沙漠与海绵。你看我多有度量，上天给予多少水份我都能一概承受，不会有半点溢出，这就叫虚怀若谷！沙漠炫耀着自己，同时嘲讽身边的海绵：可你却不屑一顾，别说太多，只要一碗水，就能把你灌得够呛，你的心胸何以如此狭小呢？你何必妄自尊大自吹自擂呢，论容量我确实不如你，望着沙漠手舞足蹈目空一切，海绵不卑不亢地说：但你装下无数的水量又保留住多少呢？当长途跋涉的人们急需解渴时你能提供什么？挖得再深也取不到一滴水！你说这样的宽阔胸怀有什么用？而我却自信并非浅薄，尽管我躯体渺小容量有限，但我汲收多少水量就保留多少而不会流失；我不夸夸其谈更不骄傲自大，当人们需要水份时，我保留多少就提供多少，这样看来，尽管我只能装下一碗水，但比起你吸收水量万千却不曾有半点保留而言，岂不是更有价值？读书也是如此，宁可象海绵容量小但能完全保留，而不可象沙漠看似包容万千，需要时却无法提供点滴。
沙漠与海绵。
Deserts and sponges.
沙漠与海绵。
shā mò yǔ hǎi mián
Deserts and sponges.
沙漠 (shā mò) desert/CL:個|个[ge4]
沙 (shā) granule/hoarse/raspy/sand/powder/CL:粒[li4]/abbr. for Tsar
漠 (mò) desert/unconcerned
与 (yǔ) and/to give/together with/to take part in
海绵 (hǎi mián) sponge (zoology)/sponge (piece of absorbent material either
海 (hǎi) ocean/sea/CL:個|个[ge4]片[pian4]/great number of people or
绵 (mián) silk floss/continuous/soft/weak/mild-mannered (dialect)
你看我多有度量，上天给予多少水份我都能一概承受，不会有半点溢出，这就叫虚怀若谷！沙漠炫耀着自己，同时嘲讽身边的海绵：可你却不屑一顾，别说太多，只要一碗水，就能把你灌得够呛，你的心胸何以如此狭小呢？你何必妄自尊大自吹自擂呢，论容量我确实不如你，望着沙漠手舞足蹈目空一切，海绵不卑不亢地说：但你装下无数的水量又保留住多少呢？当长途跋涉的人们急需解渴时你能提供什么？挖得再深也取不到一滴水！你说这样的宽阔胸怀有什么用？而我却自信并非浅薄，尽管我躯体渺小容量有限，但我汲收多少水量就保留多少而不会流失；我不夸夸其谈更不骄傲自大，当人们需要水份时，我保留多少就提供多少，这样看来，尽管我只能装下一碗水，但比起你吸收水量万千却不曾有半点保留而言，岂不是更有价值？读书也是如此，宁可象海绵容量小但能完全保留，而不可象沙漠看似包容万千，需要时却无法提供点滴。
Look how generous I am, how much water the heavens have given me can all bear, there will be no half overflow, this is called a false heart as the valley! The desert flaunted itself, while mocking the sponge around: but you do not care, not to mention too much, as long as a bowl of water, you can fill you enough, why your heart is so small? Why do you have to presume to boast, on the capacity I am indeed inferior to you, looking at the desert hand dance empty, the sponge does not humbly say: but you fill the countless amount of water and retain how much? What can you provide when people who have traveled long distances urgently need to quench their thirst? You can't dig deep enough to get a drop of water! What is the use of such a broad-mindedness? I am confident that I am not shallow, although my body is small and limited in capacity, but I draw how much water will be retained and will not lose; I do not boast, not to mention arrogant, when people need water, I retain how much to provide how much, so it seems that, although I can only contain a bowl of water, but compared to your absorption of thousands of water without any half reservation, is not more valuable? The same is true of reading, rather like a sponge with a small capacity but fully retained, rather than like a desert that seems to contain a thousand, but can not provide a drop when needed.
