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English → Chinese Roots in Teak and Rain Level 5/10

The house had been in Malee's family for two generations.

这栋房子在玛莉家已传承两代。

Her father had built it when this part of the province was still mostly orchards and unpaved lanes, when you could hear the monks' morning chanting from three streets away and the nearest market was a forty-minute bicycle ride through red dust.

她父亲建造这栋房子时，这片省区仍以果园和未铺砌的小路为主，那时候隔三条街就能听见僧侣的晨诵，而最近的市场也要骑自行车穿越红尘路途四十分钟才能到达。

He had built it from good teak, dark and dense, the kind of wood that takes decades to dry out and decades more to rot, and he had set it on low stilts so the rains would pass beneath it rather than through it.

他用上好的柚木建造了这栋房子，木色深沉厚实，这种木材需要数十年才能风干，再过数十年才会腐朽，他将房子架在低矮的木桩之上，使得雨水能从屋底流过，而非渗入屋内。

The roof was terracotta tile, replaced once in Malee's lifetime after a particularly cruel storm, and the porch ran along the front and wrapped around the east side of the house where the morning light came first.

屋顶铺着赤陶瓦，在玛莉有生之年曾因一场格外猛烈的风暴而翻修过一次，门廊沿着正面延伸，绕到房子的东侧，那里是晨光最先照到的地方。

There were two mango trees in the garden — old ones, their trunks wider than Nipa could wrap her arms around — and a frangipani near the gate that bloomed white and yellow from March until the rains came and stripped it clean.

花园里有两棵芒果树——都是老树，树干粗得妮帕搂不过来——靠近大门处还有一棵鸡蛋花树，从三月起便开出白色与黄色的花朵，直到雨季来临，将花瓣尽数打落。

The gate itself was simple: painted green iron, with a latch that required a particular downward pressure and a slight lift to release.

大门本身十分简朴：铁制，漆成绿色，门闩需要先向下用力压，再轻轻向上抬才能打开。

Nipa had learned it so young she couldn't remember learning it.

妮帕学会这个动作时年纪太小，她已记不得当初是怎么学会的。

By the time she was five she could open it without looking, the motion folded into her body the way swimming is folded in, or riding a bicycle.

到她五岁时，她已能不用看便打开大门，这个动作融入了她的身体，就像游泳或骑自行车那样自然而然。

The gate swung inward.

大门向内开。

It made a sound that was not quite a squeak and not quite a ring — something between the two, a small domestic note that meant someone was arriving or someone was leaving, and in a house where not many people came and went, it was a sound worth paying attention to.

它发出的声音既不像吱呀声，也不像铃声——介于两者之间，是一个细小的家常音符，意味着有人到来或有人离去，在这座来往人不多的房子里，这是一个值得留意的声音。

Khao learned it quickly.

