鄉曲底狂言 Wild Words from the Countryside

A Countryman’s Wild Talk

，．，After living in the city for a long while, I am forever falling prey to homesickness for the countryside. I like going to the villages, and not merely because I delight in their mountains and waters,

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)
城市: chéng shì — 1. city; town 2. classifier: 座 (zuò) (HSK 3)
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)
久: jiǔ — (of a period of time) long (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)
每: měi — 1. each 2. every (HSK 3)
要害: yào hài — 1. vital part 2. (fig.) key point 3. crucial (HSK 7-9)
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)
村莊: cūn zhuāng — 1. village 2. hamlet 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) (HSK 6)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
相思病: xiāng sī bìng — lovesickness
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
喜歡: xǐ huan — to like; to be fond of (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)
村莊: cūn zhuāng — 1. village 2. hamlet 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) (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)
不單: bù dān — 1. not the only 2. not merely 3. not simply
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)
貪玩: tān wán — 1. to only want to have a good time 2. to just want to have fun, and to shy away from self-discipline
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)

；unstained by dust and grime;．I also love talking with the villagers. I often think that going to the country and hearing a farmer utter a few simple, clumsy words

，．is better than being treated to all the lofty discourses of the wise in the metropolis.

，．，，That day, we went out to the village again to visit Brother Long, the farmer. He was an elder of this little village, tilling a few mu of land himself

．．，and tending a garden besides. His life was indeed enviable. He knew that we did not care to sit in his low, shabby thatched hut,

還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
藝: yì — 1. skill 2. art
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)
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)
榮: Róng — surname Rong
園: Yuán — surname Yuan (HSK 6)
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)
生活: shēng huó — 1. to live 2. life 3. livelihood (HSK 2)
倒是: dào shi — 1. contrary to what one might expect 2. actually 3. contrariwise 4. why don't you (HSK 5)
可以: kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)
羨慕: xiàn mù — 1. to envy 2. to admire (HSK 7-9)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (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)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
不願: bù yuàn — unwilling
意: yì — 1. (bound form) idea; thought; meaning; sense 2. (bound form) intention; feeling; inclination; state of mind 3. (bound form) Italy (abbr. for 意大利 (Yì dà lì))
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)
矮: ǎi — 1. (of a person) short 2. (of a wall etc) low 3. (of rank) inferior (to); lower (than) (HSK 4)
陋: lòu — 1. low 2. humble 3. plain 4. ugly 5. mean 6. vulgar
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)
茅: Máo — surname Mao
茆: máo — 1. variant of 茅 (máo) 2. thatch
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)

．so he invited us to sit beneath the melon arbor outside the fence.

，．A long rainbow stretched across the sky, emerging from a hollow in the hills ahead, its seven-colored reflection imprinted on the surface of the limpid pool. We were gazing at it intently

，，『，．』when we suddenly heard Brother Long say, apparently to someone else, “Go around that way—there are people here.”

『，？』，．“I am a person too; why can I not pass this way?” We turned our heads, and the man was already standing before us. He knew, too,

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (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)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
爲: wéi — variant of 為 (wéi) (HSK 2)
何: Hé — surname He
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)
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: 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)
不得: bù dé — 1. must not 2. may not 3. not to be allowed 4. cannot
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
轉: zhuǎi — see 轉文 (zhuǎi wén) (HSK 3)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
已: yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (HSK 3)
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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
跟前: gēn qián — 1. the front (of) 2. (in) front 3. (in) sb's presence 4. just before (a date) (HSK 5)
邦: bāng — (bound form) country; nation; state
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)

，，．，．，．the courtesies expected when countrymen meet. We asked his name and invited him to sit down. Seeing this, Brother Long said no more.

