#15 – Nine Children

/in /by

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.