Recently my Chinese tutor heard a song that reminded her of a major turning point in her life. She told me about it and I thought it was a beautiful story, well worth sharing.
You will find a version of the song to listen to after the story. Meanwhile, here is some vocabulary that will be helpful to review before getting to the story:
????? ??jì yìto remember, to recall ?????? ????huí xi?ngto recall, to recollect ????? ???hu? xi?ngflower fragrance ???? ????sh?ng mìnglife ????? ??? ??d? cháo q?low period ???? ????sh?ng huólife, to live ???? ???y? lìpressure ????? ????x?n qíngmood, frame of mind ????? ???k? mèndepressed, dejected ?????? ????zhòng xiàmidsummer ????? ??dú zìalone ?????? ???ji? mènto relieve melancholy or boredom ????? ???tu? zhe.dragging ????? ????chén zhòngheavy ????? ????chén tòngache ???? ??b?i sh?ngsad, sorrowful ?????? ???suí zhe.to follow in the wake of, along with ????? ??q?ng f?ngcool breeze ????? ???mí rénfascinating, enchanting, charming ??????? ??? ?? ???sì chù zh?ng wàngall over the place, everywhere ????? ???lái chùsource ???? ???f?ng xi?ngpleasant fragrance, aromatic ?????? ??? ???chà nà ji?nin an instant ?????? ??l?ng wùto understand, to comprehend ????? ????shén língGod, the spirit of God ?????? ???? ??? ???wú su? bú zàiomnipresent ???? ???zì ránnature, natural ????? ??wàn wùall living things ???? ???d?n dúalone, by oneself ?????? ???? ? ???yí niàn zh? ji?nmoment (time between thought) ????? ???y?ng qìcourage, valor ?????? ???xìn x?nconfidence, faith (in something or somebody) ???? ????yí qièeverything, all ???? ??sì y?to grant, to bestow ????? ???kè fúto endure, to overcome ?????? ??? ??? ????shì gé du? niánthat frame of time, that incident ??? ???y? ránstill, as before ????? ???zhèn fènto stir oneself, to inspire, to raise one's spirts ??? ????n wèito comfort ????? ??qí j?miracle ???? ???sh?n kèprofound, deep ?????? ????jué x?ngto become aware, to awaken to the truth ????????????????? (?)(?)(?)(?)(??)(?)
(???)(???)(????)(???)(??? ???)(???)
(j?)(ti?n)(qián)(w?)(t?ng dào)(le.)
(a few)(day)(in front)(I)(heard)(emphasize completion)
…..(?)(?)(?)(?)?(???)???
…..(?)(???)(???)(??)?(??? ??? ???)?
…..(y?)(sh?u)(l?o)(g?)?(yè lái xi?ng)?
…..(one, an)(MW for song)(old)(song) “(night comes sweet)”
A few days ago I heard the old song “???.”
?????????????????? : (?)(?)(??)(?)(?)(?)(??)
(???)(???)(???? ????)(???)(???)(???)(?? ???)
(ràng)(w?)(húi xi?ng)(q?)(le.)(w?)(zì j?)
(to make)(me)(to recall)(to start)(emphasis)(I)(oneself)
…..(?)(???)(??)(?)(??) :
…..(??)(??? ??? ???)(??? ???)(???)(??? ??)
…..(g?n)(yè lái xi?ng)(hu? xi?ng)(de.)(gù shì)
…..(with, and)(night jasmine)(flower fragrance)(adjective marker)(story)
It made me recall my own story about night jasmine’s fragrance.
????? (?)(?)(?)(?)?
(???)(???)(????)(????)
(h?n)(du?)(nián)(qián)
(very)(many)(year)(preceding)
Very many years ago,
?????????? (?)(?)(???)(?)[(??)(?)]
(???)(???)(?? ??? ???)(???)[(?? ???)(???)]
(zài)(w?)(sh?ng mìng zh?ng)(de.)[(d? cháo)(qí)]
(at)(my)(life, existence)(adjective marker)[(low ebb)(period)]
I was at a low point in my life,
?????? (??)(?)(??)
(?? ????)(???)(??? ???)
(sh?ng huó)(h?n)(kùn nán)
(life)(very)(difficult)
life was very difficult,
????? (??)(?)(?)
(?? ???)(???)(???)
(y? lì)(h?n)(dà)
(pressure)(very)(big, great)
the pressure was great,
?????? (??)(?)(??)
(??? ????)(???)(??? ???)
(x?n qíng)(h?n)(k? mèn)
(mood, frame of mind)(very)(depressed, dejected)
I was feeling very dejected.
???????????????? (?)(?)(??)(?)(??)
(?)(???)(???? ????)(???)(??? ???)
(y?)(ge.)(zhòng xià)(de.)(yè w?n)
(one)(MW)(midsummer)(adjective marker)(night)
…..(?)(??)(??)(??)(??)
…..(???)(??? ??)(?? ???)(??? ???)(???? ???)
