The 4 character idiom - 知恩圖報

Today I want to share a 4 character Chinese idiom and its story with you. In the story there will be a conversation. Those of you who listened to the last 2 episodes on emotion sounds, I want you to pay extra attention to those emotion sounds.

The 4 character Chinese idiom I want to talk about today is 知恩圖報(Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow) literally know favour attempt repay. 知 (Dummy PY: Gee) means know, 恩 (Dummy PY: Yen) means favour, or when someone helped you, but more so if someone did you a solid. Like when you needed toilet paper during the pandemic and they spared some to you for example, but not like they gave you a tissue paper when you needed to blow your nose. You see what I mean? 圖 (Dummy PY: Toll) is short for 試圖 (Dummy PY: See Toll) meaning attempt, 報 (Dummy PY: Bow) is short for 報答 (Dummy PY: Bow Dap) meaning to repay someone for their favours. I want to tell you this story because yesterday was thanksgiving in the US, and last month our thanksgiving in Canada, just to catch the wave of giving thanks.

The origin of where this 4 character chinese idiom 知恩圖報(Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow) is from the Spring and Autumn period, the whole period last from approximately 771 to 476 BCE. During the Spring and Autumn period, if you have listened to my other stories that are also from this period, you might have noticed that it’s always about wars, people fighting for territory and unification, very turbulent times in our Chinese history. There were many territories involved in this period, and today the story is about the Wu kingdom 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok)and the Zheng kingdom 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok). The Wu kingdom 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok)was about to attack the Zheng kingdom 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) at the time, and the king of Zheng Kingdom was trying to come up with a way to stop the Wu kingdom 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok)from attacking. Just to give you a little more background but not to confuse you, the Wu kingdom 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok) was considered a barbaric territory at the time according to our current Chinese history, and the Zheng kingdom 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) was founded as the first duke’s kingdom in this period. I am going to play you the whole story once, the narrative is in English, the conversation will be in Cantonese and the English meaning will be repeated after each Cantonese sentence. When we finish the story I will tell you the meaning of the idiom, how to use the idiom in a sentence and I will break down the conversation for you, and replay it once more after I have explained everything. Here it comes.

One day, the general of the Wu kingdom brought a bunch of 士兵 (Dummy PY: See Bing) meaning soldiers and was getting ready to attack the Zheng kingdom. The general’s name was Zixu Wu, we will conveniently just call him General Wu Wu from this point on. So then the king of Zheng, king Zheng said,

邊[bin1]個[go3]可[ho2]以[yi5]令[ling6]士[si6]兵[bing1]返[faan1]去[heui3]，唔[m4]攻[gung1]打[da2]我[ngo5]哋[dei6]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，我[ngo5]一[yat1]定[ding6]重[chung5/chung4/jung6]重[chung5/chung4/jung6]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]佢[keui5]㗎[ga3]。

Whoever can make these soldiers return, not attack us Zheng kingdom, I will definitely reward them heavily.

But unfortunately no one came up with a good method to get rid of the soldiers from the Wu Kingdom吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok). All the way until the 4th morning, a young fisherman came to see King Zheng, he said,

我[ngo5]有[yau5]辦[baan6]法[faat3]令[ling6]吳[ng4]國[gwok3]唔[m4]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]啊[a1]。

I have a way to stop the Wu Kingdom from attacking the Zheng Kingdom. Then King Zheng said,

啊[a1]？咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]需[seui1]要[yiu3]幾[gei2]多[do1]士[si6]兵[bing1]同[tung4]埋[maai4]車[che1]呢[ne1]？

Oh? So then how many soldiers and carriages will you need?

