臘葉 The Blighted Leaf

燈下看雁門集，忽然翻出一片壓乾的楓葉來。Reading the Yanmen Collection by lamplight, I suddenly turned up a pressed, dried maple leaf.

燈

dēng — 1. lamp 2. light 3. lantern 4. classifier: 盞 (zhǎn) (HSK 2)

下

xià — 1. down 2. downwards 3. below 4. lower 5. later 6. next (week etc) 7. second (of two parts) 8. to decline 9. to go down 10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) 11. measure word to show the frequency of an action (HSK 1)

看

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

雁

yàn — wild goose

門

Mén — surname Men (HSK 1)

集

jí — 1. to gather 2. to collect 3. collected works 4. classifier for sections of a TV series etc: episode (HSK 6)

忽然

hū rán — suddenly; all of a sudden (HSK 2)

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)

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

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)

片

piān — 1. disk 2. sheet (HSK 2)

壓

yā — 1. to press 2. to push down 3. to keep under (control) 4. pressure (HSK 3)

乾

Qián — surname Qian (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)

楓葉

fēng yè — maple leaf

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)

灯下看雁门集，忽然翻出一片压干的枫叶来。

這使我記起去年的深秋。This reminded me of late autumn last year.繁霜夜降，木葉多半凋零，庭前的一株小小的楓樹也變成紅色了。Heavy frost fell at night, and most of the leaves on the trees had withered; even the small maple tree in front of the courtyard had turned red.我曾繞樹徘徊，細看葉片的顏色，當他靑蔥的時候是從沒有這麽注意的。I once circled the tree, lingering, looking closely at the colors of its leaves — when it was green and lush I had never paid such attention.他也並非全樹通紅，最多的是淺絳，有幾片則在緋紅地上，還帶着幾團濃綠。Nor was the whole tree entirely red; mostly it was a pale crimson, and on a few leaves, against a ground of deep scarlet, there still lingered a few patches of thick green.一片獨有一點蛀孔，鑲着烏黑的花邊，在紅、黃和綠的斑駁中，明眸似的向人凝視。One leaf alone had a wormhole, rimmed with a black border, and amid the mottling of red, yellow, and green it gazed at me like a pair of bright eyes.我自念：這是病葉呵！I said to myself: this is a sick leaf!便將他摘了下來，夾在剛纔買到的雁門集裏。So I plucked it and pressed it into the Yanmen Collection I had just bought.大概是願使這將墜的被蝕而斑斕的顏色，暫得保存，不卽與羣葉一同飄散罷。I suppose I wished to let those mottled colors — eaten away, about to fall — be preserved a little longer, not to scatter at once together with the rest of the leaves.

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)

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)

記起

jì qǐ — 1. to recall 2. to recollect

去年

qù nián — last year (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)

深秋

shēn qiū — late autumn

繁

Pó — surname Po

霜

shuāng — 1. frost 2. white powder or cream spread over a surface 3. frosting 4. (skin) cream (HSK 7-9)

夜

yè — night (HSK 2)

降

jiàng — 1. to drop 2. to fall 3. to come down 4. to descend (HSK 4)

木

Mù — surname Mu

葉

Yè — surname Ye

多半

duō bàn — 1. most 2. mostly 3. most likely (HSK 6)

凋零

diāo líng — 1. withered 2. wilted 3. to wither 4. to fade 5. to decay

庭

tíng — 1. main hall 2. front courtyard 3. law court

前

qián — 1. front 2. forward 3. ahead 4. first 5. top (followed by a number) 6. future 7. ago 8. before 9. BC (e.g. 前293年) 10. former 11. formerly (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)

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)

株

zhū — 1. tree trunk 2. stump (tree root) 3. a plant 4. classifier for trees or plants 5. strain (biology) 6. to involve others (in shady business) (HSK 7-9)

小小

xiǎo xiǎo — 1. very small 2. very few 3. very minor

的

de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

楓樹

fēng shù — maple

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

變成

biàn chéng — 1. to change into 2. to turn into 3. to become (HSK 2)

紅色

hóng sè — 1. red (color) 2. revolutionary (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)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

