黄永玉·《力求严肃认真思考的札记》英译

气球  漂浮在高空的斑斓的巨物，但是，哪怕是针尖大小的批评它也受不了。

鞋  几乎跟婚姻一样神秘，舒不舒服，只有脚趾头知道。

水  像狡猾的宗教一样，总是以多种形态出现：一会儿是硬的，一会儿是软的，一会儿又是捉摸不定的，以适应不同的气候。

无知  毫无疑问这是一种早为历史定评的美德，因为它具备了满足与自得其乐的内涵。

拔牙  极恐怖但很有教益的活动，首先要自己端正态度。

喷嚏  一秒钟不到的忘乎所以，往往使旁观者惊喜交集。

刷牙  假笑。

合唱  谁也不服谁，于是都各用声音互相征服。

Notes on Some Attempts at Serious Thinking

Huang Yongyu

Balloon  A gigantic colorful object floating high in the sky, but incapable of withstanding the slightest pin-prick of criticism.

Shoes  Almost as mysterious as marriage; only the toes know whether they are comfortable or not.

Water  Like a slippery religion, it assumes many forms: hard one moment, soft the next, and then intangible, adapting itself to changes in the weather.

Ignorance  Without question a virtue, affirmed by history over the centuries, for the satisfaction and self-content it provides.

Extraction of a Tooth  A terrifying but highly beneficial operation, it requires a correct attitude.

Sneeze  A split-second self-indulgence, which frequently causes a mixture of surprise and pleasure in the spectators.

Brushing One’s Teeth  A false smile.

Chorus  No one will submit, so everyone tries to achieve simultaneous vocal victory.