Then the fishermen said,

我[ngo5]唔[m4]使[sai2]士[si6]兵[bing1]同[tung4]埋[maai4]車[che1]，亦[yik6]都[dou1]唔[m4]需[seui1]要[yiu3]帶[daai3]任[yam6]何[ho4]食[sik6]物[mat6]。我[ngo5]淨[jing6]係[hai6]要[yiu3]用[yung6]我[ngo5]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]撐[chaang1]船[syun4]嘅[ge3]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]就[jau6]可[ho2]以[yi5]叫[giu3]吳[ng4]國[gwok3]嘅[ge3]士[si6]兵[bing1]唔[m4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]啦[la1]！

I don’t need any soldiers nor carriages, nor do I need any food. I only need to use this boat paddle to get the soldiers from the Wu kingdom to stop attacking the Zheng kingdom.

The King Zheng looked at the boat paddle, thinking that it just looked like an ordinary paddle, what could be so special about it? He replied,

係[hai6]乜[mat1]嘢[ye5]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]可[ho2]以[yi5]咁[gam3/gam2]犀[sai1]利[lei6]啊[a1]？

What boat paddle is it that can be so powerful?

The young fishermen replied,

俾[bei2]我[ngo5]試[si3]吓[ha5]就[jau6]知[ji1]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]有[yau5]幾[gei2]咁[gam3/gam2]犀[sai1]利[lei6]啦[la1]！

Let me try then you will know how powerful this boat paddle is!

So then the young fisherman grabbed the oar and ran off to talk to General Wu. Once General Wu heard footsteps outside of his tent, he saw this young fisherman with the oar, he asked,

年[nin4]輕[hing1]人[yan4]，你[nei5]係[hai6]邊[bin1]個[go3]呀[a3]？

Young man, who are you?

The fishermen responded,

你[nei5]睇[tai2]唔[m4]到[dou2]我[ngo5]手[sau2]上[seung6]面[min6/min2]攞[lo2]住[jyu6]嘅[ge3]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]咩[me1]？我[ngo5]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]就[jau6]係[hai6]靠[kaau3]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]生[sang1]活[wut6]㗎[ga3]，佢[keui5]仲[jung6]用[yung6]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]救[gau3]咗[jo2]你[nei5]喎[wo3]！

Can’t you see the boat paddle in my hand? My dad relied on this oar for a living, he also used this oar to save your life!

Then General Wu suddenly realized and replied,

哦[ngo4]！我[ngo5]諗[nam2]起[hei2]喇[la3]！以[yi5]前[chin4]我[ngo5]走[jau2]難[naan4]嘅[ge3]時[si4]候[hau6]，有[yau5]一[yat1]個[go3]打[da2]魚[yu2]嘅[ge3]先[sin1]生[saang1]救[gau3]過[gwo3]我[ngo5]，我[ngo5]一[yat1]直[jik6]想[seung2]報[bou3]答[daap3]佢[keui5]㗎[ga3] ！原[yun4]來[loi4]你[nei5]係[hai6]佢[keui5]個[go3]仔[jai2]，點[dim2]解[gaai2]你[nei5]會[wui5]嚟[lai4]咗[jo2]呢[ni1]度[dou6]嘅[ge3]？

Oh! I recall now! When I was fleeing, there was a man who caught fish that saved me. I have always wanted to repay his favour. Turns out you are his son, why did you come here?

Then the young fisherman said:

咪[mai5/mai6/mi1]就[jau6]係[hai6]因[yan1]為[wai6]吳[ng4]國[gwok3]要[yiu3]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]。我[ngo5]哋[dei6/dei2]嘅[ge3]國[gwok3]君[gwan1]話[wa6/wa2]：邊[bin1]個[go3]令[ling6]伍[ng5]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]退[teui3]兵[bing1]，唔[m4]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，就[jau6]俾[bei2]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]佢[keui5]！希[hei1]望[mong6]伍[ng5]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]睇[tai2]在[joi6]我[ngo5]死[sei2]咗[jo2]嘅[ge3]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]份[fan6]上[seung6/seung5]，唔[m4]好[hou2]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，咁[gam2]樣[yeung2]我[ngo5]返[faan1]去[heui3]都[dou1]可[ho2]以[yi5]得[dak1]到[dou2]少[siu2]少[siu2]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]。

Exactly because the Wu kingdom is about to attack the Zheng Kingdom. Our ruler said, “Whoever can make General Wu’s soldiers leave, not attack Zheng kingdom, he will reward that person. Hoping that General Wu knowing my deceased father, can stop coming to attack the Zheng Kingdom, so then when I go back, I can get a little bit of rewards.