你看我多有度量，
nǐ kān wǒ duō yǒu dù liáng
You see how generous I am.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
度量 (dù liáng) measure/tolerance/breadth/magnanimity/(math.) metric
度 (dù) to pass/to spend (time)/measure/limit/extent/degree of
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
上天给予多少水份我都能一概承受，
shǎng tiān gěi yú duō shǎo shuǐ fèn wǒ dōu néng yī gài chéng shòu
I can bear all the water that God gives me.
上天 (shǎng tiān) Heaven/Providence/God/the day before/the sky above/to fly
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
给予 (gěi yú) to accord/to give/to show (respect)
给 (gěi) to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for
予 (yú) (archaic) I/me/to give
多少 (duō shǎo) number/amount/somewhat/how much?/how many?/(phone number
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
份我都能一概承受 --not found--
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
一概 (yī gài) all/without any exceptions/categorically
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
概 (gài) general/approximate
承受 (chéng shòu) to bear/to support/to inherit
承 (chéng) to bear/to carry/to hold/to continue/to undertake/to take
受 (shòu) to receive/to accept/to suffer/subjected to/to bear/to
不会有半点溢出，
bù huì yǒu bàn diǎn yì chū
There will be no half spill.
不会 (bù huì) improbable/unlikely/will not (act happen etc)/not able/not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
半点 (bàn diǎn) the least bit
半 (bàn) half/semi-/incomplete/(after a number) and a half
点 (diǎn) point/dot/drop/speck/o'clock/point (in space or time)/to
溢出 (yì chū) to overflow/to spill over/(computing) overflow
溢 (yì) null
出 (chū) to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to
这就叫虚怀若谷！
zhè jiù jiào xū huái ruò gǔ
That's called being open-minded!
这就 (zhè jiù) immediately/at once
这 (zhè) this/these/(commonly pr. [zhei4] before a classifier esp.
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
叫 (jiào) to shout/to call/to order/to ask/to be called/by (indicates
虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ) receptive as an echoing canyon (idiom); modest and
虚 (xū) emptiness/void/abstract theory or guiding principles/empty
怀 (huái) bosom/heart/mind/to think of/to harbor in one's mind/to
若 (ruò) to seem/like/as/if
谷 (gǔ) valley
沙漠炫耀着自己，
shā mò xuàn yào zhāo zì jǐ
The desert flaunts itself, the
沙漠 (shā mò) desert/CL:個|个[ge4]
沙 (shā) granule/hoarse/raspy/sand/powder/CL:粒[li4]/abbr. for Tsar
漠 (mò) desert/unconcerned
炫耀 (xuàn yào) dazzling/to show off/to flaunt
炫 (xuàn) to dazzle/to boast/to show off/(slang) cool/awesome
耀 (yào) brilliant/glorious
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/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
同时嘲讽身边的海绵：
tóng shí cháo fěng shēn biān de hǎi mián
While mocking the sponges around him.
同时 (tóng shí) at the same time/simultaneously
同 (tóng) like/same/similar/together/alike/with
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
嘲讽 (cháo fěng) to sneer at/to ridicule/to taunt
嘲 (cháo) to ridicule/to mock/see 嘲哳 (onom.) twitter/twittering sound
讽 (fěng) to satirize/to mock/to recite/Taiwan pr. [feng4]
身边 (shēn biān) at one's side/on hand
身 (shēn) body/life/oneself/personally/one's morality and conduct/the
边 (biān) side/edge/margin/border/boundary/CL:個|个[ge4]/simultaneously
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
海绵 (hǎi mián) sponge (zoology)/sponge (piece of absorbent material either
海 (hǎi) ocean/sea/CL:個|个[ge4]片[pian4]/great number of people or
绵 (mián) silk floss/continuous/soft/weak/mild-mannered (dialect)
可你却不屑一顾，
kě nǐ què bù xiè yī gù
But you don't give a damn about it.
