The Urn | wèng | 瓮
很多年以前，有一个很穷的读书人，家产只有一个瓮。因为什么都没有了，所有，他每天晚上都守着瓮睡觉。有一天晚上，他想:「如果能得到富贵，我要买很多的田产，盖华丽的住宅，还要买很多仆人和歌女。然后，再备好高大的马车，马车上有大而华丽的车蓬，凡是想得到的，需要的，全部齐备了。」他反覆的想着想着，不知不觉高兴得跳了起来，一个不小心，就把唯一的瓮踢破了。
Many years ago, there was a poor, educated man who only owned a single urn. Since he possessed nothing else, he kept watch over his urn every night while sleeping. He thought: "If I get rich, I will purchase lots of land, build a magnificent house, and buy many servants and songstresses. Then I’ll prepare a lofty horse-drawn wagon with a gorgeous cover. Anything I want or need will be readily available." Imagining this over and over again, without realizing he was so happy, he jumped for joy. He made one careless move and smashed his only urn.
Vocabulary:
以前【yǐqián】 before; formerly; previous; ago
很【hěn】 (adverb of degree); quite; very; awfully
穷【qióng】 exhausted; poor
读书人【dúshūrén】 scholar; intellectual
家产【jiāchǎn】 family property
只有【zhǐyǒu】 only
瓮 【wèng】 variant of 甕|瓮[weng4]; earthen jar; urn
因为【yīnwèi】 because; owing to; on account of
什么【shénme】 what?; who?; something; anything
没有【méiyǒu】 haven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be
所有【suǒyǒu】 all; to have; to possess; to own
每天【měitiān】 every day; everyday
晚上【wǎnshang】 evening; night; CL:個|个[ge4]; in the evening
守 【shǒu】 to guard; to defend; to keep watch
睡觉【shuìjiào】 to go to bed; to sleep
有 【yǒu】 to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be
天 【tiān】 day; sky; heaven
如果【rúguǒ】 if; in case; in the event that
得到【dédào】 to get; to obtain; to receive
富贵【fùguì】 riches and honor
买 【mǎi】 to buy; to purchase
田产【tiánchǎn】 estate; lands
盖 【gài】 lid; top; cover; canopy; to cover; to conceal; to build
华丽【huálì】 gorgeous
歌女【gēnǚ】 female singer (archaic)
然后【ránhòu】 after; then (afterwards); after that; afterwards
备 【bèi】 to prepare; get ready; to provide or equip
高大【gāodà】 tall; lofty
马车【mǎchē】 cart; chariot; carriage; buggy
凡是【fánshì】 each and every; every; all; any
得到【dédào】 to get; to obtain; to receive
需要【xūyào】 to need; to want; to demand; to require; requirement; need
全部【quánbù】 whole; entire; complete
齐备【qíbèi】 all ready; available; complete
反覆【fǎnfù】 to turn sth over
不知不觉【bùzhībùjué】 unconsciously; unwittingly
高兴【gāoxìng】 happy; glad; willing (to do sth); in a cheerful mood
跳 【tiào】 to jump; to hop; to skip over; to bounce; to palpitate
起来【qǐlai】 to stand up; to get up; (after a verb) with an upward movement
小心【xiǎoxīn】 to be careful; to take care
唯一【wéiyī】 only; sole
踢 【tī】 to kick; to play (e.g. soccer)
破 【pò】 broken; damaged; worn out; to break
智慧寓言, written and illustrated by 謝武彰 and 洪義男. Translation by Scott Oman.
