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Hung Lou Meng — Book II
Hung Lou Meng — Book II

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Hung Lou Meng — Book II is here in full — 457 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Hung Lou Meng — Book II
Context Illustration Reading 1/91 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.
Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.
Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.
During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.
Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hung Lou Meng — Book II

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Hung Lou Meng — Book II is here in full — 457 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/91 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.
Line 2
Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.
Line 3
Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.
Line 4
During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.
Line 5
Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

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.

dispersed adjective US /dɪˈspɜːrst/

distributed or spread over a considerable extent

From this reading “Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.”

inmates noun US /ˈɪnmeɪts/

plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)

From this reading “Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.”

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 “Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.”

nets noun US /nets/

plural of “net” — a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange

From this reading “Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.”

plaits noun US /pleɪts/

plural of “plait” — a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

From this reading “Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.”

sneer verb US /snɪr/

express through a scornful smile

From this reading “Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.”

soup noun US /suːp/

liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food

From this reading “Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.”

wending verb US /ˈwendɪŋ/

-ing form of “wend” — direct one's course or way

From this reading “Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/

object formed by a mold

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

ch'ai

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

Ch'un

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Chin-ying

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

From this reading Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

companynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/

without stop or interruption

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

courtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

dispersedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɜːrst/

distributed or spread over a considerable extent

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/

clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/

a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

failedverbUS /feɪld/

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Feng

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/

past form of “halt” — cause to stop

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

Hsi

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Huang

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

From this reading Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.

HungverbUS /hʌŋ/

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/

plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Kung-ts'ai

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

LinounUS /liː/

a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

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 Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

lotus-leaf

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

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

netsnounUS /nets/

plural of “net” — a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange

From this reading Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

Pai

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

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

Pao

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

plaitsnounUS /pleɪts/

plural of “plait” — a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

From this reading Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.

plum-blossom-knotted

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

From this reading Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

skilfullyadverb

with skill

From this reading Huang Chin-ying skilfully plaits the plum-blossom-knotted nets.

sneerverbUS /snɪr/

express through a scornful smile

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

soupnounUS /suːp/

liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

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 Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

T'an

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Tai-yü

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

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

Tai-yü's

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

tastesnounUS /teɪsts/

plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading During this time, Lin Tai-yü halted under the shadow of the trees.

UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Pao ch'ai had, our story goes, distinctly heard Lin Tai-yü's sneer, but in her eagerness to see her mother and brother, she did not so much as turn her head round, but continued straight on her way.

wendingverbUS /ˈwendɪŋ/

-ing form of “wend” — direct one's course or way

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Ying

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Yü-ch'uan

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

From this reading Pai Yü-ch'uan tastes too the lotus-leaf soup.

Yüan

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

From this reading Upon casting a glance, in the distance towards the I Hung Yüan, she observed Li Kung-ts'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un and various inmates wending their steps in a body in the direction of the I Hung court; but after they had gone past, and company after company of them had dispersed, she only failed to see lady Feng come.

Chapter 11 of Hung Lou Meng — Book II by Xueqin Cao holds 457 sentences, grouped into 92 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 11 of Hung Lou Meng — Book II contain?

Chapter 11 holds 457 sentences of Hung Lou Meng — Book II, unabridged, divided into 92 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Hung Lou Meng — Book II by Xueqin Cao exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 457 sentences, grouped into 92 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 11 of Hung Lou Meng — Book II?

Work through the 92 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 92 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 II

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

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

Yes. All 14023 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9604 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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

Project Gutenberg eBook #9604, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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

About 600 minutes of reading across 2805 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of Hung Lou Meng — Book II 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 II

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

Demoniacal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Junior
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Uncle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Elder
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hung Lou Meng — Book II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.