鴨的喜劇 A Comedy of Ducks

，：Not long after the blind Russian poet Mr. Eroshenko brought his six-stringed guitar to Beijing, he complained to me, saying:

俄國: É guó — Russia
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)
盲: máng — blind
詩人: shī rén — 1. bard 2. poet (HSK 4)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
帶: dài — 1. band 2. belt 3. girdle 4. ribbon 5. tire 6. area 7. zone 8. region 9. classifier: 條 (tiáo) 10. to wear 11. to carry 12. to take along 13. to bear (i.e. to have) 14. to lead 15. to bring 16. to look after 17. to raise (HSK 2)
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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
六: liù — 1. six 2. 6 (HSK 1)
弦: xián — 1. bow string 2. string of musical instrument 3. watchspring 4. chord (segment of curve) 5. hypotenuse 6. classifier: 根 (gēn) (HSK 7-9)
琴: qín — 1. guqin 古琴 (gǔ qín) (a type of zither) 2. musical instrument in general (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
之後: zhī hòu — 1. after; behind 2. (at the beginning of a sentence) afterwards; since then (HSK 4)
不久: bù jiǔ — 1. not long (after) 2. before too long 3. soon 4. soon after (HSK 2)
便: biàn — 1. plain 2. informal 3. suitable 4. convenient 5. opportune 6. to urinate or defecate 7. equivalent to 就 (jiù): then 8. in that case 9. even if 10. soon afterwards (HSK 6)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
訴苦: sù kǔ — 1. to grumble 2. to complain 3. grievance (HSK 7-9)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

「，，！」"Lonely, so lonely, lonely as if upon a desert!"

，；This must have been true, yet I myself had never felt it so;，「，」，。having lived there so long, "entering a room of iris and orchid, one ceases after a time to notice its fragrance," I only thought it was quite noisy.，。Yet what I call noise is perhaps what he called loneliness.

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)
應該: yīng gāi — ought to; should; must (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
真實: zhēn shí — true; real (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)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
未曾: wèi céng — hasn't (or haven't); hasn't ever
感: gǎn — 1. to feel 2. to move 3. to touch 4. to affect 5. feeling 6. emotion 7. (suffix) sense of ~
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (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)
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)
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)
入: rù — 1. to enter; to go into 2. to join; to become a member of 3. (bound form) to conform to (as in 入時 (rù shí)) 4. abbr. for 入聲 (rù shēng) 5. (on product packaging, after {number n} + {classifier}) containing (n pieces) (from Japanese 入 "iri") (HSK 6)
芝蘭之室: zhī lán zhī shì — lit. a room with irises and orchids (idiom); fig. in wealthy and pleasant company
久: jiǔ — (of a period of time) long (HSK 3)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
聞: Wén — surname Wen (HSK 2)
其: qí — 1. his 2. her 3. its 4. their 5. that 6. such 7. it (refers to sth preceding it) (HSK 5)
香: xiāng — 1. fragrant 2. sweet smelling 3. aromatic 4. savory or appetizing 5. (to eat) with relish 6. (of sleep) sound 7. perfume or spice 8. joss or incense stick 9. classifier: 根 (gēn) (HSK 3)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
以為: yǐ wéi — to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief) (HSK 2)
很是: hěn shì — (formal) very; quite; deeply (usu. followed by a two-syllable adjective or verb)
嚷嚷: rāng rang — 1. to argue noisily 2. to shout 3. to make widely known 4. to reproach
罷了: bà le — a modal particle indicating (that's all, only, nothing much) (HSK 6)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
所謂: suǒ wèi — 1. what is meant by the expression ...; what is referred to as ... 2. (derog.) so-called (HSK 7-9)
嚷嚷: rāng rang — 1. to argue noisily 2. to shout 3. to make widely known 4. to reproach
或者: huò zhě — 1. or 2. possibly; maybe; perhaps (HSK 2)
也就是: yě jiù shì — in other words; i.e.
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)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
所謂: suǒ wèi — 1. what is meant by the expression ...; what is referred to as ... 2. (derog.) so-called (HSK 7-9)
寂寞: jì mò — 1. lonely 2. lonesome 3. (of a place) quiet 4. silent (HSK 7-9)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish

。I, for my part, feel as though Beijing has no spring and no autumn.，，。Old residents of Beijing say that the earth's climate has shifted northward, and that in earlier times it was not so mild here.；But I have always thought there is simply no spring and no autumn;，，。the end of winter joins directly onto the start of summer, and no sooner has summer departed than winter begins again.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (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)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
彷彿: fǎng fú — 1. to seem; as if; seemingly 2. alike; similar (HSK 6)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
春: Chūn — surname Chun
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
秋: Qiū — surname Qiu
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
於: yú — 1. (of time or place) in; at; on 2. (indicating any indirect relation) to; toward; vis-à-vis; with regard to; for 3. (indicating a source) from; out of 4. (used in comparison) than 5. (used in the passive voice) by (HSK 6)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (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)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
氣: qì — 1. gas; air 2. smell 3. weather 4. to make angry; to annoy; to get angry 5. vital energy; qi (HSK 2)
北: běi — 1. north 2. (classical) to be defeated (HSK 1)
轉: zhuǎi — see 轉文 (zhuǎi wén) (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)
這裡: zhè lǐ — here (HSK 1)
在先: zài xiān — 1. to come first 2. previous 3. prior 4. beforehand 5. first 6. formerly
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)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
這麼: zhè me — 1. so much 2. this much 3. how much? 4. this way 5. like this (HSK 2)
和暖: hé nuǎn — pleasantly warm (weather)
只是: zhǐ shì — 1. merely; only; just; nothing but 2. simply 3. but; however (HSK 3)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
總: zǒng — 1. (bound form) general; overall 2. to sum up 3. in every case; always; invariably 4. anyway; after all; eventually; sooner or later 5. surely 6. (after a person's name) abbr. for 總經理 (zǒng jīng lǐ) or 總編 (zǒng biān) etc (HSK 3)
以為: yǐ wéi — to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief) (HSK 2)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
春: Chūn — surname Chun
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
秋: Qiū — surname Qiu
冬: dōng — winter
末: me — variant of 麼 (me) (HSK 4)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
夏: Xià — 1. the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC 2. Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407–432) 3. surname Xia
初: chū — 1. (bound form) at first; initially 2. (bound form) first; early 3. (bound form) (in lunar calendar dates, before numerals 1–10) days 1 to 10 of a month, as in 初三 (chū sān) "the third" (HSK 3)
銜接: xián jiē — to link up; to connect; to join (HSK 7-9)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
夏: Xià — 1. the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC 2. Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407–432) 3. surname Xia
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
冬: dōng — winter
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
開始: kāi shǐ — 1. to begin 2. beginning 3. to start 4. initial 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (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)

，，，。One day, at just such a time between the end of winter and the beginning of summer, and at night besides, I chanced to have some leisure, and went to call on Mr. Eroshenko.；He had all along been lodging at Mr. Zhongmi's house;，。at that hour the household had all gone to bed, and all under heaven was very quiet.，，，。He sat alone leaning on his own couch, his high brows faintly knitted amid his long golden hair, thinking of Burma, the land of his former travels, and of Burmese summer nights.

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)
日: rì — 1. (bound form) sun 2. day 3. day of the month 4. (bound form) Japan (abbr. for 日本 (Rì běn)) 5. (vulgar) to fuck; to have sex with (HSK 1)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
冬: dōng — winter
末: me — variant of 麼 (me) (HSK 4)
夏: Xià — 1. the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC 2. Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407–432) 3. surname Xia
初: chū — 1. (bound form) at first; initially 2. (bound form) first; early 3. (bound form) (in lunar calendar dates, before numerals 1–10) days 1 to 10 of a month, as in 初三 (chū sān) "the third" (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
夜間: yè jiān — 1. nighttime 2. evening or night (e.g. classes) (HSK 5)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
偶而: ǒu ér — 1. occasionally 2. once in a while
得了: dé le — 1. all right! 2. that's enough! (HSK 5)
閒暇: xián xiá — leisure
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)
訪問: fǎng wèn — 1. to visit; to call on (a person or place) 2. (computing) to visit (a website); to access (a network resource etc) 3. (Tw) to interview (e.g. for a report or feature story) 4. classifier: 次 (cì) (HSK 3)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
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)
一向: yī xiàng — 1. a period of time in the recent past 2. (indicating a period of time up to the present) all along; the whole time (HSK 5)
寓: yù — 1. (bound form) to reside; to inhabit 2. (bound form) residence; dwelling 3. (bound form) to imply; to place; to contain (sth abstract)
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)
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
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)
家裡: jiā lǐ — home (HSK 1)
這時: zhè shí — 1. at this time 2. at this moment (HSK 2)
一家: yī jiā — 1. the whole family 2. the same family 3. the family ... (when preceded by a family name) 4. group
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)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
睡: shuì — 1. to sleep 2. to lie down (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)
覺: jiào — 1. a nap 2. a sleep 3. classifier: 場 (cháng) (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)
天下: tiān xià — 1. land under heaven 2. the whole world 3. the whole of China 4. realm 5. rule (HSK 6)
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)
安靜: ān jìng — 1. quiet 2. peaceful 3. calm (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)
獨自: dú zì — alone (HSK 4)
靠: kào — 1. to lean against or on 2. to stand by the side of 3. to come near to 4. to depend on 5. to trust 6. to fuck (vulgar) 7. traditional military costume drama where the performers wear armor (old) (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臥榻: wò tà — 1. a couch 2. a narrow bed
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (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)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (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)
眉: méi — 1. eyebrow 2. upper margin
棱: lēng — 1. used in 刺棱 (cī lēng) 2. used in 花不棱登 (huā bu lēng dēng) 3. used in 撲棱 (pū lēng)
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)
金黃色: jīn huáng sè — gold color
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)
長髮: cháng fà — long hair
之間: zhī jiān — 1. (after a noun) between; among; amid 2. (used after certain bisyllabic words to form expressions indicating a short period of time, e.g. 彈指之間 (tán zhǐ zhī jiān)) (HSK 4)
微: Wēi — 1. surname Wei 2. ancient Chinese state near present-day Chongqing 3. Taiwan pr. (Wéi)
蹙: cù — 1. to knit (one's brows) 2. wrinkled (of brows) 3. to hesitate 4. distressed
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (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)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
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)
舊遊: jiù yóu — 1. place one has previously visited 2. old haunts
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
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)
緬甸: Miǎn diàn — Myanmar (or Burma)
緬甸: Miǎn diàn — Myanmar (or Burma)
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)
夏: Xià — 1. the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC 2. Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407–432) 3. surname Xia
夜: yè — night (HSK 2)

「，」，「。"On a night like this," he said, "in Burma the whole earth is full of music.，，，，，，。In the rooms, in the grass, in the trees, insects chirp and cry, all manner of sounds joining into an ensemble, most wondrous.：'！'……」，。Amid them, again and again, comes the hiss of a snake: 'sss-sss!' yet it too harmonizes with the insects' voices..." He fell into thought, as though trying to recall the scene of that time.

