蒙學漢文初階 第一百十四課 Beginning Chinese - Entry Level Lesson #114 雀在田中覔食 bird at padi_field middle seek food 網獲其一 net capture/obtain of one 置於籠中 place into cage inside 不食而死 not eat and die 夫雀飛天空 [see comment] bird fly sky space 上下可以自由 up down can because [see comment][see comment] 為人所獲不自由 because man which obtain not [see comment] [see comment] 毋寧死矣 none/no rather die ah Birds were seeking food in the padi fields. One was netted and place inside a cage. It refused food and died. Alas, birds flying in the sky, everywhere they can be free. Alas, because of man had captured it and lost its freedom, it would rather die [than to eat]. Notes: 1. The original character use was (See attached photo) , a variant or how it is used in Chinese calligraphy. 2. 夫 = husband is the most common meaning. The other is an noble title use for its profession, for example, 樵夫 one who cuts wood i.e. woodcutter, one of the Four Noble Professions (漁樵耕讀) in ancient China. 大夫 a great man i.e. an older term for a ministerial position or a doctor. Nowadays mainly used for those trained in Chinese medicine. Even so, it is rare we would say中醫. Another meaning is "this", "that", "he", "she", "they". As a final particle, it is equivalent to the English use of the interjection mark. In this case, as an initial particle, it introduces an opinion. 3. This is another example of compound words that cannot be split up as its literal meaning is not evident. 自由 "Self cause"/"from oneself" aka "freedom".