执政的象。森林中的动物选举大象当他们的父母官。一般地说来，象都是比较聪明的，然而这位父母官的身材非常高大，头脑却很糊涂。他非常仁慈，连一只苍蝇也不忍伤害。有一次，羊向这位菩萨心肠的父母官送来的一份诉状，恳求他禁止狼剥羊皮。大象对狼喝道：混账东西！你们这是搞的完全是丑恶的勾当！谁批准你们抢劫羊皮的？狡猾的狼辩解道：尊敬的大人，我们这样做并非抢劫，这实在是一种制度。冬天来了，我们总得有过冬的袍子，于是就从羊身上稍为抽点儿捐税。如果它们吵吵嚷嚷，那是它们不讲道理。我们一点儿也不过分，只不过跟每只羊要张皮罢了。可是，它们却不肯爽爽快快的拿出来，这怎么能怪我们呢？父母官说道，哦，原来是这样。既然法律许可，就剥张把皮吧！除此以外，可不能动它们一根毫毛！寓言启示：找愚蠢的人帮忙处理问题只会让问题变得越来越复杂。
执政的象。
The ruling elephant in the room.
执政的象。
zhí zhèng de xiàng
The ruling elephant in the room.
执政 (zhí zhèng) to hold power/in office
执 (zhí) to execute (a plan)/to grasp
政 (zhèng) political/politics/government
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
森林中的动物选举大象当他们的父母官。
The animals in the forest elect elephants as their parent officers.
森林中的动物选举大象当他们的父母官。
sēn lín zhōng de dòng wù xuǎn jǔ dà xiàng dāng tā mén de fù mǔ guān
The animals in the forest elect elephants as their parent officers.
森林 (sēn lín) forest/CL:片[pian4]
森 (sēn) forest
林 (lín) woods/forest/CL:片[pian4]/circle(s) (i.e. specific group of
中的 (zhōng de) to hit the target/to hit the nail on the head
中 (zhōng) within/among/in/middle/center/while (doing sth)/during
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
动物 (dòng wù) animal/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]個|个[ge4]
动 (dòng) (of sth) to move/to set in movement/to displace/to touch/to
物 (wù) thing/object/matter/abbr. for physics 物理
选举 (xuǎn jǔ) to elect/election/CL:次[ci4]個|个[ge4]
选 (xuǎn) to choose/to pick/to select/to elect
举 (jǔ) to lift/to hold up/to cite/to enumerate/to act/to raise/to
大象 (dà xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
当 (dāng) (onom.) dong/ding dong (bell)/to be/to act as/manage
他们 (tā mén) they
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
父母 (fù mǔ) father and mother/parents
父 (fù) father
母 (mǔ) mother/elderly female relative/origin/source/(of animals)
官 (guān) government official/governmental/official/public/organ of
一般地说来，象都是比较聪明的，然而这位父母官的身材非常高大，头脑却很糊涂。
Generally speaking, elephants are more intelligent, however, this parent official is very tall, but his mind is very confused.
一般地说来，
yī bān de shuì lái
Generally speaking, the
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]
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
象都是比较聪明的，
xiàng dōu shì bǐ jiào cōng míng de
The elephants are more intelligent.
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
比较 (bǐ jiào) to compare/to contrast/comparatively/relatively/quite
比 (bǐ) Belgium/Belgian/abbr. for 比利時|比利时[Bi3 li4 shi2]/(particle
较 (jiào) to compare/to dispute/compared to/(before adj.) relatively
聪明 (cōng míng) intelligent/clever/bright/smart/acute (of sight and
聪 (cōng) quick at hearing/wise/clever/sharp-witted/intelligent/acute
明 (míng) bright/opposite: dark 暗[an4]/(of meaning) clear/to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
然而这位父母官的身材非常高大，
rán ér zhè wèi fù mǔ guān de shēn cái fēi cháng gāo dà
However, this parent official was very tall and
然而 (rán ér) however/yet/but
然 (rán) correct/right/so/thus/like this/-ly
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
这位 (zhè wèi) this (person)
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
位 (wèi) position/location/place/seat/classifier for people
父母 (fù mǔ) father and mother/parents
父 (fù) father
母 (mǔ) mother/elderly female relative/origin/source/(of animals)
官 (guān) government official/governmental/official/public/organ of
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
身材 (shēn cái) stature/build (height and weight)/figure
身 (shēn) body/life/oneself/personally/one's morality and conduct/the
材 (cái) material/timber/ability/aptitude/a capable individual
非常 (fēi cháng) very/very much/unusual/extraordinary
非 (fēi) abbr. for 非洲[Fei1 zhou1] Africa/to not be/not/wrong
常 (cháng) always/ever/often/frequently/common/general/constant
高大 (gāo dà) tall/lofty
高 (gāo) high/tall/above average/loud/your (honorific)
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
头脑却很糊涂。
tóu nǎo què hěn hū tú
The head, however, is confused.