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)
夜間: yè jiān — 1. nighttime 2. evening or night (e.g. classes) (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)
說: shuì — to persuade (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)
緬甸: Miǎn diàn — Myanmar (or Burma)
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)
遍地: biàn dì — 1. everywhere 2. all over (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)
音樂: yīn yuè — 1. music 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 曲 (qǔ), 段 (duàn) (HSK 2)
房: Fáng — surname Fang
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
草: cǎo — 1. grass 2. straw 3. manuscript 4. draft (of a document) 5. careless 6. rough 7. classifier: 棵 (kē), 撮 (zuǒ), 株 (zhū), 根 (gēn) (HSK 2)
間: jiān — 1. between 2. among 3. within a definite time or space 4. room 5. section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars 6. classifier for rooms (HSK 1)
樹: shù — 1. tree 2. classifier: 棵 (kē) 3. to cultivate 4. to set up (HSK 1)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (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)
昆蟲: kūn chóng — 1. insect 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 群 (qún), 堆 (duī) (HSK 7-9)
吟: yín — 1. to chant; to recite 2. verse; song (often used in titles of classical poems) 3. (literary) to lament; to groan 4. (bound form) (in poetry) the cry of certain animals and insects 5. (music) rapid vibrato (technique for playing the guqin 古琴 (gǔ qín)) (cf. 猱 (náo), wide vibrato)
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)
各種: gè zhǒng — every kind of; all kinds of; various (HSK 3)
聲音: shēng yīn — sound; voice (HSK 2)
成為: chéng wéi — to become; to turn into (HSK 2)
合奏: hé zòu — to perform music (as an ensemble)
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)
神奇: shén qí — 1. magical 2. mystical 3. miraculous (HSK 5)
其間: qí jiān — 1. in between 2. within that interval 3. in the meantime (HSK 7-9)
時時: shí shí — 1. often 2. constantly (HSK 6)
夾: gā — used in 夾肢窩 (gā zhi wō) (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
蛇: shé — 1. snake 2. serpent 3. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 5)
鳴: míng — 1. to cry (of birds, animals and insects) 2. to make a sound 3. to voice (one's gratitude, grievance etc)
嘶: sī — 1. hiss 2. neigh 3. Ss! (sound of air sucked between the teeth, indicating hesitation or thinking over)
嘶: sī — 1. hiss 2. neigh 3. Ss! (sound of air sucked between the teeth, indicating hesitation or thinking over)
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
與: yú — variant of 歟 (yú) (HSK 6)
蟲: chóng — 1. lower form of animal life, including insects, insect larvae, worms and similar creatures 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo), 隻 (zhī) 3. (fig.) person with a particular undesirable characteristic
聲: shēng — 1. sound 2. voice 3. tone 4. noise 5. reputation 6. classifier for sounds (HSK 5)
相: Xiāng — surname Xiang
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
協: xié — 1. to cooperate 2. to harmonize 3. to help 4. to assist 5. to join
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)
沉思: chén sī — 1. to contemplate 2. to ponder 3. contemplation 4. meditation (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
想要: xiǎng yào — 1. to want to 2. to feel like 3. to fancy 4. to care for sb 5. desirous of
追想: zhuī xiǎng — to recall
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)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (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)
情景: qíng jǐng — 1. scene; spectacle 2. circumstances; situation (HSK 4)
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)

。I could not bring myself to speak.，，，，，。Such marvelous music I had certainly never heard in Beijing, so however patriotic I might be, I could find no defense, for although his eyes could see nothing, his ears were not deaf.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
開: kāi — 1. to open (transitive or intransitive) 2. (of ships, vehicles, troops etc) to start 3. to turn on; to put in operation; to operate; to run 4. to boil 5. to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc) 6. (directional complement) away; off 7. carat (gold) 8. abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文 (Kāi ěr wén) 9. abbr. for 開本 (kāi běn), book format (HSK 1)
不得: bù dé — 1. must not 2. may not 3. not to be allowed 4. cannot
口: kǒu — 1. mouth 2. classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc) 3. classifier for bites or mouthfuls (HSK 1)
這樣: zhè yàng — 1. this way; like this; so 2. (before a noun) this kind of; such (HSK 2)
奇妙: qí miào — wonderful; marvelous; intriguing; mysterious; strange (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
音樂: yīn yuè — 1. music 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 曲 (qǔ), 段 (duàn) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (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)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
確乎: què hū — 1. really 2. indeed
未曾: wèi céng — hasn't (or haven't); hasn't ever
聽到: tīng dào — to hear (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
即使: jí shǐ — even if; even though (HSK 5)
如何: rú hé — 1. how 2. what way 3. what (HSK 3)
愛國: ài guó — 1. to love one's country 2. patriotic (HSK 4)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
辯護: biàn hù — 1. to speak in defense of 2. to argue in favor of 3. to defend 4. to plead (HSK 7-9)
不得: bù dé — 1. must not 2. may not 3. not to be allowed 4. cannot
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
目: mù — 1. eye 2. (literary) to look; to regard 3. eye (of a net); mesh 4. mesh size; grit size (abbr. for 目數 (mù shù)) 5. item; section 6. list; catalogue 7. (taxonomy) order 8. name; title
無: mó — used in 南無 (nā mó) (HSK 4)
所見: suǒ jiàn — 1. (literary) what one sees 2. (literary) opinion; view
耳朵: ěr duo — 1. ear 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 個 (gè), 對 (duì) 3. handle (on a cup) (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)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
聾: lóng — deaf (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)

「……」。"But in Beijing there is not even the croaking of frogs..." he sighed again.

「！」，，，「，，，，。」"There are frogs croaking!" This sigh of his, though, roused my courage, and so I protested, "Come summer, after a heavy rain, you'll hear plenty of toads croaking — they're all down in the ditches, because Beijing has ditches everywhere."

蛙: wā — 1. frog 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī)
鳴: míng — 1. to cry (of birds, animals and insects) 2. to make a sound 3. to voice (one's gratitude, grievance etc)
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)
有的: yǒu de — 1. (there are) some (who are...) 2. some (exist) (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)
嘆息: tàn xī — to sigh; to gasp (in admiration)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
使: shǐ — 1. to make 2. to cause 3. to enable 4. to use 5. to employ 6. to send 7. to instruct sb to do sth 8. envoy 9. messenger (HSK 3)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
勇猛: yǒng měng — 1. bold and powerful 2. brave and fierce
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
抗議: kàng yì — 1. to protest 2. protest (HSK 6)
說: shuì — to persuade (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)
夏天: xià tiān — 1. summer 2. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
大雨: dà yǔ — 1. heavy rain 2. classifier: 場 (cháng)
之後: zhī hòu — 1. after; behind 2. (at the beginning of a sentence) afterwards; since then (HSK 4)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (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)
能: Néng — surname Neng (HSK 1)
聽到: tīng dào — to hear (HSK 1)
許多: xǔ duō — 1. many 2. a lot of 3. much (HSK 2)
蝦蟆: há ma — variant of 蛤蟆 (há ma)
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)
那是: nà shi — 1. (coll.) of course 2. naturally 3. indeed
都: Dū — surname Du (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)
溝: gōu — 1. ditch 2. gutter 3. groove 4. gully 5. ravine 6. classifier: 道 (dào) (HSK 5)
裡面: lǐ miàn — 1. inside 2. interior 3. also pr. (lǐ mian) (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
到處: dào chù — everywhere (HSK 2)
都: Dū — surname Du (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)
溝: gōu — 1. ditch 2. gutter 3. groove 4. gully 5. ravine 6. classifier: 道 (dào) (HSK 5)

「……」"Oh..."