曾

Zēng — surname Zeng (HSK 4)

繞

rào — 1. to wind 2. to coil (thread) 3. to rotate around 4. to spiral 5. to move around 6. to go round (an obstacle) 7. to by-pass 8. to make a detour 9. to confuse 10. to perplex (HSK 5)

樹

shù — 1. tree 2. classifier: 棵 (kē) 3. to cultivate 4. to set up (HSK 1)

徘徊

pái huái — 1. to pace back and forth 2. to dither; to hesitate 3. (of sales figures etc) to fluctuate (HSK 7-9)

細看

xì kàn — 1. to peer 2. to scan 3. to examine carefully

葉片

yè piàn — 1. blade (of propellor) 2. vane 3. leaf

的

de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

顏色

yán sè — 1. color 2. countenance 3. appearance 4. facial expression 5. pigment 6. dyestuff (HSK 2)

當

dāng — 1. to be 2. to act as 3. manage 4. withstand 5. when 6. during 7. ought 8. should 9. match equally 10. equal 11. same 12. obstruct 13. just at (a time or place) 14. on the spot 15. right 16. just at (HSK 2)

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)

靑

qīng — variant of 青 (qīng)

蔥

cōng — 1. scallion 2. green onion (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)

時候

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

從沒

cóng méi — 1. never (in the past) 2. never did (HSK 6)

有

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

這麽

zhè me — variant of 這麼 (zhè me) (HSK 2)

注意

zhù yì — to take note of; to pay attention to (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)

他

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

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

並非

bìng fēi — really isn't (HSK 7-9)

全

Quán — surname Quan (HSK 2)

樹

shù — 1. tree 2. classifier: 棵 (kē) 3. to cultivate 4. to set up (HSK 1)

通紅

tōng hóng — 1. very red 2. red through and through 3. to blush (deep red) (HSK 6)

最多

zuì duō — 1. at most 2. maximum 3. greatest (amount) 4. maximal

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)

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)

淺

jiān — sound of moving water (HSK 4)

絳

Jiàng — capital of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC)

有

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

幾

jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)

片

piān — 1. disk 2. sheet (HSK 2)

則

zé — 1. (literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then 2. (bound form) standard; norm 3. (bound form) principle 4. (literary) to imitate; to follow 5. classifier for written items (HSK 7-9)

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)

緋紅

fēi hóng — 1. crimson 2. scarlet

地上

dì shang — 1. on the ground 2. on the floor (HSK 1)

還

Huán — surname Huan (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)

着

zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)

幾

jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)

團

tuán — 1. round 2. lump 3. ball 4. to roll into a ball 5. to gather 6. regiment 7. group 8. society 9. classifier for a lump or a soft mass: wad (of paper), ball (of wool), cloud (of smoke) (HSK 3)

濃

nóng — 1. concentrated 2. dense 3. strong (smell etc) (HSK 4)

綠

lù — used in names (HSK 2)

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)

片

piān — 1. disk 2. sheet (HSK 2)

獨有

dú yǒu — 1. to own exclusively; unique to; specific 2. there is only

一點

yī diǎn — 1. a bit; a little bit 2. (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit 3. (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more, -er 4. a point (in a discussion etc) 5. (calligraphy) dot stroke (、) 6. one o'clock (abbr. for 一點鍾 (yī diǎn zhōng))

蛀

zhù — 1. termite 2. to bore (of insects)

孔

Kǒng — surname Kong

鑲

xiāng — 1. to inlay 2. to embed 3. ridge 4. border (HSK 7-9)

着

zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)

烏黑

wū hēi — 1. jet-black 2. dark

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)

花邊

huā biān — 1. lace 2. decorative border

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)

紅

Hóng — surname Hong (HSK 2)

黃

Huáng — surname Huang or Hwang (HSK 2)

和

Hé — surname He (HSK 1)

綠

lù — used in names (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)

斑駁

bān bó — 1. mottled 2. motley

中

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

明

Míng — 1. Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) 2. surname Ming 3. Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God

眸

móu — 1. pupil (of the eye) 2. eye

似的

shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)

