1. name 2. noun (part of speech) 3. place (e.g. among winners) 4. famous 5. classifier for people (HSK 2)
無名: wú míng — 1. nameless 2. obscure
天地: tiān dì — 1. heaven and earth 2. world 3. scope 4. field of activity (HSK 7-9)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
始: shǐ — 1. to begin 2. to start 3. then 4. only then
有名: yǒu míng — 1. famous 2. well-known (HSK 1)
萬物: wàn wù — 1. all things 2. all that exists
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
母: mǔ — 1. mother 2. elderly female relative 3. origin 4. source 5. (of animals) female (HSK 6)

，。Everyone looked blankly at everyone else; no one wrote anything down.

“，”，“。“Thus, ever without desire, one beholds its mystery,” Laozi continued, “ever with desire, one beholds its apertures.，。These two issue from the same source, though they differ in name.，，，……”Together they are called the Mysterious—the mysterious beyond mystery, the gateway to all marvels....”

故: gù — 1. happening 2. instance 3. reason 4. cause 5. intentional 6. former 7. old 8. friend 9. therefore 10. hence 11. (of people) to die, dead (HSK 7-9)
常: Cháng — surname Chang (HSK 1)
無: mó — used in 南無 (nā mó) (HSK 4)
欲: yù — 1. to wish for 2. to desire 3. variant of 慾 (yù)
以: Yǐ — abbr. for Israel 以色列 (Yǐ sè liè) (HSK 7-9)
觀: Guàn — surname Guan
其: qí — 1. his 2. her 3. its 4. their 5. that 6. such 7. it (refers to sth preceding it) (HSK 5)
妙: miào — 1. clever 2. wonderful (HSK 6)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
接著: jiē zhe — 1. to catch and hold on 2. to continue 3. to go on to do sth 4. to follow 5. to carry on 6. then 7. after that 8. subsequently 9. to proceed 10. to ensue 11. in turn 12. in one's turn (HSK 2)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
常: Cháng — surname Chang (HSK 1)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
欲: yù — 1. to wish for 2. to desire 3. variant of 慾 (yù)
以: Yǐ — abbr. for Israel 以色列 (Yǐ sè liè) (HSK 7-9)
觀: Guàn — surname Guan
其: qí — 1. his 2. her 3. its 4. their 5. that 6. such 7. it (refers to sth preceding it) (HSK 5)
竅: qiào — 1. hole 2. opening 3. orifice (of the human body) 4. (fig.) key (to the solution of a problem)
此: cǐ — this; these (HSK 4)
兩者: liǎng zhě — both of them; the two of them
同: tóng — 1. like 2. same 3. similar 4. together 5. alike 6. with (HSK 6)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
異: yì — 1. different 2. other 3. hetero- 4. unusual 5. strange 6. surprising 7. to distinguish 8. to separate 9. to discriminate
名: míng — 1. name 2. noun (part of speech) 3. place (e.g. among winners) 4. famous 5. classifier for people (HSK 2)
同: tóng — 1. like 2. same 3. similar 4. together 5. alike 6. with (HSK 6)
謂: Wèi — surname Wei
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
玄: xuán — 1. black 2. mysterious (HSK 7-9)
玄之又玄: xuán zhī yòu xuán — 1. mystery within a mystery 2. the mysteries of the Dao according to Laozi 老子 (Lǎo zǐ)
眾: Zhòng — abbr. for 眾議院 (Zhòng yì yuàn), House of Representatives
妙: miào — 1. clever 2. wonderful (HSK 6)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
門: Mén — surname Men (HSK 1)

，。Everyone began to look miserable; some even seemed quite at a loss what to do with their hands and feet.，，，，，，。One of the tally clerks gave a tremendous yawn, while the secretary actually began to doze off. With a clatter, his knife, brush, and wooden slips all fell from his hands onto the mat.

大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
顯出: xiǎn chū — 1. to express 2. to exhibit (HSK 6)
苦: kǔ — 1. bitter 2. hardship 3. pain 4. to suffer 5. to bring suffering to 6. painstakingly (HSK 4)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
有些人: yǒu xiē rén — some people
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
手足: shǒu zú — 1. hands and feet 2. (fig.) brothers 3. retinue, henchmen, accomplices
失措: shī cuò — to be at a loss
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
大: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
呵欠: hē qiàn — yawn
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
竟: jìng — 1. unexpectedly 2. actually 3. to go so far as to 4. indeed (HSK 7-9)
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
磕: kē — 1. to tap; to knock (against sth hard); (esp.) to knock (mud from boots, ash from a pipe etc) 2. (fandom slang) to be into (a character relationship, dynamic, or trope) (HSK 7-9)
睡: shuì — 1. to sleep 2. to lie down (HSK 1)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
嘩: huā — 1. (onom.) bang 2. clang 3. sound of gurgling, splashing or flowing water 4. (interjection expressing surprise) wow
啷: lāng — 1. used in 啷當 (lāng dāng) 2. used in onomatopoeic words such as 哐啷 (kuāng lāng)
一聲: yī shēng — first tone in Mandarin (high, level tone)
刀: Dāo — surname Dao (HSK 3)
筆: bǐ — 1. writing brush; writing implement (pen, pencil etc) (classifier: 支 (zhī), 枝 (zhī)) 2. brushstroke; stroke (in painting or calligraphy) 3. (bound form) style of writing; literary manner; technique of brushwork 4. (classifier) stroke of a Chinese character 5. (classifier) sum of money; financial transaction; piece of business 6. (literary) to write (with a brush or pen) (HSK 2)
木: Mù — surname Mu
札: zhá — 1. thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) 2. a kind of official document (in former times) 3. letter 4. note 5. plague
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
手裡: shǒu lǐ — 1. in hand 2. (a situation is) in sb's hands (HSK 4)
落: là — 1. to leave out 2. to be missing 3. to leave behind or forget to bring 4. to lag or fall behind (HSK 4)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
席子: xí zi — woven mat
上面: shàng miàn — 1. on top of 2. above-mentioned 3. also pr. (shàng mian) (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，，。Laozi seemed not to notice, yet also seemed to notice a little, for from then on he explained himself in somewhat greater detail.，，，，“”“”，“㖇”：。But he had no teeth and spoke indistinctly, in a Shaanxi accent mixed with Hunan sounds; he confused li and ne, and was forever saying something like “ngai”: still no one could understand him.，，。Yet as time dragged on, those who had come to hear him lecture suffered all the more.

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
仿佛: fǎng fú — 1. to seem; as if; seemingly 2. alike; similar (HSK 6)
並: bìng — 1. and 2. furthermore 3. also 4. together with 5. (not) at all 6. simultaneously 7. to combine 8. to join 9. to merge (HSK 3)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (HSK 1)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
仿佛: fǎng fú — 1. to seem; as if; seemingly 2. alike; similar (HSK 6)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (HSK 1)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
從此: cóng cǐ — 1. from now on 2. since then 3. henceforth (HSK 4)
講: jiǎng — 1. to speak 2. to explain 3. to negotiate 4. to emphasize 5. to be particular about 6. as far as sth is concerned 7. speech 8. lecture (HSK 2)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
詳細: xiáng xì — 1. detailed 2. in detail 3. minute (HSK 5)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一點: yī diǎn — 1. a bit; a little bit 2. (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit 3. (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more, -er 4. a point (in a discussion etc) 5. (calligraphy) dot stroke (、) 6. one o'clock (abbr. for 一點鍾 (yī diǎn zhōng))
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
牙齒: yá chǐ — 1. tooth 2. dental 3. classifier: 顆 (kē) (HSK 7-9)
發音: fā yīn — 1. to pronounce 2. pronunciation 3. to emit sound
不清: bù qīng — unclear
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
陝西: Shǎn xī — see 陝西省 (Shǎn xī Shěng)
腔: qiāng — 1. (bound form) cavity 2. (bound form) speech; talk 3. tune 4. accent (in one's speech) 5. (old) classifier for carcasses of slaughtered livestock (HSK 7-9)
夾: gā — used in 夾肢窩 (gā zhi wō) (HSK 5)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
湖南: Hú nán — see 湖南省 (Hú nán Shěng)
音: yīn — 1. sound 2. noise 3. note (of musical scale) 4. tone 5. news 6. syllable 7. reading (phonetic value of a character)
哩: lǐ — mile
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)
不分: bù fēn — 1. not to distinguish; to make no distinction 2. (LGBT slang) versatile (open to either penetrative or receptive role)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
愛: ài — 1. to love; to be fond of; to like 2. affection 3. to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
聽不懂: tīng bu dǒng — unable to make sense of what one is hearing
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
時間: shí jiān — 1. (concept of) time 2. (duration of) time 3. (point in) time (HSK 1)
加長: jiā cháng — to lengthen
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
講學: jiǎng xué — to lecture (on branch of learning) (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
倒: dǎo — 1. to fall; to collapse; to lie horizontally 2. to fail; to go bankrupt 3. to overthrow 4. to change (trains or buses) 5. to move around 6. to resell at a profit (HSK 2)
格外: gé wài — 1. especially; particularly; even more than usual 2. extra; additional (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
受苦: shòu kǔ — to suffer hardship (HSK 7-9)

