The day he rang the bell

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

敲钟的那天

Qiāo zhōng de nà tiān

Story

，，：“”。
shí nián qián, Miáo Lì hé dàxué shìyǒu Zhōng Yuǎn zài chūzūwū lǐ xiě xià le dì-yī háng dàimǎ, liǎng rén yuēdìng: zhè jiā gōngsī yǒngyuǎn shì“ wǒmen de”.
Ten years earlier, Miao Li and his university roommate Zhong Yuan wrote their first line of code in a rented room and made a pact: this company would always be "ours".
Words in this sentence
十 shí
ten
年 nián
year Dictionary
前 qián
front; before Dictionary
苗立 Miáo Lì
Miao Li (name)
和 hé
and Dictionary
大学 dàxué
university Dictionary
室友 shìyǒu
roommate Dictionary
钟远 Zhōng Yuǎn
Zhong Yuan (name)
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
出租屋 chūzūwū
rented room
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
第一 dì-yī
first Dictionary
行 háng
line of work Dictionary
代码 dàimǎ
code Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
约定 yuēdìng
to agree, to promise Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
公司 gōngsī
company, office Dictionary
永远 yǒngyuǎn
forever Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
我们 wǒmen
we, us Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
，，。
nà shíhou tāmen qióng de lián kōngtiáo dōu zhuāng bù qǐ, xiàtiān guāng zhe bǎngzi xiě chéngxù, è le jiù pào yì wǎn fāngbiànmiàn fēn zhe chī.
Back then they were too poor even for air conditioning. In summer they coded shirtless, and when they were hungry they shared a bowl of instant noodles.
Words in this sentence
那 nà
that Dictionary
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
他们 tāmen
they, them Dictionary
穷 qióng
poor Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
连 lián
even (连……都……) Dictionary
空调 kōngtiáo
air conditioning Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
装 zhuāng
to fit, to fix Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
夏天 xiàtiān
summer Dictionary
光 guāng
light; used up Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
膀子 bǎngzi
arms (光着膀子: shirtless) Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
程序 chéngxù
program Dictionary
饿 è
hungry Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
泡 pào
to brew (tea) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
碗 wǎn
bowl Dictionary
方便面 fāngbiànmiàn
instant noodles Dictionary
分 fēn
to share, to divide Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
吃 chī
to eat Dictionary
，，，。
hòulái, gōngsī yuè zuò yuè dà, tóuzīrén yuèláiyuè duō, liǎng rén de fēnqí yě yuèláiyuè míngxiǎn.
Later the company grew and grew, the investors multiplied, and so did the disagreements between them.
Words in this sentence
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
公司 gōngsī
company, office Dictionary
越 yuè
(越……越……: the more … the more) Dictionary
做 zuò
to make, to do Dictionary
越 yuè
(越……越……: the more … the more) Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
投资人 tóuzīrén
investor Dictionary
越来越 yuèláiyuè
more and more Dictionary
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
分歧 fēnqí
disagreement Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
越来越 yuèláiyuè
more and more Dictionary
明显 míngxiǎn
obvious Dictionary
，，，。
Zhōng Yuǎn jiānchí chǎnpǐn yào mànmàn dǎmó, Miáo Lì què rènwéi, shìchǎng bù děng rén, bìxū qiǎng zài duìshǒu qiánmiàn shàngshì.
Zhong Yuan insisted the product needed careful polishing; Miao Li believed the market waits for no one and they had to go public before their rivals.
Words in this sentence
钟远 Zhōng Yuǎn
Zhong Yuan (name)
坚持 jiānchí
to insist Dictionary
产品 chǎnpǐn
product Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
慢慢 mànmàn
slowly Dictionary
打磨 dǎmó
to polish Dictionary
苗立 Miáo Lì
Miao Li (name)
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
认为 rènwéi
to think, to believe Dictionary
市场 shìchǎng
market Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
等 děng
to wait (for) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
必须 bìxū
must Dictionary
抢 qiǎng
to snatch, to steal Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
对手 duìshǒu
rival Dictionary
前面 qiánmiàn
in front of Dictionary
上市 shàngshì
