The song in the thunderstorm

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 8 About 14 minutes

雷雨中的歌

Léiyǔ zhōng de gē

Story

：，，，。
fùqīn de jìyì shì cóng xiǎoshì kāishǐ xiāoshī de: xiānshì zhǎo bú dào yàoshi, hòulái wàng le guān huǒ, zài hòulái, tā zài zhù le sānshí nián de xiǎoqū lǐ mí le lù.
Her father's memory began to vanish with small things: first he couldn't find his keys, then he forgot to turn off the gas, and later he got lost in the estate he had lived in for thirty years.
Words in this sentence
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
记忆 jìyì
memory Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
小事 xiǎoshì
small thing Dictionary
开始 kāishǐ
to start Dictionary
消失 xiāoshī
to vanish Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
先是 xiānshì
first
找 zhǎo
to look for Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
钥匙 yàoshi
key Dictionary
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
忘 wàng
to forget Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
关 guān
to lock up; captivity Dictionary
火 huǒ
fire Dictionary
再 zài
again, any more Dictionary
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
三十 sānshí
thirty Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
小区 xiǎoqū
housing estate Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
迷 mí
(迷路) to get lost Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
路 lù
road, street Dictionary
，，。
yīshēng shuō zhè shì Ā'ěrcíhǎimòbìng, huì yuèláiyuè yánzhòng, méiyǒu bànfǎ zhì hǎo.
The doctor said it was Alzheimer's disease; it would get worse and worse and could not be cured.
Words in this sentence
医生 yīshēng
doctor Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
阿尔茨海默病 Ā'ěrcíhǎimòbìng
Alzheimer's disease Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
越来越 yuèláiyuè
more and more Dictionary
严重 yánzhòng
serious Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
办法 bànfǎ
way, solution Dictionary
治 zhì
to control, to tame Dictionary
好 hǎo
good; OK Dictionary
，，，。
Sū Hé cídiào le zài Shànghǎi de gōngzuò, bān huí lǎojiā, bǎ fùqīn sòng jìn le lí jiā zuì jìn de yǎnglǎoyuàn, měitiān xiàwǔ qù péi tā.
Su He gave up her job in Shanghai, moved back to her home town, placed her father in the care home nearest the house, and went to be with him every afternoon.
Words in this sentence
苏禾 Sū Hé
Su He (name)
辞掉 cídiào
to quit Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
上海 Shànghǎi
Shanghai Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
工作 gōngzuò
to work; job Dictionary
搬 bān
to move (house) Dictionary
回 huí
to return, to go back Dictionary
老家 lǎojiā
hometown Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
送 sòng
to take (someone somewhere); to give Dictionary
进 jìn
into; to enter Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
离 lí
from (distance) Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
近 jìn
near Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
养老院 yǎnglǎoyuàn
care home Dictionary
每天 měitiān
every day Dictionary
下午 xiàwǔ
afternoon Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
陪 péi
to keep company Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
，。“”，，。
kěshì bànnián yǐhòu, fùqīn yǐjīng bú rènshi tā le. tā jiào tā“ hùshi xiǎojie”, kèkeqìqì de qǐng tā zuò, hái wèn tā lèi bú lèi.
But after six months her father no longer recognised her. He called her "Nurse", politely invited her to sit, and asked whether she was tired.
Words in this sentence
可是 kěshì
but Dictionary
半年 bànnián
six months Dictionary
以后 yǐhòu
after, later Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
已经 yǐjīng
already Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
认识 rènshi
to know (a person), to meet Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
护士 hùshi
nurse Dictionary
小姐 xiǎojie
Miss Dictionary
客客气气 kèkeqìqì
politely
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
请 qǐng
to treat, to invite; please Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
坐 zuò
to sit; to travel by Dictionary
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
累 lèi
tired Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
累 lèi
tired Dictionary
，。
dì-yī cì tīngdào zhè gè chēnghu de shíhou, Sū Hé pǎo dào zǒuláng lǐ kū le hěn jiǔ.
The first time she heard him call her that, Su He ran into the corridor and cried for a long time.
Words in this sentence
第一 dì-yī
first Dictionary
次 cì
time (occurrence) Dictionary
听到 tīngdào
to hear Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
称呼 chēnghu
form of address Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
苏禾 Sū Hé
Su He (name)
跑 pǎo
to run Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
走廊 zǒuláng
corridor Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
哭 kū
to cry, to weep Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
久 jiǔ
a long time Dictionary
、，，。
nǎpà tā mà wǒ, gǎn wǒ zǒu, yě bǐ bǎ wǒ dàngchéng mòshēngrén hǎo, tā xiǎng.
Even if he cursed me or drove me away, it would be better than treating me as a stranger, she thought.
Words in this sentence
哪怕 nǎpà
even if Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
骂 mà
to insult Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
赶 gǎn
to drive away Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
走 zǒu
to walk, to go; to leave Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
比 bǐ
than Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
当成 dàngchéng
to treat as Dictionary
陌生人 mòshēngrén
stranger Dictionary
好 hǎo
good; OK Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
，“”。
qíguài de shì, zhè wèi“ mòshēng de hùshi” fǎn'ér chéng le fùqīn zuì yuànyì shuōhuà de rén.
Strangely, this "unfamiliar nurse" became the person her father most liked to talk to.
Words in this sentence
奇怪 qíguài
strange Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
位 wèi
(polite measure word for people) Dictionary
陌生 mòshēng
unfamiliar Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
护士 hùshi
nurse Dictionary
反而 fǎn'ér
instead, on the contrary Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
愿意 yuànyì
to be willing Dictionary
说话 shuōhuà
to speak, to talk Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
：，，。
tā yí biàn yòu yí biàn de gēn tā jiǎng zìjǐ de nǚ'ér: nǚ'ér xiǎoshíhou pà dǎléi, yì dǎléi jiù zuān jìn tā de bèizi lǐ, tā jiù chàng yì shǒu zìjǐ biān de gē hǒng tā shuìjiào.
Again and again he told her about his daughter: as a little girl she was afraid of thunder, and whenever it thundered she crawled under his quilt, and he would sing a song he had made up to lull her to sleep.
Words in this sentence
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
遍 biàn
time (from start to finish) Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
遍 biàn
time (from start to finish) Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
跟 gēn
with; as Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
讲 jiǎng
to tell, to explain Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
女儿 nǚ'ér
daughter Dictionary
女儿 nǚ'ér
daughter Dictionary
小时候 xiǎoshíhou
as a child Dictionary
怕 pà
to be afraid of Dictionary
打雷 dǎléi
to thunder Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
打雷 dǎléi
to thunder Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
钻 zuān
to crawl into Dictionary
进 jìn
into; to enter Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
被子 bèizi
quilt Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
唱 chàng
to sing Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
首 shǒu
(measure word for songs and pieces of music) Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
编 biān
to adapt Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
歌 gē
song Dictionary
哄 hǒng
to soothe, to coax Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
睡觉 shuìjiào
to sleep, to go to bed Dictionary
“，，，”，“，。”
“ wǒ nǚ'ér kě cōngming le, zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò, hěn máng,” tā jiāo'ào de shuō,“ nǐ bié gàosu tā wǒ zài zhèr, tā huì dānxīn de.”
"My daughter is very clever. She works in Shanghai, she's very busy," he said proudly. "Don't tell her I'm here; she'd worry."
Words in this sentence
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
女儿 nǚ'ér
daughter Dictionary
可 kě
(adds emphasis); but Dictionary
聪明 cōngming
clever Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
上海 Shànghǎi
Shanghai Dictionary
工作 gōngzuò
to work; job Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
忙 máng
busy Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
骄傲 jiāo'ào
pride Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
别 bié
don't Dictionary
告诉 gàosu
to tell Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
这儿 zhèr
here Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
担心 dānxīn
to worry Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
，。，，。
Sū Hé xiàozhe diǎntóu, yǎnlèi què rěn bú zhù liú le xiàlai. tā zhè cái míngbai, fùqīn wàngjì de shì tā xiànzài de yàngzi, ér bú shì tā.
Su He smiled and nodded, but the tears came anyway. Only then did she understand that what her father had forgotten was how she looked now, not her.
Words in this sentence
苏禾 Sū Hé
Su He (name)
笑着 xiàozhe
smiling
点头 diǎntóu
to nod Dictionary
眼泪 yǎnlèi
tears Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
忍 rěn
to hold back Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
流 liú
to flow Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
下来 xiàlai
down (becoming) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
才 cái
only then Dictionary
明白 míngbai
clear (看个明白: find out for oneself) Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
忘记 wàngjì
to forget Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
现在 xiànzài
now Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
样子 yàngzi
look, appearance Dictionary
而 ér
and; but (literary) Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
，，。
qīyuè de yí gè xiàwǔ, chuāngwài tūrán diànshǎnléimíng, xià qǐ le dà yǔ.
One afternoon in July there was sudden thunder and lightning outside the window, and heavy rain began to fall.
Words in this sentence
七月 qīyuè
July Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
下午 xiàwǔ
afternoon Dictionary
窗外 chuāngwài
outside the window
突然 tūrán
suddenly Dictionary
电闪雷鸣 diànshǎnléimíng
thunder and lightning
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
雨 yǔ
rain Dictionary
。，。
Sū Hé xiàyìshí de suō le yíxià jiānbǎng. zhè gè xiǎoxiǎo de dòngzuò, tā zìjǐ dōu méi zhùyì dào.
Su He flinched without thinking. She hadn't even noticed the small movement herself.
Words in this sentence
苏禾 Sū Hé
Su He (name)
下意识 xiàyìshí
without thinking Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
缩 suō
to shrink back, to flinch Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一下 yíxià