，，，，“，”，，。For appearance’s sake, they could only endure it; but before long they inevitably slumped this way and that, each thinking his own thoughts. By the time he reached “The Way of the sage is to act without contending” and fell silent, still no one stirred.，：Laozi waited a moment, then added:

為: wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)
面子: miàn zi — 1. outer surface; the outside of sth 2. social prestige; face (HSK 5)
起見: qǐ jiàn — 1. motive 2. purpose 3. (sth) being the motive or purpose
人們: rén men — people (HSK 2)
只好: zhǐ hǎo — to have no other option but to ...; to have to; to be forced to (HSK 3)
熬: āo — to simmer; to boil slowly (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
後來: hòu lái — 1. afterwards; later 2. newly arrived (HSK 2)
總: zǒng — 1. (bound form) general; overall 2. to sum up 3. in every case; always; invariably 4. anyway; after all; eventually; sooner or later 5. surely 6. (after a person's name) abbr. for 總經理 (zǒng jīng lǐ) or 總編 (zǒng biān) etc (HSK 3)
不免: bù miǎn — inevitably (HSK 5)
七: qī — 1. seven 2. 7 (HSK 1)
倒: dǎo — 1. to fall; to collapse; to lie horizontally 2. to fail; to go bankrupt 3. to overthrow 4. to change (trains or buses) 5. to move around 6. to resell at a profit (HSK 2)
八: bā — eight (HSK 1)
歪斜: wāi xié — 1. crooked 2. askew 3. oblique 4. slanting 5. out of plumb
各人: gè rén — each one; everyone
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
事: shì — 1. matter 2. thing 3. item 4. work 5. affair 6. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng), 回 (huí) (HSK 1)
待: dāi — to stay; to remain (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
講到: jiǎng dào — to talk about sth
聖人: shèng rén — 1. sage 2. the Sage (i.e. Confucius) 3. (old) (respectful way of addressing a monarch) your sagacious majesty 4. (religion) saint
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
為: wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
不爭: bù zhēng — 1. widely known 2. incontestable 3. undeniable 4. to not strive for 5. to not contend for
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
口: kǒu — 1. mouth 2. classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc) 3. classifier for bites or mouthfuls (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不動: bù dòng — motionless
彈: dàn — 1. crossball 2. bullet 3. shot 4. shell 5. ball (HSK 5)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
等: děng — 1. to wait for; to await 2. by the time; when; till 3. and so on; etc.; et al. 4. (bound form) class; rank; grade 5. (bound form) equal to; same as 6. (used to end an enumeration) 7. (literary) (plural suffix attached to a personal pronoun or noun) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一會: yī huì — 1. a moment 2. a while 3. in a moment 4. also pr. (yī huǐ)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
加上: jiā shàng — 1. plus 2. to put in 3. to add 4. to add on 5. to add into 6. in addition 7. on top of that (HSK 5)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)

“㖇，！”“Ngai, that’s all!”

，，，，，。Only then did everyone awaken as if from a great dream. Though sitting so long had numbed both their legs and they could not stand up at once, inwardly they were amazed and delighted, just as if they had been granted a general amnesty.

大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
如: rú — 1. as 2. as if 3. such as (HSK 6)
大: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
夢: mèng — 1. dream (classifier: 場 (cháng)) 2. (bound form) to dream (HSK 4)
初: chū — 1. (bound form) at first; initially 2. (bound form) first; early 3. (bound form) (in lunar calendar dates, before numerals 1–10) days 1 to 10 of a month, as in 初三 (chū sān) "the third" (HSK 3)
醒: xǐng — 1. to wake up 2. to be awake 3. to become aware 4. to sober up 5. to come to (HSK 4)
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
久: jiǔ — (of a period of time) long (HSK 3)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
腿: tuǐ — 1. leg 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 2)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
麻木: má mù — 1. numb 2. insensitive 3. apathetic (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一時: yī shí — 1. a period of time 2. a while 3. for a short while 4. temporary 5. momentary 6. at the same time (HSK 6)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
起身: qǐ shēn — 1. to get up 2. to leave 3. to set forth
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
心裡: xīn li — 1. chest 2. heart; mind (HSK 2)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
驚: jīng — 1. to startle 2. to be frightened 3. to be scared 4. alarm (HSK 7-9)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
恰如: qià rú — just as if
遇到: yù dào — to meet; to run into; to come across (HSK 4)
大赦: dà shè — 1. amnesty 2. general pardon
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
一樣: yī yàng — 1. same 2. like 3. equal to 4. the same as 5. just like (HSK 1)

，。Laozi, too, was then escorted to a side room and invited to rest.，，。After drinking a few mouthfuls of plain boiled water, he sat utterly still, like a block of senseless wood.

於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
被: bèi — 1. quilt 2. to cover (with) 3. (literary) to suffer (a misfortune) 4. used to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb) 5. (since c. 2009) (sarcastic or jocular) used to indicate that the following word should be regarded as being in air quotes (as in 被旅遊[bei4 lu : 3 you2] to "go on a trip") (HSK 3)
送: sòng — 1. to send; to deliver; to transmit 2. to give (as a present) 3. to see (sb) off 4. to accompany; to go along with (HSK 1)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
廂房: xiāng fáng — 1. wing (of a traditional house) 2. side room
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
請: qǐng — 1. to ask 2. to invite 3. please (do sth) 4. to treat (to a meal etc) 5. to request (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
休息: xiū xi — 1. rest 2. to rest (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
喝: hē — 1. to drink 2. variant of 嗬 (hē) (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
口白: kǒu bái — 1. narrator 2. spoken parts in an opera
開水: kāi shuǐ — 1. boiled water 2. boiling water (HSK 4)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
毫無: háo wú — 1. not in the least 2. to completely lack (HSK 7-9)
動靜: dòng jìng — 1. (detectable) movement; (sign of) activity 2. movement and stillness (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
段: Duàn — surname Duan (HSK 2)
呆: dāi — 1. foolish; stupid 2. expressionless; blank 3. variant of 待 (dāi) (HSK 5)
木頭: mù tou — 1. wood; log (classifier: 塊 (kuài), 根 (gēn)) 2. (fig.) blockhead; dolt (HSK 3)

。Outside, however, the others were still discussing the matter noisily.，，，，。Before long, four representatives came in to see Laozi. The gist of what they said was that he had spoken too quickly and, moreover, that his Mandarin was not quite pure, so no one had been able to take notes.，，。It would be a great pity to have no record, so they asked him to furnish them with lecture notes.

人們: rén men — people (HSK 2)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
在外: zài wài — 1. outer 2. excluded
面: miàn — 1. face 2. side 3. surface 4. aspect 5. top 6. classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc
紛紛: fēn fēn — 1. one after another 2. in succession 3. one by one 4. continuously 5. diverse 6. in profusion 7. numerous and confused 8. pell-mell (HSK 4)
議論: yì lùn — 1. to comment 2. to talk about 3. to discuss 4. discussion 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 4)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
多久: duō jiǔ — 1. (of time) how long? 2. (not) a long time (HSK 2)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
代表: dài biǎo — 1. representative 2. delegate 3. classifier: 位 (wèi), 個 (gè), 名 (míng) 4. to represent 5. to stand for 6. on behalf of 7. in the name of (HSK 3)
進來: jìn lái — to come in (HSK 1)
見: jiàn — 1. to see 2. to meet 3. to appear (to be sth) 4. to interview 5. opinion 6. view (HSK 1)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
大意: dà yì — 1. general idea 2. main idea (HSK 7-9)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)
講: jiǎng — 1. to speak 2. to explain 3. to negotiate 4. to emphasize 5. to be particular about 6. as far as sth is concerned 7. speech 8. lecture (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
快: kuài — 1. rapid 2. quick 3. speed 4. rate 5. soon 6. almost 7. to make haste 8. clever 9. sharp (of knives or wits) 10. forthright 11. plainspoken 12. gratified 13. pleased 14. pleasant (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
加上: jiā shàng — 1. plus 2. to put in 3. to add 4. to add on 5. to add into 6. in addition 7. on top of that (HSK 5)
國語: Guó yǔ — 1. Chinese language (Mandarin), emphasizing its national nature 2. Chinese as a primary or secondary school subject 3. Chinese in the context of the Nationalist Government 4. Guoyu, book of historical narrative c. 10th-5th century BC
不大: bù dà — 1. not very (clear, far away etc); not too 2. not often; infrequently (HSK 1)
純粹: chún cuì — 1. pure 2. unadulterated 3. purely 4. completely (HSK 7-9)
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
筆記: bǐ jì — 1. to take down (in writing) 2. notes 3. a type of literature consisting mainly of short sketches 4. classifier: 本 (běn) (HSK 2)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
記錄: jì lù — 1. to record 2. record (written account) 3. note-taker 4. record (in sports etc) 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
可惜: kě xī — 1. it is a pity 2. what a pity 3. unfortunately (HSK 5)
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
請: qǐng — 1. to ask 2. to invite 3. please (do sth) 4. to treat (to a meal etc) 5. to request (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
補發: bǔ fā — 1. to supply again (sth lost) 2. to reissue 3. to pay retroactively
些: xiē — classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several (HSK 4)
講義: jiǎng yì — teaching materials

“，！”。“What you was sayin’ just now, I honestly couldn’t make head nor tail of it!” said the accountant.

