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English → Chinese What the House Remembers Level 5/10

The cool corner of the garden beneath the oldest mango tree, where the roots had lifted the soil into a low curved wall that was exactly the right size to rest against in the afternoon.

花园里最古老的芒果树下有一处凉爽的角落，树根将泥土拱起，形成一道低矮的弧形土墙，高度恰到好处，正适合在午后倚靠小憩。

These were the places that organized his world, and he moved between them with the confidence of someone who has mapped a country thoroughly and trusts the map.

这些地方构成了他世界的秩序，他在其间穿行，带着那种已将一片土地细细丈量、并对地图深信不疑的人所特有的笃定。

In the mornings he woke when Nipa woke, which was when her alarm sounded at six-fifteen.

每天早晨，他在尼帕醒来时便也醒来，而她醒来的时刻，正是闹钟在六点一刻响起的时候。

He did not understand alarms, but he understood her movement — the particular way she shifted before she sat up, the change in her breathing.

他不懂闹钟，但他懂得她的动作——她坐起身之前那种特有的翻身方式，以及她呼吸的变化。

By the time she was sitting on the edge of the bed he was already standing, tail moving steadily, ready.

等她坐到床沿时，他已经站了起来，尾巴平稳地摇摆着，随时准备好了。

Malee was always awake before both of them.

玛丽总是比他们两个都醒得更早。

This was the order of things: Malee, then Nipa, then light.

这便是万物的秩序：玛丽，然后尼帕，然后才是光。

Malee had a routine that had not changed in the thirty years since her own mother had shown her how a household should be maintained in the early morning, before the heat arrived and made everything harder.

玛丽有一套三十年来从未改变的晨间习惯，那是她母亲当年传授给她的——如何在暑热降临、让一切都变得更为费力之前，把持好这个家的清晨。

Rice started first.

先是开始蒸米饭。

Then the garden, a slow walk through it with the hose, the water catching the low early light.

然后是花园，她拖着水管缓缓走过，水流映着清晨低斜的光线，折射出粼粼的光。

Then the gate unlatched and opened slightly, not wide, just enough to let the morning air move through.

然后是将大门的插销拨开，轻轻推开一道缝，不是大开，只是恰好让晨风得以穿行。

She had done this for years without anyone noticing, and she did not do it for anyone.

这件事她做了多年，从没有人留意到，而她也从不是为任何人而做。

It was simply part of what morning was.

它不过是清晨本该有的一部分。

Now morning also included a small white dog who appeared at her feet while she was making rice.

如今，清晨还多了一条小白狗，它会在她煮饭时出现在她脚边。

He did not ask for anything.

它什么也不讨要。

He sat at a respectful distance from the stove, watching with his dark calm eyes, and waited to see what the morning would bring.

