下棋
Playing Chess
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A father teaches his son lessons about life through chess.
34 new words
象棋xiàngqíChinese chess
儿子想学象棋，答应每天练一局。
My son wanted to learn Chinese chess and promised to play one game every day.
教练jiàoliàncoach, instructor
他把我当教练，我也认真准备棋盘。
He treated me as his coach, and I prepared the board seriously as well.
答应dāyingto agree, to promise
儿子想学象棋，答应每天练一局。
My son wanted to learn Chinese chess and promised to play one game every day.
损失sǔnshīto lose; loss
几步以后，对方将军，他失去了一枚重要棋子，这次损失不小。
睁zhēngto open (one's eyes)
我睁大眼睛，却没有马上责备。
I opened my eyes wide, but did not blame him immediately.
将军jiāngjūnmilitary general; (in chess) to check
几步以后，对方将军，他失去了一枚重要棋子，这次损失不小。
服气fúqìto be convinced, to be won over
孩子不服气，只认定运气没有帮忙。
运气yùnqiluck, fortune
孩子不服气，只认定运气没有帮忙。
局júgame, set
儿子想学象棋，答应每天练一局。
My son wanted to learn Chinese chess and promised to play one game every day.
发挥fāhuīto bring into play, to give rein to
有一次，他发挥得很好，连赢三局。
Once he performed very well and won three games in a row.
灰心huīxīndiscouraged
他低头观察棋盘，开始灰心。
He lowered his head to observe the board and began to lose heart.
吸取xīqǔto absorb, to draw (a lesson)
我告诉他，失败未必可怕，关键是从中吸取一点经验，把教训记下来。
I told him that failure need not be frightening; the key is to draw some experience from it and remember the lesson.
教训jiàoxùnlesson, moral
我告诉他，失败未必可怕，关键是从中吸取一点经验，把教训记下来。
I told him that failure need not be frightening; the key is to draw some experience from it and remember the lesson.
未必wèibìmay not, not necessarily
我告诉他，失败未必可怕，关键是从中吸取一点经验，把教训记下来。
I told him that failure need not be frightening; the key is to draw some experience from it and remember the lesson.
次要cìyàoless important, secondary
我们重新摆好棋子，分析刚才的主要错误，也看看哪些次要选择让局面变坏。
We set up the pieces again, examined the main mistake, and looked at which secondary choices had worsened the position.
因素yīnsùfactor
我问他：运气是因素之一，可这局的后果真的只在于运气吗？
I asked him whether luck was truly the only factor behind the result.
在于zàiyúto lie in, to consist in
我问他：运气是因素之一，可这局的后果真的只在于运气吗？
I asked him whether luck was truly the only factor behind the result.
心态xīntàimental attitude, psychology
我没有只夸他聪明，而是让他珍惜这份教训，同时保持冷静思考的心态。
I did not praise only his cleverness, but asked him to value this lesson while keeping a calm, thoughtful attitude.
珍惜zhēnxīto cherish, to treasure
我没有只夸他聪明，而是让他珍惜这份教训，同时保持冷静思考的心态。
I did not praise only his cleverness, but asked him to value this lesson while keeping a calm, thoughtful attitude.
否认fǒurènto deny
这回他没有否认问题，也没有把责任推给别人。
This time he did not deny the problem or shift responsibility to anyone else.
观察guāncháto observe
他低头观察棋盘，开始灰心。
He lowered his head to observe the board and began to lose heart.
失去shīqùto lose
几步以后，对方将军，他失去了一枚重要棋子，这次损失不小。
期间qījiāntime, period
在接下来的学习期间，他每次落子前都停一会儿。
During the following period of learning, he paused before every move.
把握bǎwòassurance, certainty; to hold, to grasp
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。
He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions.
不假思索bùjiǎ-sīsuǒwithout thinking, without hesitation
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。
He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions.
犯fànto commit (a mistake)
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。
He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions.
过于guòyútoo, excessively
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。
He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions.
原则yuánzéprinciple
这个原则不只适用于下棋。
The principle applies beyond chess.
责备zébèito blame, to reproach
我睁大眼睛，却没有马上责备。
I opened my eyes wide, but did not blame him immediately.
必然bìráninevitable, certain
他把棋盘收好，说自己终于明白，选择总有代价，逃避不会让错误消失；若不面对，错误必然会在下一盘再出现。
As he put away the board, he said he finally understood that every choice has a cost and that avoidance will not make a mistake disappear; if it is not faced, the error will inevitably return in the next game.
