仁慈的狐狸。春天，一只八哥死于猎人的弓箭，但厄运并没有就此结束。它一死，它的三个雏鸟变成了孤儿。雏鸟刚出壳不久，懵懵懂懂，弱小无力。孱弱的雏鸟饥寒交迫，只知道吱吱尖叫，徒劳地把母亲呼唤。看着这些可怜的孤儿，谁能不感到难过呢？一只狐狸蹲在鸟窝对面的石头上，对着众鸟大声疾呼，朋友们，别抛弃这些无依无靠的雏鸟吧！哪怕给可怜的鸟儿衔去一颗麦粒，那怕给它们的小窝塞上一跟稻草，这样就能挽救它们的生命，还有什么能比做好事更神圣呢？瞧，杜鹃，反正你在换羽毛，最好拔下几根为它们铺一张暖床，何必让这些羽毛白白地浪费掉呢！燕子，你最好多捉几只蚊子，给孤儿们当午餐。斑鸠，你的子女都已经长大，它们自己觅食已经没有问题，你不如离开自己的家，像母亲一样把雏鸟照看。至于你，亲爱的夜莺，你那迷人的歌后人人赞扬，趁和风轻摇孤儿的小床时，你最好唱上一曲，哄它们睡觉。我深信，大家的热情照顾，会改变孤儿们的悲惨命运。听我的话吧，让我们来证明森林中居民都爱行善正讲到这里，三只可怜的雏鸟已经饿得东倒西歪，从窝里掉下来落在狐狸的面前。狐狸立刻上前把它们统统吃掉，不再滔滔不绝地说教。寓言启示：真正善良的人从不夸夸其谈，而是默默地行善；那些喋喋不休到处宣扬要行善的人，他们的善良只是挂在嘴上。
仁慈的狐狸。
The benevolent fox.
仁慈的狐狸。
rén cí de hú lí
The benevolent fox.
仁慈 (rén cí) benevolent/charitable/kind/kindly/kindness/merciful
仁 (rén) humane/kernel
慈 (cí) compassionate/gentle/merciful/kind/humane
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
狐狸 (hú lí) fox/fig. sly and treacherous person
狐 (hú) fox
狸 (lí) raccoon dog/fox-like animal
春天，一只八哥死于猎人的弓箭，但厄运并没有就此结束。
In the spring, a pachyderm died from a hunter's bow and arrow, but the bad luck didn't end there.
春天，
chūn tiān
Spring.
春天 (chūn tiān) spring (season)/CL:個|个[ge4]
春 (chūn) spring (season)/gay/joyful/youthful/love/lust/life
天 (tiān) day/sky/heaven
一只八哥死于猎人的弓箭，
yī zhī bā gē sǐ yú liè rén de gōng jiàn
A pachyderm dies from a hunter's bow and arrow.
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
八哥 (bā gē) (bird species of China) crested myna (Acridotheres
八 (bā) eight/8
哥 (gē) elder brother
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
于 (yú) in/at/to/from/by/than/out of
猎人 (liè rén) hunter
猎 (liè) hunting
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
弓箭 (gōng jiàn) bow and arrow
弓 (gōng) a bow (weapon)/CL:張|张[zhang1]/to bend/to arch (one's back
箭 (jiàn) arrow/CL:支[zhi1]
但厄运并没有就此结束。
dàn è yùn bīng méi yǒu jiù cǐ jiē shù
But the bad luck didn't end there.
但 (dàn) but/yet/however/only/merely/still
厄运 (è yùn) bad luck/misfortune/adversity
厄 (è) distressed
运 (yùn) to move/to transport/to use/to apply/fortune/luck/fate
并 (bīng) and/furthermore/also/together with/(not) at all
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
就此 (jiù cǐ) at this point/thus/from then on
就 (jiù) at once/right away/only/just (emphasis)/as early as/already
此 (cǐ) this/these
结束 (jiē shù) termination/to finish/to end/to conclude/to close
结 (jiē) (of a plant) to produce (fruit or seeds)/Taiwan pr. [jie2]
束 (shù) to bind/bunch/bundle/classifier for bunches bundles beams
它一死，它的三个雏鸟变成了孤儿。
When it died, its three chicks were orphaned.
它一死，
tā yī sǐ
Once it dies.
它 (tā) it
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
死 (sǐ) to die/impassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid/extremely
它的三个雏鸟变成了孤儿。
tā de sān gě chú niǎo biàn chéng le gū ér
Its three chicks were orphaned.
它 (tā) it
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
三 (sān) three/3
个 (gě) individual/this/that/size/classifier for people or objects
雏 (chú) chick/young bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
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
孤儿 (gū ér) orphan
孤 (gū) lone/lonely
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
雏鸟刚出壳不久，懵懵懂懂，弱小无力。
The fledgling has just emerged from its shell and is ignorant and weak.
雏鸟刚出壳不久，
chú niǎo gāng chū ké bù jiǔ
The chicks have just emerged from their shells.
