空山靈雨空kōng — 1. empty 2. air 3. sky 4. in vain (HSK 3)山shān — 1. mountain; hill (classifier: 座 (zuò)) 2. (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on (HSK 1)靈líng — 1. quick 2. alert 3. efficacious 4. effective 5. to come true 6. spirit 7. departed soul 8. coffin (HSK 7-9)雨yǔ — 1. rain 2. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 場 (cháng) (HSK 1) · 空山灵雨

Empty Mountain, Spiritual Rain — 許地山許xǔ — 1. to allow 2. to permit 3. to promise 4. to praise 5. somewhat 6. perhaps (HSK 7-9)地de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)山shān — 1. mountain; hill (classifier: 座 (zuò)) 2. (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on (HSK 1) · 许地山 Xu Dishan, 1922–1925

Forty-odd prose miniatures — parables, sketches and aphorisms, most of them a page or less. Alongside 朝花夕拾, the gentlest way into the library.

69% of words ≤ HSK 420% off-list words
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What’s in it

空山靈雨 (Empty Mountain, Spiritual Rain) collects more than forty short prose pieces — parables, sketches and aphorisms, most no longer than a page — written between 1922 and 1925. Many draw on Buddhist and Christian imagery side by side, reflecting Xu Dishan's own scholarly background in both traditions: pieces like 蟬 (The Cicada) and 蛇 (The Snake) take a single small creature as the occasion for a short meditation on suffering, patience or fear, while others read more like fables with an explicit, gently delivered moral. The writing is plain and unhurried, closer in spirit to devotional literature than to the more combative fiction being written by Xu Dishan's contemporaries.

The collection's best-known piece, 落花生 (The Peanut), is a short essay in which the author's father uses the family's humble peanut patch to teach his children to value quiet usefulness over showy, ornamental achievement — a lesson that has been reprinted in Chinese schoolbooks for decades and that gives the collection, and the author's own pen name Luo Huasheng ('Fallen Peanut'), their most lasting image. Taken as a whole, 空山靈雨 is less about plot or character than about a consistent, searching tone: short pieces meant to be read slowly, one or two at a sitting.