头脑 (tóu nǎo) brains/mind/skull/(fig.) gist (of a matter)/leader/boss
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
脑 (nǎo) brain/mind/head/essence
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
很 (hěn) (adverb of degree)/quite/very/awfully
糊涂 (hū tú) muddled/silly/confused
糊 (hū) muddled/paste/scorched/paste/cream
涂 (tú) to apply (paint etc)/to smear/to daub/to blot out/to
他非常仁慈，连一只苍蝇也不忍伤害。
He is so merciful that he cannot bear to hurt even a fly.
他非常仁慈，
tā fēi cháng rén cí
He is very benevolent and
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
非常 (fēi cháng) very/very much/unusual/extraordinary
非 (fēi) abbr. for 非洲[Fei1 zhou1] Africa/to not be/not/wrong
常 (cháng) always/ever/often/frequently/common/general/constant
仁慈 (rén cí) benevolent/charitable/kind/kindly/kindness/merciful
仁 (rén) humane/kernel
慈 (cí) compassionate/gentle/merciful/kind/humane
连一只苍蝇也不忍伤害。
lián yī zhī cāng yíng yě bù rěn shāng hài
Not even a fly can be hurt.
连 (lián) to link/to join/to connect/continuously/in succession
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
苍蝇 (cāng yíng) housefly/CL:隻|只[zhi1]
苍 (cāng) dark blue/deep green/ash-gray
蝇 (yíng) fly/musca/CL:隻|只[zhi1]
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
不忍 (bù rěn) cannot bear to/disturbed
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
忍 (rěn) to bear/to endure/to tolerate/to restrain oneself
伤害 (shāng hài) to injure/to harm
伤 (shāng) to injure/injury/wound
害 (hài) to do harm to/to cause trouble to/harm/evil/calamity
有一次，羊向这位菩萨心肠的父母官送来的一份诉状，恳求他禁止狼剥羊皮。
Once, the sheep sent a petition to this bodhisattva-hearted parent official, pleading with him to forbid the wolf to skin the sheep.
有一次，
yǒu yī cì
At one point, the
有一次 (yǒu yī cì) once/once upon a time
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
次 (cì) next in sequence/second/the second (day time etc)/secondary
羊向这位菩萨心肠的父母官送来的一份诉状，
yáng xiàng zhè wèi pú sà xīn cháng de fù mǔ guān sòng lái de yī fèn sù zhuàng
A petition sent by the sheep to this bodhisattva-hearted parental official.
羊 (yáng) sheep/goat/CL:頭|头[tou2]隻|只[zhi1]
向 (xiàng) towards/to face/to turn towards/direction/to support/to
这位 (zhè wèi) this (person)
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
位 (wèi) position/location/place/seat/classifier for people
菩萨 (pú sà) Bodhisattva (Buddhism)
菩 (pú) Bodhisattva
萨 (sà) null
心肠 (xīn cháng) heart/intention/one's inclination/state of mind/to have the
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
肠 (cháng) intestines
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
父母 (fù mǔ) father and mother/parents
父 (fù) father
母 (mǔ) mother/elderly female relative/origin/source/(of animals)
官 (guān) government official/governmental/official/public/organ of
送 (sòng) to deliver/to carry/to give (as a present)/to present
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
份诉状 --not found--
诉状 (sù zhuàng) indictment/plea/complaint
诉 (sù) to complain/to sue/to tell
状 (zhuàng) accusation/suit/state/condition/strong/great/-shaped
恳求他禁止狼剥羊皮。
kěn qiú tā jīn zhǐ láng bāo yáng pí
He pleaded with him to forbid the wolf from skinning the sheep.
