五猖會 The Fair of the Five Fierce Gods

，，。Apart from New Year and other festivals, what children looked forward to most was probably the time of the temple fairs that welcomed the gods.，，，，，。But my home was in a very remote place, and by the time the fair's procession passed by, it would always already be afternoon, and the ceremonial guard of honor and the like had been cut down again and again, until what was left was extremely scanty.，。Often I would crane my neck and wait a long while, only to see a dozen or so men hurrying past, carrying a god's image with a golden face, or a blue face and red face.，。And then, it was over.

孩子們: hái zi men — children
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)
盼望: pàn wàng — to hope for; to look forward to (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)
過年: guò nián — to celebrate the Chinese New Year (HSK 2)
過節: guò jié — 1. to celebrate a festival 2. after the celebrations (i.e. once the festival is over) (HSK 7-9)
之外: zhī wài — 1. outside 2. excluding (HSK 5)
大概: dà gài — 1. roughly 2. probably 3. rough 4. approximate 5. about 6. general idea (HSK 3)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
數: shǔ — 1. to count 2. to count as; to regard as 3. to enumerate; to list (HSK 2)
迎神賽會: yíng shén sài huì — folk festival, esp. involving shrine or image of God
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)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
家的: jiā de — (old) wife
所在: suǒ zài — 1. place 2. location 3. (after a noun) place where it is located (HSK 5)
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)
偏僻: piān pì — 1. remote 2. desolate 3. far from the city (HSK 7-9)
待: dāi — to stay; to remain (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
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)
行列: háng liè — 1. formation 2. array 3. (fig.) ranks (as in "join the ranks of ...") (HSK 7-9)
經過: jīng guò — 1. to pass 2. to go through 3. process 4. course 5. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
一定: yī dìng — 1. surely; certainly; definitely 2. fixed; settled 3. a certain ...; a given ... (HSK 2)
已: yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (HSK 3)
在下: zài xià — 1. under 2. myself (humble)
午: wǔ — 1. 7th earthly branch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., noon, 5th solar month (6th June-6th July), year of the Horse 2. ancient Chinese compass point: 180° (south)
儀仗: yí zhàng — ceremonial weaponry
之類: zhī lèi — 1. and so on 2. and such (HSK 6)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
減: jiǎn — 1. to lower 2. to decrease 3. to reduce 4. to subtract 5. to diminish (HSK 4)
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)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
減: jiǎn — 1. to lower 2. to decrease 3. to reduce 4. to subtract 5. to diminish (HSK 4)
所: suǒ — 1. actually 2. place 3. classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc 4. that which 5. particle introducing a relative clause or passive 6. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
剩: shèng — 1. to remain 2. to be left 3. to have as remainder (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
極其: jí qí — extremely (HSK 4)
寥寥: liáo liáo — very few
往往: wǎng wǎng — 1. usually 2. in many cases 3. more often than not (HSK 3)
伸: shēn — 1. to stretch 2. to extend (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
頸子: jǐng zi — neck
等候: děng hòu — 1. to wait 2. to wait for (HSK 5)
多時: duō shí — long time
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
只見: zhǐ jiàn — 1. to see (the same thing) over and over again 2. to see, to one's surprise, (sth happen suddenly) (HSK 5)
十幾: shí jǐ — more than ten; a dozen or more
個人: gè rén — an individual; oneself; (attributive) personal; one's own (HSK 3)
擡: tái — variant of 抬 (tái) (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
金: Jīn — 1. surname Jin 2. surname Kim (Korean) 3. Jurchen Jin dynasty (1115–1234) (HSK 3)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
或: huò — 1. maybe 2. perhaps 3. might 4. possibly 5. or (HSK 2)
藍: Lán — surname Lan (HSK 2)
臉紅: liǎn hóng — 1. to blush 2. to redden (with shame, indignation etc)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 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)
神像: shén xiàng — 1. likeness of a god or Buddha 2. (old) portrait of the deceased
匆匆: cōng cōng — hurriedly (HSK 7-9)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
跑: páo — (of an animal) to paw (the ground) (HSK 1)
過去: guò qù — 1. (in the) past; former; previous 2. to go over; to pass by (HSK 2)
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
完了: wán le — 1. to be finished 2. to be done for 3. ruined 4. gone to the dogs 5. oh no (HSK 5)

：，。I always cherished one particular hope: that the fair I saw this time would be more splendid than the last.“”；But the result was always "much the same";，，，，，，，“”，。and it always left me with just one keepsake — a whistle bought for a single copper coin before the god's image had even been carried past, made of a bit of mud, a bit of colored paper, a bamboo peg, and two or three chicken feathers, which gave off a piercing sound when blown, called a "chui-dou-dou," and I would blow it, pi-pi, for two or three days.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
常: Cháng — surname Chang (HSK 1)
存: cún — 1. to exist 2. to deposit 3. to store 4. to keep 5. to survive (HSK 3)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
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)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
希望: xī wàng — 1. to hope 2. a hope; a wish (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)
一次: yī cì — 1. first 2. first time 3. once 4. (math.) linear (of degree one)
所見: suǒ jiàn — 1. (literary) what one sees 2. (literary) opinion; view
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)
賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
比: Bǐ — 1. Belgium 2. Belgian 3. abbr. for 比利時 (Bǐ lì shí) (HSK 1)
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)
一次: yī cì — 1. first 2. first time 3. once 4. (math.) linear (of degree one)
繁盛: fán shèng — 1. prosperous 2. thriving 3. (of vegetation) luxuriant
些: xiē — classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several (HSK 4)
可是: kě shì — 1. but; however 2. (used for emphasis) indeed (HSK 2)
結果: jiē guǒ — to bear fruit (HSK 2)
總是: zǒng shì — always (HSK 3)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
差不多: chà bu duō — 1. almost 2. nearly 3. more or less 4. about the same 5. good enough 6. not bad (HSK 2)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
總是: zǒng shì — always (HSK 3)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
留下: liú xià — 1. to leave behind 2. to stay behind 3. to remain 4. to keep 5. not to let (sb) go (HSK 2)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
紀念品: jì niàn pǐn — souvenir; memento
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
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)
神像: shén xiàng — 1. likeness of a god or Buddha 2. (old) portrait of the deceased
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)
擡: tái — variant of 抬 (tái) (HSK 5)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
之前: zhī qián — 1. before 2. prior to 3. ago 4. previously 5. beforehand (HSK 4)
化: huā — variant of 花 (huā)
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)
文: Wén — surname Wen (HSK 7-9)
錢: Qián — surname Qian (HSK 1)
買下: mǎi xià — to purchase (sth expensive, e.g. a house); to acquire (a company, a copyright etc)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
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))
爛泥: làn ní — 1. mud 2. mire
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))
顏色: yán sè — 1. color 2. countenance 3. appearance 4. facial expression 5. pigment 6. dyestuff (HSK 2)
紙: zhǐ — 1. paper (classifier: 張 (zhāng), 沓 (dá)) 2. classifier for documents, letters etc (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)
枝: zhī — 1. branch 2. classifier for sticks, rods, pencils etc (HSK 6)
竹: zhú — 1. (bound form) bamboo 2. Kangxi radical 118
簽: qiān — 1. to sign one's name 2. to write brief comments on a document 3. inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤 (qiān)) 4. visa (HSK 5)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
枝: zhī — 1. branch 2. classifier for sticks, rods, pencils etc (HSK 6)
雞毛: jī máo — 1. chicken feather 2. classifier: 根 (gēn) 3. trivial
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)
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)
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)
吹: chuī — 1. to blow 2. to play a wind instrument 3. to blast 4. to puff 5. to boast 6. to brag 7. to end in failure 8. to fall through (HSK 2)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
發出: fā chū — 1. to issue (an order, decree etc); to send out; to dispatch 2. to produce (a sound); to let out (a laugh) (HSK 3)
一種: yī zhǒng — one kind of; one type of
刺耳: cì ěr — ear-piercing (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)
聲音: shēng yīn — sound; voice (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)
哨子: shào zi — whistle
叫作: jiào zuò — 1. to call 2. to be called (HSK 2)
吹: chuī — 1. to blow 2. to play a wind instrument 3. to blast 4. to puff 5. to boast 6. to brag 7. to end in failure 8. to fall through (HSK 2)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (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)
吡: bǐ — used as phonetic bi- or pi-
吡: bǐ — used as phonetic bi- or pi-
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
吹: chuī — 1. to blow 2. to play a wind instrument 3. to blast 4. to puff 5. to boast 6. to brag 7. to end in failure 8. to fall through (HSK 2)
它: tā — it (HSK 2)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)

《》，，，，。Now, reading Tao'an Meng Yi, I feel that the fairs of that era were truly extravagant in the extreme — though writings by men of the Ming dynasty, I fear, are probably not without some exaggeration.，，，，。Even nowadays there are still occasions of welcoming the Dragon King to pray for rain, but the method has grown very simple — nothing more than a dozen or so people coiling about with a single dragon, and village children dressed up as sea-goblins.，。In those days, though, they still had to act out stories, and these were truly striking and remarkable to behold.《》：“……He recorded the impersonation of characters from Water Margin, writing: "...，，，，，，，，，，，，。So they sought out a short, dark-skinned man; sought a tall, lanky fellow; sought a mendicant monk; sought a big fat monk; sought a robust woman; sought a tall, comely woman; sought a blue-faced man; sought a crook-headed man; sought a red-bearded man; sought a man with a fine beard; sought a big dark-skinned man; sought a man with a red face and a long beard.；They searched the whole city thoroughly;，，，，。finding none, they went on to the outskirts, to the villages, to remote mountain places, to neighboring prefectures, departments, and counties.，，，，，娖……”，？They engaged them at great expense, and got thirty-six men — the good fellows of Liangshan Marsh, each and every one brought vividly to life, every detail exact and complete, men and horses moving along in perfect order..." Such vivid, unadorned depictions of ancients brought back to life — who could fail to be moved by the refined urge to see them?，。It is a pity that such a grand spectacle vanished long ago, together with the fall of the Ming state.

