望梅止渴。东汉末年，那时候天下大乱。为了统一天下，平定不服从统治的诸侯，丞相曹操长年领兵讨伐诸侯。这年，曹操准备讨伐张绣，可是又怕袁绍趁他出外讨伐，乘虚攻打许都；想攻打袁绍，又有张绣,刘表牵制，所以左思右想，举棋不定。这时谋士郭嘉献计：主公不如命徐州刘备为左将军，吕布为车骑将军，然后下旨让二人北拒袁绍，主公再率兵南伐张绣,刘表。曹操说：好计，就按奉孝说的办。于是，曹操统兵15万讨伐张绣。时值盛夏三伏天，骄阳如火，天干气燥，行军路上都是荒山野岭，远离水源，找不到一滴水。兵士们个个都渴得有气无力，垂头丧气的，队伍渐渐七零八落，行军速度越来越慢。曹操骑在马上，看到这幅情景，心中忧虑，皱着眉头，忽然心生一计。只听他拿令旗指着前方说：将士们，坚持一会儿，再往前面走一段路，就有一大片梅子林，绿阴阴的树上结满了青梅，又甜又酸，吃到嘴里可以解渴。快点走啊！兵士们一听，腮帮都酸了，嘴里立刻涌出了唾沫，顿时个个精神抖擞，走得飞快，及时到达了战场。哲理启示：人不能永远靠望梅来止渴，正如空想暂时可以安慰人心，但终究不能代替现实一般。
望梅止渴。
Quench your thirst by hoping for plums.
望梅止渴。
wàng méi zhǐ kě
Quench your thirst by hoping for plums.
望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě) lit. to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums (idiom)
望 (wàng) full moon/to hope/to expect/to visit/to gaze (into the
梅 (méi) plum/plum flower/Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)
止 (zhǐ) to stop/to prohibit/until/only
渴 (kě) thirsty
东汉末年，那时候天下大乱。
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in turmoil at that time.
东汉末年，
dōng hàn mò nián
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the
东汉 (dōng hàn) Eastern or later Han dynasty 25-220
东 (dōng) east/host (i.e. sitting on east side of guest)/landlord
汉 (hàn) Han ethnic group/Chinese (language)/the Han dynasty (206
末年 (mò nián) the final years (of a regime)
末 (mò) tip/end/final stage/latter part/inessential detail/powder
年 (nián) year/CL:個|个[ge4]
那时候天下大乱。
nā shí hòu tiān xià dà luàn
The world was in turmoil at that time.
那时候 (nā shí hòu) at that time
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
候 (hòu) to wait/to inquire after/to watch/season/climate/(old)
天下大乱 (tiān xià dà luàn) the whole country in rebellion
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
乱 (luàn) in confusion or disorder/in a confused state of mind
为了统一天下，平定不服从统治的诸侯，丞相曹操长年领兵讨伐诸侯。
In order to unify the country and pacify the disobedient lords, the prime minister Cao Cao led a long years of crusade against the lords.
为了统一天下，
wéi le tǒng yī tiān xià
In order to reign over the world.
为了 (wéi le) in order to/for the purpose of/so as to
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
统一 (tǒng yī) to unify/to unite/to integrate
统 (tǒng) to gather/to unite/to unify/whole
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
天下 (tiān xià) land under heaven/the whole world/the whole of China/realm
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
平定不服从统治的诸侯，
píng dìng bù fú cóng tǒng zhì de zhū hóu
The pacification of disobedient vassals.
平定 (píng dìng) Pingding county in Yangquan 陽泉|阳泉[Yang2 quan2] Shanxi/to
平 (píng) flat/level/equal/to tie (make the same score)/to draw
定 (dìng) to set/to fix/to determine/to decide/to order
不服 (bù fú) not to accept sth/to want to have sth overruled or changed
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
服 (fú) clothes/dress/garment/to serve (in the military a prison
从 (cóng) from/through/via/to follow/to obey/to engage in (an
统治 (tǒng zhì) to rule (a country)/to govern/rule/regime
统 (tǒng) to gather/to unite/to unify/whole
治 (zhì) to rule/to govern/to manage/to control/to harness (a river)
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
诸侯 (zhū hóu) feudal vassal/feudal princes esp. the monarchs (dukes or
诸 (zhū) all/various
侯 (hóu) marquis second of the five orders of ancient Chinese
丞相曹操长年领兵讨伐诸侯。
chéng xiāng cáo cāo cháng nián lǐng bīng tǎo fá zhū hóu
The prime minister Cao Cao led the army to crush the vassals for a long time.