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
不屑一顾 (bù xiè yī gù) to disdain as beneath contempt (idiom)
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
屑 (xiè) bits/fragments/crumbs/filings/trifling/trivial/to
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
顾 (gù) to look after/to take into consideration/to attend to
别说太多，
bié shuì tài duō
Don't say too much.
别 (bié) to leave/to depart/to separate/to distinguish/to classify
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
太 (tài) highest/greatest/too (much)/very/extremely
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
只要一碗水，
zhī yāo yī wǎn shuǐ
Just a bowl of water.
只要 (zhī yāo) if only/so long as
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
碗 (wǎn) bowl/cup/CL:隻|只[zhi1]個|个[ge4]
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
就能把你灌得够呛，
jiù néng bǎ nǐ guàn dé gòu qiāng
It's enough to fill you up.
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
把 (bǎ) to hold/to contain/to grasp/to take hold of/handle/particle
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
灌 (guàn) to irrigate/to pour/to install (software)/to record (music)
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
够呛 (gòu qiāng) unbearable/terrible/enough/unlikely
够 (gòu) enough (sufficient)/enough (too much)/(coll.) (before adj.)
呛 (qiāng) to choke (because of swallowing the wrong way)/to irritate
你的心胸何以如此狭小呢？
nǐ de xīn xiōng hé yǐ rú cǐ xiá xiǎo ne
How can you be so small-minded?
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
心胸 (xīn xiōng) breadth of mind
心 (xīn) heart/mind/intention/center/core/CL:顆|颗[ke1]個|个[ge4]
胸 (xiōng) chest/bosom/heart/mind/thorax
何以 (hé yǐ) whence
何 (hé) what/how/why/which/carry
以 (yǐ) abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]/to use/by means of
如此 (rú cǐ) in this way/so
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
此 (cǐ) this/these
狭小 (xiá xiǎo) narrow
狭 (xiá) narrow/narrow-minded
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
你何必妄自尊大自吹自擂呢，
nǐ hé bì wàng zì zūn dà zì chuī zì léi ne
Why do you have to presume to boast about yourself.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
何必 (hé bì) there is no need/why should
何 (hé) what/how/why/which/carry
必 (bì) certainly/must/will/necessarily
妄自尊大 (wàng zì zūn dà) ridiculous self-importance (idiom); arrogance
妄 (wàng) absurd/fantastic/presumptuous/rash
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
尊 (zūn) senior/of a senior generation/to honor/to respect/honorific
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
自吹自擂 (zì chuī zì léi) to blow one's own trumpet (idiom)
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
吹 (chuī) to blow/to play a wind instrument/to blast/to puff/to boast
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
擂 (léi) beat/to grind/to beat (a drum)
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
论容量我确实不如你，
lún róng liáng wǒ què shí bù rú nǐ
In terms of capacity, I am indeed inferior to you.
论 (lún) abbr. for 論語|论语[Lun2 yu3] The Analects (of Confucius)
容量 (róng liáng) capacity/volume/quantitative (science)
容 (róng) to hold/to contain/to allow/to tolerate/appearance/look
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
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
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
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
望着沙漠手舞足蹈目空一切，
wàng zhāo shā mò shǒu wǔ zú dǎo mù kōng yī qiē
Looking at the desert with hands and eyes empty.
望 (wàng) full moon/to hope/to expect/to visit/to gaze (into the
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
沙漠 (shā mò) desert/CL:個|个[ge4]
沙 (shā) granule/hoarse/raspy/sand/powder/CL:粒[li4]/abbr. for Tsar
漠 (mò) desert/unconcerned
手舞足蹈 (shǒu wǔ zú dǎo) hands dance and feet trip (idiom); dancing and
手 (shǒu) hand/(formal) to hold/person engaged in certain types of
舞 (wǔ) to dance/to wield/to brandish
足 (zú) excessive/foot/to be sufficient/ample
蹈 (dǎo) to tread on/to trample/to stamp/to fulfill/Taiwan pr.
