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Novels: Start Reading “To Live” 《活着》by Yu Hua

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Novels: Start Reading “To Live” 《活着》by Yu Hua

Yu Hua (余华) is for sure my favorite author of Chinese modern lit. He writes the lives of ordinary village people, and like pretty much all great Chinese village-based fiction from the 20th century, the stories are full of vulgar realism, as you will soon see. But Yu Hua’s work is also tinged with bittersweetness, and for anyone with an HSK 5-6 vocabulary, his novels are surprisingly approachable.

《活huó着zhāo》第dì一yī章Zhāng

这位zhè wèi老人lǎo rén后Hòu来lái和hé我wǒ一起yī qǐ坐Zuò在zài了le那Nā棵kē茂盛mào shèng的de树shù下xià,在zài那个nà ge充chong满Mǎn阳光yáng guāng的de下xià午wǔ,他tā向Xiàng我wǒ讲jiǎng述shǔ了le自己zì jǐ。

四十sì shí多年duō nián前qián,我wǒ爹diē常Cháng在zài这里zhè lǐ走zǒu来lái走去zǒu qù,他tā穿着chuān zhuó一身yī shēn黑Hēi颜色yán sè的de绸衣yī,总zǒng是shì把bǎ双手shuāng shǒu背běi在zài身shēn后Hòu,他tā出门chū mén时常shí cháng对duì我wǒ娘niáng说shuì:

“我wǒ到dào自己zì jǐ的de地上dì shang去qù走zǒu走zǒu。”

我wǒ爹diē走zǒu在zài自己zì jǐ的de田产tián chǎn上shǎng,干gān活huó的de佃户hù见jiàn了le,都Dū要yāo双手shuāng shǒu握wò住zhù锄头tóu恭gong敬jìng地de叫jiào一声yī shēng:

“老爷lǎo ye。”

我wǒ爹diē走zǒu到了dào liǎo城chéng里lǐ,城里人chéng lǐ rén见jiàn了le都Dū叫jiào他tā先生xiān sheng。我wǒ爹diē是shì很hěn有yǒu身shēn份fěn的de人rén,可kě他tā拉lā屎时shí就jìu像xiàng个gě穷人qíong rén了le。他tā不bù爱ài在zài屋wū里lǐ床边chuáng biān的de马Mǎ桶tóng上shǎng拉lā屎,跟gēn牲畜shēng chù似shǐ的de喜欢xǐ huan到dào野地yě dì里lǐ去qù拉lā屎。每天měi tiān到了dào liǎo傍bǎng晚wǎn的de时shí候hòu,我wǒ爹diē打dá着zhāo饱bǎo嗝,那Nā声响shēng xiǎng和hé青蛙qīng wā叫jiào唤huǎn差不多chà bu duō,走出zǒu chū屋wū去qù,慢màn吞tun吞tun地de朝Cháo村cūn口kǒu的de粪缸gāng走去zǒu qù。

走zǒu到了dào liǎo粪缸gāng旁páng,他tā嫌xiān缸gāng沿yán脏zàng,就jìu抬tái脚jiǎo踩cái上去shàng qù蹲dun在zài上面shàng miàn。我wǒ爹diē年纪nián jì大dà了le,屎也Yě跟着gēn zhe老lǎo了le,出chū来lái不容bù róng易Yì,那时nà shí候hòu我wǒ们men全家Quán jiā人rén都会dū huì听到tīng dào他tā在zài村cūn口kǒu嗷嗷叫jiào着zhāo。

几jī十shí年Nián来lái我wǒ爹diē一直yī zhí这zhè样yàng拉lā屎,到了dào liǎo六十lìu shí多duō岁suì还Huán能Néng在zài粪缸gāng上shǎng一yī蹲dun就是jìu shì半bàn晌,那Nā两liǎng条tiáo腿tuǐ就jìu和hé鸟diǎo爪zhǎo一yī样yàng有劲yǒu jìn。我wǒ爹diē喜欢xǐ huan看kān着zhāo天色tiān sè慢màn慢màn黑Hēi下xià来lái,罩zhào住zhù他tā的de田地tián dì。我wǒ女儿nu:3 ér凤Fèng霞xiá到了dào liǎo三Sān、四sì岁suì,常Cháng跑páo到dào村cūn口kǒu去qù看kān她tā爷爷yé ye拉lā屎,我wǒ爹diē毕Bì竟jǐng年纪nián jì大dà了le,蹲dun在zài粪缸gāng上shǎng腿tuǐ有些yǒu xiē哆嗦,凤Fèng霞xiá就jìu问wèn他tā:

“爷爷yé ye,你nǐ为wéi什shén么má动dòng呀yā?”