to go public Dictionary
，，。
zài yí cì guānjiàn de dǒngshìhuì shàng, Miáo Lì liánhé tóuzīrén tóupiào, ràng Zhōng Yuǎn líkāi le guǎnlǐcéng.
At a crucial board meeting, Miao Li joined with the investors in a vote that removed Zhong Yuan from management.
Words in this sentence
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
次 cì
time (occurrence) Dictionary
关键 guānjiàn
crucial Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
董事会 dǒngshìhuì
board of directors Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
苗立 Miáo Lì
Miao Li (name)
联合 liánhé
to ally with Dictionary
投资人 tóuzīrén
investor Dictionary
投票 tóupiào
to vote Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
钟远 Zhōng Yuǎn
Zhong Yuan (name)
离开 líkāi
to leave Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
管理层 guǎnlǐcéng
management
，：“。。”
nà tiān wǎnshang, Zhōng Yuǎn zhǐ gěi tā fā le yì tiáo duǎnxìn:“ nǐ yíng le. zhù nǐ bié hòuhuǐ.”
That night Zhong Yuan sent him just one text: "You win. Hope you don't regret it."
Words in this sentence
那 nà
that Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
晚上 wǎnshang
evening Dictionary
钟远 Zhōng Yuǎn
Zhong Yuan (name)
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
给 gěi
to give; for Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
发 fā
to send Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
条 tiáo
(measure word for long things: dragons, rivers) Dictionary
短信 duǎnxìn
text message Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
赢 yíng
to win Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
祝 zhù
to wish Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
别 bié
don't Dictionary
后悔 hòuhuǐ
to regret Dictionary
，，，。
liǎng nián hòu, gōngsī zài Niǔyuē shàngshì, Miáo Lì zhàn zài jiāoyìsuǒ de tái shàng, qiāo xiǎng le kāishì de zhōngshēng.
Two years later the company listed in New York, and Miao Li stood on the exchange podium and rang the opening bell.
Words in this sentence
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
公司 gōngsī
company, office Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
纽约 Niǔyuē
New York Dictionary
上市 shàngshì
to go public Dictionary
苗立 Miáo Lì
Miao Li (name)
站 zhàn
to stand Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
交易所 jiāoyìsuǒ
stock exchange Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
台 tái
stage, podium Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
敲 qiāo
to tap, to knock Dictionary
响 xiǎng
to sound, to ring out Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
开市 kāishì
the opening of the market Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
钟声 zhōngshēng
the sound of a bell
，，。
tái xià zhǎngshēng léidòng, shǎnguāngdēng cǐqǐ-bǐfú, tā què tūrán juéde shēnbiān kōngdàngdàng de.
Below, the applause thundered and flashbulbs went off one after another, yet he suddenly felt the space around him was empty.
Words in this sentence
台 tái
stage, podium Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
掌声 zhǎngshēng
applause Dictionary
雷动 léidòng
thunderous
闪光灯 shǎnguāngdēng
camera flash Dictionary
此起彼伏 cǐqǐ-bǐfú
rising one after another Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
突然 tūrán
suddenly Dictionary
觉得 juéde
to feel, to think Dictionary
身边 shēnbiān
at one's side Dictionary
空荡荡 kōngdàngdàng
empty Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
，，，。
huídào jiǔdiàn, tā dǎkāi xínglixiāng, fāxiàn mìshū shùnshǒu fàng jìnqu de yì dié jiù wénjiàn lǐ, jiā zhe yì zhāng fāhuáng de cǎogǎozhǐ.
Back at the hotel he opened his suitcase and found, among a pile of old papers his secretary had tucked in, a yellowed sheet of scrap paper.
Words in this sentence
回到 huídào
to go back to Dictionary
酒店 jiǔdiàn
hotel Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
打开 dǎkāi
to open Dictionary
行李箱 xínglixiāng
suitcase Dictionary
发现 fāxiàn
to find, to discover Dictionary
秘书 mìshū
secretary Dictionary
顺手 shùnshǒu
in passing Dictionary
放 fàng
to put Dictionary
进去 jìnqu
to go in Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
叠 dié
pile Dictionary
旧 jiù
old (not new) Dictionary
文件 wénjiàn
documents Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
