The tale of the black basin

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

乌盆记

Wūpén jì

Story

，，。
Běi Sòng de shíhou, Dìngyuǎn Xiàn zhù zhe yí gè mài cǎoxié de lǎorén, jiào Zhāng Biégǔ.
In the Northern Song dynasty, in Dingyuan county, there lived an old man who sold straw sandals, called Zhang Biegu.
Words in this sentence
北宋 Běi Sòng
the Northern Song dynasty Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
定远县 Dìngyuǎn Xiàn
Dingyuan county Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
卖 mài
to sell Dictionary
草鞋 cǎoxié
straw sandals Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
老人 lǎorén
old person Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
张别古 Zhāng Biégǔ
Zhang Biegu (name)
，，，。
yǒu yì nián dōngtiān, tā qù zhǎo yí gè jiào Zhào Dà de yáojiàng yào zhài, Zhào Dà hái bù qǐ qián, jiù suíshǒu ná le yí gè hēi wǎpén dǐ zhàng.
One winter he went to collect a debt from a potter called Zhao Da. Unable to pay, Zhao Da casually handed him a black clay basin instead.
Words in this sentence
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
冬天 dōngtiān
winter Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
找 zhǎo
to look for Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
赵大 Zhào Dà
Zhao Da (name)
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
窑匠 yáojiàng
potter
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
债 zhài
debt Dictionary
赵大 Zhào Dà
Zhao Da (name)
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
钱 qián
money Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
随手 suíshǒu
casually Dictionary
拿 ná
to take, to pick up Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
黑 hēi
black Dictionary
瓦盆 wǎpén
clay basin
抵 dǐ
to offset (a debt) Dictionary
账 zhàng
account Dictionary
，，，：“，！”
nà tiān yèli, Zhāng Biégǔ qǐlai, gāng bǎ wǎpén fàng zài dì shàng, pén lǐ jìngrán chuánchū le yí gè nánrén de kūshēng:“ lǎo bóbo, wǒ sǐ de hǎo yuān a!”
That night Zhang Biegu got up, and as soon as he set the basin down, a man's weeping came from inside it: "Old uncle, I died so unjustly!"
Words in this sentence
那 nà
that Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
夜里 yèli
at night Dictionary
张别古 Zhāng Biégǔ
Zhang Biegu (name)
起来 qǐlai
(starting to …) Dictionary
刚 gāng
just Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
瓦盆 wǎpén
clay basin
放 fàng
to put Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
地 dì
ground, earth Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
盆 pén
basin Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
竟然 jìngrán
unexpectedly, actually Dictionary
传出 chuánchū
to come out (of a sound) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
男人 nánrén
man Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
哭声 kūshēng
weeping Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
伯伯 bóbo
uncle (polite) Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
死 sǐ
to die Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
好 hǎo
good; OK Dictionary
冤 yuān
wronged Dictionary
啊 a
(exclamation particle) Dictionary
。，，。
Zhāng Biégǔ xià de chàdiǎnr zuò zài dì shàng. nà gè shēngyīn gàosu tā, zìjǐ jiào Liú Shìchāng, shì gè zuò chóuduàn shēngyi de shāngrén.
Zhang Biegu nearly fell over in fright. The voice told him its name was Liu Shichang, a merchant in the silk trade.
Words in this sentence
张别古 Zhāng Biégǔ
Zhang Biegu (name)
吓 xià
to frighten (吓了一跳: got a fright) Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
差点儿 chàdiǎnr
almost Dictionary
坐 zuò
to sit; to travel by Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
地 dì
ground, earth Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
声音 shēngyīn
sound, noise Dictionary
告诉 gàosu
to tell Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
刘世昌 Liú Shìchāng
Liu Shichang (name)
是 shì
to be Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
做 zuò
to make, to do Dictionary
绸缎 chóuduàn
silk Dictionary
生意 shēngyi
business Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
商人 shāngrén
merchant Dictionary
，，，，，。
bàn nián qián huí jiā lù shàng, tā zài Zhào Dà jiā jièsù, Zhào Dà fūqī kàn shàng le tā de yínzi, chèn tā shuìzháo hài le tā, yòu bǎ tā de shīgǔ shāo chéng huī, huò zài ní lǐ zuò chéng le zhè gè wǎpén.
Six months earlier, on his way home, he had stayed the night at Zhao Da's. Zhao Da and his wife coveted his silver and killed him in his sleep, then burned his remains to ash, mixed them into clay and made this basin.
Words in this sentence
半 bàn
half Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
前 qián