  1. 1弁言Foreword64% ≤ HSK 4
  2. 2心有事心xīn — 1. heart 2. mind 3. intention 4. center 5. core 6. classifier: 顆 (kē), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)有事yǒu shì — 1. to be occupied with sth 2. to have sth on one's mind 3. there is something the matter (HSK 6)The Heart Has Its Cares60% ≤ HSK 4
  3. 3蟬 · 蝉The Cicada67% ≤ HSK 4
  4. 4蛇蛇shé — 1. snake 2. serpent 3. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 5)The Snake70% ≤ HSK 4
  5. 5笑笑xiào — 1. to laugh; to smile 2. to laugh at (HSK 1)Laughter69% ≤ HSK 4
  6. 6三遷三sān — 1. three 2. 3 (HSK 1)遷qiān — 1. to move 2. to shift 3. to change (a position or location etc) 4. to promote (HSK 7-9) · 三迁Three Moves64% ≤ HSK 4
  7. 7香香xiāng — 1. fragrant 2. sweet smelling 3. aromatic 4. savory or appetizing 5. (to eat) with relish 6. (of sleep) sound 7. perfume or spice 8. joss or incense stick 9. classifier: 根 (gēn) (HSK 3)Incense59% ≤ HSK 4
  8. 8願願yuàn — 1. (bound form) wish; hope; desire 2. to be willing 3. to wish (that sth may happen); may ... 4. vow; pledge (HSK 5) · 愿A Vow61% ≤ HSK 4
  9. 9山響山shān — 1. mountain; hill (classifier: 座 (zuò)) 2. (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on (HSK 1)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) · 山响Mountain Echo70% ≤ HSK 4
  10. 10愚婦人人rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1) · 愚妇人The Foolish Woman69% ≤ HSK 4
  11. 11蜜蜂和農人蜜蜂mì fēng — 1. bee 2. honeybee 3. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 群 (qún) (HSK 7-9)和hé — 1. (joining two nouns) and; together with; with (Taiwan pr. (hàn)) 2. (math.) sum 3. to make peace 4. (sports) to draw; to tie 5. (bound form) harmonious 6. (bound form) Japan; Japanese (HSK 1)人rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1) · 蜜蜂和农人The Bee and the Farmer57% ≤ HSK 4
  12. 12「小俄羅斯」底兵小xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)羅luó — 1. gauze 2. to collect 3. to gather 4. to catch 5. to sift (HSK 7-9)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)兵bīng — 1. soldiers 2. a force 3. an army 4. weapons 5. arms 6. military 7. warlike 8. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 4) · 「小俄罗斯」底兵The Soldier of 'Little Russia'66% ≤ HSK 4
  13. 13愛底痛苦愛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)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)痛苦tòng kǔ — 1. pain 2. suffering 3. painful 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3) · 爱底痛苦The Pain of Love73% ≤ HSK 4
  14. 14信仰底哀傷信仰xìn yǎng — 1. to believe in (a religion) 2. firm belief 3. conviction (HSK 6)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)傷shāng — 1. to injure 2. injury 3. wound (HSK 3) · 信仰底哀伤The Sorrow of Faith69% ≤ HSK 4
  15. 15暗途暗àn — 1. dark 2. to turn dark 3. secret; hidden 4. (literary) confused; ignorant (HSK 4)The Dark Road74% ≤ HSK 4
  16. 16你爲什麽不來你nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)不bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (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) · 你为什么不来Why Do You Not Come?62% ≤ HSK 4
  17. 17海海hǎi — 1. ocean 2. sea 3. classifier: 個 (gè), 片 (piàn) 4. great number of people or things 5. (dialect) numerous (HSK 2)The Sea74% ≤ HSK 4
  18. 18梨花梨lí — 1. pear 2. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)花huā — 1. flower 2. blossom 3. classifier: 朵 (duǒ), 支 (zhī), 束 (shù), 把 (bǎ), 盆 (pén), 簇 (cù) 4. fancy pattern 5. florid 6. to spend (money, time) 7. (coll.) lecherous 8. lustful (HSK 1)Pear Blossoms66% ≤ HSK 4
  19. 19難解決的問題難nán — 1. difficult (to...) 2. problem 3. difficulty 4. difficult 5. not good (HSK 1)解決jiě jué — 1. to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem) 2. to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandits etc) (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)問題wèn tí — 1. question 2. problem 3. issue 4. topic 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2) · 难解决的问题The Unsolvable Problem71% ≤ HSK 4
  20. 20愛就是刑罰愛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)就是jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)罰fá — to punish; to penalize; to fine (HSK 5) · 爱就是刑罚Love Is Punishment73% ≤ HSK 4