丞相 (chéng xiāng) the most senior minister of many kingdoms or dynasties
丞 (chéng) deputy
相 (xiāng) each other/one another/mutually/fret on the neck of a pipa
曹操 (cáo cāo) Cao Cao (155-220) famous statesman and general at the end
曹 (cáo) class or grade/generation/plaintiff and defendant (old)
操 (cāo) to grasp/to hold/to operate/to manage/to control/to steer
长年 (cháng nián) all the year round
长 (cháng) length/long/forever/always/constantly/chief/head/elder/to
年 (nián) year/CL:個|个[ge4]
领 (lǐng) neck/collar/to lead/to receive/classifier for clothes mats
兵 (bīng) soldiers/a force/an army/weapons/arms/military/warlike
讨伐 (tǎo fá) to suppress by armed force/to send a punitive expedition
讨 (tǎo) to invite/to provoke/to demand or ask for/to send armed
伐 (fá) to cut down/to fell/to dispatch an expedition against/to
诸侯 (zhū hóu) feudal vassal/feudal princes esp. the monarchs (dukes or
诸 (zhū) all/various
侯 (hóu) marquis second of the five orders of ancient Chinese
这年，曹操准备讨伐张绣，可是又怕袁绍趁他出外讨伐，乘虚攻打许都；想攻打袁绍，又有张绣,刘表牵制，所以左思右想，举棋不定。
In this year, Cao Cao was ready to crush Zhang Xiu, but he was afraid that Yuan Shao would take advantage of his crusade to attack Xudu; he wanted to attack Yuan Shao, but he was held back by Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao, so he thought about it and was indecisive.
这年，
zhè nián
This year.
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
年 (nián) year/CL:個|个[ge4]
曹操准备讨伐张绣，
cáo cāo zhǔn bèi tǎo fá zhāng xiù
Cao Cao prepares to crush Zhang Xiu.
曹操 (cáo cāo) Cao Cao (155-220) famous statesman and general at the end
曹 (cáo) class or grade/generation/plaintiff and defendant (old)
操 (cāo) to grasp/to hold/to operate/to manage/to control/to steer
准备 (zhǔn bèi) preparation/to prepare/to intend/to be about to/reserve
准 (zhǔn) to allow/to grant/in accordance with/in the light of
备 (bèi) to prepare/get ready/to provide or equip
讨伐 (tǎo fá) to suppress by armed force/to send a punitive expedition
讨 (tǎo) to invite/to provoke/to demand or ask for/to send armed
伐 (fá) to cut down/to fell/to dispatch an expedition against/to
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
绣 (xiù) to embroider/embroidery
可是又怕袁绍趁他出外讨伐，
kě shì yòu pà yuán shào chèn tā chū wài tǎo fá
However, he was afraid that Yuan Shao would take advantage of his departure for a crusade.
可是 (kě shì) but/however/(used for emphasis) indeed
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
怕 (pà) to be afraid/to fear/to dread/to be unable to endure
袁绍 (yuán shào) Yuan Shao (153-202) general during late Han subsequently
袁 (yuán) long robe (old)
绍 (shào) to continue/to carry on
趁 (chèn) to avail oneself of/to take advantage of
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
出外 (chū wài) to go out/to leave for another place
出 (chū) to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to
外 (wài) outside/in addition/foreign/external
讨伐 (tǎo fá) to suppress by armed force/to send a punitive expedition
讨 (tǎo) to invite/to provoke/to demand or ask for/to send armed
伐 (fá) to cut down/to fell/to dispatch an expedition against/to
乘虚攻打许都；
chéng xū gōng dá xǔ dōu
Taking advantage of the situation to attack Xudu.
乘虚 (chéng xū) to take advantage of weakness
乘 (chéng) to ride/to mount/to make use of/to avail oneself of/to take
虚 (xū) emptiness/void/abstract theory or guiding principles/empty
攻打 (gōng dá) to attack (the enemy)
攻 (gōng) to attack/to accuse/to study
打 (dá) dozen (loanword)/to beat/to strike/to hit/to break/to type
许 (xǔ) to allow/to permit/to promise/to praise/somewhat/perhaps
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
想攻打袁绍，
xiǎng gōng dá yuán shào
wanted to attack Yuan Shao.
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
攻打 (gōng dá) to attack (the enemy)
攻 (gōng) to attack/to accuse/to study
打 (dá) dozen (loanword)/to beat/to strike/to hit/to break/to type
袁绍 (yuán shào) Yuan Shao (153-202) general during late Han subsequently
袁 (yuán) long robe (old)
绍 (shào) to continue/to carry on
又有张绣,
yòu yǒu zhāng xiù
There is also Zhang Xiu,
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
绣 (xiù) to embroider/embroidery
刘表牵制，
liú biǎo qiān zhì
Liu Biao holds back the
刘表 (liú biǎo) Liu Biao (142-208) warlord
刘 (liú) null
表 (biǎo) exterior surface/family relationship via females/to show
牵制 (qiān zhì) to control/to curb/to restrict/to impede/to pin down (enemy
牵 (qiān) to lead along/to pull (an animal on a tether)/(bound form)
制 (zhì) to manufacture/to make
所以左思右想，
suǒ yǐ zuǒ sī yòu xiǎng
So thinking left and right.
