The emperor of the South Sea was named "Tiao", the emperor of the North Sea was named "Hu", and the central emperor "Hun Dun".

南海的皇帝，名字叫“情”;北海的皇帝，名字叫“忽”;中央的皇帝，名字叫“浑沌”。

Tiao and Hu often had contacts with each other and were very intimate.

倏和忽经常来往，十分亲密。

They often met in the central area under Hun Dun's rule and received his warm hospitality.

他们俩还常常在浑沌管辖的中央地区会面，受到浑沌的热情款待。

One day, Tiao and Hu met again and talked about Hun Dun.

一天，情和忽又碰在一道谈起浑沌。

They were very grateful to him and wished to repay him well.

都非常感激他，想好好地报答他一番。

After discussing for a long time they realized that everyone has seven orifices: the mouth, nostrils¹, ears, eyes,

他们商量了半天以后发现:每个人都有嘴巴、鼻孔、耳朵、眼睛等七窍，

so that they can eat, smell, listen, and see the beautiful scenery of nature. Only Hun Dun did not have them and could not enjoy these pleasures.

可以吃东西，闻味道，听声音，看大自然美景，只有浑沌没有七窍，无法享受。

Finally, they thought of a clever way: they decided² to bore seven holes on Hun Dun's head.

终于，他们想出了一个聪明的办法:决定给浑沌的头凿出七窍。

In this way he would be the same as others.

这样浑沌就可以和大家一样享受了。

Then, regardless of whether Hun Dun would agree or not, Tiao and Hu began working on him.

接着，情和忽不管浑沌本人同意不同意，一齐动手。

One took a big chisel³ and the other swung an iron hammer to bore one hole a day on Hun Dun's head.

一个拿把大凿子，一个抡起大铁锤，叮叮当当，在他头上每天凿一个孔。

However, on the seventh day, Hun Dun bled from the seven orifices to death.

可是，凿到第七天，浑沌却被凿得七孔流血而死了。