“。“Better write it out yourself, ain’t it.，［］。Once it’s wrote out, at least all that jawin’ won’t have been for nothin’, eh.？”。Ain’t that so?” said the secretary.

還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
耐: nài — (bound form) to bear; to endure; to withstand (HSK 7-9)
自家: zì jiā — 1. oneself 2. one's own family
寫: xiě — to write (HSK 1)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
出來: chū lái — 1. to come out 2. to appear 3. to arise (HSK 1)
末: me — variant of 麼 (me) (HSK 4)
哉: zāi — (exclamatory or interrogative particle)
寫: xiě — to write (HSK 1)
子: zǐ — 1. son 2. child 3. seed 4. egg 5. small thing 6. 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat 7. viscount, fourth of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 8. ancient Chinese compass point: 0° (north) 9. subsidiary; subordinate; (prefix) sub-
出來: chū lái — 1. to come out 2. to appear 3. to arise (HSK 1)
末: me — variant of 麼 (me) (HSK 4)
總算: zǒng suàn — 1. at long last 2. finally 3. on the whole (HSK 5)
弗: fú — 1. (literary) not 2. used in transliteration
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
嚼: jiáo — 1. to chew 2. also pr. (jué) (HSK 7-9)
蛆: qū — maggot
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
場: cháng — 1. threshing floor 2. classifier for events and happenings: spell, episode, bout (HSK 2)
哉: zāi — (exclamatory or interrogative particle)
口: kǒu — 1. mouth 2. classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc) 3. classifier for bites or mouthfuls (HSK 1)
宛: Wǎn — surname Wan
阿: ā — 1. prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity 2. used in transliteration 3. (bound form) Afghanistan (abbr. for 阿富汗 (Ā fù hàn)) 4. (bound form) Albania (abbr. for 阿爾巴尼亞 (Ā ěr bā ní yà)) 5. (bound form) Algeria (abbr. for 阿爾及利亞 (Ā ěr jí lì yà)) 6. (bound form) Argentina (abbr. for 阿根廷 (Ā gēn tíng)) 7. also pr. (à)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)

，，，，，。Laozi did not quite understand them either; but when he saw the other two set their brushes, knives, and wooden slips down before him, he gathered that they were determined to make him compile lecture notes.，；He knew there was no getting out of it, so he readily agreed;，。only it was too late that day, and he would not be able to begin until the next.

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
十分: shí fēn — 1. very 2. completely 3. utterly 4. extremely 5. absolutely 6. hundred percent 7. to divide into ten equal parts (HSK 2)
聽得懂: tīng de dǒng — 1. to understand (by hearing) 2. to catch (what sb says)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
看見: kàn jiàn — to see; to catch sight of (HSK 1)
別的: bié de — 1. else 2. other (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
個把: gè bǎ — (coll.) about one; one or so
筆: bǐ — 1. writing brush; writing implement (pen, pencil etc) (classifier: 支 (zhī), 枝 (zhī)) 2. brushstroke; stroke (in painting or calligraphy) 3. (bound form) style of writing; literary manner; technique of brushwork 4. (classifier) stroke of a Chinese character 5. (classifier) sum of money; financial transaction; piece of business 6. (literary) to write (with a brush or pen) (HSK 2)
刀: Dāo — surname Dao (HSK 3)
木: Mù — surname Mu
札: zhá — 1. thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) 2. a kind of official document (in former times) 3. letter 4. note 5. plague
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
擺: bǎi — 1. to arrange 2. to exhibit 3. to move to and fro 4. a pendulum (HSK 4)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
面前: miàn qián — 1. in front of 2. facing 3. (in the) presence (of) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
料: liào — 1. material 2. stuff 3. grain 4. feed 5. to expect 6. to anticipate 7. to guess (HSK 6)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
一定: yī dìng — 1. surely; certainly; definitely 2. fixed; settled 3. a certain ...; a given ... (HSK 2)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
編: biān — 1. to weave 2. to plait 3. to organize 4. to group 5. to arrange 6. to edit 7. to compile 8. to write 9. to compose 10. to fabricate 11. to make up (HSK 4)
講義: jiǎng yì — teaching materials
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
免: miǎn — 1. to excuse sb 2. to exempt 3. to remove or dismiss from office 4. to avoid 5. to avert 6. to escape 7. to be prohibited (HSK 7-9)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
掉: diào — 1. to fall 2. to drop 3. to lag behind 4. to lose 5. to go missing 6. to reduce 7. fall (in prices) 8. to lose (value, weight etc) 9. to wag 10. to swing 11. to turn 12. to change 13. to exchange 14. to swap 15. to show off 16. to shed (hair) 17. (used after certain verbs to express completion, fulfillment, removal etc) (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
滿口答應: mǎn kǒu dā ying — to readily consent
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
今天: jīn tiān — 1. today 2. the present time; now (HSK 1)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
晚: wǎn — 1. evening 2. night 3. late (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
明天: míng tiān — tomorrow (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
開: kāi — 1. to open (transitive or intransitive) 2. (of ships, vehicles, troops etc) to start 3. to turn on; to put in operation; to operate; to run 4. to boil 5. to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc) 6. (directional complement) away; off 7. carat (gold) 8. abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文 (Kāi ěr wén) 9. abbr. for 開本 (kāi běn), book format (HSK 1)
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)

，。The representatives considered this outcome satisfactory and withdrew.

，，，，，，。The next morning the sky was rather overcast, and Laozi felt ill at ease. Nevertheless, he still had to compile the lecture notes, for he was eager to leave the Pass, and to leave it he first had to hand in the manuscript.，。One glance at the great heap of wooden slips before him seemed to make him feel still more uncomfortable.

第二天: dì èr tiān — 1. next day 2. the morrow
早晨: zǎo chén — 1. early morning 2. also pr. (zǎo chen) (HSK 2)
天氣: tiān qì — weather (HSK 1)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
陰沉沉: yīn chén chén — dark (weather, mood)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (HSK 1)
心裡: xīn li — 1. chest 2. heart; mind (HSK 2)
不舒適: bù shū shì — uncomfortable
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
仍: réng — 1. still; yet 2. to remain 3. (literary) frequently; often (HSK 3)
須: xū — 1. must 2. to have to 3. to wait (HSK 7-9)
編: biān — 1. to weave 2. to plait 3. to organize 4. to group 5. to arrange 6. to edit 7. to compile 8. to write 9. to compose 10. to fabricate 11. to make up (HSK 4)
講義: jiǎng yì — teaching materials
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
急於: jí yú — 1. eager to 2. in a hurry to (HSK 7-9)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
須: xū — 1. must 2. to have to 3. to wait (HSK 7-9)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
講義: jiǎng yì — teaching materials
交卷: jiāo juàn — to hand in one's examination script
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
一眼: yī yǎn — 1. a glance 2. a quick look 3. a glimpse (HSK 7-9)
面前: miàn qián — 1. in front of 2. facing 3. (in the) presence (of) (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
大: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
堆: duī — 1. to pile up 2. to heap up 3. a mass 4. pile 5. heap 6. stack 7. large amount (HSK 5)
木: Mù — surname Mu
札: zhá — 1. thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) 2. a kind of official document (in former times) 3. letter 4. note 5. plague
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (HSK 1)
更加: gèng jiā — 1. more (than sth else) 2. even more (HSK 3)
不舒適: bù shū shì — uncomfortable
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，，。Yet he betrayed no emotion. He quietly sat down and began to write.，，。Recalling what he had said the day before, he would think awhile, then write a sentence.，，；Spectacles had not yet been invented then, and his farsighted old eyes narrowed to mere slits; it was very laborious.，，。Apart from the time spent drinking boiled water and eating buns, he wrote for a full day and a half, yet produced no more than five thousand large characters.

然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
不動聲色: bù dòng shēng sè — 1. not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected 2. not batting an eyelid
靜: jìng — 1. still 2. calm 3. quiet 4. not moving (HSK 3)
靜: jìng — 1. still 2. calm 3. quiet 4. not moving (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
坐下: zuò xia — to sit down (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
寫: xiě — to write (HSK 1)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
回憶: huí yì — 1. to recall 2. memories 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
昨天: zuó tiān — yesterday (HSK 1)
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
寫: xiě — to write (HSK 1)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
眼鏡: yǎn jìng — 1. spectacles 2. eyeglasses 3. classifier: 副 (fù) (HSK 4)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
發明: fā míng — 1. to invent 2. an invention 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
老花眼: lǎo huā yǎn — presbyopia
睛: jīng — eye; eyeball
細: xì — 1. thin or slender 2. finely particulate 3. thin and soft 4. fine 5. delicate 6. trifling 7. (of a sound) quiet 8. frugal (HSK 4)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
條: tiáo — 1. strip 2. item 3. article 4. clause (of law or treaty) 5. classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc) (HSK 2)
線: xiàn — 1. thread 2. string 3. wire 4. line 5. classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ), 根 (gēn) 6. (after a number) tier (unofficial ranking of a Chinese city) (HSK 3)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
費力: fèi lì — to expend a great deal of effort
除去: chú qù — 1. to eliminate 2. to remove 3. except for 4. apart from (HSK 7-9)
喝: hē — 1. to drink 2. variant of 嗬 (hē) (HSK 1)
白開水: bái kāi shuǐ — plain boiled water
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
時間: shí jiān — 1. (concept of) time 2. (duration of) time 3. (point in) time (HSK 1)
寫: xiě — to write (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
整整: zhěng zhěng — 1. whole 2. full (HSK 3)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
千: qiān — thousand (HSK 2)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
大: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
字: zì — 1. letter 2. symbol 3. character 4. word 5. classifier: 個 (gè) 6. courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China (HSK 1)

“，。”。“For the sake of getting through the Pass, I think this should be enough to get by,” he thought.