恳求 (kěn qiú) to beg/to beseech/to entreat/entreaty
恳 (kěn) earnest
求 (qiú) to seek/to look for/to request/to demand/to beseech
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
禁止 (jīn zhǐ) to prohibit/to forbid/to ban
禁 (jīn) to endure/to prohibit/to forbid
止 (zhǐ) to stop/to prohibit/until/only
狼 (láng) wolf/CL:匹[pi3]隻|只[zhi1]條|条[tiao2]
剥 (bāo) to peel/to skin/to shell/to shuck/to peel/to skin/to flay
羊皮 (yáng pí) sheepskin
羊 (yáng) sheep/goat/CL:頭|头[tou2]隻|只[zhi1]
皮 (pí) leather/skin/fur/CL:張|张[zhang1]/pico- (one trillionth)
大象对狼喝道：混账东西！你们这是搞的完全是丑恶的勾当！谁批准你们抢劫羊皮的？狡猾的狼辩解道：尊敬的大人，我们这样做并非抢劫，这实在是一种制度。
The elephant shouted to the wolf: Bastards! What you are doing is totally ugly! Who gave you permission to rob the sheepskin? The cunning wolf argued, "Your honor, we are not robbing, it is really a system.
大象对狼喝道：
dà xiàng duì láng hē dào
The elephant barked at the wolf, saying
大象 (dà xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
狼 (láng) wolf/CL:匹[pi3]隻|只[zhi1]條|条[tiao2]
喝道 (hē dào) (of yamen bailiffs etc) to walk ahead of an official
喝 (hē) to drink/My goodness!/to shout loudly
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
混账东西！
hùn zhàng dōng xī
Son of a bitch!
混账 (hùn zhàng) shameful/absolutely disgraceful!
混 (hùn) to mix/to mingle/muddled/to drift along/to muddle along/to
账 (zhàng) account/bill/debt/CL:本[ben3]筆|笔[bi3]
东西 (dōng xī) east and west/thing/stuff/person/CL:個|个[ge4]件[jian4]
东 (dōng) east/host (i.e. sitting on east side of guest)/landlord
西 (xī) the West/abbr. for Spain 西班牙[Xi1 ban1 ya2]/Spanish/west
你们这是搞的完全是丑恶的勾当！
nǐ mén zhè shì gǎo de wán quán shì chǒu ě de gōu dāng
This is a totally ugly business you are running!
你们 (nǐ mén) you (plural)
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
搞 (gǎo) to do/to make/to go in for/to set up/to get hold of/to take
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
完全 (wán quán) complete/whole/totally/entirely
完 (wán) to finish/to be over/whole/complete/entire
全 (quán) all/whole/entire/every/complete
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
丑恶 (chǒu ě) ugly/repulsive
丑 (chǒu) clown/2nd earthly branch: 1-3 a.m. 12th solar month (6th
恶 (ě) see 惡心|恶心[e3 xin1]/evil/fierce/vicious/ugly/coarse/to harm
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
勾当 (gōu dāng) shady business
勾 (gōu) see 勾當|勾当[gou4 dang4]
当 (dāng) (onom.) dong/ding dong (bell)/to be/to act as/manage
谁批准你们抢劫羊皮的？
shéi pī zhǔn nǐ mén qiāng jié yáng pí de
Who gave you permission to rob the sheepskin?
谁 (shéi) who/also pr. [shui2]
批准 (pī zhǔn) to approve/to ratify
批 (pī) to ascertain/to act on/to criticize/to pass on/classifier
准 (zhǔn) to allow/to grant/in accordance with/in the light of
你们 (nǐ mén) you (plural)
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
抢劫 (qiāng jié) to rob/looting
抢 (qiāng) see 搶風|抢风[qiang1 feng1]/to fight over/to rush/to scramble
劫 (jié) to rob/to plunder/to seize by force/to coerce/calamity
羊皮 (yáng pí) sheepskin
羊 (yáng) sheep/goat/CL:頭|头[tou2]隻|只[zhi1]
皮 (pí) leather/skin/fur/CL:張|张[zhang1]/pico- (one trillionth)
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
狡猾的狼辩解道：
jiǎo huá de láng biàn jiě dào
The cunning wolf argued.