我wǒ爹diē说shuì:“是shì风fēng吹chuī的de。”

那时nà shí候hòu我wǒ们men家jiā境jǐng还Huán没有méi yǒu败bǎi落là,我wǒ们men徐xū家jiā有yǒu一yī百Bǎi多duō亩mǔ地de,从cóng这里zhè lǐ一直yī zhí到dào那边nà bian工厂gōng chǎng的de烟yan囱chuāng,都Dū是shì我wǒ家的jiā de。我wǒ爹diē和hé我wǒ,是shì远近yuǎn jìn闻名wén míng的de阔老kuò lǎo爷yé和hé阔少kuò shào爷yé,我wǒ们men走路zǒu lù时shí鞋子xié zi的de声响shēng xiǎng,都Dū像xiàng是shì铜钱tóng qián碰pèng来lái撞zhuǎng去qù的de。我wǒ女人家nu:3 rén jia珍zhēn,是shì城chéng里lǐ米Mǐ行háng老板lǎo bǎn的de女儿nu:3 ér,她tā也Yě是shì有钱人yǒu qián rén家jiā出生chū shēng的de。有钱人yǒu qián rén嫁给gěi有钱人yǒu qián rén,就是jìu shì把bǎ钱Qián堆duī起qǐ来lái,钱Qián在zài钱Qián上面shàng miàn哗hua哗hua地de流líu,这zhè样yàng的de声音shēng yīn我wǒ有yǒu四十sì shí年Nián没有méi yǒu听到tīng dào了le。

我wǒ是shì我wǒ们men徐xū家的jiā de败bǎi家子jiā zi,用yòng我wǒ爹diē的话de huà说shuì,我wǒ是shì他tā的de孽子zǐ。

我wǒ念niàn过Guō几年jǐ nián私sī塾,穿chuān长衫cháng shān的de私sī塾先生xiān sheng叫jiào我wǒ念niàn一yī段Duàn书Shū时shí,是shì我wǒ最高zuì gāo兴Xīng的de。我wǒ站起zhàn qǐ来lái,拿ná着zhāo本běn线xiàn装zhuāng的de《千字文Qiān zì wén》,对duì私sī塾先生xiān sheng说shuì:

“好好hǎo hǎo听yǐn着zhāo,爹diē给gěi你nǐ念niàn一yī段Duàn。”

年过nián guò花甲huā jiǎ的de私sī塾先生xiān sheng对duì我wǒ爹diē说shuì:

“你nǐ家jiā少爷shào ye长大zhǎng dà了le准zhǔn能Néng当dāng个gě二èr流líu子zǐ。”

我wǒ从小cóng xiǎo就jìu不可bù kě救jìu药yào,这zhè是shì我wǒ爹diē的话de huà。私sī塾先生xiān sheng说shuì我wǒ是shì朽木Mù不可bù kě雕diao也Yě。现xiàn在zài想xiǎng想xiǎng他tā们men都Dū说shuì对了duì le,当初dāng chū我wǒ可不kě bu这么zhè me想xiǎng,我wǒ想xiǎng我wǒ有钱yǒu qián呵he,我wǒ是shì徐xū家jiā仅jín有的yǒu de一yī根gēn香火xiāng huǒ,我wǒ要是yào shi灭miè了le,徐xū家jiā就jìu得dé断duàn子zǐ绝jué孙Sūn。

上shǎng私sī塾时shí我wǒ从cóng来lái不bù走路zǒu lù,都Dū是shì我wǒ家jiā一个yī ge雇gù工gōng背běi着zhāo我去wǒ qù,放学fàng xué时shí他tā已经yǐ jīng恭gong恭gong敬jìng敬jìng地de弯wān腰yao蹲dun在zài那里nà li了le,我wǒ骑jì上去shàng qù后Hòu拍pāi拍pāi雇gù工gōng的de脑袋nǎo dai,说shuì一声yī shēng:

