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1 Dàjiā hǎo! Huānyíng láidào Mandarin Corner, wǒ shì Eileen. 大家好!欢迎来到Mandarin Corner,我是Eileen。 2 Shàngge shìpín wǒ jiǎng le zài Zhèjiāng gōngzuò de jīnglì. 上个视频我讲了在浙江工作的经历。 3 Suīrán xīnsuān, què hěn kāixīn yǒu zhèyàng yī duàn jīnglì lái gēn dàjiā fēnxiǎng. 虽然辛酸,却很开心有这样一段经历来跟大家分享。 4 Jīngcháng èdùzi shì yīzhǒng hěn nánshòu de gǎnjué, 经常饿肚子是一种很难受的感觉, 5 suǒyǐ dāng wǒ bàmā tíchū ràng wǒ huílǎojiā de shíhou, wǒ xīnrán dāying le. 所以当我爸妈提出让我回老家的时候,我欣然答应了。 6 Wǒ de bàba bù xiàng duōshù nóngcūn rén yīyàng, qù wàidì dǎgōng zhuànqián, 我的爸爸不像多数农村人一样,去外地打工赚钱, 7 érshì zàijiā jīngyíng zhe zìjǐ de xiǎo shēngyì. 而是在家经营着自己的小生意。 8 Suīrán xīnkǔ, dàn yě gòu yǎnghuo yījiārén, 虽然辛苦,但也够养活一家人, 9 kuàngqiě kěyǐ dāi zài zìjǐ de jiāxiāng shì yī jiàn hěn xìngfú de shìqing. 况且可以待在自己的家乡是一件很幸福的事情。 10 Píngshí māma xūyào gēn bàba yīqǐ qù sònghuò, 平时妈妈需要跟爸爸一起去送货, 11 suǒyǐ jīngcháng máng dào méi shíjiān zuòfàn. 所以经常忙到没时间做饭。 12 Ér wǒ huíjiā zhènghǎo kěyǐ bāngmáng gàn jiāwù huó, 而我回家正好可以帮忙干家务活, 13 ràng tāmen yī huíjiā jiù yǒu fàn chī. 让他们一回家就有饭吃。 14 Wǒmen zhù de fángzi yǒu liǎng céng, bàmā de wòshì hé kètīng, 我们住的房子有两层,爸妈的卧室和客厅, 15 háiyǒu yī gè duīfàng záwù de xiǎo fángjiān zài lóuxià. 还有一个堆放杂物的小房间在楼下。 16 Wǒ de fángjiān zài lóushàng, cóng fángjiān lǐ de chuānghu xiàngwài kàn, 我的房间在楼上,从房间里的窗户向外看, 17 néng kàndào yuǎnchù de shān hé cūnmín de fángzi, 能看到远处的山和村民的房子, 18 yǐjí láilái wǎngwǎng de mótuōchē. 以及来来往往的摩托车。 19 Jiā ménkǒu yǒu gè dà yuànzi, bàba de xiǎo gōngchǎng jiù zài zhège yuànzi lǐ, 家门口有个大院子,爸爸的小工厂就在这个院子里, 20 duīfàng zhe gèzhǒng yònglái zhìzuò chǎnpǐn de jīqì hé yuáncáiliào, 堆放着各种用来制作产品的机器和原材料, 21 háiyǒu bàba yònglái sònghuò de sānlúnchē. 还有爸爸用来送货的三轮车。 22 Jīqì yùnzuò de shíhou zàoyīn hěn dà, kōngqì zhōng de fěnchén yě hěn duō, 机器运作的时候噪音很大,空气中的粉尘也很多, 23 suǒyǐ měicì bàba gōngzuò de shíhou, wǒ jiù bǎ mén hé chuānghu dōu guān qilai. 所以每次爸爸工作的时候,我就把门和窗户都关起来。 24 Yuànzi lǐ háiyǒu yī gè xiǎo càiyuán, 院子里还有一个小菜园, 25 xīnqín de māma zài lǐmiàn zhòng mǎn le gèshìgèyàng de shūcài, 辛勤的妈妈在里面种满了各式各样的蔬菜, 26 yǒu huángguā, qīngjiāo, húluóbo, qiézi, tǔdòu děngděng. 有黄瓜,青椒,胡萝卜,茄子,土豆等等。 27 Wǒmen hěn shǎo yòng nóngyào, suǒyǐ zhèxiē shūcài hěn ānquán. 我们很少用农药,所以这些蔬菜很安全。 28 Měitiān yīzǎo qǐchuáng wǒ jiù dūn zài càiyuán lǐ, 每天一早起床我就蹲在菜园里, 29 guānchá zhèxiē shūcài shìfǒu zhǎngdà le, 观察这些蔬菜是否长大了, 30 shíbùshí de hái néng kàndào yī qún mǎyǐ zài dì lǐ pá lái pá qù. 时不时地还能看到一群蚂蚁在地里爬来爬去。 31 Shùlín lǐ de xiǎoniǎo ǒu’ěr huì fēi lái tōuchī wǒmen jiā de cài, 树林里的小鸟偶尔会飞来偷吃我们家的菜, 32 māma yòng pò yīfu zhìzuò le yī gè jiǎrén, 妈妈用破衣服制作了一个假人, 33 chā zài càiyuán zhōngyāng yònglái xià zǒu xiǎoniǎo. 插在菜园中央用来吓走小鸟。 34 Dàn zhèxiē niǎor yě bù bèn, gēnběn bù xiāngxìn, zhàoyàng tōuchī. 但这些鸟儿也不笨,根本不相信,照样偷吃。 35 Wǒmen píngshí hěn shǎo xūyào mǎi cài, 我们平时很少需要买菜, 36 jīběnshang dōu shì chī càiyuán lǐ xīnxiān de shūcài, 基本上都是吃菜园里新鲜的蔬菜, 37 érqiě càishìchǎng lí jiā yǒudiǎn yuǎn, bùshì hěn fāngbiàn. 而且菜市场离家有点远,不是很方便。 38 Gébì cūn yǒu mài zhūròu de rén, 隔壁村有卖猪肉的人, 39 tā měitiān cóng shìchǎng yùn lai xīnxiān de zhū, 他每天从市场运来新鲜的猪, 40 ránhòu yīdàzǎo shā le tā, děng zhe gùkè shàngmén lái gòumǎi. 然后一大早杀了它,等着顾客上门来购买。 41 Zhèlǐ de zhūròu jì gānjìng yòu jiànkāng, 这里的猪肉既干净又健康, 42 chī qilai hěn xiānměi, wén qilai yě hěn xiāng. 吃起来很鲜美,闻起来也很香。 43 Wǒ de māma měinián dōu huì yǎng shíjǐ zhī jī, 我的妈妈每年都会养十几只鸡, 44 yībān dōu shì mǔjī. 一般都是母鸡。 45 Děng tāmen zhǎngdà le zhīhòu, jiù huì xiàdàn gěi wǒmen chī. 等它们长大了之后,就会下蛋给我们吃。 46 Wǒ zuì xǐhuan bàngwǎn de shíhou qù jī juàn lǐ jiǎn jīdàn le, 我最喜欢傍晚的时候去鸡圈里捡鸡蛋了, 47 wò zài shǒulǐ nuǎnnuǎn de, 握在手里暖暖的, 48 ránhòu xiǎoxīnyìyì de bǎ zhèxiē jīdàn fàng zài yī gè xié hé lǐ. 然后小心翼翼地把这些鸡蛋放在一个鞋盒里。 49 Zǎoshang wǒmen de zǎocān shì yòng mǐ zhǔ chéng de zhōu. 早上我们的早餐是用米煮成的粥。 50 Māma huì zhǔ hěn duō, ránhòu jiāng shèngxià de zhōu hé mǐkāng jiǎobàn zàiyīqǐ wèi jī chī. 妈妈会煮很多,然后将剩下的粥和米糠搅拌在一起喂鸡吃。 51 Huíjiā hòu zhàogu jī de gōngzuò jiù chéng le wǒ de le. 回家后照顾鸡的工作就成了我的了。 52 Měicì wǒ duān zhe yī pén jī shí zǒujìn jī juàn, 每次我端着一盆鸡食走进鸡圈, 53 zhèxiē jī dōu dīng zhe wǒ shǒu shang de shíwù, 这些鸡都盯着我手上的食物, 54 hǎoxiàng zài shuō: “Wǒ èsǐ le!” 好像在说:“我饿死了!” 55 Děng wǒ bǎ pénzi fàng zài dìshang, tāmen biàn kāishǐ zhēngxiānkǒnghòu de qiǎng shíwù. 等我把盆子放在地上,它们便开始争先恐后地抢食物。 56 Yǒushíhou wǒ yě huì jiāng cóng càiyuán lǐ zhāi huilai de shūcài fēn yīxiē gěi jī chī. 有时候我也会将从菜园里摘回来的蔬菜分一些给鸡吃。 57 Rēng jìnqu de nà yīshùnjiān, tāmen huì lìjí pū shanglai qiǎng. 扔进去的那一瞬间,它们会立即扑上来抢。 58 Fēicháng hǎowán! 非常好玩! 59 Yībān zhǐyǒu guònián de shíhou, wǒmen cái huì shā yī liǎng zhī jī chī, 一般只有过年的时候,我们才会杀一两只鸡吃, 60 píngshí jiù liú zhe tāmen xià jīdàn. 平时就留着它们下鸡蛋。 61 Guò chūnjié nàtiān, wǒ de māma zǒng yāoqiú wǒ bāng tā yīqǐ shā, 过春节那天,我的妈妈总要求我帮她一起杀, 62 zhè shì wǒ zuì tǎoyàn de shìqing! 这是我最讨厌的事情! 63 Māma ná dāo shā jī de shíhou, jī huì zhēngzhá, 妈妈拿刀杀鸡的时候,鸡会挣扎, 64 suǒyǐ xūyào wǒ zhuāzhù jī de jiǎo, fángzhǐ tā luàndòng. 所以需要我抓住鸡的脚,防止它乱动。 65 Kěshì wǒ hěn hàipà, bù gǎn kàn. 可是我很害怕,不敢看。 66 Shǒulǐ zhuāzhù jījiǎo, yǎnjing bì de jǐnjǐn de, 手里抓住鸡脚,眼睛闭得紧紧的, 67 zuǐlǐ hái bùshí wèn wǒ mā: “Hǎole méi?” 嘴里还不时问我妈:“好了没?” 68 Wǒ mā zǒngshì bùnàifán de huí wǒ yījù, 我妈总是不耐烦地回我一句, 69 “Nǐ zhuājǐn yīdiǎn, bié ràng tā dòng!” “你抓紧一点,别让它动!” 70 Wǒ bàba gēn wǒ yīyàng fēicháng dǎnxiǎo, bù gǎn shāshēng. 我爸爸跟我一样非常胆小,不敢杀生。 71 Yǒuyīcì, bàba zài jiālǐ fāxiàn le yī zhī sǐ lǎoshǔ, 有一次,爸爸在家里发现了一只死老鼠, 72 tā bèi xià le yī tiào, dàhǎndàjiào jiào wǒ mā guòlái diūdiào sǐ lǎoshǔ. 他被吓了一跳,大喊大叫让我妈过来丢掉死老鼠。 73 Nóngcūn rén yībān jiālǐ dōu yǒu kǒu shuǐjǐng. Wǒmen dōu shì hē jǐng lǐ de shuǐ, 农村人一般家里都有口水井。我们都是喝井里的水, 74 dàn bùyòng tā xǐ yīfu. 但不用它洗衣服。 75 Měitiān zǎoshang wǒ huì shōují zāng de yīfu, ránhòu yòng lánzi līn qù chítáng biān xǐ. 每天早上我会收集脏的衣服,然后用篮子拎去池塘边洗。 76 Xǐ yīfu de shíhou fēicháng rènao. 洗衣服的时候非常热闹。 77 Měitiān yī qún fùnǚ wéi zhe gānjìng de chítáng xǐ yījiārén de yīfu, 每天一群妇女围着干净的池塘洗一家人的衣服, 78 bù yīhuìr chítáng lǐ de shuǐ jiù biànde wūzhuó bùkān. 不一会儿池塘里的水就变得污浊不堪。 79 Suízhe shuǐ de liúdòng, chítáng lǐ de shuǐ yòu biànde qīngchèjiàndǐ le. 随着水的流动,池塘里的水又变得清澈见底了。 80 Zhèxiē fùnǚ xǐhuan wéi zàiyīqǐ dàshēng liáotiān, liáo gèzhǒng yǒuqù de bāguà. 这些妇女喜欢围在一起大声聊天,聊各种有趣的八卦。 81 Wǒ jiù ānjìng de dūn zài yībiān, biān xǐ yīfu biān tīng tāmen liáotiān. 我就安静地蹲在一边,边洗衣服边听她们聊天。 82 Xiàtiān de shíhou yīfu dānbó, hěn kuài jiù néng xǐ wán. 夏天的时候衣服单薄,很快就能洗完。 83 Dàn dōngtiān de yīfu hòuzhòng, měicì līn zhe yī lánzi yīfu qù chítáng, 但冬天的衣服厚重,每次拎着一篮子衣服去池塘, 84 dōu yào zài lùshang xiūxi hǎojǐ cì. 都要在路上休息好几次。 85 Chítáng lǐ de shuǐwēn hěn dī, 池塘里的水温很低, 86 jiù xiàng cóng bīngxiāng lǐ ná chulai de bīngkuài yīyàng. 就像从冰箱里拿出来的冰块一样。 87 Děng wǒ xǐ wán suǒyǒu de yīfu, 等我洗完所有的衣服, 88 wǒ de shǒu jiù huì bèi dòng de hónghóng zhǒngzhǒng. 我的手就会被冻得红红肿肿。 89 Xǐ wán yīfu hòu wǒ jiù děi huíjiā zuòfàn le. 洗完衣服后我就得回家做饭了。 90 Gāng kāishǐ zuò de cài hěn nánchī, 刚开始做的菜很难吃, 91 wǒ jiù shàngwǎng chá càipǔ, xué zuò gèzhǒng měishí. 我就上网查菜谱,学做各种美食。 92 Dàn měicì bùguǎn hǎochī nánchī, wǒ bàmā cónglái bùhuì bàoyuàn. 但每次不管好吃难吃,我爸妈从来不会抱怨。 93 Zìcóng chūzhōng bìyè wǒ biàn líkāi le jiā, 自从初中毕业我便离开了家, 94 zài wàimiàn chī de shíwù jì bù wèishēng yòu bù jiànkāng, 在外面吃的食物既不卫生又不健康, 95 érqiě chī língshí yě bù jiézhì, dǎozhì wǒ pàng le yī dà quān. 而且吃零食也不节制,导致我胖了一大圈。 96 Dàbùfen de zhuìròu dōu shì zhǎng zài dùzi shang, 大部分的赘肉都是长在肚子上, 97 zuò zhe de shíhou, zhè yīcéng yīcéng de ròu fēicháng bùshūfu. 坐着的时候,这一层一层的肉非常不舒服。 98 Suǒyǐ wǒ jiù xiàdìngjuéxīn yào jiǎndiào zhè nánkàn de féiròu. 所以我就下定决心要减掉这难看的肥肉。 99 Wǒ jiǎnféi de mìjué jiùshì bǎ shíwù fàngjìn zuǐlǐ mànmàn jǔjué, 我减肥的秘诀就是把食物放进嘴里慢慢咀嚼, 100 shǔ sānshí xià zài wǎng xià tūn. 数三十下再往下吞。 101 Zhèyàng bùjǐn duì wèi hǎo, érqiě hái néng fángzhǐ yīnwèi chī duō ér zhǎng pàng. 这样不仅对胃好,而且还能防止因为吃多而长胖。 102 Jiāshàng wǎnfàn qián zuò sānshí fēnzhōng zuǒyòu de yùndòng. 加上晚饭前做三十分钟左右的运动。 103 Wǒ xǐhuan tiàowǔ hé yújiā, 我喜欢跳舞和瑜伽, 104 mǎi le yīxiē dvd jiàoxué shìpín, gēnzhe liànxí. 买了一些DVD教学视频,跟着练习。 105 Yī nián hòu, wǒ dùzi shang de ròu bùjiànle, tǐzhòng yě xiàjiàng le! 一年后,我肚子上的肉不见了,体重也下降了! 106 Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu tóngyàng de fánnǎo, yě kěyǐ shìshì zhège fāngfǎ o! 如果你有同样的烦恼,也可以试试这个方法哦! 107 Shàngwǔ de shíjiān wǒ dōu shì zài gàn jiāwù huó zhōng dùguò, 上午的时间我都是在干家务活中度过, 108 xiàwǔ wǒ yībān huì kàn diànshì, huò sìchù liūda. 下午我一般会看电视,或四处溜达。 109 Wǒ bàba gěi wǒ mǎi le liàng diàndòng chē, 我爸爸给我买了辆电动车, 110 wǒ jīngcháng qí zhe tā qù fùjìn de chāoshì, 我经常骑着它去附近的超市, 111 mǎi língshí huílai biān chī biān kàn diànshì. 买零食回来边吃边看电视。 112 Yǒushíhou yě huì qí qù wàipó jiā wán. 有时候也会骑去外婆家玩。 113 Xiāngxia de mǎlù kēngkengwāwā, 乡下的马路坑坑洼洼, 114 yòu yǒu hěn duō dà huòchē yùn zhe méi huò shítou lùguò. 又有很多大货车运着煤或石头路过。 115 Měicì zài mǎlù shang qíchē, wǒ dōu shì yī zhī shǒu wǔ zhe zuǐ, 每次在马路上骑车,我都是一只手捂着嘴, 116 lìngyī zhī shǒu zhǎngwò fāngxiàngpán. 