  21. 21債債zhài — 1. debt 2. classifier: 筆 (bǐ) (HSK 6) · 债The Debt67% ≤ HSK 4
  22. 22暾將出兮東方將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)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)東方dōng fāng — east (HSK 2) · 暾将出兮东方The Sun Rises in the East65% ≤ HSK 4
  23. 23鬼讚鬼guǐ — 1. disembodied spirit; ghost; devil 2. (suffix) person with a certain vice or addiction etc 3. sly; crafty; resourceful (variant of 詭 (guǐ)) 4. one of the 28 constellations of ancient Chinese astronomy (HSK 5) · 鬼赞In Praise of Ghosts66% ≤ HSK 4
  24. 24萬物之母萬wàn — 1. ten thousand 2. a great number (HSK 2)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) · 万物之母The Mother of All Things72% ≤ HSK 4
  25. 25春底林野底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)野yě — 1. field 2. plain 3. open space 4. limit 5. boundary 6. rude 7. feral (HSK 6)Spring Woods and Fields64% ≤ HSK 4
  26. 26花香霧氣中底夢花huā — 1. flower 2. blossom 3. classifier: 朵 (duǒ), 支 (zhī), 束 (shù), 把 (bǎ), 盆 (pén), 簇 (cù) 4. fancy pattern 5. florid 6. to spend (money, time) 7. (coll.) lecherous 8. lustful (HSK 1)香xiāng — 1. fragrant 2. sweet smelling 3. aromatic 4. savory or appetizing 5. (to eat) with relish 6. (of sleep) sound 7. perfume or spice 8. joss or incense stick 9. classifier: 根 (gēn) (HSK 3)霧wù — 1. fog 2. mist 3. classifier: 場 (cháng), 陣 (zhèn) (HSK 7-9)氣qì — 1. gas; air 2. smell 3. weather 4. to make angry; to annoy; to get angry 5. vital energy; qi (HSK 2)中zhōng — 1. within; among; in 2. middle; center 3. while (doing sth); during 4. (dialect) OK; all right (HSK 1)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)夢mèng — 1. dream (classifier: 場 (cháng)) 2. (bound form) to dream (HSK 4) · 花香雾气中底梦A Dream Amid Flower Scent and Mist70% ≤ HSK 4
  27. 27蘼The Fragrant Herb68% ≤ HSK 4
  28. 28七寶池上底鄉思七qī — 1. seven 2. 7 (HSK 1)寶bǎo — 1. jewel 2. gem 3. treasure 4. precious (HSK 4)上shàng — 1. (bound form) up; upper; above; previous 2. first (of multiple parts) 3. to climb; to get onto; to go up 4. to attend (class or university) 5. (directional complement) up 6. (noun suffix) on; above (HSK 1)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)鄉xiāng — 1. country or countryside 2. native place 3. home village or town 4. township (PRC administrative unit) (HSK 5) · 七宝池上底乡思Homesickness by the Pool of Seven Treasures58% ≤ HSK 4
  29. 29銀翎的使命銀yín — 1. silver 2. silver-colored 3. relating to money or currency (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)使命shǐ mìng — 1. mission 2. long-term task to which one devotes oneself 3. a calling (HSK 7-9) · 银翎的使命The Silver Feather's Mission71% ≤ HSK 4
  30. 30美底牢獄美měi — 1. beautiful 2. very satisfactory; good 3. to beautify 4. to be pleased with oneself (HSK 3)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)牢láo — 1. (literary) pen; fold (for livestock) 2. prison; jail 3. firm; secure; fast (HSK 6) · 美底牢狱The Prison of Beauty69% ≤ HSK 4
  31. 31補破衣的老婦人補bǔ — 1. to repair 2. to patch 3. to mend 4. to make up for 5. to fill (a vacancy) 6. to supplement (HSK 3)破pò — 1. broken 2. damaged 3. worn out 4. lousy 5. rotten 6. to break, split or cleave 7. to get rid of 8. to destroy 9. to break with 10. to defeat 11. to capture (a city etc) 12. to expose the truth of (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)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)人rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1) · 补破衣的老妇人The Old Woman Mending Rags70% ≤ HSK 4
  32. 32光底死光guāng — 1. light; ray (classifier: 道 (dào)) 2. bright; shiny 3. only; merely 4. used up; finished 5. to leave (a part of the body) uncovered (HSK 3)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)死sǐ — 1. to die 2. impassable 3. uncrossable 4. inflexible 5. rigid 6. extremely 7. damned (HSK 3)The Death of Light75% ≤ HSK 4
  33. 33再會再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)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) · 再会Farewell71% ≤ HSK 4