向

Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)

人

rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)

凝視

níng shì — 1. to gaze at 2. to fix one's eyes on

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

自

zì — 1. (bound form) self; oneself 2. from; since 3. naturally; as a matter of course (HSK 4)

念

niàn — 1. to read 2. to study (a subject) 3. to attend (a school) 4. to read aloud 5. to give (sb) a tongue-lashing (classifier: 頓 (dùn)) 6. to miss (sb) 7. idea 8. remembrance 9. twenty (banker's anti-fraud numeral corresponding to 廿 (niàn)) (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)

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)

病

bìng — 1. illness 2. classifier: 場 (cháng) 3. disease 4. to fall ill 5. defect (HSK 1)

葉

Yè — surname Ye

呵

ā — variant of 啊 (ā)

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)

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)

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)

摘

zhāi — 1. to take; to pick (flowers, fruit etc); to pluck; to remove; to take off (glasses, hat etc) 2. to select; to pick out 3. to borrow money at a time of urgent need (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)

下來

xià lai — 1. to come down 2. (completed action marker) 3. (after verb of motion, indicates motion down and towards us, also fig.) 4. (indicates continuation from the past towards us) 5. to be harvested (of crops) 6. to be over (of a period of time) 7. to go among the masses (said of leaders) (HSK 3)

夾

gā — used in 夾肢窩 (gā zhi wō) (HSK 5)

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)

剛纔

gāng cái — just now (variant of 剛才 (gāng cái)) (HSK 2)

買

mǎi — 1. to buy 2. to purchase (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)

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)

雁

yàn — wild goose

門

Mén — surname Men (HSK 1)

集

jí — 1. to gather 2. to collect 3. collected works 4. classifier for sections of a TV series etc: episode (HSK 6)

裏

lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)

大概

dà gài — 1. roughly 2. probably 3. rough 4. approximate 5. about 6. general idea (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)

願

yuàn — 1. (bound form) wish; hope; desire 2. to be willing 3. to wish (that sth may happen); may ... 4. vow; pledge (HSK 5)

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)

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)

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)

墜

zhuì — 1. to fall 2. to drop 3. to weigh down (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)

被

bèi — 1. quilt 2. to cover (with) 3. (literary) to suffer (a misfortune) 4. used to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb) 5. (since c. 2009) (sarcastic or jocular) used to indicate that the following word should be regarded as being in air quotes (as in 被旅遊[bei4 lu : 3 you2] to "go on a trip") (HSK 3)

蝕

shí — 1. to nibble away at sth 2. to eat into 3. to erode

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)

斑斕

bān lán — gorgeous; brightly colored; multicolored

的

de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

顏色

yán sè — 1. color 2. countenance 3. appearance 4. facial expression 5. pigment 6. dyestuff (HSK 2)

暫

zàn — 1. temporary 2. Taiwan pr. (zhàn) (HSK 7-9)

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)

保存

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

不

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

卽

jí — 1. variant of 即 (jí) 2. promptly

與

yú — variant of 歟 (yú) (HSK 6)

羣

qún — variant of 群 (qún) (HSK 3)

葉

Yè — surname Ye

一同

yī tóng — together (HSK 6)

飄散

piāo sàn — to waft (through the air); to drift

罷

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

这使我记起去年的深秋。繁霜夜降，木叶多半凋零，庭前的一株小小的枫树也变成红色了。我曾绕树徘徊，细看叶片的颜色，当他靑葱的时候是从没有这么注意的。他也并非全树通红，最多的是浅绛，有几片则在绯红地上，还带着几团浓绿。一片独有一点蛀孔，镶着乌黑的花边，在红、黄和绿的斑驳中，明眸似的向人凝视。我自念：这是病叶呵！便将他摘了下来，夹在刚才买到的雁门集里。大概是愿使这将坠的被蚀而斑斓的颜色，暂得保存，不即与群叶一同飘散罢。