狡猾 (jiǎo huá) crafty/cunning/sly
狡 (jiǎo) crafty/cunning/sly
猾 (huá) sly
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
狼 (láng) wolf/CL:匹[pi3]隻|只[zhi1]條|条[tiao2]
辩解 (biàn jiě) to explain/to justify/to defend (a point of view etc)/to
辩 (biàn) to dispute/to debate/to argue/to discuss
解 (jiě) to divide/to break up/to split/to separate/to dissolve/to
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
尊敬的大人，
zūn jìng de dà rén
Dear Lord.
尊敬 (zūn jìng) to respect/to revere
尊 (zūn) senior/of a senior generation/to honor/to respect/honorific
敬 (jìng) to respect/to venerate/to salute/to offer
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
大人 (dà rén) adult/grownup/title of respect toward superiors
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
我们这样做并非抢劫，
wǒ mén zhè yàng zuò bīng fēi qiāng jié
We are not doing this as a robbery.
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
这样 (zhè yàng) this kind of/so/this way/like this/such
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
样 (yàng) manner/pattern/way/appearance/shape/classifier: kind type
做 (zuò) to do/to make/to produce/to write/to compose/to act as/to
并非 (bīng fēi) really isn't
并 (bīng) and/furthermore/also/together with/(not) at all
非 (fēi) abbr. for 非洲[Fei1 zhou1] Africa/to not be/not/wrong
抢劫 (qiāng jié) to rob/looting
抢 (qiāng) see 搶風|抢风[qiang1 feng1]/to fight over/to rush/to scramble
劫 (jié) to rob/to plunder/to seize by force/to coerce/calamity
这实在是一种制度。
zhè shí zài shì yī chóng zhì dù
It's really a system.
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
实在 (shí zài) really/actually/indeed/true/real/honest/dependable
实 (shí) real/true/honest/really/solid/fruit/seed/definitely
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
一种 (yī chóng) one kind of/one type of
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
种 (chóng) seed/species/kind/type/classifier for types kinds sorts/to
制度 (zhì dù) system (e.g. political adminstrative etc)/institution
制 (zhì) to manufacture/to make
度 (dù) to pass/to spend (time)/measure/limit/extent/degree of
冬天来了，我们总得有过冬的袍子，于是就从羊身上稍为抽点儿捐税。
When winter comes, we need to have winter robes, so we take a little tax from the sheep.
冬天来了，
dōng tiān lái le
Winter is coming.
冬天 (dōng tiān) winter/CL:個|个[ge4]
冬 (dōng) winter
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
我们总得有过冬的袍子，
wǒ mén zǒng dé yǒu guō dōng de páo zǐ
We always have to have winter robes.
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
总得 (zǒng dé) must/have to/be bound to
总 (zǒng) always/to assemble/gather/total/overall/head/chief/general
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
过冬 (guō dōng) to get through the winter
过 (guō) to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)
冬 (dōng) winter
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
袍子 (páo zǐ) Chinese-style gown
袍 (páo) gown (lined)
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
于是就从羊身上稍为抽点儿捐税。
yú shì jiù cóng yáng shēn shǎng shāo wéi chōu diǎn ér juān shuì
So they took a little tax from the sheep.
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
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
从 (cóng) from/through/via/to follow/to obey/to engage in (an
羊 (yáng) sheep/goat/CL:頭|头[tou2]隻|只[zhi1]
身上 (shēn shǎng) on the body/at hand/among
身 (shēn) body/life/oneself/personally/one's morality and conduct/the
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
稍 (shāo) somewhat/a little/see 稍息[shao4 xi1]
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
抽 (chōu) to draw out/to pull out from in between/to remove part of
点 (diǎn) point/dot/drop/speck/o'clock/point (in space or time)/to
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
捐税 (juān shuì) taxes and levies
捐 (juān) to contribute/to donate/contribution/tax/to abandon
税 (shuì) taxes/duties
如果它们吵吵嚷嚷，那是它们不讲道理。
If they are noisy, they are unreasonable.
如果它们吵吵嚷嚷，
rú guǒ tā mén chāo chāo rāng rāng
If they make a lot of noise.