  34. 34橋邊橋qiáo — 1. bridge 2. classifier: 座 (zuò) (HSK 3)邊biān — 1. side 2. edge 3. margin 4. border 5. boundary 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. simultaneously (HSK 2) · 桥边By the Bridge68% ≤ HSK 4
  35. 35頭髮頭髮tóu fa — hair (on the head) (HSK 2) · 头发Hair69% ≤ HSK 4
  36. 36疲倦的母親疲倦pí juàn — 1. to tire 2. tired (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)母親mǔ qīn — mother (HSK 3) · 疲倦的母亲The Weary Mother76% ≤ HSK 4
  37. 37處女的恐怖處chù — 1. (bound form) place; locality 2. (bound form) part; aspect 3. (bound form) office; department; bureau 4. classifier for locations: spot, point (HSK 4)女nǚ — 1. female 2. woman 3. daughter (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)恐怖kǒng bù — 1. terrible 2. frightful 3. frightening 4. terror 5. terrorist (HSK 7-9) · 处女的恐怖The Maiden's Terror68% ≤ HSK 4
  38. 38我想我wǒ — I; me; my (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)I Think69% ≤ HSK 4
  39. 39鄉曲底狂言鄉xiāng — 1. country or countryside 2. native place 3. home village or town 4. township (PRC administrative unit) (HSK 5)曲qǔ — 1. tune 2. song 3. classifier: 支 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)底dǐ — 1. bottom; base 2. background; foundation 3. copy (of a manuscript or receipt etc) kept as a record 4. (suffix) end of a year or month 5. (math.) radix; base (abbr. for 底數 (dǐ shù)) (HSK 4)狂kuáng — 1. mad 2. wild 3. violent (HSK 5) · 乡曲底狂言Wild Words from the Countryside70% ≤ HSK 4
  40. 40生生shēng — 1. to grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born 2. to arise; to occur 3. to light (a fire) 4. to live; to be alive 5. life 6. raw; uncooked; unprocessed 7. unfamiliar; strange 8. (bound form) student; person engaged in a field 9. (bound form) male role in traditional opera 10. (bound form) life; lifetime 11. (bound form) means of livelihood 12. (bound form) very; intensely (as in 生疼 (shēng téng)) 13. (bound form) in a forced manner (as in 生拉硬拽 (shēng lā yìng zhuài)) (HSK 2)Life69% ≤ HSK 4
  41. 41公理戰勝公gōng — 1. public 2. collectively owned 3. common 4. international (e.g. high seas, metric system, calendar) 5. make public 6. fair 7. just 8. Duke, highest of five orders of nobility 五等爵位 (wǔ děng jué wèi) 9. honorable (gentlemen) 10. father-in-law 11. male (animal) (HSK 6)理lǐ — 1. texture 2. grain (of wood) 3. inner essence 4. intrinsic order 5. reason 6. logic 7. truth 8. science 9. natural science (esp. physics) 10. to manage 11. to pay attention to 12. to run (affairs) 13. to handle 14. to put in order 15. to tidy up (HSK 6)戰勝zhàn shèng — 1. to prevail over 2. to defeat 3. to surmount (HSK 4) · 公理战胜Justice Triumphs66% ≤ HSK 4
  42. 42面具面miàn — 1. face 2. side 3. surface 4. aspect 5. top 6. classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc (HSK 2)The Mask64% ≤ HSK 4
  43. 43落花生落luò — 1. to fall or drop 2. (of the sun) to set 3. (of a tide) to go out 4. to lower 5. to decline or sink 6. to lag or fall behind 7. to fall onto 8. to rest with 9. to get or receive 10. to write down 11. whereabouts 12. settlement (HSK 4)花生huā shēng — 1. peanut 2. classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 6)The Peanut69% ≤ HSK 4
  44. 44別話別bié — 1. to leave; to part (from) 2. (literary) to differentiate; to distinguish 3. (dialect) to turn away; to turn aside; to avert (one's face, gaze etc) 4. (bound form) other; another; different 5. don't ...! 6. to fasten with a pin or clip 7. to stick in; to insert (in order to hinder movement) 8. (noun suffix) category (as in 性別 (xìng bié), 派別 (pài bié)) (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) · 别话Parting Words69% ≤ HSK 4
  45. 45愛流汐張愛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)流liú — 1. to flow 2. to disseminate 3. to circulate or spread 4. to move or drift 5. to degenerate 6. to banish or send into exile 7. stream of water or sth resembling one 8. class, rate or grade (HSK 2)張zhāng — 1. to open up 2. to spread 3. sheet of paper 4. classifier for flat objects, sheet 5. classifier for votes (HSK 3) · 爱流汐张The Ebb and Flow of Love71% ≤ HSK 4