但今夜他卻黃蠟似的躺在我的眼前，那眸子也不復似去年一般灼灼。But tonight it lies before my eyes like yellow wax, and those eyes are no longer as bright as they were last year.假使再過幾年，舊時的顏色在我記憶中消去，怕連我也不知道他何以夾在書裏面的原因了，將墜的病葉的斑斕，似乎也只能在極短時中相對，更何況是蔥鬱的呢。Suppose a few more years pass and the old colors fade from my memory — I fear I myself will no longer know why it was pressed into this book; the mottled beauty of a dying, sickly leaf, it seems, can only be faced for the briefest of times, let alone that of a lush, green one.看看窗外，很能耐寒的樹木也早經禿盡了；I look out the window; even the trees best able to withstand the cold have long since been stripped bare.楓樹更何消說得。As for the maple, there is even less to say.當深秋時，想來也許有和這去年的模樣相似的病葉的罷，但可惜我今年竟沒有賞玩秋樹的餘閒。In deep autumn, I suppose there may again be a sick leaf resembling last year's, but unfortunately this year I have had no leisure at all to enjoy the autumn trees.

但

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

今夜

jīn yè — 1. tonight 2. this evening

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)

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)

黃蠟

huáng là — beeswax

似的

shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)

躺

tǎng — 1. to recline 2. to lie down (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)

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)

眼前

yǎn qián — 1. before one's eyes 2. now 3. at present (HSK 3)

那

Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)

眸子

móu zi — pupil of the eye

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

不復

bù fù — no longer; not again

似

shì — used in 似的 (shì de)

去年

qù nián — last year (HSK 1)

一般

yī bān — 1. same 2. ordinary 3. so-so 4. common 5. general 6. generally 7. in general (HSK 2)

灼

zhuó — 1. to burn; to sear; to scorch 2. (bound form) bright; luminous

灼

zhuó — 1. to burn; to sear; to scorch 2. (bound form) bright; luminous

假使

jiǎ shǐ — 1. if 2. in case 3. suppose 4. given ... (HSK 7-9)

再

zài — 1. again; once more; re- 2. further; beyond this point of time 3. (before an adjective) more 4. then (after sth, and not until then) 5. no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也 (yě) or 都 (dōu) for emphasis) 6. (used to introduce additional information, as in 再則 (zài zé), 再就是 (zài jiù shì) etc) 7. (literary) to reappear; to reoccur (HSK 1)

過

Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)

幾年

jǐ nián — 1. a few years; several years 2. how many years?

舊時

jiù shí — 1. in former times 2. the olden days

的

de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)

顏色

yán sè — 1. color 2. countenance 3. appearance 4. facial expression 5. pigment 6. dyestuff (HSK 2)

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)

記憶

jì yì — 1. to remember; to recall 2. memory (HSK 5)

中

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

消去

xiāo qù — to eliminate

怕

Pà — surname Pa (HSK 2)

連

Lián — surname Lian (HSK 3)

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

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)

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)

何以

hé yǐ — 1. (literary) why 2. how

夾

gā — used in 夾肢窩 (gā zhi wō) (HSK 5)

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)

書

Shū — abbr. for 書經 (Shū jīng) (HSK 1)

裏面

lǐ miàn — variant of 裡面 (lǐ miàn) (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)

原因

yuán yīn — 1. cause 2. origin 3. root cause 4. reason 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (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)

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)

墜

zhuì — 1. to fall 2. to drop 3. to weigh down (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)

病

bìng — 1. illness 2. classifier: 場 (cháng) 3. disease 4. to fall ill 5. defect (HSK 1)

葉

Yè — surname Ye

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)

斑斕

bān lán — gorgeous; brightly colored; multicolored

似乎

sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

只能

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

極

jí — 1. extremely 2. pole (geography, physics) 3. utmost 4. top (HSK 4)

短

duǎn — 1. short 2. brief 3. to lack 4. weak point 5. fault (HSK 2)

時

Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)

中

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

相對

xiāng duì — 1. relatively 2. opposite 3. to resist 4. to oppose 5. relative 6. vis-a-vis 7. counterpart (HSK 7-9)

更

gēng — 1. to change or replace 2. to experience 3. one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided 4. watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard) (HSK 2)