雏 (chú) chick/young bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
刚 (gāng) hard/firm/strong/just/barely/exactly
出 (chū) to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to
壳 (ké) shell/carapace/crust (earth's crust etc)/also pr. [ke2]
不久 (bù jiǔ) not long (after)/before too long/soon/soon after
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
久 (jiǔ) (long) time/(long) duration of time
懵懵懂懂，
měng měng dǒng dǒng
Clueless.
懵懵懂懂 (měng měng dǒng dǒng) confused/ignorant
懵 (měng) stupid
懵 (měng) stupid
懂 (dǒng) to understand/to comprehend
懂 (dǒng) to understand/to comprehend
弱小无力。
ruò xiǎo mó lì
Weak and powerless.
弱小 (ruò xiǎo) small and weak/puny/the small and weak/children/women and
弱 (ruò) weak/feeble/young/inferior/(following a decimal or
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
无力 (mó lì) powerless/lacking strength
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
力 (lì) power/force/strength/ability/strenuously
孱弱的雏鸟饥寒交迫，只知道吱吱尖叫，徒劳地把母亲呼唤。
The weak chicks are hungry and cold, and they only know how to squeak and scream, calling their mothers in vain.
孱弱的雏鸟饥寒交迫，
chán ruò de chú niǎo jī hán jiāo pǎi
The frail chicks are hungry and cold.
孱弱 (chán ruò) delicate/frail/impotent/weak
孱 (chán) see 孱頭|孱头[can4 tou5]/weak/feeble/lowly
弱 (ruò) weak/feeble/young/inferior/(following a decimal or
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
雏 (chú) chick/young bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
饥寒交迫 (jī hán jiāo pǎi) beset by hunger and cold (idiom)/starving and freezing/in
饥 (jī) hungry
寒 (hán) cold/poor/to tremble
交 (jiāo) null
迫 (pǎi) to force/to compel/to approach or go towards/urgent
只知道吱吱尖叫，
zhī zhī dào zhī zhī jiān jiào
Only know squeaking and screaming.
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
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
吱 (zhī) (onom.) creaking or groaning/(onom.) to squeak (of mice)/to
吱 (zhī) (onom.) creaking or groaning/(onom.) to squeak (of mice)/to
尖叫 (jiān jiào) to screech/to shriek
尖 (jiān) point (of needle)/sharp/shrewd/pointed
叫 (jiào) to shout/to call/to order/to ask/to be called/by (indicates
徒劳地把母亲呼唤。
tú láo de bǎ mǔ qīn hū huàn
Vainly calling out the mother.
徒劳 (tú láo) futile
徒 (tú) disciple/apprentice/believer/on foot/bare or empty/to no
劳 (láo) to toil/labor/laborer/to put sb to trouble (of doing sth)
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
把 (bǎ) to hold/to contain/to grasp/to take hold of/handle/particle
母亲 (mǔ qīn) mother/also pr. [mu3 qin5]/CL:個|个[ge4]
母 (mǔ) mother/elderly female relative/origin/source/(of animals)
亲 (qīn) parent/one's own (flesh and blood)/relative/related
呼唤 (hū huàn) to call out (a name etc)/to shout
呼 (hū) to call/to cry/to shout/to breath out/to exhale
唤 (huàn) to call
看着这些可怜的孤儿，谁能不感到难过呢？一只狐狸蹲在鸟窝对面的石头上，对着众鸟大声疾呼，朋友们，别抛弃这些无依无靠的雏鸟吧！哪怕给可怜的鸟儿衔去一颗麦粒，那怕给它们的小窝塞上一跟稻草，这样就能挽救它们的生命，还有什么能比做好事更神圣呢？瞧，杜鹃，反正你在换羽毛，最好拔下几根为它们铺一张暖床，何必让这些羽毛白白地浪费掉呢！燕子，你最好多捉几只蚊子，给孤儿们当午餐。
Looking at these poor orphans, who could not feel sad? A fox squatted on a rock opposite the nest and cried out to the birds, "Friends, don't abandon these helpless chicks! Even if you give the poor birds a grain of wheat, even if you give them a nest stuffed with a straw, so as to save their lives, what can be more sacred than good deeds? Look, cuckoo, you're changing your feathers anyway, so you'd better pluck a few to make a warm bed for them, so why let them go to waste! Swallow, you'd better catch a few more mosquitoes and give them to the orphans for lunch.
看着这些可怜的孤儿，
kān zhāo zhè xiē kě lián de gū ér
Looking at these poor orphans.
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
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
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
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
孤儿 (gū ér) orphan
孤 (gū) lone/lonely
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
谁能不感到难过呢？
shéi néng bù gǎn dào nán guō ne
Who could not feel sad?
谁 (shéi) who/also pr. [shui2]
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
感到 (gǎn dào) to feel/to sense/to have the feeling that/to think that/to
感 (gǎn) to feel/to move/to touch/to affect/feeling/emotion/(suffix)
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
难过 (nán guō) to feel sad/to feel unwell/(of life) to be difficult
难 (nán) difficult (to...)/problem/difficulty/difficult/not good
过 (guō) to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
一只狐狸蹲在鸟窝对面的石头上，
yī zhī hú lí dūn zài niǎo wō duì miàn de dàn tóu shǎng
A fox crouched on a rock opposite a bird's nest.
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
狐狸 (hú lí) fox/fig. sly and treacherous person
狐 (hú) fox
狸 (lí) raccoon dog/fox-like animal
蹲 (dūn) to crouch/to squat/to stay (somewhere)
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
鸟窝 (niǎo wō) bird's nest
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
窝 (wō) nest/pit or hollow on the human body/lair/den/place/to
对面 (duì miàn) (sitting) opposite/across (the street)/directly in front/to
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
面 (miàn) face/side/surface/aspect/top/classifier for flat surfaces
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
石头 (dàn tóu) stone/CL:塊|块[kuai4]
石 (dàn) dry measure for grain equal to ten dou 斗/ten pecks/one
头 (tóu) head/hair style/the top/end/beginning or end/a stub/remnant
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
对着众鸟大声疾呼，
duì zhāo zhòng niǎo dà shēng jí hū
shouting at the birds.
对 (duì) right/correct/couple/pair/towards/at/for/to face/opposite
着 (zhāo) (chess) move/trick/all right!/(dialect) to add/to touch/to
众 (zhòng) abbr. for 眾議院|众议院[Zhong4 yi4 yuan4] House of
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
大声疾呼 (dà shēng jí hū) to call loudly (idiom); to get people's attention/to make
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
声 (shēng) sound/voice/tone/noise/reputation/classifier for sounds
疾 (jí) sickness/disease/hate/envy/swift
呼 (hū) to call/to cry/to shout/to breath out/to exhale
朋友们，
péng yǒu mén
Friends.
朋友 (péng yǒu) friend/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
朋 (péng) friend
友 (yǒu) friend
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
别抛弃这些无依无靠的雏鸟吧！
bié pāo qì zhè xiē mó yī mó kào de chú niǎo bā
Don't abandon these unsupported chicks!
别 (bié) to leave/to depart/to separate/to distinguish/to classify
抛弃 (pāo qì) to abandon/to discard/to renounce/to dump (sb)
抛 (pāo) to throw/to toss/to fling/to cast/to abandon
弃 (qì) to abandon/to relinquish/to discard/to throw away
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
无依无靠 (mó yī mó kào) no one to rely on (idiom); on one's own/orphaned/left to
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
依 (yī) to depend on/to comply with or listen to sb/according to/in
无 (mó) not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less
靠 (kào) to lean against or on/to stand by the side of/to come near
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
雏 (chú) chick/young bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
吧 (bā) bar (loanword) (serving drinks or providing Internet access
哪怕给可怜的鸟儿衔去一颗麦粒，
nǎ pà gěi kě lián de niǎo ér xián qù yī kē mài lì
Even if you give the poor bird a grain of wheat.
哪怕 (nǎ pà) even/even if/even though/no matter how
哪 (nǎ) how/which/(particle equivalent to 啊 after noun ending in
怕 (pà) to be afraid/to fear/to dread/to be unable to endure
给 (gěi) to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for
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
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
鸟儿 (niǎo ér) bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
衔 (xián) bit (of a bridle)/to hold in the mouth/to harbor (feelings)
去 (qù) to go/to go to (a place)/(of a time etc) last/just passed
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
颗 (kē) classifier for small spheres pearls corn grains teeth
麦 (mài) wheat/barley/oats
粒 (lì) grain/granule/classifier for small round things (peas
那怕给它们的小窝塞上一跟稻草，
nā pà gěi tā mén de xiǎo wō sāi shǎng yī gēn dào cǎo
Even if you stuff their nests with a heel of straw.
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
怕 (pà) to be afraid/to fear/to dread/to be unable to endure
给 (gěi) to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for
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)
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
窝 (wō) nest/pit or hollow on the human body/lair/den/place/to
塞 (sāi) Serbia/Serbian/abbr. for 塞爾維亞|塞尔维亚[Sai1 er3 wei2 ya4]/to
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
跟 (gēn) heel/to follow closely/to go with/(of a woman) to marry sb
稻草 (dào cǎo) rice straw
稻 (dào) paddy/rice (Oryza sativa)
草 (cǎo) grass/straw/manuscript/draft (of a document)/careless/rough
这样就能挽救它们的生命，
zhè yàng jiù néng wǎn jiù tā mén de shēng mìng
This will save their lives.
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
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
挽救 (wǎn jiù) to save/to remedy/to rescue
挽 (wǎn) to pull/to draw (a cart or a bow)/to roll up/to coil/to
救 (jiù) to save/to assist/to rescue
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)
生命 (shēng mìng) life (as the characteristic of living beings)/living being
生 (shēng) to be born/to give birth/life/to grow/raw/uncooked/student
命 (mìng) life/fate/order or command/to assign a name title etc
还有什么能比做好事更神圣呢？
hái yǒu shén me néng bǐ zuò hǎo shì gēng shén shèng ne
What could be more sacred than doing good?
还有 (hái yǒu) furthermore/in addition/still/also
还 (hái) still/still in progress/still more/yet/even more/in
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
能 (néng) can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
比做 (bǐ zuò) to liken to/to compare to
比 (bǐ) Belgium/Belgian/abbr. for 比利時|比利时[Bi3 li4 shi2]/(particle
做 (zuò) to do/to make/to produce/to write/to compose/to act as/to
好事 (hǎo shì) good action deed thing or work (also sarcastic \a fine
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
事 (shì) matter/thing/item/work/affair
更 (gēng) to change or replace/to experience/one of the five two-hour
神圣 (shén shèng) divine/hallow/holy/sacred
神 (shén) God/abbr. for 神舟[Shen2 zhou1]/deity/soul/spirit/unusual
圣 (shèng) holy/sacred/saint/sage
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
瞧，
qiáo
Voila.
瞧 (qiáo) to look at/to see/to see (a doctor)/to visit
杜鹃，
dù juān
Cuckoo.
杜鹃 (dù juān) cuckoo (Cercococcyx spp. also written 杜鵑鳥|杜鹃鸟)/Indian
杜 (dù) birchleaf pear (tree)/to stop/to prevent/to restrict
鹃 (juān) cuckoo
反正你在换羽毛，
fǎn zhēng nǐ zài huàn yǔ máo
You're changing feathers, anyway.
反正 (fǎn zhēng) anyway/in any case/to come over from the enemy's side
反 (fǎn) contrary/in reverse/inside out or upside down/to reverse/to
正 (zhēng) first month of the lunar year/straight/upright/proper/main
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
换羽 (huàn yǔ) to molt/to change feathers
换 (huàn) to exchange/to change (clothes etc)/to substitute/to switch
羽 (yǔ) feather/5th note in pentatonic scale
毛 (máo) hair/feather/down/wool/mildew/mold/coarse or semifinished
最好拔下几根为它们铺一张暖床，
zuì hǎo bá xià jī gēn wéi tā mén pū yī zhāng nuǎn chuáng
It is best to pull off a few to make a warm bed for them.
最好 (zuì hǎo) best/(you) had better (do what we suggest)
最 (zuì) most/the most/-est (superlative suffix)
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
拔 (bá) to pull up/to pull out/to draw out by suction/to select/to
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
几 (jī) small table
根 (gēn) root/basis/classifier for long slender objects e.g.
为 (wéi) as (in the capacity of)/to take sth as/to act as/to serve
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
铺 (pū) to spread/to display/to set up/(old) holder for
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
张 (zhāng) to open up/to spread/sheet of paper/classifier for flat
暖 (nuǎn) warm/to warm
床 (chuáng) bed/couch/classifier for beds/CL:張|张[zhang1]
何必让这些羽毛白白地浪费掉呢！
hé bì ràng zhè xiē yǔ máo bái bái de làng fèi diào ne
Why let these feathers go to waste!
何必 (hé bì) there is no need/why should
何 (hé) what/how/why/which/carry
必 (bì) certainly/must/will/necessarily
让 (ràng) to yield/to permit/to let sb do sth/to have sb do sth/to
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
羽毛 (yǔ máo) feather/plumage/plume
羽 (yǔ) feather/5th note in pentatonic scale
毛 (máo) hair/feather/down/wool/mildew/mold/coarse or semifinished
白白 (bái bái) in vain/to no purpose/for nothing/white
白 (bái) white/snowy/pure/bright/empty/blank/plain/clear/to make
白 (bái) white/snowy/pure/bright/empty/blank/plain/clear/to make
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
浪费 (làng fèi) to waste/to squander
浪 (làng) wave/breaker/unrestrained/dissipated/to stroll/to ramble
费 (fèi) to cost/to spend/fee/wasteful/expenses
掉 (diào) to fall/to drop/to lag behind/to lose/to go missing/to
呢 (ne) particle indicating that a previously asked question is to
燕子，
yān zǐ
Swallow.
燕子 (yān zǐ) swallow
燕 (yān) null
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
你最好多捉几只蚊子，
nǐ zuì hǎo duō zhuō jī zhī wén zǐ
You'd better catch some more mosquitoes.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
最好 (zuì hǎo) best/(you) had better (do what we suggest)
最 (zuì) most/the most/-est (superlative suffix)
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
多 (duō) many/much/often/a lot of/numerous/more/in excess/how (to
捉 (zhuō) to clutch/to grab/to capture
几 (jī) small table
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
蚊子 (wén zǐ) mosquito
蚊 (wén) mosquito
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
给孤儿们当午餐。
gěi gū ér mén dāng wǔ cān
Lunch for the orphans.
