#15 – Nine Children
English Excerpt:
Page 4 and Page 5, First paragraph
The dragon was said to have nine children. Each had a different temperament. A musical dragon would adorn a two-stringed Chinese violin; one which was quarrelsome would appear on the handle of a sword; one which was scholarly would be carved on a tombstone; one who liked to jump was placed on the corner of a roof; one which liked to eat would be on chopsticks; one which rode would be on a saddle; one which painted would be on a brush; one which like water would be on the stern of a boat; and one which like to run would decorate shoes.
Chinese Translation:
Page 4 dì 第 sì 四 yè 页
and (和 hé)
Page 5 dì 第 wǔ 五 yè 页 ,
First paragraph dì第 yī一 duaǹ 段
The dragon 龙 was said to have nine 九children (孩 子 haí zǐ). Each had a different temperament (性 xing̀ 情 qinǵ). A musical dragon 龙 would adorn a two-stringed Chinese violin; one which was quarrelsome would appear on the handle of a sword (剑 jiaǹ); one which was scholarly would be carved on a tombstone (墓 mù 碑 beī); one who liked (喜 xǐ 欢 huan̄) to jump (跳 tiaò) was placed on the corner of a roof (屋 wū 顶 dinǧ); one which liked (喜欢) to eat (吃 chī) would be on chopsticks (筷 kuaì子zǐ); one which rode would be on a saddle (马 mǎ 鞍 an̄); one which painted (绘 huì画 huà) would be on a brush (刷 shuā); one which like water 水 would be on the stern of a boat (船 chuań); and one which like to run (跑paǒ) would decorate shoes (鞋 xié).
Vocabulary
1. And = 和 hé
Also means peace and harmony.
2. Children or Child = 孩 haí 子 zi
孩 haí
子 zi
Also means son, daughter or offspring.
3. Temperament = 性 xing̀ 情 qinǵ
性 xing̀ means inherent character or true nature
情 qinǵ means feelings or affection
4. Sword = 剑 jiaǹ
5. Tombstone = 墓 mù 碑 beī
墓 mù means tomb
碑 beī means stone tablet or monument
6. Like = 喜 xǐ 欢 huan̄
喜 xǐ means fond of or happy
欢 huan̄ means joyful
7. Jump = 跳 tiaò
Note the left half of 跳 (jump) is the radical 足 which means foot.
8. Roof = 屋 wū 顶 dinǧ
屋 wū means house
顶 dinǧ means top, peak, summit
9. Eat = 吃 chī
10. Chopsticks = 筷 kuaì 子 zǐ
11. Saddle = 马 mǎ 鞍 an̄
马 mǎ = horse
鞍 an̄ = saddle
12. Paint = 绘 huì 画 huà
绘 huì means paint or draw
画 huà means picture or painting
13. Brush = 刷 shuā
14. Boat = 船 chuań
15. Run = 跑 paǒ
Like the word 跳 (jump), note the left half of 跑 (run) is also the radical 足 which means foot.
16. Shoes = 鞋 xié
Note the left half of 鞋 is the radical gé 革 which means leather.