“长cháng根gēn,跑páo呀yā。”

雇gù工gōng长cháng根gēn就jìu跑páo起qǐ来lái,我wǒ在zài上面shàng miàn一yī颠diān一yī颠diān的de,像xiàng是shì一yī只zhī在zài树shù梢shao上shǎng的de麻má雀quě。我wǒ说shuì一声yī shēng:

“飞fēi呀yā。”

长cháng根gēn就jìu一yī步Bù一yī跳tiào,做zuò出chū一yī副fù飞fēi的de样yàng子zǐ。

我wǒ长大zhǎng dà以yǐ后Hòu喜欢xǐ huan往wǎng城chéng里lǐ跑páo,常常cháng cháng是shì十shí天tiān半月bàn yuè不bù回家huí jiā。我wǒ穿着chuān zhuó白色bái sè的de丝si绸衣衫yī shān,头tóu发fā抹mó得dé光滑guāng huá透tǒu亮liàng,往wǎng镜子jìng zi前qián一yī站zhàn,我wǒ看到kàn dào自己zì jǐ满Mǎn脑袋nǎo dai的de黑Hēi油yóu漆,一yī副fù有钱人yǒu qián rén的de样yàng子zǐ。 Buy it on Amazon

Hover a word for its pinyin & meaning; click to pin it.

