Ashes and Fireworks · 灰谷和火 · The Great Gatsby · Traditional Mandarin · HSK 1

湯姆和尼克坐火車。火車去一個地方。這個地方很黑。這個地方是灰谷。

喬治在灰谷。喬治是莫朵的先生。莫朵不喜歡她的先生。喬治不知道湯姆和莫朵。

湯姆和莫朵去一個地方。尼克也去。他們喝東西。莫朵說話。莫朵說一個名字。湯姆很不高興。湯姆打莫朵。莫朵很怕。

尼克在蓋比的家。蓋比的家有很多人。他們喝東西。他們說話。很多人不知道蓋比是誰。有人說他做錯事。有人說他不是好人。

晚上，天上有很多黃色的火。一個先生看尼克。這個先生笑。他說：「我是蓋比。」尼克知道這個名字。尼克認識蓋比。

語法 · Grammar

Linking Adjectives with 很

Noun / Pronoun + 很 + Adjective

In Chinese, you usually don't use 'is' (是) to link a noun to an adjective. Instead, you use 很 (very). Even though it means 'very', in simple sentences it acts mostly as a linking word and is often not strongly translated as 'very' in English.

這個地方很黑。This place is very dark.

湯姆很不高興。Tom is very unhappy.

Knowing: 知道 vs 認識

Chinese has two common verbs for 'to know'. 知道 is used for knowing facts, information, or being aware of something (like a name). 認識 is used for knowing or recognizing a person.

尼克知道這個名字。Nick knows this name (fact).

尼克認識蓋比。Nick knows Gatsby (person).

練習二 · Matching

Match each Chinese word to its English meaning.

1.火車

2.名字

3.黃色

4.高興

5.說話

a.yellow

b.to speak

c.name

d.train

e.happy

1-d · 2-c · 3-a · 4-e · 5-b

譯文 · Translation

Tom and Nick take a train. The train goes to a place. This place is very dark. This place is the Valley of Ashes.

George is in the Valley of Ashes. George is Myrtle's husband. Myrtle does not like her husband. George does not know about Tom and Myrtle.

Tom and Myrtle go to a place. Nick also goes. They have something to drink. Myrtle speaks. Myrtle says a name. Tom is very unhappy. Tom hits Myrtle. Myrtle is very afraid.

Nick is at Gatsby's house. Gatsby's house has many people. They have something to drink. They talk. Many people do not know who Gatsby is. Someone says he does bad things. Someone says he is not a good person.

At night, there is a lot of yellow fire in the sky. A gentleman looks at Nick. This gentleman smiles. He says, "I am Gatsby." Nick knows this name. Nick knows Gatsby.