再會 Farewell

Farewell

，．The old man sitting by the window was a seafarer, just returned from abroad.

，，，He and old Mrs. Xiao had been friends since their youth; though they had been parted for all those years, when they met again it was as if they had forgotten the days

．．that had passed between them. Now they were speaking of old times from their youth.

『，？』，'Brother Weiming, didn't you go to sea when you were twenty?' She bent her fingers and counted for a moment before

，『，looking at her friend with those eyes clouded by experience, and said, 'Ah, forty-five years have passed just like I'm counting my fingers

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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
雙: Shuāng — surname Shuang (HSK 3)
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)
閱歷: yuè lì — 1. to experience 2. experience (HSK 7-9)
染: rǎn — 1. to dye 2. to catch (a disease) 3. to acquire (bad habits etc) 4. to contaminate 5. to add color washes to a painting (HSK 5)
濁: zhuó — 1. turbid 2. muddy 3. impure
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
眼睛: yǎn jing — 1. eye 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 雙 (shuāng) (HSK 2)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
朋友: péng you — 1. friend 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
呀: yā — 1. ah (used to express surprise) 2. (onom.) creaking (HSK 4)
四十: sì shí — 1. forty 2. 40
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
年: Nián — surname Nian (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)
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: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
數: shǔ — 1. to count 2. to count as; to regard as 3. to enumerate; to list (HSK 2)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
指: zhǐ — 1. finger 2. to point at or to 3. to indicate or refer to 4. to depend on 5. to count on 6. (of hair) to stand on end (HSK 3)

！』right now!'

，：『！……The old man stroked his beard and said proudly, 'Indeed! ...I remember the day I came to your house to bid farewell,

，；you were in the garden feeding your little deer;．I stood beside you under a loquat tree in bloom. The fragrance of the flowers and

，，；the fragrance of the oil on your hair mingled and rushed into my nose; at that moment, I did not even know where to begin to speak of my parting feelings;but you only lowered your head

．，「？」，「．」，……』and stroked the little deer. I think you couldn't say much either at that time, yet you were the first to ask, "When shall we be able to meet again?" And I answered slowly, "It won't be long." At that time, you...'

撫: fǔ — 1. to comfort 2. to console 3. to stroke 4. to caress 5. an old term for province or provincial governor
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鹿: lù — deer (HSK 7-9)
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)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should 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)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
竟然: jìng rán — 1. unexpectedly 2. to one's surprise 3. in spite of everything 4. in that crazy way 5. actually 6. to go as far as to (HSK 4)
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)
問: wèn — to ask; to inquire (HSK 1)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
等到: děng dào — 1. to wait until 2. by the time when (sth is ready etc) (HSK 2)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
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)
能: Néng — surname Neng (HSK 1)
相見: xiāng jiàn — 1. to see each other 2. to meet in person
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)
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)
慢: màn — slow (HSK 1)
答: dā — bound form having the same meaning as the free word 答 (dá), used in 答應 (dā ying), 答理 (dā li) etc (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)
毋: Wú — surname Wu
須: xū — 1. must 2. to have to 3. to wait (HSK 7-9)
多少: duō shǎo — 1. number; amount 2. somewhat (HSK 1)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)

，『．，The old lady cut in, saying, 'I remember the scene of that moment very clearly too. When you said that, didn't I

「，．」！say, "We shall meet again only when black ink has been washed white"? Ha ha!That lock of jet-black hair you had when you left —

說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
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)
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)
相見: xiāng jiàn — 1. to see each other 2. to meet in person
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
除非: chú fēi — 1. only if (..., or otherwise, ...) 2. only when 3. only in the case that 4. unless (HSK 5)
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)
黑: Hēi — short name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江 (Hēi lóng jiāng) (HSK 2)
墨: Mò — 1. surname Mo 2. abbr. for 墨西哥 (Mò xī gē), Mexico (HSK 7-9)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
洗: xǐ — 1. to wash; to bathe 2. to develop (photographs) 3. to shuffle (cards etc) 4. to erase (a recording) (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)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
時節: shí jié — season; time (HSK 6)
哈哈: hā hā — (onom.) laughing out loud (HSK 3)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (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)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
縷: lǚ — 1. strand 2. thread 3. detailed 4. in detail 5. classifier for wisps (of smoke, mist or vapor), strands, locks (of hair) (HSK 7-9)
漆黑: qī hēi — pitch-black
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)
頭髮: tóu fa — hair (on the head) (HSK 2)

？』hasn't it now been washed white by the sea water?'