，，，，，。Then he took some cord and threaded the wooden slips together into two bundles. Leaning on his staff, he went to Guan Yinxi’s office to hand in the manuscript and declared that he wished to leave immediately.

於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
取: qǔ — 1. to take 2. to get 3. to choose 4. to fetch (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
繩子: shéng zi — 1. cord; string; rope 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 7-9)
穿: chuān — 1. to bore through; to pierce; to perforate 2. to go through (e.g. a tunnel); to cross (e.g. a street) 3. to thread; to string together 4. to wear; to put on (clothes, shoes etc.) 5. verb complement indicating thoroughness or completion (HSK 1)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
木: Mù — surname Mu
札: zhá — 1. thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) 2. a kind of official document (in former times) 3. letter 4. note 5. plague
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
計: Jì — surname Ji (HSK 7-9)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
串: chuàn — 1. to string together 2. to skewer 3. to connect wrongly 4. to gang up 5. to rove 6. string 7. bunch 8. skewer 9. classifier for things that are strung together, or in a bunch, or in a row: string of, bunch of, series of 10. to make a swift or abrupt linear movement (like a bead on an abacus) 11. to move across (HSK 6)
扶: fú — 1. to support with the hand 2. to help sb up 3. to support oneself by holding onto something 4. to help (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
拄: zhǔ — 1. to lean on 2. to prop on (HSK 7-9)
杖: zhàng — 1. a staff 2. a rod 3. cane 4. walking stick 5. to flog with a stick (old)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
公事房: gōng shì fáng — (old) government office
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
交: jiāo — 1. to hand over; to deliver; to pay (money); to turn over 2. to make friends 3. (of lines) to intersect 4. variant of 跤 (jiāo) (HSK 2)
稿: gǎo — 1. manuscript 2. draft 3. stalk of grain
並且: bìng qiě — and; besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition (HSK 3)
聲明: shēng míng — 1. to state 2. to declare 3. statement 4. declaration 5. classifier: 項 (xiàng), 份 (fèn) (HSK 3)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
意思: yì si — 1. idea 2. opinion 3. meaning 4. wish 5. desire 6. interest 7. fun 8. token of appreciation, affection etc 9. classifier: 個 (gè) 10. to give as a small token 11. to do sth as a gesture of goodwill etc (HSK 2)

，，，，，，，。Guan Yinxi was exceedingly pleased, exceedingly grateful, and exceedingly regretful. He earnestly urged Laozi to stay a while longer; but seeing that he could not detain him, he assumed a mournful expression, consented, and ordered the constables to saddle the blue-black ox.，，，。Meanwhile, with his own hands, he selected from the shelves a packet of salt, a packet of sesame, and fifteen buns, put them into a confiscated white cloth sack, and gave them to Laozi as provisions for the road.：，，，。He further declared that this was exceptionally favorable treatment because Laozi was a veteran writer; had he been young, he would have received only ten buns.

關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (HSK 1)
非常感謝: fēi cháng gǎn xiè — extremely grateful; very thankful
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
惋惜: wǎn xī — 1. to regret 2. to feel that it is a great pity 3. to feel sorry for sb (HSK 7-9)
堅: jiān — 1. strong 2. solid 3. firm 4. unyielding 5. resolute
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
多: duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
一些: yī xiē — some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
看見: kàn jiàn — to see; to catch sight of (HSK 1)
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
不住: bù zhù — 1. (verb complement) unable to firmly or securely (grasp, recall etc) 2. repeatedly; continuously; constantly
便: biàn — 1. plain 2. informal 3. suitable 4. convenient 5. opportune 6. to urinate or defecate 7. equivalent to 就 (jiù): then 8. in that case 9. even if 10. soon afterwards (HSK 6)
換: huàn — 1. to exchange 2. to change (clothes etc) 3. to substitute 4. to switch 5. to convert (currency) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
副: fù — 1. secondary 2. auxiliary 3. deputy 4. assistant 5. vice- 6. abbr. for 副詞 adverb 7. classifier for pairs, sets of things & facial expressions (HSK 6)
悲哀: bēi āi — 1. grieved 2. sorrowful (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臉相: liǎn xiàng — 1. complexion 2. looks 3. appearance of one's face
答應: dā ying — 1. to answer; to respond 2. to answer positively; to agree; to accept; to promise (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
命令: mìng lìng — 1. order 2. command 3. classifier: 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
巡警: xún jǐng — 1. police patrol 2. patrol officer 3. (old) police officer
給: gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
加: Jiā — 1. Canada (abbr. for 加拿大 (Jiā ná dà)) 2. surname Jia (HSK 2)
鞍: ān — (bound form) saddle
一面: yī miàn — 1. one side 2. one aspect 3. simultaneously... (and...) 4. one's whole face (HSK 7-9)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
親手: qīn shǒu — with one's own hands; personally (HSK 7-9)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
架子: jià zi — 1. shelf 2. frame 3. stand 4. framework 5. airs 6. arrogance (HSK 7-9)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
挑: tiāo — 1. to carry on a shoulder pole 2. to choose 3. to pick 4. to nitpick (HSK 4)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
包: Bāo — surname Bao (HSK 1)
鹽: yán — 1. salt 2. classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 4)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
包: Bāo — surname Bao (HSK 1)
胡麻: hú má — 1. sesame 2. (botany) flax 3. linseed
十五: shí wǔ — 1. fifteen 2. 15
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
裝: zhuāng — 1. adornment 2. to adorn 3. dress 4. clothing 5. costume (of an actor in a play) 6. to play a role 7. to pretend 8. to install 9. to fix 10. to wrap (sth in a bag) 11. to load 12. to pack (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
充公: chōng gōng — to confiscate
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
白布: bái bù — 1. plain white cloth 2. calico
口袋: kǒu dài — 1. pocket 2. bag; sack (HSK 4)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
送給: sòng gěi — 1. to send 2. to give as a present (HSK 2)
老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
做: zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)
路上: lù shang — 1. on the road 2. on the way; en route (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
糧食: liáng shi — 1. foodstuff 2. cereals 3. classifier: 種 (zhǒng) (HSK 4)
並且: bìng qiě — and; besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition (HSK 3)
聲明: shēng míng — 1. to state 2. to declare 3. statement 4. declaration 5. classifier: 項 (xiàng), 份 (fèn) (HSK 3)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
作家: zuò jiā — 1. author 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 2)
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
優待: yōu dài — preferential treatment; to give preferential treatment
假如: jiǎ rú — if (HSK 4)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
年紀: nián jì — 1. age 2. classifier: 把 (bǎ), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
只能: zhǐ néng — 1. can only 2. obliged to do sth 3. to have no other choice (HSK 2)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
十: shí — 1. ten 2. 10 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，，，，；Laozi thanked him repeatedly, accepted the sack, and went down from the gate tower with everyone else. On reaching the gateway, he still meant to lead the blue-black ox on foot;，，。Guan Yinxi did his utmost to persuade him to mount, and after a round of polite refusals, Laozi finally climbed onto it.，，。Having said his farewells, he turned the ox’s head and slowly set off along the highway up the steep slope.

老子: Lǎo zǐ — 1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism 2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 (Dào dé jīng) by Laozi
再三: zài sān — 1. over and over again 2. again and again (HSK 4)
稱謝: chēng xiè — to express thanks
收: shōu — 1. to receive 2. to accept 3. to collect 4. to put away 5. to restrain 6. to stop 7. in care of (used on address line after name) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
口袋: kǒu dài — 1. pocket 2. bag; sack (HSK 4)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
下: xià — 1. down 2. downwards 3. below 4. lower 5. later 6. next (week etc) 7. second (of two parts) 8. to decline 9. to go down 10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) 11. measure word to show the frequency of an action (HSK 1)
城樓: chéng lóu — city gate tower
到得: dào dé — to arrive at (some place or time)
關口: guān kǒu — 1. pass 2. gateway 3. (fig.) juncture
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
牽: qiān — 1. to lead along 2. to pull (an animal on a tether) 3. (bound form) to involve 4. to draw in (HSK 6)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
走路: zǒu lù — 1. to walk; to go on foot 2. to leave; to depart 3. (informal) to clear off; to beat it 4. (of sb who gets fired or resigns) to leave the job; to get out (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
竭力: jié lì — to do one's utmost (HSK 7-9)
勸: quàn — 1. to advise 2. to urge 3. to try to persuade 4. to exhort 5. to console 6. to soothe (HSK 5)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
遜: xùn — 1. to abdicate 2. modest 3. yielding 4. unpretentious 5. inferior to 6. (slang) to suck
讓: ràng — 1. to yield 2. to permit 3. to let sb do sth 4. to have sb do sth 5. to make sb (feel sad etc) 6. by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被 (bèi)) (HSK 2)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
番: Pān — surname Pan (HSK 6)
之後: zhī hòu — 1. after; behind 2. (at the beginning of a sentence) afterwards; since then (HSK 4)
終於: zhōng yú — 1. at last 2. in the end 3. finally 4. eventually (HSK 3)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
騎: jì — 1. (Tw) saddle horse 2. mounted soldier (HSK 2)
上去: shàng qù — to go up (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
作: zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
別: Bié — surname Bie (HSK 1)
撥轉: bō zhuǎn — 1. to turn 2. to turn around 3. to transfer (funds etc)
牛頭: Niú Tóu — Ox-Head, one of the two guardians of the underworld in Chinese mythology
便: biàn — 1. plain 2. informal 3. suitable 4. convenient 5. opportune 6. to urinate or defecate 7. equivalent to 就 (jiù): then 8. in that case 9. even if 10. soon afterwards (HSK 6)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
峻: jùn — 1. (of mountains) high 2. harsh or severe
阪: bǎn — 1. slope 2. hillside
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大路: dà lù — 1. avenue 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
慢慢: màn màn — slowly; gradually (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
走去: zǒu qù — to walk over (to)

