Classical Chinese 9-13 Flashcards
What does 初 mean?
Beginning; initially, from the beginning, at first, earlier.
What does 前 mean?
Front, formerly, at first; to come forward, to step forward
What does 及 mean?
- To reach to, to extend to, to come up to [in quality, ability, or virtue].
- When the time came that…*
- And (connects nouns only)
Eg. 及彌子瑕色衰而愛弛，得罪於君 When the time came that Mizi XIa’s attractiveness had declined, as a result their love grew weak, it offended the ruler.
What does 口 mean?
Mouth, opening.
Eg. 愛我而忘其口味﹗He loves me therefore/so he forgets the flavour of the peach!
What does 告 mean?
To announce, to request; announcement.
彌子瑕之母疾，人聞，
夜往告之。 Mizi Xia’s mother fell sick and others heard, and at night they went to tell him.
What does 夜 mean?
Night; at night; nightly.
What does 奉 (feng4) mean?
- To offer [to a superior], to accept [from a superior].*
- Service, attendance
Eg. 彌子瑕食桃而甘，不盡而奉君。 Mizi Xia ate a peach and considered it/thought/found it to be sweet, he did not eat it all (did not use it all up)/finish eating it and offered it to the ruler/lord (as a gift).
What does 彌 mean?
Increasingly. (is part of Mizi Xia’s name)
What does 必 mean?
To be necessary, to have to; necessarily.
故子瑕之行，未必變初. Thus, Zi Xia’s previous behaviour/conduct had not/did not necessarily changed from before.
What does 忘 mean?
To forget.
愛我而忘其口味 = “He loves me therefore/so he forgets the flavour of the peach (forgets its flavour)!
What does 故 mean?
- Reason; consequently; deliberately; deliberate action.*
- Previously, before, in the past; precedent, consistency.
How is 故 used as a cover
為母之故，犯刖罪哉。 “For the reason of his mother, he committed a foot-
chopping crime.”
In this particular use of the pattern 為 X (之) 故, 為 is operating in its coverb function, “for the reason of” (but may also be implying the sense “for the sake of”).
故 is the object of the coverb, modified by “mother.” Even more common is the pattern 以 X 之故, “by means of the reason of X.” It is more or less identical in meaning to the former pattern.
What are the uses outside of its coverb function, for 故?
- As a noun meaning “reason” or “motive”
As an adverb: meaning “deliberately” or “with a purpose”: 「是故嘗矯駕吾車，又嘗食我以餘桃﹗」“ This [fellow] deliberately drove my carriage under false pretenses (some deliberate event to offend “me”/the ruler), moreover in the past/often he fed me through leftover peaches/ he fed me [using] leftover peaches. - To indicate consequence of an action or event; it occurs at the beginning of a phrase and is translated as “consequently” or “therefore.”
故子瑕之行，未必變初
也。前見賢，後獲罪者，愛憎之生變也 Thus/therefore, Zi Xia’s previous behaviour/conduct had not/did not necessarily changed from before. The fact that he was formerly considered to be worthy, and afterwards received punishment (obtained an offence) is because the rise of the change from love to hate.
What does 未 mean?
Not yet, never.
What does 果 mean?
Fruit; to pan out, to result; as expected.
- “Fruit was the original meaning of the character. The more abstract meanings developed from the idea of something “coming to fruition”.
What does 母 mean?
Mother.
What does 法 mean?
Rule, law, custom.
What does 甘 mean?
Sweet; to be sweet; to find sweet; to spoil [a child]; to indulge.
彌子瑕食桃而甘: Mizi Xia ate a peach and considered it/thought/found it to be sweet
What does 疾 mean?
- Sick; illness; ache, aching, sore.*
- Swift; rapidly.
- To criticize, to hate.
彌子瑕之母疾，人聞，
夜往告之。彌子瑕擅駕君車而出。 Mizi Xia’s mother fell sick and others heard, and at night they went to tell him. Mizi Xia selfishly drove/took the ruler’s carriage as he went out
What does 色 mean?
Colour, attractiveness, surface appearance; facial expression; sexuality.
What does 衛 (wei4) mean?
- Wei (a small sate in pre-imperial China).*
- Guards, guardsmen.
What does 衰 mean?
To wither, to decline, to wane, to weaken.
What does 變 mean?
To change, to alter; change, alteration; disaster.