，，『！The old man rubbed the top of his head and said, 'That's right!！This has indeed come true!，It's a pity I never did see Brother Fang again — how many years has it been

？』since he passed away?'

『，！'Ah, a long time!．』，You see, I've already held four grandchildren in my arms.' As she said this, she looked at several children playing under the melon trellis outside the window,

，，『，and pointing to the tallest one, said, 'Look, Ding'er is already twelve years old — his grandfather passed

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)
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
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)
指: zhǐ — 1. finger 2. to point at or to 3. to indicate or refer to 4. to depend on 5. to count on 6. (of hair) to stand on end (HSK 3)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
最高: zuì gāo — 1. tallest 2. highest 3. supreme (court etc)
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)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
鼎: dǐng — 1. ancient cooking cauldron with two looped handles and three or four legs 2. pot (dialect) 3. to enter upon a period of (classical) 4. Kangxi radical 206 5. one of the 64 hexagrams of the Book of Changes
兒: ér — 1. child 2. son
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
十二: shí èr — 1. twelve 2. 12
歲: suì — 1. classifier for years (of age) 2. year 3. year (of crop harvests) (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)
公公: gōng gong — 1. husband's father; father-in-law 2. grandpa; grandad 3. (old) form of address for a eunuch
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)
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)
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)
彌月: mí yuè — 1. full moon 2. first full moon after birth (i.e. entering the second month)
後: hòu — 1. back 2. behind 3. rear 4. afterwards 5. after 6. later 7. post- (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)

．』away right after his one-month celebration.'

，．，『While they were talking, a servant girl brought in a plate of oyster pancakes. The old lady raised her hand, offering it to Brother Weiming, and said, 'I was sure

他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
談話: tán huà — 1. to talk (with sb) 2. to have a conversation 3. talk 4. conversation 5. classifier: 次 (cì) (HSK 3)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
丫頭: yā tou — 1. girl 2. servant girl 3. (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)
端: duān — 1. (bound form) tip; end; extremity 2. (bound form) aspect; facet 3. (bound form) upright; proper 4. to hold sth level with both hands; to carry 5. to eliminate; to wipe out (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: 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)
盤: pán — 1. tray; plate; dish 2. (finance) (bound form) market prices 3. (computing) (bound form) disk 4. to coil (a rope, pigtail etc) 5. to check; to examine; to investigate 6. to transfer; to sell (property) 7. to shift; to move (sth big and heavy) 8. classifier for things resembling a plate or dish 9. classifier for coils 10. classifier for games or matches (chess, table tennis etc) (HSK 4)
牡蠣: mǔ lì — oyster
煎餅: jiān bǐng — 1. jianbing, a savory Chinese crêpe 2. pancake 3. classifier: 張 (zhāng)
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)
老太太: lǎo tài tai — 1. elderly lady (respectful) 2. esteemed mother 3. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 3)
舉手: jǔ shǒu — 1. to raise a hand 2. to put up one's hand (as signal) (HSK 2)
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)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
蔚: Yù — 1. surname Yu 2. place name
明: Míng — 1. Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) 2. surname Ming 3. Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God
哥: gē — elder brother (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
定: dìng — 1. to fix; to set; to make definite 2. to subscribe to (a newspaper etc); to book (tickets etc); to order (goods etc) 3. to congeal; to coagulate 4. (literary) definitely (HSK 4)
知: zhī — 1. to know 2. to be aware

，，your tastes hadn't changed, so I made this especially for you.

