ขาว — Page 3

English → Chinese Petals Before the Rains Return Level 5/10

There was a corner of the garden — behind the mango tree, sheltered from the afternoon heat by an old wall covered in climbing jasmine — where the soil stayed cool longer than anywhere else.

花园里有一个角落——在芒果树后面，被一堵爬满茉莉花的旧墙遮挡着午后的暑热——那里的土壤比任何地方都能保持更长时间的凉意。

Malee grew her herbs there: lemongrass and galangal and a small, reliable clump of kaffir lime whose leaves she used in nearly everything.

玛丽在那里种着她的香草：香茅、南姜，还有一小丛长势稳定的箭叶橙，她几乎什么菜都会用到它的叶子。

By mid-dry-season, Khao had found this corner and made it his afternoon retreat, a white shape barely visible against the jasmine when he curled up in the shade and slept through the worst of the heat.

到了旱季中期，考已经发现了这个角落，并把它当作自己的午后避暑之所——当他蜷缩在阴影里睡过最难熬的酷热时，那一团白色身影几乎隐没在茉莉花丛中。

It was there that Malee first spoke to him directly, in something more than instruction.

就是在那里，玛丽第一次直接跟他说话，说的不只是命令或指示。

She had been cutting lemongrass, working with her small knife in the methodical way she did everything, and she became aware that he was watching her from his corner — not the intent watching of an animal that wanted something, but a quieter attention, the kind that simply wanted to be present to what was happening.

她正在切香茅，用她那把小刀以她一贯井然有序的方式干活，这时她意识到他正从自己的角落里注视着她——那不是一只有所渴求的动物专注的凝视，而是一种更为安静的关注，那种只是想陪伴在正在发生的事情旁边的目光。

She kept cutting.

她继续切着香茅。

After a while she said, without looking up, "You're a strange little thing, aren't you."

过了一会儿，她头也没抬地说："你真是个奇怪的小家伙，不是吗。"

Khao's ears moved, but he didn't shift his position.

考动了动耳朵，但身子没有挪动。

"Not strange badly," Malee clarified.

"不是坏的那种奇怪，"玛丽补充道。

"Strange in the way of knowing things."

"是那种懂事的奇怪。"

She put the cut lemongrass into her basket and stood up, and for a moment she looked at him properly, this white dog who had come into her house on the confidence of her daughter's patient wanting.

她把切好的香茅放进篮子，站起身来，有那么一刻，她认真地打量着他——这条白狗，凭借着她女儿耐心执着的渴望，走进了她的家。

He looked back at her with his calm dark eyes.

他用那双沉静的深色眼睛回望着她。

"Fine," she said.

"好吧，"她说。

It was not clear what she was agreeing to.

她在答应什么，并不明朗。

Possibly she wasn't sure herself.

也许她自己也说不清楚。

In the evenings the family ate on the porch, where the air moved a little after sundown and the frangipani released more of its smell in the cooling temperature.