所以 (suǒ yǐ) therefore/as a result/so/the reason why
所 (suǒ) actually/place/classifier for houses small buildings
以 (yǐ) abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]/to use/by means of
左思右想 (zuǒ sī yòu xiǎng) to turn over in one's mind (idiom); to think through from
左 (zuǒ) null
思 (sī) to think/to consider
右 (yòu) right (-hand)/the Right (politics)/west (old)
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
举棋不定。
jǔ qí bù dìng
Indecision.
举棋不定 (jǔ qí bù dìng) to hesitate over what move to make (idiom); to waver/to
举 (jǔ) to lift/to hold up/to cite/to enumerate/to act/to raise/to
棋 (qí) chess/chess-like game/a game of chess/CL:盤|盘[pan2]/chess
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
定 (dìng) to set/to fix/to determine/to decide/to order
这时谋士郭嘉献计：主公不如命徐州刘备为左将军，吕布为车骑将军，然后下旨让二人北拒袁绍，主公再率兵南伐张绣,刘表。
At this time, the strategist Guo Jia offered a plan: the Lord may as well appoint Xuzhou Liu Bei as the left general, Lu Bu as the general of the car, and then issued a decree to let the two north to reject Yuan Shao, the Lord then led the troops south to attack Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao.
这时谋士郭嘉献计：
zhè shí móu shì guō jiā xiàn jì
At this point, the strategist Guo Jia offered a plan.
这时 (zhè shí) at this time/at this moment
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
谋士 (móu shì) skilled manipulator/tactician/strategist/advisor/counsellor
谋 (móu) to plan/to seek/scheme
士 (shì) member of the senior ministerial class (old)/scholar (old)
郭 (guō) outer city wall
嘉 (jiā) excellent/auspicious/to praise/to commend
献计 (xiàn jì) to offer advice/to make a suggestion
献 (xiàn) to offer/to present/to dedicate/to donate/to show/to put on
计 (jì) to calculate/to compute/to count/to regard as important/to
主公不如命徐州刘备为左将军，
zhǔ gōng bù rú mìng xú zhōu liú bèi wéi zuǒ jiāng jūn
My Lord might as well appoint Liu Bei of Xuzhou as the left general.
主公 (zhǔ gōng) Your Highness/Your Majesty
主 (zhǔ) owner/master/host/individual or party concerned/God/Lord
公 (gōng) public/collectively owned/common/international (e.g. high
不如 (bù rú) not equal to/not as good as/inferior to/it would be better
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
命 (mìng) life/fate/order or command/to assign a name title etc
徐州 (xú zhōu) Xuzhou prefecture level city in Jiangsu
徐 (xú) slowly/gently
州 (zhōu) prefecture/(old) province/(old) administrative division
刘备 (liú bèi) Liu Bei (161-223) warlord at the end of the Han dynasty and
刘 (liú) null
备 (bèi) to prepare/get ready/to provide or equip
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
左将军 --not found--
将军 (jiāng jūn) Chiangchun township in Tainan county 台南縣|台南县[Tai2 nan2
将 (jiāng) will/shall/to use/to take/to checkmate/just a short while
军 (jūn) army/military/arms/CL:個|个[ge4]
吕布为车骑将军，
lǚ bù wéi chē qí jiāng jūn
Lu Bu as the General of Che Cavalry.
吕布 (lǚ bù) Lü Bu (-198) general and warlord
吕 (lǚ) pitchpipe pitch standard one of the twelve semitones in the
布 (bù) cloth/to declare/to announce/to spread/to make known
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
车 (chē) car/vehicle/CL:輛|辆[liang4]/machine/to shape with a lathe
骑 (qí) (Taiwan) saddle horse/mounted soldier/to sit astride/to
将军 (jiāng jūn) Chiangchun township in Tainan county 台南縣|台南县[Tai2 nan2
将 (jiāng) will/shall/to use/to take/to checkmate/just a short while
军 (jūn) army/military/arms/CL:個|个[ge4]
然后下旨让二人北拒袁绍，
rán hòu xià zhǐ ràng èr rén běi jù yuán shào
Then issued a decree for the two men to reject Yuan Shao in the north.