Literary forms

Key words 关键字

  • 囘huí囘huí — variant of 回 (huí)
  • 着zhāoHSK 1着zhāo — a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) · trick; tactic · (dialect) okay; all right · (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
  • 麽mó麽mó — tiny · insignificant
  • 敎jiào敎jiào — variant of 教 (jiào)
  • 爲wéiHSK 2爲wéi — variant of 為 (wéi) (HSK 2)
  • 她tāHSK 1她tā — she (HSK 1)
  • 什shén什shén — what
  • 牢獄láo yù牢獄láo yù — prison
  • 讚美zàn měiHSK 7-9讚美zàn měi — to admire · to praise · to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
  • 鶊gēng鶊gēng — used in 鶬鶊 (cāng gēng)
  • 花生huā shēngHSK 6花生huā shēng — peanut · classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 6)
  • 邕邕yōng yōng邕邕yōng yōng — variant of 雍雍 (yōng yōng)
  • 裏lǐHSK 1裏lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
  • 隆lōng隆lōng — sound of drums
  • 蘼mí蘼mí — millet
  • 迦jiā迦jiā — (phonetic sound for Buddhist terms)
  • 爹爹diē die爹爹diē die — daddy · granddad
  • 找着zhǎo zháo找着zhǎo zháo — to find
  • 儘管jǐn guǎnHSK 5儘管jǐn guǎn — despite · although · even though · in spite of · unhesitatingly · do not hesitate (to ask, complain etc) · (go ahead and do it) without hesitating (HSK 5)
  • 彷pángHSK 7-9彷páng — used in 彷徨 (páng huáng) and 彷徉 (páng yáng) (HSK 7-9)
  • 徨huáng徨huáng — used in 彷徨 (páng huáng)
  • 有情yǒu qíng有情yǒu qíng — to be in love · sentient beings (Buddhism)
  • 丫頭yā touHSK 7-9丫頭yā tou — girl · servant girl · (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)
  • 芳fāng芳fāng — fragrant