目空一切 (mù kōng yī qiē) the eye can see nothing worthwhile all around (idiom);
目 (mù) eye/item/section/list/catalogue/table of contents/order
空 (kōng) empty/air/sky/in vain/to empty/vacant/unoccupied/space
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
切 (qiē) to cut/to slice/tangent (math)/definitely/absolutely (not)
海绵不卑不亢地说：
hǎi mián bù bēi bù kàng de shuì
Sponge said without condescension.
海绵 (hǎi mián) sponge (zoology)/sponge (piece of absorbent material either
海 (hǎi) ocean/sea/CL:個|个[ge4]片[pian4]/great number of people or
绵 (mián) silk floss/continuous/soft/weak/mild-mannered (dialect)
不卑不亢 (bù bēi bù kàng) neither servile nor overbearing (idiom)/neither obsequious
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
卑 (bēi) low/base/vulgar/inferior/humble
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
亢 (kàng) high/overbearing/excessive
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
但你装下无数的水量又保留住多少呢？
dàn nǐ zhuāng xià mó shǔ de shuǐ liáng yòu bǎo liú zhù duō shǎo ne
But how much of the countless amounts of water do you keep?
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
装 (zhuāng) adornment/to adorn/dress/clothing/costume (of an actor in a
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
无数 (mó shǔ) countless/numberless/innumerable
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
数 (shǔ) to count/to count as/to regard as/to enumerate (sb's
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
水量 (shuǐ liáng) volume of water/quantity of flow
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
又 (yòu) (once) again/also/both... and.../and yet/(used for
保留 (bǎo liú) to retain/to continue to have/to preserve/to maintain/to
保 (bǎo) Bulgaria/Bulgarian/abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
留 (liú) to leave (a message etc)/to retain/to stay/to remain/to
住 (zhù) to live/to dwell/to stay/to reside/to stop/(suffix
多少 (duō shǎo) number/amount/somewhat/how much?/how many?/(phone number
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
当长途跋涉的人们急需解渴时你能提供什么？
dāng cháng tú bá shè de rén mén jí xū jiě kě shí nǐ néng dī gōng shén me
What can you offer when people on long journeys need to quench their thirst?
当 (dāng) (onom.) dong/ding dong (bell)/to be/to act as/manage
长途跋涉 (cháng tú bá shè) long and difficult trek
长 (cháng) length/long/forever/always/constantly/chief/head/elder/to
途 (tú) way/route/road
跋 (bá) postscript/to trek across mountains
涉 (shè) to wade/to be involved/to concern/to experience/to enter
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
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
急需 (jí xū) to urgently need/urgent need
急 (jí) urgent/pressing/rapid/hurried/worried/to make (sb) anxious
需 (xū) to require/to need/to want/necessity/need
解渴 (jiě kě) to quench
解 (jiě) to divide/to break up/to split/to separate/to dissolve/to
渴 (kě) thirsty
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
提供 (dī gōng) to offer/to supply/to provide/to furnish
提 (dī) to carry (hanging down from the hand)/to lift/to put
供 (gōng) to provide/to supply/sacrificial offering/to confess
什么 (shén me) what?/something/anything
什 (shén) what/ten (used in fractions writing checks etc)/assorted
么 (me) exclamatory final particle/interrogative final particle
挖得再深也取不到一滴水！
wā dé zài shēn yě qǔ bù dào yī dī shuǐ
You can't get a drop of water even if you dig deeper!
挖 (wā) to dig/to excavate/to scoop out
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
再 (zài) again/once more/re-/second/another/then (after sth and not
深 (shēn) deep/depth/deeply/(of a color) dark/deep/rich
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
取 (qǔ) to take/to get/to choose/to fetch
不到 (bù dào) not to arrive/not reaching/insufficient/less than
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
滴水 (dī shuǐ) water drop/dripping water
滴 (dī) a drop/to drip
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
你说这样的宽阔胸怀有什么用？
nǐ shuì zhè yàng de kuān kuò xiōng huái yǒu shén me yòng
What do you think is the use of such a broad-mindedness?
