Cranford — Page 2
"A man," as one of them observed to me once, "is _so_ in the way in the house!"
正如其中一位曾对我说的，"男人在家里是那么碍手碍脚！"
Although the ladies of Cranford know all each other's proceedings, they are exceedingly indifferent to each other's opinions.
虽然克兰福德的女士们对彼此的一举一动了如指掌，她们对彼此的意见却极为漠然。
Indeed, as each has her own individuality, not to say eccentricity, pretty strongly developed, nothing is so easy as verbal retaliation; but, somehow, good-will reigns among them to a considerable degree.
的确，她们每个人都有着相当鲜明的个性，甚至可以说是怪癖，以言语回击对方本是易如反掌之事；然而不知为何，她们之间总体上还是保持着相当程度的善意。
The Cranford ladies have only an occasional little quarrel, spirited out in a few peppery words and angry jerks of the head; just enough to prevent the even tenor of their lives from becoming too flat.
克兰福德的女士们偶尔也会有些小口角，不过是几句辛辣的话语和几下愤然的昂首，恰好足以让她们平静的生活不至于过于乏味。
Their dress is very independent of fashion; as they observe, "What does it signify how we dress here at Cranford, where everybody knows us?"
她们的穿着打扮完全不受时尚左右；正如她们所说，"在克兰福德这里，人人都认识我们，我们怎么穿又有什么关系呢？"
And if they go from home, their reason is equally cogent, "What does it signify how we dress here, where nobody knows us?"
而若是她们出门在外，理由同样充分，"在这里没有人认识我们，我们怎么穿又有什么关系呢？"
The materials of their clothes are, in general, good and plain, and most of them are nearly as scrupulous as Miss Tyler, of cleanly memory; but I will answer for it, the last gigot, the last tight and scanty petticoat in wear in England, was seen in Cranford—and seen without a smile.
她们衣物的面料总体上质地优良而朴素，其中大多数人在清洁方面几乎与令人印象深刻的泰勒小姐一样一丝不苟；但我可以担保，英格兰最后一件羊腿袖衣、最后一条紧窄的短裙，正是在克兰福德出现的——而且人们见到时并未发笑。
[Picture: A magnificent family red silk umbrella]
【图：一把华丽的家用红色丝绸雨伞】
I can testify to a magnificent family red silk umbrella, under which a gentle little spinster, left alone of many brothers and sisters, used to patter to church on rainy days.
我可以亲眼作证，曾有一把华丽的家用红色丝绸雨伞，一位温柔的小老姑娘撑着它踏着细碎的步伐去教堂——她原有许多兄弟姐妹，如今却只剩她孤身一人。
Vocabulary
- 正
- zhèng — Just, upright, or currently in progress
- 如
- rú — Like, as, or according to
- 其
- qí — His, her, its, or their (formal)
- 中
- zhōng — Middle, center, or among
- 位
- wèi — Measure word for people; a position
- 曾
- céng — Once, formerly, at some past time
- 对
- duì — Toward; correct; a pair
- 碍
- ài — To hinder, obstruct, or impede
- 虽
- suī — Although, even though (conjunction)
- 然
- rán — So, thus; correct; naturally
- 克
- kè — To overcome; gram (unit of weight)
- 兰
- lán — Orchid; a common name element
- 福
- fú — Good fortune, happiness, blessing
- 德
- dé — Virtue, morality, moral character
- 士
- shì — Scholar, gentleman; honorific suffix
- 彼
- bǐ — That, the other; each other (formal)
- 此
- cǐ — This, here (formal demonstrative)
- 举
- jǔ — To raise, lift; an action or move
- 动
- dòng — To move, act; movement, action
- 指
- zhǐ — Finger; to point at or indicate
- 掌
- zhǎng — Palm of hand; to be in charge of
- 意
- yì — Meaning, intention, idea, thought
- 见
- jiàn — To see, meet; opinion, view
- 却
- què — But, yet, however (contrast particle)
- 极
- jí — Extremely, very; pole or extreme
- 为
- wéi/wèi — To be; for the sake of; because of
- 漠
- mò — Indifferent, apathetic; desert
- 确
- què — Indeed, certainly, accurate, sure
- 着
- zhe — Ongoing action particle; wearing
- 相
- xiāng — Mutually, each other; appearance
