落花生 The Peanut

Peanuts

．：『，，Behind our house there was half a mou of vacant land. Mother said: "It would seem a pity to let it lie waste; since you all love to eat peanuts so much,

．』——，let's clear it to make a peanut garden." My brothers, sisters and I, along with a few little maidservants, were all delighted — some went to buy seed, others broke the ground,

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)
闢: pì — 1. to open (a door) 2. to open up (for development) 3. to dispel; to refute; to repudiate 4. (bound form) penetrating; incisive
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)
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)
花生: huā shēng — 1. peanut 2. classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 6)
園: Yuán — surname Yuan (HSK 6)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
姊: zǐ — 1. older sister 2. Taiwan pr. (jiě)
弟: dì — 1. younger brother 2. junior male 3. I (modest word in letter) (HSK 1)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
幾個: jǐ ge — 1. a few 2. several 3. how many
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
丫頭: yā tou — 1. girl 2. servant girl 3. (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
喜歡: xǐ huan — to like; to be fond of (HSK 1)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (HSK 1)
種: zhǒng — 1. seed 2. species 3. kind 4. type 5. classifier for types, kinds, sorts (HSK 3)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (HSK 1)
種: zhǒng — 1. seed 2. species 3. kind 4. type 5. classifier for types, kinds, sorts (HSK 3)
動土: dòng tǔ — 1. to break ground (prior to building sth) 2. to start building

，；others watered the garden;，！in no more than a few months, we actually had a harvest!

：『，，Mother said: "Tonight let's hold a harvest festival, and also invite your father to come taste our fresh peanuts,

？』．，what do you say?" We all agreed. Mother made the peanuts into several kinds of dishes, and also told us that this festival was to be held in the

．thatched pavilion in the garden.

，，！The weather that evening was not very good, but Father came all the same — truly a rare thing!：『Father said: "Do you all love to eat peanuts

？』or not?"

，『！』We all vied to answer, "We do!"

『？』"Who can tell me the good points of the peanut?"

：『，』Elder sister said, "The peanut's flavor is delicious,"

：『．』Elder brother said, "Peanuts can be made into oil."

：『；I said, "Anyone, no matter who, can buy them cheaply and eat them;．．』everyone likes to eat them. That is their good point."

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
無論: wú lùn — 1. no matter what or how 2. regardless of whether... (HSK 4)
何等: hé děng — 1. what kind? 2. how, what 3. somewhat
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
可以: kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
賤: jiàn — 1. inexpensive 2. lowly 3. despicable 4. (bound form) (humble) my (HSK 7-9)
價: jià — 1. price 2. value 3. (chemistry) valence (HSK 5)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (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)
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)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
喜歡: xǐ huan — to like; to be fond of (HSK 1)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
這就: zhè jiù — 1. immediately 2. at once
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
好處: hǎo chǔ — easy to get along with (HSK 2)

：『；Father said, "It is true that the peanut has many uses;．but there is one thing about it that is very precious. This little bean is not like those fine-

爹爹: diē die — 1. daddy 2. granddad
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
花生: huā shēng — 1. peanut 2. classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 6)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
用處: yòng chu — 1. usefulness 2. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 6)
固然: gù rán — admittedly (it's true that...) (HSK 7-9)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
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)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
一樣: yī yàng — 1. same 2. like 3. equal to 4. the same as 5. just like (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)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
可貴: kě guì — 1. to be treasured 2. praiseworthy (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
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)
小小: xiǎo xiǎo — 1. very small 2. very few 3. very minor
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)
豆: dòu — 1. legume; pulse; bean; pea (classifier: 顆 (kē), 粒 (lì)) 2. (old) stemmed cup or bowl
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
好: hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)

、、，，，looking apples, peaches, and pomegranates, which hang their fruit on the branches, their bright red and tender green colors making people feel a longing

看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
蘋果: Píng guǒ — Apple (American tech company) (HSK 3)
桃子: táo zi — peach
石榴: shí liu — pomegranate
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)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
果實: guǒ shí — 1. fruit (produced by a plant) 2. (fig.) fruits (of success etc) 3. results 4. gains (HSK 4)
懸: xuán — 1. to hang or suspend 2. to worry 3. public announcement 4. unresolved 5. baseless 6. without foundation (HSK 6)
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)
枝: zhī — 1. branch 2. classifier for sticks, rods, pencils etc (HSK 6)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
鮮紅: xiān hóng — 1. scarlet 2. bright red
嫩綠: nèn lǜ — tender green; soft green
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)
顏色: yán sè — 1. color 2. countenance 3. appearance 4. facial expression 5. pigment 6. dyestuff (HSK 2)
令人: lìng rén — 1. to cause one (to do sth) 2. to make one (angry, delighted 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)
望: wàng — 1. full moon 2. to hope 3. to expect 4. to visit 5. to gaze (into the distance) 6. to look towards 7. towards (HSK 7-9)
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)
發生: fā shēng — to happen; to occur; to take place; to break out (HSK 3)
羨: xiàn — to envy

．，，，of admiration the moment they see them. It only buries its fruit in the earth, and not until it is ripe does it let anyone dig it out. If you happen to see a peanut

，，．』plant growing meekly on the ground, you cannot tell at once whether it bears fruit or not — you must wait until you touch it to know."