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
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)
宽阔 (kuān kuò) expansive/wide/width/thickness
宽 (kuān) lenient/wide/broad
阔 (kuò) rich/wide/broad
胸怀 (xiōng huái) one's bosom (the seat of emotions)/breast/broad-minded and
胸 (xiōng) chest/bosom/heart/mind/thorax
怀 (huái) bosom/heart/mind/to think of/to harbor in one's mind/to
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
什么 (shén me) what?/something/anything
什 (shén) what/ten (used in fractions writing checks etc)/assorted
么 (me) exclamatory final particle/interrogative final particle
用 (yòng) to use/to employ/to have to/to eat or drink/expense or
而我却自信并非浅薄，
ér wǒ què zì xìn bīng fēi qiǎn báo
And I am confident that I am not shallow.
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
自信 (zì xìn) to have confidence in oneself/self-confidence
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
信 (xìn) letter/mail/CL:封[feng1]/to trust/to believe/to profess
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
浅薄 (qiǎn báo) superficial
浅 (qiǎn) sound of moving water/shallow/light (color)
薄 (báo) thin/cold in manner/indifferent/weak/light/infertile/meager
尽管我躯体渺小容量有限，
jǐn guǎn wǒ qū tī miǎo xiǎo róng liáng yǒu xiàn
Despite my small body and limited capacity.
尽管 (jǐn guǎn) despite/although/even though/in spite of/unhesitatingly/do
尽 (jǐn) to the greatest extent/(when used before a noun of
管 (guǎn) to take care (of)/to control/to manage/to be in charge of
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
躯体 (qū tī) body/carcass
躯 (qū) human body
体 (tī) body/form/style/system/substance/to experience/aspect
渺小 (miǎo xiǎo) minute/tiny/negligible/insignificant
渺 (miǎo) (of an expanse of water) vast/distant and indistinct/tiny
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
容量 (róng liáng) capacity/volume/quantitative (science)
容 (róng) to hold/to contain/to allow/to tolerate/appearance/look
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
有限 (yǒu xiàn) limited/finite
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
限 (xiàn) limit/bound/to set a limit (on)
但我汲收多少水量就保留多少而不会流失；
dàn wǒ jí shōu duō shǎo shuǐ liáng jiù bǎo liú duō shǎo ér bù huì liú shī
But I keep as much water as I draw without losing it.
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
汲 (jí) to draw (water)
收 (shōu) to receive/to accept/to collect/to put away/to restrain/to
多少 (duō shǎo) number/amount/somewhat/how much?/how many?/(phone number
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
水量 (shuǐ liáng) volume of water/quantity of flow
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
保留 (bǎo liú) to retain/to continue to have/to preserve/to maintain/to
保 (bǎo) Bulgaria/Bulgarian/abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
留 (liú) to leave (a message etc)/to retain/to stay/to remain/to
多少 (duō shǎo) number/amount/somewhat/how much?/how many?/(phone number
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
不会 (bù huì) improbable/unlikely/will not (act happen etc)/not able/not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
流失 (liú shī) (of soil etc) to wash away/to be eroded/(fig.) (of talented
流 (liú) to flow/to disseminate/to circulate or spread/to move or
失 (shī) to lose/to miss/to fail
我不夸夸其谈更不骄傲自大，
wǒ bù kuā kuā qí tán gēng bù jiāo ào zì dà
I don't boast, and I'm not arrogant.
