蒙學漢文初階 第一百四八課 Beginning Chinese - Entry Level Lesson #148 某兒游戲庭中 some/one child leisure play courtyard inside 擲芥於杯 toss mustard into cup 水旋轉如舟 water revolve whirl like boat 取桃葉代之 take peach leaf replace it 則膠滯不動 then sticky sluggish not move 其父曰 his father say 事之成否 matters/things [pp] success not 必得適宜之分量 must have suitable appropriate [pp] component amount 強為之 strong/force to it 無益也 no benefit [ep] One child was playing in the courtyard. He toss some mustard [seeds] into a cup. The water swirled like [those by] a boat. Replacing by a peach leaf, it [the water] became sluggish and viscous. His father said, "Matters must be of appropriate size if is to succeed. Using force to ensure success is not beneficial!" Notes 1. Without context, 水旋轉如舟 can be translated as water swirling like a boat. Even so, it is quite puzzling; a swirling boat? 2. 膠 means sap, glue or stickiness. In this context, "viscous" is the most appropriate as the water behaves like sticky glue, moving very slowly. 3. 分量 is the same as 份量 which is the preferred term in modern usage.