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English → Chinese Inherited Walls, Honest Aging Level 5/10

He learned that the kitchen was where things happened in the morning, and that if he sat near the low cabinet below the stove with his chin resting on his paws, someone would eventually notice him and this was usually rewarded.

他学会了厨房是早晨发生事情的地方，也学会了如果他靠着炉子下面的矮柜坐着、把下巴搁在爪子上，终究会有人注意到他，而这通常都会有所回报。

He learned that the back garden was cool in the early hours and hot by midday and that the strip of shade along the south fence moved across the afternoon in a predictable way.

他学会了后花园在清晨是凉爽的，到正午便变得炎热，而沿着南侧围栏延伸的那一带阴影会以一种可以预料的方式在整个下午缓缓移动。

He learned the smell of rain before it arrived, the smell of frangipani in the heat, the smell of the neighbor's cooking, which was slightly different from their own and always came from the same direction.

他学会了辨认雨来临之前的气味、暑热中鸡蛋花的芬芳，以及邻居做饭的气味——那气味与自家的略有不同，却总是从同一个方向飘来。

He learned the gate.

他学会了那扇门。

It was a simple gate — wooden, painted green once, now faded to something between green and grey, with a latch that clicked when it opened and a sound of scraping metal when it swung.

那是一扇简单的门——木制的，曾经漆成绿色，如今已褪成一种介于绿色与灰色之间的颜色，开启时门闩会发出咔哒一声，摆动时则带着金属摩擦的声响。

Nipa had always come through it at a particular hour, the hour when the school day ended and the afternoon began, and Khao had learned this hour without being taught it.

妮帕总是在某个特定的时刻穿门而入——那是学校的一天结束、下午就此开始的时刻，而考学会了这个时刻，尽管从未有人教过他。

He had simply observed, the way he observed everything, and concluded.

他只是观察，就像他观察一切事物那样，然后得出了结论。

Each day, as the light changed and the shadows lengthened in the way that meant the particular hour was coming, Khao would leave wherever he was — the shade under the mango tree, the cool tiles of the kitchen floor — and go to the gate.

每一天，当光线发生变化、阴影以那种预示着特定时刻将至的方式拉长时，考便会离开他所在的任何地方——芒果树下的阴凉处，或厨房地板上的凉爽瓷砖——走向那扇门。

He would sit there in his particular way, very straight, very still, with his white ears slightly forward and his dark eyes fixed on the lane beyond.

他会以他特有的姿态坐在那里，身子挺得笔直，一动不动，白色的耳朵微微前倾，黑色的眼睛凝视着门外的小巷。

Waiting was not a verb for him.

等待对他而言不是一个动词。

It was not an activity he performed.

那不是他在做的某件事。

It was simply what the hour required, and so he was present for it.