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
夸夸其谈 (kuā kuā qí tán) to talk big/to sound off/bombastic/grandiloquent
夸 (kuā) see 夸克[kua1 ke4]
夸 (kuā) see 夸克[kua1 ke4]
其 (qí) his/her/its/their/that/such/it (refers to sth preceding it)
谈 (tán) to speak/to talk/to converse/to chat/to discuss
更 (gēng) to change or replace/to experience/one of the five two-hour
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
骄傲 (jiāo ào) pride/arrogance/conceited/proud of sth
骄 (jiāo) proud/arrogant
傲 (ào) proud/arrogant/to despise/unyielding/to defy
自大 (zì dà) arrogant
自 (zì) self/oneself/from/since/naturally/surely
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
当人们需要水份时，
dāng rén mén xū yāo shuǐ fèn shí
When people need to be hydrated
当 (dāng) (onom.) dong/ding dong (bell)/to be/to act as/manage
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
需要 (xū yāo) to need/to want/to demand/to require/requirement/need
需 (xū) to require/to need/to want/necessity/need
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
份时 --not found--
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
我保留多少就提供多少，
wǒ bǎo liú duō shǎo jiù dī gōng duō shǎo
I keep as much as I can offer.
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
保留 (bǎo liú) to retain/to continue to have/to preserve/to maintain/to
保 (bǎo) Bulgaria/Bulgarian/abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
留 (liú) to leave (a message etc)/to retain/to stay/to remain/to
多少 (duō shǎo) number/amount/somewhat/how much?/how many?/(phone number
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
提供 (dī gōng) to offer/to supply/to provide/to furnish
提 (dī) to carry (hanging down from the hand)/to lift/to put
供 (gōng) to provide/to supply/sacrificial offering/to confess
多少 (duō shǎo) number/amount/somewhat/how much?/how many?/(phone number
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
少 (shǎo) few/less/to lack/to be missing/to stop (doing sth)/seldom
这样看来，
zhè yàng kān lái
Thus it seems that
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
看来 (kān lái) apparently/it seems that
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
尽管我只能装下一碗水，
jǐn guǎn wǒ zhī néng zhuāng xià yī wǎn shuǐ
Even though I can only hold a bowl of water.
尽管 (jǐn guǎn) despite/although/even though/in spite of/unhesitatingly/do
尽 (jǐn) to the greatest extent/(when used before a noun of
管 (guǎn) to take care (of)/to control/to manage/to be in charge of
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
只能 (zhī néng) can only/obliged to do sth/to have no other choice
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
装 (zhuāng) adornment/to adorn/dress/clothing/costume (of an actor in a
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
碗 (wǎn) bowl/cup/CL:隻|只[zhi1]個|个[ge4]
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
但比起你吸收水量万千却不曾有半点保留而言，
dàn bǐ qǐ nǐ xī shōu shuǐ liáng mò qiān què bù céng yǒu bàn diǎn bǎo liú ér yán
But compared to you who absorbed thousands of water without any half reservation
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
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
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
吸收 (xī shōu) to absorb/to assimilate/to ingest/to recruit
吸 (xī) to breathe/to suck in/to absorb/to inhale
收 (shōu) to receive/to accept/to collect/to put away/to restrain/to
水量 (shuǐ liáng) volume of water/quantity of flow
水 (shuǐ) water/river/liquid/beverage/additional charges or income
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
万千 (mò qiān) myriad/multitudinous/multifarious
万 (mò) see 万俟[Mo4 qi2]
千 (qiān) thousand
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
不曾 (bù céng) hasn't yet/hasn't ever
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
曾 (céng) once/already/ever (in the past)/former/previously/(past
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
半点 (bàn diǎn) the least bit
半 (bàn) half/semi-/incomplete/(after a number) and a half
点 (diǎn) point/dot/drop/speck/o'clock/point (in space or time)/to
保留 (bǎo liú) to retain/to continue to have/to preserve/to maintain/to
保 (bǎo) Bulgaria/Bulgarian/abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
留 (liú) to leave (a message etc)/to retain/to stay/to remain/to
而言 (ér yán) with regard to (preceding phrase)
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
言 (yán) words/speech/to say/to talk
岂不是更有价值？
qǐ bù shì gēng yǒu jià zhí
Wouldn't it be more valuable?
岂不 (qǐ bù) how couldn't...?/wouldn't it...?