事先shìxiānin advance, beforehand
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。
He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions.
舍不得shěbudeto be unwilling to part with or use
他舍不得放弃进攻的机会，却也学会了保护自己的将。
He hated giving up a chance to attack, but learned to protect his own general as well.
后果hòuguǒconsequence, aftermath
我问他：运气是因素之一，可这局的后果真的只在于运气吗？
I asked him whether luck was truly the only factor behind the result.
屡lǚrepeatedly, time and again
我说，冠军不是唯一目标，能为自己每一局里的决定负责，愿意承担后果，已经是成长；此前他也曾屡次因着急而失误。
Listen to the text
儿子想学象棋，答应每天练一局。他把我当教练，我也认真准备棋盘。
ér zi xiǎng xué xiàngqí， dāying měi tiān liàn yī jú。 tā bǎ wǒ dāng jiàoliàn， wǒ yě rèn zhēn zhǔn bèi qí pán。
My son wanted to learn Chinese chess and promised to play one game every day. He treated me as his coach, and I prepared the board seriously as well.
第一天，他一开始就把车走到危险的位置。我睁大眼睛，却没有马上责备。
dì yī tiān， tā yī kāi shǐ jiù bǎ jū zǒu dào wēi xiǎn de wèi zhì。 wǒ zhēng dà yǎn jīng， què méi yǒu mǎ shàng zébèi。
On the first day, he moved his rook into danger at once. I opened my eyes wide, but did not blame him immediately.
几步以后，对方将军，他失去了一枚重要棋子，这次损失不小。孩子不服气，只认定运气没有帮忙。
jǐ bù yǐ hòu， duì fāng jiāngjūn， tā shīqù le yī méi zhòng yào qí zi， zhè cì sǔnshī bù xiǎo。 hái zi bù fúqì， zhǐ rèn dìng yùnqi méi yǒu bāng máng。
A few moves later, his opponent put him in check. He lost an important piece, and the loss was not small. He refused to accept it and insisted that luck had not helped him.
我问他：运气是因素之一，可这局的后果真的只在于运气吗？他低头观察棋盘，开始灰心。
wǒ wèn tā： yùnqi shì yīnsù zhī yī， kě zhè jú de hòuguǒ zhēn de zhǐ zàiyú yùnqi ma？ tā dī tóu guānchá qí pán， kāi shǐ huīxīn。
I asked him whether luck was truly the only factor behind the result. He lowered his head to observe the board and began to lose heart.
我告诉他，失败未必可怕，关键是从中吸取一点经验，把教训记下来。我们重新摆好棋子，分析刚才的主要错误，也看看哪些次要选择让局面变坏。
wǒ gào sù tā， shī bài wèibì kě pà， guān jiàn shì cóng zhōng xīqǔ yī diǎn jīng yàn， bǎ jiàoxùn jì xià lái。 wǒ men zhòng xīn bǎi hǎo qí zi， fēn xī gāng cái de zhǔ yào cuò wù， yě kàn kàn nǎ xiē cìyào xuǎn zé ràng jú miàn biàn huài。
I told him that failure need not be frightening; the key is to draw some experience from it and remember the lesson. We set up the pieces again, examined the main mistake, and looked at which secondary choices had worsened the position.
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。这个原则不只适用于下棋。
tā fā xiàn zì jǐ bùjiǎ-sīsuǒ dì fàn le guòyú zhe jí de máo bìng， méi yǒu shìxiān mō qīng duì fāng de lù xiàn， gèng tán bù shàng bǎwò duì fāng de yì tú。 zhè gè yuánzé bù zhǐ shì yòng yú xià qí。
He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions. The principle applies beyond chess.
在接下来的学习期间，他每次落子前都停一会儿。他舍不得放弃进攻的机会，却也学会了保护自己的将。
zài jiē xià lái de xué xí qījiān， tā měi cì luò zi qián dōu tíng yī huì ér。 tā shěbude fàng qì jìn gōng de jī huì， què yě xué huì le bǎo hù zì jǐ de jiāng。
During the following period of learning, he paused before every move. He hated giving up a chance to attack, but learned to protect his own general as well.
有一次，他发挥得很好，连赢三局。我没有只夸他聪明，而是让他珍惜这份教训，同时保持冷静思考的心态。
yǒu yī cì， tā fāhuī dé hěn hǎo， lián yíng sān jú。 wǒ méi yǒu zhǐ kuā tā cōng míng， ér shì ràng tā zhēnxī zhè fèn jiàoxùn， tóng shí bǎo chí lěng jìng sī kǎo de xīntài。
Once he performed very well and won three games in a row. I did not praise only his cleverness, but asked him to value this lesson while keeping a calm, thoughtful attitude.