…..(w?)(dú zì)(ch? qù)(sàn bù)(ji? mèn)
…..(I)(alone)(to go out)(to walk)(to relieve melancholy, a diversion)
In the middle of a summer’s night, I went out for a walk to get my mind off things.
???????? (?)(?)(??)(?)(??)
(???)(???)(??? ????)(???)(???? ???)
(tu?)(zhe.)(chén zhòng)(de.)(ji?o bù)
(to drag)(particle indicating action in progress)((heavy, hard)(adjective marker)(footstep)
I walked with heavy footsteps.
?????????? (?)(?)(??)(?)(??)(??)
(???)(???)(???? ???)(???)(??? ????)(?? ??)
(x?n)(l?)(jué de.)(h?n)(chén tòng)(b?i sh?ng)
(heart)(in)(to feel)(very)(deeply greived)(sorrowful)
My heart was filled with deep grief and sorrow.
?????????????? (??)(??)(??)
(?? ???)(???? ???)(??? ??)
(t? rán)(suí zhe.)(q?ng f?ng)
(unexpected, sudden)(in the wake of, along with)(cool breeze)
…..(??)(?)(?)(?)(??)
…..(??? ???)(???)(?)(??)(??? ???)
…..(wén dào)(le.)(yí)(zhèn)(hu? xi?ng)
…..(smelled)(emphasis)(one)(MW for events of short duration)(flower fragrance)
Unexpectedly, a cool breeze carried with it the fragrance of a flower.
??????? (?)(??)(?)(??)
(???)(??? ???)(???)(??? ???)
(nà)(hu? xi?ng)(h?n)(mí rén)
(that)(flower fragrance)(very)(captivating, enchanting)
That flower fragrance was very captivating.
????????????? (?)(????)?(??)(??)(?)(??)
(???)(?? ??? ?? ???)(??? ????)(??? ???)(???)(??? ???)
(w?)(sì chù zh?ng wàng)(zh?o xún)(hu? xi?ng)(de.)(lái chù)
(I)(looked everywhere)(to look for)(flower fragranced)(adjective marker)(to come from)
I looked everywhere to see where it was coming from.
??????????? (?)(?)(?)(??)(??)(?)(??)
(???)(???)(???)(??? ???)(??? ????)(???)(??? ???)
(w?)(wàng)(le.)(w? de.)(x?n tòng)(hàn)(fán n?o)
(I)(to forget)(emphasize completion)(heartache)(and)(worries)
I forgot my heartache and worries.
???????? (?)(?)?(?)(?)(?)(??)
(??)(????)(????)(???)(???)(??? ???)
(zh?)(xi?ng)(duó)(wén)(nà)(hu? xi?ng)
(only)(to think, to want)(how)(to smell)(that)(flower fragrance)
(I) only wanted to smell that flower,
????????????????????????? (??)(?)(??)(?)(?)(??)(?)
(??? ???)(??)(? ???)(???)(???)(??? ??)(???)
(yuán lái)(shì)(y? ge.)(rén)(ji?)(yuàn zi.)(l?)
(originally, as it turns out)(to be, is)(one +MW)(person)(house)(yard)(in)
…..(??)(???)(??)
…..(?? ??)(??? ??? ???)(???? ???)
…..(yì k?)(yè lái xi?ng)(sui zhe.)
…..(one + MW for trees, plants)(tuberose, Night Jasmine)(in the wake of, following)
……….(??)(??)(?)(??)
……….(??? ??)(???? ???)(???)(?? ???)
……….(yè f?ng)(sòng lái)(de.)(f?ng xi?ng)
……….(night breeze)(to deliver to come)(adjective marker)(pleasant fragrance)
The sweet fragrance of Night Jasmine originated in a person’s garden and was carried on the night breeze.
????????????? (?)(?)(?)(???)?(?)(?)(??)(??)
(???)(???)(???)(??? ??? ???)(???)(???)(? ???)(???? ??)
(w?)(y?)(zài)(chà nà ji?n)(y?u)(le.)(y? ge.)(l?ng wù)
(I)(also)(in, at)(twinkle of an eye, an instant)(to have)(emphasis)(one, a)(to understand)
Also, in the twinkle of an eye, I came to understand –
?????????? (?)?(??)(?)(????)
(?)! (??? ????)(??)(?? ???? ??? ???)
(?)! (shén líng)(shì)(wú su? bù zài)
(ah)! (god, spirit)(is, to be)(omnipresent)
Ah! The spirit of God is everywhere,
????????? (?)(?)(?)?(?)(??)(?)?
(???)(??)(???), (???)(??? ???)(???),
(zài)(f?ng)(l?), (zài)(hu? xi?ng)(l?),
(at)(wind)(in), (at)(flower fragrance)(in)
in the wind, in the flower fragrance,
??????? (?)(??)(??)(?)
(???)(?? ???)(??? ??)(???)