傍晚时分，一家人在门廊上吃饭，日落之后那里有些许微风，鸡蛋花在渐渐凉下来的空气中散发出更浓的香气。

Vocabulary

花园: huāyuán — A garden, outdoor space with plants and flowers.
里: lǐ — Inside, within a place or container.
有: yǒu — To have; there is/are something.
一个: yīgè — One (general measure word for objects/people).
角落: jiǎoluò — A corner, secluded nook of a space.
在: zài — At, in, on; indicating location or ongoing action.
芒果树: mángguǒshù — A mango tree, tropical fruit-bearing tree.
后面: hòumiàn — Behind, at the back of something.
被: bèi — Passive marker indicating action done to subject.
一堵: yīdǔ — One (wall); measure word specifically for walls.
爬满: pámǎn — Covered all over by crawling vines or plants.
茉莉花: mòlìhuā — Jasmine flower, fragrant white blossoming plant.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
旧墙: jiùqiáng — An old wall, aged brick or stone barrier.
遮挡: zhēdǎng — To block, shield, or obstruct from something.
着: zhe — Particle indicating ongoing state or action.
午后: wǔhòu — Afternoon, the period after midday.
暑热: shǔrè — Summer heat, intense hot weather of summer.
那里: nàlǐ — There, at that place.
土壤: tǔrǎng — Soil, the ground earth supporting plant growth.
比: bǐ — Compared to; used in comparative sentences.
任何: rènhé — Any, whichever; referring to any place or thing.
地方: dìfāng — Place, location, area or spot.
都: dōu — All, both; indicating inclusiveness or emphasis.
能: néng — Can, be able to; expressing capability.
保持: bǎochí — To maintain, keep, or preserve a condition.
更长: gèng cháng — Even longer, comparatively greater in duration.
时间: shíjiān — Time, a period or duration of moments.
凉意: liángyì — A sense of coolness, pleasant cool feeling.
种着: zhòngzhe — Growing, cultivating plants in an ongoing state.
她: tā — She, her; third-person feminine pronoun.
香草: xiāngcǎo — Herbs, fragrant plants used in cooking.
香茅: xiāngmáo — Lemongrass, aromatic herb used in cooking.
南姜: nánjiāng — Galangal, a pungent root used in Southeast Asian cooking.
还有: háiyǒu — And also, in addition to what was mentioned.
一小丛: yī xiǎo cóng — A small cluster or clump of plants.
长势: zhǎngshì — Growth condition, the state of a plant's growth.
稳定: wěndìng — Stable, steady, not fluctuating or changing erratically.
几乎: jīhū — Almost, nearly; very close to a certain degree.
什么菜: shénme cài — Whatever dish; any type of cooked food.
会: huì — Will; to know how to do something.
用到: yòngdào — To use, to make use of something needed.
它: tā — It; third-person pronoun for objects or animals.
叶子: yèzi — Leaves, the flat green parts of a plant.
到了: dàole — By the time of; arrived at a point.
旱季: hànjì — Dry season, period of little or no rainfall.
中期: zhōngqī — Mid-period, the middle phase of a time span.
已经: yǐjīng — Already, by now; something has occurred before now.
发现: fāxiàn — To discover, find, or realize something new.
了: le — Particle indicating completed action or changed state.
这个: zhège — This, this one; referring to a nearby thing.
并: bìng — And, furthermore; also used to link clauses.
把: bǎ — Disposal marker moving object before verb.
当作: dàngzuò — To regard as, treat as, consider something to be.
自己: zìjǐ — Oneself, self; reflexive pronoun in Chinese.
避暑: bìshǔ — To escape the heat, seek cool refuge in summer.
之所: zhī suǒ — The place for something; a designated location.
当: dāng — When, at the time that something happens.
他: tā — He, him; third-person masculine pronoun.
蜷缩: quánsuō — To curl up, huddle into a compact position.
阴影: yīnyǐng — Shadow, shade; a dark area blocked from light.
睡过: shuìguò — Slept through, having slept during a period.
最: zuì — Most, the superlative degree of an adjective.
难熬: nán'áo — Hard to endure, unbearably difficult to bear.
酷热: kùrè — Scorching heat, extreme and oppressive hot temperature.
时: shí — When, at the time of; a time marker.
那: nà — That, indicating something previously mentioned or distant.
一团: yītuán — A blob, lump or mass of something.
白色: báisè — White color, the color white.
身影: shēnyǐng — A figure, silhouette or shadow of a person or animal.
隐没: yǐnmò — To disappear, become hidden within something.
丛中: cóng zhōng — Among the bushes or cluster of plants.
就是: jiùshì — Exactly, that is to say; used for emphasis.
第一次: dì yī cì — The first time something ever occurs.
直接: zhíjiē — Directly, without intermediary or detour.
跟: gēn — With; to follow or accompany; spoken to.
说话: shuōhuà — To speak, talk, have a conversation.
说: shuō — To say, speak, tell something verbally.
不只是: bù zhǐ shì — Not just, not only; more than one thing.
命令: mìnglìng — An order, command given to someone.
或: huò — Or; indicating an alternative between options.
指示: zhǐshì — Instructions, directions given to guide actions.
正在: zhèngzài — Currently doing, in the process of an action.
切: qiē — To cut, slice food or material with a blade.
用: yòng — To use, employ something for a purpose.
那把: nà bǎ — That (knife); measure word for handled tools.
小刀: xiǎodāo — A small knife, pocketknife or paring knife.
以: yǐ — With, using; in a certain manner or way.
一贯: yīguàn — Consistent, characteristic; always done in a certain way.
井然有序: jǐngrán yǒuxù — Neat and orderly, perfectly organized and methodical.
方式: fāngshì — Way, method, manner of doing something.
干活: gànhuó — To work, do manual labor or chores.
这时: zhèshí — At this moment, just then, at this point.
意识到: yìshídào — To become aware of, realize something consciously.
注视: zhùshì — To gaze at, stare at with focused attention.
不是: bùshì — Is not, are not; negating identity or description.
