王子选妻。从前在夏威夷有一对双胞胎王子，有一天国王想为儿子娶媳妇了，便问大王子喜欢什么样的女性。王子回答：我喜欢瘦的女孩子。而知道了这个消息的年轻女性想：如果顺利的话，或许能攀上枝头做凤凰。于是大家争先恐后地开始减肥。不知不觉，岛上几乎没有胖的女性了。不仅如此，因为女孩子一碰面就竞相比较谁更苗条，甚至出现了饿死的情况。但后来事情的变化急转直下，大王子因为生病一下子就过世了，因此仓促决定由弟弟来继承王位。于是国王想为小王子娶媳妇，便问他同样的问题。比起这样的女孩子，我比较喜欢丰满的女性。小王子说。而知道消息的岛上年轻女性，又开始大吃大喝以求增肥，不知不觉间，岛上几乎没有瘦的女性了。岛上的食物被吃得乱七八糟，为预防饥荒而储存的粮食也几乎被吃光了。而最后王子所选的新娘，却是一位不胖不瘦的女性。王子的理由是：如果是不瘦不胖的女性，不必担心她会饿死，永远都能保持健康。哲理启示：你的缺陷可能是你的优势，不要一味地掩饰自己的缺陷，也不要努力使自己的缺陷去迎合世俗，那大可不必，积极面对你的缺陷，放对了地方，那缺陷也就变成了优势。
王子选妻。
The prince chooses his wife.
王子选妻。
wáng zǐ xuǎn qī
The prince chooses his wife.
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
选 (xuǎn) to choose/to pick/to select/to elect
妻 (qī) wife/to marry off (a daughter)
从前在夏威夷有一对双胞胎王子，有一天国王想为儿子娶媳妇了，便问大王子喜欢什么样的女性。
Once upon a time in Hawaii there were a pair of twin princes, one day the king wanted to get a wife for his son, so he asked the first prince what kind of women like.
从前在夏威夷有一对双胞胎王子，
cóng qián zài xià wēi yí yǒu yī duì shuāng bāo tāi wáng zǐ
Once upon a time in Hawaii there were twin princes.
从前 (cóng qián) previously/formerly/once upon a time
从 (cóng) from/through/via/to follow/to obey/to engage in (an
前 (qián) front/forward/ahead/first/top (followed by a number)/future
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
夏威夷 (xià wēi yí) Hawaii US state
夏 (xià) summer
威 (wēi) power/might/prestige
夷 (yí) non-Han people esp. to the East of China/barbarians/to wipe
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
一对 (yī duì) couple/pair
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
双胞胎 (shuāng bāo tāi) twin/CL:對|对[dui4]
双 (shuāng) two/double/pair/both/even (number)
胞 (bāo) placenta/womb/born of the same parents
胎 (tāi) fetus/litter/tire/abbr. of 輪胎|轮胎
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
有一天国王想为儿子娶媳妇了，
yǒu yī tiān guó wáng xiǎng wéi ér zǐ qǔ xí fù le
One day the king wanted to get a wife for his son.
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
天国 (tiān guó) Kingdom of Heaven
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
国 (guó) country/nation/state/national/CL:個|个[ge4]
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
儿子 (ér zǐ) son
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
娶媳妇 (qǔ xí fù) to get oneself a wife/to take a daughter-in-law
娶 (qǔ) to take a wife/to marry (a woman)
媳 (xí) daughter-in-law
妇 (fù) woman
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
便问大王子喜欢什么样的女性。
biàn wèn dà wáng zǐ xǐ huān shén me yàng de nǚ xìng
Then he asked the Grand Prince what kind of women he liked.
便 (biàn) plain/informal/suitable/convenient/opportune/to urinate or
问 (wèn) to ask
大王 (dà wáng) king/magnate/person having expert skill in something/robber
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
喜欢 (xǐ huān) to like/to be fond of
喜 (xǐ) to be fond of/to like/to enjoy/to be happy/to feel pleased
欢 (huān) joyous/happy/pleased
什么样 (shén me yàng) what kind?/what sort?/what appearance?
