A man tries to make his treasured hunting bow (弓 gōng) even more perfect than it already is, but learns an obnoxious life lesson instead. HSK 3-4.
古时候有一个人得到一张弓，这张弓射出去的箭又远又准。因此他很珍惜它。
这个人经常把弓拿在手里把玩，有一天，他仔细欣赏着手中的弓时，突然觉得这张弓上好像缺了点什么，看起来有些单调。他想，要是能让它更漂亮些不是更好？
于是，他把这张弓送到一个很出名的工匠那里，请他在弓背上雕刻上精美的图案。工匠花了两个月的时间，在上面雕了一幅完美的行猎图。这个人高兴极了，就想：“还有什么比一幅行猎图更适合这张弓的呢？”
当他回到家，拿出箭来。“好久没用过它了，可得好好玩玩。”他搭上箭，拉紧弓弦，“啪”的一声，弓断成了两截。
世界上没有绝对完美的事物。若你一定要让某一件事情或某一个东西完美的话，你必定会失败。
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| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 古时 | gǔ shí | antiquity |
| 候 | hòu | to wait; to inquire after; to watch; season; climate; (old) period of five days |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional) |
| 一个人 | yī gè rén | by oneself (without assistance); alone (without company) |
| 得到 | dé dào | to get; to obtain; to receive |
| 一 | yī | one; 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 … |
| 张 | Zhāng | surname Zhang |
| 弓 | Gōng | surname Gong |
| 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) |
| 射出 | shè chū | emission; ejaculation |
| 去 | qù | to 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);… |
| 的 | de | of; ~'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… |
| 箭 | jiǎn | arrow |
| 又 | yòu | (once) again; also; both... and...; and yet; (used for emphasis) anyway |
| 远 | yuǎn | far; distant; remote; (intensifier in a comparison) by far; much (lower etc) |
| 准 | zhǔn | to allow; to grant; in accordance with; in the light of; accurate; standard; definitely; certainly; about to become (bride, son-in-law etc); quasi-; para- |
| 因此 | yīn cǐ | thus; consequently; as a result |
| 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]) |
| 很 | hěn | very; quite; (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) |
| 珍 | zhēn | precious thing; treasure; culinary delicacy; rare; valuable; to value highly; variant of 珍[zhen1] |
| 惜 | xi | to cherish; to pity |
| 它 | tā | it; it (pronoun for an animal) |
| 这个 | zhè ge | (pronoun) this; (adjective) this |
| 人 | rén | person; people; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4],名[ming2] |
| 经常 | jīng cháng | frequently; constantly; regularly; often; day-to-day; everyday; daily |
| 把 | bǎ | to 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… |
| 拿 | ná | old 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) |
| 在 | zài | to exist; to be alive; (of sb or sth) to be (located) at; (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) |
| 手里 | shǒu lǐ | in hand; (a situation is) in sb's hands |
| 把玩 | bǎ wán | to turn around in one's hands; to play with; to fiddle with |
| 天 | tiān | day; sky; heaven |
| 仔 | zái | careful (in 仔细); young (of animals, in 仔猪); a child (dialect, zai3) |
| 细 | xì | thin or slender; finely particulate; thin and soft; fine; delicate; trifling; (of a sound) quiet; frugal |
| 欣 | xīn | happy |
| 赏 | sháng | to bestow (a reward); to hand down; to appreciate (beauty) |
| 着手 | zhuó shǒu | to put one's hand to it; to start out on a task; to set out |
| 中的 | zhòng dì | to hit the target; (fig.) to hit the nail on the head |
| 时 | shí | old variant of 時|时[shi2]; surname Shi |
| 突然 | tū rán | sudden; abrupt; unexpected |
| 觉得 | jué de | to think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc) |
| 上好 | shàng hǎo | first-rate; top-notch |
| 像 | xiàng | to resemble; to be like; to look as if; such as; appearance; image; portrait; image under a mapping (math.) |
| 缺 | quē | deficiency; lack; scarce; vacant post; to run short of |
| 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 |
| 点 | diǎn | to touch briefly; to tap; to mark with a dot; to check off (on a list); to order (food etc); to select; to mention; to bring up (a topic or person); to hint at; to imply; to admini… |
| 什 | shén | what |
| 么 | má | exclamatory final particle; variant of 麼|么[me5] |
| 看 | kān | to look after; to take care of; to watch; to guard |