一只: yī zhī — One (animal); measure word for animals and birds.
有所: yǒusuǒ — Having some degree of; somewhat, to some extent.
渴求: kěqiú — To crave, yearn intensely for something desired.
动物: dòngwù — Animal, a living creature that is not a plant.
专注: zhuānzhù — Focused, concentrated attention on something specific.
凝视: níngshì — To stare fixedly, gaze with deep concentration.
而是: érshì — But rather, instead it is something else.
一种: yī zhǒng — A kind of, a type of something.
更为: gèngwéi — Even more, to an even greater degree.
安静: ānjìng — Quiet, calm, still and without noise.
关注: guānzhù — To pay attention to, show concern or interest.
那种: nà zhǒng — That kind of, that type of thing or feeling.
只是: zhǐshì — Just, merely, only; nothing more than that.
想: xiǎng — To want, think, or miss someone or something.
陪伴: péibàn — To accompany, keep someone company, be present with.
发生: fāshēng — To happen, occur, take place as an event.
事情: shìqíng — Matter, thing, affair; something happening or existing.
旁边: pángbiān — Beside, next to, at the side of something.
目光: mùguāng — Gaze, eyes; the direction one is looking.
继续: jìxù — To continue, keep going with an action.
切着: qiēzhe — Continuing to cut, slicing in an ongoing action.
过了: guòle — After a while, once time has passed.
一会儿: yīhuìr — A moment, a short while or brief time.
头: tóu — Head; the top part of a body.
也: yě — Also, too; additionally doing or being something.
没抬: méi tái — Did not lift or raise (one's head).
地: de — Adverbial particle linking adverb to following verb.
你: nǐ — You; second-person singular pronoun.
真是: zhēnshì — Really are, truly; expressing genuine sentiment or emphasis.
个: gè — General measure word for people and many objects.
奇怪: qíguài — Strange, weird, unusual or hard to explain.
小家伙: xiǎo jiāhuo — Little fellow, a small creature or young being.
吗: ma — Question particle turning statement into yes/no question.
动了动: dòngle dòng — Moved slightly, twitched a little bit.
耳朵: ěrduo — Ear, the organ used to hear sounds.
但: dàn — But, however; introduces a contrasting statement.
身子: shēnzi — Body, the physical form of a person or animal.
没有: méiyǒu — Did not, have not; indicating absence or negation.
挪动: nuódòng — To shift, move from one spot to another.
坏: huài — Bad, evil, broken or of poor character.
补充: bǔchōng — To add, supplement with additional information.
道: dào — Said; used after dialogue as a speech verb.
懂事: dǒngshì — Sensible, well-behaved, understanding; describes mature conduct.
切好: qiēhǎo — Finished cutting, cut up completely and properly.
放进: fàngjìn — To put into, place inside a container.
篮子: lánzi — A basket, woven container for carrying things.
站: zhàn — To stand, be in an upright standing position.
起身来: qǐshēn lái — To rise up, stand up from a seated position.
那么: nàme — Then, in that case; such a degree of something.
一刻: yīkè — A moment, a brief instant of time.
认真: rènzhēn — Seriously, carefully, with full attention and effort.
打量: dǎliang — To size up, look someone over carefully.
这条: zhè tiáo — This (dog/snake); measure word for long-bodied animals.
白狗: báigǒu — White dog, a dog with white-colored fur.
凭借: píngjiè — By means of, relying on something to achieve a goal.
女儿: nǚ'ér — Daughter, one's female child.
耐心: nàixīn — Patience, the ability to wait calmly without frustration.
执着: zhízhuó — Persistent, tenacious; stubbornly devoted to a goal.
渴望: kěwàng — To long for, earnestly desire something deeply.
走进: zǒujìn — To walk into, enter a place by walking.
家: jiā — Home, family, house where one lives.
那双: nà shuāng — Those (eyes); measure word for paired things.
沉静: chénjìng — Calm and quiet, serene, composed and tranquil.
深色: shēnsè — Dark-colored, deep in shade or hue.
眼睛: yǎnjīng — Eyes, the organs used for seeing.
回望: huíwàng — To look back, gaze in return at someone.
"好吧: "hǎo ba — Alright then, okay; reluctant or calm acceptance.
答应: dāying — To agree, promise or respond affirmatively.
什么: shénme — What; used in questions or as 'something/anything'.
并不: bìng bù — Not at all, not really; emphatic negation.
明朗: mínglǎng — Clear, bright; obvious and easy to understand.
也许: yěxǔ — Perhaps, maybe; expressing uncertainty or possibility.
说不: shuō bu — Cannot say, unable to express or determine something.
清楚: qīngchǔ — Clear, distinct; easy to understand or perceive.
傍晚: bàngwǎn — Dusk, early evening just before nightfall.
时分: shífēn — Time of day, a particular moment or period.
一家人: yījiārén — The whole family, all members of a household.
门廊: ménláng — Porch, a covered entrance area of a house.
上: shàng — On, above, on top of a surface.
吃饭: chīfàn — To eat a meal, have food.
日落: rìluò — Sunset, when the sun descends below the horizon.
之后: zhīhòu — After, following a certain event or time.
些许: xiēxǔ — A little, a slight amount of something.
微风: wēifēng — A gentle breeze, light and soft wind.
鸡蛋花: jīdànhuā — Plumeria flower, a fragrant tropical ornamental flower.
渐渐: jiànjiàn — Gradually, little by little over time.
凉: liáng — Cool, pleasantly cold or refreshing in temperature.
下来: xiàlái — To come down, settle down; indicates decreasing change.
空气: kōngqì — Air, the atmosphere surrounding us that we breathe.
中: zhōng — In, within, among; inside a space or group.
散发出: sànfāchū — To emit, give off a scent or light outward.
更浓: gèng nóng — Even stronger or richer in scent or flavor.
香气: xiāngqì — Fragrance, a pleasant and sweet-smelling aroma.

← Previous Next →

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →