The bow’s reflection in the cup

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

杯弓蛇影

Bēi gōng shé yǐng

The bow's reflection in the cup

Story

。，，：、、……“”。
Fàn Nán zuìjìn zǒng juéde xiōngkǒu fāmēn. bànyè shuì bù zháo, tā zài wǎngshang sōu le yíxià zhèngzhuàng, jiéguǒ yuè kàn yuè hàipà: xīnzàngbìng, fèi'ái, jiāolǜzhèng…… měi yì zhǒng dōu“ duì” de shàng.
Fan Nan had been feeling a tightness in his chest. Unable to sleep one night, he searched his symptoms online, and the more he read the more frightened he became: heart disease, lung cancer, anxiety disorder… every one of them seemed to fit.
Words in this sentence
范楠 Fàn Nán
Fan Nan (name)
最近 zuìjìn
recently; latest Dictionary
总 zǒng
Mr (boss), general manager Dictionary
觉得 juéde
to feel, to think Dictionary
胸口 xiōngkǒu
chest Dictionary
发闷 fāmēn
to feel tight
半夜 bànyè
midnight Dictionary
睡 shuì
to sleep Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
着 zháo
(睡不着: cannot fall asleep) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
网上 wǎngshang
online Dictionary
搜 sōu
to search Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一下 yíxià
a moment, a bit Dictionary
症状 zhèngzhuàng
symptom Dictionary
结果 jiéguǒ
as a result, in the end Dictionary
越 yuè
(越……越……: the more … the more) Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
越 yuè
(越……越……: the more … the more) Dictionary
害怕 hàipà
afraid Dictionary
心脏病 xīnzàngbìng
heart disease Dictionary
肺癌 fèi'ái
lung cancer Dictionary
焦虑症 jiāolǜzhèng
anxiety disorder Dictionary
每 měi
every, each Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
种 zhǒng
kind, type Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
对 duì
correct, right Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
，，，，。
jiēxiàlai de yí gè xīngqī, tā chī bú xià fàn, shàngbān zǒushén, lián shàng lóu dōu xiǎoxīn-yìyì, shēngpà xīnzàng tūrán tíng le.
For the next week he couldn't eat, drifted off at work, and even climbed the stairs with great care, for fear his heart might suddenly stop.
Words in this sentence
接下来 jiēxiàlai
next, following Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
星期 xīngqī
week Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
吃 chī
to eat Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
饭 fàn
meal; cooked rice Dictionary
上班 shàngbān
to go to work Dictionary
走神 zǒushén
to lose focus Dictionary
连 lián
even (连……都……) Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
楼 lóu
building; floor (上楼: go upstairs) Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
小心翼翼 xiǎoxīn-yìyì
very carefully Dictionary
生怕 shēngpà
for fear that Dictionary
心脏 xīnzàng
heart Dictionary
突然 tūrán
suddenly Dictionary
停 tíng
to stop Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
，。
qīzi kàn bú xiàqu, yìng lā zhe tā qù yīyuàn zuò le quánmiàn jiǎnchá.
His wife couldn't stand it and dragged him to hospital for a full check-up.
Words in this sentence
妻子 qīzi
wife Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
下去 xiàqu
down Dictionary
硬 yìng
forcibly Dictionary
拉 lā
to pull Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
医院 yīyuàn
hospital Dictionary
做 zuò
to make, to do Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
全面 quánmiàn
full, comprehensive Dictionary
检查 jiǎnchá
to check Dictionary
，，：“，？”
lǎo yīshēng kàn wán xīndiàntú hé suǒyǒu de huàyàndān, zhāixià yǎnjìng, xiào zhe wèn:“ nǐ zuìjìn shì bu shì áoyè kàn shǒujī, hái měitiān hē sān bēi kāfēi?”
The old doctor looked over the ECG and every test result, took off his glasses and asked with a smile, "Have you been staying up late on your phone and drinking three coffees a day?"
Words in this sentence
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
医生 yīshēng
doctor Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
完 wán
finished Dictionary
心电图 xīndiàntú
ECG Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
所有 suǒyǒu
all Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
化验单 huàyàndān
test results
摘下 zhāixià
to take off Dictionary
眼镜 yǎnjìng
glasses Dictionary
笑 xiào
to laugh, to smile Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
最近 zuìjìn
recently; latest Dictionary
是不是 shì bu shì
is it that Dictionary
熬夜 áoyè
to stay up late Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
手机 shǒujī
mobile phone Dictionary
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
每天 měitiān
every day Dictionary
喝 hē
to drink Dictionary
三 sān
three Dictionary
杯 bēi
cup, glass Dictionary
咖啡 kāfēi
coffee Dictionary
。：“，、。”
Fàn Nán diǎndiǎn tóu. yīshēng shuō:“ nǐ de xīnzàng hé fèi dōu hěn jiànkāng, xiōngmēn duōbàn shì tài jǐnzhāng, shuì de tài shǎo.”
