Groups - 第一回: Chunk 34
士隐听了,大叫:"妙哉!吾每谓兄必非久居人下者, 今所吟之句,飞腾之兆已见,不日可接履于云霓之上矣.可贺,可贺!"乃亲斟一斗为贺.雨村因干过,叹道:"非晚生酒后狂言,若论时尚之学,晚生也或可去充数沽名 ,只是目今行囊路费一概无措,神京路远,非赖卖字撰文即能到者."士隐不待说完,便道:"兄何不早言.愚每有此心,但每遇兄时,兄并未谈及,愚故未敢唐突.今既及此,愚虽不才, `义利'二字却还识得.且喜明岁正当大比,兄宜作速入都,春闱一战,方不负兄之所学也.其盘费余事,弟自代为处置,亦不枉兄之谬识矣!"当下即命小童进去,速封五十两白银,并两套冬衣.又云:"十九日乃黄道之期,兄可即买舟西上,待雄飞高举 , 明冬再晤,岂非大快之事耶!"雨村收了银衣,不过略谢一语,并不介意,仍是吃酒谈笑.那天已交了三更,二人方散.
Shi Yin having heard this, shouted: Wonderful! I often say that my brother certainly cannot for long live in a lowly position, now because of these words [you] recite, soaring portents are already visible, within the next few days [you] may indeed receive honour above the clouds. Congratulations, Congratulations! Then himself poured a cup as a reward. Yu Cun after finishing [his cup], sighed saying: I am not raving after drinking wine, it seems that the "Analects" are the fashionable subject of study, I perhaps should also go to make up the numbers and achieve recognition, only seeing that now [I am] totally unable to arrange luggage and traveling expenses, the road to Shen Jing is long, and I cannot rely upon writing letters and documents to accomplish this.
Shi Yin did not wait for him to finish speaking, then said: Brother, why did you not speak of this earlier. I have often had this intention, but every time we meet, you do not speak up, and I did not dare to be rude. Now since [we have] arrived at this, although I am not talented, I however know the two characters, 'Justice and Profit'. Besides, happily next year is just the time of the main competition, my brother should go quickly to the capital, to compete in the annual examinations, then all your knowledge will not fail you. [I will] check my financial situation, and myself handle this matter, and again our absurd friendship will indeed not be in vain.
Immediately, [Shi Yin] ordered a young servant to go and pack 50 pieces of silver, along with two sets of winter clothes. Again saying: The 19th is the period of the ecliptic, then my brother can hire a boat to go west, [you] are about to become mighty and fly to a high [position], next winter we will meet again, how can that not be a hugely gratifying matter! Yu Cun received the silver and clothes, but only spoke a brief thanks, not at all taking offence, and continued eating, drinking, talking and laughing. This night was already past the third watch, when the two men separated.
Breakdown:
士隐听了,大叫:"妙哉!吾每谓兄必非久居人下者, 今所吟之句,飞腾之兆已见,不日可接履于云霓之上矣. ->
Shi Yin having heard this, shouted: (妙哉) Wonderful! (吾每谓) I often say that (兄必非久居人下者) my brother certainly cannot for long live in a lowly position, (今所吟之句) now because of these words [you] recite, (飞腾之兆已见) soaring portents are already visible, (不日) within the next few days [you] may (矣) indeed (接履) receive honour (于云霓之上) above the clouds.
可贺,可贺!"乃亲斟一斗为贺. ->
(可贺,可贺) Congratulations, Congratulations! (乃亲) Then himself (斟一斗为贺) poured a cup as a reward.
雨村因干过,叹道:"非晚生酒后狂言,若论时尚之学,晚生也或可去充数沽名 ,只是目今行囊路费一概无措,神京路远,非赖卖字撰文即能到者." ->
Yu Cun after finishing [his cup], sighed saying: (晚生) I am not (酒后狂言) raving after drinking wine, (若) it seems that the (论) "Analects" are the (时尚) fashionable subject (之学) of study, I (也或可去) perhaps can also go to (充数) make up the numbers and (沽名) achieve recognition, (只是) only (目今) seeing now [I am] (一概无措) totally unable to arrange (行囊路费) luggage and traveling expenses, the (神京路远) road to Shen Jing is long, and I (非赖) cannot rely upon (卖字撰文) writing letters and documents (即能到者) to accomplish this.
(论: the Analects of Confucius, mandatory study for imperial officials at the time?)
士隐不待说完,便道:"兄何不早言.愚每有此心,但每遇兄时,兄并未谈及,愚故未敢唐突. ->
Shi Yin did (不待说完) not wait for him to finish speaking, then said: Brother, (何不早言) why did you not speak of this earlier. (愚每有此心) I have often had this intention, (但每遇兄时) but every time we meet, you (并未谈及) do not speak up, and (愚故未敢唐突) I did not dare to be rude.
今既及此,愚虽不才, `义利'二字却还识得.且喜明岁正当大比,兄宜作速入都,春闱一战,方不负兄之所学也. ->
(今既及此) Now since [we have] arrived at this, (愚虽不才) although I am not talented, I (却还识得) however know the two characters, (义利) 'Justice and Profit'. (且) Besides, (喜明岁) happily next year is (正当大比) just the time of the main competition, my brother (宜作速入都) should go quickly to the capital, to (春闱一战) compete in the annual examinations, (方) then (兄之所学) all your knowledge will (不负) not fail you.
(春闱一战: literally, to battle in the imperial examination hall?; 方不负兄之所学: all your learning will not be for nothing?; 义利: righteousness?)