，，。A few days later, my words were in fact confirmed, for Mr. Eroshenko had already bought a dozen or so tadpoles.。Having bought them, he put them straight into the small pond in the middle of the courtyard outside his window.，，，。That pond was three feet long and two feet wide, dug by Zhongmi as a lotus pond for growing lotus flowers.，，。Although this lotus pond had never in fact produced so much as half a lotus blossom, it turned out to be a perfectly suitable place for raising toads.

過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
幾天: jǐ tiān — several days
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的話: de huà — if (coming after a conditional clause) (HSK 2)
居然: jū rán — 1. unexpectedly 2. to one's surprise 3. go so far as to (HSK 5)
證實: zhèng shí — 1. to confirm (sth to be true) 2. to verify (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)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (HSK 1)
到了: dào liǎo — 1. at last 2. finally 3. in the end
十幾: shí jǐ — more than ten; a dozen or more
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
蝌蚪: kē dǒu — 1. tadpole 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 條 (tiáo)
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-
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)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (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)
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)
放: fàng — 1. to put 2. to place 3. to release 4. to free 5. to let go 6. to let out 7. to set off (fireworks) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
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)
窗: chuāng — 1. window 2. classifier: 扇 (shàn)
外: wài — 1. outside 2. in addition 3. foreign 4. external (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)
院子: yuàn zi — 1. courtyard 2. garden 3. yard 4. patio 5. classifier: 個 (gè) 6. (old) servant (HSK 2)
中央: zhōng yāng — 1. central 2. middle 3. center 4. central authorities (of a state) (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
池: Chí — surname Chi
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
池: Chí — surname Chi
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)
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)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
尺: chě — one of the characters used to represent a musical note in gongche notation, 工尺譜 (gōng chě pǔ) (HSK 4)
寬: Kuān — surname Kuan (HSK 4)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
尺: chě — one of the characters used to represent a musical note in gongche notation, 工尺譜 (gōng chě pǔ) (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)
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
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)
掘: jué — to dig
以: Yǐ — abbr. for Israel 以色列 (Yǐ sè liè) (HSK 7-9)
種: zhǒng — 1. seed 2. species 3. kind 4. type 5. classifier for types, kinds, sorts (HSK 3)
荷花: hé huā — lotus (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)
荷: Hé — Holland; the Netherlands (abbr. for 荷蘭 (Hé lán))
池: Chí — surname Chi
從: Cóng — surname Cong (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)
荷: Hé — Holland; the Netherlands (abbr. for 荷蘭 (Hé lán))
池: Chí — surname Chi
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
從來沒有: cóng lái méi yǒu — 1. there has never been; has never had 2. (before a verb) has never
見: jiàn — 1. to see 2. to meet 3. to appear (to be sth) 4. to interview 5. opinion 6. view (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
朵: duǒ — 1. flower 2. earlobe 3. fig. item on both sides 4. classifier for flowers, clouds etc (HSK 5)
荷花: hé huā — lotus (HSK 7-9)
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)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
蝦蟆: há ma — variant of 蛤蟆 (há ma)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
實在: shí zài — 1. really 2. actually 3. indeed 4. true 5. real 6. honest 7. dependable 8. (philosophy) reality (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
極: jí — 1. extremely 2. pole (geography, physics) 3. utmost 4. top (HSK 4)
合式: hé shì — 1. conforming to a pattern; up to standard 2. variant of 合適 (hé shì)
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)
處所: chù suǒ — place

；The tadpoles swam about in the water in great swarms;。and Mr. Eroshenko too would often stroll over to visit them.，，「，。」，「！」Sometimes the children would tell him, "Mr. Eroshenko, they've grown legs." and he would smile with delight and say, "Oh!"

蝌蚪: kē dǒu — 1. tadpole 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 條 (tiáo)
成群結隊: chéng qún jié duì — (idiom) making up a group; forming a troupe; in large numbers; as a large crowd (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)
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)
水: Shuǐ — 1. surname Shui 2. Shui ethnic group (HSK 1)
裡面: lǐ miàn — 1. inside 2. interior 3. also pr. (lǐ mian) (HSK 3)
游泳: yóu yǒng — 1. swimming 2. to swim (HSK 3)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
常常: cháng cháng — frequently; often (HSK 1)
踱: duó — 1. to pace; to stroll 2. Taiwan pr. (duò)
來訪: lái fǎng — to pay a visit (HSK 7-9)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
有時候: yǒu shí hou — sometimes (HSK 1)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
告訴: gào sù — to press charges; to file a complaint (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
先生: xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
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)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
腳: jiǎo — 1. foot 2. leg (of an animal or an object) 3. base (of an object) 4. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) 5. classifier for kicks (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)
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)
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)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (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)
微笑: wēi xiào — 1. smile 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 絲 (sī) 3. to smile (HSK 4)
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)
哦: é — to chant (HSK 7-9)

。Yet raising this pond of musicians was but one of Mr. Eroshenko's undertakings.，，。He had always advocated self-sufficiency through one's own labor, often saying that women could raise livestock while men ought to till the fields.，；So whenever he met a close friend, he would urge that friend to grow cabbages right there in the courtyard;，，，，，。and he also repeatedly urged Mrs. Zhongmi to keep bees, keep chickens, keep pigs, keep cattle, keep camels.，，，。Later on, the Zhongmi household did indeed come to have a great many chicks, running all over the courtyard and pecking clean the tender leaves of the creeping fig, and this was perhaps the result of that urging.