現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
看看: kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon
陶: Táo — surname Tao
庵: ān — 1. hut 2. small temple 3. nunnery
夢: mèng — 1. dream (classifier: 場 (cháng)) 2. (bound form) to dream (HSK 4)
憶: yì — 1. to recollect 2. to remember 3. memory
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (HSK 1)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
真是: zhēn shi — 1. indeed; truly 2. (coll.) (used to express disapproval, annoyance etc)
豪奢: háo shē — 1. extravagant 2. luxurious
極了: jí le — 1. extremely 2. exceedingly
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
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
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (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)
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)
怕: Pà — surname Pa (HSK 2)
難免: nán miǎn — 1. hard to avoid 2. difficult to escape from 3. will inevitably (HSK 4)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
誇大: kuā dà — to exaggerate (HSK 7-9)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
禱: dǎo — 1. prayer 2. pray 3. supplication
雨: yǔ — 1. rain 2. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 場 (cháng) (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)
迎: yíng — 1. to welcome; to meet 2. to forge ahead (esp. in the face of difficulties); to meet face to face (HSK 7-9)
龍王: Lóng wáng — Dragon King (mythology)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
還有: hái yǒu — 1. there still remain(s); there is (or are) still 2. in addition (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)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
辦法: bàn fǎ — 1. way of handling sth; means; measure; (practical) solution to a problem 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 2)
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)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
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)
簡單: jiǎn dān — simple; not complicated (HSK 3)
不過: bù guò — 1. only 2. merely 3. no more than 4. but 5. however 6. anyway (to get back to a previous topic) 7. cannot be more (after adjectival) (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
十: shí — 1. ten 2. 10 (HSK 1)
多: duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
盤旋: pán xuán — 1. to spiral 2. to circle 3. to go around 4. to hover 5. to orbit
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
一條龍: yī tiáo lóng — 1. lit. one dragon 2. integrated chain 3. coordinated process
以及: yǐ jí — and; as well as (HSK 4)
村: cūn — 1. village 2. (dialect) to scold 3. rustic; boorish (HSK 3)
童: Tóng — surname Tong
們: men — plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
扮: bàn — 1. to disguise oneself as 2. to dress up 3. to play (a role) 4. to put on (an expression) (HSK 7-9)
些: xiē — classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several (HSK 4)
海: Hǎi — surname Hai (HSK 2)
鬼: guǐ — 1. disembodied spirit; ghost; devil 2. (suffix) person with a certain vice or addiction etc 3. sly; crafty; resourceful (variant of 詭 (guǐ)) 4. one of the 28 constellations of ancient Chinese astronomy (HSK 5)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
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)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
扮: bàn — 1. to disguise oneself as 2. to dress up 3. to play (a role) 4. to put on (an expression) (HSK 7-9)
故事: gù shì — old practice (HSK 2)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
實在: shí zài — 1. really 2. actually 3. indeed 4. true 5. real 6. honest 7. dependable 8. (philosophy) reality (HSK 2)
奇: jī — odd (number)
拔: bá — 1. to pull up 2. to pull out 3. to draw out by suction 4. to select 5. to pick 6. to stand out (above level) 7. to surpass 8. to seize (HSK 5)
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)
可觀: kě guān — 1. worth seeing 2. considerable; impressive; significant (HSK 7-9)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
記: jì — 1. to record 2. to note 3. to memorize 4. to remember 5. mark 6. sign 7. classifier for blows, kicks, shots (HSK 1)
扮: bàn — 1. to disguise oneself as 2. to dress up 3. to play (a role) 4. to put on (an expression) (HSK 7-9)
水滸傳: Shuǐ hǔ Zhuàn — Water Margin or Outlaws of the Marsh by Shi Nai'an 施耐庵 (Shī Nài ān), one of the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature
中人: zhōng rén — 1. go-between 2. mediator 3. intermediary
物: wù — 1. (bound form) thing 2. (literary) the outside world as distinct from oneself; people other than oneself
云: yún — (classical) to say (HSK 2)
於是: yú shì — thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence (HSK 4)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
黑: Hēi — short name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江 (Hēi lóng jiāng) (HSK 2)
矮: ǎi — 1. (of a person) short 2. (of a wall etc) low 3. (of rank) inferior (to); lower (than) (HSK 4)
漢: Hàn — 1. Han ethnic group 2. Chinese (language) 3. the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
梢: shāo — tip of branch
長大: zhǎng dà — to grow up (HSK 2)
漢: Hàn — 1. Han ethnic group 2. Chinese (language) 3. the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
頭陀: tóu tuó — itinerant monk (loanword from Sanskrit)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
胖: pán — 1. healthy 2. at ease (HSK 3)
大和: Dà hé — 1. Yamato, an ancient Japanese province, a period of Japanese history, a place name, a surname etc 2. Daiwa, a Japanese place name, business name etc
尚: Shàng — surname Shang (HSK 7-9)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
茁壯: zhuó zhuàng — 1. healthy and strong 2. sturdy 3. thriving 4. vigorous 5. robust 6. flourishing
婦人: fù rén — married woman
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
姣: Jiāo — surname Jiao
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
婦人: fù rén — married woman
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
面: miàn — 1. face 2. side 3. surface 4. aspect 5. top 6. classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
歪: wāi — 1. askew 2. at a crooked angle 3. devious 4. noxious 5. (coll.) to lie on one's side (HSK 7-9)
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)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
赤: chì — 1. red 2. scarlet 3. bare 4. naked
須: xū — 1. must 2. to have to 3. to wait (HSK 7-9)
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
美: Měi — 1. (bound form) the Americas (abbr. for 美洲 (Měi zhōu)) 2. (bound form) USA (abbr. for 美國 (Měi guó)) (HSK 3)
髯: rán — 1. beard 2. whiskers
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
黑: Hēi — short name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江 (Hēi lóng jiāng) (HSK 2)
大漢: Dà hàn — Han Dynasty
尋: xún — 1. to search 2. to look for 3. to seek (HSK 7-9)
赤: chì — 1. red 2. scarlet 3. bare 4. naked
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
須: xū — 1. must 2. to have to 3. to wait (HSK 7-9)
大: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
索: Suǒ — 1. surname Suo 2. abbr. for 索馬里 (Suǒ mǎ lǐ), Somalia
城中: Chéng zhōng — see 城中區 (Chéng zhōng Qū)
無: mó — used in 南無 (nā mó) (HSK 4)
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)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
郭: Guō — surname Guo
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
村: cūn — 1. village 2. (dialect) to scold 3. rustic; boorish (HSK 3)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
山: Shān — surname Shan (HSK 1)
僻: pì — 1. (bound form) remote 2. out of the way 3. off-center 4. eccentric
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
鄰: lín — 1. neighbor 2. adjacent 3. close to
府: fǔ — 1. seat of government 2. government repository (archive) 3. official residence 4. mansion 5. presidential palace 6. (honorific) Your home 7. prefecture (from Tang to Qing times)
州: zhōu — 1. prefecture 2. (old) province 3. (old) administrative division 4. state (e.g. of US) 5. oblast (Russia) 6. canton (Switzerland)
縣: xiàn — 1. county 2. (Japan) prefecture (HSK 4)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
重價: zhòng jià — high price
聘: pìn — 1. to employ; to appoint 2. (bound form) to betroth 3. (coll.) (of a woman) to get married; to be marrried off 4. (literary) to visit another state as an envoy on a diplomatic mission 5. Taiwan pr. (pìng) (HSK 7-9)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (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)
三十: sān shí — 1. thirty 2. 30
六: liù — 1. six 2. 6 (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
梁山: Liáng shān — see 梁山縣 (Liáng shān Xiàn)
泊: bó — 1. to moor (a boat) 2. to park (a vehicle) 3. (literary) calm; quiet; peaceful
好漢: hǎo hàn — 1. hero 2. strong and courageous person 3. classifier: 條 (tiáo)
個個: gè gè — each one individually; each and every
呵: ā — variant of 啊 (ā)
活: huó — 1. to live 2. alive 3. living 4. work 5. workmanship (HSK 3)
臻: zhēn — 1. to arrive 2. to reach (esp. perfection) 3. utmost 4. (used in commercials)
臻至: zhēn zhì — to reach
至: zhì — 1. to arrive 2. most 3. to 4. until (HSK 5)
人馬: rén mǎ — 1. men and horses 2. troops 3. group of people 4. troop 5. staff 6. centaur
稱: chèn — 1. to fit; to match; to suit 2. (coll.) to have; to possess 3. Taiwan pr. (chèng)
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)
行: háng — 1. (bound form) row; line 2. (bound form) line of business; trade; profession 3. (bound form) commercial firm 4. (bound form) to rank (first, second etc) among one's siblings (by age) 5. (in data tables) row; (Tw) column 6. classifier for rows or lines (HSK 1)
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)
白描: bái miáo — 1. line drawing in traditional ink-and-brush style 2. simple and straightforward style of writing
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)
活: huó — 1. to live 2. alive 3. living 4. work 5. workmanship (HSK 3)
古人: gǔ rén — 1. people of ancient times 2. the ancients 3. extinct human species such as Homo erectus or Homo neanderthalensis 4. (literary) deceased person (HSK 7-9)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
能: Néng — surname Neng (HSK 1)
不動: bù dòng — motionless
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
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)
雅興: yǎ xìng — refined and elegant attitude of mind
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)
可惜: kě xī — 1. it is a pity 2. what a pity 3. unfortunately (HSK 5)
這種: zhè zhǒng — this kind of
盛舉: shèng jǔ — 1. grand event 2. magnificent undertaking
早已: zǎo yǐ — 1. for a long time; long since 2. (dialect) in the past (HSK 3)
和: Hé — surname He (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
社: shè — 1. (bound form) society; organization; agency 2. (old) god of the land (HSK 5)
一同: yī tóng — together (HSK 6)
消滅: xiāo miè — 1. to put an end to 2. to annihilate 3. to cause to perish 4. to perish 5. annihilation (in quantum field theory) (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)

