求乞者 The Beggars

，。I walk along the crumbling high wall, treading on the loose ash-grey earth.，。There are a few other people, each walking their own way.，。A breeze rises, and the branches of the tall tree showing above the wall, still bearing their not-yet-withered leaves, sway above my head.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
順: shùn — 1. to obey 2. to follow 3. to arrange 4. to make reasonable 5. along 6. favorable (HSK 6)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
剝落: bō luò — to peel off
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)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
牆: qiáng — 1. wall (classifier: 面 (miàn), 堵 (dǔ)) 2. (slang) to block (a website) (usu. in the passive: 被牆 (bèi qiáng)) (HSK 2)
走路: zǒu lù — 1. to walk; to go on foot 2. to leave; to depart 3. (informal) to clear off; to beat it 4. (of sb who gets fired or resigns) to leave the job; to get out (HSK 1)
踏: tā — see 踏實 (tā shi) (HSK 6)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
鬆: sōng — 1. loose 2. to loosen 3. to relax 4. floss (dry, fluffy food product made from shredded, seasoned meat or fish, used as a topping or filling) (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)
灰土: huī tǔ — 1. dust 2. (soil taxonomy) spodosol
另外: lìng wài — 1. additional 2. in addition 3. besides 4. separate 5. other 6. moreover 7. furthermore (HSK 3)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
幾個: jǐ ge — 1. a few 2. several 3. how many
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
各自: gè zì — 1. each 2. respective 3. apiece (HSK 3)
走路: zǒu lù — 1. to walk; to go on foot 2. to leave; to depart 3. (informal) to clear off; to beat it 4. (of sb who gets fired or resigns) to leave the job; to get out (HSK 1)
微風: wēi fēng — 1. breeze 2. light wind
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
露: Lù — surname Lu (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)
牆: qiáng — 1. wall (classifier: 面 (miàn), 堵 (dǔ)) 2. (slang) to block (a website) (usu. in the passive: 被牆 (bèi qiáng)) (HSK 2)
頭: tóu — 1. head 2. hair style 3. the top 4. end 5. beginning or end 6. a stub 7. remnant 8. chief 9. boss 10. side 11. aspect 12. first 13. leading 14. classifier for pigs or livestock 15. classifier: 個 (gè) (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)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
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)
枝條: zhī tiáo — 1. branch 2. twig 3. stem
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)
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)
乾枯: gān kū — withered; shriveled; dried-up
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)
葉子: yè zi — 1. leaf (classifier: 片 (piàn)) 2. (slang) marijuana (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)
頭上: tóu shàng — 1. overhead 2. above
搖動: yáo dòng — 1. to shake 2. to sway

，。A breeze rises, and all around is ash-grey earth.

，，，，。A child begs from me, also wearing a lined jacket, not looking particularly sorrowful either, but blocking my way, kowtowing, chasing after me with mournful cries.

，。I am disgusted by his tone, his manner.，；I loathe that he is not truly sorrowful, that it is close to child's play;。I am wearied by this chasing after me with mournful cries.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
厭惡: yàn wù — 1. to loathe 2. to hate 3. disgusted with sth
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)
聲調: shēng diào — 1. tone 2. note 3. a tone (on a Chinese syllable) 4. classifier: 個 (gè)
態度: tài du — 1. manner 2. bearing 3. attitude 4. approach 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
憎惡: zēng è — to hate evil
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)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
悲哀: bēi āi — 1. grieved 2. sorrowful (HSK 7-9)
近: jìn — 1. near 2. close to 3. approximately (HSK 2)
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)
兒戲: ér xì — 1. child's play 2. trifling matter
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
煩: fán — 1. to feel vexed 2. to bother 3. to trouble 4. superfluous and confusing 5. edgy (HSK 4)
厭: yàn — 1. (bound form) to loathe; to be fed up with 2. (literary) to satiate; to satisfy
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
這: 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)
追: duī — 1. to sculpt 2. to carve 3. musical instrument (old) (HSK 3)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
哀: Āi — Ai (c. 2000 BC), sixth of legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God, also known as Li 釐 (Lí)
呼: hū — 1. to call 2. to cry 3. to shout 4. to breath out 5. to exhale

。I walk on.。There are a few other people, each walking their own way.。A breeze rises.。All around is ash-grey earth.

，，，，，。A child begs from me, also wearing a lined jacket, not looking particularly sorrowful either, but mute, spreading out his hands, feigning a gesture.

。I then loathe this gesture of his.，，。Moreover, perhaps he is not really mute at all — this is merely a way of begging.

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)
憎惡: zēng è — to hate evil
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
這: 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)
手勢: shǒu shì — gesture; sign; signal (HSK 7-9)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (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)
或者: huò zhě — 1. or 2. possibly; maybe; perhaps (HSK 2)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
啞: yā — 1. (onom.) sound of cawing 2. sound of infant learning to talk 3. variant of 呀 (yā) (HSK 7-9)
這不: zhè bu — (coll.) As a matter of fact, ... (used to introduce evidence for what one has just asserted)
過: Guō — surname Guo (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)
一種: yī zhǒng — one kind of; one type of
求乞: qiú qǐ — to beg
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)
法子: fǎ zi — 1. way 2. method 3. Taiwan pr. (fá zi)

，，，，，。I give no alms, I have no heart to give alms, I merely stand above the almsgiver, giving in return vexation, suspicion, loathing.

