初刻拍案驚奇 chū kè pāi àn jīng qí

DEFINITIONS

  1. Slapping the Table in Amazement (Part I), first of two books of vernacular stories by Ming dynasty novelist Ling Mengchu 凌濛初|凌蒙初[Ling2 Meng2 chu1]

CHARACTERS

初 chū
HSK 5
beginning, initial, primary
刻 kè
HSK 3
carve, engrave; quarter hour
拍 pāi
HSK 5
clap, tap, beat; beat or rhythm
案 àn
HSK 4
table, bench; legal case
驚 jīng frighten, surprise, startle
奇 qí
HSK 3
strange, unusual, uncanny, occult