给 (gěi) to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for
孤儿 (gū ér) orphan
孤 (gū) lone/lonely
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
当 (dāng) (onom.) dong/ding dong (bell)/to be/to act as/manage
午餐 (wǔ cān) lunch/luncheon/CL:份[fen4]頓|顿[dun4]次[ci4]
午 (wǔ) 7th earthly branch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. noon 5th solar month
餐 (cān) meal/to eat/classifier for meals
斑鸠，你的子女都已经长大，它们自己觅食已经没有问题，你不如离开自己的家，像母亲一样把雏鸟照看。
Spotted doves, your children are all grown up and they have no problem foraging for food on their own, so why don't you leave your home and take care of your chicks like a mother?
斑鸠，
bān jiū
Spotted turtles.
斑鸠 (bān jiū) turtledove
斑 (bān) spot/colored patch/stripe/spotted/striped/variegated
鸠 (jiū) turtledove/(literary) to gather
你的子女都已经长大，
nǐ de zǐ nǚ dōu yǐ jīng cháng dà
Your children are all grown up.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
子女 (zǐ nǚ) children/sons and daughters
子 (zǐ) son/child/seed/egg/small thing/1st earthly branch: 11
女 (nǚ) female/woman/daughter
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
已经 (yǐ jīng) already
已 (yǐ) already/to stop/then/afterwards
经 (jīng) classics/sacred book/scripture/to pass through/to undergo
长大 (cháng dà) to grow up
长 (cháng) length/long/forever/always/constantly/chief/head/elder/to
大 (dà) big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/older (than)/oldest
它们自己觅食已经没有问题，
tā mén zì jǐ mì shí yǐ jīng méi yǒu wèn tí
They have no problem foraging for food on their own.
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring 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
觅食 (mì shí) to forage/to hunt for food/to scavenge/fig. to make a
觅 (mì) to seek/to find
食 (shí) to eat/food/animal feed/eclipse/to feed
已经 (yǐ jīng) already
已 (yǐ) already/to stop/then/afterwards
经 (jīng) classics/sacred book/scripture/to pass through/to undergo
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
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
你不如离开自己的家，
nǐ bù rú lí kāi zì jǐ de jiā
You might as well leave your home.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
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
离开 (lí kāi) to depart/to leave
离 (lí) mythical beast (archaic)
开 (kāi) to open/to start/to turn on/to boil/to write out (a
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)
家 (jiā) home/family/(polite) my (sister uncle etc)/classifier for
像母亲一样把雏鸟照看。
xiàng mǔ qīn yī yàng bǎ chú niǎo zhào kān
Take care of the chicks like a mother.
像 (xiàng) to resemble/to be like/to look as if/such as/appearance
母亲 (mǔ qīn) mother/also pr. [mu3 qin5]/CL:個|个[ge4]
母 (mǔ) mother/elderly female relative/origin/source/(of animals)
亲 (qīn) parent/one's own (flesh and blood)/relative/related
一样 (yī yàng) same/like/equal to/the same as/just like
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
样 (yàng) manner/pattern/way/appearance/shape/classifier: kind type
把 (bǎ) to hold/to contain/to grasp/to take hold of/handle/particle
雏 (chú) chick/young bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
照看 (zhào kān) to look after/to attend to/to have in care
照 (zhào) according to/in accordance with/to shine/to illuminate/to
看 (kān) to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard/to see/to
至于你，亲爱的夜莺，你那迷人的歌后人人赞扬，趁和风轻摇孤儿的小床时，你最好唱上一曲，哄它们睡觉。
As for you, dear nightingale, whose charming song is praised by all, you had better sing a song to lull them to sleep while the breeze gently rocks the orphans' cribs.
至于你，
zhì yú nǐ
As for you.
至于 (zhì yú) as for/as to/to go so far as to
至 (zhì) to arrive/most/to/until
于 (yú) in/at/to/from/by/than/out of
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
亲爱的夜莺，
qīn ài de yè yīng
Dear Nightingale.
亲爱 (qīn ài) dear/beloved/darling
亲 (qīn) parent/one's own (flesh and blood)/relative/related
爱 (ài) to love/to be fond of/to like/affection/to be inclined (to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
夜莺 (yè yīng) nightingale
夜 (yè) night
莺 (yīng) oriole or various birds of the Sylvidae family including
你那迷人的歌后人人赞扬，
nǐ nā mí rén de gē hòu rén rén zàn yáng
Your charming song is praised by everyone.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
迷人 (mí rén) fascinating/enchanting/charming/tempting
迷 (mí) to bewilder/crazy about/fan/enthusiast/lost/confused
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
歌 (gē) song/CL:支[zhi1]首[shou3]/to sing
后人 (hòu rén) later generation
后 (hòu) empress/queen
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
赞扬 (zàn yáng) to praise/to approve of/to show approval
赞 (zàn) to patronize/to support/to praise/(Internet slang) to like
扬 (yáng) to raise/to hoist/the action of tossing or winnowing
趁和风轻摇孤儿的小床时，
chèn hé fēng qīng yáo gū ér de xiǎo chuáng shí
While the wind gently rocks the orphan's crib
趁 (chèn) to avail oneself of/to take advantage of
和风 (hé fēng) (Tw) Japanese-style (cooking etc)/breeze
和 (hé) and/together with/with/sum/union/peace/harmony/Taiwan pr.
风 (fēng) wind/news/style/custom/manner/CL:陣|阵[zhen4]絲|丝[si1]
轻 (qīng) light/easy/gentle/soft/reckless/unimportant/frivolous/small
摇 (yáo) to shake/to rock/to row/to crank
孤儿 (gū ér) orphan
孤 (gū) lone/lonely
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
小 (xiǎo) small/tiny/few/young
床 (chuáng) bed/couch/classifier for beds/CL:張|张[zhang1]
时 (shí) o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period
你最好唱上一曲，
nǐ zuì hǎo chàng shǎng yī qū
You'd better sing a song.
你 (nǐ) you (informal as opposed to courteous 您[nin2])
最好 (zuì hǎo) best/(you) had better (do what we suggest)
最 (zuì) most/the most/-est (superlative suffix)
好 (hǎo) good/well/proper/good to/easy to/very/so/(suffix indicating
唱 (chàng) to sing/to call loudly/to chant
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
一 (yī) one/1/single/a (article)/as soon as/entire/whole/all
曲 (qū) bent/crooked/wrong/tune/song/CL:支[zhi1]
哄它们睡觉。
hōng tā mén shuì jiào
Put them to sleep.
哄 (hōng) roar of laughter (onom.)/hubbub/to roar (as a crowd)/to
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
睡觉 (shuì jiào) to go to bed/to sleep
睡 (shuì) to sleep/to lie down
觉 (jiào) a nap/a sleep/CL:場|场[chang2]/to feel/to find that/thinking
我深信，大家的热情照顾，会改变孤儿们的悲惨命运。
I am convinced that the warm care of everyone will change the tragic fate of the orphans.
我深信，
wǒ shēn xìn
I am convinced that
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
深信 (shēn xìn) to believe firmly
深 (shēn) deep/depth/deeply/(of a color) dark/deep/rich
信 (xìn) letter/mail/CL:封[feng1]/to trust/to believe/to profess
大家的热情照顾，
dà jiā de rè qíng zhào gù
The warm care of everyone.
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
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
热情 (rè qíng) cordial/enthusiastic/passion/passionate/passionately
热 (rè) to warm up/to heat up/hot (of weather)/heat/fervent
情 (qíng) feeling/emotion/passion/situation
照顾 (zhào gù) to take care of/to show consideration/to attend to/to look
照 (zhào) according to/in accordance with/to shine/to illuminate/to
顾 (gù) to look after/to take into consideration/to attend to
会改变孤儿们的悲惨命运。
huì gǎi biàn gū ér mén de bēi cǎn mìng yùn
It will change the tragic fate of the orphans.
会 (huì) can/to be possible/to be able to/will/to be likely to/to be
改变 (gǎi biàn) to change/to alter/to transform
改 (gǎi) to change/to alter/to transform/to correct
变 (biàn) to change/to become different/to transform/to vary
孤儿 (gū ér) orphan
孤 (gū) lone/lonely
儿 (ér) child/son/non-syllabic diminutive suffix/retroflex final
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
悲惨 (bēi cǎn) miserable/tragic
悲 (bēi) sad/sadness/sorrow/grief
惨 (cǎn) miserable/wretched/cruel/inhuman/disastrous/tragic/dim
命运 (mìng yùn) fate/destiny/CL:個|个[ge4]
命 (mìng) life/fate/order or command/to assign a name title etc
运 (yùn) to move/to transport/to use/to apply/fortune/luck/fate
听我的话吧，让我们来证明森林中居民都爱行善正讲到这里，三只可怜的雏鸟已经饿得东倒西歪，从窝里掉下来落在狐狸的面前。
Listen to my words, let us prove that the inhabitants of the forest love to do good is speaking here, the three poor chicks have been starved to fall from the nest and landed in front of the fox.
听我的话吧，
tīng wǒ de huà bā
Take my word for it.
听 (tīng) smile (archaic)
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
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
吧 (bā) bar (loanword) (serving drinks or providing Internet access
让我们来证明森林中居民都爱行善正讲到这里，
ràng wǒ mén lái zhèng míng sēn lín zhōng jū mín dōu ài háng shàn zhēng jiǎng dào zhè lǐ
Let us prove that the inhabitants of the forest love good deeds.
让 (ràng) to yield/to permit/to let sb do sth/to have sb do sth/to
我们 (wǒ mén) we/us/ourselves/our
我 (wǒ) I/me/my
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
证明 (zhèng míng) proof/certificate/identification/testimonial/CL:個|个[ge4]/to
证 (zhèng) null
明 (míng) bright/opposite: dark 暗[an4]/(of meaning) clear/to
森林 (sēn lín) forest/CL:片[pian4]
森 (sēn) forest
林 (lín) woods/forest/CL:片[pian4]/circle(s) (i.e. specific group of
中 (zhōng) within/among/in/middle/center/while (doing sth)/during
居民 (jū mín) resident/inhabitant
居 (jū) (archaic) sentence-final particle expressing a doubting
民 (mín) the people/nationality/citizen
都 (dōu) all/both/entirely/(used for emphasis) even/already/(not) at
爱 (ài) to love/to be fond of/to like/affection/to be inclined (to
行善 (háng shàn) to do good works/to be merciful
行 (háng) row/line/commercial firm/line of business/profession/to
善 (shàn) good (virtuous)/benevolent/well-disposed/good at sth/to
正 (zhēng) first month of the lunar year/straight/upright/proper/main
讲到 (jiǎng dào) to talk about sth
讲 (jiǎng) to speak/to explain/to negotiate/to emphasise/to be
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
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
三只可怜的雏鸟已经饿得东倒西歪，
sān zhī kě lián de chú niǎo yǐ jīng è dé dōng dǎo xī wāi
Three poor fledglings have been starved to the east and west.
三 (sān) three/3
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
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
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
雏 (chú) chick/young bird
鸟 (niǎo) bird/CL:隻|只[zhi1]群[qun2]/(dialect) to pay attention to
已经 (yǐ jīng) already
已 (yǐ) already/to stop/then/afterwards
经 (jīng) classics/sacred book/scripture/to pass through/to undergo
饿 (è) to be hungry/hungry/to starve (sb)
得 (dé) to obtain/to get/to gain/to catch (a disease)/proper
东倒西歪 (dōng dǎo xī wāi) to lean unsteadily from side to side (idiom)/to sway/(of
东 (dōng) east/host (i.e. sitting on east side of guest)/landlord
倒 (dǎo) to fall/to collapse/to lie horizontally/to overthrow/to
西 (xī) the West/abbr. for Spain 西班牙[Xi1 ban1 ya2]/Spanish/west
歪 (wāi) askew/at a crooked angle/devious/noxious/(coll.) to lie on
从窝里掉下来落在狐狸的面前。
cóng wō lǐ diào xià lái là zài hú lí de miàn qián
It fell down from the den and landed in front of the fox.
从 (cóng) from/through/via/to follow/to obey/to engage in (an
窝 (wō) nest/pit or hollow on the human body/lair/den/place/to
里 (lǐ) li ancient measure of length approx. 500 m/neighborhood
掉下 (diào xià) to drop down/to fall
掉 (diào) to fall/to drop/to lag behind/to lose/to go missing/to
下 (xià) down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of
来 (lái) to come/to arrive/to come round/ever since/next
落 (là) to leave out/to be missing/to leave behind or forget to
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
狐狸 (hú lí) fox/fig. sly and treacherous person
狐 (hú) fox
狸 (lí) raccoon dog/fox-like animal
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
面前 (miàn qián) in front of/facing/(in the) presence (of)
面 (miàn) face/side/surface/aspect/top/classifier for flat surfaces
前 (qián) front/forward/ahead/first/top (followed by a number)/future
狐狸立刻上前把它们统统吃掉，不再滔滔不绝地说教。
The fox immediately went up and ate them all and stopped pontificating.
狐狸立刻上前把它们统统吃掉，
hú lí lì kè shǎng qián bǎ tā mén tǒng tǒng chī diào
The fox immediately went up and ate them all.
狐狸 (hú lí) fox/fig. sly and treacherous person
狐 (hú) fox
狸 (lí) raccoon dog/fox-like animal
立刻 (lì kè) forthwith/immediate/prompt/promptly/straightway/thereupon
立 (lì) to stand/to set up/to establish/to lay down/to draw up/at
刻 (kè) quarter (hour)/moment/to carve/to engrave/to cut/oppressive
上前 (shǎng qián) to advance/to step forward
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous
前 (qián) front/forward/ahead/first/top (followed by a number)/future
把 (bǎ) to hold/to contain/to grasp/to take hold of/handle/particle
它们 (tā mén) they (for inanimate objects)
它 (tā) it
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
统统 (tǒng tǒng) totally
统 (tǒng) to gather/to unite/to unify/whole
统 (tǒng) to gather/to unite/to unify/whole
吃掉 (chī diào) to eat up/to consume
吃 (chī) to eat/to consume/to eat at (a cafeteria etc)/to eradicate
掉 (diào) to fall/to drop/to lag behind/to lose/to go missing/to
不再滔滔不绝地说教。
bù zài tāo tāo bù jué de shuì jiāo
No more pontificating.