另一只手掌握方向盘。 117 Yǎnjing yě yīnwèi kōngqì zhōng de huīchén bùtíng de zhǎ. 眼睛也因为空气中的灰尘不停地眨。 118 Bàmā zǒngshì hěn wǎn cái dàojiā, 爸妈总是很晚才到家, 119 ér wǒ jīngcháng yīgèrén zuò zài fángjiān lǐ děng tāmen huíjiā chī wǎnfàn. 而我经常一个人坐在房间里等他们回家吃晚饭。 120 Yǒushíhou hěn wǎn dōu méi dàojiā, wǒ jiù kāishǐ húsīluànxiǎng, 有时候很晚都没到家,我就开始胡思乱想, 121 dānxīn tāmen huì yǒu shénme yìwài, 担心他们会有什么意外, 122 zhídào tīngdào bàba chē de shēngyīn cái fàngxià xīn lái. 直到听到爸爸车的声音才放下心来。 123 Yǒu duàn shíjiān, wǒ míshàng le Zhōngyī, 有段时间,我迷上了中医, 124 mǎi le yī dà duī shū xiánláiwúshì jiù kāishǐ yánjiū. 买了一大堆书闲来无事就开始研究。 125 Wǎnshang chīwán wǎncān, xǐ wán zǎo, 晚上吃完晚餐,洗完澡, 126 wǒmen yījiārén zuò zài fángjiān lǐ liáotiān, kàn diànshì. 我们一家人坐在房间里聊天、看电视。 127 Wǒ zǒngshì jiāng wǒ cóng shū shang xuédào de zhīshi gěi tāmen ànmó. 我总是将我从书上学到的知识给他们按摩。 128 Zài lǎojiā péibàn fùmǔ de yī nián shíjiān shì wǒ rénshēng zhōng zuì wúyōuwúlǜ de shíguāng, 在老家陪伴父母的一年时间是我人生中最无忧无虑的时光, 129 wǒ yě hěn xiǎngshòu nóngcūn shēnghuó. 我也很享受农村生活。 130 Dàn wéidú yīdiǎn wǒ zhìjīn háishi wúfǎ xíguàn, 但唯独一点我至今还是无法习惯, 131 nà jiùshì xiāngxia de cèsuǒ. 那就是乡下的厕所。 132 Nóngcūn de cèsuǒ bù xiàng chéngshì lǐ shì jiàn zài fáng nèi de, 农村的厕所不像城市里是建在房内的, 133 érshì dāndú jiàn zài wàimiàn. 而是单独建在外面。 134 Wǒmen jiā de cèsuǒ shì zài càiyuán lǐ, 我们家的厕所是在菜园里, 135 yī gè xiǎoxiǎo de kōngjiān, lǐmiàn yī gè dòng, 一个小小的空间,里面一个洞, 136 yòu chòu yòu ěxīn, xiàtiān wénzi hěn duō, 又臭又恶心,夏天蚊子很多, 137 dūn zài lǐmiàn gēnběn wúfǎrěnshòu! 蹲在里面根本无法忍受! 138 Dōngtiān yòu fēicháng lěng. 冬天又非常冷。 139 Tèbié shì wǎnshang bànyè xiǎng shàngcèsuǒ le, 特别是晚上半夜想上厕所了, 140 wàimiàn yī piàn qīhēi, cèsuǒ lǐ méiyǒu dēng, 外面一片漆黑,厕所里没有灯, 141 wǒ ná zhe shǒudiàntǒng yīgèrén dūn zài hēi hēi de cèsuǒ lǐ, 我拿着手电筒一个人蹲在黑黑的厕所里, 142 nǎozi lǐ xiǎng de dōu shì kǒngbù huàmiàn. 脑子里想的都是恐怖画面。 143 Nà nián wǒ shíjiǔ suì, sīxiǎng dānchún, méiyǒu shénme yuǎndàlǐxiǎng. 那年我十九岁,思想单纯,没有什么远大理想。 144 Zài lǎojiā hé jiārén shēnghuó le yī nián, jiànjiàn xíguàn le zhèyàng de shēnghuó, 在老家和家人生活了一年,渐渐习惯了这样的生活, 145 wéiyī de mèngxiǎng shì zhǎo yī gè hǎo nánrén jiéhūnshēngzǐ, 唯一的梦想是找一个好男人结婚生子, 146 cóngcǐ zuò yī gè kuàilè de jiātíngzhǔfù, 从此做一个快乐的家庭主妇, 147 suǒyǐ wǒ duì xiāngqīn bìngbù dǐkàng. 所以我对相亲并不抵抗。 148 Dàn zhèzhǒng dāng jiātíngzhǔfù de sīxiǎng méiyǒu wéichí hěn jiǔ, 但这种当家庭主妇的思想没有维持很久, 149 dì’èr nián wǒ jiù gǎibiàn zhǔyi le, 第二年我就改变主意了, 150 yīnwèi dāi zài lǎojiā shízài tài wúliáo le, 因为待在老家实在太无聊了, 151 érqiě xiǎngdào jiéhūn hòu yǒule háizi, jiù huì shīqù zìyóu jiù juéde kěpà. 而且想到结婚后有了孩子,就会失去自由就觉得可怕。 152 Yúshì wǒ juédìng yào chūqù zhǎo gōngzuò. 于是我决定要出去找工作。
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Dàjiā hǎo! Huānyíng láidào Mandarin Corner, wǒ shì Eileen.
大家好!欢迎来到Mandarin Corner,我是Eileen。
Hello everyone! Welcome to Mandarin Corner, I’m Eileen.
Shàngge shìpín wǒ jiǎng le zài Zhèjiāng gōngzuò de jīnglì.
上个视频我讲了在浙江工作的经历。
In the previous video, I talked about my experience working in Zhejiang.
Suīrán xīnsuān, què hěn kāixīn yǒu zhèyàng yī duàn jīnglì lái gēn dàjiā fēnxiǎng.
虽然辛酸,却很开心有这样一段经历来跟大家分享。
Although it was tough, I’m happy to have had that experience to share with all of you.
Jīngcháng èdùzi shì yīzhǒng hěn nánshòu de gǎnjué,
经常饿肚子是一种很难受的感觉,
Starving all the time was a difficult feeling,
suǒyǐ dāng wǒ bàmā tíchū ràng wǒ huílǎojiā de shíhou, wǒ xīnrán dāying le.
所以当我爸妈提出让我回老家的时候,我欣然答应了。
so when my parents suggested that I go back to our hometown, I gladly agreed.
Wǒ de bàba bù xiàng duōshù nóngcūn rén yīyàng, qù wàidì dǎgōng zhuànqián,
我的爸爸不像多数农村人一样,去外地打工赚钱,
Unlike most rural people who go to other places to work and earn money,
érshì zàijiā jīngyíng zhe zìjǐ de xiǎo shēngyì.
而是在家经营着自己的小生意。
my father runs his own small business at home.
Suīrán xīnkǔ, dàn yě gòu yǎnghuo yījiārén,
虽然辛苦,但也够养活一家人,
Although it’s hard work, it’s enough to support our family.
kuàngqiě kěyǐ dāi zài zìjǐ de jiāxiāng shì yī jiàn hěn xìngfú de shìqing.
况且可以待在自己的家乡是一件很幸福的事情。
Plus, being able to stay in my hometown was something I felt fortunate about.
Píngshí māma xūyào gēn bàba yīqǐ qù sònghuò,
平时妈妈需要跟爸爸一起去送货,
Usually, my mom needed to go with my dad to make deliveries,
suǒyǐ jīngcháng máng dào méi shíjiān zuòfàn.
所以经常忙到没时间做饭。
so often time, she didn’t have time to cook.
Ér wǒ huíjiā zhènghǎo kěyǐ bāngmáng gàn jiāwù huó,
而我回家正好可以帮忙干家务活,
When I went home, I was able to help with the household chores
ràng tāmen yī huíjiā jiù yǒu fàn chī.
让他们一回家就有饭吃。
and have meals ready for them when they came home.
Wǒmen zhù de fángzi yǒu liǎng céng, bàmā de wòshì hé kètīng,
我们住的房子有两层,爸妈的卧室和客厅,
Our house has two floors, with my parents’ bedroom, the living room and
háiyǒu yī gè duīfàng záwù de xiǎo fángjiān zài lóuxià.
还有一个堆放杂物的小房间在楼下。
and a small room to store miscellaneous items downstairs.
Wǒ de fángjiān zài lóushàng, cóng fángjiān lǐ de chuānghu xiàngwài kàn,
我的房间在楼上,从房间里的窗户向外看,
My room is upstairs, and from the window in my room,
néng kàndào yuǎnchù de shān hé cūnmín de fángzi,
能看到远处的山和村民的房子,
I could see the distant mountains, the houses of the villagers,
yǐjí láilái wǎngwǎng de mótuōchē.
以及来来往往的摩托车。
and the motorcycles coming and going.
Jiā ménkǒu yǒu gè dà yuànzi, bàba de xiǎo gōngchǎng jiù zài zhège yuànzi lǐ,
家门口有个大院子,爸爸的小工厂就在这个院子里,
There’s a large courtyard outside the front door, where my dad’s small factory is located.
duīfàng zhe gèzhǒng yònglái zhìzuò chǎnpǐn de jīqì hé yuáncáiliào,
堆放着各种用来制作产品的机器和原材料,
It’s filled with various machines and raw materials used to make his products,
háiyǒu bàba yònglái sònghuò de sānlúnchē.
还有爸爸用来送货的三轮车。
as well as my dad’s tricycle for deliveries.
Jīqì yùnzuò de shíhou zàoyīn hěn dà, kōngqì zhōng de fěnchén yě hěn duō,
机器运作的时候噪音很大,空气中的粉尘也很多,
When the machine was running, there would be a lot of noise and dust in the air,
suǒyǐ měicì bàba gōngzuò de shíhou, wǒ jiù bǎ mén hé chuānghu dōu guān qilai.
所以每次爸爸工作的时候,我就把门和窗户都关起来。
so I always closed the doors and windows whenever my dad started working.
Yuànzi lǐ háiyǒu yī gè xiǎo càiyuán,
院子里还有一个小菜园,
There’s also a small vegetable garden in the courtyard,
xīnqín de māma zài lǐmiàn zhòng mǎn le gèshìgèyàng de shūcài,
辛勤的妈妈在里面种满了各式各样的蔬菜,
where my hardworking mom grew all sorts of vegetables.
yǒu huángguā, qīngjiāo, húluóbo, qiézi, tǔdòu děngděng.
有黄瓜,青椒,胡萝卜,茄子,土豆等等。
We had cucumbers, green peppers, carrots, eggplants, potatoes, and more.
Wǒmen hěn shǎo yòng nóngyào, suǒyǐ zhèxiē shūcài hěn ānquán.
我们很少用农药,所以这些蔬菜很安全。
We rarely used pesticides, so these vegetables were very safe.
Měitiān yīzǎo qǐchuáng wǒ jiù dūn zài càiyuán lǐ,
每天一早起床我就蹲在菜园里,
Every morning when I woke up, I would squat in the vegetable garden
guānchá zhèxiē shūcài shìfǒu zhǎngdà le,
观察这些蔬菜是否长大了,
and look at the vegetables to see if they had grown more.
shíbùshí de hái néng kàndào yī qún mǎyǐ zài dì lǐ pá lái pá qù.
时不时地还能看到一群蚂蚁在地里爬来爬去。
Sometimes, I could even see a group of ants crawling around in the soil.
Shùlín lǐ de xiǎoniǎo ǒu’ěr huì fēi lái tōuchī wǒmen jiā de cài,
树林里的小鸟偶尔会飞来偷吃我们家的菜,
Occasionally, birds from the nearby woods would fly over and try to steal our vegetables.
māma yòng pò yīfu zhìzuò le yī gè jiǎrén,
妈妈用破衣服制作了一个假人,
My mom made a scarecrow out of old clothes
chā zài càiyuán zhōngyāng yònglái xià zǒu xiǎoniǎo.
插在菜园中央用来吓走小鸟。
and placed it in the center of the garden to scare them away.
Dàn zhèxiē niǎor yě bù bèn, gēnběn bù xiāngxìn, zhàoyàng tōuchī.
但这些鸟儿也不笨,根本不相信,照样偷吃。
However, these birds were clever and not easily fooled, so they still managed to steal our vegetables.
Wǒmen píngshí hěn shǎo xūyào mǎi cài,
我们平时很少需要买菜,
We rarely needed to buy vegetables
jīběnshang dōu shì chī càiyuán lǐ xīnxiān de shūcài,
基本上都是吃菜园里新鲜的蔬菜,
as we mostly relied on the fresh ones from our garden.
érqiě càishìchǎng lí jiā yǒudiǎn yuǎn, bùshì hěn fāngbiàn.
而且菜市场离家有点远,不是很方便。
Besides, the vegetable market was quite far from our home, so it wasn’t convenient.
Gébì cūn yǒu mài zhūròu de rén,
隔壁村有卖猪肉的人,
There was a person from our neighboring village who sold pork
tā měitiān cóng shìchǎng yùn lai xīnxiān de zhū,
他每天从市场运来新鲜的猪,
and every day, he would bring live pigs from the market,
ránhòu yīdàzǎo shā le tā, děng zhe gùkè shàngmén lái gòumǎi.
然后一大早杀了它,等着顾客上门来购买。
slaughtered them early in the morning, and waited for customers to come by and purchase (the pork).
Zhèlǐ de zhūròu jì gānjìng yòu jiànkāng,
这里的猪肉既干净又健康,
The pork was both clean and healthy.
chī qilai hěn xiānměi, wén qilai yě hěn xiāng.
吃起来很鲜美,闻起来也很香。
It smelled good and tasted delicious.
Wǒ de māma měinián dōu huì yǎng shíjǐ zhī jī,
我的妈妈每年都会养十几只鸡,
My mom raised around a dozen chickens every year.
yībān dōu shì mǔjī.
一般都是母鸡。
usually hens.
Děng tāmen zhǎngdà le zhīhòu, jiù huì xiàdàn gěi wǒmen chī.
等它们长大了之后,就会下蛋给我们吃。
Once they grew up, they laid eggs for us.