『，．，，．，'Do you remember, when we were young, your mother once made this kind of pancake for us to eat? You took a piece and after finishing it complained that there were too few oysters in it, that the filling wasn't as much as mine, and made a fuss to snatch my pancake away. At that time your mother said something

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
記得: jì de — to remember (HSK 1)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
少: shǎo — 1. few 2. less 3. to lack 4. to be missing 5. to stop (doing sth) 6. seldom (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
母親: mǔ qīn — mother (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)
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)
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)
這樣: zhè yàng — 1. this way; like this; so 2. (before a noun) this kind of; such (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)
餅: bǐng — 1. round flat cake 2. cookie 3. cake 4. pastry 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng) (HSK 5)
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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
喫: chī — variant of 吃 (chī) (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
拿: ná — 1. to hold 2. to seize 3. to catch 4. to apprehend 5. to take 6. (used in the same way as 把 (bǎ): to mark the following noun as a direct object) (HSK 1)
一塊: yī kuài — 1. a piece; a chunk 2. (fig.) (coll.) (typically preceded by a specifier such as 這 (zhè)) aspect; area; dimension (Example: 情感這一塊 (qíng gǎn zhè yī kuài) "the emotional aspect (of it)") 3. (coll.) one yuan; a dollar 4. together; in the same place; in company
喫: chī — variant of 吃 (chī) (HSK 1)
完了: wán le — 1. to be finished 2. to be done for 3. ruined 4. gone to the dogs 5. oh no (HSK 5)
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)
嫌: xián — 1. to dislike 2. suspicion 3. resentment 4. enmity 5. abbr. for 嫌犯 (xián fàn), criminal suspect (HSK 6)
餅: bǐng — 1. round flat cake 2. cookie 3. cake 4. pastry 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng) (HSK 5)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
牡蠣: mǔ lì — oyster
少: shǎo — 1. few 2. less 3. to lack 4. to be missing 5. to stop (doing sth) 6. seldom (HSK 1)
料: liào — 1. material 2. stuff 3. grain 4. feed 5. to expect 6. to anticipate 7. to guess (HSK 6)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不如: bù rú — 1. not equal to; not as good as; inferior to 2. it would be better to (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
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)
鬧: nào — 1. noisy 2. cacophonous 3. to make noise 4. to disturb 5. to vent (feelings) 6. to fall ill 7. to have an attack (of sickness) 8. to go in (for some activity) 9. to joke (HSK 4)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
餅: bǐng — 1. round flat cake 2. cookie 3. cake 4. pastry 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng) (HSK 5)
搶: qiāng — 1. (literary) to knock against (esp. to knock one's head on the ground in grief or rage) 2. opposite in direction; contrary (HSK 5)
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)
當時: dāng shí — then; at that time (HSK 2)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
母親: mǔ qīn — mother (HSK 3)
說: shuì — to persuade (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)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence

，，「，．．，that I have often recalled since — she said, "Good child, never mind. The filling is all mixed together in one batch. When making them, who has

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)
敎: jiào — variant of 教 (jiào)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
常常: cháng cháng — frequently; often (HSK 1)
憶: yì — 1. to recollect 2. to remember 3. memory
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)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (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)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
算了: suàn le — 1. let it be 2. let it pass 3. forget about it (HSK 6)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
助: zhù — 1. to help 2. to assist
料: liào — 1. material 2. stuff 3. grain 4. feed 5. to expect 6. to anticipate 7. to guess (HSK 6)
都: Dū — surname Du (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)
擱: gē — 1. to place 2. to put aside 3. to shelve (HSK 7-9)
在一起: zài yī qǐ — together
滲: shèn — 1. to seep 2. to ooze 3. to horrify (HSK 7-9)
匀: yún — 1. even 2. well-distributed 3. uniform 4. to distribute evenly 5. to share
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (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)

？the time to divide the portions out precisely?，；Naturally some will end up with a bit more, some with a bit less;as long as the pancake itself tastes good, that is

