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Hung Lou Meng — Book I
Hung Lou Meng — Book I

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Hung Lou Meng — Book I is here in full — 375 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.
Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.
But to proceed with our narrative.
Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.
Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hung Lou Meng — Book I

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Hung Lou Meng — Book I is here in full — 375 sentences across 75 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.
Line 2
Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.
Line 3
But to proceed with our narrative.
/bʌt tuː prəˈsiːd wɪð ˈaʊər ˈnærətɪv/
Line 4
Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.
Line 5
Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

cashiered verb US /kæˈʃɪrd/

past form of “cashier” — discard or do away with

From this reading “Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.”

Chang noun US /tʃæŋ/

the longest river of Asia; flows eastward from Tibet into the East China Sea near Shanghai

From this reading “Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.”

Dowager noun US /ˈdaʊədʒər/

a widow holding property received from her deceased husband

From this reading “Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.”

granddaughter noun US /ˈɡrændɔːtər/

a female grandchild

From this reading “Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.”

Lin noun US /lɪn/

United States sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War in Washington (born in 1959)

From this reading “Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.”

motherless adjective US /ˈmʌðərlɪs/

having no living or known mother

From this reading “Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.”

recommending verb US /ˌrekəˈmendɪŋ/

-ing form of “recommend” — push for something

From this reading “Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.”

reinstated verb US /ˌriːɪnˈsteɪtɪd/

past form of “reinstate” — restore to the previous state or rank

From this reading “Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.”

All words in this reading · 110

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

appealsnounUS /əˈpiːlz/

plural of “appeal” — earnest or urgent request

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

brother-in-lawnounUS /ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː/

a brother by marriage

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But to proceed with our narrative.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

capitalnounUS /ˈkæpətəl/

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

cashieredverbUS /kæˈʃɪrd/

past form of “cashier” — discard or do away with

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

ChangnounUS /tʃæŋ/

the longest river of Asia; flows eastward from Tibet into the East China Sea near Shanghai

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

Cheng

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

Chia

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

colleaguenounUS /ˈkɑːliɡ/

an associate that one works with

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

commiserationnoun

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

congratulationsnounUS /kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪʃənz/

an expression of approval and commendation

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

consentnounUS /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

considerationnounUS /kənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃən/

the process of giving careful thought to something

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/

possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

degradationnounUS /ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃən/

changing to a lower state (a less respected state)

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

denouncedverbUS /dɪˈnaʊnst/

past form of “denounce” — speak out against

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

deprivedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpraɪvd/

marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

DowagernounUS /ˈdaʊədʒər/

a widow holding property received from her deceased husband

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

fetchverbUS /fetʃ/

go or come after and bring or take back

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

formeradjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmər/

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

granddaughternounUS /ˈɡrændɔːtər/

a female grandchild

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

imperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/

relating to or associated with an empire

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

influencenounUS /ˈɪnfluːəns/

a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

Ju-hai

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

Ju-kuei

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

latelyadverbUS /ˈleɪtli/

in the recent past

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

LinnounUS /lɪn/

United States sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War in Washington (born in 1959)

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

memorialnounUS /məˈmɔːriəl/

a recognition of meritorious service

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

motherlessadjectiveUS /ˈmʌðərlɪs/

having no living or known mother

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

narrativenounUS /ˈnærətɪv/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading But to proceed with our narrative.

nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

newsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

nooknounUS /nʊk/

a sheltered and secluded place

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/

come into possession of

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

offeringnounUS /ˈɔːfərɪŋ/

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

officersnounUS /ˈɔːfəsərz/

plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But to proceed with our narrative.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

perceivedadjectiveUS /pərˈsiːvd/

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

proceedverbUS /prəˈsiːd/

continue talking

From this reading But to proceed with our narrative.

promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/

with little or no delay

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

recommendingverbUS /ˌrekəˈmendɪŋ/

-ing form of “recommend” — push for something

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

reinstatedverbUS /ˌriːɪnˈsteɪtɪd/

past form of “reinstate” — restore to the previous state or rank

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

residedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪdɪd/

past form of “reside” — make one's home in a particular place or community

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

righting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

sendsverbUS /sendz/

third-person singular of “send” — cause to go somewhere

From this reading Dowager lady Chia sends to fetch her granddaughter, out of commiseration for her being a motherless child.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/

with speed

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

tutorverbUS /ˈtuːtər/

be a tutor to someone; give individual instruction

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/

in a way that was not expected

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Yue-ts'un, on speedily turning round, perceived that the speaker was no other than a certain Chang Ju-kuei, an old colleague of his, who had been denounced and deprived of office, on account of some case or other; a native of that district, who had, since his degradation, resided in his family home.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Having lately come to hear the news that a memorial, presented in the capital, that the former officers (who had been cashiered) should be reinstated, had received the imperial consent, he had promptly done all he could, in every nook and corner, to obtain influence, and to find the means (of righting his position,) when he, unexpectedly, came across Yue-ts'un, to whom he therefore lost no time in offering his congratulations.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But to proceed with our narrative.

Yue-ts'un

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Lin Ju-hai appeals to his brother-in-law, Chia Cheng, recommending Yue-ts'un, his daughter's tutor, to his consideration.

Chapter 4 of Hung Lou Meng — Book I by Xueqin Cao holds 375 sentences, grouped into 75 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of Hung Lou Meng — Book I contain?

Chapter 4 holds 375 sentences of Hung Lou Meng — Book I, unabridged, divided into 75 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Hung Lou Meng — Book I by Xueqin Cao exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 375 sentences, grouped into 75 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of Hung Lou Meng — Book I?

Work through the 75 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 75 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Hung Lou Meng — Book I

Common questions about reading Hung Lou Meng — Book I by Xueqin Cao on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hung Lou Meng — Book I?

Yes. All 6073 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9603 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hung Lou Meng — Book I is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #9603, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hung Lou Meng — Book I take to read?

About 506 minutes of reading across 1215 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hung Lou Meng — Book I section by section

How to work through Hung Lou Meng — Book I section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Hung Lou Meng — Book I to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Hung Lou Meng — Book I

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hung Lou Meng — Book I, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Translation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Suggested
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pretensions
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book I; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.