Looking Back
A friend sent me the following essay. From the looks of it, a translation from some Chinese source. However, he wanted my viewpoint. So I replied. Now he wants me to translate into Chinese. My translation skill from English to Chinese is never good. So I need help from my Chinese friends to correct my Chinese or even provide a better translation. I would be most grateful. My reply appears in the correction box. Thanks in advance.
Everything Begins From Looking Back
Every time I reach a certain level
I have the habit of looking back to see how far I’ve come
Looking back
This is a very interesting movement
1. You want to see how far you’ve come
2. You will think about if you ought to rest
3. At this moment, you will be easily attracted by the azalea and thrush on the roadside, and may even track them down
4. After you search and search, will you forget to climb to the top of the mountain?
Don’t rule out these possibilities
If you rule them out
You may realize
There’s actually no reason to look back
Because it’s possible that it
May make you distracted, tired, and even want to give up
The birds search and search
It’s very likely that you’ll go down the mountain
In retrospect you’ll discover that the mountaintop is farther and farther from you
And then forget about it
Forget about it
This wording is also very interesting
1. You will want to climb other mountaintops (maybe taller than this one, maybe shorter than this one, it’s different for everyone, but the conclusion is that you will still want to climb, unless you leave home to become a monk/nun)
2. You will begin to confirm where you should go
3. You may meet a situation that is the same as with the previous mountain, or you may really climb to the top
4. You will think that if you hadn’t looked back while on the previous mountain, you will have already reached the top (imagine you’re seeing different scenery, and have lived a different life)
5. You may revolve around her, like the undercurrent under a waterfall
On the whole, neither of the above choices is right or wrong
Because no matter the mountain
The endings will all seem to be the same
It’s only that the one who perseveres longer
Will more easily receive respect
So the conclusion to life is respect
That also doesn’t seem to be complete
Is looking at life from the above perspectives
More broad or more narrow.
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 8
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My reply...
A mountain top is one in which everyone needs to climb unless like the article says, "to become a monk or a nun". Once you reached the top, whether high or low, the view is the same. So why continue climbing another mountain? This is, of course, you are dissatisfied with the current view. Remember that the higher you go, the view is more panoramic but details become more blurry. Soon there will be a point at which under your feet, you see a sea of green but not the texture of a single tree. As you climb higher, this ocean will eventually be hidden by clouds. The smart ones will climb another mountain with a totally different view. The view of a city perhaps, or the view of the ocean. This is an act of intelligence.
除非跟据文章中所說, “去做個和尚或尼姑”, 每個人的一生會有個山頂去爬. 一旦登峯, 無論是高或低, 風光景色無異. 為何仍然要繼續攀登另一座更高的山? 當然是對目前觀光有不滿的念頭。請記住，登得越高，全景更清，但細節顯得更朦。不久會在脚下現出一片綠海青波. 但是有個難分辨出一棵樹的葉式皮紋的局面。再登更高處, 連這片茫茫大海都最終被白雲隱藏. 識時者即會覓尋有不同景象的山峯去爬, 例如一個城市或海景。此乃高明之道。
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Well put Alan! They have already won half the battle just by being on the slope of a mountain.
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Of cousure, most of people want to reach the mountaintop when cIimbing, but I think it is not only for reaching mountiantop or the scenery of mountiantop. In different level, you will get different views. In other words, although you couldn't get to the mountiantop at last, you have get a lot during this trip.
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An interesting essay. I have only climbed mountains on a bike, and I remember trying to just stay focused on my front wheel because looking forward or back could be an unwanted distraction.
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