夹 jiā
to press (between pages) Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
发黄 fāhuáng
to turn yellow
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
草稿纸 cǎogǎozhǐ
scrap paper
，。
nà shì shí nián qián Zhōng Yuǎn huà de dì-yī zhāng chǎnpǐn cǎotú, jiǎoluò lǐ wāiwāi-niǔniǔ de xiě zhe liǎng gè rén de míngzi.
It was the first product sketch Zhong Yuan had drawn ten years ago, with both their names scrawled crookedly in the corner.
Words in this sentence
那 nà
that Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
十 shí
ten
年 nián
year Dictionary
前 qián
front; before Dictionary
钟远 Zhōng Yuǎn
Zhong Yuan (name)
画 huà
to draw Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
第一 dì-yī
first Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
产品 chǎnpǐn
product Dictionary
草图 cǎotú
sketch Dictionary
角落 jiǎoluò
corner Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
歪歪扭扭 wāiwāi-niǔniǔ
crooked Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
，，，。
tā dīng zhe nà zhāng zhǐ kàn le hěn jiǔ, ná qǐ shǒujī, fān dào nà gè hěn jiǔ méi liánxì de hàomǎ, què chíchí méiyǒu àn xiàqu.
He stared at it for a long time, picked up his phone and scrolled to the number he hadn't called in ages, but kept holding back from pressing it.
Words in this sentence
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
盯 dīng
to stare at Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
纸 zhǐ
paper Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
久 jiǔ
a long time Dictionary
拿 ná
to take, to pick up Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
手机 shǒujī
mobile phone Dictionary
翻 fān
to multiply (翻一倍: to double) Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
久 jiǔ
a long time Dictionary
没 méi
not (in the past) Dictionary
联系 liánxì
to be in touch Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
号码 hàomǎ
number Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
迟迟 chíchí
slow to, holding back Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
按 àn
to press Dictionary
下去 xiàqu
down Dictionary
，：，？
chuāngwài shì Niǔyuē dēnghuǒ huīhuáng de yèjǐng, tā dì-yī cì rènzhēn de wèn zìjǐ: wèile zǒu dào jīntiān, wǒ dàodǐ diūdiào le shénme?
Outside the window New York blazed with light, and for the first time he seriously asked himself: to get here, what exactly did I throw away?
Words in this sentence
窗外 chuāngwài
outside the window
是 shì
to be Dictionary
纽约 Niǔyuē
New York Dictionary
灯火辉煌 dēnghuǒ huīhuáng
brilliantly lit
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
夜景 yèjǐng
night view Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
第一 dì-yī
first Dictionary
次 cì
time (occurrence) Dictionary
认真 rènzhēn
carefully, seriously Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
为了 wèile
in order to, for Dictionary
走 zǒu
to walk, to go; to leave Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
今天 jīntiān
today Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
到底 dàodǐ
(who, what) on earth Dictionary
丢掉 diūdiào
to throw away, to lose Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
什么 shénme
what Dictionary

Grammar focus

分歧 disagreement (noun)
迟迟 "slow to, keep putting off"

Vocabulary

约定yuēdìngto agree, to promise Dictionary
明显míngxiǎnobvious Dictionary
坚持jiānchíto insist Dictionary
关键guānjiàncrucial Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

你认为为了事业成功，可以牺牲友情吗？写出你的看法。

Nǐ rènwéi wèile shìyè chénggōng, kěyǐ xīshēng yǒuqíng ma? Xiě chū nǐ de kànfǎ.

Do you think friendship can be sacrificed for career success? Give your view.

Tips

如果……，那…… draws a conclusion from a condition.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我认为事业和友情都很重要，但如果成功要靠背叛朋友，那这样的成功代价太大了。很多分歧其实可以通过坦诚的沟通解决。

Wǒ rènwéi shìyè hé yǒuqíng dōu hěn zhòngyào, dàn rúguǒ chénggōng yào kào bèipàn péngyou, nà zhèyàng de chénggōng dàijià tài dà le. Hěn duō fēnqí qíshí kěyǐ tōngguò tǎnchéng de gōutōng jiějué.

I think both career and friendship matter, but if success depends on betraying a friend, the price is too high. Many disagreements can in fact be solved through honest communication.

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