何況

hé kuàng — 1. let alone 2. to say nothing of 3. besides 4. what's more (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)

蔥鬱

cōng yù — 1. verdant 2. lush green and full of life

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)

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)

看看

kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon

窗

chuāng — 1. window 2. classifier: 扇 (shàn)

外

wài — 1. outside 2. in addition 3. foreign 4. external (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)

能耐

néng nài — 1. ability 2. capability (HSK 7-9)

寒

hán — 1. cold 2. poor 3. to tremble

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)

樹木

shù mù — tree (HSK 7-9)

也

Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)

早

zǎo — 1. early 2. morning 3. Good morning! 4. long ago 5. prematurely (HSK 1)

經

Jīng — surname Jing (HSK 7-9)

禿

tū — 1. bald (lacking hair or feathers) 2. barren; bare; denuded 3. blunt (lacking a point) 4. (of a piece of writing) unsatisfactory; lacking something (HSK 7-9)

盡

jìn — 1. to use up 2. to exhaust 3. to end 4. to finish 5. to the utmost 6. exhausted 7. finished 8. to the limit (of sth) 9. all 10. entirely (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)

楓樹

fēng shù — maple

更

gēng — 1. to change or replace 2. to experience 3. one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided 4. watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard) (HSK 2)

何

Hé — surname He

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)

說

shuì — to persuade (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)

當

dāng — 1. to be 2. to act as 3. manage 4. withstand 5. when 6. during 7. ought 8. should 9. match equally 10. equal 11. same 12. obstruct 13. just at (a time or place) 14. on the spot 15. right 16. just at (HSK 2)

深秋

shēn qiū — late autumn

時

Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)

想來

xiǎng lái — it may be assumed that

也許

yě xǔ — perhaps; maybe (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)

和

Hé — surname He (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)

去年

qù nián — last year (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)

模樣

mú yàng — 1. look 2. style 3. appearance 4. approximation 5. about 6. classifier: 個 (gè) 7. also pr. (mó yàng) (HSK 5)

相似

xiāng sì — similar; alike (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)

病

bìng — 1. illness 2. classifier: 場 (cháng) 3. disease 4. to fall ill 5. defect (HSK 1)

葉

Yè — surname Ye

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

但

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

可惜

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

我

wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)

今年

jīn nián — this year (HSK 1)

竟

jìng — 1. unexpectedly 2. actually 3. to go so far as to 4. indeed (HSK 7-9)

沒有

méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)

賞

shǎng — 1. to bestow (a reward) 2. to give (to an inferior) 3. to hand down 4. a reward (bestowed by a superior) 5. to appreciate (beauty) (HSK 4)

玩

wán — 1. to play 2. to have fun 3. to trifle with 4. toy 5. sth used for amusement 6. curio or antique (Taiwan pr. (wàn)) 7. to keep sth for entertainment

秋

Qiū — surname Qiu

樹

shù — 1. tree 2. classifier: 棵 (kē) 3. to cultivate 4. to set up (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)

餘

yú — 1. extra 2. surplus 3. remaining 4. remainder after division 5. (following numerical value) or more 6. in excess of (some number) 7. residue (math.) 8. after 9. I 10. me (HSK 7-9)

閒

jiān — variant of 間 (jiān) (HSK 5)

但今夜他却黄蜡似的躺在我的眼前，那眸子也不复似去年一般灼灼。假使再过几年，旧时的颜色在我记忆中消去，怕连我也不知道他何以夹在书里面的原因了，将坠的病叶的斑斓，似乎也只能在极短时中相对，更何况是葱郁的呢。看看窗外，很能耐寒的树木也早经秃尽了；枫树更何消说得。当深秋时，想来也许有和这去年的模样相似的病叶的罢，但可惜我今年竟没有赏玩秋树的余闲。

（一九二五年十二月二十六日。）(December 26, 1925.)

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)

五

wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)

年

Nián — surname Nian (HSK 1)

十二月

Shí èr yuè — 1. December 2. twelfth month (of the lunar year)

二十

èr shí — twenty; 20

六

liù — 1. six 2. 6 (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)