，，，，，。Although temple fairs were not forbidden by the authorities the way qipao are in Shanghai today, or discussing affairs of state in Beijing, women and children were nonetheless not permitted to watch, and educated men — the so-called scholars — for the most part were unwilling to go and watch as well.，；Only idle men with nothing better to do would run to the front of the temple or the yamen to watch the excitement;，，“”。most of what I know about the fairs I learned from their accounts, and not from what textual scholars prize as "learning through one's own eyes."，。Yet I recall that once, I too witnessed with my own eyes a rather grand fair.，“”；It began with a child riding ahead on horseback, called the "tangbao," or advance herald;，“”，，；after a long while, the "gaozhao," or tall banner, arrived — a long bamboo pole hoisting a very long flag, held aloft with both hands by a big, fat man drenched in sweat;，，。when he was in high spirits, he would rest the tip of the pole on the crown of his head, or on his teeth, or even on the tip of his nose.“”、“”、“”；Next came the so-called "stilt-walkers," "carried pavilions," and "horse-heads";，，。there were also those got up as convicts, in red clothing and cangues, and among them were children too.，，——。At the time I felt that all these were glorious undertakings, and that anyone who took part in them was a person of great good fortune — I suppose I simply envied them their moment in the spotlight.，，“”？……I thought: why don't I fall gravely ill, so that my mother too might go to the temple and make a vow that I be dressed up as a convict? ...。Yet to this day I have, in the end, never had any part in a temple fair.

賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
象: xiàng — 1. elephant 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) 3. shape 4. form 5. appearance 6. to imitate
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
上海: Shàng hǎi — Shanghai municipality (short name 滬 (Hù))
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)
旗袍: qí páo — cheongsam, a traditional Chinese dress for women, originally a long robe worn by Manchu women, later modernized in 20th-century Shanghai into a close-fitting dress with a high collar and side slits (HSK 7-9)
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
談: Tán — surname Tan (HSK 3)
國事: guó shì — 1. affairs of the nation 2. politics
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)
當局: dāng jú — authorities
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)
禁止: jìn zhǐ — 1. to prohibit 2. to forbid 3. to ban (HSK 4)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
婦孺: fù rú — women and children
們: men — plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
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)
不許: bù xǔ — 1. not to allow 2. must not 3. can't (HSK 5)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
讀書人: dú shū rén — scholar; intellectual
即: jí — 1. namely 2. that is 3. i.e. 4. prompt 5. at once 6. at present 7. even if 8. prompted (by the occasion) 9. to approach 10. to come into contact 11. to assume (office) 12. to draw near (HSK 7-9)
所謂: suǒ wèi — 1. what is meant by the expression ...; what is referred to as ... 2. (derog.) so-called (HSK 7-9)
士子: shì zǐ — 1. official 2. scholar (old)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
大抵: dà dǐ — 1. generally speaking 2. by and large 3. for the most part
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
肯: kěn — 1. to agree; to consent 2. to be willing to (HSK 6)
趕: gǎn — 1. to overtake; to catch up with 2. to hurry; to rush 3. to try to catch (the bus etc) 4. to drive (cattle etc) forward; to drive (sb) away 5. to avail oneself of (an opportunity) 6. until; by (a certain time) (HSK 3)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
只有: zhǐ yǒu — 1. only have ...; there is only ... 2. (used in combination with 才 (cái)) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通過治療才能痊愈 (zhǐ yǒu tōng guò zhì liáo cái néng quán yù) "the only way to cure it is with therapy") 3. it is only (someone) who ... (as in 只有男性才有此需要 (zhǐ yǒu nán xìng cái yǒu cǐ xū yào) "only men would have such a requirement") 4. (used to express lack of alternatives) can only; have no choice but to (as in 只有屈服 (zhǐ yǒu qū fú) "the only thing you can do is give in") (HSK 3)
遊手好閑: yóu shǒu hào xián — to idle about
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)
閑人: xián rén — variant of 閒人 (xián rén)
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)
才: cái — 1. ability; talent 2. sb of a certain type 3. a capable individual 4. then and only then 5. just now 6. (before an expression of quantity) only 7. (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually (HSK 2)
跑: páo — (of an animal) to paw (the ground) (HSK 1)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
廟: miào — 1. temple 2. ancestral shrine 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) 4. temple fair 5. great imperial hall 6. imperial (HSK 7-9)
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)
或: huò — 1. maybe 2. perhaps 3. might 4. possibly 5. or (HSK 2)
衙門: yá men — yamen, government office in dynastic China
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)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
看熱鬧: kàn rè nao — 1. to enjoy watching a bustling scene 2. to go where the crowds are (HSK 7-9)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
關於: guān yú — 1. pertaining to 2. concerning 3. with regard to 4. about 5. a matter of (HSK 4)
賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
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)
知識: zhī shi — 1. knowledge 2. classifier: 門 (mén) 3. intellectual (HSK 1)
多半: duō bàn — 1. most 2. mostly 3. most likely (HSK 6)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
他們: tā men — they; them (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)
敘述: xù shù — 1. to relate (a story or information) 2. to tell or talk about 3. to recount 4. narration 5. telling 6. narrative 7. account (HSK 7-9)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
得來: dé lái — to come by; to obtain through some means
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)
並非: bìng fēi — really isn't (HSK 7-9)
考據: kǎo jù — textual criticism
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
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)
貴重: guì zhòng — precious (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)
眼: yǎn — 1. eye (classifier: 隻 (zhī), 雙 (shuāng)) 2. (often used with 一 (yī)) a look; a glance 3. small hole 4. (bound form) salient point 5. classifier for wells, cave-dwellings etc (HSK 2)
學: xué — 1. to learn 2. to study 3. to imitate 4. science 5. -ology (HSK 1)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
記得: jì de — to remember (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)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
回: Huí — Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
親: qīn — 1. parent 2. one's own (flesh and blood) 3. relative 4. related 5. marriage 6. bride 7. close 8. intimate 9. in person 10. first-hand 11. in favor of 12. pro- 13. to kiss 14. (Internet slang) dear (HSK 3)
見: jiàn — 1. to see 2. to meet 3. to appear (to be sth) 4. to interview 5. opinion 6. view (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
較: jiào — 1. (bound form) to compare 2. (literary) to dispute 3. compared to 4. (before an adjective) relatively; comparatively; rather 5. also pr. (jiǎo) (HSK 3)
盛: Shèng — surname Sheng (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)
賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
開首: kāi shǒu — 1. beginning 2. start 3. opening 4. in the beginning 5. to start 6. to open
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
騎馬: qí mǎ — to ride a horse
先: xiān — 1. beforehand; first; earlier 2. at first; originally 3. for the time being; for now 4. (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself) (HSK 1)
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)
稱為: chēng wéi — to be called; to be known as; to call it "..." (HSK 3)
塘: táng — 1. dyke 2. embankment 3. pool or pond 4. hot-water bathing pool
報: bào — 1. to report; to inform; to announce 2. to respond; to reply 3. to sign up for; to register for (abbr. for 報名 (bào míng)) 4. to reward; to recompense 5. to take revenge; to retaliate 6. newspaper 7. periodical; journal 8. bulletin 9. telegram (HSK 3)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
許久: xǔ jiǔ — 1. for a long time 2. for ages
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
照: zhào — 1. according to 2. in accordance with 3. to shine 4. to illuminate 5. to reflect 6. to look at (one's reflection) 7. to take (a photo) 8. photo 9. as requested 10. as before (HSK 3)
到了: dào liǎo — 1. at last 2. finally 3. in the end
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
竹竿: zhú gān — bamboo pole (HSK 7-9)
揭: Jiē — surname Jie (HSK 6)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
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)
條: tiáo — 1. strip 2. item 3. article 4. clause (of law or treaty) 5. classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc) (HSK 2)
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)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
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)
旗: qí — 1. banner 2. flag 3. (in Qing times) Manchu (cf. 八旗 (Bā qí)) 4. administrative subdivision in inner Mongolia equivalent to 縣 (xiàn) county 5. classifier: 面 (miàn)
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
汗流浹背: hàn liú jiā bèi — 1. to sweat profusely (idiom) 2. drenched in sweat
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)
胖: pán — 1. healthy 2. at ease (HSK 3)
大漢: Dà hàn — Han Dynasty
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
兩手: liǎng shǒu — 1. one's two hands 2. two prongs (of a strategy) 3. both aspects, eventualities etc 4. skills 5. expertise (HSK 6)
托: tuō — 1. to hold up in one's hand; to support with one's palm 2. sth serving as a support: a prop, a rest (e.g. arm rest) 3. (bound form) a shill 4. to ask; to beg; to entrust (variant of 託 (tuō)) 5. torr (unit of pressure) (HSK 6)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (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)
肯: kěn — 1. to agree; to consent 2. to be willing to (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)
竿頭: gān tóu — 1. bamboo pole's uppermost tip 2. (fig.) acme
放: fàng — 1. to put 2. to place 3. to release 4. to free 5. to let go 6. to let out 7. to set off (fireworks) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
頭頂: tóu dǐng — top of the head (HSK 7-9)
或: huò — 1. maybe 2. perhaps 3. might 4. possibly 5. or (HSK 2)
牙齒: yá chǐ — 1. tooth 2. dental 3. classifier: 顆 (kē) (HSK 7-9)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
甚而至於: shèn ér zhì yú — 1. even 2. so much so that
鼻尖: bí jiān — tip of the nose
其次: qí cì — 1. next 2. secondly (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)
所謂: suǒ wèi — 1. what is meant by the expression ...; what is referred to as ... 2. (derog.) so-called (HSK 7-9)
高蹺: gāo qiāo — 1. stilts 2. walking on stilts as component of folk dance
擡: tái — variant of 抬 (tái) (HSK 5)
閣: gé — 1. pavilion (usu. two-storied) 2. cabinet (politics) 3. boudoir 4. woman's chamber 5. rack 6. shelf
馬頭: mǎ tou — old variant of 碼頭 (mǎ tou)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
還有: hái yǒu — 1. there still remain(s); there is (or are) still 2. in addition (HSK 1)
扮: bàn — 1. to disguise oneself as 2. to dress up 3. to play (a role) 4. to put on (an expression) (HSK 7-9)
犯人: fàn rén — 1. convict 2. prisoner 3. criminal
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)
紅: Hóng — surname Hong (HSK 2)
衣: yī — 1. clothes 2. classifier: 件 (jiàn) 3. Kangxi radical 145
枷鎖: jiā suǒ — 1. stocks and chain 2. in fetters
內中: nèi zhōng — 1. within it 2. among them
也: Yě — surname Ye (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)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
覺得: jué de — 1. to think that ...; to feel that ... 2. to feel (uncomfortable etc) (HSK 1)
這些: zhè xiē — these (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
光榮: guāng róng — 1. honor and glory 2. glorious (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
事業: shì yè — 1. undertaking 2. project 3. activity 4. (charitable, political or revolutionary) cause 5. publicly funded institution, enterprise or foundation 6. career 7. occupation 8. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
與: yú — variant of 歟 (yú) (HSK 6)
聞: Wén — surname Wen (HSK 2)
其: qí — 1. his 2. her 3. its 4. their 5. that 6. such 7. it (refers to sth preceding it) (HSK 5)
事: shì — 1. matter 2. thing 3. item 4. work 5. affair 6. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng), 回 (huí) (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)
即: jí — 1. namely 2. that is 3. i.e. 4. prompt 5. at once 6. at present 7. even if 8. prompted (by the occasion) 9. to approach 10. to come into contact 11. to assume (office) 12. to draw near (HSK 7-9)
全: Quán — surname Quan (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
大有: dà yǒu — 1. there is a great deal of ... (typically followed by a bisyllabic word, as in 大有希望 (dà yǒu xī wàng)) 2. (literary) bumper harvest; abundance
運氣: yùn qi — luck (good or bad) (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)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
大概: dà gài — 1. roughly 2. probably 3. rough 4. approximate 5. about 6. general idea (HSK 3)
羨慕: xiàn mù — 1. to envy 2. to admire (HSK 7-9)
他們: tā men — they; them (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)
出風頭: chū fēng tou — 1. to push oneself forward 2. to seek fame 3. to be in the limelight 4. same as 出鋒頭 (chū fēng tou) (HSK 7-9)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
為什麼: wèi shén me — 1. why? 2. for what reason? (HSK 2)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
生: shēng — 1. to grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born 2. to arise; to occur 3. to light (a fire) 4. to live; to be alive 5. life 6. raw; uncooked; unprocessed 7. unfamiliar; strange 8. (bound form) student; person engaged in a field 9. (bound form) male role in traditional opera 10. (bound form) life; lifetime 11. (bound form) means of livelihood 12. (bound form) very; intensely (as in 生疼 (shēng téng)) 13. (bound form) in a forced manner (as in 生拉硬拽 (shēng lā yìng zhuài)) (HSK 2)
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)
場: cháng — 1. threshing floor 2. classifier for events and happenings: spell, episode, bout (HSK 2)
重病: zhòng bìng — serious illness
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)
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)
母親: mǔ qīn — mother (HSK 3)
也好: yě hǎo — 1. that's fine 2. may as well 3. (reduplicated) regardless of whether ... or ... (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
廟: miào — 1. temple 2. ancestral shrine 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) 4. temple fair 5. great imperial hall 6. imperial (HSK 7-9)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
許下: xǔ xià — to make a promise
一個: yī ge — 1. a; an; one 2. the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
扮: bàn — 1. to disguise oneself as 2. to dress up 3. to play (a role) 4. to put on (an expression) (HSK 7-9)
犯人: fàn rén — 1. convict 2. prisoner 3. criminal
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)
心願: xīn yuàn — 1. cherished desire 2. dream 3. craving 4. wish 5. aspiration (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)
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)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
到現在: dào xiàn zài — 1. up until now 2. to date
終於: zhōng yú — 1. at last 2. in the end 3. finally 4. eventually (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)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
賽會: sài huì — 1. religious procession 2. exposition
發生關係: fā shēng guān xi — 1. to have sexual relations with sb 2. to have dealings with
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)

。We were going to Dongguan to see the Wuchang Fair.，，，，。This was a grand event I seldom encountered as a child, for that fair was the grandest in the whole county, and Dongguan, moreover, was a place very far from my home — more than sixty li of waterway beyond the city walls — and there were two special temples there.，《》，，，；One was the Meigu Temple, the very one recorded in Liaozhai Zhiyi: an unmarried woman who kept her chastity, became a deity after death, and then usurped another woman's husband;，，“”。and indeed, on the altar there were now molded a young man and woman, beaming with smiles — which was rather at odds with "the moral teachings."，。The other was the Wuchang Temple, whose very name was strange.：。According to people with a fondness for scholarly research, this referred to the Wutong deities.。But there was no firm evidence for this either.，；The images were of five men, and showed no sign whatsoever of being "rampant";，“”，。behind them sat five ladies in a row, yet they were not seated apart by sex — far less strict than the boundary observed in the theaters of Beijing.，“”，——，，“”。In fact, this too was rather at odds with "the moral teachings" — but since they were the Five Rampant Ones, nothing could be done about it, and naturally it became "a separate matter" altogether.

要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (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)
東: Dōng — surname Dong (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
猖: chāng — ferocious
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (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)
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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
兒時: ér shí — childhood
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)
罕: hǎn — rare
逢: féng — 1. to meet by chance 2. to come across 3. (of a calendar event) to come along 4. (of an event) to fall on (a particular day) 5. to fawn upon (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)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
件: jiàn — 1. item 2. component 3. classifier for events, things, clothes etc (HSK 2)
盛事: shèng shì — grand occasion
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (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)
全: Quán — surname Quan (HSK 2)
縣: xiàn — 1. county 2. (Japan) prefecture (HSK 4)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)
最: zuì — 1. (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est 2. (after 之 (zhī)) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最 (shì jiè zhī zuì) "the greatest in the world") (HSK 1)
盛: Shèng — surname Sheng (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)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
東: Dōng — surname Dong (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
離: Lí — surname Li (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
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)
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
地方: dì fāng — 1. region 2. regional (away from the central administration) 3. local (HSK 1)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
城: chéng — 1. city walls 2. city 3. town 4. classifier: 座 (zuò), 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
還有: hái yǒu — 1. there still remain(s); there is (or are) still 2. in addition (HSK 1)
六十: liù shí — 1. sixty 2. 60
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)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
水路: shuǐ lù — waterway
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
那裏: nà li — there; that place (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)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
座: zuò — 1. seat 2. base; stand 3. (bound form) constellation 4. (archaic) suffix used in a respectful form of address (e.g. 師座 (shī zuò)) 5. classifier for large immovable objects such as buildings, mountains, bridges etc (HSK 2)
特別: tè bié — 1. unusual; special 2. very; especially; particularly 3. expressly; for a specific purpose 4. (often followed by 是 (shì)) in particular (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)
廟: miào — 1. temple 2. ancestral shrine 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) 4. temple fair 5. great imperial hall 6. imperial (HSK 7-9)
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)
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)
梅: Méi — surname Mei
姑: gū — 1. paternal aunt 2. husband's sister 3. husband's mother (old) 4. nun 5. for the time being (literary)
廟: miào — 1. temple 2. ancestral shrine 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) 4. temple fair 5. great imperial hall 6. imperial (HSK 7-9)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
聊: liáo — 1. (coll.) to chat 2. (literary) temporarily; for a while 3. (literary) somewhat; slightly 4. (literary) to depend upon (HSK 6)
齋: zhāi — 1. to fast or abstain from meat, wine etc 2. vegetarian diet 3. study room 4. building 5. to give alms (to a monk)
誌: zhì — 1. sign 2. mark 3. to record 4. to write a footnote
異: yì — 1. different 2. other 3. hetero- 4. unusual 5. strange 6. surprising 7. to distinguish 8. to separate 9. to discriminate
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)
記: jì — 1. to record 2. to note 3. to memorize 4. to remember 5. mark 6. sign 7. classifier for blows, kicks, shots (HSK 1)
室女: Shì nǚ — 1. unmarried lady 2. virgin 3. Virgo (star sign)
守節: shǒu jié — 1. faithful (to the memory of betrothed) 2. constant (of widow who remains unmarried)
死後: sǐ hòu — 1. after death 2. posthumous
成: Chéng — 1. surname Cheng 2. short name for Chengdu 成都 (Chéng dū) (HSK 2)
神: Shén — God (HSK 5)
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)
篡: cuàn — 1. to seize 2. to usurp
取: qǔ — 1. to take 2. to get 3. to choose 4. to fetch (HSK 2)
別人: bié ren — other people; others; other person (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)
丈夫: zhàng fu — husband (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)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
神: Shén — God (HSK 5)
座: zuò — 1. seat 2. base; stand 3. (bound form) constellation 4. (archaic) suffix used in a respectful form of address (e.g. 師座 (shī zuò)) 5. classifier for large immovable objects such as buildings, mountains, bridges etc (HSK 2)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
確: què — 1. authenticated 2. solid 3. firm 4. real 5. true
塑: sù — 1. to model (a figure) in clay 2. (bound form) plastic (i.e. the synthetic material)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
一對: yī duì — couple; pair
少年: shào nián — 1. early youth 2. youngster 3. (literary) youth; young man (HSK 2)
男女: nán nǚ — 1. male-female 2. male and female (HSK 4)
眉開眼笑: méi kāi yǎn xiào — 1. brows raised in delight, eyes laughing (idiom); beaming with joy 2. all smiles (HSK 7-9)
殊: shū — 1. (literary) to kill; to behead; to sever; to separate; to surpass 2. (bound form) different 3. (bound form) special; remarkable 4. (literary) very; extremely
與: yú — variant of 歟 (yú) (HSK 6)
禮教: lǐ jiào — Confucian code of ethics
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
妨: fáng — 1. to hinder 2. (in the negative or interrogative) (no) harm 3. (what) harm
其一: qí yī — 1. one of the given (options etc) 2. the first 3. firstly
便是: biàn shì — 1. (emphasizes that sth is precisely or exactly as stated) 2. precisely 3. exactly 4. even 5. if 6. just like 7. in the same way as (HSK 6)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
猖: chāng — ferocious
廟: miào — 1. temple 2. ancestral shrine 3. classifier: 座 (zuò) 4. temple fair 5. great imperial hall 6. imperial (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)
名目: míng mù — 1. name 2. designation 3. item 4. rubric 5. (formal usage) fame
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)
奇特: qí tè — 1. peculiar 2. unusual 3. queer (HSK 7-9)
據有: jù yǒu — 1. to occupy 2. to hold 3. to possess
考據: kǎo jù — textual criticism
癖: pǐ — 1. habit 2. hobby
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
這就: zhè jiù — 1. immediately 2. at once
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
五通: wǔ tōng — 1. bottom bracket shell (in a bicycle frame) 2. (Buddhism) the five supernatural powers (abbr. for 五神通 (wǔ shén tōng))
神: Shén — God (HSK 5)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
並: bìng — 1. and 2. furthermore 3. also 4. together with 5. (not) at all 6. simultaneously 7. to combine 8. to join 9. to merge (HSK 3)
無: mó — used in 南無 (nā mó) (HSK 4)
確: què — 1. authenticated 2. solid 3. firm 4. real 5. true
據: jù — 1. according to 2. to act in accordance with 3. to depend on 4. to seize 5. to occupy (HSK 6)
神像: shén xiàng — 1. likeness of a god or Buddha 2. (old) portrait of the deceased
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)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
男人: nán rén — 1. a man 2. a male 3. men 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不見: bù jiàn — 1. not to see 2. not to meet 3. to have disappeared 4. to be missing (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)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
猖獗: chāng jué — 1. to be rampant 2. to run wild
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
狀: zhuàng — 1. (bound form) form; appearance; shape 2. (bound form) state; condition 3. (bound form) to describe 4. (bound form) written complaint; lawsuit 5. (bound form) certificate
後面: hòu mian — 1. the back; the rear; the last bit 2. behind; near the end; at the back 3. later; afterwards (HSK 3)
列: liè — 1. to arrange 2. to line up 3. file 4. series 5. (in data tables) column 6. (Tw) row (HSK 4)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
位: wèi — 1. position 2. location 3. place 4. seat 5. classifier for people (honorific) 6. classifier for binary bits (e.g. 十六位 16-bit or 2 bytes) 7. (physics) potential (HSK 2)
太太: tài tai — 1. married woman 2. Mrs. 3. Madam 4. wife 5. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 2)
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)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
分: fēn — 1. to divide; to separate 2. to distribute; to allocate 3. to distinguish (good and bad) 4. (bound form) branch of (an organization); sub- (as in 分局 (fēn jú)) 5. fraction 6. one tenth (of certain units) 7. unit of length equivalent to 0.33 cm 8. minute (unit of time) 9. minute (angular measurement unit) 10. a point (in sports or games) 11. 0.01 yuan (unit of money) (HSK 1)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (HSK 1)
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
不及: bù jí — 1. to fall short of 2. not as good as 3. too late
北京: Běi jīng — Beijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China (short name 京 (Jīng)) (HSK 1)
戲: xì — 1. trick 2. drama 3. play 4. show 5. classifier: 齣 (chū), 場 (chǎng), 臺 (tái) (HSK 5)
園: Yuán — surname Yuan (HSK 6)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
界限: jiè xiàn — boundary (HSK 7-9)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
謹嚴: jǐn yán — 1. meticulous 2. rigorous
其實: qí shí — actually; in fact; really (HSK 3)
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)
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)
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)
殊: shū — 1. (literary) to kill; to behead; to sever; to separate; to surpass 2. (bound form) different 3. (bound form) special; remarkable 4. (literary) very; extremely
與: yú — variant of 歟 (yú) (HSK 6)
禮教: lǐ jiào — Confucian code of ethics
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
妨: fáng — 1. to hinder 2. (in the negative or interrogative) (no) harm 3. (what) harm
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
但: dàn — 1. but; yet; however; still 2. merely; only; just (HSK 2)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
既然: jì rán — since; as; this being the case (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)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
猖: chāng — ferocious
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)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
無法: wú fǎ — unable to; incapable of (HSK 4)
可: kě — 1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able 2. to approve; to permit 3. to suit 4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very 5. but; however (HSK 5)
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)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
也: Yě — surname Ye (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)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
作別: zuò bié — 1. to take one's leave 2. to bid farewell
論: Lún — abbr. for 論語 (Lún yǔ), The Analects (of Confucius)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)

，。Because Dongguan was far from the city, everyone rose very early in the morning.，，、、、，。The large boat with three rows of clam-shell-paned windows, arranged the night before, was already moored at the river landing, and the boat chairs, meals, tea urn, and boxes of snacks were being carried down one after another.，。I laughed and jumped about, urging them to carry things faster.，，，，。Suddenly the servant's expression turned very solemn, and I sensed something was amiss; looking all around, I found my father standing right behind me.

因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
東: Dōng — surname Dong (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
離: Lí — surname Li (HSK 2)
城: chéng — 1. city walls 2. city 3. town 4. classifier: 座 (zuò), 道 (dào), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
大清早: dà qīng zǎo — early in the morning
大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
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)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
昨夜: zuó yè — last night
預定: yù dìng — to schedule in advance (HSK 7-9)
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)
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
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)
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
瓦: wǎ — 1. roof tile 2. abbr. for 瓦特 (wǎ tè) (HSK 7-9)
窗: chuāng — 1. window 2. classifier: 扇 (shàn)
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: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
船: chuán — 1. boat 2. vessel 3. ship 4. classifier: 條 (tiáo), 艘 (sōu), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
泊: bó — 1. to moor (a boat) 2. to park (a vehicle) 3. (literary) calm; quiet; peaceful
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)
河: hé — 1. river (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 道 (dào)) 2. (bound form) the Yellow River 3. (bound form) the Milky Way 4. (bound form) (on restaurant menus) rice noodles 河粉 (hé fěn) (HSK 2)
埠頭: bù tóu — 1. wharf 2. pier
船: chuán — 1. boat 2. vessel 3. ship 4. classifier: 條 (tiáo), 艘 (sōu), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
椅: yǐ — chair
飯菜: fàn cài — food
茶: chá — 1. tea 2. tea plant 3. classifier: 杯 (bēi), 壺 (hú) (HSK 1)
炊: chuī — to cook food
點心: diǎn xin — 1. light refreshments 2. pastry 3. dim sum (in Cantonese cooking) 4. dessert (HSK 7-9)
盒子: hé zi — 1. box; case 2. hezi – a savory turnover-like pie in northern Chinese and Mongolian cuisines (HSK 5)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
陸續: lù xù — 1. in turn 2. successively 3. one after the other 4. bit by bit (HSK 4)
搬: bān — 1. to move (i.e. relocate oneself) 2. to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky) 3. to shift 4. to copy indiscriminately (HSK 3)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
笑: xiào — 1. to laugh; to smile 2. to laugh at (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
跳: tiào — 1. to jump 2. to hop 3. to skip over 4. to bounce 5. to palpitate (HSK 3)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
催: cuī — 1. to urge 2. to press 3. to prompt 4. to rush sb 5. to hasten sth 6. to expedite (HSK 7-9)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
搬: bān — 1. to move (i.e. relocate oneself) 2. to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky) 3. to shift 4. to copy indiscriminately (HSK 3)
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)
快: kuài — 1. rapid 2. quick 3. speed 4. rate 5. soon 6. almost 7. to make haste 8. clever 9. sharp (of knives or wits) 10. forthright 11. plainspoken 12. gratified 13. pleased 14. pleasant (HSK 1)
忽然: hū rán — suddenly; all of a sudden (HSK 2)
工人: gōng rén — 1. worker 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 名 (míng) (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)
臉色: liǎn sè — 1. complexion 2. look (HSK 5)
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)
謹: jǐn — 1. cautious 2. careful 3. solemnly 4. sincerely (formal)
肅: Sù — surname Su
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)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
有些: yǒu xiē — 1. some 2. somewhat; rather; a bit
蹊蹺: qī qiāo — odd; queer; strange; fishy
四面: sì miàn — all sides
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
父親: fù qīn — 1. father 2. also pr. (fù qin) 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
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)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
背後: bèi hòu — 1. behind 2. at the back 3. in the rear 4. behind sb's back (HSK 3)

“。”。"Go and fetch your book," he said slowly.

“”，《》，。This so-called "book" referred to the Jianlüe I had read when I first started my schooling, for I had no second book besides it.，。In our region, the age for beginning school was usually chosen to be an odd number, and that is how I remember that I was seven at the time.

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)
所謂: suǒ wèi — 1. what is meant by the expression ...; what is referred to as ... 2. (derog.) so-called (HSK 7-9)
書: Shū — abbr. for 書經 (Shū jīng) (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)
指: zhǐ — 1. finger 2. to point at or to 3. to indicate or refer to 4. to depend on 5. to count on 6. (of hair) to stand on end (HSK 3)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
開蒙: kāi méng — (old) (of a child) to begin schooling
時候: shí hou — 1. time 2. length of time 3. moment 4. period (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)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (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)
鑒: jiàn — variant of 鑑 (jiàn)
略: lüè — 1. brief; sketchy 2. outline; summary 3. to omit 4. (bound form before a single-character verb) a bit; somewhat; slightly 5. plan; strategy 6. to capture (territory) (HSK 7-9)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
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)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
第二: dì èr — 1. second 2. number two 3. next 4. secondary
本: běn — 1. (bound form) root; stem 2. (bound form) origin; source 3. (bound form) one's own; this 4. (bound form) this; the current (year etc) 5. (bound form) original 6. (bound form) inherent 7. originally; initially 8. capital; principal 9. classifier for books, periodicals, files etc (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)
我們: wǒ men — we; us; ourselves; our (HSK 1)
那裡: nà li — there; that place (HSK 1)
上學: shàng xué — 1. to go to school 2. to attend school (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)
歲數: suì shu — age (number of years old) (HSK 6)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
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)
揀: jiǎn — 1. to choose 2. to pick 3. to sort out 4. to pick up (HSK 7-9)
單數: dān shù — 1. positive odd number (also written 奇數 2. singular (grammar)
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)
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)
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)
記住: jì zhu — 1. to remember 2. to bear in mind 3. to learn by heart (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (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)
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)
七: qī — 1. seven 2. 7 (HSK 1)
歲: suì — 1. classifier for years (of age) 2. year 3. year (of crop harvests) (HSK 1)

，。Uneasy at heart, I fetched the book.，。He had me sit beside him at the table in the middle of the hall, and made me read it aloud, sentence by sentence.，。Full of dread, I read on, sentence by sentence.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
忐忑: tǎn tè — apprehensive; on edge
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
拿: ná — 1. to hold 2. to seize 3. to catch 4. to apprehend 5. to take 6. (used in the same way as 把 (bǎ): to mark the following noun as a direct object) (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
書: Shū — abbr. for 書經 (Shū jīng) (HSK 1)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
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)
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)
同: tóng — 1. like 2. same 3. similar 4. together 5. alike 6. with (HSK 6)
坐: Zuò — surname Zuo (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)
堂: táng — 1. (main) hall 2. large room for a specific purpose 3. classifier: 間 (jiān) 4. relationship between cousins etc on the paternal side of a family 5. of the same clan 6. classifier for classes, lectures etc 7. classifier for sets of furniture (HSK 7-9)
中央: zhōng yāng — 1. central 2. middle 3. center 4. central authorities (of a state) (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
桌子: zhuō zi — 1. table 2. desk 3. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 套 (tào) (HSK 1)
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)
教: Jiào — surname Jiao (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (HSK 3)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
擔: dān — 1. to undertake 2. to carry 3. to shoulder 4. to take responsibility (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
心: xīn — 1. heart 2. mind 3. intention 4. center 5. core 6. classifier: 顆 (kē), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (HSK 3)

，，：Two lines to a row — after I had read some twenty or thirty rows or so, he said:

“。"Read it until you know it by heart.，。”If you can't recite it, you won't be allowed to go see the fair."

，，。Having said this, he stood up and walked into the inner room.

。It was as if a basin of cold water had been poured over my head.，？But what could I do?，，，——。Naturally, I went on reading, reading, forcing myself to memorize it — and I would have to recite it besides.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
從頭: cóng tóu — 1. anew 2. from the start (HSK 7-9)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
澆: jiāo — 1. to pour liquid 2. to irrigate (using waterwheel) 3. to water 4. to cast (molten metal) 5. to mold (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)
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)
盆: pén — 1. basin 2. flower pot 3. unit of volume equal to 12 斗 (dǒu) and 8 升 (shēng), approx 128 liters 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
冷水: lěng shuǐ — 1. cold water 2. unboiled water 3. fig. not yet ready (of plans) (HSK 6)
但是: dàn shì — but; however (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)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
法子: fǎ zi — 1. way 2. method 3. Taiwan pr. (fá zi)
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)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (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)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
強: Qiáng — surname Qiang (HSK 3)
記: jì — 1. to record 2. to note 3. to memorize 4. to remember 5. mark 6. sign 7. classifier for blows, kicks, shots (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
出來: chū lái — 1. to come out 2. to appear 3. to arise (HSK 1)

，，；Of that very book, all I remember now are its first four lines; everything else I have forgotten;，。and the twenty or thirty rows I forced myself to memorize back then have naturally all been forgotten right along with it.，《》《》、《》，。I remember hearing people say at the time that reading the Jianlüe was far more useful than reading the Thousand Character Classic or the Hundred Family Surnames, because from it one could learn the general course of history from ancient times to the present.，，。“”“”，，，“”！“”！……Knowing the general course of history from ancient times to the present would, of course, have been a fine thing — yet I did not understand a single character of it. "Since Pangu of old" was just "Since Pangu of old"; I read it on, and memorized it — "Since Pangu of old"! "Born amid the great wilderness"! ...

就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (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)
書: Shū — abbr. for 書經 (Shū jīng) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
記得: jì de — to remember (HSK 1)
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)
四: sì — 1. four 2. 4 (HSK 1)
句: gōu — variant of 勾 (gōu) (HSK 2)
別的: bié de — 1. else 2. other (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
忘卻: wàng què — to forget
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
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)
強: Qiáng — surname Qiang (HSK 3)
記: jì — 1. to record 2. to note 3. to memorize 4. to remember 5. mark 6. sign 7. classifier for blows, kicks, shots (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)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
三十: sān shí — 1. thirty 2. 30
行: háng — 1. (bound form) row; line 2. (bound form) line of business; trade; profession 3. (bound form) commercial firm 4. (bound form) to rank (first, second etc) among one's siblings (by age) 5. (in data tables) row; (Tw) column 6. classifier for rows or lines (HSK 1)
自然: zì rán — 1. nature 2. natural 3. naturally (HSK 3)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
一齊: yī qí — 1. at the same time 2. simultaneously (HSK 6)
忘卻: wàng què — to forget
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)
裏面: lǐ miàn — variant of 裡面 (lǐ miàn) (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)
記得: jì de — to remember (HSK 1)
那時: nà shí — 1. then 2. at that time 3. in those days (HSK 2)
聽: tīng — 1. to listen to; to hear 2. to heed; to obey 3. a can (loanword from English "tin") 4. classifier for canned beverages 5. to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) 6. (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. (tìng)) (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
鑒: jiàn — variant of 鑑 (jiàn)
略: lüè — 1. brief; sketchy 2. outline; summary 3. to omit 4. (bound form before a single-character verb) a bit; somewhat; slightly 5. plan; strategy 6. to capture (territory) (HSK 7-9)
比: Bǐ — 1. Belgium 2. Belgian 3. abbr. for 比利時 (Bǐ lì shí) (HSK 1)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
千字文: Qiān zì wén — Thousand Character Classic, 6th century poem used as a traditional reading primer
百家姓: Bǎi jiā xìng — The Book of Family Names, anonymous Song dynasty reading primer listing 438 surnames
有用: yǒu yòng — useful (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)
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)
因為: yīn wèi — because; owing to; on account of (HSK 2)
可以: kě yǐ — 1. can 2. may 3. possible 4. able to 5. not bad 6. pretty good (HSK 2)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
古: Gǔ — surname Gu (HSK 3)
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)
今: jīn — 1. now 2. the present time 3. current 4. contemporary 5. this (day, year etc)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大概: dà gài — 1. roughly 2. probably 3. rough 4. approximate 5. about 6. general idea (HSK 3)
知道: zhī dào — 1. to know; to become aware of 2. also pr. (zhī dao) (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
古: Gǔ — surname Gu (HSK 3)
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)
今: jīn — 1. now 2. the present time 3. current 4. contemporary 5. this (day, year etc)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大概: dà gài — 1. roughly 2. probably 3. rough 4. approximate 5. about 6. general idea (HSK 3)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
當然: dāng rán — 1. only natural 2. as it should be 3. certainly 4. of course 5. without doubt (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)
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)
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)
然而: rán ér — however; but; yet (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
一字: yī zì — in a row; in a line
也: Yě — surname Ye (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)
粵: Yuè — 1. Cantonese 2. short name for Guangdong 廣東 (Guǎng dōng)
自: zì — 1. (bound form) self; oneself 2. from; since 3. naturally; as a matter of course (HSK 4)
盤古: Pán gǔ — Pangu (creator of the universe in Chinese mythology)
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
粵: Yuè — 1. Cantonese 2. short name for Guangdong 廣東 (Guǎng dōng)
自: zì — 1. (bound form) self; oneself 2. from; since 3. naturally; as a matter of course (HSK 4)
盤古: Pán gǔ — Pangu (creator of the universe in Chinese mythology)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (HSK 3)
記住: jì zhu — 1. to remember 2. to bear in mind 3. to learn by heart (HSK 1)
它: tā — it (HSK 2)
粵: Yuè — 1. Cantonese 2. short name for Guangdong 廣東 (Guǎng dōng)
自: zì — 1. (bound form) self; oneself 2. from; since 3. naturally; as a matter of course (HSK 4)
盤古: Pán gǔ — Pangu (creator of the universe in Chinese mythology)
呵: ā — variant of 啊 (ā)
生: shēng — 1. to grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born 2. to arise; to occur 3. to light (a fire) 4. to live; to be alive 5. life 6. raw; uncooked; unprocessed 7. unfamiliar; strange 8. (bound form) student; person engaged in a field 9. (bound form) male role in traditional opera 10. (bound form) life; lifetime 11. (bound form) means of livelihood 12. (bound form) very; intensely (as in 生疼 (shēng téng)) 13. (bound form) in a forced manner (as in 生拉硬拽 (shēng lā yìng zhuài)) (HSK 2)
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)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
荒: huāng — 1. desolate 2. shortage 3. scarce 4. out of practice 5. absurd 6. uncultivated 7. to neglect (HSK 7-9)
呵: ā — variant of 啊 (ā)

