War and Peace — Page 8

English → Chinese CHAPTER I Level 8/10

"They say old maids have a mania for matchmaking, and though I don't feel that weakness in myself as yet, I know a little person who is very unhappy with her father.

「他们说老姑娘都有做媒的癖好，虽然我自己还没感觉到这种弱点，但我认识一个小人物，她和她父亲生活得很不幸福。

She is a relation of yours, Princess Mary Bolkónskaya."

她是您的亲戚，玛丽·博尔孔斯卡娅公爵小姐。」

Prince Vasíli did not reply, though, with the quickness of memory and perception befitting a man of the world, he indicated by a movement of the head that he was considering this information.

瓦西里公爵没有回答，不过，凭着一个世故之人所特有的敏捷记忆力和感知力，他点了点头，示意自己正在思考这一消息。

"Do you know," he said at last, evidently unable to check the sad current of his thoughts, "that Anatole is costing me forty thousand rubles a year?

「您知道吗，」他终于开口说，显然无法抑制内心忧郁的思绪，「阿纳托利每年要花掉我四万卢布。

And," he went on after a pause, "what will it be in five years, if he goes on like this?"

而且，」他停顿片刻后继续说道，「如果他继续这样下去，五年后会是什么光景？」

Presently he added: "That's what we fathers have to put up with.... Is this princess of yours rich?"

随后他又补充道：「这就是我们做父亲的不得不忍受的……您说的这位公爵小姐富有吗？」

"Her father is very rich and stingy.

「她父亲非常富有，但很吝啬。

He lives in the country.

他住在乡下。

He is the well-known Prince Bolkónski who had to retire from the army under the late Emperor, and was nicknamed 'the King of Prussia.'

他就是赫赫有名的博尔孔斯基公爵，曾在先皇在位时被迫退出军队，人称'普鲁士国王'。

He is very clever but eccentric, and a bore.

他非常聪明，但性情古怪，令人生厌。

The poor girl is very unhappy.

那可怜的姑娘过得很不幸福。

She has a brother; I think you know him, he married Lise Meinen lately.

她有一个兄弟；我想您认识他，他不久前娶了丽丝·梅宁。

He is an aide-de-camp of Kutúzov's and will be here tonight."

他是库图佐夫的副官，今晚会来这里。」

"Listen, dear Annette," said the prince, suddenly taking Anna Pávlovna's hand and for some reason drawing it downwards.

