牛和屠夫。有一天，许多牛想杀死宰牛的屠夫，因为屠夫从事屠杀它们的职业。它们聚集在一起，商讨办法，磨砺它们的角，准备战斗。有一头耕过许多田地的老牛说：屠夫们确实宰杀我们，但它们是用精巧的手艺来杀我们，减少了我们的痛苦。如果没有这些手艺高明的屠夫，而让其他人来宰杀，我们便更加痛苦了。你们要知道，虽然屠夫可以杀死，但人们总是要吃牛肉的。大道理：如果灾难和死亡是不可避免时，就要勇敢地面对它，与其痛苦地死，不如痛快地死。
牛和屠夫。
Cattle and butchers.
牛和屠夫。
niú hé tú fū
Cattle and butchers.
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
和 (hé) and/together with/with/sum/union/peace/harmony/Taiwan pr.
屠夫 (tú fū) butcher/fig. murderous dictator
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
夫 (fū) husband/man/manual worker/conscripted laborer (old)
有一天，许多牛想杀死宰牛的屠夫，因为屠夫从事屠杀它们的职业。
One day, many cows wanted to kill the butcher who slaughtered them because the butcher was engaged in the profession of slaughtering them.
有一天，
yǒu yī tiān
One day
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 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
许多牛想杀死宰牛的屠夫，
xǔ duō niú xiǎng shā sǐ zǎi niú de tú fū
Many cows want to kill the butcher who slaughters them.
许多 (xǔ duō) many/a lot of/much
许 (xǔ) to allow/to permit/to promise/to praise/somewhat/perhaps
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
杀死 (shā sǐ) to kill
杀 (shā) to kill/to murder/to attack/to weaken or reduce/to smart
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
宰 (zǎi) to slaughter livestock/to govern or rule/to cheat customers
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
屠夫 (tú fū) butcher/fig. murderous dictator
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
夫 (fū) husband/man/manual worker/conscripted laborer (old)
因为屠夫从事屠杀它们的职业。
yīn wéi tú fū cóng shì tú shā tā mén de zhí yè
Because butchers are engaged in the profession of slaughtering them.
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
屠夫 (tú fū) butcher/fig. murderous dictator
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
夫 (fū) husband/man/manual worker/conscripted laborer (old)
从事 (cóng shì) to go for/to engage in/to undertake/to deal with/to handle
从 (cóng) from/through/via/to follow/to obey/to engage in (an
事 (shì) matter/thing/item/work/affair
屠杀 (tú shā) to massacre/massacre/bloodbath/carnage
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
杀 (shā) to kill/to murder/to attack/to weaken or reduce/to smart
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
职业 (zhí yè) occupation/profession/vocation/professional
职 (zhí) office/duty
业 (yè) line of business/industry/occupation/job/employment/school
它们聚集在一起，商讨办法，磨砺它们的角，准备战斗。
They gather to discuss solutions, sharpen their horns and prepare for battle.
它们聚集在一起，
tā mén jù jí zài yī qǐ
They gather together and
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
聚集 (jù jí) to assemble/to gather
聚 (jù) to congregate/to assemble/to mass/to gather together/to
集 (jí) to gather/to collect/collected works/classifier for
在一起 (zài yī qǐ) together
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
起 (qǐ) to rise/to raise/to get up/to set out/to start/to appear/to
商讨办法，
shāng tǎo bàn fǎ
discussing ways to
商讨 (shāng tǎo) to discuss/to deliberate
商 (shāng) commerce/merchant/dealer/to consult/2nd note in pentatonic
讨 (tǎo) to invite/to provoke/to demand or ask for/to send armed
办法 (bàn fǎ) means/method/way (of doing sth)/CL:條|条[tiao2]個|个[ge4]
办 (bàn) to do/to manage/to handle/to go about/to run/to set up/to
法 (fǎ) France/French/abbr. for 法國|法国[Fa3 guo2]/Taiwan pr. [Fa4]
磨砺它们的角，
mó lì tā mén de jiǎo
sharpening their horns.
磨砺 (mó lì) to sharpen on grindstone/to improve oneself by practice
磨 (mó) to rub/to grind/to polish/to sharpen/to wear down/to die
砺 (lì) grind/sandstone
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
角 (jiǎo) angle/corner/horn/horn-shaped/unit of money equal to 0.1
准备战斗。
zhǔn bèi zhàn dǒu
Prepare for battle.