| 起 | qǐ | to 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… |
| 来 | lái | to 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… |
| 有些 | yǒu xiē | some; somewhat; rather; a bit |
| 单 | Shàn | surname Shan |
| 调 | diào | to transfer; to move (troops or cadres); to investigate; to enquire into; accent; view; argument; key (in music); mode (music); tune; tone; melody |
| 想 | xiǎng | to 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) |
| 要是 | yào shi | (coll.) if |
| 能 | Néng | surname Neng |
| 让 | ràng | to yield; to permit; to let sb do sth; to have sb do sth; to make sb (feel sad etc); by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被[bei4]) |
| 更 | gēng | to change or replace; to experience; one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided; watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard) |
| 漂 | piāo | to float; to drift |
| 亮 | liàng | bright; light; to shine; to flash; loud and clear; to show (one's passport etc); to make public (one's views etc) |
| 些 | xiē | classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several |
| 不是 | bù shì | no; is not; not |
| 好 | hǎo | good; appropriate; proper; all right!; (before a verb) easy to; (before a verb) good to; (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so; (verb complement indicating completion); (… |
| 于是 | yú shì | thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence |
| 送 | sòng | to send; to deliver; to transmit; to give (as a present); to see (sb) off; to accompany; to go along with |
| 到 | dào | to 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… |
| 一个 | yī ge | a; an; one; the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc) |
| 出名 | chū míng | well-known for sth; to become well known; to make one's mark; to lend one's name (to an event, endeavor etc) |
| 工匠 | gōng jiàng | artisan; smith |
| 那里 | nà li | there; that place |
| 请 | qǐng | to ask; to invite; please (do sth); to treat (to a meal etc); to request |
| 背 | běi | the back; behind (bei4); to recite from memory (bei4); to carry on the back (bei1) |
| 上 | shǎng | used in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1] |
| 雕 | diao | to engrave |
| 刻 | kè | quarter (hour); moment; to carve; to engrave; to cut; oppressive; classifier for short time intervals |
| 精美 | jīng měi | exquisite; elegant; fine |
| 图 | tú | diagram; picture; drawing; chart; map; CL:張|张[zhang1]; to plan; to scheme; to attempt; to pursue; to seek |
| 案 | ǎn | (legal) case; record; table |
| 花 | Huā | surname Hua; old variant of 花[hua1]; variant of 花[hua1]; flower; blossom; also pr. [wei3] |
| 两 | liǎng | two; both; some; a few; tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤[jin1] (old) |
| 个 | gě | used in 自個兒|自个儿[zi4 ge3 r5]; variant of 個|个[ge4] |
| 月 | yuè | moon; month; monthly; CL:個|个[ge4],輪|轮[lun2] |
| 时间 | shí jiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) time |
| 上面 | shàng miàn | on top of; above-mentioned; also pr. [shang4 mian5] |
| 幅 | fú | width; roll; classifier for textiles or pictures |
| 完美 | wán měi | perfect |
| 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 … |
| 猎 | liè | hunting |
| 高兴 | gāo xìng | happy; glad; willing (to do sth); in a cheerful mood |
| 极 | jí | extremely; pole (geography, physics); utmost; top |
| 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… |
| 还有 | hái yǒu | there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition |
| 比 | Bǐ | Belgium; Belgian; abbr. for 比利時|比利时[Bi3 li4 shi2] |
| 适 | kuò | see 李适[Li3 Kuo4]; surname Shi |
| 合 | gě | 100 ml; one-tenth of a peck; measure for dry grain equal to one-tenth of sheng 升 or liter, or one-hundredth dou 斗; variant of 合[he2] |
| 呢 | ne | (sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?"); (sentence-final particle) indicating that a state or situation… |
| 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 |
| 回到 | huí dào | to return to |