General Wu replied with appreciation,

因[yan1]為[wai6]你[nei5]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]救[gau3]過[gwo3]我[ngo5]，我[ngo5]先[sin1]至[ji3]仍[ying4]然[yin4]可[ho2]以[yi5]生[sang1]存[chyun4]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]大[daai6]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]。我[ngo5]點[dim2]會[wui5]忘[mong4]記[gei3]佢[keui5]嘅[ge3]恩[yan1]惠[wai6]呢[ne1]？我[ngo5]一[yat1]定[ding6]會[wui5]幫[bong1]你[nei5]㗎[ga3] ！

Because your father has saved me, I am still able to live and be the general. How can I possibly forget his favour? I will for sure help you!

After General Wu said that, he retrieved his army and left. When the young fisherman told King Zheng about it, they were all thrilled. People of the Zheng Kingdom thought of this young fisherman as a hero, and he was rewarded with nice amounts of lands.

The story created the 4 character idiom 知恩圖報 (Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow) literally know favour attempt repay we have today. It is saying that as human beings we have to be grateful and know to repay the favours that someone has done for you. So how do we use 知恩圖報 (Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow) in a sentence? 知恩圖報 (Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow) can do used as a verb phrase. For example:

做[jou6]人[yan4]一[yat1]定[ding6]要[yiu3]識[sik1]知[ji1]恩[yan1]圖[tou4]報[bou3]。

As a human we must know how to know your favours and attempt to repay them.

Or

你[nei5]點[dim2]可[ho2]以[yi5]唔[m4]知[ji1]恩[yan1]圖[tou4]報[bou3]㗎[ga3]?

How can you not know your favours and attempt to repay them?

All clear? Let’s break down the conversation and see if it might help you better understand the conversation. King Zheng’s original proposal was,

邊[bin1]個[go3]可[ho2]以[yi5]令[ling6]士[si6]兵[bing1]返[faan1]去[heui3]，唔[m4]攻[gung1]打[da2]我[ngo5]哋[dei6]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，我[ngo5]一[yat1]定[ding6]重[chung5/chung4/jung6]重[chung5/chung4/jung6]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]佢[keui5]㗎[ga3]。

Whoever can make these soldiers return, not attack us Zheng kingdom, I will definitely reward them heavily. 邊個 (Dummy PY: Bean Gor) means who, or in this context whoever. 可以 (Dummy PY: Hoh Yee) means can. 令 (Dummy PY: Ling) means to cause. 士兵 (Dummy PY: See Bing) means soldiers. 攻打 (Dummy PY: Gong Da) means attack, 攻 (Dummy PY: Gong) means offense and 打 (Dummy PY: Da) means hit. 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) means the Zheng kingdom, 國 (Dummy PY: Gwok)means country. 一定 (Dummy PY: Yat Ding) means must or for sure, 重重 (Dummy PY: Chong Chong) is an adjective here meaning heavily, 重 (Dummy PY: Chong) by itself means heavy. 獎賞 (Dummy PY: Jeung Seung) means to reward as a verb, and reward as a noun. The 㗎 (Dummy PY: Ga) is the ending emotion sound in the sentence. The 㗎 (Dummy PY: Ga) sound is used to add in extra emotions and tones in this context.

So the young fisherman who came up with an idea said,

我[ngo5]有[yau5]辦[baan6]法[faat3]令[ling6]吳[ng4]國[gwok3]唔[m4]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]啊[a1]。

I have a way to stop the Wu Kingdom from attacking the Zheng Kingdom.