Fan Nan nodded. The doctor said, "Your heart and lungs are perfectly healthy. The tightness is most likely from stress and too little sleep."
Words in this sentence
范楠 Fàn Nán
Fan Nan (name)
点点头 diǎndiǎn tóu
to nod
医生 yīshēng
doctor Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
心脏 xīnzàng
heart Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
肺 fèi
lungs Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
健康 jiànkāng
healthy Dictionary
胸闷 xiōngmēn
chest tightness Dictionary
多半 duōbàn
most likely Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
太 tài
too, excessively Dictionary
紧张 jǐnzhāng
nervous Dictionary
睡 shuì
to sleep Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
太 tài
too, excessively Dictionary
少 shǎo
few, little Dictionary
，。
ránhòu, tā gěi Fàn Nán jiǎng le yí gè Jìncháo de gùshi.
Then he told Fan Nan a story from the Jin dynasty.
Words in this sentence
然后 ránhòu
then, after that Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
给 gěi
to give; for Dictionary
范楠 Fàn Nán
Fan Nan (name)
讲 jiǎng
to tell, to explain 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
晋朝 Jìncháo
the Jin dynasty Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
故事 gùshi
story Dictionary
，，，，。
yǒu gè jiào Yuè Guǎng de guānyuán qǐng péngyou hē jiǔ, péngyou duān qǐ jiǔbēi, hūrán kànjiàn bēi lǐ yǒu yì tiáo xiǎoshé zài yóudòng, àiyú miànzi, yìngzhe tóupí hē le xiàqu.
An official called Yue Guang invited a friend to drink. Raising his cup, the friend suddenly saw a little snake swimming in it, but to save face he forced himself to drink it down.
Words in this sentence
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
乐广 Yuè Guǎng
Yue Guang (name)
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
官员 guānyuán
official Dictionary
请 qǐng
to treat, to invite; please Dictionary
朋友 péngyou
friend Dictionary
喝 hē
to drink Dictionary
酒 jiǔ
wine, alcohol Dictionary
朋友 péngyou
friend Dictionary
端 duān
to carry, to bring out Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
酒杯 jiǔbēi
wine cup Dictionary
忽然 hūrán
suddenly Dictionary
看见 kànjiàn
to see Dictionary
杯 bēi
cup, glass Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
条 tiáo
(measure word for long things: dragons, rivers) Dictionary
小蛇 xiǎoshé
little snake
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
游动 yóudòng
to swim about Dictionary
碍于 àiyú
because of (a constraint) Dictionary
面子 miànzi
face (pride) Dictionary
硬着头皮 yìngzhe tóupí
to steel oneself Dictionary
喝 hē
to drink Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
下去 xiàqu
down Dictionary
，，。
huíjiā hòu, péngyou yuè xiǎng yuè pà, jìngrán zhēnde bìngdǎo le.
At home, the more the friend thought about it, the more frightened he became, until he actually fell ill.
Words in this sentence
回家 huíjiā
to go home Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
朋友 péngyou
friend Dictionary
越 yuè
(越……越……: the more … the more) Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
越 yuè
(越……越……: the more … the more) Dictionary
怕 pà
to be afraid of Dictionary
竟然 jìngrán
unexpectedly, actually Dictionary
真的 zhēnde
really Dictionary
病倒 bìngdǎo
to fall ill Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
，，，，，。
Yuè Guǎng tīngshuō hòu, huídào nà tiān hē jiǔ de dìfang, tái tóu yí kàn, qiáng shàng guà zhe yì zhāng gōng, gōng shàng huà zhe shé de huāwén, yǐngzi zhènghǎo yìng zài jiǔbēi lǐ.
When Yue Guang heard, he went back to where they had been drinking and looked up: on the wall hung a bow painted with a snake pattern, and its reflection fell right into the wine cup.
Words in this sentence
乐广 Yuè Guǎng
Yue Guang (name)
听说 tīngshuō
to hear (that) Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
回到 huídào
to go back to Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
喝 hē
to drink Dictionary
酒 jiǔ
wine, alcohol Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
地方 dìfang
place Dictionary
抬 tái
to raise Dictionary
头 tóu
head Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
墙 qiáng
wall Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
挂 guà
to hang Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
弓 gōng
bow Dictionary
弓 gōng
bow Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
画 huà
to draw Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
蛇 shé
snake Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
花纹 huāwén
pattern Dictionary
影子 yǐngzi
reflection, shadow Dictionary
正好 zhènghǎo
just right, as it happens Dictionary
映 yìng
to reflect Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
酒杯 jiǔbēi
wine cup Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