Wǒ zuì xǐhuan bàngwǎn de shíhou qù jī juàn lǐ jiǎn jīdàn le,
我最喜欢傍晚的时候去鸡圈里捡鸡蛋了,
What I liked the most was going to the chicken coop in the evening to collect the eggs.
wò zài shǒulǐ nuǎnnuǎn de,
握在手里暖暖的,
They felt warm in my hands,
ránhòu xiǎoxīnyìyì de bǎ zhèxiē jīdàn fàng zài yī gè xié hé lǐ.
然后小心翼翼地把这些鸡蛋放在一个鞋盒里。
and I would carefully place them in a shoebox.
Zǎoshang wǒmen de zǎocān shì yòng mǐ zhǔ chéng de zhōu.
早上我们的早餐是用米煮成的粥。
For breakfast, we cooked rice porridge.
Māma huì zhǔ hěn duō, ránhòu jiāng shèngxià de zhōu hé mǐkāng jiǎobàn zàiyīqǐ wèi jī chī.
妈妈会煮很多,然后将剩下的粥和米糠搅拌在一起喂鸡吃。
My mom would cook a lot of it and mixed the leftovers with rice bran to feed the chickens.
Huíjiā hòu zhàogu jī de gōngzuò jiù chéng le wǒ de le.
回家后照顾鸡的工作就成了我的了。
Taking care of the chickens became my responsibility after I returned home.
Měicì wǒ duān zhe yī pén jī shí zǒujìn jī juàn,
每次我端着一盆鸡食走进鸡圈,
Every time I entered the chicken coop with a bucket of chicken feed,
zhèxiē jī dōu dīng zhe wǒ shǒu shang de shíwù,
这些鸡都盯着我手上的食物,
the chickens stared at the food in my hands,
hǎoxiàng zài shuō: “Wǒ èsǐ le!”
好像在说:“我饿死了!”
as if they were saying, “I’m starving!”
Děng wǒ bǎ pénzi fàng zài dìshang, tāmen biàn kāishǐ zhēngxiānkǒnghòu de qiǎng shíwù.
等我把盆子放在地上,它们便开始争先恐后地抢食物。
As soon as I put the bucket down on the ground, they started eagerly fighting for the food.
Yǒushíhou wǒ yě huì jiāng cóng càiyuán lǐ zhāi huilai de shūcài fēn yīxiē gěi jī chī.
有时候我也会将从菜园里摘回来的蔬菜分一些给鸡吃。
Sometimes, I also fed them with vegetables I got from the garden.
Rēng jìnqu de nà yīshùnjiān, tāmen huì lìjí pū shanglai qiǎng.
扔进去的那一瞬间,它们会立即扑上来抢。
The moment I threw them in, the chickens immediately pounced on them.
Fēicháng hǎowán!
非常好玩!
It was so amusing!
Yībān zhǐyǒu guònián de shíhou, wǒmen cái huì shā yī liǎng zhī jī chī,
一般只有过年的时候,我们才会杀一两只鸡吃,
Usually, only during the Chinese New Year, we would kill one or two chickens to eat.
píngshí jiù liú zhe tāmen xià jīdàn.
平时就留着它们下鸡蛋。
and we kept the rest of them to lay eggs.
Guò chūnjié nàtiān, wǒ de māma zǒng yāoqiú wǒ bāng tā yīqǐ shā,
过春节那天,我的妈妈总要求我帮她一起杀,
During Chinese New Year, my mom would always ask me to help her with the slaughtering (of the chicken),
zhè shì wǒ zuì tǎoyàn de shìqing!
这是我最讨厌的事情!
which was something I hated to do!
Māma ná dāo shā jī de shíhou, jī huì zhēngzhá,
妈妈拿刀杀鸡的时候,鸡会挣扎,
When my mom tried to slaughter a chicken with a knife, it would struggle.
suǒyǐ xūyào wǒ zhuāzhù jī de jiǎo, fángzhǐ tā luàndòng.
所以需要我抓住鸡的脚,防止它乱动。
So I had to hold its feet to prevent it from moving too much.
Kěshì wǒ hěn hàipà, bù gǎn kàn.
可是我很害怕,不敢看。
But I was too scared to look.
Shǒulǐ zhuāzhù jījiǎo, yǎnjing bì de jǐnjǐn de,
手里抓住鸡脚,眼睛闭得紧紧的,
I tightly gripped the chicken’s feet with my eyes closed
zuǐlǐ hái bùshí wèn wǒ mā: “Hǎole méi?”
嘴里还不时问我妈:“好了没?”
and kept asking my mom: “Is it done yet?”
Wǒ mā zǒngshì bùnàifán de huí wǒ yījù,
我妈总是不耐烦地回我一句,
My mom would always impatiently reply:
“Nǐ zhuājǐn yīdiǎn, bié ràng tā dòng!”
“你抓紧一点,别让它动!”
“Hold it tighter, don’t let it move!”
Wǒ bàba gēn wǒ yīyàng fēicháng dǎnxiǎo, bù gǎn shāshēng.
我爸爸跟我一样非常胆小,不敢杀生。
My dad is just as timid as me and is afraid to kill animals.
Yǒuyīcì, bàba zài jiālǐ fāxiàn le yī zhī sǐ lǎoshǔ,
有一次,爸爸在家里发现了一只死老鼠,
Once, my dad found a dead rat in the house and he was startled.
tā bèi xià le yī tiào, dàhǎndàjiào jiào wǒ mā guòlái diūdiào sǐ lǎoshǔ.
他被吓了一跳,大喊大叫让我妈过来丢掉死老鼠。
He shouted for my mom to come and throw away the dead rat.
Nóngcūn rén yībān jiālǐ dōu yǒu kǒu shuǐjǐng. Wǒmen dōu shì hē jǐng lǐ de shuǐ,
农村人一般家里都有口水井。我们都是喝井里的水,
In rural areas, most families had a well for drinking. We drank water from the well
dàn bùyòng tā xǐ yīfu.
但不用它洗衣服。
but didn’t use it for washing clothes.
Měitiān zǎoshang wǒ huì shōují zāng de yīfu, ránhòu yòng lánzi līn qù chítáng biān xǐ.
每天早上我会收集脏的衣服,然后用篮子拎去池塘边洗。
Every morning, I collected dirty clothes, put them in a basket, and took them to the pond to wash.
Xǐ yīfu de shíhou fēicháng rènao.
洗衣服的时候非常热闹。
It was very lively (around the pond) when washing clothes.
Měitiān yī qún fùnǚ wéi zhe gānjìng de chítáng xǐ yījiārén de yīfu,
每天一群妇女围着干净的池塘洗一家人的衣服,
Every day, a group of women gathered around the clear pond to wash their family’s clothes.
bù yīhuìr chítáng lǐ de shuǐ jiù biànde wūzhuó bùkān.
不一会儿池塘里的水就变得污浊不堪。
Before long, the water in the pond would become dirty.
Suízhe shuǐ de liúdòng, chítáng lǐ de shuǐ yòu biànde qīngchèjiàndǐ le.
随着水的流动,池塘里的水又变得清澈见底了。
But as (new) water flew (into the pond), it became clear again.
Zhèxiē fùnǚ xǐhuan wéi zàiyīqǐ dàshēng liáotiān, liáo gèzhǒng yǒuqù de bāguà.
这些妇女喜欢围在一起大声聊天,聊各种有趣的八卦。
These women loved gathering together, chatting loudly and discussing various interesting gossips.
Wǒ jiù ānjìng de dūn zài yībiān, biān xǐ yīfu biān tīng tāmen liáotiān.
我就安静地蹲在一边,边洗衣服边听她们聊天。
I would quietly squat on the side, washing clothes while listening to their conversations.
Xiàtiān de shíhou yīfu dānbó, hěn kuài jiù néng xǐ wán.
夏天的时候衣服单薄,很快就能洗完。
During the summer, the clothes’ (fabric) was thin and I could finish washing them quickly.
Dàn dōngtiān de yīfu hòuzhòng, měicì līn zhe yī lánzi yīfu qù chítáng,
但冬天的衣服厚重,每次拎着一篮子衣服去池塘,
But in the winter, the clothes’ (fabric) was thick and heavy. Every time I carried a basket of clothes to the pond,
dōu yào zài lùshang xiūxi hǎojǐ cì.
都要在路上休息好几次。
I had to take several breaks along the way.
Chítáng lǐ de shuǐwēn hěn dī,
池塘里的水温很低,
The water temperature in the pond was very low,
jiù xiàng cóng bīngxiāng lǐ ná chulai de bīngkuài yīyàng.
就像从冰箱里拿出来的冰块一样。
(and felt like it had) ice cubes just taken out of the refrigerator.
Děng wǒ xǐ wán suǒyǒu de yīfu,
等我洗完所有的衣服,
By the time I finished washing all the clothes,
wǒ de shǒu jiù huì bèi dòng de hónghóng zhǒngzhǒng.
我的手就会被冻得红红肿肿。
my hands would be frozen and swollen.
Xǐ wán yīfu hòu wǒ jiù děi huíjiā zuòfàn le.
洗完衣服后我就得回家做饭了。
After finishing the laundry, I had to go back home and cook.
Gāng kāishǐ zuò de cài hěn nánchī,
刚开始做的菜很难吃,
At first, my cooking was terrible,
wǒ jiù shàngwǎng chá càipǔ, xué zuò gèzhǒng měishí.
我就上网查菜谱,学做各种美食。
so I looked for recipes online and learned how to make various delicious food.
Dàn měicì bùguǎn hǎochī nánchī, wǒ bàmā cónglái bùhuì bàoyuàn.
但每次不管好吃难吃,我爸妈从来不会抱怨。
But whether the food was delicious or not, my parents never complained.
Zìcóng chūzhōng bìyè wǒ biàn líkāi le jiā,
自从初中毕业我便离开了家,
I had left home since graduating from junior high school.
zài wàimiàn chī de shíwù jì bù wèishēng yòu bù jiànkāng,
在外面吃的食物既不卫生又不健康,
The food I ate outside was neither hygienic nor healthy.
érqiě chī língshí yě bù jiézhì, dǎozhì wǒ pàng le yī dà quān.
而且吃零食也不节制,导致我胖了一大圈。
Moreover, I lacked self-control when it came to snacking, which resulted in me gaining a lot of weight.
Dàbùfen de zhuìròu dōu shì zhǎng zài dùzi shang,
大部分的赘肉都是长在肚子上,
Most of the excess weight accumulated around my wrist.
zuò zhe de shíhou, zhè yīcéng yīcéng de ròu fēicháng bùshūfu.
坐着的时候,这一层一层的肉非常不舒服。
When sitting, these layers of fat made me feel very uncomfortable.
Suǒyǐ wǒ jiù xiàdìngjuéxīn yào jiǎndiào zhè nánkàn de féiròu.
所以我就下定决心要减掉这难看的肥肉。
Therefore, I made up my mind to get rid of this ugly fat.
Wǒ jiǎnféi de mìjué jiùshì bǎ shíwù fàngjìn zuǐlǐ mànmàn jǔjué,
我减肥的秘诀就是把食物放进嘴里慢慢咀嚼,
My secret to losing weight was to chew the food in my mouth slowly
shǔ sānshí xià zài wǎng xià tūn.
数三十下再往下吞。
and swallowed after the count of 30.
Zhèyàng bùjǐn duì wèi hǎo, érqiě hái néng fángzhǐ yīnwèi chī duō ér zhǎng pàng.
这样不仅对胃好,而且还能防止因为吃多而长胖。
Not only is this good for the stomach, but it also helps prevent weight gain from overeating.
Jiāshàng wǎnfàn qián zuò sānshí fēnzhōng zuǒyòu de yùndòng.
加上晚饭前做三十分钟左右的运动。
In addition, I was doing roughly thirty minutes of exercise before dinner.
Wǒ xǐhuan tiàowǔ hé yújiā,
我喜欢跳舞和瑜伽,
I enjoyed dancing and yoga,
mǎi le yīxiē dvd jiàoxué shìpín, gēnzhe liànxí.
买了一些DVD教学视频,跟着练习。
and I bought some instructional DVDs to practice along with.
Yī nián hòu, wǒ dùzi shang de ròu bùjiànle, tǐzhòng yě xiàjiàng le!
一年后,我肚子上的肉不见了,体重也下降了!
After a year, the fat on my stomach disappeared, and my weight also decreased!
Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu tóngyàng de fánnǎo, yě kěyǐ shìshì zhège fāngfǎ o!
如果你有同样的烦恼,也可以试试这个方法哦!
If you have the same problem, you can try this method too!
Shàngwǔ de shíjiān wǒ dōu shì zài gàn jiāwù huó zhōng dùguò,
上午的时间我都是在干家务活中度过,
I spent my mornings doing chores around the house,
xiàwǔ wǒ yībān huì kàn diànshì, huò sìchù liūda.
下午我一般会看电视,或四处溜达。
and in the afternoons, I usually watched TV or wandered around (the villages).
Wǒ bàba gěi wǒ mǎi le liàng diàndòng chē,
我爸爸给我买了辆电动车,
My dad bought me an electric bike,
wǒ jīngcháng qí zhe tā qù fùjìn de chāoshì,
我经常骑着它去附近的超市,
and I often rode it to the nearby supermarket
mǎi língshí huílai biān chī biān kàn diànshì.
买零食回来边吃边看电视。
to buy snacks and then ate them while watching TV.
Yǒushíhou yě huì qí qù wàipó jiā wán.
有时候也会骑去外婆家玩。
Sometimes I would also ride to my grandmother’s place.
Xiāngxia de mǎlù kēngkengwāwā,
乡下的马路坑坑洼洼,
The roads in the countryside were uneven and bumpy,
yòu yǒu hěn duō dà huòchē yùn zhe méi huò shítou lùguò.
又有很多大货车运着煤或石头路过。
and there were many heavy trucks carrying coal or stones passing by.
Měicì zài mǎlù shang qíchē, wǒ dōu shì yī zhī shǒu wǔ zhe zuǐ,
每次在马路上骑车,我都是一只手捂着嘴,
Every time I rode my bike on the road, I covered my mouth with one hand,
lìngyī zhī shǒu zhǎngwò fāngxiàngpán.
另一只手掌握方向盘。
and held the handlebar with the other.
Yǎnjing yě yīnwèi kōngqì zhōng de huīchén bùtíng de zhǎ.
眼睛也因为空气中的灰尘不停地眨。
I would keep blinking my eyes due to the dust in the air.
Bàmā zǒngshì hěn wǎn cái dàojiā,
爸妈总是很晚才到家,
My parents always came home late,
ér wǒ jīngcháng yīgèrén zuò zài fángjiān lǐ děng tāmen huíjiā chī wǎnfàn.
而我经常一个人坐在房间里等他们回家吃晚饭。
and I often sat alone in my room waiting for them to come back for dinner.
Yǒushíhou hěn wǎn dōu méi dàojiā, wǒ jiù kāishǐ húsīluànxiǎng,
有时候很晚都没到家,我就开始胡思乱想,
Sometimes they would come home very late, and I would start to worry and imagine all sorts of things,
dānxīn tāmen huì yǒu shénme yìwài,
担心他们会有什么意外,
such as, them having an accident.
zhídào tīngdào bàba chē de shēngyīn cái fàngxià xīn lái.
直到听到爸爸车的声音才放下心来。
I would only relax when I heard my father’s vehicle.
Yǒu duàn shíjiān, wǒ míshàng le Zhōngyī,
有段时间,我迷上了中医,
There was a period in which I got obsessed with traditional Chinese medicine,
mǎi le yī dà duī shū xiánláiwúshì jiù kāishǐ yánjiū.
买了一大堆书闲来无事就开始研究。
and I bought a bunch of books to study when I had time.
Wǎnshang chīwán wǎncān, xǐ wán zǎo,
晚上吃完晚餐,洗完澡,
After dinner and shower at night,
wǒmen yījiārén zuò zài fángjiān lǐ liáotiān, kàn diànshì.