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)
見: jiàn — 1. to see 2. to meet 3. to appear (to be sth) 4. to interview 5. opinion 6. view (HSK 1)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
應: Yīng — 1. surname Ying 2. Taiwan pr. (Yìng) (HSK 4)
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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
禮: Lǐ — 1. surname Li 2. abbr. for 禮記 (Lǐ jì), Classic of Rites (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)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
懂得: dǒng de — to understand; to know; to comprehend (HSK 2)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
問: wèn — to ask; to inquire (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (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)
姓名: xìng míng — surname and given name; full name (HSK 2)
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)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
隆: Lóng — 1. surname Long 2. short for 吉隆坡 (Jí lóng pō), Kuala Lumpur
哥: gē — elder brother (HSK 1)
看見: kàn jiàn — to see; to catch sight of (HSK 1)
這樣: zhè yàng — 1. this way; like this; so 2. (before a noun) this kind of; such (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (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)
不做聲: bù zuò shēng — 1. keep silent 2. not say a word
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

；He did not look like an ordinary man to us;，．，『but what exactly was wrong with him, we could not say. He said to us, “Ever since

，？I came back, I have no idea what the villagers take me for.，，I do not think I mean anyone harm: I do not strike people, make anyone suffer a loss,

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
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)
村: cūn — 1. village 2. (dialect) to scold 3. rustic; boorish (HSK 3)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
曉得: xiǎo de — to know (HSK 6)
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (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)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
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)
壞: huài — 1. bad 2. spoiled 3. broken 4. to break down 5. (suffix) to the utmost (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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (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)

，，——？』or take advantage of anyone. Why, then, do they bully me so—even forbidding me to walk along the road?”

，『？』，，『The friend who had come with me asked Brother Long, “What is his occupation?” Before Brother Long could answer, the man said, “I

，．』，，，『have work to do; I am a man with an occupation.” As he spoke, he drew a small account book from his pocket and said to my friend, “I

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)
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)
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)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
職業: zhí yè — 1. occupation; profession; vocation 2. professional (HSK 3)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (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)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
口袋: kǒu dài — 1. pocket 2. bag; sack (HSK 4)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
掏出: tāo chū — 1. to fish out 2. to take out (from a pocket, bag etc)
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)
本: běn — 1. (bound form) root; stem 2. (bound form) origin; source 3. (bound form) one's own; this 4. (bound form) this; the current (year etc) 5. (bound form) original 6. (bound form) inherent 7. originally; initially 8. capital; principal 9. classifier for books, periodicals, files etc (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
摺子: zhé zi — 1. folding notebook 2. accounts book
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)
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)
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

．，，am in trade. I have been at it a long time. I cannot tell whether the accounts recorded in this book show that people owe me, or that I owe them;

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)
做買賣: zuò mǎi mài — 1. to buy and sell 2. to do business 3. to trade 4. to deal
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (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)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
許久: xǔ jiǔ — 1. for a long time 2. for ages
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)
本: běn — 1. (bound form) root; stem 2. (bound form) origin; source 3. (bound form) one's own; this 4. (bound form) this; the current (year etc) 5. (bound form) original 6. (bound form) inherent 7. originally; initially 8. capital; principal 9. classifier for books, periodicals, files etc (HSK 1)
摺子: zhé zi — 1. folding notebook 2. accounts book
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (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)
記: jì — 1. to record 2. to note 3. to memorize 4. to remember 5. mark 6. sign 7. classifier for blows, kicks, shots (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
帳: zhàng — 1. (bound form) curtain; tent; canopy 2. variant of 賬 (zhàng)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
曉得: xiǎo de — to know (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)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)

，，．』，，I no longer remember clearly. Please look it over for me.” He handed the book to my friend, and we examined it together; it proved

！to be a worthless old account book from the Tongzhi reign!，．We could not help bursting into laughter, and Brother Long laughed too.