什 (shén) what/ten (used in fractions writing checks etc)/assorted
么 (me) exclamatory final particle/interrogative final particle
样 (yàng) manner/pattern/way/appearance/shape/classifier: kind type
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
王子回答：我喜欢瘦的女孩子。
Prince replied: I like thin girls.
王子回答：
wáng zǐ huí dā
The prince replied.
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
回答 (huí dā) to reply/to answer/the answer/CL:個|个[ge4]
回 (huí) to circle/to go back/to turn around/to answer/to return/to
答 (dā) to answer/to agree/reply/answer/return/respond/echo
我喜欢瘦的女孩子。
wǒ xǐ huān shòu de nǚ hái zǐ
I like thin girls.
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
喜欢 (xǐ huān) to like/to be fond of
喜 (xǐ) to be fond of/to like/to enjoy/to be happy/to feel pleased
欢 (huān) joyous/happy/pleased
瘦 (shòu) thin/to lose weight/(of clothing) tight/(of meat) lean/(of
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女孩子 (nǚ hái zǐ) girl
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
孩 (hái) child
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
而知道了这个消息的年轻女性想：如果顺利的话，或许能攀上枝头做凤凰。
And the young woman who learned the news thought: If it goes well, she might be able to climb up the branch and become a phoenix.
而知道了这个消息的年轻女性想：
ér zhī dào le zhè gě xiāo xī de nián qīng nǚ xìng xiǎng
And the young woman who learned of it wanted to.
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
知道了 (zhī dào le) OK!/Got it!
知 (zhī) to know/to be aware
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
这个 (zhè gě) this/this one
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
消息 (xiāo xī) news/information/CL:條|条[tiao2]
消 (xiāo) to disappear/to vanish/to eliminate/to spend (time)/have to
息 (xī) breath/news/interest (on an investment or loan)/to cease/to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
年轻 (nián qīng) young
年 (nián) year/CL:個|个[ge4]
轻 (qīng) light/easy/gentle/soft/reckless/unimportant/frivolous/small
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
如果顺利的话，
rú guǒ shùn lì de huà
If it goes well.
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
顺利 (shùn lì) smoothly/without a hitch
顺 (shùn) to obey/to follow/to arrange/to make reasonable/along
利 (lì) sharp/favorable/advantage/benefit/profit/interest/to do
的话 (de huà) if (coming after a conditional clause)
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
话 (huà) dialect/language/spoken words/speech/talk/words
或许能攀上枝头做凤凰。
huò xǔ néng pān shǎng zhī tóu zuò fèng huáng
Maybe you can climb up the branch and become a phoenix.
或许 (huò xǔ) perhaps/maybe
或 (huò) maybe/perhaps/might/possibly/or
许 (xǔ) to allow/to permit/to promise/to praise/somewhat/perhaps
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
攀 (pān) to climb (by pulling oneself up)/to implicate/to claim
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
枝 (zhī) branch/classifier for sticks rods pencils etc
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
做 (zuò) to do/to make/to produce/to write/to compose/to act as/to
凤凰 (fèng huáng) Fenghuang county in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous
凤 (fèng) phoenix
凰 (huáng) phoenix
于是大家争先恐后地开始减肥。
So everyone scrambled to start losing weight.
于是大家争先恐后地开始减肥。
yú shì dà jiā zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de kāi shǐ jiǎn féi
So everyone scrambled to start losing weight.