我们一家人坐在房间里聊天、看电视。
our whole family would sit in the room chatting and watching TV.
Wǒ zǒngshì jiāng wǒ cóng shū shang xuédào de zhīshi gěi tāmen ànmó.
我总是将我从书上学到的知识给他们按摩。
I always gave them massages using the knowledge I learned from the books.
Zài lǎojiā péibàn fùmǔ de yī nián shíjiān shì wǒ rénshēng zhōng zuì wúyōuwúlǜ de shíguāng,
在老家陪伴父母的一年时间是我人生中最无忧无虑的时光,
The one year I spent with my parents in my hometown was the most carefree time in my life,
wǒ yě hěn xiǎngshòu nóngcūn shēnghuó.
我也很享受农村生活。
and I truly enjoyed the rural life.
Dàn wéidú yīdiǎn wǒ zhìjīn háishi wúfǎ xíguàn,
但唯独一点我至今还是无法习惯,
But there is one thing that I still can’t get used to,
nà jiùshì xiāngxia de cèsuǒ.
那就是乡下的厕所。
and that is the toilet.
Nóngcūn de cèsuǒ bù xiàng chéngshì lǐ shì jiàn zài fáng nèi de,
农村的厕所不像城市里是建在房内的,
The toilets in the countryside were not built inside the house like in the city,
érshì dāndú jiàn zài wàimiàn.
而是单独建在外面。
but rather, outside.
Wǒmen jiā de cèsuǒ shì zài càiyuán lǐ,
我们家的厕所是在菜园里,
Our family’s toilet was in our vegetable garden.
yī gè xiǎoxiǎo de kōngjiān, lǐmiàn yī gè dòng,
一个小小的空间,里面一个洞,
It was in a small space and in it, there was a hole.
yòu chòu yòu ěxīn, xiàtiān wénzi hěn duō,
又臭又恶心,夏天蚊子很多,
It was smelly, disgusting, and there were a lot of mosquitoes in the summertime,
dūn zài lǐmiàn gēnběn wúfǎrěnshòu!
蹲在里面根本无法忍受!
which made it unbearable to squat in there!
Dōngtiān yòu fēicháng lěng.
冬天又非常冷。
And in the winter, it was very cold.
Tèbié shì wǎnshang bànyè xiǎng shàngcèsuǒ le,
特别是晚上半夜想上厕所了,
Especially when I needed to use the toilet in the middle of the night,
wàimiàn yī piàn qīhēi, cèsuǒ lǐ méiyǒu dēng,
外面一片漆黑,厕所里没有灯,
and outside would be pitch black, with no light in the toilet.
wǒ ná zhe shǒudiàntǒng yīgèrén dūn zài hēi hēi de cèsuǒ lǐ,
我拿着手电筒一个人蹲在黑黑的厕所里,
I would squat alone in the dark with a flashlight
nǎozi lǐ xiǎng de dōu shì kǒngbù huàmiàn.
脑子里想的都是恐怖画面。
imagining horrifying scenes.
Nà nián wǒ shíjiǔ suì, sīxiǎng dānchún, méiyǒu shénme yuǎndàlǐxiǎng.
那年我十九岁,思想单纯,没有什么远大理想。
I was 19 that year. I was simple-minded and had no big dreams.
Zài lǎojiā hé jiārén shēnghuó le yī nián, jiànjiàn xíguàn le zhèyàng de shēnghuó,
在老家和家人生活了一年,渐渐习惯了这样的生活,
After living with my family in my hometown for a year, I gradually got used to this kind of life,
wéiyī de mèngxiǎng shì zhǎo yī gè hǎo nánrén jiéhūnshēngzǐ,
唯一的梦想是找一个好男人结婚生子,
and my only dream was to find a good man to marry, to have children
cóngcǐ zuò yī gè kuàilè de jiātíngzhǔfù,
从此做一个快乐的家庭主妇,
and then become a happy housewife.
suǒyǐ wǒ duì xiāngqīn bìngbù dǐkàng.
所以我对相亲并不抵抗。
So I wasn’t against the idea of arranged blind dates.
Dàn zhèzhǒng dāng jiātíngzhǔfù de sīxiǎng méiyǒu wéichí hěn jiǔ,
但这种当家庭主妇的思想没有维持很久,
But this idea of being a housewife didn’t last long.
dì’èr nián wǒ jiù gǎibiàn zhǔyi le,
第二年我就改变主意了,
The next year, I changed my mind
yīnwèi dāi zài lǎojiā shízài tài wúliáo le,
因为待在老家实在太无聊了,
because life in my hometown was very boring,
érqiě xiǎngdào jiéhūn hòu yǒule háizi, jiù huì shīqù zìyóu jiù juéde kěpà.
而且想到结婚后有了孩子,就会失去自由就觉得可怕。
and the thought of losing my freedom after getting married and having children, became frightening.
Yúshì wǒ juédìng yào chūqù zhǎo gōngzuò.
于是我决定要出去找工作。
So I decided to go out and look for a job.Pinyin - Simplified
Hanzi - Simplified
大家好!欢迎来到Mandarin Corner,我是Eileen。
上个视频我讲了在浙江工作的经历。
虽然辛酸,却很开心有这样一段经历来跟大家分享。
经常饿肚子是一种很难受的感觉,
所以当我爸妈提出让我回老家的时候,我欣然答应了。
我的爸爸不像多数农村人一样,去外地打工赚钱,
而是在家经营着自己的小生意。
虽然辛苦,但也够养活一家人,
况且可以待在自己的家乡是一件很幸福的事情。
平时妈妈需要跟爸爸一起去送货,
所以经常忙到没时间做饭。
而我回家正好可以帮忙干家务活,
让他们一回家就有饭吃。
我们住的房子有两层,爸妈的卧室和客厅,
还有一个堆放杂物的小房间在楼下。
我的房间在楼上,从房间里的窗户向外看,
能看到远处的山和村民的房子,
以及来来往往的摩托车。
家门口有个大院子,爸爸的小工厂就在这个院子里,
堆放着各种用来制作产品的机器和原材料,
还有爸爸用来送货的三轮车。
机器运作的时候噪音很大,空气中的粉尘也很多,
所以每次爸爸工作的时候,我就把门和窗户都关起来。
院子里还有一个小菜园,
辛勤的妈妈在里面种满了各式各样的蔬菜,
有黄瓜,青椒,胡萝卜,茄子,土豆等等。
我们很少用农药,所以这些蔬菜很安全。
每天一早起床我就蹲在菜园里,
观察这些蔬菜是否长大了,
时不时地还能看到一群蚂蚁在地里爬来爬去。
树林里的小鸟偶尔会飞来偷吃我们家的菜,
妈妈用破衣服制作了一个假人,
插在菜园中央用来吓走小鸟。
但这些鸟儿也不笨,根本不相信,照样偷吃。
我们平时很少需要买菜,
基本上都是吃菜园里新鲜的蔬菜,
而且菜市场离家有点远,不是很方便。
隔壁村有卖猪肉的人,
他每天从市场运来新鲜的猪,
然后一大早杀了它,等着顾客上门来购买。
这里的猪肉既干净又健康,
吃起来很鲜美,闻起来也很香。
我的妈妈每年都会养十几只鸡,
一般都是母鸡。
等它们长大了之后,就会下蛋给我们吃。
我最喜欢傍晚的时候去鸡圈里捡鸡蛋了,
握在手里暖暖的,
然后小心翼翼地把这些鸡蛋放在一个鞋盒里。
早上我们的早餐是用米煮成的粥。
妈妈会煮很多,然后将剩下的粥和米糠搅拌在一起喂鸡吃。
回家后照顾鸡的工作就成了我的了。
每次我端着一盆鸡食走进鸡圈,
这些鸡都盯着我手上的食物,
好像在说:“我饿死了!”
等我把盆子放在地上,它们便开始争先恐后地抢食物。
有时候我也会将从菜园里摘回来的蔬菜分一些给鸡吃。
扔进去的那一瞬间,它们会立即扑上来抢。
非常好玩!
一般只有过年的时候,我们才会杀一两只鸡吃,
平时就留着它们下鸡蛋。
过春节那天,我的妈妈总要求我帮她一起杀,
这是我最讨厌的事情!
妈妈拿刀杀鸡的时候,鸡会挣扎,
所以需要我抓住鸡的脚,防止它乱动。
可是我很害怕,不敢看。
手里抓住鸡脚,眼睛闭得紧紧的,
嘴里还不时问我妈:“好了没?”
我妈总是不耐烦地回我一句,
“你抓紧一点,别让它动!”
我爸爸跟我一样非常胆小,不敢杀生。
有一次,爸爸在家里发现了一只死老鼠,
他被吓了一跳,大喊大叫让我妈过来丢掉死老鼠。
农村人一般家里都有口水井。我们都是喝井里的水,
但不用它洗衣服。
每天早上我会收集脏的衣服,然后用篮子拎去池塘边洗。
洗衣服的时候非常热闹。
每天一群妇女围着干净的池塘洗一家人的衣服,
不一会儿池塘里的水就变得污浊不堪。
随着水的流动,池塘里的水又变得清澈见底了。
这些妇女喜欢围在一起大声聊天,聊各种有趣的八卦。
我就安静地蹲在一边,边洗衣服边听她们聊天。
夏天的时候衣服单薄,很快就能洗完。
但冬天的衣服厚重,每次拎着一篮子衣服去池塘,
dōu yào zài lùshang xiūxi hǎojǐ cì.
都要在路上休息好几次。
池塘里的水温很低,
就像从冰箱里拿出来的冰块一样。
等我洗完所有的衣服,
我的手就会被冻得红红肿肿。
洗完衣服后我就得回家做饭了。
刚开始做的菜很难吃,
我就上网查菜谱,学做各种美食。
但每次不管好吃难吃,我爸妈从来不会抱怨。
自从初中毕业我便离开了家,
在外面吃的食物既不卫生又不健康,
而且吃零食也不节制,导致我胖了一大圈。
大部分的赘肉都是长在肚子上,
坐着的时候,这一层一层的肉非常不舒服。
所以我就下定决心要减掉这难看的肥肉。
我减肥的秘诀就是把食物放进嘴里慢慢咀嚼,
数三十下再往下吞。
这样不仅对胃好,而且还能防止因为吃多而长胖。
加上晚饭前做三十分钟左右的运动。
我喜欢跳舞和瑜伽,
买了一些DVD教学视频,跟着练习。
一年后,我肚子上的肉不见了,体重也下降了!
如果你有同样的烦恼,也可以试试这个方法哦!
上午的时间我都是在干家务活中度过,
下午我一般会看电视,或四处溜达。
我爸爸给我买了辆电动车,
我经常骑着它去附近的超市,
买零食回来边吃边看电视。
有时候也会骑去外婆家玩。
乡下的马路坑坑洼洼,
又有很多大货车运着煤或石头路过。
每次在马路上骑车,我都是一只手捂着嘴,
另一只手掌握方向盘。
眼睛也因为空气中的灰尘不停地眨。
爸妈总是很晚才到家,
而我经常一个人坐在房间里等他们回家吃晚饭。
有时候很晚都没到家,我就开始胡思乱想,
担心他们会有什么意外,
直到听到爸爸车的声音才放下心来。
有段时间,我迷上了中医,
买了一大堆书闲来无事就开始研究。
晚上吃完晚餐,洗完澡,
我们一家人坐在房间里聊天、看电视。
我总是将我从书上学到的知识给他们按摩。
在老家陪伴父母的一年时间是我人生中最无忧无虑的时光,
我也很享受农村生活。
但唯独一点我至今还是无法习惯,
那就是乡下的厕所。
农村的厕所不像城市里是建在房内的,
而是单独建在外面。
我们家的厕所是在菜园里,
一个小小的空间,里面一个洞,
又臭又恶心,夏天蚊子很多,
蹲在里面根本无法忍受!
冬天又非常冷。
特别是晚上半夜想上厕所了,
外面一片漆黑,厕所里没有灯,
我拿着手电筒一个人蹲在黑黑的厕所里,
脑子里想的都是恐怖画面。
那年我十九岁,思想单纯,没有什么远大理想。
在老家和家人生活了一年,渐渐习惯了这样的生活,
唯一的梦想是找一个好男人结婚生子,
从此做一个快乐的家庭主妇,
所以我对相亲并不抵抗。
但这种当家庭主妇的思想没有维持很久,
第二年我就改变主意了,
因为待在老家实在太无聊了,
而且想到结婚后有了孩子,就会失去自由就觉得可怕。
于是我决定要出去找工作。with Literal Translations
Dàjiā hǎo! Huānyíng láidào Mandarin Corner, wǒ shì Eileen.
大家好!欢迎来到Mandarin Corner,我是Eileen。
Hello everyone! Welcome to Mandarin Corner, I’m Eileen.
大家好 dàjiā hǎo hi, everyone
欢迎 huānyíng welcome
来到 láidào to come
我 wǒ I
是 shì am
Shàngge shìpín wǒ jiǎng le zài Zhèjiāng gōngzuò de jīnglì.
上个视频我讲了在浙江工作的经历。
In the previous video, I talked about my experience working in Zhejiang.
上个 shàngge previous
视频 shìpín video
我 wǒ I
讲 jiǎng to speak
了 le (completed action marker)
在浙江 zài Zhèjiāng in Zhejiang province
工作 gōngzuò to work
的 de (used after an attribute)
经历 jīnglì experience
Suīrán xīnsuān, què hěn kāixīn yǒu zhèyàng yī duàn jīnglì lái gēn dàjiā fēnxiǎng.
虽然辛酸,却很开心有这样一段经历来跟大家分享。
Although it was tough, I’m happy to have had that experience to share with all of you.
虽然 suīrán although
辛酸 xīnsuān miserable
却 què yet
很 hěn very
开心 kāixīn happy
有 yǒu there is
这样 zhèyàng this kind of
一 yī one
段 duàn classifier for periods of time
经历 jīnglì experience
来 lái (before a verb, indicating an intended or suggested action)
跟 gēn with
大家 dàjiā everyone
分享 fēnxiǎng to share
Jīngcháng èdùzi shì yīzhǒng hěn nánshòu de gǎnjué,
经常饿肚子是一种很难受的感觉,
Starving all the time was a difficult feeling,
经常 jīngcháng frequently
饿肚子 èdùzi to starve
是 shì is
一种 yīzhǒng one kind of
很 hěn very
难受 nánshòu to feel unwell
的 de (used after an attribute)
感觉 gǎnjué feeling
suǒyǐ dāng wǒ bàmā tíchū ràng wǒ huílǎojiā de shíhou, wǒ xīnrán dāying le.
所以当我爸妈提出让我回老家的时候,我欣然答应了。
so when my parents suggested that I go back to our hometown, I gladly agreed.
所以 suǒyǐ so
当 dāng when
我 wǒ my
爸妈 bàmā dad and mom
提出 tíchū to propose
让 ràng to let sb do sth
我 wǒ me
回老家 huílǎojiā to return to one’s native place
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time (when)
我 wǒ I
欣然 xīnrán gladly
答应 dāying to agree
了 le (completed action marker)
Wǒ de bàba bù xiàng duōshù nóngcūn rén yīyàng, qù wàidì dǎgōng zhuànqián,
我的爸爸不像多数农村人一样,去外地打工赚钱,
Unlike most rural people who go to other places to work and earn money,
我的 wǒ de my
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
不像 bù xiàng unlike
多数 duōshù most
农村人 nóngcūn rén village people
一样 yīyàng just like
去 qù to go to (a place)
外地 wàidì parts of the country other than where one is
打工 dǎgōng to work a temporary or casual job
赚钱 zhuànqián to earn money
érshì zàijiā jīngyíng zhe zìjǐ de xiǎo shēngyì.
而是在家经营着自己的小生意。
my father runs his own small business at home.