生: shēng — 1. to grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born 2. to arise; to occur 3. to light (a fire) 4. to live; to be alive 5. life 6. raw; uncooked; unprocessed 7. unfamiliar; strange 8. (bound form) student; person engaged in a field 9. (bound form) male role in traditional opera 10. (bound form) life; lifetime 11. (bound form) means of livelihood 12. (bound form) very; intensely (as in 生疼 (shēng téng)) 13. (bound form) in a forced manner (as in 生拉硬拽 (shēng lā yìng zhuài)) (HSK 2)
瑟縮: sè suō — 1. to curl up shivering (from cold) 2. timid and trembling (in fear) 3. to shrink 4. to cower
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
在地: zài dì — (Tw) local; native (from Taiwanese 在地, Tai-lo pr. [tsāi-tē])
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
辨: biàn — 1. to distinguish 2. to recognize
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
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)
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)
果實: guǒ shí — 1. fruit (produced by a plant) 2. (fig.) fruits (of success etc) 3. results 4. gains (HSK 4)
非得: fēi děi — (followed by a verb phrase, then – optionally – 不可, or 不行 etc) must (HSK 7-9)
等到: děng dào — 1. to wait until 2. by the time when (sth is ready etc) (HSK 2)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
接觸: jiē chù — 1. to touch 2. to contact 3. access 4. in touch with (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)
才能: cái néng — 1. talent 2. ability 3. capacity (HSK 3)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)

：『．』．：『，We all said, "Yes." Mother nodded too. Father went on to say, "So you should be like the peanut, because

，、．』：『，，、it is useful, not something great or good-looking." I said, "Then, a person should be a useful person, not one who seeks to be great and impressive-

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)
有用: yǒu yòng — useful (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
不是: bù shì — 1. no 2. is not 3. not
偉大: wěi dà — huge; great; grand; worthy of the greatest admiration; important (contribution etc) (HSK 3)
好看: hǎo kàn — 1. good-looking; nice-looking 2. (of a movie, book, TV show etc) good 3. in an embarrassing situation (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
東西: dōng xī — east and west (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
那麽: nà me — variant of 那麼 (nà me) (HSK 2)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (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)
有用: yǒu yòng — useful (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
不要: bù yào — don't!; must not (HSK 2)
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)
偉大: wěi dà — huge; great; grand; worthy of the greatest admiration; important (contribution etc) (HSK 3)
體: tī — 1. used in 體己 (tī ji) 2. Taiwan pr. (tǐ)

．』：『．』looking." Father said, "That is my hope for you all."

，，We talked until deep into the night before parting; although all the peanut dishes were gone, Father's words are still imprinted on my

．heart even now.

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What it’s about

A mother turns unused ground behind the house into a peanut garden because her children love eating them. The siblings and maids buy seed, dig and water; within months they harvest enough for a small festival. Their rarely present father joins them in the garden pavilion and asks each child to name the peanut's virtues. They mention flavor, oil and the low price that makes it available to everyone.

The father values something else: unlike apples, peaches and pomegranates that advertise bright fruit on their branches, peanuts hide underground and reveal their yield only when dug up. He hopes the children will resemble something useful rather than grand or impressive. The narrator restates the lesson and remembers it long after the food is gone. Domestic cultivation becomes moral education, but the family's shared labor and meal keep usefulness rooted in nourishment rather than austere self-denial.

When it was written 背景

This is Xu Dishan's best-known school-text essay and the source of his pen name Luohuasheng, literally “peanut.” Its accessible dialogue and explicit lesson have made it unusually durable in Chinese-language education. The comparison values modest service over visible status, an ethic tied both to family teaching and Xu's public literary identity. Modern readers may also notice that hidden fruit still requires others to dig and judge it. Learners can begin with the concrete farming verbs 買種, 動土 and 灌園, then follow the contrast between 有用 and 偉大、體面 that gives the parable its memorable close.

Words in this chapter 生词

花生huā shēngHSK 6花生huā shēng — peanut · classifier: 粒 (lì) (HSK 6)
爹爹diē die爹爹diē die — daddy · granddad
動土dòng tǔ動土dòng tǔ — to break ground (prior to building sth) · to start building
果實guǒ shíHSK 4果實guǒ shí — fruit (produced by a plant) · (fig.) fruits (of success etc) · results · gains (HSK 4)
夜闌yè lán夜闌yè lán — late at night · in the dead of night
底氣dǐ qì底氣dǐ qì — lung capacity; lung power · boldness; confidence; self-assurance; vigor
收穫節shōu huò jié收穫節shōu huò jié — harvest festival
節期jié qī節期jié qī — festival season
蘋果Píng guǒHSK 3蘋果Píng guǒ — Apple (American tech company) (HSK 3)
製油zhì yóu製油zhì yóu — to extract (vegetable) oil; oil extraction
食品shí pǐnHSK 3食品shí pǐn — foodstuff; food; provisions (HSK 3)
可貴kě guìHSK 7-9可貴kě guì — to be treasured · praiseworthy (HSK 7-9)