，，。I walk along the collapsed mud wall, broken bricks piled in the gap in the wall, and there is nothing inside the wall.，，。A breeze rises, sending the autumn chill through my lined jacket, and all around is ash-grey earth.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
順: shùn — 1. to obey 2. to follow 3. to arrange 4. to make reasonable 5. along 6. favorable (HSK 6)
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
倒敗: dǎo bài — to collapse (of building)
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)
泥: ní — 1. mud 2. clay 3. paste 4. pulp (HSK 6)
牆: qiáng — 1. wall (classifier: 面 (miàn), 堵 (dǔ)) 2. (slang) to block (a website) (usu. in the passive: 被牆 (bèi qiáng)) (HSK 2)
走路: zǒu lù — 1. to walk; to go on foot 2. to leave; to depart 3. (informal) to clear off; to beat it 4. (of sb who gets fired or resigns) to leave the job; to get out (HSK 1)
斷: duàn — 1. to break 2. to snap 3. to cut off 4. to give up or abstain from sth 5. to judge 6. (usu. used in the negative) absolutely 7. definitely 8. decidedly (HSK 3)
磚: zhuān — 1. brick 2. tile (floor or wall, not roof) 3. classifier: 塊 (kuài) (HSK 7-9)
疊: dié — 1. to pile up 2. (bound form) repeated 3. to fold 4. classifier: stack, pile (of thin objects) 5. classifier for repeated sections in a musical composition (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)
牆: qiáng — 1. wall (classifier: 面 (miàn), 堵 (dǔ)) 2. (slang) to block (a website) (usu. in the passive: 被牆 (bèi qiáng)) (HSK 2)
缺口: quē kǒu — 1. nick 2. jag 3. gap 4. shortfall (HSK 7-9)
牆: qiáng — 1. wall (classifier: 面 (miàn), 堵 (dǔ)) 2. (slang) to block (a website) (usu. in the passive: 被牆 (bèi qiáng)) (HSK 2)
裏面: lǐ miàn — variant of 裡面 (lǐ miàn) (HSK 3)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
什: shén — what
麽: me — variant of 麼 (me)
微風: wēi fēng — 1. breeze 2. light wind
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
送: sòng — 1. to send; to deliver; to transmit 2. to give (as a present) 3. to see (sb) off 4. to accompany; to go along with (HSK 1)
秋: Qiū — surname Qiu
寒: hán — 1. cold 2. poor 3. to tremble
穿透: chuān tòu — to penetrate
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)
夾: gā — used in 夾肢窩 (gā zhi wō) (HSK 5)
衣: yī — 1. clothes 2. classifier: 件 (jiàn) 3. Kangxi radical 145
四面: sì miàn — all sides
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)
灰土: huī tǔ — 1. dust 2. (soil taxonomy) spodosol

：，？I think about by what method I shall beg: uttering sounds, in what tone?，？……Feigning muteness, with what gesture? ……

。There are a few other people, each walking their own way.

，；I shall get no alms, get no heart to give alms;，，。I shall get the vexation, suspicion, loathing of one who sets himself above the giving of alms.

！……I shall beg with inaction and silence! ……

。I shall at least attain nothingness.

，。A breeze rises, and all around is ash-grey earth.。There are a few other people, each walking their own way.

，，……Ash-grey earth, ash-grey earth, ……

………………………………

……Ash-grey earth……

（。）(September 24, 1924.)

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What it’s about

A man walks along a high wall whose plaster is flaking, treading loose grey dust, with a few other people each walking their own way and a light wind getting up. A child begs from him — wearing a lined jacket much like his own, not visibly wretched, blocking his path, knocking its head on the ground, running after him and wailing. He dislikes the voice and the manner. He hates that the child is not really grieving, that it is close to play-acting, that it follows him. He walks on. A second child begs, in the same lined jacket and also not visibly wretched, but dumb, spreading its hands and making signs — and he hates the gesture too, and suspects the child is not dumb at all and that this is simply a technique.

Then he turns the whole thing on himself, which is where the piece is going. He gives nothing and has no wish to give: he stands above the giver and hands out boredom, suspicion and hatred. Walking on past a collapsed mud wall with broken bricks piled in the gap and nothing behind it, the autumn cold coming through his own lined jacket, he begins working out how he will beg when it is his turn — in what tone of voice, with what gestures if he plays dumb. He will get no alms and no charity; what he will get is the boredom and the suspicion and the hatred of people who set themselves above giving. So he will beg by doing nothing and saying nothing, and at least he will be given nothingness. The wind gets up, the dust is on every side, a few other people each walk their own way, and the page trails off into rows of dots and the word for dust.

When it was written 背景

Dated 24 September 1924 and written on the same day as 影的告别, with which it was printed in 語絲. It is the first of the book's studies of the distance between two people who owe each other nothing, and the plainest of them: short declarative sentences, several of which come back verbatim as a refrain (微風起來，四面都是灰土), so the difficulty is not the vocabulary but working out where the narrator's contempt for the beggars stops and his portrait of himself begins. A learner who finds 題辭 impossible can start here instead. 聰明人和儍子和奴才 is the same subject written as comedy.

Words in this chapter 生词

布施bù shī布施bù shī — Dana (Buddhist practice of giving)
求乞qiú qǐ求乞qiú qǐ — to beg
灰土huī tǔ灰土huī tǔ — dust · (soil taxonomy) spodosol
手勢shǒu shìHSK 7-9手勢shǒu shì — gesture; sign; signal (HSK 7-9)
着zhāoHSK 1着zhāo — a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) · trick; tactic · (dialect) okay; all right · (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
悲戚bēi qī悲戚bēi qī — mournful
煩膩fán nì煩膩fán nì — fed up
憎惡zēng è憎惡zēng è — to hate evil
倒敗dǎo bài倒敗dǎo bài — to collapse (of building)
着手zhuó shǒuHSK 7-9着手zhuó shǒu — to put one's hand to it · to start out on a task · to set out (HSK 7-9)
微風wēi fēng微風wēi fēng — breeze · light wind
得不到dé bù dào得不到dé bù dào — cannot get · cannot obtain