《野草》英文譯本序

馮Y·S·先生由他的友人給我看《野草》的英文譯本，並且要我說幾句話。Mr. Feng Y.S., through a friend of his, showed me the English translation of Wild Grass, and asked me to say a few words.可惜我不懂英文，只能自己說幾句。Unfortunately I do not know English, and can only say a few words on my own account.但我希望，譯者將不嫌我只做了他所希望的一半的。But I hope the translator will not mind that I have done only half of what he wished.

馮

Féng — surname Feng

先生

xiān sheng — 1. teacher 2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) 3. husband 4. (dialect) doctor 5. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)

由

yóu — 1. to follow 2. from 3. because of; due to 4. by; via; through 5. (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ... (HSK 3)

他

tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)

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)

給

gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

看

kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)

野草

yě cǎo — 1. weeds 2. mistress or prostitute (old)

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)

英文

Yīng wén — English (language) (HSK 2)

譯本

yì běn — translation (translated version of a text)

並且

bìng qiě — and; besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition (HSK 3)

要

yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

說

shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

幾

jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)

句

gōu — variant of 勾 (gōu) (HSK 2)

話

huà — 1. dialect 2. language 3. spoken words 4. speech 5. talk 6. words 7. conversation 8. what sb said 9. classifier: 種 (zhǒng), 席 (xí), 句 (jù), 口 (kǒu), 番 (fān) (HSK 1)

可惜

kě xī — 1. it is a pity 2. what a pity 3. unfortunately (HSK 5)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

不

bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)

懂

dǒng — 1. to understand 2. to comprehend (HSK 2)

英文

Yīng wén — English (language) (HSK 2)

只能

zhǐ néng — 1. can only 2. obliged to do sth 3. to have no other choice (HSK 2)

自己

zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)

說

shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

幾

jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)

句

gōu — variant of 勾 (gōu) (HSK 2)

但

dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

希望

xī wàng — 1. to hope 2. a hope; a wish (HSK 3)

譯者

yì zhě — translator (of writing)

將

jiāng — 1. will 2. shall 3. to use 4. to take 5. to checkmate 6. just a short while ago 7. (introduces object of main verb, used in the same way as 把 (bǎ)) (HSK 5)

不

bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)

嫌

xián — 1. to dislike 2. suspicion 3. resentment 4. enmity 5. abbr. for 嫌犯 (xián fàn), criminal suspect (HSK 6)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

只

zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)

做

zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)

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)

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)

希望

xī wàng — 1. to hope 2. a hope; a wish (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)

一半

yī bàn — half (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)

冯Y·S·先生由他的友人给我看《野草》的英文译本，并且要我说几句话。可惜我不懂英文，只能自己说几句。但我希望，译者将不嫌我只做了他所希望的一半的。

這二十多篇小品，如每篇末尾所注，是一九二四至二六年在北京所作，陸續發表于期刊《語絲》上的。These more than twenty short pieces, as noted at the end of each, were written between 1924 and 1926 in Beijing, and published one after another in the periodical Yusi.大抵僅僅是隨時的小感想。For the most part they are merely passing small impressions.因為那時難于直說，所以有時措辭就很含糊了。Because at that time it was difficult to speak plainly, the wording sometimes became rather vague.

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)

二十多

èr shí duō — over 20

篇

piān — 1. sheet 2. piece of writing 3. bound set of bamboo slips used for record keeping (old) 4. classifier for written items: chapter, article (HSK 2)

小品

xiǎo pǐn — 1. short, simple literary or artistic creation 2. essay 3. skit (HSK 7-9)

如

rú — 1. as 2. as if 3. such as (HSK 6)

每

měi — 1. each 2. every (HSK 3)

篇

piān — 1. sheet 2. piece of writing 3. bound set of bamboo slips used for record keeping (old) 4. classifier for written items: chapter, article (HSK 2)

末尾

mò wěi — end; tip; extremity

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)

注

zhù — 1. (bound form) to pour into; to flow into; to inject 2. (bound form) to focus (one's spirit, gaze etc) on a single point; to concentrate 3. (bound form) stake (in gambling) 4. classifier for stakes, sums of money, transactions or beams of light 5. variant of 註 (zhù) (HSK 7-9)

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

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)

九

jiǔ — 1. nine 2. 9 (HSK 1)