Lesson vocabulary 329 words

WordPinyinMeaning
这位zhè wèithis (person)
老人lǎo rénold man or woman; the elderly; one's aged parents or grandparents
后Hòusurname Hou; back; behind; rear; afterwards; after; later; post-
来láito come; (used as a substitute for a more specific verb); hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來|回来[hui2 lai5]); ever since (as in 自古以來|自古以来[zi4 gu3…
和héold variant of 和[he2]; surname He; (literary) harmonious (variant of 和[he2])
我wǒI; me; my
一起yī qǐ(in) the same place; together; in company (with); altogether; in total; an instance of; a case of (murder, accident, dispute etc)
坐Zuòsurname Zuo
在zàito exist; to be alive; (of sb or sth) to be (located) at; (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress)
了le(completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (bound form) clear in one's mind; to understand clearly
那Nāsurname Na
棵kēclassifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc
茂盛mào shènglush
的deof; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); (used after a noun, verb or adjective to…
树shùtree; CL:棵[ke1]; to cultivate; to set up
下xiàdown; downwards; below; lower; later; next (week etc); second (of two parts); to decline; to go down; to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc); measure word to show the frequency …
那个nà gethat one; that thing; that (as opposed to this); (used before a verb or adjective for emphasis); (used to humorously or indirectly refer to sth embarrassing, funny etc, or when one…
充chongsufficient; full; to serve as; to act as
满MǎnManchu ethnic group
阳光yáng guāngsunshine; (of personality) upbeat; energetic; transparent (open to public scrutiny)
午wǔ7th earthly branch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., noon, 5th solar month (6th June-6th July), year of the Horse; ancient Chinese compass point: 180° (south)
他tā(third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his; (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日[ta1 ri4] and 他人[ta1 ren2])
向Xiàngsurname Xiang; to tend toward; to guide; variant of 向[xiang4]; variant of 向[xiang4]; direction; orientation; to face; to turn toward; to; towards; shortly before; formerly
讲jiǎngto speak; to explain; to negotiate; to emphasize; to be particular about; as far as sth is concerned; speech; lecture
述shǔ(bound form) to state; to tell; to narrate; to relate
自己zì jǐoneself; (attributive) one's own
四十sì shíforty; 40
多年duō niánmany years; for many years; longstanding
前qiánfront; forward; ahead; first; top (followed by a number); future; ago; before; BC (e.g. 前293年); former; formerly
爹diēdad
常Chángsurname Chang
这里zhè lǐvariant of 這裡|这里[zhe4 li3]
走zǒuto walk; to go; to run; to move (of vehicle); to visit; to leave; to go away; to die (euph.); from; through; away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走[che4 zou3]); to change (shape, form…
走去zǒu qùto walk over (to)
穿着chuān zhuóattire; clothes; dress
一身yī shēnwhole body; from head to toe; single person; a suit of clothes
黑Hēishort name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hei1 long2 jiang1]
颜色yán sècolor; countenance; appearance; facial expression; pigment; dyestuff
绸
衣yīclothes; CL:件[jian4]; Kangxi radical 145
总zǒng(bound form) general; overall; to sum up; in every case; always; invariably; anyway; after all; eventually; sooner or later; surely; (after a person's name) abbr. for 總經理|总经理[zong3…
是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion); variant of 是[shi4]
把bǎto hold; to grasp; to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate; handlebar; classifier: handful, bundle, bunch; classifier for things with handles; (used to put the ob…
双手shuāng shǒuboth hands
背běithe back; behind (bei4); to recite from memory (bei4); to carry on the back (bei1)
身shēnbody; life; oneself; personally; one's morality and conduct; the main part of a structure or body; pregnant; classifier for sets of clothes: suit, twinset; Kangxi radical 158
出门chū ménto go out; to leave home; to go on a journey; away from home; (of a woman) to get married
时常shí chángoften; frequently
对duìright; correct; towards; at; for; concerning; regarding; to treat (sb a certain way); to face; (bound form) opposite; facing; matching; to match together; to adjust; to fit; to sui…
娘niángmother; young lady; (coll.) effeminate; variant of 娘[niang2]
说shuìto persuade; variant of 說|说[shuo1]
到dàoto reach; to arrive; to leave for; to go to; to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point); (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point); considerate; thoug…
地上dì shangon the ground; on the floor