，。Before long, the ox lengthened its stride.，，，，，，，，，，，。Everyone stood at the gateway watching him go. At a distance of twenty or thirty feet they could still make out the white hair, yellow robe, blue-black ox, and white sack; then the dust rose higher with every step, enveloping man and ox until all alike turned gray. A moment later, there was only billowing yellow dust, and nothing could be seen.

不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
多久: duō jiǔ — 1. (of time) how long? 2. (not) a long time (HSK 2)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
放開: fàng kāi — 1. to let go 2. to release
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
腳步: jiǎo bù — 1. footstep 2. step (HSK 5)
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
關口: guān kǒu — 1. pass 2. gateway 3. (fig.) juncture
目送: mù sòng — to follow with one's eyes (a departing guest etc)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
丈: zhàng — 1. measure of length, ten Chinese feet (3.3 m) 2. to measure 3. husband 4. polite appellation for an older male
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
辨: biàn — 1. to distinguish 2. to recognize
得出: dé chū — to obtain (a result); to arrive at (a conclusion) (HSK 2)
白髮: bái fà — 1. white or gray hair 2. classifier: 根 (gēn)
黃: Huáng — surname Huang or Hwang (HSK 2)
袍: páo — gown (lined)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
口袋: kǒu dài — 1. pocket 2. bag; sack (HSK 4)
接著: jiē zhe — 1. to catch and hold on 2. to continue 3. to go on to do sth 4. to follow 5. to carry on 6. then 7. after that 8. subsequently 9. to proceed 10. to ensue 11. in turn 12. in one's turn (HSK 2)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
塵: chén — 1. dust 2. dirt 3. earth
頭: tóu — 1. head 2. hair style 3. the top 4. end 5. beginning or end 6. a stub 7. remnant 8. chief 9. boss 10. side 11. aspect 12. first 13. leading 14. classifier for pigs or livestock 15. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
逐步: zhú bù — 1. progressively 2. step by step (HSK 4)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
罩: zhào — 1. to cover; to spread over 2. a cover; a shade; a hood 3. bamboo fish trap 4. bamboo chicken coop 5. (Tw) (coll.) to protect; to have sb's back 6. (Tw) (coll.) awesome; incredible 7. (Tw) (coll.) (often as 罩得住 (zhào dé zhù)) to have things under control; to be able to handle it (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
和牛: hé niú — wagyu
一律: yī lǜ — 1. same; identical 2. uniformly; all; without exception (HSK 4)
變成: biàn chéng — 1. to change into 2. to turn into 3. to become (HSK 2)
灰色: huī sè — 1. gray 2. ash gray 3. grizzly 4. pessimistic 5. gloomy 6. dispirited 7. ambiguous (HSK 5)
再: zài — 1. again; once more; re- 2. further; beyond this point of time 3. (before an adjective) more 4. then (after sth, and not until then) 5. no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也 (yě) or 都 (dōu) for emphasis) 6. (used to introduce additional information, as in 再則 (zài zé), 再就是 (zài jiù shì) etc) 7. (literary) to reappear; to reoccur (HSK 1)
一會: yī huì — 1. a moment 2. a while 3. in a moment 4. also pr. (yī huǐ)
已: yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (HSK 3)
只有: zhǐ yǒu — 1. only have ...; there is only ... 2. (used in combination with 才 (cái)) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通過治療才能痊愈 (zhǐ yǒu tōng guò zhì liáo cái néng quán yù) "the only way to cure it is with therapy") 3. it is only (someone) who ... (as in 只有男性才有此需要 (zhǐ yǒu nán xìng cái yǒu cǐ xū yào) "only men would have such a requirement") 4. (used to express lack of alternatives) can only; have no choice but to (as in 只有屈服 (zhǐ yǒu qū fú) "the only thing you can do is give in") (HSK 3)
黃: Huáng — surname Huang or Hwang (HSK 2)
塵: chén — 1. dust 2. dirt 3. earth
滾滾: Gǔn gǔn — nickname for a panda
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
看不見: kàn bu jiàn — 1. cannot see 2. cannot be seen 3. invisible
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，，，，，。Everyone returned to the gate tower as if a burden had been lifted from their shoulders, stretching their backs; then, as if they had acquired some piece of merchandise, they smacked their lips, and quite a few followed Guan Yinxi into the office.

大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
回到: huí dào — to return to (HSK 1)
關上: guān shàng — 1. to close (a door) 2. to turn off (light, electrical equipment etc) (HSK 1)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
卸下: xiè xià — to unload
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
副: fù — 1. secondary 2. auxiliary 3. deputy 4. assistant 5. vice- 6. abbr. for 副詞 adverb 7. classifier for pairs, sets of things & facial expressions (HSK 6)
擔子: dàn zi — 1. carrying pole and the loads on it 2. burden 3. task 4. responsibility 5. classifier: 副 (fù) (HSK 7-9)
伸: shēn — 1. to stretch 2. to extend (HSK 5)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
伸: shēn — 1. to stretch 2. to extend (HSK 5)
腰: yāo — 1. the waist and lower back 2. (bound form) kidney of an animal (as food) 3. the waist of trousers or a skirt 4. (metonym) money pouch; pocket 5. (bound form) the middle section of an upright object (mountain, bottle etc) (HSK 4)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
得了: dé le — 1. all right! 2. that's enough! (HSK 5)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
貨色: huò sè — 1. goods 2. (derog.) stuff 3. trash
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
咂: zā — 1. to sip 2. to smack one's lips 3. to taste 4. to savor
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
咂嘴: zā zuǐ — to click one's tongue
好些: hǎo xiē — 1. a good deal of 2. quite a lot
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
跟著: gēn zhe — 1. to follow after 2. immediately afterwards
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
走進: zǒu jìn — to enter; to step into (HSK 2)
公事房: gōng shì fáng — (old) government office
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)

“？”，，。“So this is the manuscript?” said the accountant, picking up one bundle of wooden slips and leafing through it.

“。“The characters are written neatly enough.，。”，，：I reckon if we put it on the market, someone is bound to buy it.” The secretary also crowded over, looked at the first slip, and read aloud:

字: zì — 1. letter 2. symbol 3. character 4. word 5. classifier: 個 (gè) 6. courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China (HSK 1)
倒寫: dào xiě — 1. mirror writing 2. upside down writing
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
乾: Qián — surname Qian (HSK 1)
凈: jìng — variant of 淨 (jìng) (HSK 6)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
看到: kàn dào — to see (HSK 1)
市: shì — 1. market 2. city 3. municipality (administrative unit) 4. (literary) to trade; to buy and sell goods (HSK 2)
上去: shàng qù — to go up (HSK 3)
賣: mài — 1. to sell 2. to betray 3. to spare no effort 4. to show off or flaunt (HSK 2)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
一定: yī dìng — 1. surely; certainly; definitely 2. fixed; settled 3. a certain ...; a given ... (HSK 2)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
有人: yǒu rén — 1. someone 2. people 3. anyone 4. there is someone there 5. occupied (as in restroom) (HSK 2)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
湊: còu — 1. to gather together, pool or collect 2. to happen by chance 3. to move close to 4. to exploit an opportunity (HSK 7-9)
上去: shàng qù — to go up (HSK 3)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
第一: dì yī — 1. first 2. most important; primary; foremost
片: piān — 1. disk 2. sheet (HSK 2)
念: niàn — 1. to read 2. to study (a subject) 3. to attend (a school) 4. to read aloud 5. to give (sb) a tongue-lashing (classifier: 頓 (dùn)) 6. to miss (sb) 7. idea 8. remembrance 9. twenty (banker's anti-fraud numeral corresponding to 廿 (niàn)) (HSK 3)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)

“‘，’……“‘The Way that can be spoken is not the constant Way’...，。Hmph, the same old clichés.，……”Enough to give one a headache—utterly tiresome...”

