对牛弹琴。战国时期，有一个大音乐家名叫公明仪，弹得一手好琴。他无论走到哪里，总是琴不离身，闲下来时，弹奏一曲，便觉得心神舒畅。有一天，他独自一个人在郊外散步。他走着走着，看见一头牛在那里吃草。他觉得这头牛很寂寞，他就开口对牛说道：老黄牛啊老黄牛，你真可怜啊，一个人在这里，也没人理你，不过，你不用怕，我给你弹一首曲子，给你解解闷儿。于是他就放下琴，先弹了一支清角之操。牛只是低着头只管吃草，一点也不理会。公明仪失败了，他想了想明白了：那支曲调太高深了，不是牛听不到琴声，而是琴声不适合它的耳朵啊！于是他又另外弹了几支曲调，一会儿好像蚊子嗡嗡地叫，一会儿又好像小牛哞哞地叫。这样一弹，那头牛就摇着尾巴，竖起耳朵，草也不吃了，回转身子踱着小步，慢慢地走来，留心地倾听。大道理：做任何事情都应该有的放矢，看清对象，这样才能收到效果。
对牛弹琴。
Playing the piano to the bull.
对牛弹琴。
duì niú dàn qín
Playing the piano to the bull.
对牛弹琴 (duì niú dàn qín) lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom)/fig. offering a
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
琴 (qín) guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)/musical instrument in
战国时期，有一个大音乐家名叫公明仪，弹得一手好琴。
During the Warring States period, there was a great musician named Gong Ming Yi who played the zither very well.
战国时期，
zhàn guó shí jī
During the Warring States period, the
战国 (zhàn guó) the Warring States period (475-221 BC)
战 (zhàn) to fight/fight/war/battle
国 (guó) country/nation/state/national/CL:個|个[ge4]
时期 (shí jī) period/phase/CL:個|个[ge4]
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
期 (jī) a period of time/phase/stage/classifier for issues of a
有一个大音乐家名叫公明仪，
yǒu yī gě dà yīn lè jiā míng jiào gōng míng yí
There was a great musician named Gong Ming Yi.
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
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
音乐家 (yīn lè jiā) musician
音 (yīn) sound/noise/note (of musical scale)/tone/news/syllable
乐 (lè) happy/cheerful/to laugh/music
家 (jiā) home/family/(polite) my (sister uncle etc)/classifier for
名叫 (míng jiào) called/named
名 (míng) name/noun (part of speech)/place (e.g. among winners)
叫 (jiào) to shout/to call/to order/to ask/to be called/by (indicates
公 (gōng) public/collectively owned/common/international (e.g. high
明 (míng) bright/opposite: dark 暗[an4]/(of meaning) clear/to
仪 (yí) apparatus/rites/appearance/present/ceremony
弹得一手好琴。
dàn dé yī shǒu hǎo qín
Plays the piano well.
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
一手 (yī shǒu) a skill/mastery of a trade/by oneself/without outside help
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
手 (shǒu) hand/(formal) to hold/person engaged in certain types of
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
琴 (qín) guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)/musical instrument in
他无论走到哪里，总是琴不离身，闲下来时，弹奏一曲，便觉得心神舒畅。
Wherever he went, he always played the piano, and when he was free, he played a song and felt relaxed.
他无论走到哪里，
tā mó lún zǒu dào nǎ lǐ
Wherever he goes.
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
无论 (mó lún) no matter what or how/regardless of whether...
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
论 (lún) abbr. for 論語|论语[Lun2 yu3] The Analects (of Confucius)
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
哪里 (nǎ lǐ) where?/somewhere/anywhere/wherever/nowhere (negative answer
哪 (nǎ) how/which/(particle equivalent to 啊 after noun ending in
里 (lǐ) li ancient measure of length approx. 500 m/neighborhood
总是琴不离身，
zǒng shì qín bù lí shēn
Always with the piano in his hand.
总是 (zǒng shì) always
总 (zǒng) always/to assemble/gather/total/overall/head/chief/general
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
琴 (qín) guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)/musical instrument in
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
离 (lí) mythical beast (archaic)
身 (shēn) body/life/oneself/personally/one's morality and conduct/the
闲下来时，
xián xià lái shí
At leisure
闲 (xián) to stay idle/to be unoccupied/not busy/leisure/enclosure
下来 (xià lái) to come down/(after verb of motion indicates motion down
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
弹奏一曲，
dàn zòu yī qū
Play a song that
弹奏 (dàn zòu) to play (musical instrument esp. string)
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
奏 (zòu) to play music/to achieve/to present a memorial to the
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
曲 (qū) bent/crooked/wrong/tune/song/CL:支[zhi1]
便觉得心神舒畅。
biàn jiào dé xīn shén shū chàng
Then I feel soothed.