后来他又输了，眼睁睁地望着局面逆转。这回他没有否认问题，也没有把责任推给别人。
hòu lái tā yòu shū le， yǎn zhēng zhēng dì wàng zhe jú miàn nì zhuǎn。 zhè huí tā méi yǒu fǒurèn wèn tí， yě méi yǒu bǎ zé rèn tuī gěi bié rén。
Later he lost again and watched helplessly as the position reversed. This time he did not deny the problem or shift responsibility to anyone else.
他把棋盘收好，说自己终于明白，选择总有代价，逃避不会让错误消失；若不面对，错误必然会在下一盘再出现。听到这句话，我比看到他赢更高兴。
tā bǎ qí pán shōu hǎo， shuō zì jǐ zhōng yú míng bái， xuǎn zé zǒng yǒu dài jià， táo bì bù huì ràng cuò wù xiāo shī； ruò bù miàn duì， cuò wù bìrán huì zài xià yī pán zài chū xiàn。 tīng dào zhè jù huà， wǒ bǐ kàn dào tā yíng gèng gāo xīng。
As he put away the board, he said he finally understood that every choice has a cost and that avoidance will not make a mistake disappear; if it is not faced, the error will inevitably return in the next game. I was happier to hear that than to see him win.
孩子多次问我怎样才能成为冠军。我说，冠军不是唯一目标，能为自己每一局里的决定负责，愿意承担后果，已经是成长；此前他也曾屡次因着急而失误。
hái zi duō cì wèn wǒ zěn yàng cái néng chéng wèi guān jūn。 wǒ shuō， guān jūn bù shì wéi yī mù biāo， néng wèi zì jǐ měi yī jú lǐ de jué dìng fù zé， yuàn yì chéng dān hòuguǒ， yǐ jīng shì chéng zhǎng； cǐ qián tā yě céng lǚ cì yīn zhe jí ér shī wù。
He often asked how he could become a champion. I said a championship is not the only goal; taking responsibility for one's decision in every game, and accepting its consequences, is already growth. Before then he had also repeatedly made mistakes by rushing.
那段学棋的日子结束后，他仍愿意和我复盘。那些安静的晚上让我相信，一盘小小的象棋，也能教人面对生活。
nà duàn xué qí de rì zi jié shù hòu， tā réng yuàn yì hé wǒ fù pán。 nà xiē ān jìng de wǎn shàng ràng wǒ xiāng xìn， yī pán xiǎo xiǎo de xiàngqí， yě néng jiào rén miàn duì shēng huó。
After that period of learning chess ended, he still wanted to review the game with me. Those quiet evenings made me believe that a small board can teach someone to face life.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
后来他又输了，眼睁睁地望着局面逆转。Later he lost again and watched helplessly as the position reversed.
眼睁睁+看着+ Event
眼睁睁. Looking on helplessly (adverb indicating inability to help)
眼睁睁看着父亲'将军'，我输了。
Yǎnzhēngzhēng kànzhe fùqīn 'jiāngjūn', wǒ shū le.
Helplessly watching my father checkmate, I lost.
我告诉他，失败未必可怕，关键是从中吸取一点经验，把教训记下来。I told him that failure need not be frightening; the key is to draw some experience from it and remember the lesson.
Subject +未必+ Verb
未必. May not, not necessarily (adverb indicating uncertainty)
你就再下10年，也未必能赢。
Nǐ jiù zài xià 10 nián, yě wèibì néng yíng.
Even if you play for another 10 years, you may not necessarily win.
他发现自己不假思索地犯了过于着急的毛病，没有事先摸清对方的路线，更谈不上把握对方的意图。He discovered that he had acted without thinking and been too eager, without first getting a clear read on his opponent's route or a grasp of his intentions.
过于+ Adjective/Verb
过于. Too, excessively (adverb indicating degree)
不能犯过于急躁的错误。
Bù néng fàn guòyú jízào de cuòwù.
Cannot make mistakes of being too impatient.
Which word means “to lose”?
Culture
中国象棋 - Chinese Chess (Xiangqi)
Chinese chess is a widely played board game. The river boundary on the board and the different moves of the pieces give each game rules as well as constant change. Playing requires calculating possible moves several steps ahead and observing an opponent's intentions, so it can train patience and judgment. After beginners learn the basic rules, they can experience the wisdom of planning and cooperation through continued practice.
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棋 from 象棋 · Chinese chess
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