它端坐在离炉灶不远不近的地方，用那双深沉平静的眼睛凝望着，等待着清晨将会带来什么。

Vocabulary

花园: huāyuán — Garden; an outdoor area with plants and flowers.
里: lǐ — Inside; within a place or space.
最: zuì — Most; superlative marker before adjectives.
古老: gǔlǎo — Ancient; very old in age or history.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
芒果树: mángguǒ shù — Mango tree; tropical fruit-bearing tree.
下: xià — Below; underneath something.
有: yǒu — To have; there is/are something.
一处: yī chù — A spot; one particular place or location.
凉爽: liángshuǎng — Cool and refreshing; pleasantly not hot.
角落: jiǎoluò — Corner; a secluded or tucked-away spot.
树根: shùgēn — Tree root; the underground part of a tree.
将: jiāng — To cause something to happen; formal 'will/shall'.
泥土: nítǔ — Soil; earth; dirt on the ground.
拱起: gǒng qǐ — To arch upward; to push up in a curved shape.
形成: xíngchéng — To form; to take shape; to develop into.
一道: yī dào — One stretch of; a single strip or line.
低矮: dī'ǎi — Low and short; not tall in height.
弧形: húxíng — Arc-shaped; curved like part of a circle.
土墙: tǔ qiáng — Earthen wall; a wall made of soil or mud.
高度: gāodù — Height; the measurement of how tall something is.
恰到好处: qià dào hǎo chù — Just right; perfectly suitable in degree or amount.
正: zhèng — Just; exactly; right at a certain moment.
适合: shìhé — To suit; to be appropriate or fitting for.
在: zài — At; in; located at a place or time.
午后: wǔhòu — Afternoon; the period after noon.
倚靠: yǐkào — To lean against; to rest against something for support.
小憩: xiǎo qì — To take a short rest; a brief nap or break.
这些: zhèxiē — These; referring to multiple nearby things or places.
地方: dìfang — Place; location; area or spot.
构成: gòuchéng — To constitute; to make up or form a whole.
了: le — Particle indicating completed action or changed state.
他: tā — He; him; third-person masculine pronoun.
世界: shìjiè — World; the entire realm of one's existence.
秩序: zhìxù — Order; organized arrangement of things or society.
其间: qíjiān — Among them; in between; within that space.
穿行: chuānxíng — To pass through; to move across or navigate freely.
带着: dài zhe — Carrying; bearing a quality or item along.
那种: nà zhǒng — That kind of; referring to a particular type.
一片: yī piàn — A stretch of; a piece or expanse of land.
土地: tǔdì — Land; earth; a piece of ground or territory.
细细: xìxì — Carefully and thoroughly; in fine detail.
丈量: zhàngliáng — To measure; to survey the dimensions of land.
并: bìng — And; furthermore; in addition to that.
对: duì — Toward; regarding; with respect to something.
地图: dìtú — Map; a drawn representation of an area.
深信不疑: shēn xìn bù yí — To believe firmly without any doubt whatsoever.
人: rén — Person; human being; people.
所: suǒ — Particle used before verbs to nominalize them.
特有: tèyǒu — Unique to; exclusively possessed by something or someone.
笃定: dǔdìng — Calm certainty; quiet confidence in one's conviction.
每天: měitiān — Every day; daily; on a regular daily basis.
早晨: zǎochén — Early morning; the first part of the day.
醒来: xǐng lái — To wake up; to come out of sleep.
时: shí — When; at the time of; a temporal marker.
便: biàn — Then; thereupon; immediately following something.
也: yě — Also; too; as well; likewise.
而: ér — And; but; yet; a conjunctive particle.
她: tā — She; her; third-person feminine pronoun.
时刻: shíkè — Moment; a specific point or instant in time.
正是: zhèngshì — Exactly is; precisely at or during that time.
闹钟: nàozhōng — Alarm clock; a clock that rings to wake someone.
六点: liù diǎn — Six o'clock; the hour of six.
一刻: yī kè — A quarter hour; fifteen minutes past the hour.
响起: xiǎng qǐ — To ring out; to begin sounding loudly.
时候: shíhou — Time; moment; when something occurs.
不懂: bù dǒng — Does not understand; unable to comprehend something.
但: dàn — But; however; a conjunction showing contrast.
懂得: dǒngde — To understand; to know and comprehend something.
动作: dòngzuò — Movement; action; a physical gesture or motion.
坐起身: zuò qǐ shēn — To sit up; to raise oneself to a sitting position.
之前: zhīqián — Before; prior to a certain action or time.
翻身: fānshēn — To turn over; to roll one's body to the side.
方式: fāngshì — Way; manner; method of doing something.
以及: yǐjí — As well as; and also; in addition to.
呼吸: hūxī — Breathing; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.
变化: biànhuà — Change; variation; alteration in state or form.
等: děng — Etc.; and so on; among other similar things.
坐到: zuò dào — To sit down onto; to reach a seated position.
床沿: chuángyán — Bed edge; the side rim or border of a bed.
已经: yǐjīng — Already; having done something before now.
站了: zhàn le — Has stood up; completed the act of standing.
起来: qǐlái — To get up; directional complement indicating upward motion.
尾巴: wěiba — Tail; the rear appendage of an animal.
平稳: píngwěn — Steady; stable; smooth and even in movement.
地: de — Adverbial particle linking adverb to following verb.
摇摆: yáobǎi — To sway; to wag back and forth rhythmically.
着: zhe — Particle indicating ongoing or continuous action.
随时: suíshí — At any time; always ready; whenever needed.
准备好: zhǔnbèi hǎo — Fully prepared; ready to act at any moment.
总是: zǒngshì — Always; invariably; at all times without exception.
比: bǐ — Compared to; than; used in comparisons.
他们: tāmen — They; them; third-person plural pronoun.
两个: liǎng gè — Two; a pair of; both of them.
都: dōu — All; both; every one without exception.
醒得: xǐng de — Wake up (degree marker); used before comparisons.
更早: gèng zǎo — Even earlier; sooner than something else.
这: zhè — This; referring to something nearby or just mentioned.
便是: biàn shì — Is precisely; that is exactly; this is it.