，。The things needed for the trip had all been carried down, and the household turned from bustle into stillness.，。The morning sun shone on the western wall, and the weather was very clear.、、，，，。My mother, the servants, and Chang Ma — that is, Ah Chang — could none of them do anything to help me, and could only wait in silence for me to read it fluently, and recite it besides.，，“”；In the utter stillness, I seemed to feel many iron pincers reaching out from inside my head, to clamp down on things like "born amid the great wilderness";，，。I also heard the sound of my own hurried recitation, trembling, as though it were a cricket chirping deep in autumn, crying out in the night.

應用: yìng yòng — 1. to put to use; to apply 2. practical; applied (science, linguistics etc) 3. application; practical use 4. (computing) app (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)
物件: wù jiàn — object
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
搬: bān — 1. to move (i.e. relocate oneself) 2. to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky) 3. to shift 4. to copy indiscriminately (HSK 3)
完: wán — 1. to finish 2. to be over 3. whole 4. complete 5. entire (HSK 2)
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (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)
忙亂: máng luàn — rushed and muddled (HSK 7-9)
轉: zhuǎi — see 轉文 (zhuǎi wén) (HSK 3)
成: Chéng — 1. surname Cheng 2. short name for Chengdu 成都 (Chéng dū) (HSK 2)
靜: jìng — 1. still 2. calm 3. quiet 4. not moving (HSK 3)
肅: Sù — surname Su
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
朝陽: Cháo yáng — 1. see 朝陽市 (Cháo yáng Shì) 2. see 朝陽縣 (Cháo yáng Xiàn) 3. see 朝陽區 (Cháo yáng Qū)
照: zhào — 1. according to 2. in accordance with 3. to shine 4. to illuminate 5. to reflect 6. to look at (one's reflection) 7. to take (a photo) 8. photo 9. as requested 10. as before (HSK 3)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
西牆: Xī qiáng — Western Wall, or Wailing Wall (Jerusalem)
天氣: tiān qì — weather (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)
清朗: qīng lǎng — 1. clear and bright 2. unclouded 3. clear and sonorous (voice) 4. clear and lively (narrative)
母親: mǔ qīn — mother (HSK 3)
工人: gōng rén — 1. worker 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
媽媽: mā ma — 1. mama 2. mommy 3. mother 4. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
即: jí — 1. namely 2. that is 3. i.e. 4. prompt 5. at once 6. at present 7. even if 8. prompted (by the occasion) 9. to approach 10. to come into contact 11. to assume (office) 12. to draw near (HSK 7-9)
阿: ā — 1. prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity 2. used in transliteration 3. (bound form) Afghanistan (abbr. for 阿富汗 (Ā fù hàn)) 4. (bound form) Albania (abbr. for 阿爾巴尼亞 (Ā ěr bā ní yà)) 5. (bound form) Algeria (abbr. for 阿爾及利亞 (Ā ěr jí lì yà)) 6. (bound form) Argentina (abbr. for 阿根廷 (Ā gēn tíng)) 7. also pr. (à)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
無法: wú fǎ — unable to; incapable of (HSK 4)
營救: yíng jiù — to rescue (HSK 7-9)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
默默: mò mò — in silence; not speaking (HSK 4)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
靜候: jìng hòu — to wait quietly; to await (news, a reply etc)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
讀: dòu — 1. comma 2. phrase marked by pause (HSK 1)
熟: shú — 1. ripe; mature 2. thoroughly cooked; done 3. familiar; acquainted 4. experienced; skilled 5. (of sleep etc) deep; profound 6. also pr. (shóu) (HSK 2)
而且: ér qiě — 1. (not only ...) but also 2. moreover; in addition; furthermore (HSK 2)
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
出來: chū lái — 1. to come out 2. to appear 3. to arise (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)
百: Bǎi — surname Bai (HSK 1)
靜: jìng — 1. still 2. calm 3. quiet 4. not moving (HSK 3)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
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)
裡: lǐ — 1. lining 2. interior 3. inside 4. internal 5. also written 裏 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
伸出: shēn chū — to extend
許多: xǔ duō — 1. many 2. a lot of 3. much (HSK 2)
鐵: Tiě — surname Tie (HSK 3)
鉗: qián — 1. pincers 2. pliers 3. tongs 4. claw (of animal) 5. to grasp with pincers 6. to pinch 7. to clamp 8. to restrain 9. to restrict 10. to gag
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)
什麼: shén me — 1. what? 2. something; anything (HSK 1)
生: shēng — 1. to grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born 2. to arise; to occur 3. to light (a fire) 4. to live; to be alive 5. life 6. raw; uncooked; unprocessed 7. unfamiliar; strange 8. (bound form) student; person engaged in a field 9. (bound form) male role in traditional opera 10. (bound form) life; lifetime 11. (bound form) means of livelihood 12. (bound form) very; intensely (as in 生疼 (shēng téng)) 13. (bound form) in a forced manner (as in 生拉硬拽 (shēng lā yìng zhuài)) (HSK 2)
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)
太: tài — 1. highest 2. greatest 3. too (much) 4. very 5. extremely (HSK 1)
荒: huāng — 1. desolate 2. shortage 3. scarce 4. out of practice 5. absurd 6. uncultivated 7. to neglect (HSK 7-9)
之: zhī — 1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 (de)) 2. him 3. her 4. it (HSK 7-9)
流: liú — 1. to flow 2. to disseminate 3. to circulate or spread 4. to move or drift 5. to degenerate 6. to banish or send into exile 7. stream of water or sth resembling one 8. class, rate or grade (HSK 2)
夾: gā — used in 夾肢窩 (gā zhi wō) (HSK 5)
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)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
聽到: tīng dào — to hear (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
急: jí — 1. urgent 2. pressing 3. rapid 4. hurried 5. worried 6. to make (sb) anxious (HSK 2)
急: jí — 1. urgent 2. pressing 3. rapid 4. hurried 5. worried 6. to make (sb) anxious (HSK 2)
誦讀: sòng dú — to read aloud
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
聲音: shēng yīn — sound; voice (HSK 2)
發: fā — 1. to send out 2. to show (one's feeling) 3. to issue 4. to develop 5. to make a bundle of money 6. classifier for gunshots (rounds) (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
抖: dǒu — 1. to tremble 2. to shake out 3. to reveal 4. to make it in the world (HSK 7-9)
仿佛: fǎng fú — 1. to seem; as if; seemingly 2. alike; similar (HSK 6)
深秋: shēn qiū — late autumn
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)
蟋蟀: xī shuài — cricket (insect)
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)
夜: yè — night (HSK 2)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)
鳴叫: míng jiào — 1. to emit a sound 2. (of birds, insects etc) to chirp, hoot etc 3. (of a siren, steam whistle etc) to sound
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)

；They all waited;。and the sun climbed higher still.

，，，，。Suddenly I seemed to feel quite confident, and at once I stood up, took the book, and walked into my father's study, reciting it straight through in one breath — and as if in a dream, I finished reciting it.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
忽然: hū rán — suddenly; all of a sudden (HSK 2)
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
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)
有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
把握: bǎ wò — 1. to grasp (also fig.) 2. to seize 3. to hold 4. assurance 5. certainty 6. sure (of the outcome) (HSK 3)
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)
即: jí — 1. namely 2. that is 3. i.e. 4. prompt 5. at once 6. at present 7. even if 8. prompted (by the occasion) 9. to approach 10. to come into contact 11. to assume (office) 12. to draw near (HSK 7-9)
站: zhàn — 1. station 2. to stand 3. to halt 4. to stop 5. branch of a company or organization 6. website (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)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
拿: ná — 1. to hold 2. to seize 3. to catch 4. to apprehend 5. to take 6. (used in the same way as 把 (bǎ): to mark the following noun as a direct object) (HSK 1)
書: Shū — abbr. for 書經 (Shū jīng) (HSK 1)
走進: zǒu jìn — to enter; to step into (HSK 2)
父親: fù qīn — 1. father 2. also pr. (fù qin) 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
書房: shū fáng — 1. study (room) 2. studio 3. classifier: 間 (jiān) (HSK 6)
一氣: yī qì — 1. at one go 2. at a stretch 3. for a period of time 4. forming a gang
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
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)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (HSK 3)
夢: mèng — 1. dream (classifier: 場 (cháng)) 2. (bound form) to dream (HSK 4)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
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)
背: bēi — 1. to carry on one's back 2. (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc) (HSK 2)
完了: wán le — 1. to be finished 2. to be done for 3. ruined 4. gone to the dogs 5. oh no (HSK 5)

“。"Correct.。”，。You may go." My father nodded and said.