(zài)(zì rán)(wàn wù)(l?)
(at)(nature, natural)(all living things)(in)
in all of nature,
??????????? (?)(??)(?)(?)[(??)(??)(?)]
(???)(???? ???)(???)(??)[(?? ???)(? ???)(???)]
(w?)(cóng lái)(bú)(shì)[(d?n dú)(y? ge.)(rén)]
(I)(always, at all times)(not)(to be)[(alone, by oneself)(one +MW)(person)]
I was never alone!
??????????? [(?)(????)](?)(?)(?)(??)
[(???)(?? ???? ? ???)](???)(???)(???)(?? ???)
[(nà)(yí nà zh? ji?n)](g?i)(le.)(w?)(y?ng qì)
[(that)(moment of my thought)](to give)(emphasis)(me)(courage)
In that moment of realization, I got courage,
???? (?)(??)
(???)(???? ???)
(hàn)(xìn x?n)
(and)(confidence)
and confidence,
????????????? (?)(??)(??)(?)(??)(??)(??)
(???)(?? ????)(??? ???)(???)(???? ???)(??? ???)(??? ????)
(b?)(yí qiè)(fán n?o)(hàn)(kún nán)(ji?o g?i)(shén líng)
(particle marking direct object to follow)?(every)(worries)(and)(difficulties)(to give, to hand over)(God)
to hand all my worries and difficulties over to God,
????????????? (?)(?)?(??)(??)(?)(??)(?)(??)
(????)(??)(?? ??)(?? ????)(???)(??? ????)(???)(??? ???)
(q?ng)(t?)(sì y?)(zhì huì)(hàn)(lì liàng)(lái)(kè fú)
(to ask)(him)(to grant, to bestow)(wisdom)(and)(strength)(to)(endure)
to ask him to give me the wisdom and strength to endure.
?????????? (????)(?)(?)(??)(??)
(?? ??? ??? ????)(???)(???)(? ???)(??? ???)
(shì gé du? nián)(w?)(hái)(y? rán)(jì de.)
(that instance)(I)(still, {emphasizes ??})(as before, still)((to remember)
I remember that moment well
…..???????????? …..(?)(?)(??)(??)(??)(?)(??)
…..(wén)(nà)(hu? xi?ng)(shí de.)(zhèn fèn)(hàn)(?n wèi)
…..(to smell)(that)(flower fragrance)(when, time)(to inspire)(and)(comfort)
….when I smell that flower fragrance, feeling inspiration and comfort,
?????????? ? (?)(?)(??)(?)(?)(??)(??)
(???)(???)(?? ??)(???)(????)(??? ???)(???? ??)
(hàn)(nà)(w?i f?ng)(l?)(duì)(shén de.)(l?ng wù)
(and)(that)(light breeze)( in)(toward)(God’s)(to understand)
and in the light breeze there is an understanding of God,
??????????? (?)(?)(??)?[(?)(??)(?)(??)]
(???)(??)(??? ???)[(???)(??? ??)(???)(?? ??)]
(bú)(shì)(shén me.)[(dà)(qí j?)(de.)(f? sh?ng)]
(not)(to be, is)(anything, something)[(big)(strange, wonderful, miracle)(adjective marker)(to happening)]
(It) is not any big miracle,
???????? (??)(?)(??)(?)(??)
(???? ??)(???)(?? ????)(???)(? ???)
(què shì)(w?)(sh?ng mìng)(zh?ng)(y? ge.)
(nevertheless)(my)(life)(within, during)(a)
nevertheless, in my life (it was) a
…..??????? ? …..(??)(??)(?)(??)
…..(?? ???)(???? ????)(???)(??? ???)
…..(sh?n kè)(jué x?ng)(de.)(jing yàn)
…..(profound, deep)(awakening to the truth, to come to realize)(adjective marker)(experience)
…..profound moment of realization!
Notes:
? This is both the name of a flower and the name of a song. You can see that the literal meaning is about the sweetness of the flower fragrance coming at night. The Chinese name is very descriptive. In English, this flower is sometimes known as Night Jasmine.
? This is a fun idiom and pretty easy to remember using the literal meanings of the characters.
?? means four places implying the four corners of the earth.
?? is made up of ?, which has a bunch of meanings that have to to with a stretch or to extend; plus ? meaning to look and to hope.
Together they mean to really look all over.
? To think about something is very much the same as wanting it.
? This can also be expressed as ???, the only difference being the first character, which is pronounced ??? (shà), and by itself means light rain, drizzle, or instant.
? In case you’ve forgotten, a direct object is the noun that the action is exerted on. Since order is very important in Chinese grammar, particles such as ? are used when the standard order is not used. Otherwise the meaning would be confused or unintelligible.
? God gets his own pronoun, or special ?? (t?). To review when to use which ??, see Understanding the words he ?, she ?, and it ? or ? in Chinese
? Yes, this is also the common way to ask “what.”
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