考很快就学会了这个声音。

Vocabulary

这: zhè — This; used to indicate something nearby.
栋: dòng — Measure word for buildings or houses.
房子: fángzi — House; a residential building or dwelling.
在: zài — At, in, on; indicates location or existence.
家: jiā — Home, family; one's household or residence.
已: yǐ — Already; indicates a completed or prior state.
传承: chuánchéng — Pass down through generations; cultural inheritance.
两代: liǎng dài — Two generations; spanning two family generations.
她: tā — She, her; third-person singular feminine pronoun.
父亲: fùqin — Father; one's male parent.
建造: jiànzào — Build, construct; to erect a structure.
时: shí — When, at the time of; temporal marker.
片: piàn — Measure word for flat expanses or areas.
省区: shěng qū — Province or region; administrative territorial division.
仍: réng — Still, yet; continuing as before.
以: yǐ — With, by means of; used to introduce method.
果园: guǒyuán — Orchard; a place where fruit trees grow.
和: hé — And; connects nouns or phrases together.
未: wèi — Not yet; indicates something has not occurred.
铺砌: pūqì — Pave; to lay stones or tiles on a surface.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
小路: xiǎolù — Small path or lane; a narrow walkway.
为主: wéi zhǔ — Primarily, mainly; as the dominant feature.
那: nà — That; refers to something distant or previously mentioned.
时候: shíhou — Time, moment; a point or period in time.
隔: gé — Separated by; at a distance of something.
三条: sān tiáo — Three (streets); numeral plus measure word.
街: jiē — Street; a road lined with buildings.
就: jiù — Then, right away; indicates immediacy or consequence.
能: néng — Can, be able to; indicates ability or possibility.
听见: tīngjiàn — Hear; to perceive sound successfully.
僧侣: sēnglǚ — Monks; Buddhist or religious male clergy members.
晨诵: chénsòng — Morning chanting; reciting scriptures at dawn.
而: ér — And, but; connects clauses, often with contrast.
最近: zuìjìn — Recently, lately; in the near past or future.
市场: shìchǎng — Market; a place for buying and selling goods.
也: yě — Also, too; adds inclusion or emphasis.
要: yào — Need to, want to; expresses necessity or desire.
骑: qí — Ride; to sit on and travel by bicycle or horse.
自行车: zìxíngchē — Bicycle; a two-wheeled pedal-powered vehicle.
穿越: chuānyuè — Pass through, traverse; cross an area or barrier.
红尘: hóngchén — The mortal world; bustling human society and affairs.
路途: lùtú — Journey, route; the path or distance traveled.
四十: sìshí — Forty; the number 40.
分钟: fēnzhōng — Minute(s); unit of time equal to sixty seconds.
才能: cái néng — Only then can; indicates a necessary condition.
到达: dàodá — Arrive, reach; to get to a destination.
他: tā — He, him; third-person singular masculine pronoun.
用: yòng — Use; to employ something for a purpose.
上好: shànghǎo — Finest quality, top-grade; of the best standard.
柚木: yòumù — Teak wood; a durable tropical hardwood.
了: le — Particle indicating completed action or changed state.
木色: mù sè — Wood color; the natural hue of timber.
深沉: shēnchén — Deep, profound; rich and heavy in tone or manner.
厚实: hòushi — Solid and thick; sturdy and substantial in build.
这种: zhè zhǒng — This kind of, this type of; referring to a category.
木材: mùcái — Timber, lumber; wood used as building material.
需要: xūyào — Need, require; to have necessity for something.
数十年: shù shí nián — Decades; a period of several tens of years.
风干: fēnggān — Air-dry; to dry naturally through air circulation.
再: zài — Again, then; indicates a subsequent action.
过: guò — Pass; indicates elapsed time or surpassing.
才会: cái huì — Only then will; stresses a required condition.
腐朽: fǔxiǔ — Rot, decay; to decompose or become rotten.
将: jiāng — Will; places something, or indicates future action.
架: jià — Prop up, support; to place on a raised support.
低矮: dī'ǎi — Low and short; not tall, close to the ground.
木桩: mùzhuāng — Wooden stake or post; a short wooden support pillar.
之上: zhī shàng — Above, on top of; positioned higher than something.
使得: shǐde — Cause, make; results in a particular outcome.
雨水: yǔshuǐ — Rainwater; water that falls as rain.
从: cóng — From; indicates starting point of movement.
屋底: wū dǐ — Underside of a house; the area beneath the floor.
流过: liú guò — Flow through or past; water moving along a surface.
而非: ér fēi — Rather than, instead of; contrasts two options.
渗入: shènrù — Seep into, permeate; liquid slowly entering a surface.
屋内: wū nèi — Inside the house; the interior of a building.
屋顶: wūdǐng — Roof; the top covering of a building.
铺: pū — Lay, spread; to cover a surface with material.
着: zhe — Particle indicating ongoing state or action.
赤陶瓦: chìtáo wǎ — Terracotta roof tiles; fired clay roofing material.
有生之年: yǒu shēng zhī nián — During one's lifetime; while one is still alive.
曾: céng — Once, formerly; indicates a past experience.
因: yīn — Because of, due to; introduces a cause or reason.
一场: yī cháng — One instance of; measure word for events or storms.
格外: géwài — Especially, particularly; to an exceptional degree.
猛烈: měngliè — Fierce, violent; extremely intense and powerful.
风暴: fēngbào — Storm; a violent weather event with strong winds.
翻修: fānxiū — Renovate, overhaul; to repair and restore a structure.
一次: yī cì — Once, one time; a single occurrence of an action.
门廊: ménláng — Porch, veranda; a covered entrance area of a house.
沿: yán — Along; following the length or edge of something.
正面: zhèngmiàn — Front side; the main forward-facing surface.
延伸: yánshēn — Extend, stretch; to reach out over a longer distance.
绕: rào — Go around, wind; to circle or wrap around something.
到: dào — To, reach; arrive at or extend to a point.
东侧: dōng cè — East side; the eastern facing part of something.
那里: nàlǐ — There; that place, referring to a location.
是: shì — Is, are; the main linking verb in Chinese.
晨光: chénguāng — Morning light; the early sunlight at daybreak.