而是 érshì rather
在家 zàijiā to be at home
经营 jīngyíng to engage in (business etc)
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
自己 zìjǐ oneself
的 de (used after an attribute)
小 xiǎo small
生意 shēngyi business
Suīrán xīnkǔ, dàn yě gòu yǎnghuo yījiārén,
虽然辛苦,但也够养活一家人,
Although it’s hard work, it’s enough to support our family.
虽然 suīrán although
辛苦 xīnkǔ hard
但 dàn but
也 yě also
够 gòu enough
养活 yǎnghuo to provide for
一家人 yījiārén the whole family
kuàngqiě kěyǐ dāi zài zìjǐ de jiāxiāng shì yī jiàn hěn xìngfú de shìqing.
况且可以待在自己的家乡是一件很幸福的事情。
Plus, being able to stay in my hometown was something I felt fortunate about.
况且 kuàngqiě moreover
可以 kěyǐ can
待 dāi to stay
在 zài (located) at
自己 zìjǐ one’s own
的 de (used after an attribute)
家乡 jiāxiāng hometown
是 shì is
一 yī one
件 jiàn classifier for events
很 hěn very
幸福 xìngfú happy
的 de (used after an attribute)
事情 shìqing thing
Píngshí māma xūyào gēn bàba yīqǐ qù sònghuò,
平时妈妈需要跟爸爸一起去送货,
Usually, my mom needed to go with my dad to make deliveries,
平时 píngshí in normal times
妈妈 māma mother
需要 xūyào to need
跟 gēn with
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
一起 yīqǐ together
去 qù to go
送货 sònghuò to deliver goods
suǒyǐ jīngcháng máng dào méi shíjiān zuòfàn.
所以经常忙到没时间做饭。
so often time, she didn’t have time to cook.
所以 suǒyǐ so
经常 jīngcháng frequently
忙 máng busy
到 dào (verb complement denoting completion or result of an action)
没时间 méi shíjān no time
做饭 zuòfàn to cook
Ér wǒ huíjiā zhènghǎo kěyǐ bāngmáng gàn jiāwù huó,
而我回家正好可以帮忙干家务活,
When I went home, I was able to help with the household chores
而 ér and so
我 wǒ I
回家 huíjiā to return home
正好 zhènghǎo just right
可以 kěyǐ can
帮忙 bāngmáng to help
干 gàn to do
家务活 jiāwù huó housework
ràng tāmen yī huíjiā jiù yǒu fàn chī.
让他们一回家就有饭吃。
and have meals ready for them when they came home.
让 ràng to allow
他们 tāmen them
一 yī as soon as
回家 huíjiā to return home
就 jiù as soon as
有 yǒu to have
饭 fàn meal
吃 chī to eat
Wǒmen zhù de fángzi yǒu liǎng céng, bàmā de wòshì hé kètīng,
我们住的房子有两层,爸妈的卧室和客厅,
Our house has two floors, with my parents’ bedroom, the living room and
我们 wǒmen we
住 zhù to live
的 de (used after an attribute)
房子 fángzi house
有 yǒu there is
两 liǎng two
层 céng floor (of a building)
爸妈 bàmā parents
的 de (used after an attribute)
卧室 wòshì bedroom
和 hé and
客厅 kètīng living room
háiyǒu yī gè duīfàng záwù de xiǎo fángjiān zài lóuxià.
还有一个堆放杂物的小房间在楼下。
and a small room to store miscellaneous items downstairs.
还有 háiyǒu and
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for objects in general
堆放 duīfàng to pile up
杂物 záwù items of no value
的 de (used after an attribute)
小 xiǎo small
房间 fángjiān room
在 zài (located) at
楼下 lóuxià downstairs
Wǒ de fángjiān zài lóushàng, cóng fángjiān lǐ de chuānghu xiàngwài kàn,
我的房间在楼上,从房间里的窗户向外看,
My room is upstairs, and from the window in my room,
我 wǒ I
的 de (used after an attribute)
房间 fángjiān room
在 zài (located) at
楼上 lóushàng upstairs
从 cóng from
房间 fángjiān room
里 lǐ inside
的 de (used after an attribute)
窗户 chuānghu window
向外 xiàngwài outward
看 kàn to look at
néng kàndào yuǎnchù de shān hé cūnmín de fángzi,
能看到远处的山和村民的房子,
I could see the distant mountains, the houses of the villagers,
能 néng can
看到 kàndào to see
远处 yuǎnchù distant place
的 de (used after an attribute)
山 shān mountain
和 hé and
村民 cūnmín villager
的 de (used after an attribute)
房子 fángzi house
yǐjí láilái wǎngwǎng de mótuōchē.
以及来来往往的摩托车。
and the motorcycles coming and going.
以及 yǐjí as well as
来来往往 láilái wǎngwǎng come and go
的 de (used after an attribute)
摩托车 mótuōchē motorcycle
Jiā ménkǒu yǒu gè dà yuànzi, bàba de xiǎo gōngchǎng jiù zài zhège yuànzi lǐ,
家门口有个大院子,爸爸的小工厂就在这个院子里,
There’s a large courtyard outside the front door, where my dad’s small factory is located.
家 jiā home
门口 ménkǒu gate
有 yǒu there is
个 gè classifier for people or objects in general
大 dà big
院子 yuànzi yard
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
的 de (used after an attribute)
小 xiǎo small
工厂 gōngchǎng factory
就 jiù exactly
在 zài (located) at
这个 zhège this
院子 yuànzi yard
里 lǐ inside
duīfàng zhe gèzhǒng yònglái zhìzuò chǎnpǐn de jīqì hé yuáncáiliào,
堆放着各种用来制作产品的机器和原材料,
It’s filled with various machines and raw materials used to make his products,
堆放 duīfàng to pile up
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
各种 gèzhǒng every kind of
用来 yònglái to be used for
制作 zhìzuò to make
产品 chǎnpǐn product
的 de (used after an attribute)
机器 jīqì machine
和 hé and
原材料 yuáncáiliào raw materials
háiyǒu bàba yònglái sònghuò de sānlúnchē.
还有爸爸用来送货的三轮车。
as well as my dad’s tricycle for deliveries.
还有 háiyǒu furthermore
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
用来 yònglái to be used for
送货 sònghuò to deliver goods
的 de (used after an attribute)
三轮车 sānlúnchē tricycle
Jīqì yùnzuò de shíhou zàoyīn hěn dà, kōngqì zhōng de fěnchén yě hěn duō,
机器运作的时候噪音很大,空气中的粉尘也很多,
When the machine was running, there would be a lot of noise and dust in the air,
机器 jīqì machine
运作 yùnzuò to operate
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
噪音 zàoyīn noise
很 hěn very
大 dà big
空气 kōngqì air
中 zhōng within
的 de (used after an attribute)
粉尘 fěnchén dust
也 yě also
很多 hěn duō a lot
suǒyǐ měicì bàba gōngzuò de shíhou, wǒ jiù bǎ mén hé chuānghu dōu guān qilai.
所以每次爸爸工作的时候,我就把门和窗户都关起来。
so I always closed the doors and windows whenever my dad started working.
所以 suǒyǐ so
每次 měicì every time
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
工作 gōngzuò to work
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
把 bǎ particle marking the following noun as a direct object
门 mén door
和 hé and
窗户 chuānghu window
都 dōu all
关 guān to shut
起来 qilai (indicating completeness)
Yuànzi lǐ háiyǒu yī gè xiǎo càiyuán,
院子里还有一个小菜园,
There’s also a small vegetable garden in the courtyard,
院子 yuànzi yard
里 lǐ inside
还有 háiyǒu also
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for objects in general
小 xiǎo small
菜园 càiyuán vegetable garden
xīnqín de māma zài lǐmiàn zhòng mǎn le gèshìgèyàng de shūcài,
辛勤的妈妈在里面种满了各式各样的蔬菜,
where my hardworking mom grew all sorts of vegetables.
辛勤 xīnqín hardworking
的 de (used after an attribute)
妈妈 māma mother
在 zài (located) at
里面 lǐmiàn inside
种 zhòng to plant / to grow
满 mǎn full
了 le (completed action marker)
各式各样 gèshìgèyàng all kinds
的 de (used after an attribute)
蔬菜 shūcài vegetables
yǒu huángguā, qīngjiāo, húluóbo, qiézi, tǔdòu děngděng.
有黄瓜,青椒,胡萝卜,茄子,土豆等等。
We had cucumbers, green peppers, carrots, eggplants, potatoes, and more.
有 yǒu there is
黄瓜 huángguā cucumber
青椒 qīngjiāo green pepper
胡萝卜 húluóbo carrot
茄子 qiézi eggplant
土豆 tǔdòu potato
等等 děngděng and so on
Wǒmen hěn shǎo yòng nóngyào, suǒyǐ zhèxiē shūcài hěn ānquán.
我们很少用农药,所以这些蔬菜很安全。
We rarely used pesticides, so these vegetables were very safe.
我们 wǒmen we
很少 hěn shǎo very rarely
用 yòng to use
农药 nóngyào pesticide
所以 suǒyǐ so
这些 zhèxiē these
蔬菜 shūcài vegetables
很 hěn very
安全 ānquán safe
Měitiān yīzǎo qǐchuáng wǒ jiù dūn zài càiyuán lǐ,
每天一早起床我就蹲在菜园里,
Every morning when I woke up, I would squat in the vegetable garden
每天 měitiān every day
一早 yīzǎo early in the morning
起床 qǐchuáng to get up
我 wǒ I
就 jiù as soon as
蹲 dūn to squat
在 zài (located) at
菜园 càiyuán vegetable garden
里 lǐ inside
guānchá zhèxiē shūcài shìfǒu zhǎngdà le,
观察这些蔬菜是否长大了,
and look at the vegetables to see if they had grown more.
观察 guānchá to observe
这些 zhèxiē these
蔬菜 shūcài vegetables
是否 shìfǒu whether (or not)
长大 zhǎngdà to grow up
了 le (indicating change of state)
shíbùshí de hái néng kàndào yī qún mǎyǐ zài dì lǐ pá lái pá qù.
时不时地还能看到一群蚂蚁在地里爬来爬去。
Sometimes, I could even see a group of ants crawling around in the soil.
时不时 shíbùshí from time to time
地 de -ly
还 hái even
能 néng can
看到 kàndào to see
一群 yī qún a group of
蚂蚁 mǎyǐ ant
在地里 zài dì lǐ in the field
爬来爬去 pá lái pá qù to crawl back and forth
Shùlín lǐ de xiǎoniǎo ǒu’ěr huì fēi lái tōuchī wǒmen jiā de cài,
树林里的小鸟偶尔会飞来偷吃我们家的菜,
Occasionally, birds from the nearby woods would fly over and try to steal our vegetables.
树林 shùlín woods
里 lǐ inside
的 de (used after an attribute)
小鸟 xiǎoniǎo small bird
偶尔 ǒu’ěr occasionally
会 huì will
飞 fēi to fly
来 lái to come
偷吃 tōuchī to eat on the sly
我们 wǒmen our
家 jiā family
的 de (used after an attribute)
菜 cài vegetable
māma yòng pò yīfu zhìzuò le yī gè jiǎrén,
妈妈用破衣服制作了一个假人,
My mom made a scarecrow out of old clothes
妈妈 māma mother
用 yòng to use
破 pò worn out
衣服 yīfu clothes
制作 zhìzuò to make
了 le (completed action marker)
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for people or objects in general
假人 jiǎrén dummy
chā zài càiyuán zhōngyāng yònglái xià zǒu xiǎoniǎo.
插在菜园中央用来吓走小鸟。
and placed it in the center of the garden to scare them away.
插 chā stick in
在 zài (to be) in
菜园 càiyuán vegetable garden
中央 zhōngyāng middle
用来 yònglái to be used for
吓 xià to scare
走 zǒu away (in compound verbs)
小鸟 xiǎoniǎo small bird
Dàn zhèxiē niǎor yě bù bèn, gēnběn bù xiāngxìn, zhàoyàng tōuchī.
但这些鸟儿也不笨,根本不相信,照样偷吃。
However, these birds were clever and not easily fooled, so they still managed to steal our vegetables.
但 dàn but
这些 zhèxiē these
鸟儿 niǎor bird
也 yě also
不 bù not
笨 bèn stupid
根本 gēnběn (not) at all
不 bù not
相信 xiāngxìn to believe
照样 zhàoyàng same) as usual
偷吃 tōuchī to eat on the sly
Wǒmen píngshí hěn shǎo xūyào mǎi cài,
我们平时很少需要买菜,
We rarely needed to buy vegetables
我们 wǒmen we
平时 píngshí in normal times
很少 hěn shǎo very rarely
需要 xūyào to need
买 mǎi to buy
菜 cài vegetable
jīběnshang dōu shì chī càiyuán lǐ xīnxiān de shūcài,
基本上都是吃菜园里新鲜的蔬菜,
as we mostly relied on the fresh ones from our garden.
基本上 jīběnshang basically
都 dōu all
是 shì is
吃 chī to eat
菜园 càiyuán vegetable garden
里 lǐ inside
新鲜 xīnxiān fresh (experience, food etc)
的 de (used after an attribute)
蔬菜 shūcài vegetables
érqiě càishìchǎng lí jiā yǒudiǎn yuǎn, bùshì hěn fāngbiàn.
而且菜市场离家有点远,不是很方便。
Besides, the vegetable market was quite far from our home, so it wasn’t convenient.
而且 érqiě moreover
菜市场 càishìchǎng food market
离 lí (in giving distances) from
家 jiā home
有点 yǒudiǎn a little
远 yuǎn far
不是 bùshì not
很 hěn very
方便 fāngbiàn convenient
Gébì cūn yǒu mài zhūròu de rén,
隔壁村有卖猪肉的人,
There was a person from our neighboring village who sold pork
隔壁 gébì neighbor
村 cūn village
有 yǒu there is
卖 mài to sell
猪肉 zhūròu pork
的 de (used after an attribute)
人 rén people
tā měitiān cóng shìchǎng yùn lai xīnxiān de zhū,
他每天从市场运来新鲜的猪,
and every day, he would bring live pigs from the market,
他 tā he
每天 měitiān every day
从 cóng from
市场 shìchǎng marketplace
运 yùn to transport
来 lai (indicating motion towards the speaker)
新鲜 xīnxiān fresh (experience, food etc)
的 de (used after an attribute)
猪 zhū pig
ránhòu yīdàzǎo shā le tā, děng zhe gùkè shàngmén lái gòumǎi.
然后一大早杀了它,等着顾客上门来购买。
slaughtered them early in the morning, and waited for customers to come by and purchase (the pork).
然后 ránhòu after that
一大早 yīdàzǎo first thing in the morning
杀 shā to kill
了 le (completed action marker)
它 tā it
等 děng to wait for
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
顾客 gùkè customer
上门 shàngmén to drop in
来 lái to come
购买 gòumǎi to buy
Zhèlǐ de zhūròu jì gānjìng yòu jiànkāng,
这里的猪肉既干净又健康,
The pork was both clean and healthy.
这里 zhèlǐ here
的 de (used after an attribute)
猪肉 zhūròu pork
既 jì both… (and…)
干净 gānjìng clean
又 yòu both… and…
健康 jiànkāng healthy
chī qilai hěn xiānměi, wén qilai yě hěn xiāng.
吃起来很鲜美,闻起来也很香。
It smelled good and tasted delicious.
吃起来 chī qilai tastes
很 hěn very
鲜美 xiānměi delicious
闻起来 wén qilai smells
也 yě also
很 hěn very
香 xiāng savory or appetizing
Wǒ de māma měinián dōu huì yǎng shíjǐ zhī jī,
我的妈妈每年都会养十几只鸡,
My mom raised around a dozen chickens every year.
我的 wǒ de my
妈妈 māma mother
每年 měinián every year
都 dōu all
会 huì will
养 yǎng to raise (animals)
十几 shíjǐ more than ten
只 zhī classifier for certain animals
鸡 jī chicken
yībān dōu shì mǔjī.
一般都是母鸡。
usually hens.