「听着，亲爱的安妮特，」公爵说道，突然握住安娜·帕夫洛夫娜的手，不知为何将它向下拉。

Vocabulary

他们: tāmen — Third-person plural pronoun meaning 'they' or 'them'.
说: shuō — To speak, say, or talk.
老姑娘: lǎo gūniang — Old maid; unmarried older woman past typical marrying age.
都: dōu — All, both; indicating totality or without exception.
有: yǒu — To have, possess, or exist.
做媒: zuò méi — To act as matchmaker; arrange marriages for others.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
癖好: pǐhào — A personal hobby, habit, or peculiar fondness.
虽然: suīrán — Although, even though; introduces a concessive clause.
我: wǒ — First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me'.
自己: zìjǐ — Oneself; reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject.
还: hái — Still, yet; also indicates continuation of a state.
没: méi — Negation of possession or past action; have not.
感觉到: gǎnjué dào — To have perceived or felt something; become aware of.
这种: zhè zhǒng — This kind of; this type of thing or quality.
弱点: ruòdiǎn — Weakness, weak point, or shortcoming in character.
但: dàn — But, however; introduces a contrasting clause.
认识: rènshi — To know, recognize, or be acquainted with someone.
一个: yī gè — One (person or thing); a single unit.
小人物: xiǎo rénwù — Minor or insignificant person; small, unimportant individual.
她: tā — Third-person singular feminine pronoun meaning 'she' or 'her'.
和: hé — And; together with; connecting nouns or clauses.
父亲: fùqin — Father; one's male parent.
生活: shēnghuó — Life, livelihood; to live or daily existence.
得: de — Structural particle linking verb to resultative complement.
很: hěn — Very, quite; adverb intensifying adjectives or states.
不幸福: bù xìngfú — Unhappy, not blessed; lacking happiness or contentment.
是: shì — To be; copular verb linking subject and predicate.
您: nín — Polite second-person singular pronoun; respectful 'you'.
亲戚: qīnqi — Relative, relation; member of one's extended family.
公爵小姐: gōngjué xiǎojiě — Young duchess or duke's daughter; noble young lady.
公爵: gōngjué — Duke; highest rank of European nobility title.
没有: méiyǒu — To not have; negation indicating absence or lack.
回答: huídá — To answer, reply, or respond to a question.
不过: búguò — However, but; introduces a mild contrast or qualification.
凭着: píngzhe — Relying on, by virtue of; using something as basis.
世故之人: shìgù zhī rén — Worldly-wise person; someone experienced in social affairs.
所: suǒ — Particle used before verbs to nominalize or emphasize action.
特有: tèyǒu — Characteristic of, peculiar to; uniquely possessed quality.
敏捷: mǐnjié — Agile, nimble, quick; swift in movement or thought.
记忆力: jìyìlì — Memory capacity; ability to remember and recall information.
感知力: gǎnzhīlì — Perceptive ability; capacity to sense and understand things.
他: tā — Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'him'.
点了点头: diǎnle diǎn tóu — Nodded one's head; gesture of acknowledgment or agreement.
示意: shìyì — To signal, hint, or gesture to convey meaning.
正在: zhèngzài — Currently in the process of; progressive aspect marker.
思考: sīkǎo — To think deeply, ponder, or reflect on something.
这一: zhè yī — This one; referring to a specific item or piece.
消息: xiāoxi — News, information, or message about recent events.
知道: zhīdào — To know, be aware of, or understand a fact.
吗: ma — Question particle turning a statement into a yes/no question.
终于: zhōngyú — Finally, at last; after a long wait or effort.
开口: kāikǒu — To open one's mouth; begin speaking or break silence.
显然: xiǎnrán — Obviously, evidently; clearly apparent without doubt.
无法: wúfǎ — Unable to, impossible to; lacking means or ability.
抑制: yìzhì — To suppress, restrain, or hold back emotions or impulses.
内心: nèixīn — Inner heart, innermost feelings; one's internal emotional state.
忧郁: yōuyù — Melancholy, depression; a gloomy and sorrowful mood.
思绪: sīxù — Train of thought; a flow of thoughts or feelings.
每年: měi nián — Every year, annually; occurring once each year.
要: yào — To want, need, or will; modal verb of necessity.
花掉: huādiào — To spend or use up money entirely; expend completely.
四万: sì wàn — Forty thousand; the number 40,000.
卢布: lúbù — Ruble; the monetary currency unit of Russia.
而且: érqiě — Moreover, furthermore; adds emphasis to a preceding statement.
停顿: tíngdùn — To pause, stop briefly; a temporary halt in speech.
片刻后: piànkè hòu — After a moment; following a brief period of time.
继续: jìxù — To continue, keep on; resume an action or activity.
说道: shuōdào — Said; literary verb introducing direct or indirect speech.
如果: rúguǒ — If, supposing that; introduces a conditional clause.
这样: zhèyàng — Like this, in this way; referring to current situation.
下去: xiàqù — To continue downward or onward; keep going as before.
五年: wǔ nián — Five years; a period of five years' duration.
后: hòu — After, behind, later; indicating time or spatial sequence.
会: huì — Will, can; modal verb expressing ability or future prediction.
什么: shénme — What; interrogative pronoun asking about things or situations.
光景: guāngjǐng — Situation, circumstances, scene; state of affairs at a time.
随后: suíhòu — Soon after, subsequently; immediately following a previous action.
又: yòu — Again, also; indicates repetition or addition of action.
补充: bǔchōng — To supplement, add to; provide additional information or content.
道: dào — Said; literary verb complement following speech verbs.
这: zhè — This; demonstrative pronoun pointing to nearby item.
就是: jiùshì — Is exactly, precisely; emphasizes identification or confirmation.
我们: wǒmen — We, us; first-person plural pronoun.
做父亲: zuò fùqin — To be a father; the role or act of fathering.
不得不: bùdébù — Have no choice but to; be compelled or forced to.
忍受: rěnshòu — To endure, tolerate, or put up with hardship.
说的: shuō de — What is being said; referring to the subject spoken of.
这位: zhè wèi — This person; polite demonstrative referring to an individual.
富有: fùyǒu — Wealthy, rich, affluent; possessing abundant financial resources.
非常: fēicháng — Extremely, very; intensifying adverb beyond ordinary degree.
吝啬: lìnsè — Miserly, stingy; reluctant to spend or give money.
住在: zhù zài — To live at, reside in; indicating place of dwelling.
乡下: xiāngxia — The countryside, rural area; away from the city.
赫赫有名: hèhè yǒumíng — Illustrious, renowned; having a very famous reputation.
曾在: céng zài — Once at; indicating a past time or location.
先皇: xiānhuáng — The late emperor; a deceased previous monarch.
在位时: zàiwèi shí — During (the emperor's) reign; while on the throne.
被迫: bèipò — To be forced or compelled; under coercion unwillingly.
退出: tuìchū — To withdraw from, exit, or leave an organization.
军队: jūnduì — Military, army, armed forces; organized body of soldiers.
人称: rénchēng — Known as, called by people; referring to a nickname.
聪明: cōngming — Intelligent, clever, smart; having sharp mental faculties.
性情: xìngqíng — Temperament, disposition, nature; innate character or personality.
古怪: gǔguài — Strange, eccentric, odd; unusually peculiar in behavior.
令人生厌: lìng rén shēng yàn — Disgusting, repulsive; causing others to feel strong dislike.
那: nà — That; demonstrative pronoun pointing to distant item.
可怜: kělián — Pitiful, poor thing; deserving of sympathy or compassion.
姑娘: gūniang — Girl, young woman, unmarried female; daughter.
过得: guò de — Living, getting by; describes how one's life is going.
兄弟: xiōngdì — Brothers; male siblings; also used as a term of camaraderie.
想: xiǎng — To think, consider, or want; expressing thought or desire.
不久前: bùjiǔ qián — Not long ago, recently; a short time in the past.
娶了: qǔle — Married (a woman); took as wife; past tense of marry.
副官: fùguān — Adjutant, aide-de-camp; assistant officer to a commander.
今晚: jīnwǎn — Tonight, this evening; the current night.
来: lái — To come, arrive; movement toward the speaker.
这里: zhèlǐ — Here, this place; indicating current or nearby location.
听着: tīngzhe — Listen; imperative telling someone to pay attention.
亲爱的: qīn'ài de — Dear, darling; affectionate term of address for someone close.
突然: tūrán — Suddenly, abruptly; happening without warning or expectation.
握住: wòzhù — To grasp, grip firmly; hold tightly in the hand.
手: shǒu — Hand; the human hand or appendage at the wrist.
不知为何: bùzhī wèihé — For some unknown reason; without knowing why exactly.
将: jiāng — Will; literary particle indicating future action or disposal.
它: tā — It; third-person singular pronoun for objects or animals.
向下: xiàng xià — Downward, toward the bottom; in a downward direction.
拉: lā — To pull, drag; apply force to draw something closer.

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