然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
養成: yǎng chéng — 1. to cultivate 2. to raise 3. to form (a habit) 4. to acquire (HSK 4)
池沼: chí zhǎo — 1. pool 2. pond
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)
音樂家: yīn yuè jiā — musician
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
只是: zhǐ shì — 1. merely; only; just; nothing but 2. simply 3. but; however (HSK 3)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
件: jiàn — 1. item 2. component 3. classifier for events, things, clothes etc (HSK 2)
事: shì — 1. matter 2. thing 3. item 4. work 5. affair 6. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng), 回 (huí) (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)
向來: xiàng lái — always (previously) (HSK 7-9)
主張: zhǔ zhāng — 1. to advocate 2. to stand for 3. view 4. position 5. stand 6. proposition 7. viewpoint 8. assertion 9. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
自食其力: zì shí qí lì — 1. lit. to eat off one's own strength (idiom) 2. fig. to stand on one's own feet 3. to earn one's own living
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)
常: Cháng — surname Chang (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
女人: nǚ rén — woman (HSK 1)
可以: kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)
畜牧: xù mù — to raise animals
男人: nán rén — 1. a man 2. a male 3. men 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (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)
應該: yīng gāi — ought to; should; must (HSK 2)
種田: zhòng tián — 1. to farm 2. farming
所以: suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)
遇到: yù dào — to meet; to run into; to come across (HSK 4)
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)
熟: shú — 1. ripe; mature 2. thoroughly cooked; done 3. familiar; acquainted 4. experienced; skilled 5. (of sleep etc) deep; profound 6. also pr. (shóu) (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)
友人: yǒu rén — friend (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)
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)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
勸誘: quàn yòu — 1. to prevail upon 2. to coax
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)
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)
院子: yuàn zi — 1. courtyard 2. garden 3. yard 4. patio 5. classifier: 個 (gè) 6. (old) servant (HSK 2)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
種: zhǒng — 1. seed 2. species 3. kind 4. type 5. classifier for types, kinds, sorts (HSK 3)
白菜: bái cài — 1. Chinese cabbage, esp. napa cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) 2. sometimes used to refer to bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) 3. classifier: 棵 (kē) (HSK 3)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
屢次: lǚ cì — 1. repeatedly 2. time and again (HSK 7-9)
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)
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
夫人: fū ren — 1. lady 2. madam 3. Mrs. 4. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 4)
勸告: quàn gào — 1. to advise 2. to urge 3. to exhort 4. exhortation 5. advice 6. classifier: 席 (xí) (HSK 7-9)
勸: quàn — 1. to advise 2. to urge 3. to try to persuade 4. to exhort 5. to console 6. to soothe (HSK 5)
伊: Yī — surname Yi
養蜂: yǎng fēng — to raise bees
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
雞: jī — 1. fowl 2. chicken 3. classifier: 隻 (zhī) 4. (slang) prostitute (HSK 2)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
豬: zhū — 1. hog 2. pig 3. swine 4. classifier: 口 (kǒu), 頭 (tóu) (HSK 3)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
牛: Niú — surname Niu (HSK 3)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
駱駝: luò tuo — 1. camel (classifier: 峰 (fēng), 匹 (pǐ), 頭 (tóu)) 2. (coll.) blockhead; ninny
後來: hòu lái — 1. afterwards; later 2. newly arrived (HSK 2)
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
果然: guǒ rán — 1. really 2. sure enough 3. as expected 4. if indeed (HSK 3)
有了: yǒu le — 1. I've got a solution! 2. to have a bun in the oven (abbr. for 有了胎 (yǒu le tāi))
許多: xǔ duō — 1. many 2. a lot of 3. much (HSK 2)
小雞: xiǎo jī — chick
滿: Mǎn — Manchu ethnic group (HSK 2)
院: yuàn — 1. courtyard 2. institution 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
飛跑: fēi pǎo — 1. to run like the wind 2. to rush 3. to gallop
啄: zhuó — to peck
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)
鋪: pū — 1. to spread 2. to display 3. to set up 4. (old) holder for door-knocker (HSK 6)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
錦: jǐn — 1. brocade 2. embroidered work 3. bright
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)
嫩葉: nèn yè — tender young leaves
大約: dà yuē — 1. approximately 2. probably (HSK 3)
也許: yě xǔ — perhaps; maybe (HSK 2)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
勸告: quàn gào — 1. to advise 2. to urge 3. to exhort 4. exhortation 5. advice 6. classifier: 席 (xí) (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)
結果: jiē guǒ — to bear fruit (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)

，，，，；From then on the country folk who sold chicks also came by often, and each time they came a few more were bought, for chicks easily fall ill with indigestion or heat rash, and rarely live long;《》。and one of them even became the protagonist of the one and only story Mr. Eroshenko wrote in Beijing, "The Tragedy of the Chick."，，；One morning, that country fellow unexpectedly brought along some ducklings too, peeping away;。but Mrs. Zhongmi said they didn't want any.，，。Mr. Eroshenko also ran out, and they put one into his two hands, and the duckling peeped away there in his hands.，，，。He thought this was very lovable too, and so could not help but buy them, in the end buying four in all, at eighty cash apiece.

從此: cóng cǐ — 1. from now on 2. since then 3. henceforth (HSK 4)
賣: mài — 1. to sell 2. to betray 3. to spare no effort 4. to show off or flaunt (HSK 2)
小雞: xiǎo jī — chick
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)
鄉下人: xiāng xià rén — 1. country folk 2. rustic 3. rural folk
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
時常: shí cháng — often; frequently (HSK 5)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
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)
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)
回: Huí — Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims) (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)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (HSK 1)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
隻: zhī — classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc (HSK 2)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
小雞: xiǎo jī — chick
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)
容易: róng yì — 1. easy; straightforward 2. likely; liable to; apt to (HSK 3)
積食: jī shí — (of food) to retain in stomach due to indigestion (TCM)
發: fā — 1. to send out 2. to show (one's feeling) 3. to issue 4. to develop 5. to make a bundle of money 6. classifier for gunshots (rounds) (HSK 2)
痧: shā — cholera
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)
難得: nán dé — 1. seldom 2. rare 3. hard to come by (HSK 5)
長壽: Cháng shòu — see 長壽區 (Cháng shòu Qū) (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (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: 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)
匹: pǐ — 1. (bound form) matching; comparable to 2. (bound form) alone; single; one of a pair 3. classifier for horses, mules etc (Taiwan pr. (pī)) 4. classifier for cloth: bolt 5. horsepower (HSK 5)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
成了: chéng le — 1. to be done 2. to be ready 3. that's enough! 4. that will do!
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
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)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (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)
作: zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)
唯一: wéi yī — only; sole (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
小說: xiǎo shuō — 1. novel 2. fiction 3. classifier: 本 (běn), 部 (bù) (HSK 2)
小雞: xiǎo jī — chick
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)
悲劇: bēi jù — 1. tragedy 2. classifier: 齣 (chū) (HSK 5)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
主人公: zhǔ rén gōng — hero (of a novel or film); main protagonist (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)
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)
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)
上午: shàng wǔ — morning (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
鄉下人: xiāng xià rén — 1. country folk 2. rustic 3. rural folk
竟: jìng — 1. unexpectedly 2. actually 3. to go so far as to 4. indeed (HSK 7-9)
意外: yì wài — 1. unexpected 2. accident 3. mishap 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (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)
帶: dài — 1. band 2. belt 3. girdle 4. ribbon 5. tire 6. area 7. zone 8. region 9. classifier: 條 (tiáo) 10. to wear 11. to carry 12. to take along 13. to bear (i.e. to have) 14. to lead 15. to bring 16. to look after 17. to raise (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
咻: xiū — 1. call out 2. jeer
咻: xiū — 1. call out 2. jeer
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)
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)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
但是: dàn shì — but; however (HSK 2)
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
夫人: fū ren — 1. lady 2. madam 3. Mrs. 4. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 4)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
不要: bù yào — don't!; must not (HSK 2)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
跑出: pǎo chū — to run out
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)
他們: tā men — they; them (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)
放: fàng — 1. to put 2. to place 3. to release 4. to free 5. to let go 6. to let out 7. to set off (fireworks) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
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)
兩手: liǎng shǒu — 1. one's two hands 2. two prongs (of a strategy) 3. both aspects, eventualities etc 4. skills 5. expertise (HSK 6)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
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)
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)
兩手: liǎng shǒu — 1. one's two hands 2. two prongs (of a strategy) 3. both aspects, eventualities etc 4. skills 5. expertise (HSK 6)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
咻: xiū — 1. call out 2. jeer
咻: xiū — 1. call out 2. jeer
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)
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
以為: yǐ wéi — to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief) (HSK 2)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
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)
可愛: kě ài — 1. adorable 2. cute 3. lovely (HSK 2)
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
不能不: bù néng bù — 1. have to 2. cannot but (HSK 5)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (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)
一共: yī gòng — in total; altogether (HSK 2)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (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)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
每個: měi gè — each; every
八十: bā shí — 1. eighty 2. 80
文: Wén — surname Wen (HSK 7-9)

，，，，，。The ducklings truly were lovable, their down a pale pine-blossom yellow all over; set down on the ground, they toddled along unsteadily, calling to one another, always keeping together.，。Everyone agreed it was good, and said tomorrow they would go buy loach to feed them.，「。」Mr. Eroshenko said, "This money I can provide too."

小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
誠然: chéng rán — 1. indeed 2. true! (I agree with you)
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)
可愛: kě ài — 1. adorable 2. cute 3. lovely (HSK 2)
遍身: biàn shēn — over the whole body
松: Sōng — surname Song (HSK 4)
花黃: huā huáng — yellow flower (cosmetic powder used on women's forehead in former times)
放: fàng — 1. to put 2. to place 3. to release 4. to free 5. to let go 6. to let out 7. to set off (fireworks) (HSK 1)
在地: zài dì — (Tw) local; native (from Taiwanese 在地, Tai-lo pr. [tsāi-tē])
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
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)
蹣跚: pán shān — to walk unsteadily; to stagger; to lurch; to hobble; to totter
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
走: 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)
互相: hù xiāng — 1. each other 2. mutually 3. mutual (HSK 3)
招呼: zhāo hu — 1. to call out to 2. to greet 3. to say hello to 4. to inform 5. to take care of 6. to take care that one does not (HSK 4)
總是: zǒng shì — always (HSK 3)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
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)
處: chǔ — 1. to reside 2. to live 3. to dwell 4. to be in 5. to be situated at 6. to stay 7. to get along with 8. to be in a position of 9. to deal with 10. to discipline 11. to punish (HSK 4)
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
說好: shuō hǎo — 1. to come to an agreement 2. to complete negotiations
明天: míng tiān — tomorrow (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)
買: mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (HSK 1)
泥鰍: ní qiu — 1. loach 2. mud fish 3. classifier: 條 (tiáo)
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)
餵: wèi — to feed (HSK 2)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
說: shuì — to persuade (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)
錢: Qián — surname Qian (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
可以: kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)
歸: Guī — surname Gui (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
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)

；He then went off to teach his classes;。and everyone else scattered as well.，，，，，，。Before long, when Mrs. Zhongmi brought cold rice to feed them, from a distance she could already hear the sound of splashing water; running over to look, it turned out all four ducklings were bathing in the lotus pond, and were even turning somersaults and eating things.，，，，；By the time they were shooed up onto the bank, the whole pond was muddy water; only after quite a while did it clear, and then one saw only a few slender lotus roots showing through the mud;。and never again could a single tadpole that had already grown legs be found.

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)
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
教書: jiāo shū — to work as a teacher; to teach (in a school)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
走散: zǒu sàn — 1. to wander off 2. to stray 3. to get lost
不一會: bù yī huì — soon
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
夫人: fū ren — 1. lady 2. madam 3. Mrs. 4. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 4)
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)
冷: Lěng — surname Leng (HSK 1)
飯: fàn — 1. cooked rice 2. classifier: 碗 (wǎn) 3. meal 4. classifier: 頓 (dùn) 5. (loanword) fan 6. devotee (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)
餵: wèi — to feed (HSK 2)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
遠處: yuǎn chù — distant place (HSK 5)
已: yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (HSK 3)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
潑水: pō shuǐ — to splash water
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)
聲音: shēng yīn — sound; voice (HSK 2)
跑: páo — (of an animal) to paw (the ground) (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)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
原來: yuán lái — 1. original; former 2. originally; formerly; at first 3. so, actually, as it turns out (HSK 2)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
都: Dū — surname Du (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)
荷: Hé — Holland; the Netherlands (abbr. for 荷蘭 (Hé lán))
池: Chí — surname Chi
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
洗澡: xǐ zǎo — 1. to bathe 2. to take a shower (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)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
翻: fān — 1. to turn over 2. to flip over 3. to overturn 4. to rummage through 5. to translate 6. to decode 7. to double 8. to climb over or into 9. to cross (HSK 4)
觔: jīn — 1. variant of 筋 (jīn) 2. variant of 斤 (jīn)
鬥: dòu — 1. to fight 2. to struggle 3. to condemn 4. to censure 5. to contend 6. to put together 7. coming together (HSK 7-9)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
東西: dōng xī — east and west (HSK 1)
呢: ne — 1. (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?") 2. (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation still holds 3. (discourse particle) used to mark a slight pause or emphasis in speech (HSK 1)
等到: děng dào — 1. to wait until 2. by the time when (sth is ready etc) (HSK 2)
攔: lán — 1. to block sb's path 2. to obstruct 3. to flag down (a taxi) (HSK 7-9)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
岸: àn — bank; shore; beach; coast (HSK 5)
全: Quán — surname Quan (HSK 2)
池: Chí — surname Chi
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
渾: hún — 1. muddy; turbid 2. brainless; foolish 3. (bound form) simple; natural 4. (bound form) whole; entire; all over
水: Shuǐ — 1. surname Shui 2. Shui ethnic group (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
半天: bàn tiān — 1. half of the day 2. a long time 3. quite a while 4. midair 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
澄清: chéng qīng — 1. clear (of liquid) 2. limpid 3. to clarify 4. to make sth clear 5. to be clear (about the facts) (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
只見: zhǐ jiàn — 1. to see (the same thing) over and over again 2. to see, to one's surprise, (sth happen suddenly) (HSK 5)
泥: ní — 1. mud 2. clay 3. paste 4. pulp (HSK 6)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
露出: lù chū — 1. to expose 2. to show 3. also pr. (lòu chū)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
條: tiáo — 1. strip 2. item 3. article 4. clause (of law or treaty) 5. classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc) (HSK 2)
細: xì — 1. thin or slender 2. finely particulate 3. thin and soft 4. fine 5. delicate 6. trifling 7. (of a sound) quiet 8. frugal (HSK 4)
藕: ǒu — root of lotus
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)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
再也: zài yě — (not) ever again; (not) any longer (HSK 5)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
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)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
腳: jiǎo — 1. foot 2. leg (of an animal or an object) 3. base (of an object) 4. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) 5. classifier for kicks (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)
蝌蚪: kē dǒu — 1. tadpole 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 條 (tiáo)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

「，，。」，，。"Elohsienko, they're gone, the toads' children." Toward evening, as soon as the children saw him come home, the youngest one hurried to say.

伊: Yī — surname Yi
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
希: xī — 1. to hope 2. to admire 3. variant of 稀 (xī)
珂: kē — jade-like stone
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)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (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)
蝦蟆: há ma — variant of 蛤蟆 (há ma)
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)
兒子: ér zi — son (HSK 1)
傍晚: bàng wǎn — 1. in the evening 2. when night falls 3. towards evening 4. at night fall 5. at dusk (HSK 6)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
孩子們: hái zi men — children
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)
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)
回來: huí lai — to return; to come back (HSK 1)
最: zuì — 1. (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est 2. (after 之 (zhī)) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最 (shì jiè zhī zuì) "the greatest in the world") (HSK 1)
小的: xiǎo de — 1. (coll.) young child; the little one(s) of the family 2. (old) (humble) I; me; my (used by a commoner when speaking to an official)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
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)
趕緊: gǎn jǐn — 1. hurriedly 2. without delay (HSK 3)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

「，？」"Hm, the toads?"

，。Mrs. Zhongmi too came out, and reported the whole story of how the ducklings had eaten up all the tadpoles.

「，！……」。"Ai, ai!..." was all he said.

，「」，。By the time the ducklings had shed their yellow down, Mr. Eroshenko suddenly began longing for his "Mother Russia," and hurriedly set off for Chita.

待: dāi — to stay; to remain (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
褪: tuì — 1. to take off (clothes); to shed (feathers) 2. (of color) to fade 3. (fig.) (of emotions, awareness etc) to fade 4. Taiwan pr. (tùn)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
黃: Huáng — surname Huang or Hwang (HSK 2)
毛: Máo — surname Mao (HSK 1)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
忽而: hū ér — 1. suddenly 2. now (..., now...)
渴: kě — thirsty (HSK 1)
唸: niàn — variant of 念 (niàn), to read aloud (HSK 3)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
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)
俄羅斯: É luó sī — Russia
母親: mǔ qīn — mother (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)
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)
匆匆: cōng cōng — hurriedly (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)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
赤: chì — 1. red 2. scarlet 3. bare 4. naked
塔: tǎ — 1. pagoda (abbr. for 塔婆 (tǎ pó), a loanword from Sanskrit stūpa); tower; pylon (classifier: 座 (zuò)) 2. (loanword) (pastry) tart (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)

，，，，，「」。By the time frogs were croaking on every side, the ducklings too had already grown to full size, two white and two speckled, and no longer peeped, but all cried "quack, quack" instead.，，，，，，，，「」。The lotus pond, too, had long since become too small to hold their wanderings; fortunately the Zhongmi residence stood on rather low ground, so that once the summer rains came the courtyard filled with standing water, and there they would happily swim, dive, flap their wings, and cry "quack, quack."