道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
可: kě — 1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able 2. to approve; to permit 3. to suit 4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very 5. but; however (HSK 5)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
非常: fēi cháng — 1. very; really 2. unusual; extraordinary (HSK 1)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
哼: hēng — 1. to groan 2. to snort 3. to hum 4. to croon 5. humph! (HSK 7-9)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
這些: zhè xiē — these (HSK 1)
老套: lǎo tào — 1. hackneyed 2. well-worn (phrase etc) 3. same old story 4. stereotypical fashion
真: zhēn — 1. really 2. truly 3. indeed 4. real 5. true 6. genuine (HSK 1)
教: Jiào — surname Jiao (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
頭痛: tóu tòng — to have a headache
討厭: tǎo yàn — 1. to dislike 2. to loathe 3. disagreeable 4. troublesome 5. annoying (HSK 5)

“。”，。“The best cure for a headache is a nap,” said the accountant, putting down the wooden slips.

“！……“Ha, ha, ha!...。I really had no choice but to fall asleep.，，。To tell the truth, I went to listen only because I thought he was going to tell his own love story.，……”If I’d known beforehand that he would do nothing but spout such nonsense, I’d never have sat there suffering for the better part of a day...”

哈哈: hā hā — (onom.) laughing out loud (HSK 3)
哈: Hā — 1. abbr. for 哈薩克斯坦 (Hā sà kè sī tǎn), Kazakhstan 2. abbr. for 哈爾濱 (Hā ěr bīn), Harbin
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
真: zhēn — 1. really 2. truly 3. indeed 4. real 5. true 6. genuine (HSK 1)
只好: zhǐ hǎo — to have no other option but to ...; to have to; to be forced to (HSK 3)
打盹: dǎ dǔn — to doze off
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
老實說: lǎo shí shuō — honestly speaking; to be frank, ... (HSK 7-9)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
猜: cāi — to guess (HSK 5)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
講: jiǎng — 1. to speak 2. to explain 3. to negotiate 4. to emphasize 5. to be particular about 6. as far as sth is concerned 7. speech 8. lecture (HSK 2)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
戀愛: liàn ài — 1. (romantic) love 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 場 (chǎng) 3. in love 4. to have an affair (HSK 5)
故事: gù shì — old practice (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
要是: yào shi — (coll.) if (HSK 3)
早知: zǎo zhī — to know in advance
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
這麼: zhè me — 1. so much 2. this much 3. how much? 4. this way 5. like this (HSK 2)
胡說八道: hú shuō bā dào — to talk rubbish
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
壓根兒: yà gēn r — erhua variant of 壓根 (yà gēn)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
這麼: zhè me — 1. so much 2. this much 3. how much? 4. this way 5. like this (HSK 2)
大半: dà bàn — 1. more than half 2. greater part 3. most 4. probably 5. most likely
天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)
受罪: shòu zuì — 1. to endure 2. to suffer 3. hardships 4. torments 5. a hard time 6. a nuisance

“，”。“？“For that you can only blame yourself for misjudging the man,” Guan Yinxi said with a laugh. “How could he possibly have a love story?。”He has never been in love in his life.”

這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
可: kě — 1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able 2. to approve; to permit 3. to suit 4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very 5. but; however (HSK 5)
只能: zhǐ néng — 1. can only 2. obliged to do sth 3. to have no other choice (HSK 2)
怪: guài — 1. odd; strange; uncanny 2. (bound form) monster; supernatural being 3. to find strange; to regard as odd 4. to blame 5. (coll.) somewhat; rather (HSK 4)
您: nín — you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你 (nǐ)) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
看錯: kàn cuò — 1. to misinterpret what one sees or reads 2. to misjudge (sb) 3. to mistake (sb for sb else) 4. to misread (a document)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜笑: xǐ xiào — 1. to laugh 2. laughter
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
戀愛: liàn ài — 1. (romantic) love 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 場 (chǎng) 3. in love 4. to have an affair (HSK 5)
故事: gù shì — old practice (HSK 2)
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
壓根兒: yà gēn r — erhua variant of 壓根 (yà gēn)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
戀愛: liàn ài — 1. (romantic) love 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 場 (chǎng) 3. in love 4. to have an affair (HSK 5)

“？”。“How do you know?” the secretary asked in astonishment.

“，‘’。“For that, too, you can only blame yourself for dozing off and failing to hear him say, ‘Doing nothing, yet leaving nothing undone.’‘，’，‘’，‘’。That fellow truly has ‘aspirations higher than heaven, but a fate thinner than paper’: if he wants to ‘leave nothing undone,’ he has no choice but to ‘do nothing.’，，，？Once he loved anything, he could not help loving everything—so how could he still fall in love, how would he dare?：，，。Just look at yourself: nowadays, whenever you see a grown girl, pretty or ugly, your eyes turn so syrupy, as if she were your own wife.，，。”Once you marry in the future, I’m afraid you’ll have to behave a little more properly, like our accountant here.”

這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
只能: zhǐ néng — 1. can only 2. obliged to do sth 3. to have no other choice (HSK 2)
怪: guài — 1. odd; strange; uncanny 2. (bound form) monster; supernatural being 3. to find strange; to regard as odd 4. to blame 5. (coll.) somewhat; rather (HSK 4)
您: nín — you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你 (nǐ)) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
磕: kē — 1. to tap; to knock (against sth hard); (esp.) to knock (mud from boots, ash from a pipe etc) 2. (fandom slang) to be into (a character relationship, dynamic, or trope) (HSK 7-9)
睡: shuì — 1. to sleep 2. to lie down (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
聽到: tīng dào — to hear (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
無為: Wú wéi — see 無為市 (Wú wéi Shì)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
無不: wú bù — 1. none lacking 2. none missing 3. everything is there 4. everyone without exception (HSK 7-9)
為: wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
家伙: jiā huo — 1. household dish, implement or furniture 2. domestic animal 3. (coll.) guy 4. chap 5. weapon (HSK 7-9)
真是: zhēn shi — 1. indeed; truly 2. (coll.) (used to express disapproval, annoyance etc)
心: xīn — 1. heart 2. mind 3. intention 4. center 5. core 6. classifier: 顆 (kē), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
高於: gāo yú — 1. greater than 2. to exceed (HSK 5)
天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)
命薄: mìng bó — to be unlucky
如: rú — 1. as 2. as if 3. such as (HSK 6)
紙: zhǐ — 1. paper (classifier: 張 (zhāng), 沓 (dá)) 2. classifier for documents, letters etc (HSK 2)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
無不: wú bù — 1. none lacking 2. none missing 3. everything is there 4. everyone without exception (HSK 7-9)
為: wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
只好: zhǐ hǎo — to have no other option but to ...; to have to; to be forced to (HSK 3)
無為: Wú wéi — see 無為市 (Wú wéi Shì)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
有所: yǒu suǒ — 1. somewhat 2. to some extent (HSK 7-9)
愛: ài — 1. to love; to be fond of; to like 2. affection 3. to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen) (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
無不: wú bù — 1. none lacking 2. none missing 3. everything is there 4. everyone without exception (HSK 7-9)
愛: ài — 1. to love; to be fond of; to like 2. affection 3. to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen) (HSK 1)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
能: Néng — surname Neng (HSK 1)
戀愛: liàn ài — 1. (romantic) love 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 場 (chǎng) 3. in love 4. to have an affair (HSK 5)
敢: gǎn — 1. to dare 2. daring 3. (polite) may I venture (HSK 3)
戀愛: liàn ài — 1. (romantic) love 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 場 (chǎng) 3. in love 4. to have an affair (HSK 5)
您: nín — you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你 (nǐ)) (HSK 1)
看看: kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon
您: nín — you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你 (nǐ)) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
看見: kàn jiàn — to see; to catch sight of (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
大姑: dà gū — 1. father's oldest sister 2. husband's older sister 3. sister-in-law
娘: niáng — 1. mother 2. young lady 3. (coll.) effeminate (HSK 7-9)
不論: bù lùn — 1. whatever 2. no matter what (who, how etc) 3. regardless of 4. not to discuss (HSK 3)
好: hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)
醜: chǒu — 1. shameful 2. ugly 3. disgraceful (HSK 5)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
眼睛: yǎn jing — 1. eye 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 雙 (shuāng) (HSK 2)
甜膩: tián nì — 1. sweet and unctuous 2. (fig.) overly sentimental
膩: nì — 1. greasy 2. soft 3. unctuous 4. intimate 5. tired of
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
像: xiàng — 1. to resemble 2. to be like 3. to look as if 4. such as 5. appearance 6. image 7. portrait 8. image under a mapping (math.) (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
老婆: lǎo pó — (coll.) wife (HSK 4)
將來: jiāng lái — 1. in the future 2. future 3. the future 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
娶: qǔ — 1. to take a wife 2. to marry (a woman) (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
太太: tài tai — 1. married woman 2. Mrs. 3. Madam 4. wife 5. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 2)
恐怕: kǒng pà — 1. fear 2. to dread 3. I'm afraid that... 4. perhaps 5. maybe (HSK 3)
就要: jiù yào — 1. will 2. shall 3. to be going to (HSK 2)
像: xiàng — 1. to resemble 2. to be like 3. to look as if 4. such as 5. appearance 6. image 7. portrait 8. image under a mapping (math.) (HSK 2)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
賬房先生: zhàng fáng xiān sheng — bookkeeper (old)
一樣: yī yàng — 1. same 2. like 3. equal to 4. the same as 5. just like (HSK 1)
規矩: guī ju — 1. lit. compass and set square 2. fig. established standard 3. rule 4. customs 5. practices 6. fig. upright and honest 7. well-behaved (HSK 7-9)
一些: yī xiē — some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，。A gust of wind rose outside the window, and everyone felt a little cold.