工夫: gōng fū — (old) laborer (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)
分量: fēn liàng — (vector) component (HSK 7-9)
細細: xì xì — 1. attentive 2. careful
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)
分配: fēn pèi — 1. to distribute 2. to assign 3. to allocate 4. to partition (a hard drive) (HSK 3)
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)
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)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (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)
免不了: miǎn bù liǎo — 1. unavoidable 2. can't be avoided (HSK 7-9)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
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)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
少: shǎo — 1. few 2. less 3. to lack 4. to be missing 5. to stop (doing sth) 6. seldom (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
只要: zhǐ yào — so long as; provided; if (HSK 2)
餅: bǐng — 1. round flat cake 2. cookie 3. cake 4. pastry 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng) (HSK 5)
底氣: dǐ qì — 1. lung capacity; lung power 2. boldness; confidence; self-assurance; vigor
味: wèi — 1. taste 2. smell 3. (fig.) (noun suffix) feel 4. quality 5. sense 6. (TCM) classifier for ingredients of a medicine prescription
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)
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)

．，，．」，enough. What you ate was not necessarily made just for you, but you have already eaten it, so you cannot ask for more." Brother Weiming, you

夠: gòu — 1. enough (sufficient) 2. enough (too much) 3. (coll.) (before adj.) really 4. (coll.) to reach by stretching out (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)
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)
喫: chī — variant of 吃 (chī) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
原: Yuán — 1. surname Yuan 2. (Japanese surname) Hara (HSK 6)
不定: bù dìng — 1. indefinite 2. indeterminate 3. (botany) adventitious (HSK 7-9)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
爲: wéi — variant of 為 (wéi) (HSK 2)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
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)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
喫: chī — variant of 吃 (chī) (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (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
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)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (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)
蔚: Yù — 1. surname Yu 2. place name
明: Míng — 1. Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) 2. surname Ming 3. Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God
哥: gē — elder brother (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)

！don't know how much those last words of hers moved me!：Let's compare this to our own circumstances: though our circumstances are laid out one by one before

說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
末了: mò liǎo — 1. (coll.) final part; last bit 2. (coll.) in the end; finally
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)
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)
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)
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
感動: gǎn dòng — 1. to move (sb) 2. to touch (sb emotionally) 3. moving (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (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)
拿: ná — 1. to hold 2. to seize 3. to catch 4. to apprehend 5. to take 6. (used in the same way as 把 (bǎ): to mark the following noun as a direct object) (HSK 1)
這個: zhè ge — 1. (pronoun) this 2. (adjective) this
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)
比: Bǐ — 1. Belgium 2. Belgian 3. abbr. for 比利時 (Bǐ lì shí) (HSK 1)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
境遇: jìng yù — circumstance (HSK 7-9)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
境遇: jìng yù — circumstance (HSK 7-9)
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
排列: pái liè — 1. to arrange in order 2. (math.) permutation (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)

，，，，，．』us, allowing us the chance to choose, some choose well and some choose poorly, but once the choice is made, one can never choose again.'

面前: miàn qián — 1. in front of 2. facing 3. (in the) presence (of) (HSK 2)
容: Róng — surname Rong
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
有機: yǒu jī — organic (HSK 7-9)
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)
選擇: xuǎn zé — 1. to select; to pick 2. choice; option; alternative (HSK 4)
有人: yǒu rén — 1. someone 2. people 3. anyone 4. there is someone there 5. occupied (as in restroom) (HSK 2)
選: xuǎn — 1. to choose 2. to pick 3. to select 4. to elect (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)
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)
有人: yǒu rén — 1. someone 2. people 3. anyone 4. there is someone there 5. occupied (as in restroom) (HSK 2)
選: xuǎn — 1. to choose 2. to pick 3. to select 4. to elect (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)
歹: dǎi — 1. bad 2. wicked 3. evil 4. Kangxi radical 78
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
選定: xuǎn dìng — 1. to select 2. to choose 3. to settle on
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)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
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)
選: xuǎn — 1. to choose 2. to pick 3. to select 4. to elect (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)

，，『！The old man picked up a pancake and ate, saying slowly, 'That's right!，Look at me — my whole life has been spent out on the sea, a life extremely

，——．』simple, not as complicated as yours, and yet I am just like I was eating that pancake back then — I, too, have had my fill.'

『．「」，，'I think I have always come out ahead. Though my "pancake of circumstance" has more filling in it, and perhaps tastes a bit better, still

．』my sense of being filled is just the same as yours.'