What does 車 mean?
Cart, carriage, chariot.
車見竊: The carriage was stolen.
What does 遊 mean?
To travel about, to have fun, to play, to associate [with friends].
君遊果園: The ruler was hanging out/spending time in a fruit garden/orchard.
What does 餘 mean?
Leftover, remaining, extra.
是故嘗矯駕吾車，又嘗食我以餘桃﹗: This [fellow] deliberately drove my carriage under false pretenses (some deliberate event to offend “me”/the ruler), moreover in the past/often he fed me through leftover peaches/ he fed me [using] leftover peaches.
What does 駕 mean?
To drive a carriage; carriage.
What does 味 mean?
Taste; to taste.
What does 園 mean?
Garden.
What does 桃 mean?
Peace, peach tree, peach blossom.
桃見食: The peach was eaten.
What does 犯 mean?
To commit a crime, to violate, to sin against; offense, crime.
為母之故，犯刖罪哉: The deliberate action/act for her mother/for the reason of his mother, he committed/violated a foot-chopping crime/to commit a foot-chopping crime!“
What does 矯 (jiao1) mean?
To falsify, to fake, to pretend, to forge; falsely, under false pretenses.
是故嘗矯駕吾車，又嘗食我以餘桃: “ This [fellow] deliberately drove my carriage under false pretenses (some deliberate event to offend “me”/the ruler), moreover in the past/often he fed me through leftover peaches/ he fed me [using] leftover peaches.
What does 竊 (qie4) mean?
- Secretly, without authorization.*
- To steal.
- “In my own humble way…” “in my humble opinion” [adverb marking a modest assertion by the speaker].
What does 二 mean?
Two; twice; second.
晏子至，楚王賜晏
子酒，酒酣，吏二縛一人詣王，王曰：Master Yan arrived, then the King of Chu gifted Master Yan alcohol, when/once the banquet (formal situation) was under way, two guards bound one person and went to the prince, the prince said.
What does 于 mean?
[Multipurpose preposition]. in, at, from, to, on, with regard to,
今民生長于齊不盜，入楚則盜，得無楚之水土使民善盜耶﹖: At present, the people who are born and raised in the state of Qi they don’t steal, if they enter Chu then they will steal (if they step foot into Chu then they will become a thief), could it be that the water and soil of Chu causes good people to steal?
What does 似 mean?
To resemble, to imitate.
What does 來 mean?
To come.
What does 北 mean?
North, northern.
What does 南 mean?
South; southern.
What does 右 mean?
Right.
What does 左右 mean?
Retainers, courtiers.
This common term for the ruler’s supporters obviously derives from its locational meaning
(lit., “[people] to the left and right”).
What does 同 mean?
Same, equal; together; to share.
「嬰聞之，橘生淮南則
為橘，生于淮北則為枳，葉徒相似，其實味不同。(Ying) I have heard that if the Mandarin orange tree is born from the south of the Huai River then it will become an orange tree, If the Mandarin orange tree is born from the North of the Huai River, then it will become a zhi tree（bitter, medicinal orange → not really edible, not juicy nor sweet, sour), only the leaf of the tree resemble each other, the taste of its fruit is not the same.
What does 吏 mean?
An official, a clerk, a policeman or guard.
吏二縛一人詣王: two guards bound one person and went to the prince,.
What does 土 mean?
Earth, soil, clay; land, territory.
水土異也: It is the difference of the water and the soil.
What does 固 mean?
- Definitely; assuredly.*
- Stubbornly; firm, unyielding.
齊人固善盜乎: “People of the state of Qi are always (is it a fact that the people from Qi are great at stealing?) skilled at robbery?”
What does 將 mean?
jiang1 (1-2)
1. About to (marks the future tense or intention).*
2. To lead, to bring, to take with one, to wear.
3. general, commander; to command, to lead.
晏子將使楚: Master Yan was about to go to Chu.
What does 左 mean?
Left. 左右： retainters, courtiers.
What does 席 (xi2) mean?
Straw mat (for sitting), place, seat [at a banquet or other formal occasion].
晏子避席對曰: Master Yan moved backwards on his mat and replied (he is backing up from where he is sitting to begin his speech → politeness → moved back from his seat),
What does 徒 (tu2) mean?
- Only, merely.*
- In vain, uselessly.