便 (biàn) plain/informal/suitable/convenient/opportune/to urinate or
觉得 (jiào dé) to think/to feel
觉 (jiào) a nap/a sleep/CL:場|场[chang2]/to feel/to find that/thinking
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
心神 (xīn shén) mind/state of mind/attention/(Chinese medicine) psychic
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
神 (shén) God/abbr. for 神舟[Shen2 zhou1]/deity/soul/spirit/unusual
舒畅 (shū chàng) happy/entirely free from worry
舒 (shū) to stretch/to unfold/to relax/leisurely
畅 (chàng) free/unimpeded/smooth/at ease/free from worry/fluent
有一天，他独自一个人在郊外散步。
One day, he was walking alone in the countryside.
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
他独自一个人在郊外散步。
tā dú zì yī gě rén zài jiāo wài sǎn bù
He was walking alone in the countryside.
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
独自 (dú zì) alone
独 (dú) alone/independent/single/sole/only
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
一个人 (yī gě rén) by oneself (without assistance)/alone (without company)
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
郊外 (jiāo wài) outskirts
郊 (jiāo) suburbs/outskirts
外 (wài) outside/in addition/foreign/external
散步 (sǎn bù) to take a walk/to go for a walk
散 (sǎn) scattered/loose/to come loose/to fall apart/leisurely
步 (bù) a step/a pace/walk/march/stages in a process/situation
他走着走着，看见一头牛在那里吃草。
As he was walking, he saw a cow grazing there.
他走着走着，
tā zǒu zhāo zǒu zhāo
As he walked, the
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
看见一头牛在那里吃草。
kān jiàn yī tóu niú zài nā lǐ chī cǎo
Saw a cow grazing there.
看见 (kān jiàn) to see/to catch sight of
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
见 (jiàn) to see/to meet/to appear (to be sth)/to interview/to appear
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
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
那里 (nā lǐ) there/that place/also written 那裡|那里/there/that place
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
里 (lǐ) li ancient measure of length approx. 500 m/neighborhood
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
草 (cǎo) grass/straw/manuscript/draft (of a document)/careless/rough
他觉得这头牛很寂寞，他就开口对牛说道：老黄牛啊老黄牛，你真可怜啊，一个人在这里，也没人理你，不过，你不用怕，我给你弹一首曲子，给你解解闷儿。
He felt that the cow was very lonely, he spoke to the cow and said: Old cow, old cow, you are so poor, here alone, no one cares about you, but you do not have to be afraid, I will play a song for you, to relieve your boredom.
他觉得这头牛很寂寞，
tā jiào dé zhè tóu niú hěn jì mò
He felt that the cow was lonely and
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
觉得 (jiào dé) to think/to feel
觉 (jiào) a nap/a sleep/CL:場|场[chang2]/to feel/to find that/thinking
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
很 (hěn) (adverb of degree)/quite/very/awfully
寂寞 (jì mò) lonely/lonesome/(of a place) quiet/silent
寂 (jì) silent/solitary/Taiwan pr. [ji2]
寞 (mò) lonesome
他就开口对牛说道：
tā jiù kāi kǒu duì niú shuì dào
He then opened his mouth and said to the cow.
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
开口 (kāi kǒu) to open one's mouth/to start to talk
开 (kāi) to open/to start/to turn on/to boil/to write out (a
口 (kǒu) mouth/classifier for things with mouths (people domestic
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
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
老黄牛啊老黄牛，
lǎo huáng niú ā lǎo huáng niú
The old bull, the old bull.
老黄牛啊老黄牛 --not found--
黄牛 (huáng niú) ox/cattle/scalper of tickets etc/to fail to show up/to
黄 (huáng) yellow/pornographic/to fall through
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
啊 (ā) interjection of surprise/Ah!/Oh!/interjection expressing
老黄牛 --not found--
黄牛 (huáng niú) ox/cattle/scalper of tickets etc/to fail to show up/to
黄 (huáng) yellow/pornographic/to fall through
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
你真可怜啊，
nǐ zhēn kě lián ā
You're so pathetic.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
真 (zhēn) really/truly/indeed/real/true/genuine
可怜 (kě lián) pitiful/pathetic/to have pity on
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
怜 (lián) to pity
啊 (ā) interjection of surprise/Ah!/Oh!/interjection expressing
一个人在这里，
yī gě rén zài zhè lǐ
One person here.
