Friday, March 25, 2011

Notes from China: Chapter 14: 借尸还魂: Borrow a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul

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14

 

 

 

 

Fourteenth Stratagem


借尸还魂

(jiè shī huán hún)


Borrow a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul


Revive an old institution, technology or method that has been discarded or forgotten. Revive a relic from the past by giving it a new purpose.


The Empress Lü Zhi (241-180 B.C.) of Han adopted a series of eight boys (and possibly had their mothers killed) as her own in order that at least one might 'succeed' her dead husband thereby keeping her in power [18], [22].


Borrow a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul is associated with the fourth hexagram, Water under the Mountain, symbolizing stillness above and danger beneath. The spring coming forth from the mountain is like youth finding its way, not knowing where to go. The water must keep moving to find a suitable path, gaining experience by filling the hollow spaces [1], [28].

 

 

VOCAB LIST 14:


against: /违反: duì/wéifǎn

business: 生意: shēngyì

to care: 在乎: zàihū

to borrow: : jiè

to cause: 导致: dǎozhì

to grow: : zhǎng

to grow (people): 成长: chéngzhǎng

to grow (plants): /生长: zhòng/shēngzhǎng 

idea: 想法: xiǎngfǎ

corpse: 尸体: shītǐ

rule: 规则: guīzé

list: 清单: qīngdān

to return(e.g. to a previous state): : huán

reason: 原因: yuányīn

science: 科学: kēxué

surprise/surprised: 惊喜: jīngxǐ

ghost: 鬼魂: guǐhún

myself: 我自己: wǒ zìjǐ

yourself: 你自己 nǐ zìjǐ

lake: : hú

river: : hé

sky: 天空: tiānkōng

soul: /灵魂: hún/línghún

to smell: : wén

to count: : shǔ

to stop: 停止: tíngzhǐ

story: 故事: gùshì

<measure word for river/lake>: : tiáo

to take a bath/shower: 洗澡: xǐzǎo

field (e.g. on a farm): : tián

(medical) doctor: 医生: yīshēng

tobacco leaf: 烟叶: yānyè

expert: /专家/高手: jiā/zhuānjiā/gāoshǒu


 

New Characters:

  

 

 

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Sample Sentences 14:



1) 他是新来的,他不想违反这里的规则。

Trans.: He’s new, he doesn’t want to break the rules here.


2) 你的小孩长得很快。

Trans.: Your kid grows so fast.


3) 在这里,卖酒是违法的。


4) Q: 你可以把这本书借给我吗?


    A: 可以。明天还给我。


5) 他在树下看到了小狗的尸体。


6) 我爷爷的田里种着烟叶。


7) 关于做生意,很多科学家有很好的想法。


8) 我想开始自己的生意。


9) 长江是中国最长的河。


10) 这里的湖水和天空一样,蓝蓝的。


11) 你为什么还没有洗澡?


12) 你这么做的原因是什么?


13) 这些菜闻起来很香。


14) 你觉得有灵魂或者鬼魂吗?


15) 这个我自己可以修理。


16) 爸妈老了以后,我们自己照顾他们。


17) 我想给她一个大惊喜。


18) 医生告诉我,我必须停止喝酒,停止抽烟。


19) 我很喜欢读小故事。


20) 清单上的东西你数过了吗?


21) 喝了太多咖啡导致她睡不着。



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