Word+Finder

Beginning-131 (Thuy) Ding-ngin: “When he said that word, ding-ngin, I felt as if I were dreaming. How strange, I thought, he knows the same local island expression from my childhood” (Tan 74). The reason this word is significant is because it connects her back to her island, the place where most of her young life took place and decisions that were made on that island that made her life or broke it. It helped her recognize Lin and brought back the wonder of what could have been.

Syin Ke: “She always called me syin ke, a nickname, two words that mean “heart liver”…” (Tan 109). The reason for this word is because mothers called their children this if they loved them very much and both the heart and liver are vital organs in the human body. It is like saying their child is vital to their life. It is also ironic, in English it is called a gizzard which does not exist in humans therefore not needed.

Wah-Wah-Yu: “While we were shopping for wah-wah-yu, she was overcome with guilt, remembering how she did not resist eating this fish or resist her loveless marriage” (Tan 129). There is many times in the story in which Winnie must stay silent and do as she is told. Being a Chinese girl, there is only room for obedience and none for resistance. The fish somewhat represents staying in the rightful place, not resisting anything.

Ying-gai: “Ying-gai was what my mother always said when she meant, I should have” (Tan 27). This word is what it seems like the word fate. Fate in this story had been everything. Good luck or bad luck was determined by fate. Also regrets and what could have been.

Hair: “So she cut off her hair, a sure sign she could not turn back” (129). This is not a strange word, but in the context it is used is definitely different from what comes to mind. It seems that Winnie’s mother personality is in her hair. It was the envy of others, just as how she was envied by the other wives of her husband, it represents her freedom and rebellion. With it loose her mind is free, with it cut she is physically free. Also women often wore their hair long, but by cutting it, it shows rebellion. This feature about her mother is also what Winnie remember best and most vividly.

Yangsele: “…I cried in front of everyone, ‘Yangsele!’ which in common Mandarin means “itching to death!” ” (Tan 74). This word demonstrates how the same word can mean one thing and then mean another thing in a different location. Winnie had a bitter taste of this and her innocence is severely exploited.

Yi Wan: “That is what Chinese people always say -yi wan- ten thousand this and that…” (Tan 104). It gives an insight to the mind of the Chinese, always thinking big and exaggerating things. It is always how they marry, the richer the better, the more influential the better. This is what had happened to Winnie, marrying into a family which her family thought so highly of making her believe it was a good family.

Sclerosis: “…the drinking buddy told me I had multiple sclerosis” (Tan 22). This is Pearl’s secret. She can not tell her mother and it haunts her. She is in constant worry that she would end up in a wheel chair unable to walk again and most of all it irritates her to see people pity her.

Johnny Marriage-"...I would not have become the kind of wife who wishes the Japanese would kill her husband."(Tan 192). This shows how unhappy Winnie is with her husband.

Half-brother "My half-brother was killed before the war."(Tan 166). Winnie reveals that Helen is not her sister-in-law. Her half-brother married another woman. He also died before the war, not during.

Screaming-"One minute she was shouting, next she was screaming."(Tan 296). Peanut tries to stop Winnie's wedding by describing marriages that go horribly wrong.

Communism-"Peanut was a Communist"(Tan 394) At this point of time, China was dominated by Communism. Winnie is shocked her cousin Peanut is a Communist.

Kitchen god-"It was like being the Kitchen God's wife"(Tan 386) Winnie shows how unhappy her marriage is by comparing it with the legend of the Kitchen god.

Mercy-"I was standing in front of four statues,the Goddess of Mercy..."(Tan 528) Pearl see these statues and recognizes them as Buddhist religion.

Jail-"They took me to jail"(Tan 474) At this point of the story, winnie is taken to jail, though she does not understand why.

America-"In the next week, I am leaving for America."(Tan 502) After being released from jail, Winnie leaves for America, tro escape the war. She marries, and has Pearl.

Pages: 132-201 (Nancy Sauceda) 1. superstitious: "No. I'm not being superstitious. I am only saying how it was happening." (Tan 149) WeiWei does not think she is over reacting, but is merely stating the facts as she sees them.

2. concubine: "...the family could have forced the Shanghai girl to become a concubine." (Tan 165) Referring to the wife of a suitor of Auntie Miao's. They are calling her a prostitute.

3. brocade: "...a little curved bench covered with a green brocade." (Tam 182) The type of furniture that is being bought for WeiWei.

4. imperial: "..the imperial jade earrings." (Tan 190) The type of jewelry the Old Aunt had given her.

5. shrines: "These people are so desperate that they would part with their relatives's shrines." (Tan 192) Peanut is telling WeiWei about an immoral thing that Wen Fu does.

6. naive: "I was very naive back then..." (Tan 194) WeiWei is discussing the time period in which she was married to Wen Fu.

7. concoction. "...a concoction of moxa leaves, dried alum and warm vinegar." (Tan 198) The story of the man dying during sexual intercourse is the topic of this quote.

8. Cultural Revolution: "...who later turned him in during the Cultural Revolution." (Tan 201) The time period of cleansing led by Mao Zedong.

Kate 297-398

picturesque- "look over there. Kunming is just like that expression about picturesque places- green hills and clear waters" (Tan 298) I love when books use this word it just makes me imagine how magical it looks and makes me want to be there.

Louyi - And when they did not jump to his orders, he cursed them - "louyi!"- which was a very mean thing to say, calling those poor people crickets and ants, little nobodies.- (Tan 298) If this word were more heard of in America im sure it would be used alot.

Yiku- That night i named her Yiku (Tan 326) -pleasure over biterness

Danru- Nonchalance (Tan 339)