| 家 | jiā | used 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… |
| 拿出 | ná chū | to take out; to put out; to provide; to put forward (a proposal); to come up with (evidence) |
| 好久 | hǎo jǐu | (coll.) for a long time |
| 没用 | méi yòng | useless |
| 过 | Guō | surname Guo |
| 可 | kě | (prefix) can; may; able to; -able; to approve; to permit; to suit; (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very; but; however |
| 得 | dé | to obtain; to get; to gain; to catch (a disease); proper; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; to permit; ready; finished |
| 好好 | hǎo hǎo | in perfectly good condition; perfectly all right; well; thoroughly; carefully; properly |
| 玩 | wán | to play; to have fun; to trifle with; toy; sth used for amusement; curio or antique (Taiwan pr. [wan4]); to keep sth for entertainment; variant of 玩[wan2]; Taiwan pr. [wan4] |
| 搭 | da | to put up; to hang (clothes on a pole); to join; to match; to throw in (resources) |
| 拉 | lā | to pull; to play (a bowed instrument); to drag; to draw; to chat; (coll.) to empty one's bowels |
| 紧 | jǐn | tight; strict; close at hand; near; urgent; tense; hard up; short of money; to tighten |
| 弓弦 | gōng xián | bowstring |
| 啪 | pa | (onom.) bang; pow |
| 一声 | yī shēng | first tone in Mandarin (high, level tone) |
| 断 | duàn | to break; to snap; to cut off; to give up or abstain from sth; to judge; (usu. used in the negative) absolutely; definitely; decidedly |
| 成了 | chéng le | to be done; to be ready; that's enough!; that will do! |
| 截 | jiē | to cut off (a length); to intercept; chunk |
| 世界 | shì jiè | world |
| 没有 | méi yǒu | haven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be |
| 绝对 | jué duì | absolute; unconditional |
| 事物 | shì wù | thing; object |
| 若 | ruǒ | used in 般若[bo1 re3] |
| 你 | nǐ | you (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.) |
| 一定 | yī dìng | surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled; a certain ...; a given ... |
| 要 | yāo | (bound form) to demand; to coerce |
| 某 | mǒu | some; a certain; sb or sth indefinite; such-and-such |
| 件 | jiàn | item; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc |
| 事情 | shì qing | affair; matter; thing; business; CL:件[jian4],樁|桩[zhuang1] |
| 或 | huò | maybe; perhaps; might; possibly; or |
| 东 | Dōng | surname Dong |
| 西 | Xī | the West; abbr. for Spain 西班牙[Xi1 ban1 ya2]; Spanish |
| 的话 | de huà | if (coming after a conditional clause) |
| 必定 | bì dìng | to be bound to; to be sure to |
| 会 | huì | can; to have the skill; to know how to; to be likely to; to be sure to; to meet; to get together; meeting; gathering; (suffix) union; group; association; (bound form) a moment (Tai… |
| 失 | shī | to lose; to miss; to fail |
| 败 | bǎi | to defeat; to lose (to an opponent); to wither |
In olden times there was a man who received a bow, and the arrows shot by this bow [flew] far and accurately. Because of this, he treasured it. This man often carried the bow around in his hands fondling it, and one day, as he was carefully admiring the bow in his hands, he suddenly felt that the bow was missing a little something, it looked [perhaps] a little drab. He thought, wouldn’t it be better if I could make it a little more beautiful?
And so, he sent the bow to a very famous wood craftsman, and asked him to engrave a beautiful pattern upon the back of the bow. The wood craftsman spent two months carving a perfect hunting scene upon it. The man was extremely happy, and thought, “What is more suitable for this bow than a hunting scene?”
When he returned home, he took out an arrow. “I haven’t used [my bow] in a long time, now I can have some fun [with it].” He fitted the arrow, pulled the bowstring tight, and with a “pai sound, the bow broke into two pieces.
Nothing is absolutely perfect in this world. If you must [try to] make a situation or a thing perfect, you will certainly fail.