遊擊官某，妻妾甚多。最諱某小字，呼年曰歲，生曰硬，馬曰大驢；又諱敗曰勝，安為放。雖簡札往來，不甚避忌，而家人道之，則怒。一日，司札吏白事，悞犯；大怒，以研擊之，立斃。三日後，醉臥，見吏持刺入。問：「何為？」曰：「『馬子安』來拜。」忽悟其鬼，急起，拔刀揮之。吏微笑，擲刺几上，泯然而沒。取刺視之，書云：「歲家眷硬大驢子放勝。」暴謬之夫，為鬼挪揄，可笑甚已！
有個游擊官，妻妾很多。他最忌諱別人說出與某個小名相同的字，把「年」說成「歲」，把「生」說成「硬」，把「馬」說成「大驢」；又忌諱「敗」字，改說「勝」，把「安」改說「放」。書信往來時，他倒不怎麼避諱，可是家裡人說了這些字，他就發怒。一天，管書信的小吏向他稟報事情，不小心犯了忌諱。他勃然大怒，拿硯臺砸過去，當場把小吏打死了。三天以後，他喝醉了躺著，看見小吏拿著名帖進來，便問：「有什麼事？」小吏說：「『馬子安』來拜見。」他忽然明白來的是鬼，急忙起身，拔刀揮砍。小吏微微一笑，把名帖扔在桌上，消失得無影無蹤。他拿起名帖一看，上面寫著：「歲家眷硬大驢子放勝。」這樣一個暴虐荒唐的人，被鬼捉弄，實在可笑極了！
游击官某，妻妾甚多。最讳某小字，呼年曰岁，生曰硬，马曰大驴；又讳败曰胜，安为放。虽简札往来，不甚避忌，而家人道之，则怒。一日，司札吏白事，悮犯；大怒，以研击之，立毙。三日后，醉卧，见吏持刺入。问：「何为？」曰：「『马子安』来拜。」忽悟其鬼，急起，拔刀挥之。吏微笑，掷刺几上，泯然而没。取刺视之，书云：「岁家眷硬大驴子放胜。」暴谬之夫，为鬼挪揄，可笑甚已！
有个游击官，妻妾很多。他最忌讳别人说出与某个小名相同的字，把“年”说成“岁”，把“生”说成“硬”，把“马”说成“大驴”；又忌讳“败”字，改说“胜”，把“安”改说“放”。书信往来时，他倒不怎么避讳，可是家里人说了这些字，他就发怒。一天，管书信的小吏向他禀报事情，不小心犯了忌讳。他勃然大怒，拿砚台砸过去，当场把小吏打死了。三天以后，他喝醉了躺着，看见小吏拿着名帖进来，便问：“有什么事？”小吏说：“‘马子安’来拜见。”他忽然明白来的是鬼，急忙起身，拔刀挥砍。小吏微微一笑，把名帖扔在桌上，消失得无影无踪。他拿起名帖一看，上面写着：“岁家眷硬大驴子放胜。”这样一个暴虐荒唐的人，被鬼捉弄，实在可笑极了！
A certain major had a great many wives and concubines. He was most touchy about the characters in a certain childhood name. For ‘year’ he said ‘age’, for ‘raw’ he said ‘hard’, and for ‘horse’ he said ‘big donkey’. He also forbade ‘defeat’ and said ‘victory’ instead, and for ‘set down’ he said ‘let off’. In letters he was not so strict, but if anyone in his household said one of these words, he flew into a rage. One day his secretary, reporting on some matter, let one slip. In a fury the major struck him with an inkstone and killed him on the spot. Three days later, as the major lay drunk, he saw the secretary come in holding a visiting card. “What is it?” he asked. “Ma Zi’an has come to pay his respects.” Suddenly the major realized this was a ghost. He leapt up, drew his sword and slashed at him. The secretary gave a faint smile, tossed the card onto the table and vanished without a trace. The major picked up the card. It read: “Age-family kinsman-hard Big Donkey Zi let off victory.” A violent, wrong-headed man made a fool of by a ghost: laughable indeed!