岂 (qǐ) how? (emphatic question)
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
更 (gēng) to change or replace/to experience/one of the five two-hour
有价值 (yǒu jià zhí) valuable
有 (yǒu) to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be
价 (jià) price/value/(chemistry) valence/great/good/middleman
值 (zhí) value/(to be) worth/to happen to/to be on duty
读书也是如此，
dòu shū yě shì rú cǐ
The same is true of reading books.
读书 (dòu shū) to read a book/to study/to attend school
读 (dòu) comma/phrase marked by pause/to read/to study/reading of
书 (shū) abbr. for 書經|书经[Shu1 jing1]/book/letter/document
也 (yě) also/too/(in Classical Chinese) final particle implying
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
如此 (rú cǐ) in this way/so
如 (rú) as/as if/such as
此 (cǐ) this/these
宁可象海绵容量小但能完全保留，
níng kě xiàng hǎi mián róng liáng xiǎo dàn néng wán quán bǎo liú
Rather like a sponge with small capacity but fully retained.
宁可 (níng kě) preferably/one would prefer to...(or not to...)/would
宁 (níng) to store/to stand/space between the door and the entrance
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
海绵 (hǎi mián) sponge (zoology)/sponge (piece of absorbent material either
海 (hǎi) ocean/sea/CL:個|个[ge4]片[pian4]/great number of people or
绵 (mián) silk floss/continuous/soft/weak/mild-mannered (dialect)
容量 (róng liáng) capacity/volume/quantitative (science)
容 (róng) to hold/to contain/to allow/to tolerate/appearance/look
量 (liáng) to measure/capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate/abbr. for
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
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
保留 (bǎo liú) to retain/to continue to have/to preserve/to maintain/to
保 (bǎo) Bulgaria/Bulgarian/abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
留 (liú) to leave (a message etc)/to retain/to stay/to remain/to
而不可象沙漠看似包容万千，
ér bù kě xiàng shā mò kān shì bāo róng mò qiān
And not like a desert that seems to be tolerant of all things.
而 (ér) and/as well as/and so/but (not)/yet (not)/(indicates causal
不可 (bù kě) cannot/should not/must not
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
可 (kě) can/may/able to/to approve/to permit/to suit/(particle used
象 (xiàng) elephant/CL:隻|只[zhi1]/shape/form/appearance/to imitate
沙漠 (shā mò) desert/CL:個|个[ge4]
沙 (shā) granule/hoarse/raspy/sand/powder/CL:粒[li4]/abbr. for Tsar
漠 (mò) desert/unconcerned
看似 (kān shì) to look as if/to seem
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
似 (shì) see 似的[shi4 de5]/to seem/to appear/to resemble/similar
包容 (bāo róng) to pardon/to forgive/to show tolerance/to contain/to hold
包 (bāo) to cover/to wrap/to hold/to include/to take charge of/to
容 (róng) to hold/to contain/to allow/to tolerate/appearance/look
万千 (mò qiān) myriad/multitudinous/multifarious
万 (mò) see 万俟[Mo4 qi2]
千 (qiān) thousand
需要时却无法提供点滴。
xū yāo shí què mó fǎ dī gōng diǎn dī
Needed but unable to provide a drip when needed.
需要 (xū yāo) to need/to want/to demand/to require/requirement/need
需 (xū) to require/to need/to want/necessity/need
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
却 (què) but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat
无法 (mó fǎ) unable/incapable
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
法 (fǎ) France/French/abbr. for 法國|法国[Fa3 guo2]/Taiwan pr. [Fa4]
提供 (dī gōng) to offer/to supply/to provide/to furnish
提 (dī) to carry (hanging down from the hand)/to lift/to put
供 (gōng) to provide/to supply/sacrificial offering/to confess
点滴 (diǎn dī) a drip/a little bit/intravenous drip (used to administer
点 (diǎn) point/dot/drop/speck/o'clock/point (in space or time)/to
滴 (dī) a drop/to drip