待: dāi — to stay; to remain (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
四處: sì chù — 1. all over the place 2. everywhere and all directions (HSK 6)
蛙: wā — 1. frog 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī)
鳴: míng — 1. to cry (of birds, animals and insects) 2. to make a sound 3. to voice (one's gratitude, grievance 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)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
長成: zhǎng chéng — to grow up
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (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)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
花: Huā — surname Hua (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)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
不復: bù fù — no longer; not again
咻: xiū — 1. call out 2. jeer
咻: xiū — 1. call out 2. jeer
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)
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)
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)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
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)
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)
荷花: hé huā — lotus (HSK 7-9)
池: Chí — surname Chi
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
早已: zǎo yǐ — 1. for a long time; long since 2. (dialect) in the past (HSK 3)
容: Róng — surname Rong
不下: bù xià — to be not less than (a certain quantity, amount etc)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
盤桓: pán huán — 1. to pace 2. to linger 3. to stay over 4. to spiral 5. to hover
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
幸而: xìng ér — 1. by good fortune 2. luckily
仲: Zhòng — surname Zhong
密: Mì — 1. surname Mi 2. name of an ancient state (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
住家: zhù jiā — 1. residence 2. household 3. to reside
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)
地勢: dì shì — 1. terrain 2. topography relief
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)
低: dī — 1. low 2. beneath 3. to lower (one's head) 4. to let droop 5. to hang down 6. to incline (HSK 2)
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)
夏: Xià — 1. the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC 2. Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407–432) 3. surname Xia
雨: yǔ — 1. rain 2. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 場 (cháng) (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)
降: jiàng — 1. to drop 2. to fall 3. to come down 4. to descend (HSK 4)
院子: yuàn zi — 1. courtyard 2. garden 3. yard 4. patio 5. classifier: 個 (gè) 6. (old) servant (HSK 2)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
滿: Mǎn — Manchu ethnic group (HSK 2)
積: jī — 1. to amass; to accumulate; to store up 2. (math.) product (the result of multiplication) 3. (TCM) constipation; indigestion (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
水: Shuǐ — 1. surname Shui 2. Shui ethnic group (HSK 1)
他們: tā men — they; them (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)
欣: xīn — happy
欣然: xīn rán — 1. gladly 2. cheerfully
游水: yóu shuǐ — to swim
鑽: zuān — 1. to drill 2. to bore 3. to get into 4. to make one's way into 5. to enter (a hole) 6. to thread one's way through 7. to study intensively 8. to dig into 9. to curry favor for personal gain (HSK 6)
水: Shuǐ — 1. surname Shui 2. Shui ethnic group (HSK 1)
拍: pāi — 1. to pat 2. to clap 3. to slap 4. to swat 5. to take (a photo) 6. to shoot (a film) 7. racket (sports) 8. beat (music) (HSK 3)
翅子: chì zi — 1. shark's fin 2. wing 3. classifier: 隻 (zhī)
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
鴨: yā — 1. duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) 2. (slang) male prostitute
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)
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)

，，。Now it has turned again from late summer into early winter, and Mr. Eroshenko still sends no word at all — one does not know where he really is now.

現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
夏: Xià — 1. the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC 2. Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407–432) 3. surname Xia
末: me — variant of 麼 (me) (HSK 4)
交: jiāo — 1. to hand over; to deliver; to pay (money); to turn over 2. to make friends 3. (of lines) to intersect 4. variant of 跤 (jiāo) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
冬: dōng — winter
初: chū — 1. (bound form) at first; initially 2. (bound form) first; early 3. (bound form) (in lunar calendar dates, before numerals 1–10) days 1 to 10 of a month, as in 初三 (chū sān) "the third" (HSK 3)
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)
愛羅先珂: Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
君: jūn — 1. monarch 2. lord 3. gentleman 4. ruler
還是: hái shi — 1. still (as before) 2. had better 3. unexpectedly 4. or (HSK 1)
絕: jué — 1. to cut short 2. extinct 3. to disappear 4. to vanish 5. absolutely 6. by no means (HSK 6)
無: mó — used in 南無 (nā mó) (HSK 4)
消息: xiāo xi — 1. (piece of) news; information 2. message 3. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 3)
不知: bù zhī — 1. not to know 2. unaware 3. unknowingly 4. fig. not to admit (defeat, hardships, tiredness etc) (HSK 7-9)
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
究竟: jiū jìng — 1. to go to the bottom of a matter 2. after all 3. when all is said and done 4. (in an interrogative sentence) finally 5. outcome 6. result (HSK 4)
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)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (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)

，「」。Only the four ducks are left, still crying "quack, quack" upon the desert.

October, 1922

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What it’s about

The blind Russian poet Vasili Eroshenko, who really did lodge in Lu Xun's Beijing courtyard, complains that Peking has no music in it — lonely, he says, lonely as a desert. So he sets about supplying some himself. Tadpoles go into the pond so that there will be frogs to listen to in the summer, and he talks about keeping cows and chickens and having a proper farm one day.

Then a peddler comes through the lane with ducklings, and Eroshenko buys four of them at eight coppers each and puts them in the water to hear them swim. The ducklings eat the tadpoles. By the time he has left Peking for Chita the frogs he was waiting for are gone for good, four full-grown ducks own the pond, and they shout at each other in it. The comedy of the title is the poet's, and nobody in the story is to blame for anything that happens in it.

When it was written 背景

Published in the magazine 婦女雜誌 (The Ladies' Journal) in December 1922, and barely fiction at all: Eroshenko lodged with the Zhou brothers in 1922, and the courtyard, the pond and the ducks are reported rather than invented. It is the lightest chapter in the book and among the shortest, with easy conversational Chinese and a handful of animal words to pick up. Read it on an evening off — it is also the only place in 吶喊 where a foreigner is a person in the room rather than a rumour going round the village.

Words in this chapter 生词

愛羅先珂Ài luó xiān kē愛羅先珂Ài luó xiān kē — Vasili Eroshenko (1890-1952), Russian writer and poet who wrote in Esperanto and Japanese
緬甸Miǎn diàn緬甸Miǎn diàn — Myanmar (or Burma)
蝌蚪kē dǒu蝌蚪kē dǒu — tadpole · classifier: 隻 (zhī), 條 (tiáo)
鴨yā鴨yā — duck (classifier: 隻 (zhī)) · (slang) male prostitute
仲zhòng仲zhòng — second month of a season · middle · intermediate · second amongst brothers
咻xiū咻xiū — call out · jeer
蝦蟆há ma蝦蟆há ma — variant of 蛤蟆 (há ma)
勸告quàn gàoHSK 7-9勸告quàn gào — to advise · to urge · to exhort · exhortation · advice · classifier: 席 (xí) (HSK 7-9)
北京Běi jīngHSK 1北京Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
君jūn君jūn — monarch · lord · gentleman · ruler
池chí池chí — pond · reservoir · moat
荷花hé huāHSK 7-9荷花hé huā — lotus (HSK 7-9)