！How joyful a thing it is to talk over old times!，Seeing this scene, it was as though they meant to trace back through every event of their youth,

．，；one by one, all over again. But outside, the children had started quarreling over something for no clear reason, and the old lady went out first to act as judge;．here remained the hale old seafarer, sitting quietly, eating his pancake.

遍: biàn — 1. everywhere 2. all over 3. classifier for actions: one time (HSK 2)
似地: shì de — 1. (used to form an adverbial phrase X + 似地 (shì de)) like (X); as if (X) 2. Taiwan pr. (sì de)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
外面: wài miàn — 1. outside (also pr. (wài mian) for this sense) 2. surface 3. exterior 4. external appearance (HSK 3)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
孩子們: hái zi men — children
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
曉得: xiǎo de — to know (HSK 6)
因: yīn — 1. cause 2. reason 3. because (HSK 6)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
事: shì — 1. matter 2. thing 3. item 4. work 5. affair 6. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng), 回 (huí) (HSK 1)
鬧: nào — 1. noisy 2. cacophonous 3. to make noise 4. to disturb 5. to vent (feelings) 6. to fall ill 7. to have an attack (of sickness) 8. to go in (for some activity) 9. to joke (HSK 4)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
老太太: lǎo tài tai — 1. elderly lady (respectful) 2. esteemed mother 3. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 3)
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)
出去: chū qù — to go out (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)
判官: pàn guān — 1. magistrate (during Tang and Song dynasties) 2. mythological underworld judge
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)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (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)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (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)
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)
钁: jué — variant of 鐝 (jué)
鑠: shuò — 1. bright 2. to melt 3. to fuse
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)
航海者: háng hǎi zhě — navigator
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)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
喫: chī — variant of 吃 (chī) (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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
餅: bǐng — 1. round flat cake 2. cookie 3. cake 4. pastry 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng) (HSK 5)

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What it’s about

A sixty-five-year-old sailor returns from overseas and meets Madam Xiao, his friend from youth, after forty-five years. They remember his farewell beneath a flowering loquat tree, when she predicted they would meet again only once black ink could be washed white. His hair has now fulfilled the joke. Her husband has long been dead, she has grandchildren, and the pair resume their conversation as if the intervening decades could be counted on her fingers.

She serves the oyster pancakes he loved as a child and recalls his attempt to steal hers because it held more filling. His mother taught that ingredients are mixed unevenly and, once one cake is chosen and eaten, another cannot be demanded. Madam Xiao applies the lesson to circumstances: lives offer unequal portions, but selection cannot be repeated. Sailor and widow judge themselves equally satisfied despite different fillings, until noisy grandchildren call her away and he remains quietly eating, reunion folded into ongoing household life.

When it was written 背景

Despite the English sense of “meeting again,” 再會 can also serve as farewell; the title holds reunion and renewed separation together. The story's maritime absence and companionate nostalgia avoid turning an old friendship into belated romance. Instead food carries memory and a modest philosophy of irreversible choice. The mother's pancake analogy does not deny unequal fortune, but asks what satisfaction can mean after a life has already been consumed. Learners should trace sensory continuities—loquat and hair fragrance, white hair, oyster cakes—that make forty-five years tangible before reading the abstract discussion of 境遇.

Words in this chapter 生词

喫chīHSK 1喫chī — variant of 吃 (chī) (HSK 1)
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)
蔚wèi蔚wèi — Artemisia japonica · luxuriant · resplendent · impressive
牡蠣mǔ lì牡蠣mǔ lì — oyster
航海者háng hǎi zhě航海者háng hǎi zhě — navigator
麽mó麽mó — tiny · insignificant
時代Shí dàiHSK 3時代Shí dài — Time, US weekly news magazine (HSK 3)
老人家lǎo rén jiāHSK 7-9老人家lǎo rén jiā — polite term for old woman or man (HSK 7-9)
別緒bié xù別緒bié xù — emotions at time of parting
匀yún匀yún — even · well-distributed · uniform · to distribute evenly · to share
底氣dǐ qì底氣dǐ qì — lung capacity; lung power · boldness; confidence; self-assurance; vigor
彌月mí yuè彌月mí yuè — full moon · first full moon after birth (i.e. entering the second month)