然后 (rán hòu) after/then (afterwards)/after that/afterwards
然 (rán) correct/right/so/thus/like this/-ly
后 (hòu) empress/queen
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
旨 (zhǐ) imperial decree/purport/aim/purpose
让 (ràng) to yield/to permit/to let sb do sth/to have sb do sth/to
二 (èr) two/2/(Beijing dialect) stupid
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
北 (běi) north/to be defeated (classical)
拒 (jù) to resist/to repel/to refuse
袁绍 (yuán shào) Yuan Shao (153-202) general during late Han subsequently
袁 (yuán) long robe (old)
绍 (shào) to continue/to carry on
主公再率兵南伐张绣,
zhǔ gōng zài lǜ bīng nā fá zhāng xiù
My lord will lead the army to attack Zhang Xiu in the south again,
主公 (zhǔ gōng) Your Highness/Your Majesty
主 (zhǔ) owner/master/host/individual or party concerned/God/Lord
公 (gōng) public/collectively owned/common/international (e.g. high
再 (zài) again/once more/re-/second/another/then (after sth and not
率 (lǜ) rate/frequency/to lead/to command/rash/hasty/frank
兵 (bīng) soldiers/a force/an army/weapons/arms/military/warlike
南 (nā) south
伐 (fá) to cut down/to fell/to dispatch an expedition against/to
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
绣 (xiù) to embroider/embroidery
刘表。
liú biǎo
Liu Biao.
刘表 (liú biǎo) Liu Biao (142-208) warlord
刘 (liú) null
表 (biǎo) exterior surface/family relationship via females/to show
曹操说：好计，就按奉孝说的办。
Cao Cao said: Good plan, just do as Feng Xiao said.
曹操说：
cáo cāo shuì
Cao Cao said.
曹操 (cáo cāo) Cao Cao (155-220) famous statesman and general at the end
曹 (cáo) class or grade/generation/plaintiff and defendant (old)
操 (cāo) to grasp/to hold/to operate/to manage/to control/to steer
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
好计，
hǎo jì
Good plan.
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
计 (jì) to calculate/to compute/to count/to regard as important/to
就按奉孝说的办。
jiù àn fèng xiào shuì de bàn
Just do what Fengxiao said.
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
按 (àn) to press/to push/to leave aside or shelve/to control/to
奉 (fèng) to offer (tribute)/to present respectfully (to superior
孝 (xiào) filial piety or obedience/mourning apparel
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
办 (bàn) to do/to manage/to handle/to go about/to run/to set up/to
于是，曹操统兵15万讨伐张绣。
So, Cao Cao unified 150,000 troops to crush Zhang Xiu.
于是，
yú shì
Thus.
于是 (yú shì) thereupon/as a result/consequently/thus/hence
于 (yú) in/at/to/from/by/than/out of
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
曹操统兵15万讨伐张绣。
cáo cāo tǒng bīng ??? ??? mò tǎo fá zhāng xiù
Cao Cao unified 150,000 troops to crush Zhang Xiu.
曹操 (cáo cāo) Cao Cao (155-220) famous statesman and general at the end
曹 (cáo) class or grade/generation/plaintiff and defendant (old)
操 (cāo) to grasp/to hold/to operate/to manage/to control/to steer
统 (tǒng) to gather/to unite/to unify/whole
兵 (bīng) soldiers/a force/an army/weapons/arms/military/warlike
万 (mò) see 万俟[Mo4 qi2]
讨伐 (tǎo fá) to suppress by armed force/to send a punitive expedition
讨 (tǎo) to invite/to provoke/to demand or ask for/to send armed
伐 (fá) to cut down/to fell/to dispatch an expedition against/to
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
绣 (xiù) to embroider/embroidery
时值盛夏三伏天，骄阳如火，天干气燥，行军路上都是荒山野岭，远离水源，找不到一滴水。
It was the height of summer three volt days, the sun like fire, the sky is dry, the marching road are deserted mountains, far from water sources, can not find a drop of water.
时值盛夏三伏天，
shí zhí chéng xià sān fú tiān
It's the middle of summer and the three volt days.
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
值 (zhí) value/(to be) worth/to happen to/to be on duty
盛夏 (chéng xià) midsummer/the height of summer
盛 (chéng) to hold/to contain/to ladle/to pick up with a utensil
夏 (xià) summer
三伏天 (sān fú tiān) three periods forming the hottest periods of summer from
三 (sān) three/3
伏 (fú) to lean over/to fall (go down)/to hide (in ambush)/to
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
骄阳如火，
jiāo yáng rú huǒ
The sun is blazing.
骄阳 (jiāo yáng) blazing sun
骄 (jiāo) proud/arrogant
阳 (yáng) positive (electric.)/sun/male principle (Taoism)/Yang
如火 (rú huǒ) fiery
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
火 (huǒ) fire/urgent/ammunition/fiery or flaming/internal heat
天干气燥，
tiān gān qì zào
The weather is dry and the air is dry.
天干 (tiān gān) the 10 heavenly stems 甲[jia3] 乙[yi3] 丙[bing3] 丁[ding1]
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
干 (gān) to concern/to interfere/shield/stem
气 (qì) gas/air/smell/weather/to make angry/to annoy/to get angry
燥 (zào) dry/parched/impatient
行军路上都是荒山野岭，
háng jūn lù shǎng dōu shì huāng shān yě lǐng
The march was in the middle of nowhere.
行军 (háng jūn) a march (army)/to march
行 (háng) row/line/commercial firm/line of business/profession/to
军 (jūn) army/military/arms/CL:個|个[ge4]
路上 (lù shǎng) on the road/on a journey/road surface
路 (lù) road/CL:條|条[tiao2]/journey/route/line (bus etc)/sort/kind
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
荒山野岭 (huāng shān yě lǐng) wild mountainous country
荒 (huāng) desolate/shortage/scarce/out of practice/absurd
山 (shān) mountain/hill/anything that resembles a mountain/CL:座[zuo4]
野 (yě) field/plain/open space/limit/boundary/rude/feral
岭 (lǐng) mountain range/mountain ridge
远离水源，
yuǎn lí shuǐ yuán
away from water sources.
远离 (yuǎn lí) to be far from/to keep away from
远 (yuǎn) far/distant/remote/(intensifier in a comparison) by far
离 (lí) mythical beast (archaic)
水源 (shuǐ yuán) water source/water supply/headwaters of a river
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
源 (yuán) root/source/origin
找不到一滴水。
zhǎo bù dào yī dī shuǐ
Not a drop of water could be found.
找不到 (zhǎo bù dào) can't find
找 (zhǎo) to try to find/to look for/to call on sb/to find/to seek/to
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
滴水 (dī shuǐ) water drop/dripping water
滴 (dī) a drop/to drip
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
兵士们个个都渴得有气无力，垂头丧气的，队伍渐渐七零八落，行军速度越来越慢。
Soldiers are thirsty and breathless, hanging their heads, the team gradually fragmented, the marching speed is getting slower and slower.
兵士们个个都渴得有气无力，
bīng shì mén gě gě dōu kě dé yǒu qì mó lì
The soldiers were all thirsty and breathless.
兵士 (bīng shì) ordinary soldier
兵 (bīng) soldiers/a force/an army/weapons/arms/military/warlike
士 (shì) member of the senior ministerial class (old)/scholar (old)
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
个个 (gě gě) each one individually/each and every
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
渴 (kě) thirsty
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
有气无力 (yǒu qì mó lì) weakly and without strength (idiom); dispirited
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
气 (qì) gas/air/smell/weather/to make angry/to annoy/to get angry
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
力 (lì) power/force/strength/ability/strenuously
垂头丧气的，
chuí tóu sāng qì de
hanging their heads in dismay.
垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sāng qì) hanging one's head dispiritedly (idiom); dejected
垂 (chuí) to hang (down)/droop/dangle/bend down/hand down/bequeath
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
丧 (sāng) mourning/funeral/(old) corpse/to lose sth abstract but
气 (qì) gas/air/smell/weather/to make angry/to annoy/to get angry
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
队伍渐渐七零八落，
duì wǔ jiàn jiàn qī líng bā là
The procession was gradually fragmented and
队伍 (duì wǔ) ranks/troops/queue/line/procession
队 (duì) squadron/team/group/CL:個|个[ge4]
伍 (wǔ) squad of five soldiers/to associate with/five (banker's
渐渐 (jiàn jiàn) gradually
渐 (jiàn) to imbue/gradual/gradually
渐 (jiàn) to imbue/gradual/gradually
七零八落 (qī líng bā là) (idiom) everything broken and in disorder
七 (qī) seven/7
零 (líng) zero/nought/zero sign/fractional/fragmentary/odd (of
八 (bā) eight/8
落 (là) to leave out/to be missing/to leave behind or forget to
行军速度越来越慢。
háng jūn sù dù yuè lái yuè màn
The marching speed is getting slower and slower.
行军 (háng jūn) a march (army)/to march
行 (háng) row/line/commercial firm/line of business/profession/to
军 (jūn) army/military/arms/CL:個|个[ge4]
速度 (sù dù) speed/rate/velocity/(music) tempo/CL:個|个[ge4]
速 (sù) fast/rapid/quick/velocity
度 (dù) to pass/to spend (time)/measure/limit/extent/degree of
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) more and more
越 (yuè) generic word for peoples or states of south China or south
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
越 (yuè) generic word for peoples or states of south China or south
慢 (màn) slow
曹操骑在马上，看到这幅情景，心中忧虑，皱着眉头，忽然心生一计。
Cao Cao rode on his horse, saw this scene, his heart worried, frowned, and suddenly had a plan.
曹操骑在马上，
cáo cāo qí zài mǎ shǎng
Cao Cao is riding on a horse.
曹操 (cáo cāo) Cao Cao (155-220) famous statesman and general at the end
曹 (cáo) class or grade/generation/plaintiff and defendant (old)
操 (cāo) to grasp/to hold/to operate/to manage/to control/to steer
骑 (qí) (Taiwan) saddle horse/mounted soldier/to sit astride/to
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
马上 (mǎ shǎng) at once/right away/immediately/on horseback (i.e. by
马 (mǎ) horse/CL:匹[pi3]/horse or cavalry piece in Chinese chess
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
看到这幅情景，
kān dào zhè fú qíng jǐng
Seeing this scene, the
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
幅 (fú) width/roll/classifier for textiles or pictures
情景 (qíng jǐng) scene/spectacle/circumstances/situation
情 (qíng) feeling/emotion/passion/situation
景 (jǐng) bright/circumstance/scenery
心中忧虑，
xīn zhōng yōu lǜ
with worries in mind.
心中 (xīn zhōng) central point/in one's thoughts/in one's heart
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
中 (zhōng) within/among/in/middle/center/while (doing sth)/during
忧虑 (yōu lǜ) to worry/anxiety (about)
忧 (yōu) to worry/to concern oneself with/worried/anxiety/sorrow
虑 (lǜ) to think over/to consider/anxiety
皱着眉头，
zhòu zhāo méi tóu
Frowning.
皱 (zhòu) to wrinkle/wrinkled/to crease
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
眉头 (méi tóu) brows
眉 (méi) eyebrow/upper margin
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
忽然心生一计。
hū rán xīn shēng yī jì
Suddenly a plan came to mind.
忽然 (hū rán) suddenly/all of a sudden
忽 (hū) to neglect/to overlook/to ignore/suddenly
然 (rán) correct/right/so/thus/like this/-ly
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
生 (shēng) to be born/to give birth/life/to grow/raw/uncooked/student
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
计 (jì) to calculate/to compute/to count/to regard as important/to
只听他拿令旗指着前方说：将士们，坚持一会儿，再往前面走一段路，就有一大片梅子林，绿阴阴的树上结满了青梅，又甜又酸，吃到嘴里可以解渴。
Just listen to him pointing to the front with the banner and said: Generals, hold on for a while, and then a short way ahead, there is a large plum forest, green shady trees are full of plums, sweet and sour, eat into the mouth can quench your thirst.
只听他拿令旗指着前方说：
zhī tīng tā ná líng qí zhǐ zhāo qián fāng shuì
Just listen to him pointing ahead with the banner and saying.
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
听 (tīng) smile (archaic)
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
拿 (ná) to hold/to seize/to catch/to apprehend/to take/(used in the
令 (líng) see 令狐[Ling2 hu2]/see 脊令[ji2 ling2]/classifier for a ream
旗 (qí) banner/flag/(in Qing times) Manchu (cf. 八旗[Ba1 qi2])
指 (zhǐ) finger/to point at or to/to indicate or refer to/to depend
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
前方 (qián fāng) ahead/the front
前 (qián) front/forward/ahead/first/top (followed by a number)/future
方 (fāng) square/power or involution (math.)/upright/honest/fair and
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
将士们，
jiāng shì mén
Generals.
将士 (jiāng shì) officers and soldiers
将 (jiāng) will/shall/to use/to take/to checkmate/just a short while
士 (shì) member of the senior ministerial class (old)/scholar (old)
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
坚持一会儿，
jiān chí yī huì ér
Hold on for a moment.
坚持 (jiān chí) to persevere with/to persist in/to insist on
坚 (jiān) strong/solid/firm/unyielding/resolute
持 (chí) to hold/to grasp/to support/to maintain/to persevere/to
一会儿 (yī huì ér) a moment/a while/in a moment/now...now.../also pr. [yi1
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
再往前面走一段路，
zài wǎng qián miàn zǒu yī duàn lù
A little further ahead, the
再 (zài) again/once more/re-/second/another/then (after sth and not
往前 (wǎng qián) to move forwards
往 (wǎng) to go (in a direction)/to/towards/(of a train) bound for
前 (qián) front/forward/ahead/first/top (followed by a number)/future
面 (miàn) face/side/surface/aspect/top/classifier for flat surfaces
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
段 (duàn) paragraph/section/segment/stage (of a process)/classifier
路 (lù) road/CL:條|条[tiao2]/journey/route/line (bus etc)/sort/kind
就有一大片梅子林，
jiù yǒu yī dà piān méi zǐ lín
There is a large forest of plums.
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
大片 (dà piān) wide expanse/large area/vast stretch/extending widely
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
片 (piān) disk/sheet/thin piece/flake/a slice/film/TV play/to slice
梅子 (méi zǐ) plum
梅 (méi) plum/plum flower/Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
林 (lín) woods/forest/CL:片[pian4]/circle(s) (i.e. specific group of
绿阴阴的树上结满了青梅，
lù yīn yīn de shù shǎng jiē mǎn le qīng méi
The green shady trees are full of green plums.
绿阴 (lù yīn) tree shade/shady
绿 (lù) green
阴 (yīn) overcast (weather)/cloudy/shady/Yin (the negative principle
阴 (yīn) overcast (weather)/cloudy/shady/Yin (the negative principle
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
树 (shù) tree/CL:棵[ke1]/to cultivate/to set up
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
结 (jiē) (of a plant) to produce (fruit or seeds)/Taiwan pr. [jie2]
满 (mǎn) Manchu ethnic group/to fill/full/filled/packed/fully
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
青 (qīng) abbr. for 青海[Qing1 hai3] Qinghai Province/nature's color
梅 (méi) plum/plum flower/Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)
又甜又酸，
yòu tián yòu suān
Sweet and sour.
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
甜 (tián) sweet
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
酸 (suān) sour/tart/sick at heart/grieved/sore/aching/pedantic
吃到嘴里可以解渴。
chī dào zuǐ lǐ kě yǐ jiě kě
You can quench your thirst by eating it in your mouth.
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
嘴里 (zuǐ lǐ) mouth/in the mouth/on one's lips/speech/words
嘴 (zuǐ) mouth/beak/nozzle/spout (of teapot etc)
里 (lǐ) li ancient measure of length approx. 500 m/neighborhood
可以 (kě yǐ) can/may/possible/able to/not bad/pretty good
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
以 (yǐ) abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]/to use/by means of
解渴 (jiě kě) to quench
解 (jiě) to divide/to break up/to split/to separate/to dissolve/to
渴 (kě) thirsty
快点走啊！兵士们一听，腮帮都酸了，嘴里立刻涌出了唾沫，顿时个个精神抖擞，走得飞快，及时到达了战场。
Hurry up and go! When the soldiers heard this, their cheeks were sore, and spittle immediately gushed out of their mouths, so they were all in high spirits and walked fast to reach the battlefield in time.
快点走啊！
kuài diǎn zǒu ā
Hurry up and go!
快点 (kuài diǎn) to do sth more quickly/Hurry up!/Get a move on!
快 (kuài) rapid/quick/speed/rate/soon/almost/to make haste/clever
点 (diǎn) point/dot/drop/speck/o'clock/point (in space or time)/to
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
啊 (ā) interjection of surprise/Ah!/Oh!/interjection expressing
兵士们一听，
bīng shì mén yī tīng
Once the soldiers heard that
兵士 (bīng shì) ordinary soldier
兵 (bīng) soldiers/a force/an army/weapons/arms/military/warlike
士 (shì) member of the senior ministerial class (old)/scholar (old)
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
听 (tīng) smile (archaic)
腮帮都酸了，
sāi bāng dōu suān le
My cheeks are sore.
腮帮 (sāi bāng) cheek/upper (of a shoe)
腮 (sāi) cheek
帮 (bāng) to help/to assist/to support/for sb (i.e. as a help)/hired
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
酸 (suān) sour/tart/sick at heart/grieved/sore/aching/pedantic
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
嘴里立刻涌出了唾沫，
zuǐ lǐ lì kè chōng chū le tuò mò
Spittle immediately gushed out of his mouth and
嘴里 (zuǐ lǐ) mouth/in the mouth/on one's lips/speech/words
嘴 (zuǐ) mouth/beak/nozzle/spout (of teapot etc)
里 (lǐ) li ancient measure of length approx. 500 m/neighborhood
立刻 (lì kè) forthwith/immediate/prompt/promptly/straightway/thereupon
立 (lì) to stand/to set up/to establish/to lay down/to draw up/at
刻 (kè) quarter (hour)/moment/to carve/to engrave/to cut/oppressive
涌 (chōng) (used in place names)
出 (chū) to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
唾沫 (tuò mò) spittle/saliva
唾 (tuò) saliva/to spit
沫 (mò) foam/suds
顿时个个精神抖擞，
dùn shí gě gě jīng shén dǒu sǒu
All of them were in high spirits and
顿时 (dùn shí) immediately/suddenly
顿 (dùn) to stop/to pause/to arrange/to lay out/to kowtow/to stamp
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
个个 (gě gě) each one individually/each and every
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
精神抖擞 (jīng shén dǒu sǒu) spirit trembling with excitement (idiom); in high spirits
精 (jīng) essence/extract/vitality/energy/semen/sperm/mythical goblin
神 (shén) God/abbr. for 神舟[Shen2 zhou1]/deity/soul/spirit/unusual
抖 (dǒu) to tremble/to shake out/to reveal/to make it in the world
擞 (sǒu) shake/trembling
走得飞快，
zǒu dé fēi kuài
Walking fast and
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
飞快 (fēi kuài) very fast/at lightning speed/(coll.) razor-sharp
飞 (fēi) to fly
快 (kuài) rapid/quick/speed/rate/soon/almost/to make haste/clever
及时到达了战场。
jí shí dào dá le zhàn cháng
Arrived at the battlefield in time.
