Words written in rice water

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

米汤写的字

Mǐtāng xiě de zì

Story

，，。
gǔjí xiūfù shī Bǎi Qīng de gōngzuòshì lǐ, lái le yí wèi bāshí duō suì de lǎo tàitai, huái lǐ bào zhe yì běn yòng lán bù bāo zhe de jiù zhàngběn.
An old lady in her eighties came to the studio of Bai Qing, a restorer of old books, holding an ancient ledger wrapped in blue cloth.
Words in this sentence
古籍 gǔjí
old books Dictionary
修复 xiūfù
restoration Dictionary
师 shī
teacher, master Dictionary
柏青 Bǎi Qīng
Bai Qing (name)
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
工作室 gōngzuòshì
studio Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
位 wèi
(polite measure word for people) Dictionary
八十 bāshí
eighty Dictionary
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
岁 suì
years old Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
太太 tàitai
Mrs Dictionary
怀 huái
arms, bosom Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
抱 bào
to hold in one's arms Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
本 běn
(measure word for books) Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
蓝 lán
blue Dictionary
布 bù
cloth Dictionary
包 bāo
bag Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
旧 jiù
old (not new) Dictionary
账本 zhàngběn
ledger Dictionary
“，”，“，，。”
“ zhè shì wǒ tàiyéye liúxià de,” lǎo tàitai shuō,“ jiāli rén dōu shuō, lǐmiàn cáng zhe yí gè mìmì, kě shéi yě méi zhǎodào.”
"My great-grandfather left this," she said. "The family always said there was a secret hidden in it, but nobody ever found it."
Words in this sentence
这 zhè
this Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
太爷爷 tàiyéye
great-grandfather
留下 liúxià
to leave behind Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
太太 tàitai
Mrs Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
家里 jiāli
at home, the family Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
里面 lǐmiàn
inside Dictionary
藏 cáng
to hide Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
秘密 mìmì
secret Dictionary
可 kě
(adds emphasis); but Dictionary
谁 shéi
who Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
没 méi
not (in the past) Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
，，，。
zhàngběn shì Qīngcháo Guāngxù niánjiān de, zhǐ yǐjīng fāhuáng biàn cuì, yí pèng jiù diào zhā, shàngmiàn jì de dōu shì pǔtōng de mǐ diàn shōuzhī.
The ledger dated from the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty. Its paper was yellow and brittle, crumbling at a touch, and it recorded only the ordinary income and spending of a rice shop.
Words in this sentence
账本 zhàngběn
ledger Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
清朝 Qīngcháo
the Qing dynasty Dictionary
光绪 Guāngxù
Guangxu (a Qing reign) Dictionary
年间 niánjiān
during the years of Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
纸 zhǐ
paper Dictionary
已经 yǐjīng
already Dictionary
发黄 fāhuáng
to turn yellow
变脆 biàn cuì
to become brittle
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
碰 pèng
to touch Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
掉 diào
to fall Dictionary
渣 zhā
crumbs Dictionary
上面 shàngmiàn
on it, on top Dictionary
记 jì
to remember Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
普通 pǔtōng
ordinary Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
米 mǐ
rice Dictionary
店 diàn
shop Dictionary
收支 shōuzhī
income and spending Dictionary
，，，。
Bǎi Qīng yí yè yí yè de xiūbǔ, xiū dào dì-sānshíqī yè shí, fāxiàn zhè yí yè bǐ biéde zhǐ hòu yìdiǎnr, érqiě bèimiàn géwài guānghuá.
Bai Qing repaired it page by page. At page thirty-seven she noticed the sheet was slightly thicker than the others, and unusually smooth on the back.
Words in this sentence
柏青 Bǎi Qīng
Bai Qing (name)
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
页 yè
page Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
页 yè
page Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
修补 xiūbǔ
to repair Dictionary
修 xiū
to repair Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
第三十七 dì-sānshíqī
thirty-seventh
页 yè
page Dictionary
时 shí
when, at the time of Dictionary
发现 fāxiàn
to find, to discover Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
页 yè
page Dictionary
比 bǐ
than Dictionary
别的 biéde
other Dictionary
纸 zhǐ
paper Dictionary
厚 hòu
thick Dictionary
一点儿 yìdiǎnr
a little Dictionary
