Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 1, Text 2
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
Transcribed by 武克富強 (Võ Khắc Phú Cường)
人影
Man's Shadow
新月初上。
The new moon had just risen.
兒行廊下。似有一人隨其後。
A boy was passing under a veranda, and it seemed to him that somebody was following after him.
不敢回顧。
The boy did not dare to look back.
急入告姊。
Hurriedly he went inside and told his elder sister.
姊曰。此
汝身之影[a]
也。
His sister said, "It is your body's shadow.
汝立燈前。行日下。
皆有影[b]
。
When you are standing before a lamp, or going under the sun, there is a shadow everywhere.
何忘之耶。
How is it that you forget it?"
兒乃悟[c]
。
The boy then understood.
Notes
[a] 汝身之影
Here 之 is a sign of the possessive case: "the shadow of your body".
[b] 皆有影
Here 皆 is used as an equalizing particle which indicates that a quality, a state or an action relates to two or several objects to the same extent.
Similar examples.
- 人人皆知 All men know that.
- 老少皆在 Old and young all are there.
- 四海之內皆兄弟也 All within the four seas are brothers.
[c] 兒乃悟
Here 乃 is used as a consequential particle.
Similar examples.
- 乃可 It will then do.
- 百事乃遂 Everything then has gone right.