辦法 (Dummy PY: Barn Fat) means method or way. 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok) means the Wu Kingdom. 攻打 (Dummy PY: Gong Da) means attack like I said, and 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) means the Zheng kingdom.

Then King Zheng said,

啊[a1]？咁[gam3/gam2]你[nei5]需[seui1]要[yiu3]幾[gei2]多[do1]士[si6]兵[bing1]同[tung4]埋[maai4]車[che1]呢[ne1]？

Oh? So then how many soldiers and carriages will you need?

The 啊 (Dummy PY: Ah) emotion sound here is used to start the sentence. It is exclaimed like a question also expresses shock, surprise or some sort of reckoning. 需要 (Dummy PY: Shui You) is the longer and more formal version for 要 (Dummy PY: You) meaning need. 士兵 (Dummy PY: See Bing) means soldiers, and 車 means car. But as you can understand, it story took place long time ago, so they are not really referring to cars, it can be carriages, wagons etc. the 呢 (Dummy PY: Ne) emotion sound here is used at the end of the sentence to pose a question.

Then the fishermen said,

我[ngo5]唔[m4]使[sai2]士[si6]兵[bing1]同[tung4]埋[maai4]車[che1]，亦[yik6]都[dou1]唔[m4]需[seui1]要[yiu3]帶[daai3]任[yam6]何[ho4]食[sik6]物[mat6]。我[ngo5]淨[jing6]係[hai6]要[yiu3]用[yung6]我[ngo5]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]撐[chaang1]船[syun4]嘅[ge3]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]就[jau6]可[ho2]以[yi5]叫[giu3]吳[ng4]國[gwok3]嘅[ge3]士[si6]兵[bing1]唔[m4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]啦[la1]！

I don’t need any soldiers nor carriages, nor do I need any food. I only need to use this boat paddle to get the soldiers from the Wu kingdom to stop attacking the Zheng kingdom. 唔使 means no need. 士兵 (Dummy PY: See Bing) means soldiers, and 車 means carriages. 帶 (Dummy PY: Die) means to bring. 任何 (Dummy PY: Yum Hoh) means any, so 任何食物 (Dummy PY: Yum Hoh Sick Mutt) means any food. The next sentence is longer. 淨係 (Dummy PY: Jing High) means only, 用 (Dummy PY: Yung) means to use. So 我淨係要用 (Dummy PY: Ngo Jing High You Yung) means I only need to use. 撐船 (Dummy PY: Charng Sheun) means boat rowing or rowing the boat. 船 (Dummy PY: Sheun) means boat or ship, 撐 (Dummy PY: Charng) can means support or the action of rowing the boat. 船槳 on the other hand, means the boat’s oar or paddle. 呢一支 (Dummy PY: Ni Yat Ji) means this one, 支 (Dummy PY: Ji) is the unit classifier here. 支 (Dummy PY: Ji) usually is the unit classifier for something that shapes like a stick or a twig, more rigid long thin shaped objects. So 呢一支撐船嘅船槳 (Dummy PY: Ni Yat Ji Charng Sheun Ge Shuen Jeung) means this boat paddle for rowing the boat.

可以叫吳國嘅士兵唔攻打鄭國啦! (Dummy PY: Jow Hoh Yee Gill Um Gwok Ge See Bing Um Gong Da Jeng Gwok La!) Means can ask the Wu Kingdom not to attack the Zheng Kingdom. 叫 (Dummy PY: Gill) means to call out or to ask. 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok) means the Wu Kingdom. 攻打 (Dummy PY: Gong Da) means attack like I said, and 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) means the Zheng kingdom. The LA sound 啦 (Dummy PY: La) at the end of the sentence indicates something is done, can be done and indicates regular emotions.