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
大家 (dà jiā) everyone/influential family/great expert
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
家 (jiā) home/family/(polite) my (sister uncle etc)/classifier for
争先恐后 (zhēng xiān kǒng hòu) striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom);
争 (zhēng) to strive for/to vie for/to argue or debate/deficient or
先 (xiān) early/prior/former/in advance/first
恐 (kǒng) afraid/frightened/to fear
后 (hòu) empress/queen
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
开始 (kāi shǐ) to begin/beginning/to start/initial/CL:個|个[ge4]
开 (kāi) to open/to start/to turn on/to boil/to write out (a
始 (shǐ) to begin/to start/then/only then
减肥 (jiǎn féi) to lose weight
减 (jiǎn) to lower/to decrease/to reduce/to subtract/to diminish
肥 (féi) fat/fertile/loose-fitting or large/to fertilize/to become
不知不觉，岛上几乎没有胖的女性了。
Unbeknownst to me, there are hardly any fat women left on the island.
不知不觉，
bù zhī bù jiào
Unknowingly.
不知不觉 (bù zhī bù jiào) unconsciously/unwittingly
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
知 (zhī) to know/to be aware
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
觉 (jiào) a nap/a sleep/CL:場|场[chang2]/to feel/to find that/thinking
岛上几乎没有胖的女性了。
dǎo shǎng jī hū méi yǒu pán de nǚ xìng le
There are hardly any fat women left on the island.
岛 (dǎo) island/CL:個|个[ge4]座[zuo4]
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
几乎 (jī hū) almost/nearly/practically
几 (jī) small table
乎 (hū) (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in/at/from/because
没有 (méi yǒu) haven't/hasn't/doesn't exist/to not have/to not be
没 (méi) (negative prefix for verbs)/have not/not/drowned/to end/to
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
胖 (pán) healthy/at ease/fat/plump
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
不仅如此，因为女孩子一碰面就竞相比较谁更苗条，甚至出现了饿死的情况。
Not only that, but there were even cases of starvation because the girls were competing to see who was slimmer when they met.
不仅如此，
bù jǐn rú cǐ
Not only that
不仅如此 (bù jǐn rú cǐ) not only that but ...
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
仅 (jǐn) barely/only/merely
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
此 (cǐ) this/these
因为女孩子一碰面就竞相比较谁更苗条，
yīn wéi nǚ hái zǐ yī pèng miàn jiù jìng xiāng bǐ jiào shéi gēng miáo tiáo
Because when the girls meet, they compete to compare who is slimmer.
因为 (yīn wéi) because/owing to/on account of
因 (yīn) cause/reason/because
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
女孩子 (nǚ hái zǐ) girl
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
孩 (hái) child
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
碰面 (pèng miàn) to meet/to run into (sb)/to get together (with sb)
碰 (pèng) to touch/to meet with/to bump
面 (miàn) face/side/surface/aspect/top/classifier for flat surfaces
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
竞相 (jìng xiāng) competitive/eagerly/to vie
竞 (jìng) to compete/to contend/to struggle
相 (xiāng) each other/one another/mutually/fret on the neck of a pipa
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
谁 (shéi) who/also pr. [shui2]
更 (gēng) to change or replace/to experience/one of the five two-hour
苗条 (miáo tiáo) (of a woman) slim/slender/graceful
苗 (miáo) sprout
条 (tiáo) strip/item/article/clause (of law or treaty)/classifier for
甚至出现了饿死的情况。
shèn zhì chū xiàn le è sǐ de qíng kuàng
There were even cases of starvation.
甚至 (shèn zhì) even/so much so that
甚 (shèn) what/very/extremely/any
至 (zhì) to arrive/most/to/until
出现 (chū xiàn) to appear/to arise/to emerge/to show up
出 (chū) to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to
现 (xiàn) to appear/present/now/existing/current
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
饿死 (è sǐ) to starve to death/to be very hungry
饿 (è) to be hungry/hungry/to starve (sb)
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
情况 (qíng kuàng) circumstances/state of affairs/situation
情 (qíng) feeling/emotion/passion/situation
况 (kuàng) moreover/situation
但后来事情的变化急转直下，大王子因为生病一下子就过世了，因此仓促决定由弟弟来继承王位。
But then things took a sharp turn when the eldest prince passed away at once due to illness, so it was hastily decided that his younger brother would inherit the throne.
但后来事情的变化急转直下，
dàn hòu lái shì qíng de biàn huà jí zhuǎn zhí xià
But then things took a sharp turn for the worse and
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
后来 (hòu lái) afterwards/later
后 (hòu) empress/queen
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
事情 (shì qíng) affair/matter/thing/business/CL:件[jian4]樁|桩[zhuang1]
事 (shì) matter/thing/item/work/affair
情 (qíng) feeling/emotion/passion/situation
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
变化 (biàn huà) change/variation/to change/to vary/CL:個|个[ge4]
变 (biàn) to change/to become different/to transform/to vary
化 (huà) to make into/to change into/-ization/to ... -ize/to
急转直下 (jí zhuǎn zhí xià) to develop rapidly after abrupt turn (idiom); dramatic
急 (jí) urgent/pressing/rapid/hurried/worried/to make (sb) anxious
转 (zhuǎn) see 轉文|转文[zhuai3 wen2]/to turn/to change direction/to
直 (zhí) straight/to straighten/fair and reasonable/frank
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
大王子因为生病一下子就过世了，
dà wáng zǐ yīn wéi shēng bìng yī xià zǐ jiù guō shì le
The first prince passed away at once because of illness.
大王 (dà wáng) king/magnate/person having expert skill in something/robber
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
因为 (yīn wéi) because/owing to/on account of
因 (yīn) cause/reason/because
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
生病 (shēng bìng) to fall ill
生 (shēng) to be born/to give birth/life/to grow/raw/uncooked/student
病 (bìng) illness/CL:場|场[chang2]/disease/to fall ill/defect
一下子 (yī xià zǐ) in a short while/all at once/all of a sudden
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
过世 (guō shì) to die/to pass away
过 (guō) to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)
世 (shì) life/age/generation/era/world/lifetime/epoch/descendant
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
因此仓促决定由弟弟来继承王位。
yīn cǐ cāng cù jué dìng yóu dì dì lái jì chéng wáng wèi
Therefore, it was hastily decided that his younger brother would succeed to the throne.
因此 (yīn cǐ) thus/consequently/as a result
因 (yīn) cause/reason/because
此 (cǐ) this/these
仓促 (cāng cù) all of a sudden/hurriedly
仓 (cāng) barn/granary/storehouse/cabin/hold (in ship)
促 (cù) urgent/hurried/to urge/to promote/to urge haste/close
决定 (jué dìng) to decide (to do something)/to resolve/decision
决 (jué) to decide/to determine/to execute (sb)/(of a dam etc) to
定 (dìng) to set/to fix/to determine/to decide/to order
由 (yóu) to follow/from/it is for...to/reason/cause/because of/due
弟弟 (dì dì) younger brother/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
弟 (dì) younger brother/junior male/I (modest word in letter)
弟 (dì) younger brother/junior male/I (modest word in letter)
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
继承 (jì chéng) to inherit/to succeed to (the throne etc)/to carry on (a
继 (jì) to continue/to follow after/to go on with/to succeed/to
承 (chéng) to bear/to carry/to hold/to continue/to undertake/to take
王位 (wáng wèi) title of king/kingship
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
位 (wèi) position/location/place/seat/classifier for people
于是国王想为小王子娶媳妇，便问他同样的问题。
So the king wanted to get a daughter-in-law for the young prince, so he asked him the same question.
于是国王想为小王子娶媳妇，
yú shì guó wáng xiǎng wéi xiǎo wáng zǐ qǔ xí fù
So the king wanted to get a daughter-in-law for the young prince.
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
国王 (guó wáng) king/CL:個|个[ge4]
国 (guó) country/nation/state/national/CL:個|个[ge4]
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
娶媳妇 (qǔ xí fù) to get oneself a wife/to take a daughter-in-law
娶 (qǔ) to take a wife/to marry (a woman)
媳 (xí) daughter-in-law
妇 (fù) woman
便问他同样的问题。
biàn wèn tā tóng yàng de wèn tí
Then ask him the same question.
便 (biàn) plain/informal/suitable/convenient/opportune/to urinate or
问 (wèn) to ask
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
同样 (tóng yàng) same/equal/equivalent
同 (tóng) like/same/similar/together/alike/with
样 (yàng) manner/pattern/way/appearance/shape/classifier: kind type
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
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
比起这样的女孩子，我比较喜欢丰满的女性。
I prefer plump women to such girls.
比起这样的女孩子，
bǐ qǐ zhè yàng de nǚ hái zǐ
Than such a girl.
比起 (bǐ qǐ) compared with
比 (bǐ) Belgium/Belgian/abbr. for 比利時|比利时[Bi3 li4 shi2]/(particle
起 (qǐ) to rise/to raise/to get up/to set out/to start/to appear/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
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女孩子 (nǚ hái zǐ) girl
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
孩 (hái) child
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
我比较喜欢丰满的女性。
wǒ bǐ jiào xǐ huān fēng mǎn de nǚ xìng
I prefer voluptuous women.
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
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
喜欢 (xǐ huān) to like/to be fond of
喜 (xǐ) to be fond of/to like/to enjoy/to be happy/to feel pleased
欢 (huān) joyous/happy/pleased
丰满 (fēng mǎn) Fengman district of Jilin city 吉林市 Jilin province/ample
丰 (fēng) abundant/plentiful/fertile/plump/great
满 (mǎn) Manchu ethnic group/to fill/full/filled/packed/fully
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
小王子说。
The young prince said.
小王子说。
xiǎo wáng zǐ shuì
The young prince said.
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
而知道消息的岛上年轻女性，又开始大吃大喝以求增肥，不知不觉间，岛上几乎没有瘦的女性了。
And know the news of the island's young women, and began to eat and drink to gain weight, and before you know it, there are almost no thin women on the island.
而知道消息的岛上年轻女性，
ér zhī dào xiāo xī de dǎo shǎng nián qīng nǚ xìng
And the young women of the island who knew the news.
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
知道 (zhī dào) to know/to become aware of/also pr. [zhi1 dao5]
知 (zhī) to know/to be aware
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
消息 (xiāo xī) news/information/CL:條|条[tiao2]
消 (xiāo) to disappear/to vanish/to eliminate/to spend (time)/have to
息 (xī) breath/news/interest (on an investment or loan)/to cease/to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
岛 (dǎo) island/CL:個|个[ge4]座[zuo4]
上年 (shǎng nián) last year
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
年 (nián) year/CL:個|个[ge4]
轻 (qīng) light/easy/gentle/soft/reckless/unimportant/frivolous/small
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
又开始大吃大喝以求增肥，
yòu kāi shǐ dà chī dà hē yǐ qiú zēng féi
The company started eating and drinking again to gain weight.
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
开始 (kāi shǐ) to begin/beginning/to start/initial/CL:個|个[ge4]
开 (kāi) to open/to start/to turn on/to boil/to write out (a
始 (shǐ) to begin/to start/then/only then
大吃大喝 (dà chī dà hē) to eat and drink as much as one likes/to make a pig of
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
喝 (hē) to drink/My goodness!/to shout loudly
以求 (yǐ qiú) in order to
以 (yǐ) abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]/to use/by means of
求 (qiú) to seek/to look for/to request/to demand/to beseech
增 (zēng) to increase/to expand/to add
肥 (féi) fat/fertile/loose-fitting or large/to fertilize/to become
不知不觉间，
bù zhī bù jiào jiān
Unknowingly
不知不觉 (bù zhī bù jiào) unconsciously/unwittingly
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
知 (zhī) to know/to be aware
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
觉 (jiào) a nap/a sleep/CL:場|场[chang2]/to feel/to find that/thinking
间 (jiān) between/among/within a definite time or space/room/section
岛上几乎没有瘦的女性了。
dǎo shǎng jī hū méi yǒu shòu de nǚ xìng le
There are hardly any thin women left on the island.