“，？”。“Where, after all, is that old fellow going, and what is he going there to do?” The secretary seized the opportunity to change the subject from Guan Yinxi’s remarks.

這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
老頭子: lǎo tóu zi — 1. (coll.) old man 2. (said of an aging husband) my old man
究竟: jiū jìng — 1. to go to the bottom of a matter 2. after all 3. when all is said and done 4. (in an interrogative sentence) finally 5. outcome 6. result (HSK 4)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
乾: Qián — surname Qian (HSK 1)
什麼的: shén me de — and so on; and so forth; and what not
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
趁勢: chèn shì — 1. to take advantage of a favorable situation 2. to seize an opportunity
岔開: chà kāi — 1. to diverge 2. to branch off the road 3. to change (the subject)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)

“，”。“。“He says he’s going to Liusha,” Guan Yinxi replied coldly. “We’ll see whether he gets there.，，。Out there, not only are there no salt and flour, even water is hard to come by.，。”Once hunger grips him, I expect he’ll eventually come back to us.”

自: zì — 1. (bound form) self; oneself 2. from; since 3. naturally; as a matter of course (HSK 4)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
上流: shàng liú — upper class (HSK 7-9)
沙: Shā — surname Sha
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
冷冷: lěng lěng — coldly
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
得到: dé dào — to get; to obtain; to receive (HSK 1)
外面: wài miàn — 1. outside (also pr. (wài mian) for this sense) 2. surface 3. exterior 4. external appearance (HSK 3)
不但: bù dàn — not only (... but also ...) (HSK 2)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
鹽: yán — 1. salt 2. classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 4)
面: miàn — 1. face 2. side 3. surface 4. aspect 5. top 6. classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc
連: Lián — surname Lian (HSK 3)
水: Shuǐ — 1. surname Shui 2. Shui ethnic group (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
難得: nán dé — 1. seldom 2. rare 3. hard to come by (HSK 5)
肚子: dù zi — 1. belly 2. abdomen 3. stomach 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 4)
餓: è — 1. hungry 2. to starve (sb) (HSK 1)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
後來: hòu lái — 1. afterwards; later 2. newly arrived (HSK 2)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
回到: huí dào — to return to (HSK 1)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
這裡: zhè lǐ — here (HSK 1)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

“，。”。“。“Then we’ll make him write another book,” said the accountant, brightening. “But buns really are too costly.，，，。”By then, all we need do is say that our policy has changed to promoting new writers; five buns will be plenty for two bundles of manuscript.”

那麼: nà me — 1. like that; in that way; to that extent 2. (before a number) ... or so; about ... 3. then; in that case (HSK 2)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
再: zài — 1. again; once more; re- 2. further; beyond this point of time 3. (before an adjective) more 4. then (after sth, and not until then) 5. no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也 (yě) or 都 (dōu) for emphasis) 6. (used to introduce additional information, as in 再則 (zài zé), 再就是 (zài jiù shì) etc) 7. (literary) to reappear; to reoccur (HSK 1)
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
著書: zhù shū — to write a book
賬房先生: zhàng fáng xiān sheng — bookkeeper (old)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
真: zhēn — 1. really 2. truly 3. indeed 4. real 5. true 6. genuine (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
費: Fèi — surname Fei (HSK 3)
那時候: nà shí hou — at that time (HSK 2)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
宗旨: zōng zhǐ — 1. objective 2. aim 3. goal (HSK 7-9)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
改為: gǎi wéi — to change into (HSK 7-9)
提拔: tí bá — 1. to promote to a higher job 2. to select for promotion (HSK 7-9)
新作: xīn zuò — new work (book, movie, video game etc)
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
串: chuàn — 1. to string together 2. to skewer 3. to connect wrongly 4. to gang up 5. to rove 6. string 7. bunch 8. skewer 9. classifier for things that are strung together, or in a bunch, or in a row: string of, bunch of, series of 10. to make a swift or abrupt linear movement (like a bead on an abacus) 11. to move across (HSK 6)
稿子: gǎo zi — 1. draft of a document 2. script 3. manuscript 4. mental plan 5. precedent (HSK 6)
給: gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
足夠: zú gòu — enough; sufficient (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

“。“That may not work.，。”He’ll complain and lose his temper.”

“，？”“After going hungry, he’ll still have the nerve to lose his temper?”

“，。”，。“。“I’m more afraid no one will want to read this sort of thing,” said the secretary, waving his hand. “We might not even recoup the cost of five buns.，，，，，……”Suppose, for instance, that what he says is right: then our chief would have to give up his post as Keeper of the Pass and stop serving—that alone would be leaving nothing undone, and would make him a truly extraordinary man...”

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
倒: dǎo — 1. to fall; to collapse; to lie horizontally 2. to fail; to go bankrupt 3. to overthrow 4. to change (trains or buses) 5. to move around 6. to resell at a profit (HSK 2)
怕: Pà — surname Pa (HSK 2)
這種: zhè zhǒng — this kind of
東西: dōng xī — east and west (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
要看: yào kàn — (it) depends on ...
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
搖: Yáo — surname Yao (HSK 4)
著手: zhuó shǒu — 1. to put one's hand to it 2. to start out on a task 3. to set out (HSK 7-9)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
連: Lián — surname Lian (HSK 3)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
本錢: běn qián — 1. capital 2. (fig.) asset; advantage; the means (to do sth) (HSK 7-9)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
撈: lāo — 1. to fish up 2. to dredge up (HSK 7-9)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
回: Huí — Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims) (HSK 1)
譬如: pì rú — for example; for instance; such as (HSK 7-9)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
倘: cháng — used in 倘佯 (cháng yáng)
使: shǐ — 1. to make 2. to cause 3. to enable 4. to use 5. to employ 6. to send 7. to instruct sb to do sth 8. envoy 9. messenger (HSK 3)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
對: duì — 1. right; correct 2. towards; at; for 3. concerning; regarding 4. to treat (sb a certain way) 5. to face 6. (bound form) opposite; facing; matching 7. to match together; to adjust 8. to fit; to suit 9. to answer; to reply 10. to add; to pour in (a fluid) 11. to check; to compare 12. classifier: couple; pair (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
那麼: nà me — 1. like that; in that way; to that extent 2. (before a number) ... or so; about ... 3. then; in that case (HSK 2)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
頭兒: tóu r — leader
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
放下: fàng xià — 1. to lay down; to put down 2. to let go of; to relinquish; to set aside 3. to lower (the blinds etc) (HSK 2)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
官: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 4)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
做: zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
無不: wú bù — 1. none lacking 2. none missing 3. everything is there 4. everyone without exception (HSK 7-9)
做: zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
了不起: liǎo bu qǐ — 1. amazing 2. terrific 3. extraordinary (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大人: dà ren — 1. adult 2. grownup 3. title of respect toward superiors (HSK 2)

“，”，“。“That doesn’t matter,” said the accountant. “Someone will always read it.，？……”Aren’t there plenty of former Keepers of the Pass, and recluses who have not yet become Keepers of the Pass?...”

那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
倒: dǎo — 1. to fall; to collapse; to lie horizontally 2. to fail; to go bankrupt 3. to overthrow 4. to change (trains or buses) 5. to move around 6. to resell at a profit (HSK 2)
不要緊: bù yào jǐn — 1. unimportant 2. not serious 3. it doesn't matter 4. never mind 5. it looks all right, but (HSK 4)
賬房先生: zhàng fáng xiān sheng — bookkeeper (old)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
總有: zǒng yǒu — inevitably there will be
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
交卸: jiāo xiè — to hand over to a successor; to relinquish one's office
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
官: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 4)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
做: zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
官: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
隱士: yǐn shì — hermit
不是: bù shì — 1. no 2. is not 3. not
多: duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)
得很: de hěn — (after an adjective) very
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)

，，。A gust of wind rose outside the window, sweeping up yellow dust and darkening half the sky.，，。At that moment Guan Yinxi looked outside and saw that many constables and detectives were still standing there, listening stupidly to their idle talk.

