The Green Light · 綠光 · The Great Gatsby · Traditional Mandarin · HSK 3

療養院的外面下著大雪。尼克坐在自己的房間裡。這裡沒有人說話，非常安靜。尼克現在覺得非常難過。雖然他很難過，但是他想寫字。他要用打字機寫一個故事。這是關於蓋茨比的故事。蓋茨比是他最看重的人。

尼克想起去年夏天的事。那時他去東蛋找表妹黛西。表妹黛西和丈夫湯姆住在那裡。湯姆是一個很高大的人。他覺得自己比別人重要。尼克走進他們的大房間。他發現黛西一點也不快樂。吃晚飯的時候，電話響了。這是一個女人打來的電話。大家都知道湯姆有別的女人。湯姆對別的女人比對黛西好。他完全不關心表妹黛西。雖然他們有錢，但是不快樂。尼克看見表妹覺得很難過。他覺得這對夫妻很奇怪。

到了晚上，尼克回到西蛋。他的旁邊住著有錢的鄰居。這個鄰居名叫蓋茨比。外面沒有聲音，非常安靜。尼克看見蓋茨比站在外面。這個晚上其實有一點冷。蓋茨比正在看海的對面。這是一件很奇怪的事情。蓋茨比一個人站在那裡。他正在把手伸向海的對面。他把手伸得非常直。他的兩隻手一直發抖。海的對面只有一道綠光。那道綠光非常小。

語法 · Grammar

Conjunctions 'Although... but...'

雖然 + [Clause 1], 但是 + [Clause 2]

This structure connects two contrasting statements. Unlike in English, where you typically only use 'although' or 'but' in a single sentence, Chinese frequently pairs them together.

雖然他很難過，但是他想寫字。Although he is sad, he wants to write.

雖然他們有錢，但是不快樂。Although they have money, they are not happy.

Comparisons with 比

A + 比 + B + Adjective

The preposition 比 is used to compare two things, showing that A exhibits more of a certain trait than B.

他覺得自己比別人重要。He feels that he is more important than others.

湯姆對別的女人比對黛西好。Tom treats other women better than he treats Daisy.

練習二 · Matching

Match each word to its English meaning.

1.療養院

2.看重

3.發現

4.發抖

5.對面

a.opposite side

b.to tremble

c.sanatorium

d.to discover

e.to value

1-c · 2-e · 3-d · 4-b · 5-a

譯文 · Translation

It was snowing heavily outside the sanatorium. Nick was sitting in his room. No one was talking here; it was very quiet. Nick was feeling very sad right now. Although he was sad, he wanted to write. He wanted to write a story using a typewriter. This was a story about Gatsby. Gatsby was the person he valued most.

Nick thought of the events of last summer. At that time, he went to East Egg to look for his cousin Daisy. His cousin Daisy and her husband Tom lived there. Tom was a very tall and big man. He felt that he was more important than others. Nick walked into their large room. He discovered that Daisy was not happy at all. While they were eating dinner, the phone rang. It was a call from a woman. Everyone knew that Tom had another woman. Tom treated the other woman better than he treated Daisy. He did not care about his cousin Daisy at all. Although they had money, they were not happy. Nick felt very sad seeing his cousin. He felt that this couple was very strange.

When night came, Nick returned to West Egg. A wealthy neighbor lived next to him. This neighbor's name was Gatsby. There was no sound outside; it was very quiet. Nick saw Gatsby standing outside. This night was actually a little cold. Gatsby was looking across the sea. This was a very strange thing. Gatsby was standing there alone. He was reaching his hand toward the opposite side of the sea. He stretched his arm out very straight. His two hands kept trembling. There was only a single green light across the sea. That green light was very small.