The King Zheng looked at the boat paddle, thinking that it just looked like an ordinary paddle, what could be so special about it? He replied,

係[hai6]乜[mat1]嘢[ye5]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]可[ho2]以[yi5]咁[gam3/gam2]犀[sai1]利[lei6]啊[a1]？

What boat paddle is it that can be so powerful?

係 (Dummy PY: High) is the verb to be, meaning is am are, 乜嘢 (Dummy PY: Mutt Yeah) means what, 船槳(Dummy PY: Sheun Jeung) means the boat’s oar or paddle. 犀利 (Dummy PY: Sigh Lay) is an adjective that means awesome, amazing, wonderful powerful. 犀利 (Dummy PY: Sigh Lay) is a good vocab to add to your Cantonese vocabulary list. The 啊 (Dummy PY: Ah) sound here at the end of the sentence to express that this is a question.

The young fishermen replied,

俾[bei2]我[ngo5]試[si3]吓[ha5]就[jau6]知[ji1]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]有[yau5]幾[gei2]咁[gam3/gam2]犀[sai1]利[lei6]啦[la1]！

Let me try then you will know how powerful this boat paddle is!

俾 (Dummy PY: Bay) can mean let or give. 試 (Dummy PY: See) means to try, 試吓 (Dummy PY: See Ha) means give it a try, or try a little bit. 呢一支船槳 (Dummy PY: Ni Yat Ji Sheun Jeung) means this boat paddle. 有幾咁犀利 (Dummy PY: Yau Gay Gum Sigh Lay) means how powerful, how amazing. You can replace 犀利 (Dummy PY: Sigh Lay) with another adjective, for example the adjective 好味(Dummy PY: Ho May) meaning yummy, you can say, 有幾咁好味? (Dummy PY: Yau Gay Gum Ho May) As a question it means how yummy? Again, the LA sound 啦 (Dummy PY: La) at the end of the sentence indicates something is done, can be done and indicates regular emotions.

So then the young fisherman ran off to talk to General Wu. General Wu saw him and he asked,

年[nin4]輕[hing1]人[yan4]，你[nei5]係[hai6]邊[bin1]個[go3]呀[a3]？

Young man, who are you?

年輕 (Dummy PY: Neen Hing/ Hang) means young, a little more formal. 年 (Dummy PY: Neen)means year or age. 輕 (Dummy PY: Hing/ Hang) means light. So 年輕(Dummy PY: Neen Hing/ Hang) means light in age, meaning young. You can also say 後生 (Dummy PY: How Sarng) for young, in modern day Cantonese. 後生 (Dummy PY: How Sarng) literal translation is after born or later born, meaning young, for people that are born later than you. 年輕人 (Dummy PY: Neen Hang Yan) means young person, in modern day Cantonese you can also say 後生仔 (Dummy PY: How Sarng Jai) .

The fishermen responded,

你[nei5]睇[tai2]唔[m4]到[dou2]我[ngo5]手[sau2]上[seung6]面[min6/min2]攞[lo2]住[jyu6]嘅[ge3]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]咩[me1]？我[ngo5]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]就[jau6]係[hai6]靠[kaau3]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]生[sang1]活[wut6]㗎[ga3]，佢[keui5]仲[jung6]用[yung6]呢[ni1]一[yat1]支[ji1]船[syun4]槳[jeung2]救[gau3]咗[jo2]你[nei5]喎[wo3]！

Can’t you see the boat paddle in my hand? My dad relied on this oar for a living, he also used this oar to save your life!

睇唔到 (Dummy PY: Tie Um Doe) means cannot see. 睇 (Dummy PY: Tie) means see. On the other hand, 睇到 (Dummy PY: Tie Doe) means can see. 手上面 (Dummy PY: Sau Seung Mean) meaning above my hands, basically means in my hands. 攞住 (Dummy PY: Loh Chu) means grabbing, or gripping, 攞 (Dummy PY: Loh) means grab or get.

你睇唔到我手上面攞住嘅船槳咩？

the 咩(Dummy PY: Meh) emotion sound here indicates this is a rhetorical question, because he was clearly holding his oar, and so that was intended to be rhetorical.