，．，Afraid that the man would make himself a laughingstock, Brother Long found a way to coax him off. When we asked about his history, Brother Long said that he had gone into trade in Tianjin as a youth,

隆: Lóng — 1. surname Long 2. short for 吉隆坡 (Jí lóng pō), Kuala Lumpur
哥: gē — elder brother (HSK 1)
怕: Pà — surname Pa (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)
招笑: zhāo xiào — to provoke laughter; silly; ridiculous
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)
想法: xiǎng fǎ — 1. way of thinking; opinion; notion 2. to think of a way (to do sth) (HSK 2)
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-
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)
哄: hōng — 1. roar of laughter (onom.) 2. hubbub 3. to roar (as a crowd) (HSK 7-9)
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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
問: wèn — to ask; to inquire (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)
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)
來歷: lái lì — 1. history 2. antecedents 3. origin (HSK 7-9)
隆: Lóng — 1. surname Long 2. short for 吉隆坡 (Jí lóng pō), Kuala Lumpur
哥: gē — elder brother (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)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
少: shǎo — 1. few 2. less 3. to lack 4. to be missing 5. to stop (doing sth) 6. seldom (HSK 1)

，，．．had not been heard from for a long time, and had only returned a few days before. Only then did we learn that he was a madman newly returned to the village.

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)
天津: Tiān jīn — Tianjin municipality (short name 津 (Jīn))
做買賣: zuò mǎi mài — 1. to buy and sell 2. to do business 3. to trade 4. to deal
許久: xǔ jiǔ — 1. for a long time 2. for ages
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
消息: xiāo xi — 1. (piece of) news; information 2. message 3. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 3)
前幾天: qián jǐ tiān — 1. a few days ago 2. a few days before 3. the past few days 4. the previous few days
剛: gāng — 1. (literary) hard; firm; strong 2. exactly; precisely 3. barely; only just 4. just; only a short while ago (HSK 2)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (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)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (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)
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)
村: cūn — 1. village 2. (dialect) to scold 3. rustic; boorish (HSK 3)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
新: Xīn — 1. abbr. for Xinjiang 新疆 (Xīn jiāng) 2. abbr. for Singapore 新加坡 (Xīn jiā pō) 3. surname Xin (HSK 1)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
狂人: kuáng rén — madman

？『？Brother Long said, “How can a perfectly sound man go to the city and come back a lunatic?，．，？』I have heard people say there are things called lunatic asylums in the city, which turn out madmen of this sort. You live in the city—do you know whether there is any truth in that?”

隆: Lóng — 1. surname Long 2. short for 吉隆坡 (Jí lóng pō), Kuala Lumpur
哥: gē — elder brother (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
怎麽: zěn me — variant of 怎麼 (zěn me) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
好好: hǎo hǎo — well; carefully; nicely; properly (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)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (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)
城市: chéng shì — 1. city; town 2. classifier: 座 (zuò) (HSK 3)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (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)
變成: biàn chéng — 1. to change into 2. to turn into 3. to become (HSK 2)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
瘋子: fēng zi — 1. madman 2. lunatic (HSK 7-9)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
聽見: tīng jiàn — to hear (HSK 1)
人家: rén jiā — 1. household 2. dwelling 3. family 4. sb else's house 5. household business 6. house of woman's husband-to-be 7. classifier: 戶 (hù), 家 (jiā) (HSK 4)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
城: chéng — 1. city walls 2. city 3. town 4. classifier: 座 (zuò), 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (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)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
瘋人院: fēng rén yuàn — insane asylum; mental hospital
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)
造就: zào jiù — 1. to bring up 2. to train 3. to contribute to 4. achievements (usually of young people) (HSK 7-9)
這種: zhè zhǒng — this kind of
瘋子: fēng zi — 1. madman 2. lunatic (HSK 7-9)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
你們: nǐ men — you (plural) (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)
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)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
可知: kě zhī — 1. evidently 2. clearly 3. no wonder 4. knowable
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)
有沒有: yǒu méi yǒu — 1. (before a noun) Do (you, they etc) have ...? 2. Is there a ...? 3. (before a verb) Did (you, they etc) (verb, infinitive)? 4. Have (you, they etc) (verb, past participle)? (HSK 6)
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)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
事: shì — 1. matter 2. thing 3. item 4. work 5. affair 6. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng), 回 (huí) (HSK 1)