去qùto go; to go to (a place); (of a time etc) last; just passed; to send; to remove; to get rid of; to reduce; to be apart from in space or time; to die (euphemism); to play (a part);…
田产tián chǎnestate; lands
上shǎngused in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]
干gānold variant of 乾|干[gan1]; surname Gan; variant of 乾|干[gan1]; tree trunk; main part of sth; to manage; to work; to do; capable; cadre; to kill (slang); to fuck (vulgar); (coll.) pissed off; annoyed
活huóto live; alive; living; work; workmanship
佃
户hùa household; door; family
见jiànto see; to meet; to appear (to be sth); to interview; opinion; view
都Dūsurname Du
要yāo(bound form) to demand; to coerce
握wòto hold; to grasp; to clench (one's fist); (bound form) to have in one's control; classifier: a handful
住zhùto live; to reside; to stay; to stop; to cease; (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state)
锄
头tóuhead; hair style; the top; end; beginning or end; a stub; remnant; chief; boss; side; aspect; first; leading; classifier for pigs or livestock; CL:個|个[ge4]
恭gongrespectful
敬jìng(bound form) respectful; to respect; to offer politely
地de-ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
叫jiàoto shout; to call; to order; to ask; to be called; by (indicates agent in the passive mood); variant of 叫[jiao4]
一声yī shēngfirst tone in Mandarin (high, level tone)
老爷lǎo ye(respectful) lord; master; (coll.) maternal grandfather
到了dào liǎoat last; finally; in the end
城chéngcity walls; city; town; CL:座[zuo4],道[dao4],個|个[ge4]
里lǐvariant of 裡|里[li3]; lining; interior; inside; internal; also written 裏|里[li3]; surname Li
城里人chéng lǐ réncity dweller; townspeople
先生xiān shengteacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.); husband; (dialect) doctor; CL:位[wei4]
很hěnvery; quite; (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element)
有yǒuto have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)
份fěnclassifier for gifts, newspaper, magazine, papers, reports, contracts etc
人rénperson; people; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4],名[ming2]
可kě(prefix) can; may; able to; -able; to approve; to permit; to suit; (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very; but; however
拉lāto pull; to play (a bowed instrument); to drag; to draw; to chat; (coll.) to empty one's bowels
屎
时shíold variant of 時|时[shi2]; surname Shi
就jìu(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then; (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after; (same as 就是[jiu4 shi4]) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precise…
像xiàngto resemble; to be like; to look as if; such as; appearance; image; portrait; image under a mapping (math.)
个gěused in 自個兒|自个儿[zi4 ge3 r5]; variant of 個|个[ge4]
穷人qíong rénpoor people; the poor
不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
爱àito love; to be fond of; to like; affection; to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen)
屋wū(bound form) house; (bound form) room
床边chuáng biānbedside
马Mǎsurname Ma; abbr. for Malaysia 馬來西亞|马来西亚[Ma3 lai2 xi1 ya4]
桶tóngbucket; barrel (of oil etc)
跟gēnheel; to follow closely; to go with; (of a woman) to marry sb; with; compared with; to; towards; and (joining two nouns)
牲畜shēng chùfarm animal; livestock
似shǐused in 似的[shi4 de5]
喜欢xǐ huanto like; to be fond of
野地yě dìwilderness
每天měi tiānevery day
傍bǎngnear; to depend on; Taiwan pr. [pang2], [bang1], [bang4]
晚wǎnevening; night; late
候hòuto wait; to inquire after; to watch; season; climate; (old) period of five days
打dá(loanword) dozen; Taiwan pr. [da3]
着zhāovariant of 著|着[zhao1]; a move in chess (Taiwan pr. [zhuo2]); trick; tactic; (dialect) okay; all right; (dialect) to put in; to add
饱bǎoto eat till full; satisfied
嗝
声响shēng xiǎngsound; noise
青蛙qīng wāfrog (CL:隻|只[zhi1]); (old) (slang) ugly guy
唤huǎnto call
差不多chà bu duōalmost; nearly; more or less; about the same; good enough; not bad
走出zǒu chūto leave (a room etc); to go out through (a door etc)
慢mànslow
吞tunto swallow
朝Cháoabbr. for 朝鮮|朝鲜[Chao2 xian3] Korea
村cūnvillage; (dialect) to scold; rustic; boorish; variant of 村[cun1]
口kǒumouth; classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc); classifier for bites or mouthfuls
粪
缸gāngjar; vat; classifier for loads of laundry; CL:口[kou3]
旁pángone side; other; different; lateral component of a Chinese character (such as 刂[dao1], 亻[ren2] etc)
嫌xiānto dislike; resentment; abbr. for 嫌犯[xian2 fan4], criminal suspect
沿yánalong; to follow (a line, tradition etc); to carry on; to trim (a border with braid, tape etc); border; edge
脏zàngviscera; (anatomy) organ; dirty; filthy; to get (sth) dirty
抬táito lift; to raise; (of two or more persons) to carry; variant of 抬[tai2]