- 当
- dāng — Should, ought to; serve as; quite
- 鲜
- xiān — Fresh; bright, vivid (of color)
- 明
- míng — Bright, clear, obvious, distinct
- 性
- xìng — Nature, character, personality; gender
- 甚
- shèn — Very, extremely; even, to the extent
- 至
- zhì — To, until, extremely; to arrive
- 怪
- guài — Strange, odd, weird; to blame
- 癖
- pǐ — Obsession, habit, quirk, eccentricity
- 言
- yán — Speech, words, to speak (formal)
- 语
- yǔ — Language, words, speech
- 回
- huí — To return, go back; to reply
- 击
- jī — To hit, strike, attack, counter
- 方
- fāng — Direction, side, method, square
- 本
- běn — Root, origin; measure word for books
- 易
- yì — Easy, simple; to change, exchange
- 反
- fǎn — Opposite, reverse; to rebel, oppose
- 之
- zhī — Possessive particle (formal); it, them
- 事
- shì — Matter, affair, thing, event
- 而
- ér — And yet, but, however (conjunction)
- 知
- zhī — To know, be aware of, understand
- 何
- hé — What, why, how (interrogative formal)
- 间
- jiān — Between, among; space, interval
- 总
- zǒng — Always, in general, overall, total
- 体
- tǐ — Body, form, overall structure
- 还
- hái — Still, yet, also, additionally
- 保
- bǎo — To protect, maintain, preserve
- 持
- chí — To hold, maintain, keep, sustain
- 程
- chéng — Degree, extent, journey, procedure
- 度
- dù — Degree, measure, extent, limit
- 善
- shàn — Good, kind, virtuous, benevolent
- 偶
- ǒu — Occasionally, by chance; a couple
- 尔
- ěr — You (archaic); that; thus
- 角
- jiǎo — Corner; quarrel, argument; horn
- 过
- guò — To pass, go through; excessively
- 句
- jù — Measure word for sentences or phrases
- 辛
- xīn — Spicy, pungent; hardship, suffering
- 辣
- là — Hot, spicy; sharp and biting (speech)
- 愤
- fèn — Indignant, angry, resentful
- 昂
- áng — To hold high; soaring, lofty
- 首
- shǒu — Head; first; measure word for songs
- 恰
- qià — Just right, exactly, precisely
- 足
- zú — Sufficient, enough; foot
- 让
- ràng — To let, allow, yield, make
- 平
- píng — Flat, calm, peaceful, ordinary
- 静
- jìng — Quiet, still, calm, peaceful
- 于
- yú — In, at, from, by (formal preposition)
- 乏
- fá — Lacking, fatigued, dull, short of
- 味
- wèi — Taste, flavor, interest, appeal
- 穿
- chuān — To wear, put on clothing; to pierce
- 扮
- bàn — To dress up, disguise, play a role
- 完
- wán — Finished, complete, done
- 全
- quán — Completely, entirely, whole, all
- 受
- shòu — To receive, accept, be influenced by
- 时
- shí — Time, period; fashionable (时尚)
- 尚
- shàng — Fashion, esteem; still, yet
- 所
- suǒ — Place; that which (formal particle)
- 认
- rèn — To recognize, acknowledge, know
- 识
- shí — To know, recognize; knowledge
- 又
- yòu — Again, also, furthermore, moreover
- 关
- guān — To close; to concern, relate to
- 系
- xì — System, connection, relationship
- 呢
- ne — Particle indicating continuation or question
- 若
- ruò — If, supposing, as if (formal)
- 出
- chū — To go out, exit, emerge, produce
- 理
- lǐ — Reason, logic, principle; to manage
- 由
- yóu — Reason, cause; by, from, through
- 同
- tóng — Same, alike, together, with
- 样
- yàng — Appearance, shape, type, manner
- 充
- chōng — Full, sufficient, to fill,充分 ample
- 分
- fēn — Part, divide; sufficient; score
- 衣
- yī — Clothing, garment, dress
- 物
- wù — Thing, object, matter, creature