不再 (bù zài) no more/no longer
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
再 (zài) again/once more/re-/second/another/then (after sth and not
滔滔不绝 (tāo tāo bù jué) unceasing torrent (idiom)/talking non-stop/gabbling forty
滔 (tāo) overflow/torrent-dash
滔 (tāo) overflow/torrent-dash
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
绝 (jué) to cut short/extinct/to disappear/to vanish/absolutely/by
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
说教 (shuì jiāo) to preach
说 (shuì) to persuade/to speak/to say/to explain/to scold/to tell off
教 (jiāo) to teach/religion/teaching/to make/to cause/to tell
寓言启示：真正善良的人从不夸夸其谈，而是默默地行善；那些喋喋不休到处宣扬要行善的人，他们的善良只是挂在嘴上。
The parable reveals that people who are truly good never boast about their goodness, but do it silently; those who harp on about doing goodness everywhere, their goodness is only hanging on their lips.
寓言启示：
yù yán qǐ shì
Parable of Inspiration.
寓言 (yù yán) fable/CL:則|则[ze2]
寓 (yù) to reside/to imply/to contain/residence
言 (yán) words/speech/to say/to talk
启示 (qǐ shì) to reveal/to enlighten/enlightenment/revelation
启 (qǐ) Qi son of Yu the Great 禹[Yu3] reported founder of the Xia
示 (shì) to show/to reveal
真正善良的人从不夸夸其谈，
zhēn zhēng shàn liáng de rén cóng bù kuā kuā qí tán
A truly good person never boasts about
真正 (zhēn zhēng) genuine/real/true/genuinely
真 (zhēn) really/truly/indeed/real/true/genuine
正 (zhēng) first month of the lunar year/straight/upright/proper/main
善良 (shàn liáng) good and honest/kindhearted
善 (shàn) good (virtuous)/benevolent/well-disposed/good at sth/to
良 (liáng) good/very/very much
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
人从 (rén cóng) retinue/hangers-on
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
从 (cóng) from/through/via/to follow/to obey/to engage in (an
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
而是默默地行善；
ér shì mò mò de háng shàn
but to do good in silence.
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
默默 (mò mò) in silence/not speaking
默 (mò) silent/to write from memory
默 (mò) silent/to write from memory
地 (de) -ly/structural particle: used before a verb or adjective
行善 (háng shàn) to do good works/to be merciful
行 (háng) row/line/commercial firm/line of business/profession/to
善 (shàn) good (virtuous)/benevolent/well-disposed/good at sth/to
那些喋喋不休到处宣扬要行善的人，
nā xiē dié dié bù xiū dào chǔ xuān yáng yāo háng shàn de rén
Those who harp on going around preaching about doing good.
那些 (nā xiē) those
那 (nā) that/those/then (in that case)/commonly pr. [nei4] before a
些 (xiē) classifier indicating a small amount or small number
喋喋不休 (dié dié bù xiū) to chatter or jabber on and on
喋 (dié) flowing flood/to chatter
喋 (dié) flowing flood/to chatter
不 (bù) (negative prefix)/not/no
休 (xiū) to rest/to stop doing sth for a period of time/to cease
到处 (dào chǔ) everywhere
到 (dào) to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive/(verb
处 (chǔ) to reside/to live/to dwell/to be in/to be situated at/to
宣扬 (xuān yáng) to proclaim/to make public or well known
宣 (xuān) to declare (publicly)/to announce
扬 (yáng) to raise/to hoist/the action of tossing or winnowing
要 (yāo) to demand/to request/to coerce/important/vital/to want/to
行善 (háng shàn) to do good works/to be merciful
行 (háng) row/line/commercial firm/line of business/profession/to
善 (shàn) good (virtuous)/benevolent/well-disposed/good at sth/to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
人 (rén) man/person/people/CL:個|个[ge4]位[wei4]
他们的善良只是挂在嘴上。
tā mén de shàn liáng zhī shì guà zài zuǐ shǎng
Their kindness is only on their lips.
他们 (tā mén) they
他 (tā) he or him/(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or
们 (mén) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to
的 (de) of/~'s (possessive particle)/(used after an attribute)
善良 (shàn liáng) good and honest/kindhearted
善 (shàn) good (virtuous)/benevolent/well-disposed/good at sth/to
良 (liáng) good/very/very much
只是 (zhī shì) merely/simply/only/but
只 (zhī) only/merely/just/but
是 (shì) is/are/am/yes/to be
挂在嘴上 (guà zài zuǐ shǎng) to pay lip service to/to keep mentioning (without doing
挂 (guà) to hang or suspend (from a hook etc)/to hang up (the phone)
在 (zài) (located) at/(to be) in/to exist/in the middle of doing sth
嘴 (zuǐ) mouth/beak/nozzle/spout (of teapot etc)
上 (shǎng) see 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]/on top/upon/above/upper/previous