二

èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)

四

sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)

至

zhì — 1. to arrive 2. most 3. to 4. until (HSK 5)

二

èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)

六

liù — 1. six 2. 6 (HSK 1)

年

Nián — surname Nian (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)

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)

陸續

lù xù — 1. in turn 2. successively 3. one after the other 4. bit by bit (HSK 4)

發表

fā biǎo — 1. to issue 2. to publish (HSK 3)

于

Yú — surname Yu (HSK 6)

期刊

qī kān — periodical

語

yǔ — 1. dialect 2. language 3. speech

絲

sī — 1. silk 2. thread-like thing; (cuisine) shreds or julienne strips 3. classifier: a trace (of smoke etc), a tiny bit etc (HSK 7-9)

上

shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (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)

大抵

dà dǐ — 1. generally speaking 2. by and large 3. for the most part

僅僅

jǐn jǐn — 1. barely 2. only 3. merely 4. only (this and nothing more) (HSK 3)

是

shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)

隨時

suí shí — 1. at any time; at all times 2. at the right time; whenever necessary (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)

小

xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)

感想

gǎn xiǎng — 1. impressions 2. reflections 3. thoughts 4. classifier: 通 (tòng), 個 (gè) (HSK 5)

因為

yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)

那時

nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)

難

nán — 1. difficult (to...) 2. problem 3. difficulty 4. difficult 5. not good (HSK 1)

于

Yú — surname Yu (HSK 6)

直

Zhí — 1. surname Zhi 2. Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God (HSK 3)

說

shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

所以

suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (HSK 2)

有時

yǒu shí — 1. sometimes 2. now and then (HSK 1)

措辭

cuò cí — 1. wording 2. way of expressing something 3. turn of phrase 4. diction

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)

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)

含糊

hán hu — 1. ambiguous 2. vague 3. careless 4. perfunctory (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)

这二十多篇小品，如每篇末尾所注，是一九二四至二六年在北京所作，陆续发表于期刊《语丝》上的。大抵仅仅是随时的小感想。因为那时难于直说，所以有时措辞就很含糊了。

現在舉幾個例罷。Let me give a few examples now.因為諷刺當時盛行的失戀詩，作《我的失戀》，因為憎惡社會上旁觀者之多，作《複仇》第一篇，又因為驚異于青年之消沈，作《希望》。《這樣的戰士》，是有感于文人學士們幫助軍閥而作。《臘葉》，是為愛我者的想要保存我而作的。Because I was satirizing the lovelorn poems then in fashion, I wrote "My Lost Love"; because I detested the great number of onlookers in society, I wrote the first piece of "Revenge"; and because I was startled by the dejection of the young, I wrote "Hope." "Such a Fighter" was written out of feeling roused by men of letters and scholars helping the warlords. "Wax Leaf" was written for the sake of those who loved me and wished to preserve me.段祺瑞政府槍擊徒手民衆後，作《淡淡的血痕中》，其時我已避居別處；After the Duan Qirui government fired on unarmed people, I wrote "In the Faint Bloodstains"; by that time I had already gone into hiding elsewhere;奉天派和直隸派軍閥戰爭的時候，作《一覺》，此後我就不能住在北京了。When the Fengtian and Zhili warlord factions were at war, I wrote "An Awakening"; after that I could no longer live in Beijing.

現在

xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)

舉

jǔ — 1. to lift 2. to hold up 3. to cite 4. to enumerate 5. to act 6. to raise 7. to choose 8. to elect 9. act 10. move 11. deed (HSK 2)

幾個

jǐ ge — 1. a few 2. several 3. how many

例

lì — 1. example 2. precedent 3. rule 4. case 5. instance

罷

bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish

因為

yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)

諷刺

fěng cì — 1. to satirize 2. to mock 3. irony 4. satire 5. sarcasm (HSK 7-9)

當時

dāng shí — then; at that time (HSK 2)

盛行

shèng xíng — to be in vogue; to be popular; to be prevalent (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)

失戀

shī liàn — 1. to lose one's love 2. to break up (in a romantic relationship) 3. to feel jilted (HSK 7-9)

詩

Shī — abbr. for Shijing 詩經 (Shī jīng), the Book of Songs (HSK 4)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (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)