，『！I replied, “What nonsense!；A lunatic asylum is a place people go only after they have gone mad;it does not take perfectly sound people in,

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
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)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
笑話: xiào hua — 1. joke; jest 2. to laugh at; to mock 3. ridiculous; absurd (HSK 2)
瘋人院: fēng rén yuàn — insane asylum; mental hospital
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)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
瘋: fēng — 1. insane 2. mad 3. wild (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)
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)
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)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
邊: biān — 1. side 2. edge 3. margin 4. border 5. boundary 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. simultaneously (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)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
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)
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)
好好: hǎo hǎo — well; carefully; nicely; properly (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)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
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)
那里: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)

．』teach them to be mad, and then let them out again.”

『，，，？』“If that is so, why does he not stay in a lunatic asylum, instead of running back here and causing trouble everywhere?”

『．』，，『“That I cannot tell you,” I replied, while my friend said to him at the same time, “We too are lunatics—why

？』do we not stay in a lunatic asylum?”

，『？』Brother Long asked in great surprise, “What?”

，『，？My friend said to me, “Tell me, am I not right?，？Strictly speaking, are we not mad as well?Perhaps it was the man just now

．，，，；who was not mad. Whatever is in our hearts, we dare not say aloud, nor dare we act upon it; all we can do is put on a certain face.We are not

那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
人才: rén cái — 1. talent 2. talented person 3. looks 4. attractive looks (HSK 3)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
狂: kuáng — 1. mad 2. wild 3. violent (HSK 5)
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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
心: xīn — 1. heart 2. mind 3. intention 4. center 5. core 6. classifier: 顆 (kē), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (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)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
口: kǒu — 1. mouth 2. classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc) 3. classifier for bites or mouthfuls (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
敢: gǎn — 1. to dare 2. daring 3. (polite) may I venture (HSK 3)
說: shuì — to persuade (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)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
敢: gǎn — 1. to dare 2. daring 3. (polite) may I venture (HSK 3)
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)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (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)
裝出: zhuāng chū — to assume (an air of)
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)
臉孔: liǎn kǒng — face
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: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)

，，，．as good as he, who says whatever he wishes to say and does whatever he wishes to do. We are incapable of such honesty. If we consider

如: rú — 1. as 2. as if 3. such as (HSK 6)
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)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
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)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
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)
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)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
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)
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)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
分: fēn — 1. to divide; to separate 2. to distribute; to allocate 3. to distinguish (good and bad) 4. (bound form) branch of (an organization); sub- (as in 分局 (fēn jú)) 5. fraction 6. one tenth (of certain units) 7. unit of length equivalent to 0.33 cm 8. minute (unit of time) 9. minute (angular measurement unit) 10. a point (in sports or games) 11. 0.01 yuan (unit of money) (HSK 1)
誠實: chéng shí — honest (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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
做不到: zuò bù dào — impossible
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
若: rě — 1. used in 般若 (bō rě) 2. used in 蘭若 (lán rě) (HSK 6)
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)

，，those actions of ours that betray the restraints upon us, and compare them with his sincere and unfettered conduct, is it not we who have become

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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
那些: nà xiē — those (HSK 1)
受: shòu — 1. to receive 2. to accept 3. to suffer 4. subjected to 5. to bear 6. to stand 7. pleasant 8. (passive marker) 9. (LGBT) bottom (HSK 3)
拘束: jū shù — 1. to restrict 2. to restrain 3. constrained 4. awkward 5. ill at ease 6. uncomfortable 7. reticent (HSK 7-9)
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)
顯出: xiǎn chū — 1. to express 2. to exhibit (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)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
動作: dòng zuò — 1. movement; motion; action 2. to act; to move (HSK 1)
比起: bǐ qǐ — compared with (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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
眞: zhēn — variant of 真 (zhēn)
誠: chéng — 1. (bound form) sincere; authentic 2. (literary) really; truly
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)
自由行: zì yóu xíng — travel organized by oneself rather than in a tour group
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)
豈不: qǐ bù — 1. how couldn't...? 2. wouldn't it...?
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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (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)
成: Chéng — 1. surname Cheng 2. short name for Chengdu 成都 (Chéng dū) (HSK 2)

？the madmen?，，．』Seen in this light, it is we who are mad, while he is not.”