那只不过是这个时刻所要求的，于是他便在此守候。

Vocabulary

他: tā — Third person singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'him'.
学会了: xuéhuì le — Has learned and mastered a skill or knowledge.
厨房: chúfáng — Kitchen; room where food is prepared.
是: shì — To be; linking verb indicating identity or state.
早晨: zǎochén — Morning; the early part of the day.
发生: fāshēng — To happen; to occur; to take place.
事情: shìqing — Matter; affair; thing that happens.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
地方: dìfang — Place; location; area where something exists.
也: yě — Also; too; as well; likewise.
如果: rúguǒ — If; supposing; in the event that.
靠着: kàozhe — Leaning against; resting beside something.
炉子: lúzi — Stove; cooking range or heating appliance.
下面: xiàmiàn — Below; underneath; the lower side.
矮柜: ǎiguì — Low cabinet; short storage cupboard near floor.
坐着: zuòzhe — Sitting; in a seated position continuously.
把: bǎ — Disposal marker; preposition directing action onto object.
下巴: xiàba — Chin; the lower part of the face.
搁在: gē zài — To rest or place something on top of.
爪子: zhuǎzi — Paw; claw; animal's foot with claws.
上: shàng — On; above; on top of something.
终究: zhōngjiū — In the end; ultimately; after all is said.
会有: huì yǒu — There will be; something will exist eventually.
人: rén — Person; people; human being.
注意到: zhùyì dào — To notice; to become aware of something.
而: ér — And; but; yet; conjunctive or contrastive particle.
这: zhè — This; referring to something nearby or just mentioned.
通常: tōngcháng — Usually; normally; under ordinary circumstances.
都会: dōu huì — Will all; everyone or everything will do.
有所: yǒu suǒ — To have some degree of; somewhat; partially.
回报: huíbào — Reward; return; repayment for effort or kindness.
后花园: hòu huāyuán — Back garden; garden situated behind a house.
在: zài — At; in; located at a place or time.
清晨: qīngchén — Early morning; the fresh cool start of day.
凉爽: liángshuǎng — Cool and refreshing; pleasantly cool temperature.
到: dào — To; until; reaching a point in time or place.
正午: zhèngwǔ — Noon; exactly midday; twelve o'clock daytime.
便: biàn — Then; thereupon; immediately afterward; formal 'then'.
变得: biàn de — To become; to turn into a new state.
炎热: yánrè — Scorching hot; sweltering; intensely high temperature.
沿着: yánzhe — Along; following the length or edge of something.
南侧: nán cè — South side; the southern edge or flank.
围栏: wéilán — Fence; railing; enclosing barrier around an area.
延伸: yánshēn — To extend; to stretch out; to spread further.
那: nà — That; referring to something distant or already known.
一带: yīdài — Area; zone; the region around a place.
阴影: yīnyǐng — Shadow; shade; dark area blocked from light.
会: huì — Will; can; likely to do something.
以: yǐ — With; using; by means of; in a manner.
一种: yī zhǒng — A kind of; a type of; one sort.
可以: kěyǐ — Can; may; it is possible to do something.
预料: yùliào — To anticipate; to predict; to expect beforehand.
方式: fāngshì — Way; manner; method of doing something.
整个: zhěnggè — Entire; whole; the complete duration or extent.
下午: xiàwǔ — Afternoon; the time from noon to evening.
缓缓: huǎnhuǎn — Slowly; gradually; moving at a leisurely pace.
移动: yídòng — To move; to shift position or location.
辨认: biànrèn — To identify; to recognize by distinguishing features.
雨: yǔ — Rain; water falling from the sky.
来临: láilín — To arrive; to come; approach of an event.
之前: zhīqián — Before; prior to; preceding a time or event.
气味: qìwèi — Smell; odor; scent detectable by the nose.
暑热: shǔrè — Summer heat; intense warmth of hot season.
中: zhōng — In; among; within; inside a space or context.
鸡蛋花: jīdànhuā — Plumeria; frangipani flower known for sweet fragrance.
芬芳: fēnfāng — Fragrant; sweet-smelling; pleasant floral aroma.
以及: yǐjí — As well as; and also; together with.
邻居: línjū — Neighbor; person living nearby or next door.
做饭: zuòfàn — To cook; to prepare a meal.
与: yǔ — And; with; together with; formal conjunction.
自家: zìjiā — One's own home or household; one's own family.
略有不同: lüè yǒu bùtóng — Slightly different; a bit unlike; somewhat distinct.
却: què — Yet; but; however; expressing contrast or unexpectedness.
总是: zǒng shì — Always; invariably; at all times without exception.
从: cóng — From; starting at a point in time or space.
同一个: tóng yīgè — The same one; one identical thing or place.
方向: fāngxiàng — Direction; the way something faces or travels.
飘来: piāo lái — To drift over; to waft toward someone.
那扇: nà shàn — That (one); measure word for doors or windows.
门: mén — Door; gate; entrance to a space.
一扇: yī shàn — One (door/window); measure word for flat panels.
简单: jiǎndān — Simple; plain; not complex or elaborate.
木制: mùzhì — Made of wood; wooden construction or material.
曾经: céngjīng — Once; formerly; used to; at a past time.
漆成: qī chéng — Painted into; coated with paint to become a color.
绿色: lǜsè — Green; the color green.
如今: rújīn — Nowadays; now; at the present time.
已: yǐ — Already; by now; formal particle of completion.
褪成: tuì chéng — Faded into; bleached or worn to become another color.
介于: jiè yú — Between; falling somewhere in the middle of two things.
灰色: huīsè — Gray; the color gray; neutral between black and white.
之间: zhījiān — Between; among; in the space separating two things.
颜色: yánsè — Color; hue; the visual property of an object.
开启: kāiqǐ — To open; to unlock; to start functioning.
时: shí — When; at the time of; a moment or period.
门闩: ménshuān — Door latch; bolt that fastens a door shut.
发出: fāchū — To emit; to produce a sound or signal.
一声: yī shēng — One sound; a single noise or utterance.
摆动: bǎidòng — To swing; to sway back and forth.
则: zé — Then; while; on the other hand; formal contrast.
带着: dàizhe — Accompanied by; carrying along; together with a feature.
金属: jīnshǔ — Metal; a hard shiny material like iron or steel.
摩擦: mócā — Friction; rubbing; the resistance of two surfaces.
声响: shēngxiǎng — Sound; noise; an audible acoustic occurrence.
某个: mǒu gè — A certain; some particular; an unspecified one.
特定: tèdìng — Specific; particular; fixed and clearly defined.
时刻: shíkè — Moment; instant; a specific point in time.
穿门: chuān mén — To pass through a doorway; to enter through a door.
而入: ér rù — And enter; thereupon coming inside; formal entry phrase.
学校: xuéxiào — School; educational institution for students.
一天: yītiān — One day; a single day; the whole day.
结束: jiéshù — To end; to finish; conclusion of something.
就此: jiùcǐ — Hereby; from this point; with this beginning.
开始: kāishǐ — To begin; to start; the commencement of something.
考: kǎo — To figure out; to study; to deduce through thought.
这个: zhège — This one; this thing; referring to something specific.
尽管: jǐnguǎn — Even though; despite; although; regardless of the fact.
从未: cóng wèi — Never; has never; at no time in the past.
有人: yǒu rén — There is someone; somebody; some person exists.
教过: jiāo guo — Has taught; instructed at some point in the past.
只是: zhǐshì — Only; merely; just; nothing more than this.
观察: guānchá — To observe; to watch carefully; to examine closely.
就像: jiù xiàng — Just like; exactly as; in the same way as.
一切: yīqiè — Everything; all things; the entirety of something.
事物: shìwù — Things; objects; matters existing in the world.
那样: nàyàng — Like that; in that way; in the same manner.
然后: ránhòu — Then; afterward; after that; next in sequence.
得出了: dé chū le — Arrived at; reached and produced a conclusion.
结论: jiélùn — Conclusion; final judgment reached through reasoning.
每一天: měi yītiān — Every day; each single day without exception.
当: dāng — When; at the time that; as something happens.
光线: guāngxiàn — Light; rays of light; illumination in a space.
变化: biànhuà — Change; transformation; shift from one state to another.
那种: nà zhǒng — That kind; that type; that particular sort.
预示着: yùshìzhe — Indicating; foreshadowing; serving as a sign of.
将至: jiāng zhì — About to arrive; imminent; soon to come.
拉长: lā cháng — To elongate; to lengthen; to stretch out longer.
便会: biàn huì — Would then; will thereupon; immediately will do.
离开: líkāi — To leave; to depart from a place or person.
所在: suǒzài — Where one is located; current position or place.
任何: rènhé — Any; whatever; whichever; no matter which one.
芒果树: mángguǒ shù — Mango tree; tropical tree bearing mango fruit.
下: xià — Under; below; beneath something.
阴凉处: yīnliáng chù — Shady spot; cool shaded area away from sun.
或: huò — Or; either; alternatively one or another option.
地板: dìbǎn — Floor; the surface one walks on indoors.
瓷砖: cízhuān — Ceramic tile; flat tile used for floors or walls.
走向: zǒuxiàng — To walk toward; to head in a direction.
特有: tèyǒu — Characteristic; unique to; belonging only to something.
姿态: zītài — Posture; stance; the way a body is positioned.
坐在: zuò zài — To sit at; seated in or at a place.
那里: nàlǐ — There; that place; a location already mentioned.
身子: shēnzi — Body; one's torso or physical form.
挺得: tǐng de — Held up; kept erect; maintaining an upright posture.
笔直: bǐzhí — Perfectly straight; upright; completely vertical or erect.
一动不动: yī dòng bù dòng — Perfectly still; without any movement; motionless.
白色: báisè — White; the color white.
耳朵: ěrduo — Ear; the organ used for hearing.
微微: wēiwēi — Slightly; gently; a very small degree.
前倾: qián qīng — Leaning forward; tilting toward the front.
黑色: hēisè — Black; the color black.
眼睛: yǎnjing — Eyes; the organs used for seeing.
凝视着: níngshìzhe — Gazing at; staring fixedly at something.
门外: mén wài — Outside the door; beyond the entrance.
小巷: xiǎo xiàng — Alley; narrow lane between buildings.
等待: děngdài — To wait; to await; to remain in expectation.
对: duì — For; regarding; toward; in relation to something.
而言: ér yán — Speaking of; as far as something is concerned.
不是: bù shì — Is not; to not be; negation of identity.
一个: yīgè — One; a single; indefinite article equivalent.
动词: dòngcí — Verb; a word expressing action or state.
在做: zài zuò — Currently doing; in the process of doing.
某件: mǒu jiàn — Some particular; a certain unspecified item or matter.
事: shì — Thing; matter; affair; task or business.
只不过: zhǐ búguò — Merely; only; it is simply nothing more than.
所: suǒ — That which; what is; formal nominalizing particle.
要求: yāoqiú — To require; to demand; what is needed or expected.
于是: yúshì — So; therefore; as a result; consequently.
在此: zài cǐ — Here; at this place; at this very spot.
守候: shǒuhòu — To wait and watch; to keep vigil; to stand guard.

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