- 面
- miàn — Face, surface, noodles; side
- 料
- liào — Material, fabric, ingredient; to expect
- 质
- zhì — Quality, character, substance, nature
- 地
- dì — Ground, earth; background; particle
- 优
- yōu — Excellent, superior, outstanding
- 良
- liáng — Good, fine, excellent, virtuous
- 朴
- pǔ — Simple, plain, unadorned, modest
- 素
- sù — Plain, simple, vegetarian; element
- 数
- shù — Number, count; majority, several
- 清
- qīng — Clean, clear, pure, neat
- 洁
- jié — Clean, pure, tidy, spotless
- 乎
- hū — Particle expressing doubt or approximation
- 与
- yǔ — And, with, together with (formal)
- 令
- lìng — To cause, make; order; your (honorific)
- 印
- yìn — To print, stamp; impression, seal
- 象
- xiàng — Elephant; image, appearance, impression
- 深
- shēn — Deep, profound, dark (color)
- 刻
- kè — To engrave, carve; a moment; harsh
- 泰
- tài — Peaceful, safe; extreme; Thailand
- 勒
- lè — To rein in; to force; a surname
- 丝
- sī — Silk; thread; a strand, tiny amount
- 苟
- gǒu — Carelessly, if only, provided that (formal)
- 但
- dàn — But, however, yet (conjunction)
- 担
- dān — To carry, bear, shoulder; responsibility
- 英
- yīng — Hero, outstanding; England, English
- 格
- gé — Lattice, standard, style; character
- 件
- jiàn — Measure word for clothing or matters
- 羊
- yáng — Sheep, goat; lamb
- 腿
- tuǐ — Leg (human or animal)
- 袖
- xiù — Sleeve of a garment
- 条
- tiáo — Measure word for long, thin objects
- 紧
- jǐn — Tight, close, urgent, tense
- 窄
- zhǎi — Narrow, tight, restricted in width
- 短
- duǎn — Short (in length or duration)
- 裙
- qún — Skirt, dress
- 现
- xiàn — Present, current, now; to appear
- 且
- qiě — And, moreover, furthermore, temporarily
- 并
- bìng — And, furthermore; actually not (并未)
- 未
- wèi — Not yet, have not (formal negation)
- 发
- fā — To emit, send out; to start; hair
- 图
- tú — Picture, diagram, map; to plan
- 把
- bǎ — Disposal preposition; to hold; handle
- 华
- huá — Magnificent, splendid; China, Chinese
- 丽
- lì — Beautiful, gorgeous, splendid
- 绸
- chóu — Silk cloth, satin, fine silk fabric
- 伞
- sǎn — Umbrella, parasol
- 亲
- qīn — Close, intimate; parent; in person
- 作
- zuò — To do, make, write, act as
- 证
- zhèng — Proof, evidence; to witness, certify
- 温
- wēn — Warm, gentle, mild, moderate
- 柔
- róu — Gentle, soft, tender, yielding
- 姑
- gū — Aunt; maiden, unmarried woman
- 娘
- niáng — Mother; young woman; girl
- 撑
- chēng — To prop up, support, open an umbrella
- 踏
- tà — To step on, tread, walk upon
- 细
- xì — Fine, thin, slender, detailed
- 碎
- suì — Broken, shattered; scattered, trivial
- 步
- bù — Step, pace; walk; stage
- 伐
- fá — To cut down; march; expedition
- 教
- jiào — To teach; religion; education
- 堂
- táng — Hall, church; a main room
- 原
- yuán — Original, former; plains, field
- 许
- xǔ — To allow, promise; perhaps; many
- 兄
- xiōng — Older brother; elder male sibling
- 弟
- dì — Younger brother; junior male
- 妹
- mèi — Younger sister; junior female sibling
- 今
- jīn — Now, today, current, present time
- 只
- zhǐ — Only, merely, just
- 剩
- shèng — To remain, be left over, surplus
- 孤
- gū — Lonely, isolated, solitary, orphaned
- 身
- shēn — Body, self, oneself; one's life
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