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My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard
My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.
The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.
The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.
The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.
Which is the Way, which path to God is broad enough for all the world?
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.
/ɔːl hæv ə ˈhʌŋɡər ʌv ðə soʊl fɔːr ˈsʌmθɪŋ bɪˈsaɪd laɪfs miːt ənd drɪŋk ɔːl wɑːnt ə ˈremədi fɔːr ðə ˈsɑːroʊz ʌv ðə wɜːrld/
Line 2
The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.
/ðə ˈbuːdəsts bɪˈliːv ðæt ɪt kæn biː faʊnd ɪn ðə dɪˈstrʌkʃən ʌv dɪˈzaɪər baɪ rɪˈnaʊnsɪŋ ðə wɜːrld ənd ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ ðə ˈnoʊbəl pæθ ʌv piːs ənˈtɪl deθ ʃæl ˈoʊ.pən ðə ˈpɔːrtəlz ʌv ðə ənˈnoʊəbəl ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ ˈstɪlnəs frʌm wɪtʃ ðer ɪz noʊ rɪˈtɜːrn/
Line 3
The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.
Line 4
The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.
/ðə ˈkrɪstʃənz ɡɪv ə ˈwɪspərd ˈmesədʒ ʌv hoʊp tuː ðə ˈloʊnli soʊl ˈbiːtɪŋ əˈɡenst ðə bɑːrz ʌv ðə wɜːrld əˈbaʊt hɪm ənd seɪ ðæt ə laɪf ʌv lʌv ənd dʒɔɪ ənd piːs ɪz ðə ɡɪft ʌv ðer ɡreɪt ˈmesəndʒər ənd wen ðə jɪrz hæv pæst ðæt hiː stændz wɪˈðɪn æn ˈɑːrtʃweɪ tuː ˈwelkəm ðoʊz hɪz ˈtʃoʊzən tuː ə lænd ʌv blɪs wer wiː ʃæl miːt ɔːl huː hæv lʌvd ʌs ənd huːm wiː hæv lʌvd ɪn laɪf ənd ɡeɪz əˈpɑːn hɪz feɪs/
Line 5
Which is the Way, which path to God is broad enough for all the world?
/wɪtʃ ɪz ðə weɪ wɪtʃ pæθ tuː ɡɑːd ɪz brɔːd ɪˈnʌf fɔːr ɔːl ðə wɜːrld/

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.

archway noun US /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/

a passageway under a curved masonry construction

From this reading “The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.”

Buddhists noun US /ˈbuːdəsts/

plural of “buddhist” — one who follows the teachings of Buddha

From this reading “The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.”

fulfilling verb US /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/

inflected form of “fulfil” — put in effect

From this reading “The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.”

life's noun US /laɪfs/

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.”

portals noun US /ˈpɔːrtəlz/

plural of “portal” — a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)

From this reading “The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.”

renouncing verb US /rɪˈnaʊnsɪŋ/

-ing form of “renounce” — give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

From this reading “The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.”

rewards noun US /rɪˈwɔːrdz/

plural of “reward” — a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading “The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.”

unknowable adjective US /ənˈnoʊəbəl/

not knowable

From this reading “The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

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 All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/

a passageway under a curved masonry construction

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

barsnounUS /bɑːrz/

gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

beatingnounUS /ˈbiːtɪŋ/

the act of overcoming or outdoing

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

blissnounUS /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Which is the Way, which path to God is broad enough for all the world?

BuddhistsnounUS /ˈbuːdəsts/

plural of “buddhist” — one who follows the teachings of Buddha

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

chosennounUS /ˈtʃoʊzən/

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

ChristiansnounUS /ˈkrɪstʃənz/

plural of “christian” — a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

Confucianists

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

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

desirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/

the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/

take in liquids

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

dutiesnounUS /ˈduːtiz/

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Which is the Way, which path to God is broad enough for all the world?

everlastingadjectiveUS /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

fulfillingverbUS /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/

inflected form of “fulfil” — put in effect

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/

a long fixed look

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

giftnounUS /ɡɪft/

something acquired without compensation

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading Which is the Way, which path to God is broad enough for all the world?

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/

a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

JusticenounUS /ˈdʒʌstəs/

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

life'snounUS /laɪfs/

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

lonelyadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnli/

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/

held dear

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

meatnounUS /miːt/

the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

MessengernounUS /ˈmesəndʒər/

a person who carries a message

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

pathnounUS /pæθ/

a course of conduct

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

portalsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtəlz/

plural of “portal” — a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

remedynounUS /ˈremədi/

act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

renouncingverbUS /rɪˈnaʊnsɪŋ/

-ing form of “renounce” — give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

rewardsnounUS /rɪˈwɔːrdz/

plural of “reward” — a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

sorrowsnounUS /ˈsɑːroʊz/

plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

standsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

unknowableadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊəbəl/

not knowable

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

WaynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Which is the Way, which path to God is broad enough for all the world?

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/

accept gladly

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The Buddhists believe that it can be found in the destruction of desire, by renouncing the world and following the noble path of peace until death shall open the portals of the unknowable, everlasting stillness from which there is no return.

whisperedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪspərd/

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The Confucianists say the remedy is found within the world by fulfilling all its duties and leaving to a greater Justice the future and its rewards.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading All have a hunger of the soul for something beside life's meat and drink; all want a remedy for the sorrows of the world.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading The Christians give a whispered message of hope to the lonely soul beating against the bars of the world about him, and say that a life of love and joy and peace is the gift of their great Messenger, and when the years have passed that He stands within an archway to welcome those, His chosen, to a land of bliss where we shall meet all who have loved us and whom we have loved in life, and gaze upon His face.

Chapter 5 of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard by Elizabeth Cooper holds 426 sentences, grouped into 86 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 5 of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard contain?

Chapter 5 holds 426 sentences of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard by Elizabeth Cooper exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 426 sentences, grouped into 86 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 5 of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

Common questions about reading My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard by Elizabeth Cooper on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard?

Yes. All 2168 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19665 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #19665, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard take to read?

About 180 minutes of reading across 434 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

Words and structures a reader meets early in My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chinese
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Courtyard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Elizabeth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cooper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.