失戀

shī liàn — 1. to lose one's love 2. to break up (in a romantic relationship) 3. to feel jilted (HSK 7-9)

因為

yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)

憎惡

zēng è — to hate evil

社會

shè huì — society (HSK 3)

上

shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)

旁觀者

páng guān zhě — 1. observer 2. spectator

之

zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)

多

duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

複

fù — 1. to repeat 2. to double 3. to overlap 4. complex (not simple) 5. compound 6. composite 7. double 8. diplo- 9. duplicate 10. overlapping 11. to duplicate

仇

Qiú — surname Qiu (HSK 7-9)

第一

dì yī — 1. first 2. most important; primary; foremost

篇

piān — 1. sheet 2. piece of writing 3. bound set of bamboo slips used for record keeping (old) 4. classifier for written items: chapter, article (HSK 2)

又

yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)

因為

yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)

驚異

jīng yì — amazed

于

Yú — surname Yu (HSK 6)

青年

qīng nián — 1. youth 2. youthful years 3. young person 4. the young (HSK 2)

之

zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)

消

xiāo — 1. to diminish; to subside 2. to consume; to reduce 3. to idle away (the time) 4. (after 不 (bù) or 只 (zhǐ) or 何 (hé) etc) to need; to require; to take (HSK 7-9)

沈

Shěn — surname Shen

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

希望

xī wàng — 1. to hope 2. a hope; a wish (HSK 3)

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)

戰士

zhàn shì — 1. fighter 2. soldier 3. warrior 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (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)

有

yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)

感

gǎn — 1. to feel 2. to move 3. to touch 4. to affect 5. feeling 6. emotion 7. (suffix) sense of ~

于

Yú — surname Yu (HSK 6)

文人

wén rén — cultivated individual; scholar; literati (HSK 7-9)

學士

xué shì — 1. bachelor's degree 2. person holding a university degree (HSK 7-9)

們

men — plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals

幫助

bāng zhù — 1. assistance; aid 2. to help; to assist (HSK 2)

軍閥

jūn fá — 1. military clique 2. junta 3. warlord

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)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

臘

là — 1. ancient practice of offering sacrifices to the gods in the 12th lunar month 2. the 12th lunar month 3. (bound form) (of meat, fish etc) cured in winter, esp. in the 12th lunar month

葉

Yè — surname Ye

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)

為

wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)

愛

ài — 1. to love; to be fond of; to like 2. affection 3. to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen) (HSK 1)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

者

zhě — 1. (after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ... 2. (after a noun) person involved in ... 3. -er 4. -ist 5. (used after a number or 後 (hòu) or 前 (qián) to refer to sth mentioned previously) 6. (used after a term, to mark a pause before defining the term) 7. (old) (used at the end of a command) 8. (old) this

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)

想要

xiǎng yào — 1. to want to 2. to feel like 3. to fancy 4. to care for sb 5. desirous of

保存

bǎo cún — to conserve; to preserve; to keep; to store; (computing) to save (a file etc) (HSK 3)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (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)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (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)

段祺瑞

Duàn Qí ruì — Duan Qirui (1864-1936), commander of Beiyang Army under Yuan Shikai, then politician and powerful warlord

政府

zhèng fǔ — 1. government 2. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 4)

槍擊

qiāng jī — 1. to shoot with a gun 2. shooting incident

徒手

tú shǒu — 1. with bare hands 2. unarmed 3. fighting hand-to-hand 4. freehand (drawing)

民

Mín — surname Min

衆

zhòng — variant of 眾 (zhòng)

後

hòu — 1. back 2. behind 3. rear 4. afterwards 5. after 6. later 7. post- (HSK 1)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

淡淡

dàn dàn — 1. faint 2. dim 3. dull 4. insipid 5. unenthusiastic 6. indifferent

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)

血

xiě — see 血 (xuè) (HSK 3)

痕

hén — 1. scar 2. traces

中

Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)

其

qí — 1. his 2. her 3. its 4. their 5. that 6. such 7. it (refers to sth preceding it) (HSK 5)

時

Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

已

yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (HSK 3)

避

bì — 1. to avoid 2. to shun 3. to flee 4. to escape 5. to keep away from 6. to leave 7. to hide from (HSK 4)

居

Jū — surname Ju

別處

bié chù — elsewhere

奉天

Fèng tiān — old name for Shenyang 瀋陽 in modern Liaoning province

派

pā — used in 派司 (pā si) (HSK 3)

和

Hé — surname He (HSK 1)

直隸

Zhí lì — Zhili, a province from Ming times until 1928, roughly corresponding to present-day Hebei

派

pā — used in 派司 (pā si) (HSK 3)

軍閥

jūn fá — 1. military clique 2. junta 3. warlord

戰爭

zhàn zhēng — 1. war; conflict 2. classifier: 場 (cháng), 次 (cì) (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)

時候

shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (HSK 1)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

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)

覺

jiào — 1. a nap 2. a sleep 3. classifier: 場 (cháng) (HSK 6)

此後

cǐ hòu — 1. after this 2. afterwards 3. hereafter (HSK 5)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

就

jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)

不能

bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not

住

zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)

在

zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)

北京

Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (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)

现在举几个例罢。因为讽刺当时盛行的失恋诗，作《我的失恋》，因为憎恶社会上旁观者之多，作《复仇》第一篇，又因为惊异于青年之消沈，作《希望》。《这样的战士》，是有感于文人学士们帮助军阀而作。《腊叶》，是为爱我者的想要保存我而作的。段祺瑞政府枪击徒手民众后，作《淡淡的血痕中》，其时我已避居别处；奉天派和直隶派军阀战争的时候，作《一觉》，此后我就不能住在北京了。

所以，這也可以說，大半是廢馳的地獄邊沿的慘白色小花，當然不會美麗。So it may be said that most of these are pale, wretched little flowers on the edge of a decaying hell, and of course they cannot be beautiful.但這地獄也必須失掉。But this hell, too, must inevitably be lost.這是由幾個有雄辯和辣手，而當時還未得志的英雄們的臉色和語氣所告訴我的。This is what the expressions and tones of voice of a few heroes, eloquent and ruthless-handed but as yet unsuccessful in their day, told me.我于是作《失掉的好地獄》。So I wrote "The Good Hell That Was Lost."

所以

suǒ yǐ — 1. therefore 2. as a result 3. so 4. the reason why (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)

可以

kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)

說

shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

大半

dà bàn — 1. more than half 2. greater part 3. most 4. probably 5. most likely

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)

廢

fèi — 1. to abolish 2. to abandon 3. to abrogate 4. to discard 5. to depose 6. to oust 7. crippled 8. abandoned 9. waste (HSK 7-9)

馳

chí — 1. to run fast 2. to speed 3. to gallop 4. to disseminate 5. to spread

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)

地獄

dì yù — 1. hell; underworld; (Buddhism) Naraka 2. (coll.) (of humor, jokes, content etc) extremely dark or morally transgressive (HSK 7-9)

邊沿

biān yán — 1. edge 2. fringe

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)

慘白

cǎn bái — deathly pale (HSK 7-9)

色

sè — 1. color 2. classifier: 種 (zhǒng) 3. look 4. appearance 5. sex (HSK 4)

小花

xiǎo huā — (coll.) popular young actress

當然

dāng rán — 1. only natural 2. as it should be 3. certainly 4. of course 5. without doubt (HSK 3)

不會

bù huì — 1. improbable 2. unlikely 3. will not (act, happen etc) 4. not able 5. not having learned to do sth 6. (coll.) (Tw) don't mention it 7. not at all

美麗

měi lì — beautiful (HSK 3)

但

dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (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)

地獄

dì yù — 1. hell; underworld; (Buddhism) Naraka 2. (coll.) (of humor, jokes, content etc) extremely dark or morally transgressive (HSK 7-9)

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

必須

bì xū — 1. to have to 2. must 3. compulsory 4. necessarily (HSK 2)

失掉

shī diào — 1. to lose 2. to miss

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)

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)

由

yóu — 1. to follow 2. from 3. because of; due to 4. by; via; through 5. (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ... (HSK 3)

幾個

jǐ ge — 1. a few 2. several 3. how many

有

yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)

雄辯

xióng biàn — 1. eloquent 2. oratory 3. rhetoric

和

Hé — surname He (HSK 1)

辣

là — 1. hot (spicy) 2. pungent 3. (of chili pepper, raw onions etc) to sting 4. to burn (HSK 4)

手

shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)

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)