許地山 Xu Dishan

Xu Dishan (許地山, 1893–1941), who wrote under the pen name 落花生 (Luo Huasheng), was a scholar of comparative religion as well as a writer, and one of the first modern Chinese authors to bring Buddhist and Christian ideas into short vernacular prose rather than treating them as separate scholarly subjects. He worked as an educator and was active in Hong Kong's wartime cultural resistance against Japan before dying suddenly of a heart attack there in 1941, in the middle of that work.

Key vocabulary 词汇

  • 下坡下坡xià pō — downhill slope
  • 下頷下頷xià hàn — lower jaw; mandible
  • 丘陵丘陵qiū líng — hills (HSK 7-9)
  • 丟失丟失diū shī — to lose; to misplace (HSK 7-9)
  • 中肯中肯zhòng kěn — pertinent; apropos
  • 事由事由shì yóu — main content · matter · work · origin of an incident · cause · purpose · subject (of business letter)
  • 互通互通hù tōng — to intercommunicate · to interoperate
  • 交涉交涉jiāo shè — to negotiate (with) · to have dealings (with) (HSK 7-9)
  • 伙伴伙伴huǒ bàn — companion; pal · partner; business associate (HSK 4)
  • 佔據佔據zhàn jù — to occupy; to hold (HSK 6)
  • 佔有佔有zhàn yǒu — to have · to own · to hold · to occupy · to possess · to account for (a high proportion etc) (HSK 5)
  • 信念信念xìn niàn — faith · belief · conviction (HSK 5)
  • 借故借故jiè gù — to find an excuse
  • 傳書鴿傳書鴿chuán shū gē — carrier pigeon (used for mail)
  • 儘自儘自jǐn zi — always · always regardless (of anything)
  • 儷儷lì — (bound form) paired; coupled · (bound form) husband and wife
  • 儻儻tǎng — (literary) variant of 倘 (tǎng) · used in 倜儻 (tì tǎng)
  • 入獄入獄rù yù — to go to jail · to be sent to prison
  • 八哥八哥bā ge — (bird species of China) crested myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
  • 内内nèi — inside · inner · internal · within · interior (HSK 3)
  • 册册cè — book · booklet · classifier for books (HSK 5)
  • 冒着冒着mào zhe — to brave · to face dangers
  • 冲冲chōng — (of water) to dash against · to mix with water · to infuse · to rinse · to flush · to develop (a film) · to rise in the air · to clash · to collide with (HSK 4)
  • 冷却冷却lěng què — (lit. and fig.) to cool
  • 凄切凄切qī qiè — mournful
  • 凑合凑合còu he — to bring together · to make do in a bad situation · to just get by · to improvise · passable · not too bad (HSK 7-9)
  • 出獄出獄chū yù — to be released from prison
  • 分地分地fēn dì — to distribute land
  • 分泌分泌fēn mì — to secrete · secretion (HSK 7-9)
  • 划槳划槳huá jiǎng — to paddle
  • 判別判別pàn bié — to differentiate · to discriminate
  • 別緒別緒bié xù — emotions at time of parting
  • 剛愎剛愎gāng bì — headstrong · perverse
  • 功用功用gōng yòng — function
  • 勇於勇於yǒng yú — to dare to · to be brave enough to (HSK 7-9)
  • 勝過勝過shèng guò — to excel · to surpass
  • 匀匀yún — even · well-distributed · uniform · to distribute evenly · to share
  • 卑微卑微bēi wēi — lowly · humble
  • 南普陀寺南普陀寺Nán pǔ tuó sì — Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen 廈門 (Xià mén)
  • 吃緊吃緊chī jǐn — in short supply · dire · tense · critical · hard-pressed · important
  • 吐露吐露tǔ lù — to tell · to disclose · to reveal
  • 和歌和歌hé gē — waka (style of Japanese poetry)
  • 啼聲啼聲tí shēng — ululation · to howl
  • 善行善行shàn xíng — good actions
  • 嘿嘿hēi — hey (HSK 7-9)
  • 噴泉噴泉pēn quán — fountain (HSK 7-9)
  • 嚜嚜me — (final particle)
  • 囝囝jiǎn — child
  • 地带地带dì dài — zone · classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
  • 地底地底dì dǐ — subterranean · underground
  • 地表地表dì biǎo — the surface (of the earth)
  • 埋頭埋頭mái tóu — to immerse oneself in · engrossed in sth · to lower the head (e.g. to avoid rain) · countersunk (of screws, rivets etc)
  • 塗去塗去tú qù — to obliterate (some words, or part of a picture etc) using correction fluid, ink, paint etc · to paint out · to paint over
  • 增益增益zēng yì — to increase · (electronics) gain · (gaming) buff
  • 壻壻xù — variant of 婿 (xù)
  • 外科醫生外科醫生wài kē yī shēng — surgeon · as opposed to physician 內科醫生 (nèi kē yī shēng), who works primarily by administering drugs
  • 多方多方duō fāng — in many ways · from all sides
  • 夜闌夜闌yè lán — late at night · in the dead of night
  • 大搖大擺大搖大擺dà yáo dà bǎi — to strut · swaggering
  • 天底天底tiān dǐ — (astronomy) nadir
  • 女傭女傭nǚ yōng — (female) maid
  • 女友女友nǚ yǒu — girlfriend
  • 女郎女郎nǚ láng — young woman · maiden · girl · classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi)
  • 好鳥好鳥hǎo niǎo — person of good character · nice person · bird with a melodious voice or beautiful plumage
  • 妺妺mò — wife of the last ruler of the Xia dynasty
  • 嬴嬴Yíng — surname Ying
  • 嬲嬲niǎo — to tease · to disturb
  • 嬿嬿yàn — lovely
  • 學壞學壞xué huài — to follow bad examples · to be corrupted by bad examples
  • 安適安適ān shì — quiet and comfortable
  • 家禽家禽jiā qín — poultry · domestic fowl (HSK 7-9)
  • 密語密語mì yǔ — code word; coded language · to communicate in private
  • 封底封底fēng dǐ — the back cover of a book