，，“”。，。
tā zài qǐng péngyou lái, ràng tā zuò zài tóng yí gè wèizhi, péngyou yòu kànjiàn le bēi lǐ de“ shé”. Yuè Guǎng zhǐ zhe qiáng shàng de gōng shuōmíng le zhēnxiàng, péngyou de bìng dāngchǎng jiù hǎo le.
He invited his friend back and seated him in the same place; the friend saw the "snake" in his cup again. Yue Guang pointed to the bow on the wall and explained, and the friend's illness vanished on the spot.
Words in this sentence
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
再 zài
again, any more Dictionary
请 qǐng
to treat, to invite; please Dictionary
朋友 péngyou
friend Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
坐 zuò
to sit; to travel by Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
同 tóng
same Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
位置 wèizhi
seat, place Dictionary
朋友 péngyou
friend Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
看见 kànjiàn
to see Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
杯 bēi
cup, glass Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
蛇 shé
snake Dictionary
乐广 Yuè Guǎng
Yue Guang (name)
指 zhǐ
to refer to Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
墙 qiáng
wall Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
弓 gōng
bow Dictionary
说明 shuōmíng
to show, to explain Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
真相 zhēnxiàng
the truth Dictionary
朋友 péngyou
friend Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
病 bìng
illness Dictionary
当场 dāngchǎng
on the spot Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
好 hǎo
good; OK Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
：“‘’。，，。”
yīshēng shuō:“ zhè jiù jiào‘ bēi gōng shé yǐng’. hěn duō shíhou, ràng rén shēngbìng de bú shì shé, érshì xīnli de pà.”
The doctor said, "That's 'the bow's reflection taken for a snake'. Very often what makes people ill isn't the snake, it's the fear inside."
Words in this sentence
医生 yīshēng
doctor Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
杯弓蛇影 bēi gōng shé yǐng
a bow's reflection taken for a snake (groundless fear) Dictionary
很多 hěn duō
many
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
生病 shēngbìng
to be ill Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
不是 bú shì
is not (不是……就是……: either … or …) Dictionary
蛇 shé
snake Dictionary
而是 érshì
but (不是……而是……) Dictionary
心里 xīnli
in one's heart Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
怕 pà
to be afraid of Dictionary
，。，，。
cóng yīyuàn chūlai, Fàn Nán juéde xiōngkǒu qīngsōng le yí dàbàn. dàngtiān wǎnshang, tā shíyī diǎn jiù guān le shǒujī, shuì le yí gè duō yuè lái zuì hǎo de yí jiào.
Walking out of the hospital, Fan Nan felt his chest was far lighter. That night he switched off his phone at eleven and had his best sleep in over a month.
Words in this sentence
从 cóng
from Dictionary
医院 yīyuàn
hospital Dictionary
出来 chūlai
to come out Dictionary
范楠 Fàn Nán
Fan Nan (name)
觉得 juéde
to feel, to think Dictionary
胸口 xiōngkǒu
chest Dictionary
轻松 qīngsōng
light, easy Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一大半 yí dàbàn
the greater part
当天 dàngtiān
that same day Dictionary
晚上 wǎnshang
evening Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
十一 shíyī
eleven Dictionary
点 diǎn
o'clock Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
关 guān
to lock up; captivity Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
手机 shǒujī
mobile phone Dictionary
睡 shuì
to sleep 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
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
月 yuè
month Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
好 hǎo
good; OK Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一觉 yí jiào
a sleep

Grammar focus

生怕 "for fear that"
硬着头皮 "steeling oneself to"

Vocabulary

杯弓蛇影bēi gōng shé yǐnga bow's reflection taken for a snake (groundless fear) Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

你有没有“杯弓蛇影”的经历？写一写。

Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu "bēi gōng shé yǐng" de jīnglì? Xiě yì xiě.

Have you ever had a "bow in the cup" experience? Write about it.

Tips

后来才知道…… reveals what you learned afterwards.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

有一次我听说公司要裁员，就觉得经理看我的眼神都不对，紧张了好几天。后来才知道，要裁员的部门根本不是我们这个。

Yǒu yí cì wǒ tīngshuō gōngsī yào cáiyuán, jiù juéde jīnglǐ kàn wǒ de yǎnshén dōu bú duì, jǐnzhāng le hǎojǐ tiān. Hòulái cái zhīdao, yào cáiyuán de bùmén gēnběn bú shì wǒmen zhège.

Once I heard the company was cutting jobs and felt the manager was looking at me strangely. I was tense for days. Later I found out the cuts weren't even in our department.

About the HSK 7–9 band