脚jiǎofoot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object); CL:雙|双[shuang1],隻|只[zhi1]; classifier for kicks
踩cáito step on; to tread; to stamp
上去shàng qùto go up
蹲dun(dialect) to sprain one's foot or leg due to a sudden impact or landing
上面shàng miànon top of; above-mentioned; also pr. [shang4 mian5]
年纪nián jìage; CL:把[ba3],個|个[ge4]
大dàbig; large; great; older (than another person); eldest (as in 大姐[da4 jie3]); greatly; freely; fully; (dialect) father; (dialect) uncle (father's brother)
也Yěsurname Ye
跟着gēn zheto follow after; immediately afterwards
老lǎoprefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity; old (of people); venerabl…
出chūto go out; to come out; to arise; to occur; to produce; to yield; to go beyond; to exceed; (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result); classifier for…; variant of 出[chu1] (classifier for plays or chapters of classical novels)
不容bù róngmust not; cannot; to not allow; cannot tolerate
易Yìsurname Yi; I Ching; Book of Changes (abbr. for 易經|易经[Yi4 jing1])
那时nà shíthen; at that time; in those days
们menplural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
全家Quán jiāFamilyMart (convenience store chain)
都会dū huìcity; metropolis
听到tīng dàoto hear
嗷
几jīsmall table; (literary) almost
十shíten; 10
年Niánsurname Nian; grain; harvest (old); variant of 年[nian2]
一直yī zhístraight (in a straight line); continuously; always; all the way through
这zhè(pronoun) this; these; (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun); (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. [zhei4], esp. in Beijing)
样yàngmanner; pattern; way; appearance; shape; classifier: kind, type
六十lìu shísixty; 60
多duōmany; much; more; a lot of; too many; in excess; (after a numeral) ... odd; how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. [duo2]); (bound form) multi-; poly-
岁suìvariant of 歲|岁[sui4], year; years old; classifier for years (of age); year; year (of crop harvests)
还Huánsurname Huan
能Néngsurname Neng
一yīone; single; a (article); as soon as; entire; whole; all; throughout; "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1); also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out …
就是jìu shìexactly; precisely; only; simply; just; (used correlatively with 也[ye3]) even; even if
半bànhalf; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a half
晌
两liǎngtwo; both; some; a few; tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤[jin1] (old)
条tiáostrip; item; article; clause (of law or treaty); classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc)
腿tuǐleg; CL:條|条[tiao2]; hip bone; old variant of 腿[tui3]
鸟diǎovariant of 屌[diao3]; penis
爪zhǎofoot of a bird or animal; paw; claws; talons
有劲yǒu jìnvigorous; energetic; interesting; amusing
看kānto look after; to take care of; to watch; to guard
天色tiān sècolor of the sky; time of day, as indicated by the color of the sky; weather
罩zhàoto cover; to spread over; a cover; a shade; a hood; bamboo fish trap; bamboo chicken coop; (Tw) (coll.) to protect; to have sb's back; (Tw) (coll.) awesome; incredible; (Tw) (coll.…
田地tián dìfield; farmland; cropland; plight; extent
女儿nu:3 érdaughter
凤Fèngsurname Feng
霞xiárose-tinted sky or clouds at sunrise or sunset
三Sānsurname San
四sìfour; 4
跑páo(of an animal) to paw (the ground)
她tāshe
爷爷yé ye(coll.) paternal grandfather; grandpa
毕Bìsurname Bi
竟jǐngunexpectedly; to go so far as to
有些yǒu xiēsome; somewhat; rather; a bit
哆
嗦
问wènto ask; to inquire
你nǐyou (informal, as opposed to courteous 您[nin2]); you (Note: In Taiwan, 妳 is used to address females, but in mainland China, it is not commonly used. Instead, 你 is used to address both males and females.)
为wéias (in the capacity of); to take sth as; to act as; to serve as; to behave as; to become; to be; to do; by (in the passive voice); variant of 為|为[wei2]
什shénwhat
么máexclamatory final particle; variant of 麼|么[me5]
动dòng(of sth) to move; to set in movement; to displace; to touch; to make use of; to stir (emotions); to alter; abbr. for 動詞|动词[dong4 ci2], verb
呀yāah (used to express surprise); (onom.) creaking
风fēngwind; news; style; custom; manner; CL:陣|阵[zhen4],絲|丝[si1]
吹chuīto blow; to play a wind instrument; to blast; to puff; to boast; to brag; to end in failure; to fall through
家jiāused in 傢伙|家伙[jia1 huo5] and 傢俱|家俱[jia1 ju4]; home; family; (polite) my (sister, uncle etc); classifier for families or businesses; refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China; noun suffix for a specialist in some act…
境jǐngborder; condition; circumstances
没有méi yǒuhaven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be
败bǎito defeat; to lose (to an opponent); to wither
落làto leave out; to be missing; to leave behind or forget to bring; to lag or fall behind
徐xūslow; gentle; surname Xu
百Bǎisurname Bai
亩mǔold variant of 畝|亩[mu3]; classifier for fields; unit of area equal to one fifteenth of a hectare
从cóngvariant of 從|从[cong2]; surname Cong
那边nà bianover there; yonder
工厂gōng chǎngfactory; CL:家[jia1],座[zuo4]
烟yancigarette or pipe tobacco; smoke; vapour; tobacco plant
囱chuāngvariant of 窗[chuang1]
家的jiā de(old) wife
远近yuǎn jìnfar and near; distance
闻名wén míngwell-known; famous; renowned; eminent
阔老kuò lǎovariant of 闊佬|阔佬[kuo4 lao3]
爷yégrandpa; old gentleman
阔少kuò shào(derog.) young man from a wealthy family
走路zǒu lùto walk; to go on foot; to leave; to depart; (informal) to clear off; to beat it; (of sb who gets fired or resigns) to leave the job; to get out
鞋子xié zishoe
铜钱tóng qiáncopper coin (round with a square hole in the middle, used in former times in China)
碰pèngvariant of 碰[peng4]; to touch; to meet with; to bump; old variant of 碰[peng4]
撞zhuǎngto knock against; to run into
女人家nu:3 rén jiawomen (in general)
珍zhēnprecious thing; treasure; culinary delicacy; rare; valuable; to value highly; variant of 珍[zhen1]
米Mǐsurname Mi
行háng(bound form) row; line; (bound form) line of business; trade; profession; (bound form) commercial firm; (bound form) to rank (first, second etc) among one's siblings (by age); (in …
老板lǎo bǎnvariant of 老闆|老板[lao3 ban3]
有钱人yǒu qián rénrich person; the rich
出生chū shēngto be born
嫁
给gěito; for; for the benefit of; to give; to allow; to do sth (for sb); (grammatical equivalent of 被); (grammatical equivalent of 把); (sentence intensifier)
钱Qiánsurname Qian
堆duīto pile up; to heap up; a mass; pile; heap; stack; large amount
起qǐto rise; to raise; to get up; to set out; to start; to appear; to launch; to initiate (action); to draft; to establish; to get (from a depot or counter); verb suffix, to start; sta…
哗hua(onom.) bang; sound of gurgling, splashing or flowing water
流líuto flow; to disseminate; to circulate or spread; to move or drift; to degenerate; to banish or send into exile; stream of water or sth resembling one; class, rate or grade
声音shēng yīnsound; voice
家子jiā zihousehold; family
用yòngto use; to make use of; to employ; (coverb) with; using; to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions); usefulness; utility; (bound form) expense; outlay; (courte…
的话de huàif (coming after a conditional clause)
孽
子zǐson; child; seed; egg; small thing; 1st earthly branch: 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight, 11th solar month (7th December to 5th January), year of the rat; viscount, fourth of five orders o…
念niànvariant of 念[nian4], to read aloud; to read; to study (a subject); to attend (a school); to read aloud; to give (sb) a tongue-lashing (CL:頓|顿[dun4]); to miss (sb); idea; remembrance; twenty (banker's anti-fraud numer…
过Guōsurname Guo
几年jǐ niána few years; several years; how many years?
私sīpersonal; private; selfish
塾
穿chuānto bore through; to pierce; to perforate; to go through (e.g. a tunnel); to cross (e.g. a street); to thread; to string together; to wear; to put on (clothes, shoes etc.); verb com…
长衫cháng shānlong gown; cheongsam; traditional Asian dress for men or (in Hong Kong) women's qipao
段Duànsurname Duan
书Shūabbr. for 書經|书经[Shu1 jing1]
最高zuì gāotallest; highest; supreme (court etc)
兴Xīngsurname Xing
站起zhàn qǐto get up on hind legs (esp. of horse); to stand; to spring up
拿náold variant of 拿[na2]; variant of 拿[na2]; to hold; to seize; to catch; to apprehend; to take; (used in the same way as 把[ba3]: to mark the following noun as a direct object)
本běn(bound form) root; stem; (bound form) origin; source; (bound form) one's own; this; (bound form) this; the current (year etc); (bound form) original; (bound form) inherent; origina…
线xiànvariant of 線|线[xian4]; thread; string; wire; line; CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3],根[gen1]; (after a number) tier (unofficial ranking of a Chinese city)
装zhuāngadornment; to adorn; dress; clothing; costume (of an actor in a play); to play a role; to pretend; to install; to fix; to wrap (sth in a bag); to load; to pack
千字文Qiān zì wénThousand Character Classic, 6th century poem used as a traditional reading primer
好好hǎo hǎoin perfectly good condition; perfectly all right; well; thoroughly; carefully; properly
听yǐnsmile (archaic); to listen to; to hear; to heed; to obey; a can (loanword from English "tin"); classifier for canned beverages; to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. [ting4]); (literary) to administer; t…
年过nián guòover (a certain age)
花甲huā jiǎ60 years (of age); see 花蛤[hua1 ge2]
少爷shào yeson of the boss; young master of the house; your son (honorific)
长大zhǎng dàto grow up