万物: wànwù — All things; everything in the world or nature.
然后: ránhòu — Then; afterwards; next in sequence of events.
才是: cái shì — Only then is; not until then; emphasizes sequence.
光: guāng — Light; brightness; also meaning 'only' contextually.
一套: yī tào — A set of; one complete system or routine.
三十年: sānshí nián — Thirty years; a period of three decades.
来: lái — Used after time period to mean 'over the past'.
从未: cóngwèi — Never; have never at any point done something.
改变: gǎibiàn — To change; to alter or transform something.
晨间: chénjiān — Morning time; during the early hours of day.
习惯: xíguàn — Habit; a routine behavior done regularly.
那是: nà shì — That is; referring to something previously mentioned.
母亲: mǔqīn — Mother; one's female parent.
当年: dāngnián — Back then; in those days; at that time.
传授: chuánshòu — To pass on; to teach and transmit knowledge or skills.
给: gěi — To give; for; to the benefit of someone.
如何: rúhé — How; in what way; by what means.
暑热: shǔrè — Summer heat; intense hot weather of the season.
降临: jiànglín — To descend; to arrive; to come upon a place.
让: ràng — To let; to allow; to cause someone to do.
一切: yīqiè — Everything; all things without exception.
变得: biàn de — To become; to grow into a certain state.
更为: gèng wéi — Even more; to a greater degree than before.
费力: fèilì — Laborious; requiring great effort to accomplish.
把持: bǎchí — To maintain control; to keep a firm hold on.
好: hǎo — Well; properly; in a good or satisfactory manner.
这个: zhège — This; this particular one being referred to.
家: jiā — Home; family; the place where one lives.
清晨: qīngchén — Early morning; the fresh and quiet morning hours.
先是: xiān shì — First was; begins with; the first thing being.
开始: kāishǐ — To begin; to start; the commencement of something.
蒸: zhēng — To steam; to cook food using steam heat.
米饭: mǐfàn — Cooked rice; steamed white rice eaten as staple.
是: shì — Is; am; are; the verb to be.
拖着: tuō zhe — Dragging; pulling something along behind oneself.
水管: shuǐguǎn — Water hose; pipe used to carry or spray water.
缓缓: huǎnhuǎn — Slowly; gradually; in an unhurried gentle manner.
走过: zǒuguò — To walk past; to pass by a place on foot.
水流: shuǐliú — Water flow; a stream or current of water.
映着: yìng zhe — Reflecting; shining against; catching light upon something.
光线: guāngxiàn — Light rays; beams of light; illumination.
折射出: zhéshè chū — To refract outward; to produce a refracted light effect.
粼粼: línlín — Sparkling; glittering on the surface of water.
大门: dàmén — Front gate; main entrance door of a house.
插销: chāxiāo — Door bolt; a sliding latch used to lock a door.
拨开: bō kāi — To push aside; to slide open a latch or bolt.
轻轻: qīngqīng — Gently; lightly; with soft and delicate movement.
推开: tuī kāi — To push open; to open by pushing gently.
缝: fèng — A crack; a narrow gap or slit in something.
不是: bú shì — Is not; negative form of the verb to be.
大开: dà kāi — Wide open; opened fully all the way.
只是: zhǐshì — Just; merely; only to a limited degree.
恰好: qiàhǎo — Just enough; exactly right; precisely as needed.
晨风: chénfēng — Morning breeze; the cool wind of early morning.
得以: déyǐ — To be able to; to have the opportunity to.
这件事: zhè jiàn shì — This matter; this particular thing or affair.
做了: zuò le — Has done; completed the act of doing something.
多年: duō nián — Many years; a long period of multiple years.
从没有: cóng méiyǒu — Have never; at no point in the past.
留意: liúyì — To notice; to pay attention to; to take note.
到: dào — To; until; reaching a destination or result.
从不: cóng bù — Never; habitually does not; at no time ever.
为: wèi — For; for the sake of; on behalf of.
任何人: rènhé rén — Anyone; any person whatsoever; whoever it may be.
它: tā — It; third-person pronoun for objects or animals.
不过: búguò — However; but; merely; used to soften a statement.
本该: běn gāi — Should by nature; ought to be as expected.
有的: yǒu de — Some; there are those that; existing ones.
一: yī — One; the number one; a single unit.
部分: bùfen — Part; portion; a section of a larger whole.
如今: rújīn — Nowadays; now; at the present time.
还: hái — Still; also; in addition; furthermore.
多了: duō le — Has increased; there is now additionally one more.
一条: yī tiáo — One (for long flexible things); a single dog or rope.
小白狗: xiǎo bái gǒu — Small white dog; a little white-colored dog.
会: huì — Will; can; able to; expressing ability or likelihood.
煮饭: zhǔfàn — To cook rice; to prepare a cooked meal.
出现: chūxiàn — To appear; to show up; to come into view.
脚边: jiǎo biān — Beside one's feet; at the foot of a person.
什么: shénme — What; anything; used in negative or question contexts.
不: bù — No; not; negation particle before verbs or adjectives.
讨要: tǎoyào — To beg for; to demand or ask for something.
端坐: duānzuò — To sit upright; to sit properly and attentively.
离: lí — Away from; at a distance from something.
炉灶: lúzào — Stove; cooking range used for preparing food.
不远不近: bù yuǎn bù jìn — Neither too far nor too close; just the right distance.
用: yòng — To use; using; with (an instrument or means).
那双: nà shuāng — That pair of; those two (eyes, hands, etc.).
深沉: shēnchén — Deep and calm; profound; of serious quiet depth.
平静: píngjìng — Calm; peaceful; tranquil and undisturbed.
眼睛: yǎnjing — Eyes; the organs used for seeing.
凝望: níngwàng — To gaze fixedly; to stare steadily at something.
等待: děngdài — To wait; to await patiently for something to happen.
将会: jiāng huì — Will; is going to; expressing future certainty.
带来: dài lái — To bring; to carry something to a place or person.

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