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
战斗 (zhàn dǒu) to fight/to engage in combat/struggle/battle
战 (zhàn) to fight/fight/war/battle
斗 (dǒu) abbr. for the Big Dipper constellation 北斗星[Bei3 dou3 xing1]
有一头耕过许多田地的老牛说：屠夫们确实宰杀我们，但它们是用精巧的手艺来杀我们，减少了我们的痛苦。
An old cow who had plowed many fields said: Butchers do slaughter us, but they do so with a fine hand that reduces our suffering.
有一头耕过许多田地的老牛说：
yǒu yī tóu gēng guō xǔ duō tián de de lǎo niú shuì
An old cow who had plowed many fields said.
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
一头 (yī tóu) one head/a head full of sth/one end (of a stick)/one side
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
耕 (gēng) to plow/to till
过 (guō) to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)
许多 (xǔ duō) many/a lot of/much
许 (xǔ) to allow/to permit/to promise/to praise/somewhat/perhaps
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
田地 (tián de) field/farmland/cropland/plight/extent
田 (tián) field/farm/CL:片[pian4]
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
老牛说 --not found--
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
屠夫们确实宰杀我们，
tú fū mén què shí zǎi shā wǒ mén
The butchers do slaughter us.
屠夫 (tú fū) butcher/fig. murderous dictator
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
夫 (fū) husband/man/manual worker/conscripted laborer (old)
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
确实 (què shí) indeed/really/reliable/real/true
确 (què) authenticated/solid/firm/real/true
实 (shí) real/true/honest/really/solid/fruit/seed/definitely
宰杀 (zǎi shā) to slaughter/to butcher/to put down
宰 (zǎi) to slaughter livestock/to govern or rule/to cheat customers
杀 (shā) to kill/to murder/to attack/to weaken or reduce/to smart
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
但它们是用精巧的手艺来杀我们，
dàn tā mén shì yòng jīng qiǎo de shǒu yì lái shā wǒ mén
But they are killing us with exquisite craftsmanship that
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
用 (yòng) to use/to employ/to have to/to eat or drink/expense or
精巧 (jīng qiǎo) elaborate
精 (jīng) essence/extract/vitality/energy/semen/sperm/mythical goblin
巧 (qiǎo) opportunely/coincidentally/as it happens/skillful/timely
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
手艺 (shǒu yì) craftmanship/workmanship/handicraft/trade
手 (shǒu) hand/(formal) to hold/person engaged in certain types of
艺 (yì) skill/art
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
杀 (shā) to kill/to murder/to attack/to weaken or reduce/to smart
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
减少了我们的痛苦。
jiǎn shǎo le wǒ mén de tòng kǔ
Reduced our suffering.
减少 (jiǎn shǎo) to lessen/to decrease/to reduce/to lower
减 (jiǎn) to lower/to decrease/to reduce/to subtract/to diminish
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
痛苦 (tòng kǔ) pain/suffering/painful/CL:個|个[ge4]
痛 (tòng) ache/pain/sorrow/deeply/thoroughly
苦 (kǔ) bitter/hardship/pain/to suffer/to bring suffering to
如果没有这些手艺高明的屠夫，而让其他人来宰杀，我们便更加痛苦了。
Without these skilled butchers, and allowing others to slaughter, we would suffer even more.
如果没有这些手艺高明的屠夫，
rú guǒ méi yǒu zhè xiē shǒu yì gāo míng de tú fū
Without these crafty butchers.
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
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
这些 (zhè xiē) these
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
些 (xiē) classifier indicating a small amount or small number
手艺 (shǒu yì) craftmanship/workmanship/handicraft/trade
手 (shǒu) hand/(formal) to hold/person engaged in certain types of
艺 (yì) skill/art
高明 (gāo míng) Gaoming district of Foshan city 佛山市[Fo2 shan1 shi4]
高 (gāo) high/tall/above average/loud/your (honorific)
明 (míng) bright/opposite: dark 暗[an4]/(of meaning) clear/to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
屠夫 (tú fū) butcher/fig. murderous dictator
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
夫 (fū) husband/man/manual worker/conscripted laborer (old)
而让其他人来宰杀，
ér ràng qí tā rén lái zǎi shā
And let others slaughter that
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
让 (ràng) to yield/to permit/to let sb do sth/to have sb do sth/to
其他 (qí tā) other/(sth or sb) else/the rest
其 (qí) his/her/its/their/that/such/it (refers to sth preceding it)
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
宰杀 (zǎi shā) to slaughter/to butcher/to put down
宰 (zǎi) to slaughter livestock/to govern or rule/to cheat customers
杀 (shā) to kill/to murder/to attack/to weaken or reduce/to smart
我们便更加痛苦了。
wǒ mén biàn gēng jiā tòng kǔ le
We then suffered even more.