當時

dāng shí — then; at that time (HSK 2)

還

Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)

未

wèi — 1. not yet 2. did not 3. have not 4. not 5. 8th earthly branch: 1-3 p.m., 6th solar month (7th July-6th August), year of the Sheep 6. ancient Chinese compass point: 210° (HSK 7-9)

得志

dé zhì — 1. to accomplish one's ambition 2. a dream come true 3. to enjoy success

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)

英雄

yīng xióng — 1. hero 2. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 6)

們

men — plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals

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)

臉色

liǎn sè — 1. complexion 2. look (HSK 5)

和

Hé — surname He (HSK 1)

語氣

yǔ qì — 1. tone 2. manner of speaking 3. mood 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 7-9)

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)

告訴

gào sù — to press charges; to file a complaint (HSK 1)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (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)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

于是

yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

失掉

shī diào — 1. to lose 2. to miss

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)

好

hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)

地獄

dì yù — 1. hell; underworld; (Buddhism) Naraka 2. (coll.) (of humor, jokes, content etc) extremely dark or morally transgressive (HSK 7-9)

所以，这也可以说，大半是废驰的地狱边沿的惨白色小花，当然不会美丽。但这地狱也必须失掉。这是由几个有雄辩和辣手，而当时还未得志的英雄们的脸色和语气所告诉我的。我于是作《失掉的好地狱》。

後來，我不再作這樣的東西了。Afterward, I no longer wrote things of this kind.日在變化的時代，已不許這樣的文章，甚而至于這樣的感想存在。In an age changing day by day, such writings, and even such feelings, are no longer permitted to exist.我想，這也許倒是好的罷。I think this may perhaps be a good thing after all.為譯本而作的序言，也應該在這裏結束了。This preface written for the translation should also come to an end here.

後來

hòu lái — 1. afterwards; later 2. newly arrived (HSK 2)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

不再

bù zài — no more; no longer (HSK 6)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (HSK 6)

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)

東西

dōng xī — east and west (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)

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)

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)

變化

biàn huà — 1. (intransitive) to change; to vary 2. change; variation (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)

時代

Shí dài — Time, US weekly news magazine (HSK 3)

已

yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (HSK 3)

不許

bù xǔ — 1. not to allow 2. must not 3. can't (HSK 5)

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)

文章

wén zhāng — 1. article 2. essay 3. literary works 4. writings 5. hidden meaning 6. classifier: 篇 (piān), 段 (duàn), 頁 (yè) (HSK 3)

甚而至于

shèn ér zhì yú — 1. even 2. so much so that

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)

感想

gǎn xiǎng — 1. impressions 2. reflections 3. thoughts 4. classifier: 通 (tòng), 個 (gè) (HSK 5)

存在

cún zài — 1. to exist 2. to be 3. existence (HSK 3)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

想

xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)

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)

也許

yě xǔ — perhaps; maybe (HSK 2)

倒是

dào shi — 1. contrary to what one might expect 2. actually 3. contrariwise 4. why don't you (HSK 5)

好

hǎo — 1. good 2. appropriate; proper 3. all right! 4. (before a verb) easy to 5. (before a verb) good to 6. (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so 7. (verb complement indicating completion) 8. (of two people) close; on intimate terms 9. (after a personal pronoun) hello (HSK 1)

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)

罷

bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish

為

wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)

譯本

yì běn — translation (translated version of a text)

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)

作

zuō — 1. (bound form) worker 2. (bound form) workshop 3. (slang) troublesome; high-maintenance (person) (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)

序言

xù yán — preface; introductory remarks; preamble; prelude

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

應該

yīng gāi — ought to; should; must (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)

這裏

zhè lǐ — variant of 這裡 (zhè lǐ) (HSK 1)

結束

jié shù — to end; to finish; to conclude (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)

后来，我不再作这样的东西了。日在变化的时代，已不许这样的文章，甚而至于这样的感想存在。我想，这也许倒是好的罢。为译本而作的序言，也应该在这里结束了。

一九三一年十一月五日November 5, 1931

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)

九

jiǔ — 1. nine 2. 9 (HSK 1)

三

Sān — surname San (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)

年

Nián — surname Nian (HSK 1)

十一月

Shí yī yuè — 1. November 2. eleventh month (of the lunar year)

五

wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (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)