而且 érqiě
and moreover Dictionary
背面 bèimiàn
the back Dictionary
格外 géwài
unusually Dictionary
光滑 guānghuá
smooth Dictionary
：，，，。
tā xiǎng qǐ lǎo shīfu shuō guò de yí gè gǔlǎo fāngfǎ: yòng mǐtāng xiě zì, gān le yǐhòu shénme yě kàn bú jiàn, zhǐyǒu shuā shàng diǎnjiǔ, zì cái huì xiǎn chūlai.
She remembered an old method her teacher had described: words written in rice water become invisible when they dry, and only appear when brushed with iodine.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
师傅 shīfu
repairman, master Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
古老 gǔlǎo
ancient Dictionary
方法 fāngfǎ
method Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
米汤 mǐtāng
rice water Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
字 zì
character, word Dictionary
干 gān
dry Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
以后 yǐhòu
after, later Dictionary
什么 shénme
what Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
见 jiàn
to see, to meet Dictionary
只有 zhǐyǒu
only (只有……才……) Dictionary
刷 shuā
to brush Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
碘酒 diǎnjiǔ
iodine
字 zì
character, word Dictionary
才 cái
only then Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
显 xiǎn
to show, to appear Dictionary
出来 chūlai
to come out Dictionary
，。
tā xiǎoxīn de qǔlái yì diǎn xīshì de diǎnjiǔ, yòng zuì xì de máobǐ zài yè jiǎo qīngqīng shuā le yíxià.
She carefully fetched a little diluted iodine and brushed it lightly on a corner of the page with her finest brush.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
小心 xiǎoxīn
carefully Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
取来 qǔlái
to fetch
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
点 diǎn
o'clock Dictionary
稀释 xīshì
diluted Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
碘酒 diǎnjiǔ
iodine
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
细 xì
fine Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
毛笔 máobǐ
writing brush Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
页 yè
page Dictionary
角 jiǎo
horn Dictionary
轻轻 qīngqīng
gently Dictionary
刷 shuā
to brush Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一下 yíxià
a moment, a bit Dictionary
——，“”。
dàn lánsè de zìjì mànmàn fúxiàn le chūlai—— shì yí liè liè rénmíng, měi gè míngzi hòumiàn dōu xiě zhe“ mǐ yì dǒu”.
Pale blue writing slowly surfaced: columns of names, each followed by "one dou of rice".
Words in this sentence
淡 dàn
pale Dictionary
蓝色 lánsè
blue Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
字迹 zìjì
handwriting Dictionary
慢慢 mànmàn
slowly Dictionary
浮现 fúxiàn
to surface Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
出来 chūlai
to come out Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
列 liè
column Dictionary
列 liè
column Dictionary
人名 rénmíng
names Dictionary
每 měi
every, each Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
后面 hòumiàn
behind Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
米 mǐ
rice Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
斗 dǒu
dou (a measure of grain) Dictionary
，：“，，，。，。”
míngzi de zuìhòu, yǒu yì háng xiǎozì:“ huāngnián, guānfǔ jìnzhǐ sī fàng liángshi, rán rénmìng guān tiān, bù gǎn jiàn sǐ bú jiù. jì cǐ, wù ràng zǐsūn wàng.”
After the names came a line in small script: "Famine year. The authorities forbid private grain relief, yet human life is at stake; I dare not stand by and let people die. I record this so my descendants will not forget."
Words in this sentence
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
最后 zuìhòu
in the end, finally Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
行 háng
line of work Dictionary
小字 xiǎozì
small script
荒年 huāngnián
famine year Dictionary
官府 guānfǔ
the authorities Dictionary
禁止 jìnzhǐ
to forbid Dictionary
私 sī
private(ly) Dictionary
放 fàng
to put Dictionary
粮食 liángshi
grain Dictionary
然 rán
however (literary) Dictionary
人命关天 rénmìng guān tiān
a human life is at stake Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
敢 gǎn
to dare Dictionary
见死不救 jiàn sǐ bú jiù
to watch people die without helping
记 jì
to remember Dictionary
此 cǐ
this Dictionary
勿 wù
do not (literary) Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
子孙 zǐsūn
descendants Dictionary
忘 wàng
to forget Dictionary
，：“，，。”
lǎo tàitai kàn zhe nà yìbǎi duō gè míngzi, shǒu wēiwēi fādǒu:“ yuánlái jiāli shuō de mìmì, bú shì jīnzi, shì zhège.”