Then said his dad 靠 (Dummy PY: Kow) meaning rely on the oar for 生活 (Dummy PY: Sung Whoot) meaning to make a living, to live life, to get through life. Then he said, his dad also used the oar to save the general’s life. Also in Cantonese is 仲 (Dummy PY: Jong), 仲 (Dummy PY: Jong) can also mean still. For example if someone is asking if there’s any food left, you can say 仲有(Dummy PY: Jong Yau) for still have some left. 仲有(Dummy PY: Jong Yau) literally means still have. 救 (Dummy PY: Gow) means to save someone or something, 救咗 (Dummy PY: Gow Jor)means saved, past tense, 咗 (Dummy PY: Jor)is the word to indicate to you the change in action status, here means past tense. He ended with a 喎 (Dummy PY: Wo) emotion sound here. The 喎 (Dummy PY: Wo) sound expresses that they are revealing something.

Then General Wu suddenly realized and replied,

哦[ngo4]！我[ngo5]諗[nam2]起[hei2]喇[la3]！以[yi5]前[chin4]我[ngo5]走[jau2]難[naan4]嘅[ge3]時[si4]候[hau6]，有[yau5]一[yat1]個[go3]打[da2]魚[yu2]嘅[ge3]先[sin1]生[saang1]救[gau3]過[gwo3]我[ngo5]，我[ngo5]一[yat1]直[jik6]想[seung2]報[bou3]答[daap3]佢[keui5]㗎[ga3] ！原[yun4]來[loi4]你[nei5]係[hai6]佢[keui5]個[go3]仔[jai2]，點[dim2]解[gaai2]你[nei5]會[wui5]嚟[lai4]咗[jo2]呢[ni1]度[dou6]嘅[ge3]？

Oh! I recall now! When I was fleeing, there was a man who caught fish that saved me. I have always wanted to repay his favour. Turns out you are his son, why did you come here?

The 哦(Dummy PY: Ngo) emotion sound used here is express realization, just like oh! I see. 諗 (Dummy PY: Lum) means think, 諗起 (Dummy PY: Lum Hey) means to recall. The 喇 (Dummy PY: La) sound used here expresses that he suddenly wanted to say something, like the lightbulb next to his head just lit up. Then the general started talking about when he had to flee 走難 (Dummy PY: Jow Narn), the background story very briefly, was that the general was once gone after by another Kingdom, the Chu Kingdom, the Chu Kingdom killed General Wu’s father and brother, and they went after General Wu so he had to flee走難 (Dummy PY: Jow Narn). He said a 打魚嘅先生 (Dummy PY: Da Yu Ge Sin Sarng) saved him, 打魚 (Dummy PY: Da Yu) literally means hitting the fish but actually it means to catch fish, like a fisherman. 先生(Dummy PY: Sin Sarng) is Mr or sir. He had always wanted to repay this fisherman. 一直 (Dummy PY: Yat Jack) means always, but really it means always during a certain period of time, so here it means from the time he was saved until now he still wanted to repay him all this time. To repay someone, not money, but to repay their favour, like I mentioned at the beginning it is 報答 (Dummy PY: Bow Dap). the 㗎 (Dummy PY: Ga) emotion sound in the sentence 我一直想報答佢㗎 is used to add in extra emotions and tones. 原來 (Dummy PY: Yuen Loy) is a little harder to explain. 原來 (Dummy PY: Yuen Loy) can vaguely mean “turn out”. It’s like when you realized the truth, or realized what something is supposed to be, then you can say 原來 (Dummy PY: Yuen Loy) then the fact. The fact here is the young fisherman was the fisherman’s son who saved general Wu. He said 你係佢個仔, meaning you are his son. 仔 (Dummy PY: Jai) here means son. 點解 (Dummy PY: Deem Guy) means why or how come. 嚟 (Dummy PY: Lay) means come. 呢度 (Dummy PY: Ni Dou) means here. So the whole question 點解你會嚟咗呢度嘅？means how come you came here? 嘅 (Dummy PY: Ge) is the emotion sound used at the end of the sentence here. It is used here to pose a question.

