Pekinese Rhymes/9

by Guido Vitale

IX

我一個大兒子
一個兒子
寶貝疙疸兒
開胸順氣丸

NOTES

These words are often repeated by the pekinese mothers to their babies 疙疸兒 ko¹ ta¹ 'r means here a little thing of a round form just as it was a round metal button. 開胸順氣丸 k'ai¹ hsiung¹ shun⁴ ch'i⁴ uan², is a medical pill advised by Chinese doctors to people who feel the breast oppressed and the respiration uneasy. The literal translation of its name is "pill which opens (lightens) the breast and makes the respiration easy. The mothers liken their babies to that pill, and really every mother holding her child in her arms must feel happy and free from every sorrow.

TRANSLATION.

This one great son of mine! ― one son of mine! a precious little thing! ― a pill who lightens the heart and makes people happy!