：『，？Brother Long said impatiently, “We have all gone mad today. What is the use of talking about that man?，』Let us talk of something else.”

，．As we chatted idly beneath the melon arbor, the long rainbow reflected on the water slipped away unnoticed. Brother Long’s son came driving a pair of white geese toward the edge of the pool.

．．．My attention was again absorbed by those immaculate domestic birds. At the sight of the water, the geese too went mad. They called to each other twice,

邊: biān — 1. side 2. edge 3. margin 4. border 5. boundary 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. simultaneously (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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
精神: jīng shén — 1. spirit 2. mind 3. consciousness 4. thought 5. mental 6. psychological 7. essence 8. gist 9. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
貫注: guàn zhù — to concentrate on; to give full attention to
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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
純淨: chún jìng — 1. pure 2. clean 3. unmixed
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)
家禽: jiā qín — 1. poultry 2. domestic fowl (HSK 7-9)
身上: shēn shang — 1. on the body 2. at hand 3. among (HSK 1)
鵝: é — 1. goose 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)
見: jiàn — 1. to see 2. to meet 3. to appear (to be sth) 4. to interview 5. opinion 6. view (HSK 1)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
水: Shuǐ — 1. surname Shui 2. Shui ethnic group (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (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)
發狂: fā kuáng — 1. crazy 2. mad 3. madly
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
互: hù — mutual
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)
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)

，，．then flapped their wings and hurried into the water, trampling the still, bright mirror to pieces.

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What it’s about

Longing for village conversation after too much city life, the narrator and a friend visit farmer Long. A newly returned stranger protests that villagers deny him even the road although he harms no one. He claims to be a merchant and produces an account book from the Tongzhi era, unable to remember whether others owe him or he owes them. The visitors laugh and learn that years of urban business ended with his return as the village madman.

Long wonders whether city asylums manufacture madness and why this man is loose. The narrator's friend reverses the judgment: respectable people conceal thoughts and constrain actions behind fixed faces, while the stranger honestly says and does what he feels. Perhaps the inhibited visitors are mad and he is free. Long dismisses the argument as everyone's madness. A rainbow fades while geese rush into the pond and shatter its mirror, their exuberance offering a physical afterimage of the unsettling freedom just debated.

When it was written 背景

The title calls the exchange rustic wild talk, but Xu repeatedly lets allegedly foolish rural speech puncture urban intellectual confidence. The obsolete ledger is comic evidence that the stranger no longer shares ordinary time or accounting, yet his uncertainty over debtor and creditor echoes the collection's moral story 債. The friend's romantic praise of madness remains suspect because villagers must live with the disturbance he idealizes. Learners can follow 瘋, 狂 and 誠實 as labels migrate among speakers. The rainbow and white geese close debate with beauty that becomes most alive when it breaks a composed reflective surface.

Words in this chapter 生词

隆lōng隆lōng — sound of drums
囘huí囘huí — variant of 回 (huí)
瘋人院fēng rén yuàn瘋人院fēng rén yuàn — insane asylum; mental hospital
麽mó麽mó — tiny · insignificant
摺子zhé zi摺子zhé zi — folding notebook · accounts book
什shén什shén — what
狂人kuáng rén狂人kuáng rén — madman
哥gēHSK 1哥gē — elder brother (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)
長虹Cháng hóng長虹Cháng hóng — Changhong (brand)
淸qīng淸qīng — variant of 清 (qīng)
發狂fā kuáng發狂fā kuáng — crazy · mad · madly