Then the young fisherman said:

咪[mai5/mai6/mi1]就[jau6]係[hai6]因[yan1]為[wai6]吳[ng4]國[gwok3]要[yiu3]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]。我[ngo5]哋[dei6/dei2]嘅[ge3]國[gwok3]君[gwan1]話[wa6/wa2]：邊[bin1]個[go3]令[ling6]伍[ng5]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]退[teui3]兵[bing1]，唔[m4]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，就[jau6]俾[bei2]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]佢[keui5]！希[hei1]望[mong6]伍[ng5]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]睇[tai2]在[joi6]我[ngo5]死[sei2]咗[jo2]嘅[ge3]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]份[fan6]上[seung6/seung5]，唔[m4]好[hou2]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，咁[gam2]樣[yeung2]我[ngo5]返[faan1]去[heui3]都[dou1]可[ho2]以[yi5]得[dak1]到[dou2]少[siu2]少[siu2]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]。

Exactly because the Wu kingdom is about to attack the Zheng Kingdom. Our ruler said, “Whoever can make General Wu’s soldiers leave, not attack Zheng kingdom, he will reward that person. Hoping that General Wu knowing my deceased father, can stop coming to attack the Zheng Kingdom, so then when I go back, I can get a little bit of rewards. 咪就係 (Dummy PY: My Jow High) means exactly. 因為 (Dummy PY: Yan Why) means because. And 吳國 (Dummy PY: Um Gwok) means the Wu Kingdom like I mentioned. 攻打 (Dummy PY: Gong Da) means attack, and 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) means the Zheng kingdom.

Then he said,

我[ngo5]哋[dei6/dei2]嘅[ge3]國[gwok3]君[gwan1]話[wa6/wa2]：

國君 (Dummy PY: Geok Gwan) means ruler of the country or kingdom. 話 (Dummy PY: Wa)means to say. So then he repeated what King Zheng said,

邊[bin1]個[go3]令[ling6]伍[ng5]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]退[teui3]兵[bing1]，

whoever can make General Wu retrieve his soldiers.

伍將軍 (Dummy PY: Ng Jeung Gwan) means general Wu, 將軍 (Dummy PY: Jeung Gwan)means the general of the military, or when you play chess, when you say 將軍(Dummy PY: Jeung Gwan) it means checkmate. 退 (Dummy PY: Teui/ Toy)means return or back off. 退 (Dummy PY: Teui/ Toy) can also be used say for example, to refund money is 退錢 (Dummy PY: Teui/ Toy Chin).

And he continued,

唔[m4]嚟[lai4]攻[gung1]打[da2]鄭[jeng6]國[gwok3]，就[jau6]俾[bei2]獎[jeung2]賞[seung2]佢[keui5]！

not attack 鄭國 (Dummy PY: Jeng Gwok) the Zheng kingdom. Then the ruler will reward that person, reward like I said is 獎賞 (Dummy PY: Jeung Seung). He said 希望 (Dummy PY: Hey Mong) meaning in hopes, or hopefully, or to hope. 伍將軍 (Dummy PY: Ng Jeung Gwan) general Wu could consider not attacking the Zheng Kingdom for his 死咗嘅爸爸 deceased father. 死 means to die, dying, dead. 死咗 (Dummy PY: Say Jor) means died, 咗 (Dummy PY: Jor) indicates the past tense here. So then the young fisherman can get 少少 (Dummy PY: Shoe shoe) a little bit of 獎賞 (Dummy PY: Jeung Seung) reward when he returns 返去 (Dummy PY: Farn Hui) .