The old lady looked at the hundred-odd names, her hands trembling slightly: "So the family secret wasn't gold. It was this."
Words in this sentence
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
太太 tàitai
Mrs Dictionary
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
一百 yìbǎi
one hundred
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
手 shǒu
hand Dictionary
微微 wēiwēi
slightly Dictionary
发抖 fādǒu
to tremble Dictionary
原来 yuánlái
so it turns out Dictionary
家里 jiāli
at home, the family Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
秘密 mìmì
secret Dictionary
不是 bú shì
is not (不是……就是……: either … or …) Dictionary
金子 jīnzi
gold Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
这个 zhège
this Dictionary
，，。
jǐ gè yuè hòu, dāngdì de dìfāngzhì bàngōngshì gēnjù zhàngběn shàng de míngzi, zhǎodào le yìxiē rén de hòudài.
A few months later the local chronicles office used the names in the ledger to trace some of those people's descendants.
Words in this sentence
几 jǐ
how many Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
月 yuè
month Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
当地 dāngdì
local Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
地方志 dìfāngzhì
local chronicles
办公室 bàngōngshì
office Dictionary
根据 gēnjù
based on Dictionary
账本 zhàngběn
ledger Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一些 yìxiē
some Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
后代 hòudài
descendants Dictionary
，：“，，。”
yǒu yí hù rénjiā de zúpǔ shàng, jìngrán yě jì zhe yí jù huà:“ Guāngxù mǒu nián dà jī, lài mǐ diàn zhǔrén ànzhōng jiējì, déyǐ huómìng.”
In one family's genealogy there was, astonishingly, this line: "In a year of great famine under Guangxu, we survived thanks to the secret help of the rice-shop owner."
Words in this sentence
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
户 hù
household Dictionary
人家 rénjiā
family Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
族谱 zúpǔ
genealogy Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
竟然 jìngrán
unexpectedly, actually Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
记 jì
to remember Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
句 jù
(measure word for sentences) Dictionary
话 huà
words, what is said Dictionary
光绪 Guāngxù
Guangxu (a Qing reign) Dictionary
某 mǒu
a certain Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
大饥 dà jī
great famine
赖 lài
thanks to Dictionary
米 mǐ
rice Dictionary
店 diàn
shop Dictionary
主人 zhǔrén
host Dictionary
暗中 ànzhōng
secretly Dictionary
接济 jiējì
to help (with food or money) Dictionary
得以 déyǐ
so as to be able Dictionary
活命 huómìng
to survive Dictionary
，，。
yìbǎi duō nián qián de yì dǒu mǐ, jiù zhèyàng zài liǎng běn jiù shū lǐ, zhǎodào le bǐcǐ.
And so a measure of rice from over a century ago found its counterpart across two old books.
Words in this sentence
一百 yìbǎi
one hundred
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
前 qián
front; before Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
斗 dǒu
dou (a measure of grain) Dictionary
米 mǐ
rice Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
这样 zhèyàng
this way, like this Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
本 běn
(measure word for books) Dictionary
旧 jiù
old (not new) Dictionary
书 shū
book Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
彼此 bǐcǐ
each other Dictionary

Grammar focus

格外 "especially, unusually"
不得不 "have no choice but to"

Vocabulary

修复xiūfùrestoration Dictionary
秘密mìmìsecret Dictionary
稀释xīshìdiluted Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

如果你家有一件老东西，你希望它讲出什么故事？

Rúguǒ nǐ jiā yǒu yí jiàn lǎo dōngxi, nǐ xīwàng tā jiǎng chū shénme gùshi?

If your family owned an old object, what story would you want it to tell?

Tips

又为什么…… adds a second question.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我家有一块旧手表，是爷爷年轻时用第一个月工资买的。我希望知道，那个月他是怎么过的，又为什么一定要买这块表。

Wǒ jiā yǒu yí kuài jiù shǒubiǎo, shì yéye niánqīng shí yòng dì-yī gè yuè gōngzī mǎi de. Wǒ xīwàng zhīdao, nà gè yuè tā shì zěnme guò de, yòu wèishénme yídìng yào mǎi zhè kuài biǎo.

My family has an old watch that Grandpa bought with his first month's pay. I'd like to know how he got through that month, and why he was so set on buying that watch.

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