如果 (rú guǒ) if/in case/in the event that
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
果 (guǒ) fruit/result/resolute/indeed/if really
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
吵吵嚷嚷 (chāo chāo rāng rāng) to make an (unnecessary) racket (idiom)
吵 (chāo) to quarrel/to make a noise/noisy/to disturb by making a
吵 (chāo) to quarrel/to make a noise/noisy/to disturb by making a
嚷 (rāng) to blurt out/to shout
嚷 (rāng) to blurt out/to shout
那是它们不讲道理。
nā shì tā mén bù jiǎng dào lǐ
That's because they don't make sense.
那是 (nā shì) (coll.) of course/naturally/indeed
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
讲道 (jiǎng dào) to preach/a sermon
讲 (jiǎng) to speak/to explain/to negotiate/to emphasise/to be
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
我们一点儿也不过分，只不过跟每只羊要张皮罢了。
We're not overdoing it at all, we're just asking for a skin from each sheep.
我们一点儿也不过分，
wǒ mén yī diǎn ér yě bù guō fēn
We don't overdo it at all.
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
一点 (yī diǎn) a bit/a little/one dot/one point
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
点 (diǎn) point/dot/drop/speck/o'clock/point (in space or time)/to
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
不过 (bù guō) only/merely/no more than/but/however/anyway (to get back to
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
过 (guō) to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)
分 (fēn) to divide/to separate/to distribute/to allocate/to
只不过跟每只羊要张皮罢了。
zhī bù guō gēn měi zhī yáng yāo zhāng pí bà le
Just ask for a skin with each sheep.
只不过 (zhī bù guō) only/merely/nothing but/no more than/it's just that ...
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
过 (guō) to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)
跟 (gēn) heel/to follow closely/to go with/(of a woman) to marry sb
每 (měi) each/every
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
羊 (yáng) sheep/goat/CL:頭|头[tou2]隻|只[zhi1]
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
皮 (pí) leather/skin/fur/CL:張|张[zhang1]/pico- (one trillionth)
罢了 (bà le) a modal particle indicating (that's all only nothing much)
罢 (bà) to stop/to cease/to dismiss/to suspend/to quit/to finish
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
可是，它们却不肯爽爽快快的拿出来，这怎么能怪我们呢？父母官说道，哦，原来是这样。
However, they refuse to take it out with alacrity, how can we be blamed for this? The parent officer said, "Oh, so that's it.
可是，
kě shì
But.
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
它们却不肯爽爽快快的拿出来，
tā mén què bù kěn shuǎng shuǎng kuài kuài de ná chū lái
But they refuse to take it out with alacrity.
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
肯 (kěn) to agree/to consent/to be ready (to do sth)/willing
爽爽快快 (shuǎng shuǎng kuài kuài) in short order/straightforward
爽 (shuǎng) bright/clear/crisp/open/frank/straightforward/to feel well
爽 (shuǎng) bright/clear/crisp/open/frank/straightforward/to feel well
快 (kuài) rapid/quick/speed/rate/soon/almost/to make haste/clever
快 (kuài) rapid/quick/speed/rate/soon/almost/to make haste/clever
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
拿出 (ná chū) to take out/to put out/to provide/to put forward (a
拿 (ná) to hold/to seize/to catch/to apprehend/to take/(used in the
出 (chū) to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
这怎么能怪我们呢？
zhè zěn me néng guài wǒ mén ne
How can we be blamed for this?
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
怎么 (zěn me) how?/what?/why?
怎 (zěn) how
么 (me) exclamatory final particle/interrogative final particle
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
怪 (guài) bewildering/odd/strange/uncanny/devil/monster/to wonder at
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
父母官说道，
fù mǔ guān shuì dào
The parent officer said.
父母 (fù mǔ) father and mother/parents
父 (fù) father
母 (mǔ) mother/elderly female relative/origin/source/(of animals)
官 (guān) government official/governmental/official/public/organ of
说道 (shuì dào) to state/to say (the quoted words)/to discuss/reason
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
哦，
é
Oh.
哦 (é) to chant/oh (interjection indicating doubt or surprise)/oh
原来是这样。
yuán lái shì zhè yàng
So that's it.
原来 (yuán lái) original/former/originally/formerly/at first/so actually as
原 (yuán) former/original/primary/raw/level/cause/source
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
这样 (zhè yàng) this kind of/so/this way/like this/such
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
样 (yàng) manner/pattern/way/appearance/shape/classifier: kind type
既然法律许可，就剥张把皮吧！除此以外，可不能动它们一根毫毛！寓言启示：找愚蠢的人帮忙处理问题只会让问题变得越来越复杂。
Since the law allows it, let's peel the skin! Other than that, you can't touch a hair on their heads! The moral of the parable: getting help from stupid people to deal with a problem only makes it more and more complicated.