General Wu replied with appreciation,

因[yan1]為[wai6]你[nei5]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]救[gau3]過[gwo3]我[ngo5]，我[ngo5]先[sin1]至[ji3]仍[ying4]然[yin4]可[ho2]以[yi5]生[sang1]存[chyun4]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]大[daai6]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]。我[ngo5]點[dim2]會[wui5]忘[mong4]記[gei3]佢[keui5]嘅[ge3]恩[yan1]惠[wai6]呢[ne1]？我[ngo5]一[yat1]定[ding6]會[wui5]幫[bong1]你[nei5]㗎[ga3] ！

Because your father has saved me, I am still able to live and be the general. How can I possibly forget his favour? I will for sure help you!

因為 (Dummy PY: Yan Why) means because. 救 (Dummy PY: Gow)means to save someone or something, 救過 (Dummy PY: Gow Guo) means to have saved. 過(Dummy PY: Guo) indicates the action has been done. He then said

我[ngo5]先[sin1]至[ji3]仍[ying4]然[yin4]可[ho2]以[yi5]生[sang1]存[chyun4]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]大[daai6]將[jeung1]軍[gwan1]。

先至 (Dummy PY: Sin Gee) means could or can in this context, 生存 (Dummy PY: Sung Chune) means to survive, different from 生活 (Dummy PY: Sung Whoot) earlier which means to make a living, to live life, to get through life. 做 (Dummy PY: Joe) Normally means make or do, however for 做到 (Dummy PY: Joe Doe) , 到 (Dummy PY: Doe) expresses someone can be done or achieved, so 做到 (Dummy PY: Joe Dou) means can achieve, can do, can make it or can become in this context. 大將軍 (Dummy PY: Da Jeung Gwan) means the head general, literal translation is big general. Then he said

我[ngo5]點[dim2]會[wui5]忘[mong4]記[gei3]佢[keui5]嘅[ge3]恩[yan1]惠[wai6]呢[ne1]？我[ngo5]一[yat1]定[ding6]會[wui5]幫[bong1]你[nei5]㗎[ga3] ！

點 (Dummy PY: Deem) means how here, 會 (Dummy PY: Wui) means will. 我點會 (Dummy PY: Ngo Deem Wui) means how will I, 忘記 (Dummy PY: Mong Gay) means to forget, different from 唔記得 (Dummy PY: Um Gay Duck), 唔記得 (Dummy PY: Um Gay Duck)means cannot recall. 忘記 (Dummy PY: Mong Gay) on the other hand means to forget. Therefore 我點會忘記 (Dummy PY: Ngo Deem Wui Mong Gay)means how will I forget. 恩惠 (Dummy PY: Yen Why) is the longer version for 恩 (Dummy PY: Yen) meaning when someone did you a solid. Same 恩 (Dummy PY: Yen) in the 4 character idiom we are talking about today 知恩圖報(Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow) literally know favour attempt repay. So 我點會忘記佢嘅恩惠呢？means how will I forget his favours? The 呢 (Dummy PY: Ne) emotion sound that ended the sentence is used to pose a question that begs confirmation.

So then he said

我[ngo5]一[yat1]定[ding6]會[wui5]幫[bong1]你[nei5]㗎[ga3] ！

I will for sure help you.

一定(Dummy PY: Yat Ding) means must, for sure, surely. 幫 (Dummy PY: Bong) means help. The 㗎 (Dummy PY: Ga) sound is used to intensify the emotions and tones. After General Wu said that, he retrieved his army and left. When the young fisherman told King Zheng about it, they were all thrilled. People of the Zheng Kingdom thought of this young fisherman as a hero, and he was rewarded with nice amounts of lands.

I hope you enjoyed the story, learned the 4 character idiom, 知恩圖報(Dummy PY: Gee Yan Toll Bow), and always be grateful! Thank you to my listeners too, you guys keep me motivated to push these episodes out. Let’s talk more about emotion sounds next time!

Story adapted from: http://read01.com/aL7Rkd.html