front; before Dictionary
回 huí
to return, to go back Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
路 lù
road, street Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
赵大 Zhào Dà
Zhao Da (name)
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
借宿 jièsù
to stay the night Dictionary
赵大 Zhào Dà
Zhao Da (name)
夫妻 fūqī
husband and wife Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
银子 yínzi
silver Dictionary
趁 chèn
taking advantage of (a moment) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
睡着 shuìzháo
to fall asleep Dictionary
害 hài
to kill, to harm Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
尸骨 shīgǔ
remains Dictionary
烧 shāo
to heat, to boil Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
灰 huī
ash Dictionary
和 huò
to mix in (a powder) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
泥 ní
clay Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
做 zuò
to make, to do Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
瓦盆 wǎpén
clay basin
“，！”
“ tīngshuō xiàn lǐ de Bāo dàren duàn'àn rú shén, qiú nín dài wǒ qù jiàn tā!”
"They say Lord Bao, the county magistrate, judges cases like a god. Please take me to him!"
Words in this sentence
听说 tīngshuō
to hear (that) Dictionary
县 xiàn
county Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
包大人 Bāo dàren
Lord Bao
断案如神 duàn'àn rú shén
to judge cases with godlike skill
求 qiú
to beg Dictionary
您 nín
you (polite) Dictionary
带 dài
to take (someone), to bring Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
见 jiàn
to see, to meet Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
，。，，，。
dì-èr tiān, Zhāng Biégǔ bào zhe wǎpén qù le xiànyá. kěshì dàtáng shàng, tā jiào le bàntiān, pén lǐ yìdiǎn shēngyīn yě méiyǒu, yáyì men hōngtáng dàxiào.
The next day Zhang Biegu carried the basin to the county court. But in the courtroom, however much he called, not a sound came from the basin, and the constables roared with laughter.
Words in this sentence
第二 dì-èr
second Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
张别古 Zhāng Biégǔ
Zhang Biegu (name)
抱 bào
to hold in one's arms Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
瓦盆 wǎpén
clay basin
去 qù
to go Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
县衙 xiànyá
county court
可是 kěshì
but Dictionary
大堂 dàtáng
courtroom Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
半天 bàntiān
a long time Dictionary
盆 pén
basin Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
一点 yìdiǎn
a little (一点声音: any sound) Dictionary
声音 shēngyīn
sound, noise Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
衙役 yáyì
constables Dictionary
们 men
(plural for people) Dictionary
哄堂大笑 hōngtáng dàxiào
the whole room bursts out laughing Dictionary
，，：“，，？”
Zhāng Biégǔ yòu xiū yòu jí, huíqu wèn wǎpén, pén lǐ de shēngyīn wěiqu de shuō:“ dàtáng ménkǒu yǒu ménshén, wǒ yí gè yuānhún, zěnme gǎn jìnqu?”
Ashamed and anxious, Zhang Biegu went back and asked the basin. The voice said plaintively, "There are door gods at the court entrance. How would a wronged ghost dare go in?"
Words in this sentence
张别古 Zhāng Biégǔ
Zhang Biegu (name)
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
羞 xiū
ashamed Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
急 jí
fast-flowing; urgent Dictionary
回去 huíqu
to go back Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
瓦盆 wǎpén
clay basin
盆 pén
basin Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
声音 shēngyīn
sound, noise Dictionary
委屈 wěiqu
aggrieved Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
大堂 dàtáng
courtroom Dictionary
门口 ménkǒu
doorway, gate Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
门神 ménshén
door gods Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
冤魂 yuānhún
wronged ghost Dictionary
怎么 zěnme
how Dictionary
敢 gǎn
to dare Dictionary
进去 jìnqu
to go in Dictionary
，，，。
dì-sān cì, Bāo Zhěng tīng le shìqing de jīngguò, mìng rén zài ménkǒu shāo le yì zhāng zhǐ, yǔnxǔ yuānhún jìn táng.
The third time, Bao Zheng heard the whole story and had a paper burned at the door, granting the wronged spirit leave to enter the court.
Words in this sentence
第三 dì-sān
third
次 cì
time (occurrence) Dictionary
包拯 Bāo Zhěng
Bao Zheng (name) Dictionary
听 tīng
to listen, to hear Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
事情 shìqing
matter Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
经过 jīngguò
to pass by Dictionary
命人 mìng rén
to order someone
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
门口 ménkǒu
doorway, gate Dictionary
烧 shāo
to heat, to boil Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