窗: chuāng — 1. window 2. classifier: 扇 (shàn)
外: wài — 1. outside 2. in addition 3. foreign 4. external (HSK 1)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一陣: yī zhèn — 1. a burst 2. a fit 3. a peal 4. a spell (period of time) (HSK 7-9)
風: fēng — 1. wind 2. news 3. style 4. custom 5. manner 6. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 絲 (sī) (HSK 1)
括: kuò — 1. (bound form) to tie up; to tighten up 2. (bound form) to include; to comprise 3. to put (text) in brackets 4. Taiwan pr. (guā)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
黃: Huáng — surname Huang or Hwang (HSK 2)
塵: chén — 1. dust 2. dirt 3. earth
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
遮: zhē — 1. to cover up (a shortcoming) 2. to screen off 3. to hide 4. to conceal (HSK 7-9)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
半天: bàn tiān — 1. half of the day 2. a long time 3. quite a while 4. midair 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
暗: àn — 1. dark 2. to turn dark 3. secret; hidden 4. (literary) confused; ignorant (HSK 4)
這時: zhè shí — 1. at this time 2. at this moment (HSK 2)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
門外: mén wài — outside the door
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
只見: zhǐ jiàn — 1. to see (the same thing) over and over again 2. to see, to one's surprise, (sth happen suddenly) (HSK 5)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
許多: xǔ duō — 1. many 2. a lot of 3. much (HSK 2)
巡警: xún jǐng — 1. police patrol 2. patrol officer 3. (old) police officer
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
探子: tàn zi — 1. intelligence gatherer 2. spy 3. detective 4. scout 5. sound (medical instrument) 6. long and narrow probing and sampling utensil
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
呆: dāi — 1. foolish; stupid 2. expressionless; blank 3. variant of 待 (dāi) (HSK 5)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
閑談: xián tán — variant of 閒談 (xián tán)

“？”。“，？“What are you standing around here for?” he shouted. “Isn’t dusk precisely the time when smugglers scale the wall to evade the tax?！”Off on patrol!”

呆站: dāi zhàn — to stand idly
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
這裡: zhè lǐ — here (HSK 1)
乾: Qián — surname Qian (HSK 1)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
吆喝: yāo he — 1. to shout 2. to bawl 3. to yell (to urge on an animal) 4. to hawk (one's wares) 5. to denounce loudly 6. to shout slogans
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
黃昏: huáng hūn — 1. dusk 2. evening 3. nightfall (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
正是: zhèng shì — is precisely (HSK 2)
私: sī — 1. personal 2. private 3. selfish
販子: fàn zi — trafficker; dealer; monger; peddler
爬: pá — 1. to crawl 2. to climb 3. to get up or sit up (HSK 2)
城: chéng — 1. city walls 2. city 3. town 4. classifier: 座 (zuò), 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
偷稅: tōu shuì — tax evasion
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
巡邏: xún luó — to patrol (HSK 7-9)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)

，。The people outside raced away in a flash.，，。Those inside said no more either; the accountant and the secretary both went out.，，，，，，。Only then did Guan Yinxi brush the dust from the desk with his sleeve, pick up the two bundles of wooden slips, and place them on a shelf piled with confiscated salt, sesame, cloth, soybeans, buns, and the like.

門外: mén wài — outside the door
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人們: rén men — people (HSK 2)
一溜煙: yī liù yān — 1. like a wisp of smoke 2. (to disappear etc) in an instant
跑: páo — (of an animal) to paw (the ground) (HSK 1)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
屋: wū — 1. (bound form) house 2. (bound form) room (HSK 5)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人們: rén men — people (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不再: bù zài — no more; no longer (HSK 6)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
話: huà — 1. dialect 2. language 3. spoken words 4. speech 5. talk 6. words 7. conversation 8. what sb said 9. classifier: 種 (zhǒng), 席 (xí), 句 (jù), 口 (kǒu), 番 (fān) (HSK 1)
賬房: zhàng fáng — 1. an accounts office (in former times) 2. an accountant 3. a cashier
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
書記: shū ji — 1. secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) 2. clerk 3. scribe (HSK 7-9)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
走出: zǒu chū — to leave (a room etc); to go out through (a door etc)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
尹: Yǐn — surname Yin
喜: xǐ — 1. to be fond of 2. to like 3. to enjoy 4. to be happy 5. to feel pleased 6. happiness 7. delight 8. glad
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
袍: páo — gown (lined)
袖子: xiù zi — sleeve
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
案: àn — 1. (legal) case 2. incident 3. record 4. file 5. table
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
灰塵: huī chén — dust (HSK 7-9)
拂: bì — old variant of 弼 (bì)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
拂: bì — old variant of 弼 (bì)
提起: tí qǐ — 1. to mention; to bring up 2. (lit. and fig.) to lift; to raise 3. to initiate (legal proceedings) (HSK 5)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
串: chuàn — 1. to string together 2. to skewer 3. to connect wrongly 4. to gang up 5. to rove 6. string 7. bunch 8. skewer 9. classifier for things that are strung together, or in a bunch, or in a row: string of, bunch of, series of 10. to make a swift or abrupt linear movement (like a bead on an abacus) 11. to move across (HSK 6)
木: Mù — surname Mu
札: zhá — 1. thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) 2. a kind of official document (in former times) 3. letter 4. note 5. plague
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
放: fàng — 1. to put 2. to place 3. to release 4. to free 5. to let go 6. to let out 7. to set off (fireworks) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
堆: duī — 1. to pile up 2. to heap up 3. a mass 4. pile 5. heap 6. stack 7. large amount (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
充公: chōng gōng — to confiscate
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
鹽: yán — 1. salt 2. classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 4)
胡麻: hú má — 1. sesame 2. (botany) flax 3. linseed
布: bù — 1. cloth 2. to declare 3. to announce 4. to spread 5. to make known (HSK 3)
大豆: dà dòu — soybean
餑餑: bō bo — 1. pastry 2. steamed bun 3. cake
等: děng — 1. to wait for; to await 2. by the time; when; till 3. and so on; etc.; et al. 4. (bound form) class; rank; grade 5. (bound form) equal to; same as 6. (used to end an enumeration) 7. (literary) (plural suffix attached to a personal pronoun or noun) (HSK 1)
類: lèi — 1. kind; type; class; category 2. (classifier) kind; type 3. (bound form) to resemble; to be similar to (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
架子: jià zi — 1. shelf 2. frame 3. stand 4. framework 5. airs 6. arrogance (HSK 7-9)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)

December 1935

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What it’s about

老子 sits like a block of wood in his library while 孔子 calls on him twice. The first time 孔子 complains that he has gone through the six classics until he knows them cold and been turned down by seventy-two rulers, and 老子 tells him the classics are the footprints of former kings: footprints are made by shoes, but a footprint is not a shoe. Three months later 孔子 comes back to report that he has thought it through, and the two of them sit silent like two blocks of wood. When he has gone, 老子 tells his pupil 庚桑楚 that he must leave — 孔丘 has understood him, and knows that the only man who has his measure is 老子, so it will not be comfortable to stay. He opens his mouth to prove the point: the hard teeth are gone, the soft tongue is still there.

He rides west on his green ox, is spotted by a scout, and is chased down and carried off to the pass by the customs officer 關尹喜, four policemen and two men with probing spikes, who honour him by making him lecture. He recites the opening of what will be the 道德經 to a room that yawns, drops its writing slips and falls asleep; between the missing teeth, the Shaanxi accent and the Hunan vowels nobody can take a note, so a delegation asks him for written lecture notes instead. He sits a day and a half, produces some five thousand characters on wooden slips, hands over two bundles, and is paid off with a packet of salt, a packet of sesame and fifteen buns — a younger author, he is told, would have got ten. The dust has barely settled on the road before the clerk is calling the manuscript the same old stuff, the accountant is complaining about the buns, and they agree it might sell to retired customs officers and to hermits who have not yet found a post. 關尹喜 wipes the desk and files the slips on the shelf with the confiscated salt, sesame, cloth and beans.

When it was written 背景

Written in December 1935 and printed in the first number of the monthly 海燕 in January 1936, almost the same week the book itself appeared. It started an argument at once: readers decided the sour old man riding out of the pass was a self-portrait, and Lu Xun answered them that spring in an essay on this very story, insisting he had meant 老子 as the doctrine of doing nothing, not as himself. For a learner it is short, almost entirely dialogue, and unusually easy going — until the lecture, where the real opening of the 道德經 is quoted straight and the customs men answer in Wu dialect that Lu Xun does not translate. Read it beside 非攻: one philosopher walks a thousand li to stop a war, the other only wants to get out of the country, and the book puts them next to each other on purpose.

Words in this chapter 生词

尹yǐn尹yǐn — (literary) to administer; to govern · (bound form) governor; prefect; magistrate (official title in imperial times)
書記shū jiHSK 7-9書記shū ji — secretary (chief official of a branch of a socialist or communist party) · clerk · scribe (HSK 7-9)
老子lǎo zi老子lǎo zi — father · daddy · "I, your father" (in anger, or out of contempt) · I (used arrogantly or jocularly)
庚gēng庚gēng — age · seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干 (shí tiān gān) · seventh in order · letter "G" or Roman "VII" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc · ancient Chinese compass point: 255° · hepta
孔丘Kǒng Qiū孔丘Kǒng Qiū — Confucius
札zhá札zhá — thin piece of wood used a writing tablet (in ancient China) · a kind of official document (in former times) · letter · note · plague
餑餑bō bo餑餑bō bo — pastry · steamed bun · cake
賬房zhàng fáng賬房zhàng fáng — an accounts office (in former times) · an accountant · a cashier
賬房先生zhàng fáng xiān sheng賬房先生zhàng fáng xiān sheng — bookkeeper (old)
關口guān kǒu關口guān kǒu — pass · gateway · (fig.) juncture
您nínHSK 1您nín — you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你 (nǐ)) (HSK 1)
桑sāng桑sāng — (bound form) mulberry tree