其盘费余事,弟自代为处置,亦不枉兄之谬识矣!" ->
[I will] (盘费余事) check my financial situation, and (弟自代为处置) I myself handle this matter, and again our (谬识) absurd friendship will indeed (不枉) not be in vain.
(盘费余事: examine the matter of surplus funds?; 不枉兄之谬识: it will not be in vain that you mistakenly know me?)
当下即命小童进去,速封五十两白银,并两套冬衣. ->
(当下) Immediately, [Shi Yin] (命) ordered a (小童进去) young servant to go and (速封五十两白银) quickly pack 50 pieces of silver, (并两套冬衣) along with two sets of winter clothes.
又云:"十九日乃黄道之期,兄可即买舟西上,待雄飞高举, 明冬再晤,岂非大快之事耶
!" ->
Again saying: The (十九日乃黄道之期) 19th is the period of the ecliptic, my brother can then (买舟西上) hire a boat to go west, [you] (待雄飞高举) are about to become mighty and fly to a high [position], (明冬再晤) next winter we will meet again, (岂非大快之事) how can that not be a hugely gratifying matter!
雨村收了银衣,不过略谢一语,并不介意,仍是吃酒谈笑. ->
Yu Cun received the silver and clothes, (不过略谢一语) but only spoke a brief thanks, (并不介意) not at all taking offence, and (仍是吃酒谈笑) continued eating, drinking, talking and laughing.
那天已交了三更,二人方散. ->
This night was (已交了三更) already past the third watch, (二人方散) when the two men separated.
(已交了三更: nights were divided into 2 hour periods, 5 更 per night.)
Tags: 红楼梦,
Posted by derek September 10, 2008 in the Group 红楼梦 .
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Hi derek,
You can learn not only classical Chinese but also Chinese culture and tradition by reading 红楼梦!
可(can)接(= 目接，看见)履(walk)于(at)云霓(cloud and rainbow)之上(above)
若(if)论(discuss)时尚之学(modern and fashionable subjects)
神京(= 首都)路远 The capital city is distant.
非 赖卖字撰文即能到 者 It’s impossible that 赖卖字撰文即能到.
义利 Justice and profit. It seems to be one of important topics in Confuciaism. I prefer 利 to 义！
正当大比, 春闱一战 ：科举 competition was usually held in spring, once every three years.
方不负(辜负 = waste)兄之所学(what you learned)也
亦不枉(waste, mishandle)兄之谬识 (= 承蒙赏识, receiving appreciation)
I think that 谬识 is a modest expression. It implies “I’m happy to know that you appreciate me, but its’ your misunderstanding (谬). I’m not so good.”
十九日乃黄道之期
I also don’t know the exact meaning of this phrase.Maybe it’s a kind of superstition based on the ecliptic cycle.
仍是吃(= 喝)酒谈笑 There is the word “吃茶店” (a coffee house) in Japanese.
那天已交了三更 For the record, 三更半夜 (= midnight).
I think that 士隐 is older than 雨村, but interestingly, 士隐 addresses 雨村 as “兄” and call himself “弟”, which was a respectful way to address your male friends in those days. In this paragraph, I saw a lot of words that are often used in classical Chinese, such as 吾, 亦, 者, 岂, 矣, 乃, 晤, 耶.
Hi Changye,
Yes, lots of great cultural insights in this part, I was very interested in the way the two men speak to each other, their politeness is quite amusing.
It took me a long time to understand exactly what 雨村 wanted to do, but eventually realised that 论 - 大比 - 闱 meant he wanted to attend the imperial examinations, but I mistakenly thought they were annual examinations. For those who are interested, their is a wikipedia page here with more info on the imperial examination system:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_examinations
I also think this 黄道之期 is related to some type of superstition, it is mentioned again in the next paragraph, but I cannot find any useful information about it.
Hi derek,
Good or bad, 科举 is a very "Chinese" system. It was a relatively fair way to screen applicants for elite bureaucrats, but the national exam system consequently led to the notorious rote learning that is still prevailing in China.
P/S. It seems that chunk 39 or 40 will be the last one for chapter 1, 第一回. 辛苦你了！
Hi Changye,
The 科举 is a very interesting system, I am going to request an advanced lesson on the subject.
he he, I have already read to the end of the chapter and divided into chunks, last one is chunk 40. I wanted to finish the first chapter within the next couple of weeks, but unfortunately I have to go on another business trip soon. Having a fulltime job is so tedious!
I'm sure that henning feels relieved to hear that you're going on another biz trip, hehe!
Hi guys,
I would also support the request for a show on 科举. As far as I know there are also some expressions related to that.
I hope I will be able to catch up during derek's next trip...
;)
Hi henning,
I also support derek's suggestion. There must be a lot of hilarious episodes about 科举. I've seen some scenes of 科举 examination in Chinese period dramas before. They were just like "not know whether to laugh or cry" situations!
I hear that applicants had to bring in their own blanket, food, water, and sometimes a pot and a charcoal brazier for cooking into their booths, because examinees were stuck into their booths for a few days in a row.
Of course, proctors throughly examined those personal belongings and got an incentive when they found "cheat sheets (or, cheat undershirts!)" in them. If it were not for an incentive, supervisers have definitely received bribery!
Eventually I reached chunk 34. I will put up another chunk this week - but considering my talent only a really small one. Distinguished masters, please forgive the shortcomings of this unworthy disciple.
我很高兴你终于赶上来了。
不过用不着那么着急，反正有的是时间。我们慢慢来吧！