，，。Everyone sprang into motion at once, smiles breaking out on every face, and we all walked toward the river landing.，，。The servant lifted me up high in his arms, as though celebrating my success, and strode along at the very front.

大家: dà jiā — 1. everyone 2. influential family 3. great expert (HSK 2)
同時: tóng shí — at the same time; simultaneously (HSK 2)
活動: huó dòng — 1. to exercise; to move about; to work out 2. shaky; unsteady; loose (tooth etc) 3. movable; flexible; liquid (capital etc) 4. (volcanic, seismic, economic etc) activity 5. (outdoor etc) activity; event; (political) campaign; (military) maneuver (classifier: 項 (xiàng)) 6. to use personal influence, connections, bribes etc (HSK 2)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
上都: Shàng dū — Shangdu, also known as Xanadu, summer capital of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)
露出: lù chū — 1. to expose 2. to show 3. also pr. (lòu chū)
笑容: xiào róng — 1. smile 2. smiling expression 3. classifier: 副 (fù) (HSK 6)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
河: hé — 1. river (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 道 (dào)) 2. (bound form) the Yellow River 3. (bound form) the Milky Way 4. (bound form) (on restaurant menus) rice noodles 河粉 (hé fěn) (HSK 2)
埠: bù — 1. (bound form) wharf; pier; port town 2. (Tw) (computing) (bound form) port
走去: zǒu qù — to walk over (to)
工人: gōng rén — 1. worker 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 名 (míng) (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)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
高地: gāo dì — 1. highland 2. upland
抱: bào — 1. to hold 2. to carry (in one's arms) 3. to hug 4. to embrace 5. to surround 6. to cherish 7. (coll.) (of clothes) to fit nicely (HSK 4)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
仿佛: fǎng fú — 1. to seem; as if; seemingly 2. alike; similar (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)
祝賀: zhù hè — 1. to congratulate 2. congratulations 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 5)
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)
成功: Chéng gōng — Chenggong or Chengkung town in Taitung County 臺東縣 (Tái dōng Xiàn), southeast Taiwan (HSK 3)
一般: yī bān — 1. same 2. ordinary 3. so-so 4. common 5. general 6. generally 7. in general (HSK 2)
快步: kuài bù — quick step
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)
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)
最: zuì — 1. (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est 2. (after 之 (zhī)) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最 (shì jiè zhī zuì) "the greatest in the world") (HSK 1)
前頭: qián tou — 1. in front 2. at the head 3. ahead 4. above (HSK 4)

。But I was not nearly as happy as they were.，，，，。Once the boat had set off, the scenery along the waterway, the snacks in the box, and even the excitement of the Wuchang Fair once we reached Dongguan, all seemed to hold little meaning for me.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
並: bìng — 1. and 2. furthermore 3. also 4. together with 5. (not) at all 6. simultaneously 7. to combine 8. to join 9. to merge (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)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
那麼: nà me — 1. like that; in that way; to that extent 2. (before a number) ... or so; about ... 3. then; in that case (HSK 2)
高興: gāo xìng — 1. happy 2. glad 3. willing (to do sth) 4. in a cheerful mood (HSK 1)
開船: kāi chuán — to set sail
以後: yǐ hòu — 1. after 2. later 3. afterwards 4. following 5. later on 6. in the future (HSK 2)
水路: shuǐ lù — waterway
中的: zhòng dì — 1. to hit the target 2. (fig.) to hit the nail on the head
風景: fēng jǐng — scenery; landscape (HSK 4)
盒子: hé zi — 1. box; case 2. hezi – a savory turnover-like pie in northern Chinese and Mongolian cuisines (HSK 5)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
點心: diǎn xin — 1. light refreshments 2. pastry 3. dim sum (in Cantonese cooking) 4. dessert (HSK 7-9)
以及: yǐ jí — and; as well as (HSK 4)
到了: dào liǎo — 1. at last 2. finally 3. in the end
東: Dōng — surname Dong (HSK 1)
關: Guān — surname Guan (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)
五: wǔ — 1. five 2. 5 (HSK 1)
猖: chāng — ferocious
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (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)
熱鬧: rè nao — 1. bustling with noise and excitement 2. lively (HSK 4)
對於: duì yú — regarding; as far as (sth) is concerned; with regard to (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
似乎: sì hū — it seems; seemingly; as if (HSK 4)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
沒有什麼: méi yǒu shén me — 1. it is nothing 2. there's nothing ... about it
大意: dà yì — 1. general idea 2. main idea (HSK 7-9)
思: sī — 1. to think 2. to consider

，，，《》，。Even now, everything else has been utterly forgotten, without leaving a trace — only that episode of reciting the Jianlüe remains as vivid as if it happened yesterday.

直到現在: zhí dào xiàn zài — 1. even now 2. until now 3. right up to the present
別的: bié de — 1. else 2. other (HSK 1)
完全: wán quán — 1. complete; whole 2. totally; entirely (HSK 2)
忘卻: wàng què — to forget
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
留: liú — 1. to leave (a message etc) 2. to retain 3. to stay 4. to remain 5. to keep 6. to preserve (HSK 2)
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))
痕跡: hén jì — 1. vestige 2. mark 3. trace (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
只有: zhǐ yǒu — 1. only have ...; there is only ... 2. (used in combination with 才 (cái)) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通過治療才能痊愈 (zhǐ yǒu tōng guò zhì liáo cái néng quán yù) "the only way to cure it is with therapy") 3. it is only (someone) who ... (as in 只有男性才有此需要 (zhǐ yǒu nán xìng cái yǒu cǐ xū yào) "only men would have such a requirement") 4. (used to express lack of alternatives) can only; have no choice but to (as in 只有屈服 (zhǐ yǒu qū fú) "the only thing you can do is give in") (HSK 3)
背誦: bèi sòng — 1. to recite 2. to repeat from memory (HSK 7-9)
鑒: jiàn — variant of 鑑 (jiàn)
略: lüè — 1. brief; sketchy 2. outline; summary 3. to omit 4. (bound form before a single-character verb) a bit; somewhat; slightly 5. plan; strategy 6. to capture (territory) (HSK 7-9)
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)
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)
段: Duàn — surname Duan (HSK 2)
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)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
分明: fēn míng — 1. clear 2. distinct 3. evidently 4. clearly (HSK 7-9)
如: rú — 1. as 2. as if 3. such as (HSK 6)
昨日: zuó rì — yesterday
事: shì — 1. matter 2. thing 3. item 4. work 5. affair 6. classifier: 件 (jiàn), 樁 (zhuāng), 回 (huí) (HSK 1)

，。To this day, whenever I think of it, I am still puzzled as to why my father should have called me to recite my lessons at that particular moment.

。The twenty-fifth of the fifth month.

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What it’s about

The best-built piece in the book, and the shortest way into what Lu Xun means by a childhood. It begins with the temple processions children waited all year for, and with how little was left of them by the time the images reached his out-of-the-way corner of town — a dozen men carrying a gold or blue or red-faced god past at a trot, and that was that. Then the one exception: the great fair at 東關, a boat hired, the household up early, hampers and chairs going down to the water.

As he is about to board, his father appears behind him and tells him to fetch his book. It is 《鑑略》, the primer he had been started on and the only book he owned, and he must read the opening and have it by heart before anyone leaves. He is seven. 粵自盤古, 生於太荒 — from Pangu on down, born in the great waste — and he does not understand a word of it. The boat waits, the household waits, and he gets the recitation out; his father says only that he may go now. What he remembers of the day is not the fair, whose crowds and cakes and river scenery had stopped meaning anything to him, but the sound of himself reciting — and the essay ends on his still not understanding why his father chose that moment to make him do it.

When it was written 背景

Written 25 May 1926 and serialised in 莽原 in June. Under 2,000 characters, one incident, no polemic, and one of the two or three pieces of modern prose every Chinese schoolchild is set, which makes it the most useful thing in the collection to have read. For a learner it is the natural second essay after 阿長與《山海經》: the narrative runs straight through, the vocabulary of gods and processions is heavy but confined to the first half, and the closing line is quotable enough to be worth learning. Read the recited primer lines aloud without trying to construe them — that is exactly what the boy did.

Words in this chapter 生词

賽會sài huì賽會sài huì — religious procession · exposition
猖chāng猖chāng — ferocious
粵Yuè粵Yuè — Cantonese · short name for Guangdong 廣東 (Guǎng dōng)
吡bǐ吡bǐ — used as phonetic bi- or pi-
扮bànHSK 7-9扮bàn — to disguise oneself as · to dress up · to play (a role) · to put on (an expression) (HSK 7-9)
盤古Pán gǔ盤古Pán gǔ — Pangu (creator of the universe in Chinese mythology)
水路shuǐ lù水路shuǐ lù — waterway
禮教lǐ jiào禮教lǐ jiào — Confucian code of ethics
神像shén xiàng神像shén xiàng — likeness of a god or Buddha · (old) portrait of the deceased
鑒jiàn鑒jiàn — variant of 鑑 (jiàn)
五通wǔ tōng五通wǔ tōng — bottom bracket shell (in a bicycle frame) · (Buddhism) the five supernatural powers (abbr. for 五神通 (wǔ shén tōng))
刺耳cì ěrHSK 7-9刺耳cì ěr — ear-piercing (HSK 7-9)