Appraising Jade | píng yù | 评玉
有两个人一起评论一块玉。一个说:「这是难得一见的美玉。」另一个却说:「这并不是什么宝贵的玉。」两个人争了很久，分不清谁的看法才对。后来，两个人都说:「你只要从我的观点来看这块玉，那么，玉的好坏就立刻能分清楚了。」玉的形状和品质是一定的，却产生了相反的看法。这并不是他们故意这样做，而是看玉的角度和观点不同所造成的呀！
There were two men appraising a piece of jade. One man said: "This beautiful jade is the rare kind you only see once." The other said: "This jade actually isn't precious at all." The two men debated for a long time, unable to determine who was right. Then, both men said: "If you just look at the jade from my point of view, you'll quickly understand its value." The shape and quality of the jade was certain, yet it produced contrasting opinions. And this was not something done purposefully, it was all brought about as a result of looking at jade from various angles and perspectives!
从前【cóngqián】 before; formerly; in the past.
有 【yǒu】 have; there is; exist.
两 【liǎng】 two; both; either; a few; some.
个人【gèrén】 individual (person); I.
一起【yīqǐ】 in the same place; together; in company; <dialect> altogether; in all.
评论【pínglùn】 comment on; discuss; comment; commentary; review.
一块【yīkuài】 piece.
玉 【yù】 jade; <formal> (of a person, esp. a woman) pure.
说 【shuō】 speak; talk; say; explain; theory; teachings; doctrine; scold.
这 【zhèi】 this.
难得【nándé】 hard to come by; rare.
见 【xiàn】 appear; become visible.
美 【měi】 beautiful; pretty; very satisfactory; good.
另 【lìng】 other; another; separate.
并不【bìngbù】 not at all; emphatically not.
什么【shénme】 what.
宝贵【bǎoguì】 valuable; precious; value; treasure; set store by.
争 【zhēng】 contend; vie; strive; argue; dispute; <dialect> short of; wanting.
很 【hěn】 <adv.> very; quite; awfully.
久 【jiǔ】 for a long time; long; of a specified duration.
分 【fēn】 divide; separate; part; distribute; distinguish; differentiate.
不 【bù】 no; not.
清 【qīng】 clearly; unmixed; clear; distinct; clarified.
形状【xíngzhuàng】 form; appearance; shape.
品质【pǐnzhì】 character; quality; quality (of commodities, etc.).
一定【yīdìng】 fixed; specified; definite; regular; certainly; certain.
却 【què】but; yet; however; while.
产生【chǎnshēng】 produce; engender; emerge; come into being.
相反【xiāngfǎn】 opposite; contrary.
看法【kànfa】 a way of look at a thing; view.
故意【gùyì】 intentionally; wilfully; deliberately; on purpose.
这样【zhèyàng】 so; such; like this; this way.
做 【zuò】 make; produce; manufacture; cook; prepare; do.
看 【kàn】 see; look at; watch; read; think; consider.
角度【jiǎodù】 <math.> angle; point of view.
观点【guāndiǎn】 point of view; viewpoint; standpoint.
不同【bùtóng】 not alike; different; distinct.
造成【zàochéng】 create; cause; give rise to; bring about.
智慧寓言, written and illustrated by 謝武彰 and 洪義男. Translation by Scott Oman.