准zhǔnto allow; to grant; in accordance with; in the light of; accurate; standard; definitely; certainly; about to become (bride, son-in-law etc); quasi-; para-
当dāng(onom.) dong; ding dong (bell); to be; to act as; manage; withstand; when; during; ought; should; match equally; equal; same; obstruct; just at (a time or place); on the spot; right; just at
二èrtwo; 2; (Beijing dialect) stupid
从小cóng xiǎofrom childhood; from a young age
不可bù kěcannot; should not; must not
救jìuvariant of 救[jiu4]; to save; to assist; to rescue
药yàoleaf of the iris; variant of 藥|药[yao4]; medicine; drug; substance used for a specific purpose (e.g. poisoning, explosion, fermenting); CL:種|种[zhong3],服[fu4],味[wei4]; to poison
朽
木Mùsurname Mu
雕diaoto engrave
现xiànto appear; present; now; existing; current
想xiǎngto think (about); to think of; to devise; to think (that); to believe (that); to desire; to want (to); to miss (feel wistful about the absence of)
对了duì leCorrect!; Oh, that's right, ... (when one suddenly remembers sth one wanted to mention); Oh, by the way, ...
当初dāng chūat that time; originally
可不kě busee 可不是[ke3 bu5 shi4]
这么zhè meso much; this much; how much?; this way; like this
有钱yǒu qiánwell-off; wealthy
呵heto breathe (out); to scold; (interjection) oh; ha
仅jínbarely; merely
有的yǒu de(there are) some (who are...); some (exist)
根gēnroot; basis; classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings; CL:條|条[tiao2]; radical (chemistry)
香火xiāng huǒincense burning in front of a temple; burning joss sticks
要是yào shi(coll.) if
灭mièto extinguish or put out; to go out (of a fire etc); to exterminate or wipe out; to drown
得déto obtain; to get; to gain; to catch (a disease); proper; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; to permit; ready; finished
断duànto break; to snap; to cut off; to give up or abstain from sth; to judge; (usu. used in the negative) absolutely; definitely; decidedly
绝juéto cut short; extinct; to disappear; to vanish; absolutely; by no means; variant of 絕|绝[jue2]
孙Sūnsurname Sun
一个yī gea; an; one; the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
雇gùvariant of 雇[gu4]; to employ; to hire; to rent
工gōngwork; worker; skill; profession; trade; craft; labor
我去wǒ qù(slang) what the ...!; oh my god!; that's insane!
放学fàng xuéto dismiss students at the end of the school day
已经yǐ jīngalready
弯wānto bend; bent; a bend; a turn (in a road etc); CL:道[dao4]
腰yaothe waist and lower back; the waist of trousers or a skirt; (bound form) the middle section of an upright object (mountain, bottle etc)
那里nà lithere; that place
骑jì(Tw) saddle horse; mounted soldier
拍pāito pat; to clap; to slap; to swat; to take (a photo); to shoot (a film); racket (sports); beat (music)
脑袋nǎo daihead; skull; brains; mental capability; CL:顆|颗[ke1],個|个[ge4]
长chánglong; (bound form) length; (bound form) strong point; forte; (bound form) to be good at; (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. [zhang4])
颠diāntop (of the head); apex; to fall forwards; inverted; to jolt
只zhīvariant of 隻|只[zhi1]; variant of 只[zhi3]; grain that has begun to ripen; classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc
梢shaotip of branch
麻máhemp (variant of 麻[ma2]); surname Ma
雀quěa freckle
飞fēito fly
步Bùsurname Bu
跳tiàoto jump; to hop; to skip over; to bounce; to palpitate
做zuòto make; to produce; to write; to compose; to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc); (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, frien…
副fùsecondary; auxiliary; deputy; assistant; vice-; abbr. for 副詞|副词 adverb; classifier for pairs, sets of things & facial expressions
以yǐold variant of 以[yi3]; abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]
往wǎngto go (in a direction); to; towards; (of a train) bound for; past; previous; old variant of 往[wang3]
常常cháng chángfrequently; often
天tiānday; sky; heaven
半月bàn yuèhalf-moon; fortnight
回家huí jiāto return home
白色bái sèwhite; fig. reactionary; anti-communist
丝sisilk; classifier: a trace (of smoke etc), a tiny bit etc
衣衫yī shānclothing; unlined garment
发fāto send out; to show (one's feeling); to issue; to develop; to make a bundle of money; classifier for gunshots (rounds); hair; Taiwan pr. [fa3]
抹móto wipe
光滑guāng huáglossy; sleek; smooth
透tǒu(bound form) to penetrate; to seep through; thoroughly; through and through
亮liàngbright; light; to shine; to flash; loud and clear; to show (one's passport etc); to make public (one's views etc)
镜子jìng zimirror; CL:面[mian4],個|个[ge4]
站zhànstation; to stand; to halt; to stop; branch of a company or organization; website
看到kàn dàoto see
油yóuoil; fat; grease; petroleum; to apply tung oil, paint or varnish; oily; greasy; glib; cunning
漆