纸 zhǐ
paper Dictionary
允许 yǔnxǔ
to allow Dictionary
冤魂 yuānhún
wronged ghost Dictionary
进 jìn
into; to enter Dictionary
堂 táng
hall, courtroom Dictionary
，。，。
zhè yì huí, wǎpén zài dàtáng shàng bǎ yuānqíng yīwǔ-yīshí de shuō le chūlai. Bāo Zhěng pài rén zhuā lái Zhào Dà fūqī, yòu zài tāmen jiā lǐ sōu chū le Liú Shìchāng de yínzi hé yīwù.
This time the basin told its wrongs in full detail before the court. Bao Zheng had Zhao Da and his wife arrested, and Liu Shichang's silver and clothes were found in their house.
Words in this sentence
这 zhè
this Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
回 huí
to return, to go back Dictionary
瓦盆 wǎpén
clay basin
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
大堂 dàtáng
courtroom Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
冤情 yuānqíng
the facts of an injustice Dictionary
一五一十 yīwǔ-yīshí
in full detail Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
出来 chūlai
to come out Dictionary
包拯 Bāo Zhěng
Bao Zheng (name) Dictionary
派人 pài rén
to send people
抓 zhuā
to catch, to capture Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
赵大 Zhào Dà
Zhao Da (name)
夫妻 fūqī
husband and wife Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
他们 tāmen
they, them Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
搜 sōu
to search Dictionary
出 chū
out Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
刘世昌 Liú Shìchāng
Liu Shichang (name)
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
银子 yínzi
silver Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
衣物 yīwù
clothing Dictionary
，。
tiězhèng miànqián, Zhào Dà bùdébù rènzuì.
Faced with ironclad evidence, Zhao Da had no choice but to confess.
Words in this sentence
铁证 tiězhèng
ironclad evidence Dictionary
面前 miànqián
in front of Dictionary
赵大 Zhào Dà
Zhao Da (name)
不得不 bùdébù
have no choice but to Dictionary
认罪 rènzuì
to confess Dictionary
《》，。，，，，，。
zhè gè gùshi jiào《 Wūpén Jì》, hòulái bèi biān chéng le jīngjù. rénmen ài tīng tā, bù zhǐshì yīnwèi yǒu guǐ, gèng yīnwèi zài nà gè niándài, lián yí gè yuānhún dōu xiāngxìn, zhǐyào zhǎodào Bāo Qīngtiān, gōngdao jiù yídìng huì lái.
The story is called The Black Basin and was later made into a Beijing opera. People love it not just for the ghost, but because in those days even a wronged spirit believed that if you could reach Bao the Upright, justice would surely come.
Words in this sentence
这 zhè
this Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
故事 gùshi
story Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
乌盆记 Wūpén Jì
The Tale of the Black Basin (an opera)
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
编 biān
to adapt Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
京剧 jīngjù
Beijing opera Dictionary
人们 rénmen
people Dictionary
爱 ài
to love Dictionary
听 tīng
to listen, to hear Dictionary
它 tā
it Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
只是 zhǐshì
merely, just Dictionary
因为 yīnwèi
because Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
鬼 guǐ
ghost Dictionary
更 gèng
even more Dictionary
因为 yīnwèi
because Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
年代 niándài
era Dictionary
连 lián
even (连……都……) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
冤魂 yuānhún
wronged ghost Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
相信 xiāngxìn
to believe Dictionary
只要 zhǐyào
as long as Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
包青天 Bāo Qīngtiān
Bao the Upright (Judge Bao) Dictionary
公道 gōngdao
justice Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
一定 yídìng
definitely Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary

Grammar focus

差点儿 "almost"
一五一十 "in full detail"

Vocabulary

京剧jīngjùBeijing opera Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

你知道哪些关于“正义”的故事？简单介绍一个。

Nǐ zhīdao nǎxiē guānyú "zhèngyì" de gùshi? Jiǎndān jièshào yí gè.

What stories about justice do you know? Briefly introduce one.

Tips

虽然……但…… weighs a fault against a reason.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

在我的国家，有一个关于罗宾汉的故事：他从富人那里拿钱，分给穷人。虽然他的方法不合法，但人们喜欢他，因为他代表了心中的公平。

Zài wǒ de guójiā, yǒu yí gè guānyú Luóbīnhàn de gùshi: tā cóng fùrén nàli ná qián, fēn gěi qióngrén. Suīrán tā de fāngfǎ bù héfǎ, dàn rénmen xǐhuan tā, yīnwèi tā dàibiǎo le xīnzhōng de gōngpíng.

In my country there is the story of Robin Hood: he takes money from the rich and gives it to the poor. His methods aren't legal, but people love him because he stands for the fairness they believe in.

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