岛 (dǎo) island/CL:個|个[ge4]座[zuo4]
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
几乎 (jī hū) almost/nearly/practically
几 (jī) small table
乎 (hū) (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in/at/from/because
没有 (méi yǒu) haven't/hasn't/doesn't exist/to not have/to not be
没 (méi) (negative prefix for verbs)/have not/not/drowned/to end/to
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
瘦 (shòu) thin/to lose weight/(of clothing) tight/(of meat) lean/(of
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
岛上的食物被吃得乱七八糟，为预防饥荒而储存的粮食也几乎被吃光了。
The island's food was eaten in a mess, and the food stored to prevent famine was almost eaten up.
岛上的食物被吃得乱七八糟，
dǎo shǎng de shí wù bèi chī dé luàn qī bā zāo
The food on the island was eaten to the point of disarray.
岛 (dǎo) island/CL:個|个[ge4]座[zuo4]
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
食物 (shí wù) food/CL:種|种[zhong3]
食 (shí) to eat/food/animal feed/eclipse/to feed
物 (wù) thing/object/matter/abbr. for physics 物理
被 (bèi) quilt/by/(indicates passive-voice clauses)/(literary) to
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
乱七八糟 (luàn qī bā zāo) everything in disorder (idiom); in a hideous mess/at sixes
乱 (luàn) in confusion or disorder/in a confused state of mind
七 (qī) seven/7
八 (bā) eight/8
糟 (zāo) dregs/draff/pickled in wine/rotten/messy/ruined
为预防饥荒而储存的粮食也几乎被吃光了。
wéi yù fáng jī huāng ér chǔ cún de liáng shí yě jī hū bèi chī guāng le
The food stored to prevent famine was also almost eaten up.
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
预防 (yù fáng) to prevent/to take precautions against/to protect/to guard
预 (yù) to advance/in advance/beforehand/to prepare
防 (fáng) to protect/to defend/to guard against/to prevent
饥荒 (jī huāng) crop failure/famine/debt/difficulty
饥 (jī) hungry
荒 (huāng) desolate/shortage/scarce/out of practice/absurd
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
储存 (chǔ cún) stockpile/to store/to stockpile/storage
储 (chǔ) to store/to save/to have in reserve/heir/Taiwan pr. [chu2]
存 (cún) to exist/to deposit/to store/to keep/to survive
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
粮食 (liáng shí) foodstuff/cereals/CL:種|种[zhong3]
粮 (liáng) grain/food/provisions/agricultural tax paid in grain
食 (shí) to eat/food/animal feed/eclipse/to feed
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
几乎 (jī hū) almost/nearly/practically
几 (jī) small table
乎 (hū) (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in/at/from/because
被 (bèi) quilt/by/(indicates passive-voice clauses)/(literary) to
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
光 (guāng) light/ray/CL:道[dao4]/bright/only/merely/to use up
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
而最后王子所选的新娘，却是一位不胖不瘦的女性。
And finally the prince's chosen bride, but a woman who is not fat or thin.
而最后王子所选的新娘，
ér zuì hòu wáng zǐ suǒ xuǎn de xīn niáng
And finally, the bride chosen by the prince
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
最后 (zuì hòu) final/last/finally/ultimate
最 (zuì) most/the most/-est (superlative suffix)
后 (hòu) empress/queen
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
所 (suǒ) actually/place/classifier for houses small buildings
选 (xuǎn) to choose/to pick/to select/to elect
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
新娘 (xīn niáng) bride
新 (xīn) new/newly/meso- (chemistry)
娘 (niáng) mother/young lady/(coll.) effeminate
却是一位不胖不瘦的女性。
què shì yī wèi bù pán bù shòu de nǚ xìng
But a woman who is not fat and not thin.
却是 (què shì) nevertheless/actually/the fact is ...
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
位 (wèi) position/location/place/seat/classifier for people
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
胖 (pán) healthy/at ease/fat/plump
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
瘦 (shòu) thin/to lose weight/(of clothing) tight/(of meat) lean/(of
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
王子的理由是：如果是不瘦不胖的女性，不必担心她会饿死，永远都能保持健康。
Prince's reasoning is that if a woman is not thin or fat, she does not have to worry that she will starve to death and will always be able to stay healthy.
王子的理由是：
wáng zǐ de lǐ yóu shì
The prince's reasoning was.
王子 (wáng zǐ) prince/son of a king
王 (wáng) king or monarch/best or strongest of its type/grand/great
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
理由 (lǐ yóu) reason/grounds/justification/CL:個|个[ge4]
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
由 (yóu) to follow/from/it is for...to/reason/cause/because of/due
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
如果是不瘦不胖的女性，
rú guǒ shì bù shòu bù pán de nǚ xìng
In the case of women who are not thin or fat
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
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
瘦 (shòu) thin/to lose weight/(of clothing) tight/(of meat) lean/(of
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
胖 (pán) healthy/at ease/fat/plump
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
女性 (nǚ xìng) woman/the female sex
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
性 (xìng) nature/character/property/quality/attribute/sexuality/sex
不必担心她会饿死，
bù bì dān xīn tā huì è sǐ
No need to worry that she will starve to death.
不必 (bù bì) need not/does not have to/not necessarily
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
必 (bì) certainly/must/will/necessarily
担心 (dān xīn) anxious/worried/uneasy/to worry/to be anxious
担 (dān) to undertake/to carry/to shoulder/to take responsibility
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
她 (tā) she
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
饿死 (è sǐ) to starve to death/to be very hungry
饿 (è) to be hungry/hungry/to starve (sb)
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
永远都能保持健康。
yǒng yuǎn dōu néng bǎo chí jiàn kāng
Always stay healthy.
永远 (yǒng yuǎn) forever/eternal
永 (yǒng) forever/always/perpetual
远 (yuǎn) far/distant/remote/(intensifier in a comparison) by far
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
保持 (bǎo chí) to keep/to maintain/to hold/to preserve
保 (bǎo) Bulgaria/Bulgarian/abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
持 (chí) to hold/to grasp/to support/to maintain/to persevere/to
健康 (jiàn kāng) health/healthy
健 (jiàn) healthy/to invigorate/to strengthen/to be good at/to be
康 (kāng) healthy/peaceful/abundant
哲理启示：你的缺陷可能是你的优势，不要一味地掩饰自己的缺陷，也不要努力使自己的缺陷去迎合世俗，那大可不必，积极面对你的缺陷，放对了地方，那缺陷也就变成了优势。
Philosophical revelation: your defects may be your advantage, do not cover up their defects, and do not try to make their defects to cater to the world, that is not necessary, actively face your defects, put in the right place, that defect will also become an advantage.
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
你的缺陷可能是你的优势，
nǐ de quē xiàn kě néng shì nǐ de yōu shì
Your flaws may be your strengths.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
缺陷 (quē xiàn) defect/flaw/physical defect
缺 (quē) deficiency/lack/scarce/vacant post/to run short of
陷 (xiàn) pitfall/trap/to get stuck/to sink/to cave in/to frame
可能 (kě néng) might (happen)/possible/probable/possibility/probability
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
优势 (yōu shì) superiority/dominance/advantage
优 (yōu) excellent/superior
势 (shì) power/influence/potential/momentum/tendency/trend/situation
不要一味地掩饰自己的缺陷，
bù yāo yī wèi de yǎn shì zì jǐ de quē xiàn
Don't just cover up your flaws.
不要 (bù yāo) don't!/must not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
一味 (yī wèi) blindly/invariably
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
味 (wèi) taste/smell/classifier for drugs (in TCM)
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
掩饰 (yǎn shì) to cover up/to conceal/to mask/to gloss over
掩 (yǎn) to cover up/to close/to surprise
饰 (shì) decoration/ornament/to decorate/to adorn/to hide/to conceal
自己 (zì jǐ) oneself/one's own
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
己 (jǐ) self/oneself/sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
缺陷 (quē xiàn) defect/flaw/physical defect
缺 (quē) deficiency/lack/scarce/vacant post/to run short of
陷 (xiàn) pitfall/trap/to get stuck/to sink/to cave in/to frame
也不要努力使自己的缺陷去迎合世俗，
yě bù yāo nǔ lì shǐ zì jǐ de quē xiàn qù yíng gě shì sú
And do not strive to make your defects to suit the world.
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
不要 (bù yāo) don't!/must not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
努力 (nǔ lì) great effort/to strive/to try hard
努 (nǔ) to exert/to strive
力 (lì) power/force/strength/ability/strenuously
使 (shǐ) to make/to cause/to enable/to use/to employ/to send/to
自己 (zì jǐ) oneself/one's own
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
己 (jǐ) self/oneself/sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
缺陷 (quē xiàn) defect/flaw/physical defect
缺 (quē) deficiency/lack/scarce/vacant post/to run short of
陷 (xiàn) pitfall/trap/to get stuck/to sink/to cave in/to frame
去 (qù) to go/to go to (a place)/(of a time etc) last/just passed
迎合 (yíng gě) to cater to/to pander to
迎 (yíng) to welcome/to meet/to face/to forge ahead (esp. in the face
合 (gě) 100 ml/one-tenth of a peck/measure for dry grain equal to
世俗 (shì sú) profane/secular/worldly
世 (shì) life/age/generation/era/world/lifetime/epoch/descendant
俗 (sú) custom/convention/popular/common/coarse/vulgar/secular
那大可不必，
nā dà kě bù bì
That's not necessary.
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
大可不必 (dà kě bù bì) need not/unnecessary
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
必 (bì) certainly/must/will/necessarily
积极面对你的缺陷，
jī jí miàn duì nǐ de quē xiàn
actively face your defects.
积极 (jī jí) active/energetic/vigorous/positive (outlook)/proactive
积 (jī) to amass/to accumulate/to store/measured quantity (such as
极 (jí) extremely/pole (geography physics)/utmost/top
面对 (miàn duì) to confront/to face
面 (miàn) face/side/surface/aspect/top/classifier for flat surfaces
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
缺陷 (quē xiàn) defect/flaw/physical defect
缺 (quē) deficiency/lack/scarce/vacant post/to run short of
陷 (xiàn) pitfall/trap/to get stuck/to sink/to cave in/to frame
放对了地方，
fàng duì le de fāng
Put in the right place.
放 (fàng) to put/to place/to release/to free/to let go/to let out/to
对了 (duì le) Correct!/Oh that's right ... (when one suddenly remembers
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
地方 (de fāng) region/regional (away from the central administration)
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
方 (fāng) square/power or involution (math.)/upright/honest/fair and
那缺陷也就变成了优势。
nā quē xiàn yě jiù biàn chéng le yōu shì
Then the defect becomes an advantage.
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
缺陷 (quē xiàn) defect/flaw/physical defect
缺 (quē) deficiency/lack/scarce/vacant post/to run short of
陷 (xiàn) pitfall/trap/to get stuck/to sink/to cave in/to frame
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
变成 (biàn chéng) to change into/to turn into/to become
变 (biàn) to change/to become different/to transform/to vary
成 (chéng) to succeed/to finish/to complete/to accomplish/to become/to
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
优势 (yōu shì) superiority/dominance/advantage
优 (yōu) excellent/superior
势 (shì) power/influence/potential/momentum/tendency/trend/situation