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
便 (biàn) plain/informal/suitable/convenient/opportune/to urinate or
更加 (gēng jiā) more (than sth else)/even more
更 (gēng) to change or replace/to experience/one of the five two-hour
加 (jiā) to add/plus/(used after an adverb such as 不 大 稍 etc and
痛苦 (tòng kǔ) pain/suffering/painful/CL:個|个[ge4]
痛 (tòng) ache/pain/sorrow/deeply/thoroughly
苦 (kǔ) bitter/hardship/pain/to suffer/to bring suffering to
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
你们要知道，虽然屠夫可以杀死，但人们总是要吃牛肉的。
You should know that although the butcher may kill, people always want to eat beef.
你们要知道，
nǐ mén yāo zhī dào
You should know that
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
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
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
虽然屠夫可以杀死，
suī rán tú fū kě yǐ shā sǐ
Although the butcher can kill that
虽然 (suī rán) although/even though/even if
虽 (suī) although/even though
然 (rán) correct/right/so/thus/like this/-ly
屠夫 (tú fū) butcher/fig. murderous dictator
屠 (tú) to slaughter (animals for food)/to massacre
夫 (fū) husband/man/manual worker/conscripted laborer (old)
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
杀死 (shā sǐ) to kill
杀 (shā) to kill/to murder/to attack/to weaken or reduce/to smart
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
但人们总是要吃牛肉的。
dàn rén mén zǒng shì yāo chī niú ròu de
But people are always going to eat beef.
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
人们 (rén mén) people
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
总是 (zǒng shì) always
总 (zǒng) always/to assemble/gather/total/overall/head/chief/general
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
牛肉 (niú ròu) beef
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
肉 (ròu) meat/flesh/pulp (of a fruit)/(coll.) (of a fruit) squashy
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
大道理：如果灾难和死亡是不可避免时，就要勇敢地面对它，与其痛苦地死，不如痛快地死。
The big truth: If disaster and death are inevitable, face it bravely, and instead of dying a painful death, die a painful death.
大道理：
dà dào lǐ
Big truth.
大道理 (dà dào lǐ) major principle/general truth/sermon (reproof)/bombastic
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
道 (dào) road/path/CL:條|条[tiao2]股[gu3]/principle/truth/morality
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
如果灾难和死亡是不可避免时，
rú guǒ zāi nán hé sǐ wáng shì bù kě bì miǎn shí
If disaster and death are inevitable when
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
灾难 (zāi nán) disaster/catastrophe
灾 (zāi) disaster/calamity
难 (nán) difficult (to...)/problem/difficulty/difficult/not good
和 (hé) and/together with/with/sum/union/peace/harmony/Taiwan pr.
死亡 (sǐ wáng) to die/death
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
亡 (wáng) to die/to lose/to be gone/to flee/deceased
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
不可避免 (bù kě bì miǎn) unavoidably
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
避 (bì) to avoid/to shun/to flee/to escape/to keep away from/to
免 (miǎn) to excuse sb/to exempt/to remove or dismiss from office/to
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
就要勇敢地面对它，
jiù yāo yǒng gǎn de miàn duì tā
Just be brave and face it.
就要 (jiù yāo) will/shall/to be going to
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
勇敢 (yǒng gǎn) brave/courageous
勇 (yǒng) brave
敢 (gǎn) to dare/daring/(polite) may I venture
地面 (de miàn) floor/ground/surface
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
面 (miàn) face/side/surface/aspect/top/classifier for flat surfaces
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
它 (tā) it
与其痛苦地死，
yǔ qí tòng kǔ de sǐ
Instead of dying in pain.
与其 (yǔ qí) rather than.../與其|与其[yu3 qi2] A 不如[bu4 ru2] B (rather than
与 (yǔ) and/to give/together with/to take part in
其 (qí) his/her/its/their/that/such/it (refers to sth preceding it)
痛苦 (tòng kǔ) pain/suffering/painful/CL:個|个[ge4]
痛 (tòng) ache/pain/sorrow/deeply/thoroughly
苦 (kǔ) bitter/hardship/pain/to suffer/to bring suffering to
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
不如痛快地死。
bù rú tòng kuài de sǐ
How about a painful death.
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
痛快 (tòng kuài) delighted/to one's heart's content/straightforward/also pr.
痛 (tòng) ache/pain/sorrow/deeply/thoroughly
快 (kuài) rapid/quick/speed/rate/soon/almost/to make haste/clever
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely