White nights, and other stories — Page 11

English → Chinese Full Text Level 7/10

The girl flew straight as an arrow, with the timid haste one sees in all girls who do not want any one to volunteer to accompany them home at night, and no doubt the staggering gentleman would not have pursued her, if my good luck had not prompted him.

那女孩像箭一样笔直地飞奔而去，带着那种胆怯的急促，这种急促在所有不愿意有人自告奋勇夜间送她们回家的女孩身上都能看到，毫无疑问，那个踉跄的绅士原本不会追赶她，若非我的好运气促使了他。

Suddenly, without a word to any one, the gentleman set off and flew full speed in pursuit of my unknown lady.

突然间，那绅士一言不发，拔腿飞奔，全速追赶我那不知姓名的女士。

She was racing like the wind, but the staggering gentleman was overtaking--overtook her.

她跑得像风一样快，但那踉跄的绅士正在追近——追上了她。

The girl uttered a shriek, and ... I bless my luck for the excellent knotted stick, which happened on that occasion to be in my right hand.

那女孩发出一声尖叫，而……我庆幸自己的运气，因为那根出色的节杖恰好在那时握在我的右手中。

In a flash I was on the other side of the street; in a flash the obtrusive gentleman had taken in the position, had grasped the irresistible argument, fallen back without a word, and only when we were very far away protested against my action in rather vigorous language.

转眼间我已到了街道另一侧；转眼间那冒失的绅士便看清了形势，领会了那不可抗拒的论据，一言不发地退了回去，只在我们走得很远之后，才用相当激烈的言辞对我的行为提出了抗议。

But his words hardly reached us.

但他的话几乎没能传到我们耳中。

"Give me your arm," I said to the girl. "And he won't dare to annoy us further."

「把你的手臂给我，」我对那女孩说。「这样他就不敢再来打扰我们了。」

She took my arm without a word, still trembling with excitement and terror. Oh, obtrusive gentleman! How I blessed you at that moment!

她一言不发地挽上了我的手臂，仍在因激动和恐惧而颤抖。哦，冒失的绅士！那一刻我是多么感激你！

I stole a glance at her, she was very charming and dark--I had guessed right.

我偷偷瞥了她一眼，她非常迷人，肤色深暗——我猜对了。

On her black eyelashes there still glistened a tear--from her recent terror or her former grief--I don't know.

她乌黑的睫毛上还闪烁着一滴泪——究竟是因为刚才的惊吓，还是先前的悲伤——我不得而知。

Vocabulary

那: nà — That; referring to a specific thing or person.
女孩: nǚhái — Girl; a young female person.
像: xiàng — To be like; to resemble something or someone.
箭: jiàn — Arrow; a projectile shot from a bow.
一样: yīyàng — The same; alike; used in comparisons.
笔直: bǐzhí — Perfectly straight; without any curve or bend.
地: de — Adverbial particle linking adverb to verb.
飞奔: fēibēn — To dash; to run at great speed.
带着: dàizhe — Carrying; bearing something along with oneself.
那种: nà zhǒng — That kind of; that type of thing.
胆怯: dǎnqiè — Timid; fearful; lacking courage or boldness.
的: de — Possessive or attributive structural particle.
急促: jícù — Hurried; rapid; rushed and breathless in manner.
这种: zhè zhǒng — This kind of; this type of situation.
在: zài — At; in; existing at a location or time.
所有: suǒyǒu — All; every; the entirety of something.
不愿意: bù yuànyì — Unwilling; not wanting to do something.
有人: yǒu rén — Someone; there is a person present.
自告奋勇: zì gào fèn yǒng — To volunteer eagerly; to offer oneself enthusiastically.
夜间: yèjiān — Nighttime; during the hours of darkness.
送: sòng — To escort; to send or accompany someone.
她们: tāmen — They; them; referring to a group of females.
回家: huí jiā — To return home; to go back home.
身上: shēn shang — On one's body; on a person.
都能: dōu néng — All can; everyone is able to.
看到: kàn dào — To see; to catch sight of something.
毫无疑问: háo wú yíwèn — Without doubt; absolutely certain; unquestionably true.
那个: nàge — That one; referring to a specific individual.
踉跄: liàngqiàng — Staggering; stumbling unsteadily while walking.
绅士: shēnshi — Gentleman; a well-mannered and refined man.
原本: yuánběn — Originally; in the first place; at the start.
不会: bù huì — Would not; unable to; not going to.
追赶: zhuīgǎn — To chase; to pursue someone or something.
她: tā — She; her; third-person singular female pronoun.
若非: ruò fēi — Were it not for; if not for something.
我的: wǒ de — My; mine; belonging to the speaker.
好运气: hǎo yùnqi — Good luck; fortunate circumstances benefiting someone.
促使: cùshǐ — To prompt; to urge or cause someone to act.
了: le — Aspect particle indicating completed action.
他: tā — He; him; third-person singular male pronoun.
突然间: tūrán jiān — All of a sudden; in an instant unexpectedly.
一言不发: yī yán bù fā — Without saying a word; completely silent.
拔腿: bá tuǐ — To take to one's heels; start running quickly.
全速: quán sù — Full speed; at maximum possible velocity.
我: wǒ — I; me; first-person singular pronoun.
不知: bù zhī — Not knowing; unaware of something.
姓名: xìngmíng — Full name; surname and given name together.
女士: nǚshì — Lady; Ms.; a respectful address for women.
跑得: pǎo de — Running; used before degree complement of running.
风: fēng — Wind; moving air; also used metaphorically for speed.
快: kuài — Fast; quick; moving at high speed.
但: dàn — But; however; indicating contrast or concession.
正在: zhèngzài — Currently; in the process of doing something now.
追近: zhuī jìn — Closing in; getting nearer while chasing.
追上: zhuī shàng — To catch up with; to overtake someone chasing.
发出: fāchū — To emit; to produce a sound or signal.
一声: yī shēng — One sound; a single cry or noise.
尖叫: jiānjiào — To scream; to shriek loudly in fear.
而: ér — And; but; a literary connective conjunction.
庆幸: qìngxìng — To feel fortunate; to be glad about luck.
自己: zìjǐ — Oneself; reflexive pronoun referring to the subject.
运气: yùnqi — Luck; fortune; chance circumstances affecting outcome.
因为: yīnwèi — Because; since; indicating a reason or cause.
那根: nà gēn — That (long/thin object); classifier for stick-like things.
出色: chūsè — Outstanding; excellent; standing out from the rest.
恰好: qiàhǎo — Exactly; just right; happening at the perfect moment.
那时: nà shí — At that time; then; during that moment.
握在: wò zài — Held in; gripped within one's hand.
右手: yòushǒu — Right hand; the hand on the right side.
中: zhōng — In; within; inside something or a group.
转眼间: zhuǎnyǎn jiān — In the blink of an eye; very quickly.
已: yǐ — Already; by now; having completed an action.
到了: dào le — Arrived; reached a destination or point.
街道: jiēdào — Street; road; a public thoroughfare in a city.
另一侧: lìng yī cè — The other side; the opposite side of something.