一个人 (yī gě rén) by oneself (without assistance)/alone (without company)
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
这里 (zhè lǐ) here
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
里 (lǐ) li ancient measure of length approx. 500 m/neighborhood
也没人理你，
yě méi rén lǐ nǐ
No one cares about you, either.
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
没 (méi) (negative prefix for verbs)/have not/not/drowned/to end/to
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
不过，
bù guō
However.
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)
你不用怕，
nǐ bù yòng pà
You have nothing to fear.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
不用 (bù yòng) need not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
用 (yòng) to use/to employ/to have to/to eat or drink/expense or
怕 (pà) to be afraid/to fear/to dread/to be unable to endure
我给你弹一首曲子，
wǒ gěi nǐ dàn yī shǒu qū zǐ
I'll play you a piece of music that
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
给 (gěi) to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
首 (shǒu) head/chief/first (occasion thing etc)/classifier for poems
曲子 (qū zǐ) poem for singing/tune/music/CL:支[zhi1]
曲 (qū) bent/crooked/wrong/tune/song/CL:支[zhi1]
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
给你解解闷儿。
gěi nǐ jiě jiě mēn ér
To relieve you of your boredom.
给 (gěi) to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
解 (jiě) to divide/to break up/to split/to separate/to dissolve/to
解闷 (jiě mēn) to relieve boredom or melancholy/a diversion
解 (jiě) to divide/to break up/to split/to separate/to dissolve/to
闷 (mēn) stuffy/shut indoors/to smother/to cover tightly/bored
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
于是他就放下琴，先弹了一支清角之操。
So he put down his zither and first played a clear horn of manipulation.
于是他就放下琴，
yú shì tā jiù fàng xià qín
So he put down the piano and
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
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
放下 (fàng xià) to lay down/to put down/to let go of/to relinquish/to set
放 (fàng) to put/to place/to release/to free/to let go/to let out/to
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
琴 (qín) guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)/musical instrument in
先弹了一支清角之操。
xiān dàn le yī zhī qīng jiǎo zhī cāo
First, he played a clear horn drill.
先 (xiān) early/prior/former/in advance/first
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
支 (zhī) to support/to sustain/to erect/to raise/branch/division/to
清 (qīng) clear/distinct/quiet/just and honest/pure/to settle or
角 (jiǎo) angle/corner/horn/horn-shaped/unit of money equal to 0.1
之 (zhī) (possessive particle literary equivalent of 的[de5])/him/her
操 (cāo) to grasp/to hold/to operate/to manage/to control/to steer
牛只是低着头只管吃草，一点也不理会。
The cows just keep their heads down and just eat grass, not paying any attention.
牛只是低着头只管吃草，
niú zhī shì dī zhāo tóu zhī guǎn chī cǎo
The cows just keep their heads down and just eat grass.
牛只 (niú zhī) cow/cattle
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
低 (dī) low/beneath/to lower (one's head)/to let droop/to hang down
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
只管 (zhī guǎn) solely engrossed in one thing/just (one thing no need to
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
管 (guǎn) to take care (of)/to control/to manage/to be in charge of
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
草 (cǎo) grass/straw/manuscript/draft (of a document)/careless/rough
一点也不理会。
yī diǎn yě bù lǐ huì
Don't pay any attention at all.
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
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
不理 (bù lǐ) to refuse to acknowledge/to pay no attention to/to take no
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
理 (lǐ) texture/grain (of wood)/inner essence/intrinsic order
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
公明仪失败了，他想了想明白了：那支曲调太高深了，不是牛听不到琴声，而是琴声不适合它的耳朵啊！于是他又另外弹了几支曲调，一会儿好像蚊子嗡嗡地叫，一会儿又好像小牛哞哞地叫。
Gong Ming Yi failed, he thought about it and realized: the tune is too high, not that the cow can not hear the sound of the piano, but the sound of the piano is not suitable for its ears ah! So he played a few other tunes, one time like a mosquito buzzing, and the next time like a calf mooing.
公明仪失败了，
gōng míng yí shī bài le
Gong Ming Yi failed to
公 (gōng) public/collectively owned/common/international (e.g. high
明 (míng) bright/opposite: dark 暗[an4]/(of meaning) clear/to
仪 (yí) apparatus/rites/appearance/present/ceremony
失败 (shī bài) to be defeated/to lose/to fail (e.g. experiments)/failure
失 (shī) to lose/to miss/to fail
败 (bài) to defeat/to damage/to lose (to an opponent)/to fail/to
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
他想了想明白了：
tā xiǎng le xiǎng míng bái le
He thought about it and understood.
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
想 (xiǎng) to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss
明白 (míng bái) clear/obvious/unequivocal/to understand/to realize
明 (míng) bright/opposite: dark 暗[an4]/(of meaning) clear/to
白 (bái) white/snowy/pure/bright/empty/blank/plain/clear/to make
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
那支曲调太高深了，
nā zhī qū diào tài gāo shēn le
That tune is so high and
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
支 (zhī) to support/to sustain/to erect/to raise/branch/division/to
曲调 (qū diào) tune/melody
曲 (qū) bent/crooked/wrong/tune/song/CL:支[zhi1]
调 (diào) to transfer/to move (troops or cadres)/to investigate/to
太 (tài) highest/greatest/too (much)/very/extremely
高深 (gāo shēn) profound
高 (gāo) high/tall/above average/loud/your (honorific)
深 (shēn) deep/depth/deeply/(of a color) dark/deep/rich
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
不是牛听不到琴声，
bù shì niú tīng bù dào qín shēng
It's not that the cows can't hear the piano.
不是 (bù shì) fault/blame/no/is not/not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
听不到 (tīng bù dào) can't hear
听 (tīng) smile (archaic)
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
琴 (qín) guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)/musical instrument in
声 (shēng) sound/voice/tone/noise/reputation/classifier for sounds
而是琴声不适合它的耳朵啊！
ér shì qín shēng bù shì gě tā de ěr duǒ ā
Rather, the sound of the piano is not suitable for its ears!
而是 (ér shì) rather
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
琴 (qín) guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)/musical instrument in
声 (shēng) sound/voice/tone/noise/reputation/classifier for sounds
不适 (bù shì) unwell/indisposed/out of sorts
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
适 (shì) see 李适[Li3 Kuo4]
合 (gě) 100 ml/one-tenth of a peck/measure for dry grain equal to
它 (tā) it
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
耳朵 (ěr duǒ) ear/CL:隻|只[zhi1]個|个[ge4]對|对[dui4]/handle (on a cup)
耳 (ěr) ear/handle (archaeology)/and that is all (Classical
朵 (duǒ) flower/earlobe/fig. item on both sides/classifier for
啊 (ā) interjection of surprise/Ah!/Oh!/interjection expressing
于是他又另外弹了几支曲调，
yú shì tā yòu lìng wài dàn le jī zhī qū diào
So he played a few other tunes.
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
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
另外 (lìng wài) additional/in addition/besides/separate/other/moreover
另 (lìng) other/another/separate/separately
外 (wài) outside/in addition/foreign/external
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
几 (jī) small table
支 (zhī) to support/to sustain/to erect/to raise/branch/division/to
曲调 (qū diào) tune/melody
曲 (qū) bent/crooked/wrong/tune/song/CL:支[zhi1]
调 (diào) to transfer/to move (troops or cadres)/to investigate/to
一会儿好像蚊子嗡嗡地叫，
yī huì ér hǎo xiàng wén zǐ wēng wēng de jiào
One moment it seems like mosquitoes are buzzing and
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
好像 (hǎo xiàng) as if/to seem like
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
像 (xiàng) to resemble/to be like/to look as if/such as/appearance
蚊子 (wén zǐ) mosquito
蚊 (wén) mosquito
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
嗡嗡 (wēng wēng) buzz/drone/hum
嗡 (wēng) (onom.) buzz/hum/drone
嗡 (wēng) (onom.) buzz/hum/drone
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
叫 (jiào) to shout/to call/to order/to ask/to be called/by (indicates
一会儿又好像小牛哞哞地叫。
yī huì ér yòu hǎo xiàng xiǎo niú mōu mōu de jiào
One moment it seems like a calf mooing.
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
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
好像 (hǎo xiàng) as if/to seem like
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
像 (xiàng) to resemble/to be like/to look as if/such as/appearance
小牛 (xiǎo niú) calf/(coll.) lower-priced model of Lamborghini
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
哞 (mōu) moo (sound made by cow)
哞 (mōu) moo (sound made by cow)
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
叫 (jiào) to shout/to call/to order/to ask/to be called/by (indicates
这样一弹，那头牛就摇着尾巴，竖起耳朵，草也不吃了，回转身子踱着小步，慢慢地走来，留心地倾听。
Such a bounce, the cow wagged its tail, ears, grass is not eaten, turn around and pace a small step, slowly come, listening attentively.
这样一弹，
zhè yàng yī dàn
With such a bounce, the
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
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
弹 (dàn) crossball/bullet/shot/shell/ball/to pluck (a string)/to
那头牛就摇着尾巴，
nā tóu niú jiù yáo zhāo wěi bā
And the cow wagged its tail and
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
牛 (niú) ox/cow/bull/CL:條|条[tiao2]頭|头[tou2]/newton (abbr. for
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
摇 (yáo) to shake/to rock/to row/to crank
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
尾巴 (wěi bā) tail/colloquial pr. [yi3 ba5]
尾 (wěi) tail/remainder/remnant/extremity/sixth of the 28
巴 (bā) to long for/to wish/to cling to/to stick to/sth that sticks
竖起耳朵，
shù qǐ ěr duǒ
Keep your ears open.
竖起耳朵 (shù qǐ ěr duǒ) to prick up one's ears/to strain to hear sth
竖 (shù) to erect/vertical/vertical stroke (in Chinese characters)
起 (qǐ) to rise/to raise/to get up/to set out/to start/to appear/to
耳 (ěr) ear/handle (archaeology)/and that is all (Classical
朵 (duǒ) flower/earlobe/fig. item on both sides/classifier for
草也不吃了，
cǎo yě bù chī le
The grass is not eating either.
草 (cǎo) grass/straw/manuscript/draft (of a document)/careless/rough
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
了 (le) (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed
回转身子踱着小步，
huí zhuǎn shēn zǐ duó zhāo xiǎo bù
Turning back around and pacing the small steps
回转 (huí zhuǎn) to rotate/to turn round/slalom/to revolve/to rotate
回 (huí) to circle/to go back/to turn around/to answer/to return/to
转 (zhuǎn) see 轉文|转文[zhuai3 wen2]/to turn/to change direction/to
身子 (shēn zǐ) body/pregnancy/health
身 (shēn) body/life/oneself/personally/one's morality and conduct/the
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
踱 (duó) to stroll/to pace/Taiwan pr. [duo4]
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
步 (bù) a step/a pace/walk/march/stages in a process/situation
慢慢地走来，
màn màn de zǒu lái
Slowly coming up to
慢慢 (màn màn) slowly
慢 (màn) slow
慢 (màn) slow
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
走 (zǒu) to walk/to go/to run/to move (of vehicle)/to visit/to leave
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
留心地倾听。
liú xīn de qīng tīng
Listen attentively.
留心 (liú xīn) to be careful/to pay attention to
留 (liú) to leave (a message etc)/to retain/to stay/to remain/to
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
倾听 (qīng tīng) to listen attentively
倾 (qīng) to overturn/to collapse/to lean/to tend/to incline/to pour
听 (tīng) smile (archaic)
大道理：做任何事情都应该有的放矢，看清对象，这样才能收到效果。
The big truth: you should do everything with a purpose and see the object so that you can receive results.
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
做任何事情都应该有的放矢，
zuò rén hé shì qíng dōu yīng gāi yǒu de fàng shǐ
Everything should be done with a purpose.
做 (zuò) to do/to make/to produce/to write/to compose/to act as/to
任何 (rén hé) any/whatever/whichever/whatsoever
任 (rén) to assign/to appoint/to take up a post/office
何 (hé) what/how/why/which/carry
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
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
应该 (yīng gāi) ought to/should/must
应 (yīng) to agree (to do sth)/should/ought to/must/(legal) shall/to
该 (gāi) should/ought to/probably/must be/to deserve/to owe/to be
有的 (yǒu de) (there are) some (who are...)/some (exist)
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
放 (fàng) to put/to place/to release/to free/to let go/to let out/to
矢 --not found--
看清对象，
kān qīng duì xiàng
Look at the object.
看清 (kān qīng) to see clearly
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
清 (qīng) clear/distinct/quiet/just and honest/pure/to settle or
对象 (duì xiàng) target/object/partner/boyfriend/girlfriend/CL:個|个[ge4]
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
这样才能收到效果。
zhè yàng cái néng shōu dào xiào guǒ
This is the way to get results.
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
才能 (cái néng) talent/ability/capacity
才 (cái) ability/talent/sb of a certain type/a capable individual
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
收到 (shōu dào) to receive
收 (shōu) to receive/to accept/to collect/to put away/to restrain/to
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
效果 (xiào guǒ) result/effect/quality/CL:個|个[ge4]
效 (xiào) effect/efficacy/to imitate
果 (guǒ) fruit/result/resolute/indeed/if really