Learn Cantonese from Stories (1): 矮子看戲 A Dwarf Watching A Play
I believe in learning a new language through short but interesting stories, such as the following story - A Dwarf Watching A Play.
It talks about a dwarf squeezing himself into the crowd to see the performance on the square. He claps and laughs along with the crowds without knowing why. Some people used this story to mock those who did not see the truth with their own eyes but foolishly followed what the others do and say.
Feel free to message me Samantha Chan anytime,
regarding this article or simply being curious about Cantonese!
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從前有個小矮人，身高只有一百厘米。
Once upon a time, there was a dwarf, with only 100 cm tall.
從[chung4]前[chin4]有[yau5]個[go3]小[siu2]矮[ai2]人[yan4]，
身[san1]高[gou1]只[ji2]有[yau5]一[yat1]百[baak3]厘[lei4]米[mai5]。
他在街上閒逛，人群中傳來熱鬧聲，他順著聲音找去。
When he was wandering in the street, he followed a lively noise from the crowd.
他[ta1]在[joi6]街[gaai1]上[seung6]閒[haan4]逛[kwaang3]，
人[yan4]群[kwan4]中[jung1]傳[chyun4]來[loi4]熱[yit6]鬧[naau6]聲[seng1]，
他[ta1]順[seun6]著[jeuk3]聲[seng1]音[yam1]找[jaau2]去[heui3]。
他試圖進入人群裡看看，可是他的個子又太矮，跳起來也看不到裡面。
He tried to look inside the crowd, but he is too short that even he jumped, he could not be able to see the performance.
他[ta1]試[si3]圖[tou4]進[jeun3]入[yap6]人[yan4]群[kwan4]裡[leui5]看[hon3]看[hon3]，
可[ho2]是[si6]他[ta1]的[dik1]個[go3]子[ji2]又[yau6]太[taai3]矮[ai2]，
跳[tiu3]起[hei2]來[loi4]也[ya5]看[hon3]不[bat1]到[dou2]裡[leui5]面[min6]。
他看不到，只好向旁邊的人打聽。
As he could not see it, he had to ask around.
他[ta1]看[hon3]不[bat1]到[dou3/dou2]，
只[ji2]好[hou2]向[heung3]旁[pong4]邊[bin1]的[dik1]人[yan4]打[da2]聽[teng1]。
一個人回答他說，「在演戲呢，演戲可真好啊！」
Someone answered him, "It is a play, what an amazing performance!"
一[yat1]個[go3]人[yan4]回[wui4]答[daap3]他[ta1]說[syut3]，
「在[joi6]演[yin2]戲[hei3]呢[ne1]，演[yin2]戲[hei3]可[ho2]真[jan1]好[hou2]啊[a1]！」
他聽說在演戲，高興得跳起來。
He jumped and was so excited when he heard it was a performance on stage.
他[ta1]聽[teng1]說[syut3]在[joi6]演[yin2]戲[hei3]，
高[gou1]興[hing3]得[dak1]跳[tiu3]起[hei2]來[loi4]。
他站在外圍，聽到別人叫好，他也跟著叫好。
He stood outside of the audiences. When he heard others applaud, he followed.
他[ta1]站[jaam6]在[joi6]外[ngoi6]圍[wai4]，
聽[teng1]到[dou2]別[bit6]人[yan4]叫[giu3]好[hou2]，
他[ta1]也[ya5]跟[gan1]著[jeuk3]叫[giu3]好[hou2]。
這時，過路的人問他說：「戲好看嗎？」
At that time, a passerby asked him, "Is the play beautiful?"
這[je5]時[si4]，過[gwo3]路[lou6]的[dik1]人[yan4]問[man6]他[ta1]說[syut3]：
「戲[hei3]好[hou2]看[hon3]嗎[ma3]？」
他說：「別人都說好看，都在喝彩，當然好看啊！」
He said, "Everyone are cheering, for sure it is marvellous!"
他[ta1]說[syut3]：「別[bit6]人[yan4]都[dou1]說[syut3]好[hou2]看[hon3]，
都[dou1]在[joi6]喝[hot3]彩[choi2]，
當[dong1]然[yin4]好[hou2]看[hon3]啊[a1]！」
那個人問，「你親眼看到了嗎？」
That person asked, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"
那[na5]個[go3]人[yan4]問[man6]，
「你[nei5]親[chan1]眼[ngaan5]看[hon3]到[dou3]了[liu5]嗎[ma3]？」
其實，他根本沒有看到裡面的情況，只透過別人評論戲的好壞。
In fact, he didn't see the situation inside, he only commented on the quality of the play through others.
其[kei4]實[sat6]，他[ta1]根[gan1]本[bun2]沒[mut6]有[yau5]看[hon3]到[dou3]
裡[leui5]面[min6]的[dik1]情[ching4]況[fong3]，
只[ji2]透[tau3]過[gwo3]別[bit6]人[yan4]評[ping4]論[leun6]
戲[hei3]的[dik1]好[hou2]壞[waai6]。
March 27, 2020