冒失: màoshi — Rash; reckless; acting without careful thought.
便: biàn — Then; thereupon; a literary connective adverb.
看清: kàn qīng — To see clearly; to perceive a situation distinctly.
形势: xíngshì — Situation; circumstances; the state of affairs.
领会: lǐnghuì — To grasp; to understand and appreciate meaning.
不可抗拒: bùkě kàngjù — Irresistible; impossible to resist or oppose.
论据: lùnjù — Argument; evidence supporting a reasoning or claim.
退: tuì — To retreat; to step back or withdraw.
回去: huí qù — To go back; to return to a previous place.
只: zhǐ — Only; merely; just a limited amount.
我们: wǒmen — We; us; first-person plural pronoun.
走得: zǒu de — Walking; used before degree complement of walking.
很远: hěn yuǎn — Very far; a great distance away.
之后: zhīhòu — After; afterward; following a certain point in time.
才: cái — Only then; not until; indicating delayed action.
用: yòng — To use; to employ something for a purpose.
相当: xiāngdāng — Quite; fairly; considerably to a notable degree.
激烈: jīliè — Intense; fierce; strongly emotional or heated.
言辞: yáncí — Words; language; the manner of speaking or expression.
对: duì — Toward; directed at; regarding someone or something.
行为: xíngwéi — Behavior; conduct; the way one acts.
提出: tíchū — To raise; to put forward a suggestion or objection.
抗议: kàngyì — To protest; to express strong objection or disapproval.
他的: tā de — His; belonging to him; third-person male possessive.
话: huà — Words; speech; what someone says.
几乎: jīhū — Almost; nearly; very close to but not quite.
没能: méi néng — Failed to; was unable to accomplish something.
传到: chuán dào — To reach; to be conveyed to someone's hearing.
把: bǎ — Disposal marker; take and do something with object.
你的: nǐ de — Your; yours; belonging to the listener.
手臂: shǒubì — Arm; the upper limb of the human body.
给: gěi — Give; to; for; indicating giving or direction.
说: shuō — To say; to speak; to tell something to someone.
这样: zhèyàng — Like this; in this way; thus.
就: jiù — Then; right away; indicating immediate consequence.
不敢: bù gǎn — Dare not; not having the courage to do.
再来: zài lái — Come again; to return or repeat an action.
打扰: dǎrǎo — To disturb; to bother or interrupt someone.
挽上: wǎn shàng — To link arms; to take someone's arm.
仍在: réng zài — Still; continuing to be in a certain state.
因: yīn — Because of; due to; on account of something.
激动: jīdòng — Excited; agitated; emotionally stirred up.
和: hé — And; together with; connecting two elements.
恐惧: kǒngjù — Fear; dread; a strong feeling of terror.
颤抖: chàndǒu — To tremble; to shiver; to shake with fear.
哦: ó / ò — Oh; an interjection expressing realization or emotion.
一刻: yī kè — A moment; a brief period of time.
是: shì — To be; is; am; are; a copula verb.
多么: duōme — How; so very; expressing a high degree.
感激: gǎnjī — Grateful; thankful; feeling deep appreciation.
你: nǐ — You; second-person singular pronoun.
偷偷: tōutōu — Secretly; stealthily; without others noticing.
瞥: piē — To glance; to take a quick look at.
一眼: yī yǎn — A glance; one quick look at something.
非常: fēicháng — Very; extremely; unusually to a great degree.
迷人: mírén — Charming; enchanting; captivating to the senses.
肤色: fūsè — Skin color; complexion; the tone of one's skin.
猜: cāi — To guess; to speculate about an unknown answer.
对了: duì le — That's right; correct; confirmed as accurate.
乌黑: wūhēi — Jet black; very dark black in color.
睫毛: jiémáo — Eyelashes; the hairs growing on the eyelid.
上: shàng — On; above; upon the surface of something.
还: hái — Still; also; yet; in addition to that.
闪烁: shǎnshuò — To glimmer; to sparkle; shining with flickering light.
着: zhe — Continuous aspect particle; indicating ongoing state.
一滴: yī dī — One drop; a single droplet of liquid.
泪: lèi — Tear; a teardrop shed from the eye.
究竟: jiūjìng — After all; exactly; used to seek clarification.
刚才: gāngcái — Just now; a moment ago; very recently.
惊吓: jīngxià — Fright; a sudden shock causing fear.
还是: háishi — Or; still; used in questions offering alternatives.
先前: xiānqián — Previously; before; earlier in time.
悲伤: bēishāng — Sad; sorrowful; feeling deep grief or sorrow.
不得而知: bù dé ér zhī — Impossible to know; cannot be determined or ascertained.

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