及时 (jí shí) in time/promptly/without delay/timely
及 (jí) and/to reach/up to/in time for
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
到达 (dào dá) to reach/to arrive
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
达 (dá) to attain/to reach/to amount to/to communicate/eminent
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
战场 (zhàn cháng) battlefield/CL:個|个[ge4]
战 (zhàn) to fight/fight/war/battle
场 (cháng) threshing floor/classifier for events and happenings: spell
哲理启示：人不能永远靠望梅来止渴，正如空想暂时可以安慰人心，但终究不能代替现实一般。
Philosophical revelation: people can't always rely on hope to quench their thirst, just as fantasy can temporarily comfort the heart, but ultimately can not replace the reality of the general.
哲理启示：
zhé lǐ qǐ shì
Philosophical Insights.
哲理 (zhé lǐ) philosophic theory/philosophy
哲 (zhé) wise/a sage
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
启示 (qǐ shì) to reveal/to enlighten/enlightenment/revelation
启 (qǐ) Qi son of Yu the Great 禹[Yu3] reported founder of the Xia
示 (shì) to show/to reveal
人不能永远靠望梅来止渴，
rén bù néng yǒng yuǎn kào wàng méi lái zhǐ kě
One cannot quench one's thirst by looking at plums forever.
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
不能 (bù néng) cannot/must not/should not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
永远 (yǒng yuǎn) forever/eternal
永 (yǒng) forever/always/perpetual
远 (yuǎn) far/distant/remote/(intensifier in a comparison) by far
靠 (kào) to lean against or on/to stand by the side of/to come near
望 (wàng) full moon/to hope/to expect/to visit/to gaze (into the
梅 (méi) plum/plum flower/Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
止 (zhǐ) to stop/to prohibit/until/only
渴 (kě) thirsty
正如空想暂时可以安慰人心，
zhēng rú kōng xiǎng zàn shí kě yǐ ān wèi rén xīn
Just as empty thoughts can temporarily comfort the heart.
正如 (zhēng rú) just as/precisely as
正 (zhēng) first month of the lunar year/straight/upright/proper/main
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
空想 (kōng xiǎng) daydream/fantasy/to fantasize
空 (kōng) empty/air/sky/in vain/to empty/vacant/unoccupied/space
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
暂时 (zàn shí) temporary/provisional/for the time being
暂 (zàn) temporary/Taiwan pr. [zhan4]
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
可以 (kě yǐ) can/may/possible/able to/not bad/pretty good
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
以 (yǐ) abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]/to use/by means of
安慰 (ān wèi) to comfort/to console/CL:個|个[ge4]
安 (ān) content/calm/still/quiet/safe/secure/in good health/to find
慰 (wèi) to comfort/to console/to reassure
人心 (rén xīn) popular feeling/the will of the people
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
但终究不能代替现实一般。
dàn zhōng jiū bù néng dài tì xiàn shí yī bān
But in the end, it is not a substitute for reality in general.
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
终究 (zhōng jiū) in the end/after all is said and done
终 (zhōng) end/finish
究 (jiū) after all/to investigate/to study carefully/Taiwan pr.
不能 (bù néng) cannot/must not/should not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
代替 (dài tì) to replace/to take the place of
代 (dài) to substitute/to act on behalf of others/to replace
替 (tì) to substitute for/to take the place of/to replace/for/on
现实 (xiàn shí) reality/actuality/real/actual/realistic/pragmatic
现 (xiàn) to appear/present/now/existing/current
实 (shí) real/true/honest/really/solid/fruit/seed/definitely
一般 (yī bān) same/ordinary/so-so/common/general/generally/in general
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
般 (bān) sort/kind/class/way/manner/see 般樂|般乐[pan2 le4]