既然法律许可，
jì rán fǎ lǜ xǔ kě
Since the law permits it.
既然 (jì rán) since/as/this being the case
既 (jì) already/since/both... (and...)
然 (rán) correct/right/so/thus/like this/-ly
法律 (fǎ lǜ) law/CL:條|条[tiao2] 套[tao4] 個|个[ge4]
法 (fǎ) France/French/abbr. for 法國|法国[Fa3 guo2]/Taiwan pr. [Fa4]
律 (lǜ) law
许可 (xǔ kě) to allow/to permit
许 (xǔ) to allow/to permit/to promise/to praise/somewhat/perhaps
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
就剥张把皮吧！
jiù bāo zhāng bǎ pí bā
Just peel the skin!
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
剥 (bāo) to peel/to skin/to shell/to shuck/to peel/to skin/to flay
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
把 (bǎ) to hold/to contain/to grasp/to take hold of/handle/particle
皮 (pí) leather/skin/fur/CL:張|张[zhang1]/pico- (one trillionth)
吧 (bā) bar (loanword) (serving drinks or providing Internet access
除此以外，
chú cǐ yǐ wài
In addition to this, the
除 (chú) to get rid of/to remove/to exclude/to eliminate/to wipe out
此 (cǐ) this/these
以外 (yǐ wài) apart from/other than/except for/external/outside of/on the
以 (yǐ) abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]/to use/by means of
外 (wài) outside/in addition/foreign/external
可不能动它们一根毫毛！
kě bù néng dòng tā mén yī gēn háo máo
Can not move them a hair!
可不 (kě bù) see 可不是[ke3 bu5 shi4]
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
动 (dòng) (of sth) to move/to set in movement/to displace/to touch/to
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
根 (gēn) root/basis/classifier for long slender objects e.g.
毫毛 (háo máo) hair/soft hair/down
毫 (háo) hair/drawing brush/(in the) least/one thousandth/currency
毛 (máo) hair/feather/down/wool/mildew/mold/coarse or semifinished
寓言启示：
yù yán qǐ shì
Parable of Inspiration.
寓言 (yù yán) fable/CL:則|则[ze2]
寓 (yù) to reside/to imply/to contain/residence
言 (yán) words/speech/to say/to talk
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
找愚蠢的人帮忙处理问题只会让问题变得越来越复杂。
zhǎo yú chǔn de rén bāng máng chǔ lǐ wèn tí zhī huì ràng wèn tí biàn dé yuè lái yuè fù zá
Getting help from stupid people to deal with problems will only make them more complicated.
找 (zhǎo) to try to find/to look for/to call on sb/to find/to seek/to
愚蠢 (yú chǔn) silly/stupid
愚 (yú) to be stupid/to cheat or deceive/me or I (modest)
蠢 (chǔn) stupid/sluggish/clumsy/to wiggle (of worms)/to move in a
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
帮忙 (bāng máng) to help/to lend a hand/to do a favor/to do a good turn
帮 (bāng) to help/to assist/to support/for sb (i.e. as a help)/hired
忙 (máng) busy/hurriedly/to hurry/to rush
处理 (chǔ lǐ) to handle/to treat/to deal with/to process/to deal with a
处 (chǔ) to reside/to live/to dwell/to be in/to be situated at/to
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
问题 (wèn tí) question/problem/issue/topic/CL:個|个[ge4]
问 (wèn) to ask
题 (tí) topic/problem for discussion/exam question/subject/to
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
让 (ràng) to yield/to permit/to let sb do sth/to have sb do sth/to
问题 (wèn tí) question/problem/issue/topic/CL:個|个[ge4]
问 (wèn) to ask
题 (tí) topic/problem for discussion/exam question/subject/to
变得 (biàn dé) to become
变 (biàn) to change/to become different/to transform/to vary
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
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
复杂 (fù zá) complicated/complex
复 (fù) to go and return/to return/to resume/to return to a normal
杂 (zá) mixed/miscellaneous/various/to mix