a moment, a bit Dictionary
肩膀 jiānbǎng
shoulder Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
小小 xiǎoxiǎo
tiny Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
动作 dòngzuò
movement Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
没 méi
not (in the past) Dictionary
注意 zhùyì
to notice Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
，，：“，。”
fùqīn què mànmàn shēn guò shǒu lái, qīngqīng pāi zhe tā de bèi, yòng shāyǎ de shēngyīn chàng qǐ le nà shǒu gē:“ Léigōng Léigōng nǐ bié chǎo, wǒ jiā bǎobao yào shuìjiào.”
Her father slowly reached out, patted her back gently, and in a hoarse voice began to sing that song: "Thunder god, thunder god, don't make a noise, my baby needs to sleep."
Words in this sentence
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
慢慢 mànmàn
slowly Dictionary
伸 shēn
to stretch out Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
手 shǒu
hand Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
轻轻 qīngqīng
gently Dictionary
拍 pāi
to film, to shoot Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
背 bèi
back Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
沙哑 shāyǎ
hoarse Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
声音 shēngyīn
sound, noise Dictionary
唱 chàng
to sing Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
首 shǒu
(measure word for songs and pieces of music) Dictionary
歌 gē
song Dictionary
雷公 Léigōng
the thunder god Dictionary
雷公 Léigōng
the thunder god Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
别 bié
don't Dictionary
吵 chǎo
noisy; to argue Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
宝宝 bǎobao
baby Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
睡觉 shuìjiào
to sleep, to go to bed Dictionary
。，。
Sū Hé lèng zhù le. sānshí nián le, gēcí yí gè zì dōu méiyǒu biàn.
Su He froze. Thirty years on, not a single word of the lyrics had changed.
Words in this sentence
苏禾 Sū Hé
Su He (name)
愣 lèng
to be stunned Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
三十 sānshí
thirty Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
歌词 gēcí
lyrics Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
字 zì
character, word Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
变 biàn
to change, to become Dictionary
，，。，。
tā kào zài fùqīn jiān shàng, xiàng xiǎoshíhou yíyàng, gēnzhe tā xiǎoshēng de chàng. fùqīn méiyǒu wèn tā shì shéi, tā yě méiyǒu jiěshì.
She leaned on her father's shoulder as she had as a child and sang along softly. He didn't ask who she was, and she didn't explain.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
靠 kào
next to, by Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
肩 jiān
shoulder Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
像 xiàng
to look like Dictionary
小时候 xiǎoshíhou
as a child Dictionary
一样 yíyàng
the same Dictionary
跟着 gēnzhe
along with Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
小声 xiǎoshēng
in a low voice Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
唱 chàng
to sing Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
谁 shéi
who Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
解释 jiěshì
to explain Dictionary
，“”。：，。
yǔ tíng yǐhòu, fùqīn yòu jiào tā“ hùshi xiǎojie” le. kěshì Sū Hé búzài nánguò: míngzi kěyǐ bèi wàngjì, yǒuxiē dōngxi què kè zài le bǐ jìyì gèng shēn de dìfang.
When the rain stopped, he called her "Nurse" again. But Su He was no longer sad: a name can be forgotten, but some things are carved somewhere deeper than memory.
Words in this sentence
雨 yǔ
rain Dictionary
停 tíng
to stop Dictionary
以后 yǐhòu
after, later Dictionary
父亲 fùqīn
father Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
护士 hùshi
nurse Dictionary
小姐 xiǎojie
Miss Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
可是 kěshì
but Dictionary
苏禾 Sū Hé
Su He (name)
不再 búzài
no longer Dictionary
难过 nánguò
sad Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
可以 kěyǐ
can, may; all right Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
忘记 wàngjì
to forget Dictionary
有些 yǒuxiē
some Dictionary
东西 dōngxi
thing(s) Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
刻 kè
moment Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
比 bǐ
than Dictionary
记忆 jìyì
memory Dictionary
更 gèng
even more Dictionary
深 shēn
deep Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
地方 dìfang
place Dictionary

Grammar focus

哪怕……也…… "even if …, still …"
不再 "no longer"

Vocabulary

记忆jìyìmemory Dictionary
称呼chēnghuform of address Dictionary
骄傲jiāo'àopride Dictionary
沙哑shāyǎhoarse Dictionary
解释jiěshìto explain Dictionary
刻kèmoment Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

写一件让你难忘的、家人为你做的小事。

Xiě yí jiàn ràng nǐ nánwàng de, jiārén wèi nǐ zuò de xiǎoshì.

Write about a small thing a family member did for you that you have never forgotten.

Tips

哪怕……也…… stresses how much someone did.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

小时候我怕黑，奶奶每天晚上都在我床边讲故事。哪怕她自己困得睁不开眼睛，也一定等到我睡着了才走。

Xiǎoshíhou wǒ pà hēi, nǎinai měitiān wǎnshang dōu zài wǒ chuángbiān jiǎng gùshi. Nǎpà tā zìjǐ kùn de zhēng bù kāi yǎnjing, yě yídìng děngdào wǒ shuìzháo le cái zǒu.

As a child I was afraid of the dark, and every night my grandmother told me stories by my bed. Even when she was too sleepy to keep her eyes open, she always waited until I was asleep before she left.

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