  • 對不住對不住duì bu zhù — to let sb down · to be unfair · I'm sorry · pardon me (formal)
  • 小玩意小玩意xiǎo wán yì — gadget · widget (small item of software)
  • 屢遭屢遭lǚ zāo — to suffer repeatedly
  • 崑崑kūn — used in place names, notably Kunlun Mountains 崑崙 (Kūn lún) · (also used for transliteration)
  • 嵆
  • 嵌入嵌入qiàn rù — to insert; to embed
  • 巓巓diān — same as 巔 (diān) · summit · mountain peak · mountain top
  • 希冀希冀xī jì — (literary) to hope
  • 帶孩子帶孩子dài hái zi — to look after a baby; to take care of a young child
  • 平疇平疇píng chóu — level farmland · well-cultivated land
  • 幸運幸運xìng yùn — fortunate; lucky · good fortune; luck (HSK 3)
  • 底層底層dǐ céng — ground floor; first floor · lowest level; lowest rung (of society etc) (HSK 7-9)
  • 底氣底氣dǐ qì — lung capacity; lung power · boldness; confidence; self-assurance; vigor
  • 建築師建築師jiàn zhù shī — architect (HSK 7-9)
  • 弧弧hú — arc
  • 强烈强烈qiáng liè — strong; intense (HSK 3)
  • 彌月彌月mí yuè — full moon · first full moon after birth (i.e. entering the second month)
  • 彌補彌補mí bǔ — to complement · to make up for a deficiency (HSK 7-9)
  • 影印影印yǐng yìn — photographic reproduction · photocopying · photo-offset
  • 得着得着dé zháo — to obtain
  • 忙着忙着máng zhe — to be occupied with (doing sth)
  • 急用急用jí yòng — to need sth urgently · urgently required
  • 性地性地xìng dì — innate quality · natural disposition
  • 情愫情愫qíng sù — sentiment · feeling
  • 惦念惦念diàn niàn — to constantly have (sb or sth) on one's mind
  • 感官感官gǎn guān — sense · sense organ
  • 慵懶慵懶yōng lǎn — languid · indolent
  • 懷疑懷疑huái yí — to doubt (sth); to be skeptical of · to have one's doubts; to harbor suspicions; to suspect that (HSK 4)
  • 戰後戰後zhàn hòu — after the war · postwar
  • 手册手册shǒu cè — manual; handbook (HSK 7-9)
  • 手搖手搖shǒu yáo — hand-cranked
  • 找不着找不着zhǎo bu zháo — to be unable to find
  • 找着找着zhǎo zháo — to find
  • 把弄把弄bǎ nòng — to play with; to fiddle with
  • 投入投入tóu rù — to throw into · to put into · to throw oneself into · to participate in · to invest in · absorbed · engrossed (HSK 4)
  • 投壺投壺tóu hú — ancient banquet game of throwing arrows into a pot, the winner determined by the number of arrows thrown in, and the loser required to drink as punishment
  • 㧎
  • 抽噎抽噎chōu yē — to sob
  • 拉夫拉夫lā fū — to force into service · press-gang
  • 拔除拔除bá chú — to pull out · to remove
  • 指摘指摘zhǐ zhāi — to criticize
  • 挨着挨着āi zhe — near (HSK 6)
  • 挨罰挨罰ái fá — to be punished · to be fined
  • 捕蠅草捕蠅草bǔ yíng cǎo — Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
  • 採掘採掘cǎi jué — to excavate · to extract (ore)
  • 接納接納jiē nà — to admit or welcome (into a group) · to accept (sb or sth) (HSK 7-9)
  • 揭破揭破jiē pò — to uncover
  • 搖醒搖醒yáo xǐng — to shake (sb) awake
  • 摯摯zhì — sincere
  • 摰摰niè — to seize with the hand · to grasp · to advance · to breakdown
  • 播弄播弄bō nong — to order people about · to stir up · to sow discord
  • 擘擘bò — thumb · to break · to tear · to pierce · to split
  • 攀緣攀緣pān yuán — to climb up (a rope etc); climbing (plant)
  • 支離支離zhī lí — fragmented · disorganized · incoherent
  • 收穫節收穫節shōu huò jié — harvest festival
  • 改天改天gǎi tiān — another day · some other time · to find another day (for appointment etc) · to take a rain check
  • 敎敎jiào — variant of 教 (jiào)
  • 救生船救生船jiù shēng chuán — lifeboat
  • 散佈散佈sàn bù — to disseminate (HSK 7-9)
  • 文件文件wén jiàn — document · file · classifier: 份 (fèn) (HSK 3)
  • 景况景况jǐng kuàng — circumstances
  • 暮氣暮氣mù qì — evening mist · fig. declining spirits · lethargy
  • 暴露暴露bào lù — to expose · to reveal · to lay bare · also pr. (pù lù) (HSK 6)
  • 更闌更闌gēng lán — deep night
  • 有機有機yǒu jī — organic (HSK 7-9)
  • 有能力有能力yǒu néng lì — able
  • 服事服事fú shi — variant of 服侍 (fú shi)
  • 朝曦朝曦zhāo xī — early morning sunlight
  • 桄榔桄榔guāng láng — arenga or sugar palm (Arenga pinnata)
  • 棄絕棄絕qì jué — to abandon · to forsake
  • 椎椎chuí — hammer; mallet (variant of 槌 (chuí)) · variant of 捶 (chuí)
  • 極地極地jí dì — polar region
  • 榕榕róng — Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa)
  • 榦榦gàn — tree trunk
  • 標識標識biāo zhì — variant of 標誌 (biāo zhì)
  • 模仿模仿mó fǎng — to imitate · to copy · to emulate · to mimic · model (HSK 5)
  • 橱橱chú — wardrobe · closet · cabinet

Reading tools

Tap any word while reading to see its pinyin and an English gloss without leaving the page. Every chapter shows pinyin above the Chinese text, and where a graded retelling exists you can switch between it and the original with a single toggle — start with the simplified version and work up to the author’s own words.

Author 許地山 (Xu Dishan) died in 1941: public domain in China (life + 50 years) and in the United States (author died before 1946, so copyright was never restored under the URAA). Source: zh.wikisource.org (1925 商務印書館 printing, titled 空山霝雨 there with the variant 霝).