一般 yībān generally
都 dōu all
是 shì is
母鸡 mǔjī hen
Děng tāmen zhǎngdà le zhīhòu, jiù huì xiàdàn gěi wǒmen chī.
等它们长大了之后,就会下蛋给我们吃。
Once they grew up, they laid eggs for us.
等 děng when
它们 tāmen they
长大 zhǎngdà to grow up
了 le (indicating change of state)
之后 zhīhòu after
就 jiù as soon as
会 huì will
下蛋 xiàdàn to lay eggs
给 gěi for
我们 wǒmen us
吃 chī to eat
Wǒ zuì xǐhuan bàngwǎn de shíhou qù jī juàn lǐ jiǎn jīdàn le,
我最喜欢傍晚的时候去鸡圈里捡鸡蛋了,
What I liked the most was going to the chicken coop in the evening to collect the eggs.
我 wǒ I
最 zuì the most
喜欢 xǐhuan to like
傍晚 bàngwǎn in the evening
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
去 qù to go to (a place)
鸡 jī chicken
圈 juàn livestock enclosure
里 lǐ inside
捡 jiǎn to collect
鸡蛋 jīdàn (chicken) egg
了 le (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)
wò zài shǒulǐ nuǎnnuǎn de,
握在手里暖暖的,
They felt warm in my hands,
握 wò to hold
在 zài (located) at
手里 shǒulǐ in hand
暖暖 nuǎnnuǎn warm
的 de used after an attribute)
ránhòu xiǎoxīnyìyì de bǎ zhèxiē jīdàn fàng zài yī gè xié hé lǐ.
然后小心翼翼地把这些鸡蛋放在一个鞋盒里。
and I would carefully place them in a shoebox.
然后 ránhòu then (afterwards)
小心翼翼 xiǎoxīnyìyì cautious and solemn (idiom)
地 de -ly
把 bǎ marking the following noun as a direct object
这些 zhèxiē these
鸡蛋 jīdàn (chicken) egg
放 fàng to put
在 zài (located) at
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for objects in general
鞋盒 xié hé shoe box
里 lǐ inside
Zǎoshang wǒmen de zǎocān shì yòng mǐ zhǔ chéng de zhōu.
早上我们的早餐是用米煮成的粥。
For breakfast, we cooked rice porridge.
早上 zǎoshang early morning
我们 wǒmen we
的 de ~’s (possessive particle)
早餐 zǎocān breakfast
是 shì is
用 yòng to use
米 mǐ rice
煮 zhǔ to cook
成 chéng to turn into
的 de (used after an attribute)
粥 zhōu porridge
Māma huì zhǔ hěn duō, ránhòu jiāng shèngxià de zhōu hé mǐkāng jiǎobàn zàiyīqǐ wèi jī chī.
妈妈会煮很多,然后将剩下的粥和米糠搅拌在一起喂鸡吃。
My mom would cook a lot of it and mixed the leftovers with rice bran to feed the chickens.
妈妈 māma mother
会 huì will
煮 zhǔ to cook
很多 hěn duō a lot of
然后 ránhòu then (afterwards)
将 jiāng (introduces object of main verb, same as 把[bǎ])
剩下 shèngxià left over
的 de (used after an attribute)
粥 zhōu porridge
和 hé and
米糠 mǐkāng bran
搅拌 jiǎobàn to stir
在一起 zàiyīqǐ together
喂 wèi to feed
鸡 jī chicken
吃 chī to eat
Huíjiā hòu zhàogu jī de gōngzuò jiù chéng le wǒ de le.
回家后照顾鸡的工作就成了我的了。
Taking care of the chickens became my responsibility after I returned home.
回家 huíjiā to return home
后 hòu after
照顾 zhàogu to look after
鸡 jī chicken
的 de (used after an attribute)
工作 gōngzuò job
就 jiù then
成 chéng to become
了 le (completed action marker)
我的 wǒ de my
了 le (indicating change of state)
Měicì wǒ duān zhe yī pén jī shí zǒujìn jī juàn,
每次我端着一盆鸡食走进鸡圈,
Every time I entered the chicken coop with a bucket of chicken feed,
每次 měicì every time
我 wǒ I
端 duān to hold sth level with both hands
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
一 yī one
盆 pén basin
鸡 jī chicken
食 shí food
走进 zǒujìn to enter
鸡圈 jī juàn chicken coop
zhèxiē jī dōu dīng zhe wǒ shǒu shang de shíwù,
这些鸡都盯着我手上的食物,
the chickens stared at the food in my hands,
这些 zhèxiē these
鸡 jī chicken
都 dōu all
盯 dīng to stare at
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
我 wǒ my
手 shǒu hand
上 shang on
的 de (used after an attribute)
食物 shíwù food
hǎoxiàng zài shuō: “Wǒ èsǐ le!”
好像在说:“我饿死了!”
as if they were saying, “I’m starving!”
好像 hǎoxiàng as if
在 zài (indicating an action in progress)
说 shuō to say
我 wǒ I
饿死 èsǐ to starve to death
了 le (indicating change of state)
Děng wǒ bǎ pénzi fàng zài dìshang, tāmen biàn kāishǐ zhēngxiānkǒnghòu de qiǎng shíwù.
等我把盆子放在地上,它们便开始争先恐后地抢食物。
As soon as I put the bucket down on the ground, they started eagerly fighting for the food.
等 děng when
我 wǒ I
把 bǎ particle marking the following noun as a direct object
盆子 pénzi basin
放 fàng to put
在 zài (located) at
地上 dìshang on the ground
它们 tāmen they
便 biàn then
开始 kāishǐ to begin
争先恐后 zhēngxiānkǒnghòu striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom)
地 de -ly
抢 qiǎng to fight over
食物 shíwù food
Yǒushíhou wǒ yě huì jiāng cóng càiyuán lǐ zhāi huilai de shūcài fēn yīxiē gěi jī chī.
有时候我也会将从菜园里摘回来的蔬菜分一些给鸡吃。
Sometimes, I also fed them with vegetables I got from the garden.
有时候 yǒushíhou sometimes
我 wǒ I
也 yě also
会 huì will
将 jiāng (introduces object of main verb, same as 把[bǎ])
从 cóng from
菜园 càiyuán vegetable garden
里 lǐ inside
摘 zhāi to pick (flowers, fruit etc)
回来 huilai (after a verb) back
的 de (used after an attribute)
蔬菜 shūcài vegetables
分 fēn to allocate
一些 yīxiē some
给 gěi to
鸡 jī chicken
吃 chī to eat
Rēng jìnqu de nà yīshùnjiān, tāmen huì lìjí pū shanglai qiǎng.
扔进去的那一瞬间,它们会立即扑上来抢。
The moment I threw them in, the chickens immediately pounced on them.
扔 rēng to throw
进去 jìnqu (after a verb) in
的 de (used after an attribute)
那 nà that
一瞬间 yīshùnjiān split second
它们 tāmen they
会 huì will
立即 lìjí immediately
扑 pū to throw oneself at
上来 shanglai (after a verb) up
抢 qiǎng to fight over
Fēicháng hǎowán!
非常好玩!
It was so amusing!
非常 fēicháng very
好玩 hǎowán interesting
Yībān zhǐyǒu guònián de shíhou, wǒmen cái huì shā yī liǎng zhī jī chī,
一般只有过年的时候,我们才会杀一两只鸡吃,
Usually, only during the Chinese New Year, we would kill one or two chickens to eat.
一般 yībān generally
只有 zhǐyǒu only
过年 guònián to celebrate the Chinese New Year
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
我们 wǒmen we
才 cái then and only then
会 huì will
杀 shā to kill
一 yī one
两 liǎng two
只 zhī classifier for certain animals
鸡 jī chicken
吃 chī to eat
píngshí jiù liú zhe tāmen xià jīdàn.
平时就留着它们下鸡蛋。
and we kept the rest of them to lay eggs.
平时 píngshí in normal times
就 jiù then
留 liú to preserve
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
它们 tāmen they
下鸡蛋 xià jīdàn to lay eggs
Guò chūnjié nàtiān, wǒ de māma zǒng yāoqiú wǒ bāng tā yīqǐ shā,
过春节那天,我的妈妈总要求我帮她一起杀,
During Chinese New Year, my mom would always ask me to help her with the slaughtering (of the chicken),
过 guò to celebrate (a holiday)
春节 Chūnjié Spring Festival
那天 nàtiān that day
我的 wǒ de my
妈妈 māma mother
总 zǒng always
要求 yāoqiú to request
我 wǒ me
帮 bāng to help
她 tā she
一起 yīqǐ together
杀 shā to kill
zhè shì wǒ zuì tǎoyàn de shìqing!
这是我最讨厌的事情!
which was something I hated to do!
这 zhè this
是 shì is
我 wǒ I
最 zuì the most
讨厌 tǎoyàn to dislike
的 de (used after an attribute)
事情 shìqing thing
Māma ná dāo shā jī de shíhou, jī huì zhēngzhá,
妈妈拿刀杀鸡的时候,鸡会挣扎,
When my mom tried to slaughter a chicken with a knife, it would struggle.
妈妈 māma mother
拿 ná to hold
刀 dāo knife
杀 shā to kill
鸡 jī chicken
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
鸡 jī chicken
会 huì will
挣扎 zhēngzhá to struggle
suǒyǐ xūyào wǒ zhuāzhù jī de jiǎo, fángzhǐ tā luàndòng.
所以需要我抓住鸡的脚,防止它乱动。
So I had to hold its feet to prevent it from moving too much.
所以 suǒyǐ so
需要 xūyào to need
我 wǒ I
抓住 zhuāzhù to grab hold of
鸡 jī chicken
的 de (used after an attribute)
脚 jiǎo leg (of an animal or an object)
防止 fángzhǐ to prevent
它 tā it
乱动 luàndòng to move randomly
Kěshì wǒ hěn hàipà, bù gǎn kàn.
可是我很害怕,不敢看。
But I was too scared to look.
可是 kěshì but
我 wǒ I
很 hěn very
害怕 hàipà to be scared
不 bù not
敢 gǎn to dare
看 kàn to watch
Shǒulǐ zhuāzhù jījiǎo, yǎnjing bì de jǐnjǐn de,
手里抓住鸡脚,眼睛闭得紧紧的,
I tightly gripped the chicken’s feet with my eyes closed
手里 shǒulǐ in hand
抓住 zhuāzhù to grab hold of
鸡脚 jījiǎo chicken feet
眼睛 yǎnjing eye
闭 bì to close
得 de structural particle: used after a verb
紧紧 jǐnjǐn tightly
的 de (used at the end for emphasis)
zuǐlǐ hái bùshí wèn wǒ mā: “Hǎole méi?”
嘴里还不时问我妈:“好了没?”
and kept asking my mom: “Is it done yet?”
嘴里 zuǐlǐ mouth / speech
还 hái even
不时 bùshí frequently
问 wèn to ask
我 wǒ my
妈 mā mother
好 hǎo to be ready
了 le (indicating change of state)
没 méi not
Wǒ mā zǒngshì bùnàifán de huí wǒ yījù,
我妈总是不耐烦地回我一句,
My mom would always impatiently reply:
我 wǒ my
妈 mā mother
总是 zǒngshì always
不耐烦 bùnàifán impatient
地 de -ly
回 huí to answer
我 wǒ me
一句 yījù a sentence
“Nǐ zhuājǐn yīdiǎn, bié ràng tā dòng!”
“你抓紧一点,别让它动!”
“Hold it tighter, don’t let it move!”
你 nǐ you
抓紧 zhuājǐn to grasp firmly
一点 yīdiǎn a bit
别 bié don’t …!
让 ràng to let sb do sth
它 tā it
动 dòng to move
Wǒ bàba gēn wǒ yīyàng fēicháng dǎnxiǎo, bù gǎn shāshēng.
我爸爸跟我一样非常胆小,不敢杀生。
My dad is just as timid as me and is afraid to kill animals.
我 wǒ my
爸爸 bàba father
跟 gēn with
我 wǒ me
一样 yīyàng same
非常 fēicháng very much
胆小 dǎnxiǎo timid
不 bù not
敢 gǎn to dare
杀生 shāshēng to take the life of a living creature
Yǒuyīcì, bàba zài jiālǐ fāxiàn le yī zhī sǐ lǎoshǔ,
有一次,爸爸在家里发现了一只死老鼠,
Once, my dad found a dead rat in the house and he was startled.
有一次 yǒuyīcì once
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
在 zài (located) at
家里 jiālǐ home
发现 fāxiàn to find
了 le (completed action marker)
一 yī one
只 zhī classifier for birds and certain animals
死 sǐ to die
老鼠 lǎoshǔ rat
tā bèi xià le yī tiào, dàhǎndàjiào jiào wǒ mā guòlái diūdiào sǐ lǎoshǔ.
他被吓了一跳,大喊大叫让我妈过来丢掉死老鼠。
He shouted for my mom to come and throw away the dead rat.
他 tā he
被 bèi (indicates passive-voice clauses)
吓了一跳 xià le yī tiào got a shock
大喊大叫 dàhǎndàjiào shouting and screaming (idiom)
叫 jiào to ask
我 wǒ my
妈 mā mother
过来 guòlái to come over
丢掉 diūdiào to throw away
死 sǐ dead
老鼠 lǎoshǔ rat
Nóngcūn rén yībān jiālǐ dōu yǒu kǒu shuǐjǐng. Wǒmen dōu shì hē jǐng lǐ de shuǐ,
农村人一般家里都有口水井。我们都是喝井里的水,
In rural areas, most families had a well for drinking. We drank water from the well
农村人 nóngcūn rén village people
一般 yībān generally
家里 jiālǐ home
都 dōu all
有 yǒu to have
口 kǒu classifier for a well
水井 shuǐ jǐng a water well
我们 wǒmen we
都 dōu all
是 shì is
喝 hē to drink
井 jǐng a well
里 lǐ inside
的 de (used after an attribute)
水 shuǐ water
dàn bùyòng tā xǐ yīfu.
但不用它洗衣服。
but didn’t use it for washing clothes.
但 dàn but
不用 bùyòng need not
它 tā it
洗 xǐ to wash
衣服 yīfu clothes
Měitiān zǎoshang wǒ huì shōují zāng de yīfu, ránhòu yòng lánzi līn qù chítáng biān xǐ.
每天早上我会收集脏的衣服,然后用篮子拎去池塘边洗。
Every morning, I collected dirty clothes, put them in a basket, and took them to the pond to wash.
每天 měitiān every day
早上 zǎoshang early morning
我 wǒ I
会 huì will
收集 shōují to gather
脏 zāng dirty
的 de (used after an attribute)
衣服 yīfu clothes
然后 ránhòu then (afterwards)
用 yòng to use
篮子 lánzi basket
拎 līn to carry in one’s hand
去 qù (indicates movement away from the speaker)
池塘 chítáng pond
边 biān side
洗 xǐ to wash
Xǐ yīfu de shíhou fēicháng rènao.
洗衣服的时候非常热闹。
It was very lively (around the pond) when washing clothes.
洗 xǐ to wash
衣服 yīfu clothes
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
非常 fēicháng very
热闹 rènao bustling with noise and excitement
Měitiān yī qún fùnǚ wéi zhe gānjìng de chítáng xǐ yījiārén de yīfu,
每天一群妇女围着干净的池塘洗一家人的衣服,
Every day, a group of women gathered around the clear pond to wash their family’s clothes.
每天 měitiān every day
一群 yī qún a group of
妇女 fùnǚ woman
围 wéi to surround
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
干净 gānjìng clean
的 de (used after an attribute)
池塘 chítáng pond
洗 xǐ to wash
一家人 yījiārén the whole family
的 de (used after an attribute)
衣服 yīfu clothes
bù yīhuìr chítáng lǐ de shuǐ jiù biànde wūzhuó bùkān.
不一会儿池塘里的水就变得污浊不堪。
Before long, the water in the pond would become dirty.
不一会儿 bù yīhuìr not long
池塘 chítáng pond
里 lǐ inside
的 de (used after an attribute)
水 shuǐ water
就 jiù then
变得 biànde to become
污浊 wūzhuó muddy
不堪 bùkān extremely
Suízhe shuǐ de liúdòng, chítáng lǐ de shuǐ yòu biànde qīngchèjiàndǐ le.
随着水的流动,池塘里的水又变得清澈见底了。
But as (new) water flew (into the pond), it became clear again.
随着 suízhe along with
水 shuǐ water
的 de (used after an attribute)
流动 liúdòng to flow
池塘 chítáng pond
里 lǐ inside
的 de (used after an attribute)
水 shuǐ water
又 yòu (once) again
变得 biànde to become
清澈见底 qīngchèjiàndǐ water so clear you can see the bottom
了 le (indicating change of state)
Zhèxiē fùnǚ xǐhuan wéi zàiyīqǐ dàshēng liáotiān, liáo gèzhǒng yǒuqù de bāguà.
这些妇女喜欢围在一起大声聊天,聊各种有趣的八卦。
These women loved gathering together, chatting loudly and discussing various interesting gossips.
这些 zhèxiē these
妇女 fùnǚ woman
喜欢 xǐhuan to like
围 wéi to encircle
在一起 zàiyīqǐ together
大声 dàshēng loudly
聊天 liáotiān to chat
聊 liáo to chat
各种 gèzhǒng all kinds of
有趣 yǒuqù interesting
的 de (used after an attribute)
八卦 bāguà gossipy
Wǒ jiù ānjìng de dūn zài yībiān, biān xǐ yīfu biān tīng tāmen liáotiān.
我就安静地蹲在一边,边洗衣服边听她们聊天。
I would quietly squat on the side, washing clothes while listening to their conversations.
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
安静 ānjìng quiet
地 de -ly
蹲 dūn to squat
在 zài (located) at
一边 yībiān one side
边 biān simultaneously
洗 xǐ to wash
衣服 yīfu clothes
边 biān simultaneously
听 tīng to listen
她们 tāmen them (for females)
聊天 liáotiān to chat
Xiàtiān de shíhou yīfu dānbó, hěn kuài jiù néng xǐ wán.
夏天的时候衣服单薄,很快就能洗完。
During the summer, the clothes’ (fabric) was thin and I could finish washing them quickly.
夏天 xiàtiān summer
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
衣服 yīfu clothes
单薄 dānbó thin
很 hěn very
快 kuài quick
就 jiù as early as
能 néng can
洗 xǐ to wash
完 wán to finish
Dàn dōngtiān de yīfu hòuzhòng, měicì līn zhe yī lánzi yīfu qù chítáng,
但冬天的衣服厚重,每次拎着一篮子衣服去池塘,
But in the winter, the clothes’ (fabric) was thick and heavy. Every time I carried a basket of clothes to the pond,
但 dàn but
冬天 dōngtiān winter
的 de (used after an attribute)
衣服 yīfu clothes
厚重 hòuzhòng thick and heavy
每次 měicì every time
拎 līn to carry in one’s hand
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
一 yī one
篮子 lánzi basket
衣服 yīfu clothes
去 qù to go to (a place)
池塘 chítáng pond
dōu yào zài lùshang xiūxi hǎojǐ cì.
都要在路上休息好几次。
I had to take several breaks along the way.
都 dōu all
要 yào must
在路上 zài lùshang along the way
休息 xiūxi to rest
好几次 hǎojǐ cì quite a few times
Chítáng lǐ de shuǐwēn hěn dī,
池塘里的水温很低,
The water temperature in the pond was very low,
池塘 chítáng pond
里 lǐ inside
的 de (used after an attribute)
水温 shuǐwēn water temperature
很 hěn very
低 dī low
jiù xiàng cóng bīngxiāng lǐ ná chulai de bīngkuài yīyàng.
就像从冰箱里拿出来的冰块一样。
(and felt like it had) ice cubes just taken out of the refrigerator.
就 jiù just (emphasis)
像 xiàng to be like
从 cóng from
冰箱 bīngxiāng refrigerator
里 lǐ inside
拿出来 ná chulai to take out
的 de (used after an attribute)
冰块 bīngkuài ice cube
一样 yīyàng the same as
Děng wǒ xǐ wán suǒyǒu de yīfu,
等我洗完所有的衣服,
By the time I finished washing all the clothes,
等 děng when
我 wǒ I
洗 xǐ to wash
完 wán to finish
所有 suǒyǒu all
的 de (used after an attribute)
衣服 yīfu clothes
wǒ de shǒu jiù huì bèi dòng de hónghóng zhǒngzhǒng.
我的手就会被冻得红红肿肿。
my hands would be frozen and swollen.
我的 wǒ de my
手 shǒu hand
就 jiù then
会 huì will
被 bèi (indicates passive-voice clauses)
冻 dòng to freeze
得 de (after a verb, indicating effect, degree)
红红肿肿 hónghóng zhǒngzhǒng red and swollen
Xǐ wán yīfu hòu wǒ jiù děi huíjiā zuòfàn le.
洗完衣服后我就得回家做饭了。
After finishing the laundry, I had to go back home and cook.
洗 xǐ to wash
完 wán to finish
衣服 yīfu clothes
后 hòu after
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
得 děi to have to
回家 huíjiā to return home
做饭 zuòfàn to cook
了 le (indicating change of state, situation now)
Gāng kāishǐ zuò de cài hěn nánchī,
刚开始做的菜很难吃,
At first, my cooking was terrible,
刚开始 gāng kāishǐ at the beginning
做 zuò to cook
的 de (used after an attribute)
菜 cài dish (type of food)
很 hěn very
难吃 nánchī unpalatable
wǒ jiù shàngwǎng chá càipǔ, xué zuò gèzhǒng měishí.
我就上网查菜谱,学做各种美食。
so I looked for recipes online and learned how to make various delicious food.
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
上网 shàngwǎng to go online
查 chá to look up
菜谱 càipǔ recipe
学 xué to learn
做 zuò to cook
各种 gèzhǒng all kinds of
美食 měishí fine food
Dàn měicì bùguǎn hǎochī nánchī, wǒ bàmā cónglái bùhuì bàoyuàn.
但每次不管好吃难吃,我爸妈从来不会抱怨。
But whether the food was delicious or not, my parents never complained.
但 dàn but
每次 měicì every time
不管 bùguǎn no matter
好吃 hǎochī tasty
难吃 nánchī unpalatable
我 wǒ my
爸妈 bàmā dad and mom
从来 cónglái never (if used in negative sentence)
不会 bùhuì will not (act, happen etc)
抱怨 bàoyuàn to complain
Zìcóng chūzhōng bìyè wǒ biàn líkāi le jiā,
自从初中毕业我便离开了家,
I had left home since graduating from junior high school.
自从 zìcóng since (a time)
初中 chūzhōng junior high school
毕业 bìyè to graduate
我 wǒ I
便 biàn then
离开 líkāi to leave
了 le (completed action marker)
家 jiā home
zài wàimiàn chī de shíwù jì bù wèishēng yòu bù jiànkāng,
在外面吃的食物既不卫生又不健康,
The food I ate outside was neither hygienic nor healthy.
在 zài (located) at
外面 wàimiàn outside
吃 chī to eat
的 de (used after an attribute)
食物 shíwù food
既…又 jì…yòu both… and…
不 bù not
卫生 wèishēng hygiene
既…又 jì…yòu both… and…
不 bù not
健康 jiànkāng healthy
érqiě chī língshí yě bù jiézhì, dǎozhì wǒ pàng le yī dà quān.
而且吃零食也不节制,导致我胖了一大圈。
Moreover, I lacked self-control when it came to snacking, which resulted in me gaining a lot of weight.
而且 érqiě in addition
吃 chī to eat
零食 língshí snacks
也 yě also
不 bù not
节制 jiézhì to control
导致 dǎozhì to lead to
我 wǒ I
胖 pàng fat
了 le (indicating change of state)
一 yī one
大 dà big
圈 quān circle
Dàbùfen de zhuìròu dōu shì zhǎng zài dùzi shang,
大部分的赘肉都是长在肚子上,
Most of the excess weight accumulated around my wrist.
大部分 dàbùfen the majority
的 de (used after an attribute)
赘肉 zhuìròu unwanted fat
都 dōu all
是 shì is
长 zhǎng to grow
在 zài (located) at
肚子 dùzi belly
上 shang on
zuò zhe de shíhou, zhè yīcéng yīcéng de ròu fēicháng bùshūfu.
坐着的时候,这一层一层的肉非常不舒服。
When sitting, these layers of fat made me feel very uncomfortable.
坐 zuò to sit
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
的 de (used after an attribute)
时候 shíhou time
这 zhè this
一层 yīcéng layer
一层 yīcéng layer
的 de (used after an attribute)
肉 ròu meat
非常 fēicháng very
不舒服 bùshūfu to feel uncomfortable
Suǒyǐ wǒ jiù xiàdìngjuéxīn yào jiǎndiào zhè nánkàn de féiròu.
所以我就下定决心要减掉这难看的肥肉。
Therefore, I made up my mind to get rid of this ugly fat.
所以 suǒyǐ so
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
下定决心 xiàdìngjuéxīn to make a firm resolution
要 yào must
减掉 jiǎndiào to lose (weight)
这 zhè this
难看 nánkàn ugly
的 de (used after an attribute)
肥肉 féiròu fat
Wǒ jiǎnféi de mìjué jiùshì bǎ shíwù fàngjìn zuǐlǐ mànmàn jǔjué,
我减肥的秘诀就是把食物放进嘴里慢慢咀嚼,
My secret to losing weight was to chew the food in my mouth slowly
我 wǒ my
减肥 jiǎnféi to lose weight
的 de (used after an attribute)
秘诀 mìjué secret know-how
就 jiù exactly
是 shì is
把 bǎ particle marking the following noun as a direct object
食物 shíwù food
放进 fàngjìn to put into
嘴里 zuǐlǐ mouth
慢慢 mànmàn slowly
咀嚼 jǔjué to chew
shǔ sānshí xià zài wǎng xià tūn.
数三十下再往下吞。
and swallowed after the count of 30.
数 shǔ to count
三十 sānshí thirty
下 xià times
再 zài then
往 wǎng towards
下 xià down
吞 tūn to swallow
Zhèyàng bùjǐn duì wèi hǎo, érqiě hái néng fángzhǐ yīnwèi chī duō ér zhǎng pàng.
这样不仅对胃好,而且还能防止因为吃多而长胖。
Not only is this good for the stomach, but it also helps prevent weight gain from overeating.
这样 zhèyàng this way
不仅 bùjǐn not only (this one)
对 duì for
胃 wèi stomach
好 hǎo good
而且 érqiě (not only …) but also
还 hái also
能 néng can
防止 fángzhǐ to prevent
因为 yīnwèi because
吃 chī to eat
多 duō in excess
而 ér and
长 zhǎng to grow
胖 pàng fat
Jiāshàng wǎnfàn qián zuò sānshí fēnzhōng zuǒyòu de yùndòng.
加上晚饭前做三十分钟左右的运动。
In addition, I was doing roughly thirty minutes of exercise before dinner.
加上 jiāshàng plus
晚饭 wǎnfàn dinner
前 qián before
做 zuò to do
三十 sānshí thirty
分钟 fēnzhōng minute
左右 zuǒyòu approximately
的 de (used after an attribute)
运动 yùndòng exercise
Wǒ xǐhuan tiàowǔ hé yújiā,
我喜欢跳舞和瑜伽,
I enjoyed dancing and yoga,
我 wǒ I
喜欢 xǐhuan to like
跳舞 tiàowǔ to dance
和 hé and
瑜伽 yújiā yoga
mǎi le yīxiē dvd jiàoxué shìpín, gēnzhe liànxí.
买了一些DVD教学视频,跟着练习。
and I bought some instructional DVDs to practice along with.
买 mǎi to buy
了 le (completed action marker)
一些 yīxiē some
教学 jiàoxué teaching
视频 shìpín video
跟着 gēnzhe to follow after
练习 liànxí to practice
Yī nián hòu, wǒ dùzi shang de ròu bùjiànle, tǐzhòng yě xiàjiàng le!
一年后,我肚子上的肉不见了,体重也下降了!
After a year, the fat on my stomach disappeared, and my weight also decreased!
一年 yī nián a year
后 hòu after
我 wǒ my
肚子 dùzi belly
上 shang on
的 de (used after an attribute)
肉 ròu meat
不见了 bùjiànle to have disappeared
体重 tǐzhòng body weight
也 yě also
下降 xiàjiàngto decrease
了 le (completed action marker)
Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu tóngyàng de fánnǎo, yě kěyǐ shìshì zhège fāngfǎ o!
如果你有同样的烦恼,也可以试试这个方法哦!
If you have the same problem, you can try this method too!
如果 rúguǒ if
你 nǐ you
有 yǒu to have
同样 tóngyàng same
的 de (used after an attribute)
烦恼 fánnǎo worries
也 yě also
可以 kěyǐ can
试试 shìshì to give it a try
这个 zhège this
方法 fāngfǎ method
哦 o particle that conveys warmth, friendliness or intimacy
Shàngwǔ de shíjiān wǒ dōu shì zài gàn jiāwù huó zhōng dùguò,
上午的时间我都是在干家务活中度过,
I spent my mornings doing chores around the house,
上午 shàngwǔ morning
的 de (used after an attribute)
时间 shíjiān time
我 wǒ I
都 dōu all
是 shì is
在 zài (to be) in
干家务活 gàn jiāwùhuó to do household chores
中 zhōng while (doing sth)
度过 dùguò to spend (time)
xiàwǔ wǒ yībān huì kàn diànshì, huò sìchù liūda.
下午我一般会看电视,或四处溜达。
and in the afternoons, I usually watched TV or wandered around (the villages).
下午 xiàwǔ afternoon
我 wǒ I
一般 yībān generally
会 huì will
看电视 kàn diànshì to watch television
或 huò or
四处溜达 sìchù liūda to wander around
Wǒ bàba gěi wǒ mǎi le liàng diàndòng chē,
我爸爸给我买了辆电动车,
My dad bought me an electric bike,
我爸爸 wǒ bàba my father
给 gěi for
我 wǒ me
买 mǎi to buy
了 le (completed action marker)
辆 liàng classifier for vehicles
电动车 diàndòng chē electric bike
wǒ jīngcháng qí zhe tā qù fùjìn de chāoshì,
我经常骑着它去附近的超市,
and I often rode it to the nearby supermarket
我 wǒ I
经常 jīngcháng often
骑 qí to ride (a horse, bike etc)
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
它 tā it
去 qù to go to (a place)
附近 fùjìn nearby
的 de (used after an attribute)
超市 chāoshì supermarket
mǎi língshí huílai biān chī biān kàn diànshì.
买零食回来边吃边看电视。
to buy snacks and then ate them while watching TV.
买 mǎi to buy
零食 língshí snacks
回来 huílai to come back
边…边 biān…biān simultaneously
吃 chī to eat
看电视 kàn diànshì to watch television
Yǒushíhou yě huì qí qù wàipó jiā wán.
有时候也会骑去外婆家玩。
Sometimes I would also ride to my grandmother’s place.
有时候 yǒushíhou sometimes
也 yě also
会 huì will
骑 qí to ride (a horse, bike etc)
去 qù to go to (a place)
外婆 wàipó maternal grandmother
家 jiā home
玩 wán to have fun
Xiāngxia de mǎlù kēngkengwāwā,
乡下的马路坑坑洼洼,
The roads in the countryside were uneven and bumpy,
乡下 xiāngxia countryside
的 de (used after an attribute)
马路 mǎlù street
坑坑洼洼 kēngkengwāwā bumpy
yòu yǒu hěn duō dà huòchē yùn zhe méi huò shítou lùguò.
又有很多大货车运着煤或石头路过。
and there were many heavy trucks carrying coal or stones passing by.
又 yòu also
有 yǒu there is
很多 hěn duō a lot of
大货车 dà huòchē big truck
运 yùn to transport
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
煤 méi coal
或 huò or
石头 shítou stone
路过 lùguò to pass by or through
Měicì zài mǎlù shang qíchē, wǒ dōu shì yī zhī shǒu wǔ zhe zuǐ,
每次在马路上骑车,我都是一只手捂着嘴,
Every time I rode my bike on the road, I covered my mouth with one hand,
每次 měicì every time
在 zài (indicating an action in progress)
马路上 mǎlù shang on the street
骑车 qíchē to ride a bike (motorbike or bicycle)
我 wǒ I
都 dōu all
是 shì is
一 yī one
只 zhī classifier for hand
手 shǒu hand
捂 wǔ to cover with the hand
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
嘴 zuǐ mouth
lìngyī zhī shǒu zhǎngwò fāngxiàngpán.
另一只手掌握方向盘。
and held the handlebar with the other.
另一 lìngyī another
只 zhī classifier for hand
手 shǒu hand
掌握 zhǎngwò to control
方向盘 fāngxiàngpán steering wheel
Yǎnjing yě yīnwèi kōngqì zhōng de huīchén bùtíng de zhǎ.
眼睛也因为空气中的灰尘不停地眨。
I would keep blinking my eyes due to the dust in the air.
眼睛 yǎnjing eye
也 yě also
因为 yīnwèi because
空气 kōngqì air
中 zhōng in
的 de (used after an attribute)
灰尘 huīchén dust
不停 bùtíng incessant
地 de -ly
眨 zhǎ to blink
Bàmā zǒngshì hěn wǎn cái dàojiā,
爸妈总是很晚才到家,
My parents always came home late,
爸妈 bàmā dad and mom
总是 zǒngshì always
很 hěn very
晚 wǎn late
才 cái then and only then
到家 dàojiā to arrive home
ér wǒ jīngcháng yīgèrén zuò zài fángjiān lǐ děng tāmen huíjiā chī wǎnfàn.
而我经常一个人坐在房间里等他们回家吃晚饭。
and I often sat alone in my room waiting for them to come back for dinner.
而 ér (indicates contrast)
我 wǒ I
经常 jīngcháng often
一个人 yīgèrén alone (without company)
坐 zuò to sit
在 zài (located) at
房间 fángjiān room
里 lǐ inside
等 děng to wait for
他们 tāmen them
回家 huíjiā to return home
吃晚饭 chī wǎnfàn to have dinner
Yǒushíhou hěn wǎn dōu méi dàojiā, wǒ jiù kāishǐ húsīluànxiǎng,
有时候很晚都没到家,我就开始胡思乱想,
Sometimes they would come home very late, and I would start to worry and imagine all sorts of things,
有时候 yǒushíhou sometimes
很 hěn very
晚 wǎn late
都 dōu all
没 méi not
到家 dàojiā to arrive home
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
开始 kāishǐ to begin
胡思乱想 húsīluànxiǎng to let one’s imagination run wild
dānxīn tāmen huì yǒu shénme yìwài,
担心他们会有什么意外,
such as, them having an accident.
担心 dānxīn to worry
他们 tāmen they
会 huì will
有 yǒu to have
什么 shénme something
意外 yìwài accident
zhídào tīngdào bàba chē de shēngyīn cái fàngxià xīn lái.
直到听到爸爸车的声音才放下心来。
I would only relax when I heard my father’s vehicle.
直到 zhídào until
听到 tīngdào to hear
爸爸 bàba (informal) father
车 chē vehicle
的 de (used after an attribute)
声音 shēngyīn sound
才 cái then and only then
放下心来 fàngxià xīn lái to be at ease
Yǒu duàn shíjiān, wǒ míshàng le Zhōngyī,
有段时间,我迷上了中医,
There was a period in which I got obsessed with traditional Chinese medicine,
有段时间 yǒu duàn shíjiān for a period of time
我 wǒ I
迷上 míshàng to be enchanted by
了 le (completed action marker)
中医 Zhōngyī traditional Chinese medical science
mǎi le yī dà duī shū xiánláiwúshì jiù kāishǐ yánjiū.
买了一大堆书闲来无事就开始研究。
and I bought a bunch of books to study when I had time.
买 mǎi to buy
了 le (completed action marker)
一 yī one
大 dà big
堆 duī pile
书 shū book
闲来无事 xiánláiwúshì at leisure
就 jiù then
开始 kāishǐ to begin
研究 yánjiū to study
Wǎnshang chīwán wǎncān, xǐ wán zǎo,
晚上吃完晚餐,洗完澡,
After dinner and shower at night,
晚上 wǎnshang evening
吃完 chīwán to finish eating
晚餐 wǎncān dinner
洗完澡 xǐ wán zǎo to finish taking a shower
wǒmen yījiārén zuò zài fángjiān lǐ liáotiān, kàn diànshì.
我们一家人坐在房间里聊天、看电视。
our whole family would sit in the room chatting and watching TV.
我们 wǒmen we
一家人 yījiārén the whole family
坐 zuò to sit
在 zài (located) at
房间 fángjiān room
里 lǐ inside
聊天 liáotiān to chat
看电视 kàn diànshì to watch TV
Wǒ zǒngshì jiāng wǒ cóng shū shang xuédào de zhīshi gěi tāmen ànmó.
我总是将我从书上学到的知识给他们按摩。
I always gave them massages using the knowledge I learned from the books.
我 wǒ I
总是 zǒngshì always
将 jiāng (introduces object of main verb, same as 把[bǎ])
我 wǒ I
从 cóng from
书 shū book
上 shang on
学到 xuédào to learn
的 de (used after an attribute)
知识 zhīshi knowledge
给 gěi for
他们 tāmen them
按摩 ànmó to massage
Zài lǎojiā péibàn fùmǔ de yī nián shíjiān shì wǒ rénshēng zhōng zuì wúyōuwúlǜ de shíguāng,
在老家陪伴父母的一年时间是我人生中最无忧无虑的时光,
The one year I spent with my parents in my hometown was the most carefree time in my life,
在 zài (located) at
老家 lǎojiā home state or region
陪伴 péibàn to accompany
父母 fùmǔ parents
的 de (used after an attribute)
一 yī one
年 nián year
时间 shíjiān time
是 shì is
我 wǒ my
人生 rénshēng life (one’s time on earth)
中 zhōng win
最 zuì the most
无忧无虑 wúyōuwúlǜ carefree and without worries (idiom)
的 de (used after an attribute)
时光 shíguāng period of time
wǒ yě hěn xiǎngshòu nóngcūn shēnghuó.
我也很享受农村生活。
and I truly enjoyed the rural life.
我 wǒ I
也 yě also
很 hěn quite
享受 xiǎngshòu to enjoy
农村 nóngcūn village
生活 shēnghuó life
Dàn wéidú yīdiǎn wǒ zhìjīn háishi wúfǎ xíguàn,
但唯独一点我至今还是无法习惯,
But there is one thing that I still can’t get used to,
但 dàn but
唯独 wéidú all except
一点 yīdiǎn one point
我 wǒ I
至今 zhìjīn to this day
还是 háishi still
无法 wúfǎ unable
习惯 xíguàn to be used to
nà jiùshì xiāngxia de cèsuǒ.
那就是乡下的厕所。
and that is the toilet.
那就是 nà jiùshì that is
乡下 xiāngxia countryside
的 de (used after an attribute)
厕所 cèsuǒ toilet
Nóngcūn de cèsuǒ bù xiàng chéngshì lǐ shì jiàn zài fáng nèi de,
农村的厕所不像城市里是建在房内的,
The toilets in the countryside were not built inside the house like in the city,
农村 nóngcūn rural area
的 de (used after an attribute)
厕所 cèsuǒ toilet
不像 bù xiàng unlike
城市 chéngshì city
里 lǐ inside
是 shì is
建 jiàn to build
在 zài (located) at
房内 fáng nèi inside the house
的 de (used for emphasis)
érshì dāndú jiàn zài wàimiàn.
而是单独建在外面。
but rather, outside.
而是 érshì rather
单独 dāndú alone
建 jiàn to build
在 zài (located) at
外面 wàimiàn outside
Wǒmen jiā de cèsuǒ shì zài càiyuán lǐ,
我们家的厕所是在菜园里,
Our family’s toilet was in our vegetable garden.
我们 wǒmen we
家 jiā family
的 de (used after an attribute)
厕所 cèsuǒ toilet
是 shì is
在 zài (located) at
菜园 càiyuán vegetable garden
里 lǐ inside
yī gè xiǎoxiǎo de kōngjiān, lǐmiàn yī gè dòng,
一个小小的空间,里面一个洞,
It was in a small space and in it, there was a hole.
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for objects in general
小小 xiǎoxiǎo very small
的 de (used after an attribute)
空间 kōngjiān space
里面 lǐmiàn inside
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for objects in general
洞 dòng hole
yòu chòu yòu ěxīn, xiàtiān wénzi hěn duō,
又臭又恶心,夏天蚊子很多,
It was smelly, disgusting, and there were a lot of mosquitoes in the summertime,
又… 又 yòu…yòu both… and…
臭 chòu smelly
又… 又 yòu…yòu both… and…
恶心 ěxīn disgusting
夏天 xiàtiān summer
蚊子 wénzi mosquito
很多 hěn duō a lot
dūn zài lǐmiàn gēnběn wúfǎrěnshòu!
蹲在里面根本无法忍受!
which made it unbearable to squat in there!
蹲 dūn to squat
在 zài (located) at
里面 lǐmiàn inside
根本 gēnběn absolutely (not)
无法忍受 wúfǎrěnshòu intolerable
Dōngtiān yòu fēicháng lěng.
冬天又非常冷。
And in the winter, it was very cold.
冬天 dōngtiān winter
又 yòu also
非常 fēicháng very
冷 lěng cold
Tèbié shì wǎnshang bànyè xiǎng shàngcèsuǒ le,
特别是晚上半夜想上厕所了,
Especially when I needed to use the toilet in the middle of the night,
特别 tèbié especially
是 shì is
晚上 wǎnshang night
半夜 bànyè midnight
想 xiǎng to want (to)
上厕所 shàngcèsuǒ to go to the bathroom
了 le (indicating change of state)
wàimiàn yī piàn qīhēi, cèsuǒ lǐ méiyǒu dēng,
外面一片漆黑,厕所里没有灯,
and outside would be pitch black, with no light in the toilet.
外面 wàimiàn outside
一片漆黑 yī piàn qīhēi pitch-black
厕所 cèsuǒ toilet
里 lǐ inside
没有 méiyǒu to not have
灯 dēng light
wǒ ná zhe shǒudiàntǒng yīgèrén dūn zài hēi hēi de cèsuǒ lǐ,
我拿着手电筒一个人蹲在黑黑的厕所里,
I would squat alone in the dark with a flashlight
我 wǒ I
拿 ná to hold
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress
手电筒 shǒudiàntǒng flashlight
一个人 yīgèrén alone (without company)
蹲 dūn to squat
在 zài (located) at
黑黑 hēihēi de extremely dark
的 de (used after an attribute)
厕所 cèsuǒ toilet
里 lǐ inside
nǎozi lǐ xiǎng de dōu shì kǒngbù huàmiàn.
脑子里想的都是恐怖画面。
imagining horrifying scenes.
脑子 nǎozi mind
里 lǐ inside
想 xiǎng to think (about)
的 de (used after an attribute)
都 dōu all
是 shì is
恐怖 kǒngbù frightening
画面 huàmiàn scene
Nà nián wǒ shíjiǔ suì, sīxiǎng dānchún, méiyǒu shénme yuǎndàlǐxiǎng.
那年我十九岁,思想单纯,没有什么远大理想。
I was 19 that year. I was simple-minded and had no big dreams.
那 nà that
年 nián year
我 wǒ I
十九 shíjiǔ nineteen
岁 suì years old
思想 sīxiǎng thinking
单纯 dānchún simple
没有 méiyǒu not
什么 shénme any
远大理想 yuǎndàlǐxiǎng lofty ideal
Zài lǎojiā hé jiārén shēnghuó le yī nián, jiànjiàn xíguàn le zhèyàng de shēnghuó,
在老家和家人生活了一年,渐渐习惯了这样的生活,
After living with my family in my hometown for a year, I gradually got used to this kind of life,
在 zài (located) at
老家 lǎojiā home state or region
和 hé and
家人 jiārén (one’s) family
生活 shēnghuó to live
了 le (completed action marker)
一 yī one
年 nián year
渐渐 jiànjiàn gradually
习惯 xíguàn to be used to
了 le (completed action marker)
这样 zhèyàng this kind of
的 de (used after an attribute)
生活 shēnghuó life
wéiyī de mèngxiǎng shì zhǎo yī gè hǎo nánrén jiéhūnshēngzǐ,
唯一的梦想是找一个好男人结婚生子,
and my only dream was to find a good man to marry, to have children
唯一 wéiyī only
的 de (used after an attribute)
梦想 mèngxiǎng dream
是 shì is
找 zhǎo to try to find
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for people
好 hǎo good
男人 nánrén a man
结婚生子 jiéhūnshēngzǐ to get married and have kids
cóngcǐ zuò yī gè kuàilè de jiātíngzhǔfù,
从此做一个快乐的家庭主妇,
and then become a happy housewife.
从此 cóngcǐ from now on
做 zuò to become (husband and wife, friends etc)
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for people
快乐 kuàilè happy
的 de (used after an attribute)
家庭主妇 jiātíngzhǔfù housewife
suǒyǐ wǒ duì xiāngqīn bìngbù dǐkàng.
所以我对相亲并不抵抗。
So I wasn’t against the idea of arranged blind dates.
所以 suǒyǐ so
我 wǒ I
对 duì regarding
相亲 xiāngqīn blind date
并不 bìngbù emphatically not
抵抗 dǐkàng to resist
Dàn zhèzhǒng dāng jiātíngzhǔfù de sīxiǎng méiyǒu wéichí hěn jiǔ,
但这种当家庭主妇的思想没有维持很久,
But this idea of being a housewife didn’t last long.
但 dàn but
这种 zhèzhǒng this kind of
当 dāng to be
家庭主妇 jiātíngzhǔfù housewife
的 de (used after an attribute)
思想 sīxiǎng thought
没有 méiyǒu there is not
维持 wéichí to maintain
很 hěn very
久 jiǔ (long) time
dì’èr nián wǒ jiù gǎibiàn zhǔyi le,
第二年我就改变主意了,
The next year, I changed my mind
第二 dì’èr second
年 nián year
我 wǒ I
就 jiù then
改变 gǎibiàn to change
主意 zhǔyi decision
了 le (completed action marker)
yīnwèi dāi zài lǎojiā shízài tài wúliáo le,
因为待在老家实在太无聊了,
because life in my hometown was very boring,
因为 yīnwèi because
待 dāi to stay
在 zài (located) at
老家 lǎojiā home state or region
实在 shízài really
太…了 tài… le extremely
无聊 wúliáo boring
érqiě xiǎngdào jiéhūn hòu yǒule háizi, jiù huì shīqù zìyóu jiù juéde kěpà.
而且想到结婚后有了孩子,就会失去自由就觉得可怕。
and the thought of losing my freedom after getting married and having children, became frightening.
而且 érqiě moreover
想到 xiǎngdào to think of
结婚 jiéhūn to marry
后 hòu after
有 yǒu to have
了 le (completed action marker)
孩子 háizi child
就 jiù then
会 huì will
失去 shīqù to lose
自由 zìyóu freedom
就 jiù then
觉得 juéde to feel
可怕 kěpà scary
Yúshì wǒ juédìng yào chūqù zhǎo gōngzuò.
于是我决定要出去找工作。
So I decided to go out and look for a job.
于是 yúshì as a result
我 wǒ I
决定 juédìng to decide
要 yào will
出去 chūqù to go out
找 zhǎo to try to find
工作 gōngzuò job