Name: 猫城记
Author: 老舍

🔊 学者们的争论还没有结束,外面又来了几个猫人,说是皇帝有旨,要召见我和小蝎。这突如其来的消息让学者们暂时停止了争吵,都好奇地看着我们。

🔊

争论 zhēng lùn

v./n. To debate; to argue; a dispute or controversy.➕

🔊

皇帝 huáng dì

n. Emperor; the supreme ruler of an empire in Chinese history.➕

🔊

旨 zhǐ

n. Decree; order (usually from an emperor or superior). A formal command.➕

🔊

召见 zhào jiàn

v. To summon for an interview; to call in (someone, especially by a superior).➕

🔊

突如其来 tū rú qí lái

idiom. To come all of a sudden; to arise abruptly; to be completely unexpected.➕

🔊

停止 tíng zhǐ

v. To stop; to cease; to halt.➕

🔊

争吵 zhēng chǎo

v./n. To quarrel; to wrangle; a noisy argument or fight.➕

🔊

暂 zàn

adv. Temporarily; for the time being; for a short time.➕

🔊 小蝎冷笑了一声,对我说:‘你看,皇帝终于想起我们了。不过,这未必是好事。’

Young Scorpion sneered and said to me, 'Look, the emperor has finally remembered us. But this may not be a good thing.'

🔊

冷笑 lěng xiào

v./n. To sneer; to laugh scornfully; a cold, contemptuous laugh.➕

🔊

未必 wèi bì

adv. May not; not necessarily; not sure.➕

🔊

终 zhōng

adv. Finally; in the end; eventually.➕

🔊 我问他为什么,他摇摇头,没有回答。我们跟着来使离开了学者的集会处,前往皇宫。

I asked him why. He shook his head without answering. We followed the messenger out of the gathering place of the savants and headed towards the imperial palace.

🔊

摇 yáo

v. To shake; to wave; to rock.➕

🔊

前往 qián wǎng

v. To go to; to proceed to; to head for (more formal than '去').➕

🔊 皇宫比我想象的还要破败,墙上爬满了藤蔓,守卫的兵士们懒散地站着,有的甚至在打瞌睡。皇帝坐在一个高高的椅子上,下面铺着些破旧的毯子,他的脸很瘦,眼睛深陷,但目光却异常锐利。

The imperial palace was even more dilapidated than I had imagined. Vines crawled over the walls, and the guard soldiers stood lazily, some even dozing off. The emperor sat on a high chair, with some worn-out rugs spread below. His face was thin, his eyes sunken, but his gaze was unusually sharp.

🔊

破败 pò bài

adj. Dilapidated; ruined; in a state of decay and decline.➕

🔊

藤蔓 téng màn

n. Vine; creeper; a climbing or trailing plant stem.➕

🔊

懒散 lǎn sǎn

adj. Lazy; indolent; sluggish; lacking energy or discipline.➕

🔊

打瞌睡 dǎ kē shuì

v. To doze off; to nod off; to take a nap (especially unintentionally).➕

🔊

深陷 shēn xiàn

v. To sink deep; to be deeply sunken (often used for eyes).➕

🔊

异常 yì cháng

adv./adj. Exceptionally; unusually; abnormal.➕

🔊

锐利 ruì lì

adj. Sharp; keen; piercing (can describe blades, eyes, or insight).➕

🔊 皇帝看了看我,用猫语问小蝎:‘这就是那个从地球来的人？’

The emperor looked at me and asked Young Scorpion in the feline language, 'Is this the person from Earth?'

🔊

皇 huáng

n. imperial; emperor; often used as a prefix or in compounds related to royalty➕

🔊

帝 dì

n. emperor; supreme ruler, often used in historical or formal contexts➕

🔊

蝎 xiē

n. scorpion; a venomous arachnid, often used in compounds or literary contexts➕

🔊

地球 dì qiú

n. Earth; the planet on which humans live, often used in scientific or everyday contexts➕

🔊 小蝎点头称是。皇帝又问:‘他有什么本事？’

Young Scorpion nodded in affirmation. The emperor asked again, 'What abilities does he have?'

🔊

称是 chēng shì

v. To say yes; to express agreement; to confirm (formal/literary).➕

🔊

本事 běn shi

n. Ability; skill; capability (often referring to practical skills).➕

🔊 小蝎说:‘他懂得许多我们不懂的东西,但可惜,他救不了猫国。’

Young Scorpion said, 'He knows many things that we do not understand. But unfortunately, he cannot save the Cat Kingdom.'

🔊

可惜 kě xī

adj./adv. It's a pity; unfortunately; regrettable.➕

🔊 皇帝沉默了许久,然后说:‘我知道猫国要亡了,但在我死之前,我想听听外国人的意见。你说,我们该怎么办？’

The emperor remained silent for a long time, then said, 'I know the Cat Kingdom is doomed. But before I die, I want to hear the opinions of foreigners. Tell me, what should we do?'

🔊

沉默 chén mò

v./n./adj. To be silent; silence; silent.➕

🔊

许久 xǔ jiǔ

n. For a long time; for ages.➕

🔊

亡 wáng

v. To perish; to die; to be destroyed (used for countries, often formal/literary).➕

🔊 我一时不知如何回答。看着这个衰败的国家和这位无奈的皇帝,我心里充满了悲哀。最后,我说:‘陛下,或许可以从教育开始,让孩子们真正学习知识,而不是只为了毕业。’

I was at a loss for words for a moment. Looking at this declining nation and this helpless emperor, my heart was filled with sorrow. Finally, I said, 'Your Majesty, perhaps we can start with education, letting the children truly learn knowledge, not just for graduation.'

🔊

衰败 shuāi bài

adj./v. Declining; decaying; in a state of decline and failure.➕

🔊

无奈 wú nài

adj. Helpless; having no choice; feeling resigned.➕

🔊

悲哀 bēi āi

adj./n. Sorrowful; grieved; sadness; grief.➕

🔊

陛下 bì xià

n. Your Majesty; His/Her Majesty (direct address to an emperor or monarch).➕

🔊

教育 jiào yù

n./v. Education; to educate.➕

🔊

毕业 bì yè

v. To graduate; to finish school.➕

🔊 皇帝苦笑了一下:‘教育？我们的学校早就成了笑话。算了,你们回去吧。’

The emperor smiled bitterly. 'Education? Our schools have long become a joke. Forget it, you may go back.'

🔊

苦笑 kǔ xiào

v./n. To give a wry smile; a bitter smile.➕

🔊

笑话 xiào hua

n. Joke; laughingstock; something ridiculous.➕

🔊 我们退出皇宫,小蝎说:‘你看到了,连皇帝都绝望了,猫国没救了。’

As we left the imperial palace, Young Scorpion said, 'You see, even the emperor is desperate. The Cat Kingdom is beyond saving.'

🔊

退出 tuì chū

v. To withdraw; to quit; to exit.➕

🔊

绝望 jué wàng

adj./n. Hopeless; desperate; despair.➕

🔊

没救 méi jiù

adj. Beyond help; hopeless; incurable (colloquial).➕

🔊 我没有说话,但心中更加沉重。

I did not speak, but my heart grew heavier.

🔊

沉重 chén zhòng

adj. Heavy; weighty; (figuratively) serious, grave (of mood).➕

第二十一章 (Chapter 21)

🔒 使用该功能需要授权码