最先: zuì xiān — First of all; the earliest among others.
照: zhào — Shine on; light illuminating a surface.
地方: dìfang — Place, location; a specific area or spot.
花园: huāyuán — Garden; an outdoor area cultivated with plants.
里: lǐ — Inside, within; indicates interior location.
有: yǒu — Have, there is; indicates existence or possession.
两棵: liǎng kē — Two (trees); numeral plus measure word for trees.
芒果树: mángguǒ shù — Mango tree; a tropical tree bearing mango fruit.
都是: dōu shì — All are, both are; indicates universality in a group.
老树: lǎo shù — Old tree; an aged, long-standing tree.
树干: shùgàn — Tree trunk; the main woody stem of a tree.
粗: cū — Thick, coarse; large in diameter or rough in texture.
得: de — Structural particle linking verb to degree complement.
搂: lǒu — Embrace, hug; to wrap arms around something.
不: bù — Not, no; general negation particle.
过来: guòlai — Come over; manage to accomplish reaching around.
靠近: kàojìn — Near, close to; in proximity to something.
大门: dàmén — Main gate or front door; principal entrance.
处: chù — Place, spot; a location or point in space.
还有: hái yǒu — There is also, in addition; furthermore or besides.
一棵: yī kē — One (tree); numeral plus measure word for trees.
鸡蛋花树: jīdànhuā shù — Plumeria tree; tropical tree with fragrant white flowers.
三月: sānyuè — March; the third month of the year.
起: qǐ — Starting from; marks the beginning of a period.
便: biàn — Then, as soon as; indicates promptness or consequence.
开出: kāi chū — Bloom, blossom out; flowers opening and appearing.
白色: báisè — White color; the color white.
与: yǔ — And, with; connects nouns in formal written Chinese.
黄色: huángsè — Yellow color; the color yellow.
花朵: huāduǒ — Flower; a blossom on a plant.
直到: zhídào — Until; continuing up to a specified time or point.
雨季: yǔjì — Rainy season; the period of year with heavy rain.
来临: láilín — Arrive, come; the onset of a season or event.
花瓣: huābàn — Petal; a single segment of a flower's corolla.
尽数: jìn shù — All, entirely; every single one without exception.
打落: dǎluò — Beat down, knock off; cause to fall by force.
本身: běnshēn — Itself, in itself; the thing itself intrinsically.
十分: shífēn — Very, extremely; to a great degree.
简朴: jiǎnpǔ — Simple and plain; modest without unnecessary decoration.
铁制: tiě zhì — Made of iron; constructed from iron material.
漆: qī — Paint, lacquer; to coat a surface with paint.
成: chéng — Into, become; result of a transformation or process.
绿色: lǜsè — Green color; the color green.
门闩: ménshuān — Door latch or bolt; a fastening device on a door.
先: xiān — First; to do something before another action.
向下: xiàng xià — Downward; in the direction of below.
用力: yòng lì — Exert force; to apply physical strength deliberately.
压: yā — Press down; to apply downward weight or force.
轻轻: qīngqīng — Gently, lightly; with very little force or noise.
向上: xiàng shàng — Upward; in the direction of above.
抬: tái — Lift, raise; to move something upward.
打开: dǎkāi — Open; to cause something to become open.
学会: xuéhuì — Learn to, master; acquire a skill successfully.
这个: zhège — This; refers to a specific nearby object or action.
动作: dòngzuò — Movement, action; a physical gesture or motion.
年纪: niánjì — Age; one's years of life.
太小: tài xiǎo — Too young or small; excessively small in age or size.
记不得: jìbude — Cannot remember; unable to recall something.
当初: dāngchū — Originally, at first; referring to the very beginning.
怎么: zěnme — How; asks about the manner or method of something.
五岁: wǔ suì — Five years old; age of five.
不用: bùyòng — No need to; it is unnecessary to do something.
看: kàn — Look, see; to direct eyes toward something.
融入: róngrù — Blend into, integrate; become part of something fully.
身体: shēntǐ — Body; the physical form of a person.
就像: jiù xiàng — Just like, as if; used to make a comparison.
游泳: yóuyǒng — Swimming; moving through water using the body.
或: huò — Or; presents an alternative option or possibility.
那样: nàyàng — Like that, in that way; in a similar manner.
自然而然: zìrán ér rán — Naturally, effortlessly; happening without deliberate effort.
向内: xiàng nèi — Inward; in the direction of the inside.
开: kāi — Open; to swing or move to an open position.
它: tā — It; third-person singular pronoun for objects.
发出: fāchū — Emit, produce; to give off a sound or signal.
声音: shēngyīn — Sound, voice; an audible noise or tone.
既: jì — Both; used in correlative structure 'neither…nor / both…and'.
不像: bù xiàng — Not like, unlike; does not resemble something.
吱呀声: zhīyā shēng — Creaking sound; the squeaky noise of a door.
铃声: língshēng — Bell sound; the ringing tone of a bell.
介于: jièyú — Between, intermediate; positioned between two extremes.
两者: liǎng zhě — The two; referring to both previously mentioned things.
之间: zhījiān — Between; in the space or range separating two things.
一个: yī gè — One; general measure word for a single object.
细小: xìxiǎo — Tiny, minute; very small in size or scale.
家常: jiācháng — Everyday, homely; ordinary and familiar domestic quality.
音符: yīnfú — Musical note; a symbol or unit of music.
意味着: yìwèizhe — Signify, mean; to indicate or imply something.
有人: yǒu rén — Someone, there is a person; indicating human presence.
到来: dàolái — Arrival; the act of coming or arriving.
离去: líqù — Leave, depart; to go away from a place.
这座: zhè zuò — This (building/place); measure word for large structures.
来往: láiwǎng — Come and go; traffic or interaction between people.
人: rén — Person, people; human being(s).
不多: bù duō — Not many, few; a small number or amount.
值得: zhídé — Worth, deserve; meriting attention or effort.
留意: liúyì — Pay attention, take note; to observe carefully.
考: kǎo — Exam, test; to examine or take a test.
很快: hěn kuài — Very soon, quickly; in a short time or rapidly.

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