- Disciple; followers; foot soldier.
- [Suffix for one who engages in a certain occupation or pastime, for example: 博徒,
“gambler.”
橘生淮南則
為橘，生于淮北則為枳，葉徒相似，其實味不同: if the Mandarin orange tree is born from the south of the Huai River then it will become an orange tree, If the Mandarin orange tree is born from the North of the Huai River, then it will become a zhi tree（bitter, medicinal orange → not really edible, not juicy nor sweet, sour), only the leaf of the tree resemble each other, the taste of its fruit is not the same.
What does 楚 mean?
The state of Chu.
What does 淮 mean?
The Huai River.
What does 王 mean?
King, prince.*
2. To take the throne, to declare oneself king, to rule as a king.
What does 異 (yi4) mean?
- Different; difference.*
- To differentiate, to tell apart.
- Strange, peculiar, extraordinary.
- To consider strange.
水土異也。It is the difference of the water and the soil.
What does 盜 (dao4) mean?
To rob, to steal; robbery.
今
民生長于齊不盜，入楚則盜，得無楚之水土使民善盜耶: At present, the people who are born and raised in the state of Qi they don’t steal, if they enter Chu then they will steal (if they step foot into Chu then they will become a thief), could it be that the water and soil of Chu causes good people to steal?
What does 習 mean?
To practice, to study; to be thoroughly familiar with or practiced in; habit, routine.
齊之習辭者也: the one of the state of Qi that is practiced in speech making/practiced in speaking,
What does 葉 (ye4) mean?
Leaf [of a tree].
What does 視 mean?
To look at, to see, to observe.
What does 實 mean?
- Fruit; to bear fruit. *
- Truth, reality; solid, substantial, real.
- Really, truly.
4 Honest, sincere.
「嬰聞之，橘生淮南則
為橘，生于淮北則為枳，葉徒相似，其實味不同: “(Ying) I have heard that if the Mandarin orange tree is born from the south of the Huai River then it will become an orange tree, If the Mandarin orange tree is born from the North of the Huai River, then it will become a zhi tree（bitter, medicinal orange → not really edible, not juicy nor sweet, sour), only the leaf of the tree resemble each other, the taste of its fruit is not the same.
What does 辭 (ci2) mean?
- Words, diction, language; rhetoric, oratory, speech making.*
- To take leave of, to say goodbye to.
- To refuse, to reject.
What does 過 mean?
- To pass by, to cross.*
- Error, mistake, indiscretion; to make a mistake, to be in error.
- To surpass; to go to excess, to go too far.
臣請縛一人，過王而行: I/your humble servant request to tie up/bind a person, then go pass by the prince.
What does 長 mean?
zhang3 (1-2); chang2 (3-4)
1. To grow up.*
2. To preside over; to lead; leader.
3. Long.
4. Always, constantly.
What does 曷 (he2) mean?
What, how, why. [question word].
縛者曷為者也﹖ : “Who is this bound man?”
What does 晏 (yan4) mean?
- Clear; peaceful, quiet.
- Yan. [a surname]*
Eg. 晏子: Master Yan.
What does 辱 (ru3) mean?
To humiliate; humiliation.
吾欲辱之，何以也﹖」I want to humiliate him, with what do I do it?/how do I do it?
What does 避 mean?
To avoid, to avert, to evade, to hide from.
避席: To move backward on one’s mat (out of politeness)
What does 上 mean?
on top of, above, at the front of; to go up, to offer up; superiors
桓公與莊公既盟於壇上: After Duke Huan and Duke Zhuang formed an alliance on top of an alter/the platform..
What does 位 mean?
Place, position; throne, royal position.
After the speech was over, Cao Mo casted aside his dagger and got down from the alter, he faced North and went to the ministers’ place.
既已言，曹沫投其匕首，下壇，北面就群臣之位.
What does 侯 mean?
“Marquis”
諸侯: The feudal lords.”
What does 利 mean?
Profit, advantage; to profit, to enrich.
不可﹗夫貪小利以
自快，棄信於諸侯，失天下之援。不如與之。“It’s not permissible!” Now then… (if you are greedy for small this small profits for your own happiness, this will cause feudal lords to abandon their faith in you, and you will lose the world’s support/support of the world. This is not as good as giving them it [the land]. “
What does 力 mean?
Strength, power, ability.
