Archive for March 27th, 2008

Children Chinese – Buying Stuff (1)

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

 Download for Listening and Speaking Practice  lesson 9-1

(Source: usa.betterchinese.com)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 95

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

                     Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (1月10日播出)

  旁白: 今天我们要去的地方,

  The place we’re going

  to today

  可绝对是上海

  is absolutely typical of Shanghai’s

  最新发展状况的代表。

  newest development.

  没错儿,就是浦东新区。

  Yes, it is Pudong New Area.

  来上海出差旅游的人,

  Most people on business trips

  to Shanghai

  大都要来这驰名中外的

  would invariably come to

  the world-famous

  浦东新区看一看。

  Pudong New Area for a look.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,

  Learn Chinese the fun way

  万里海疆行!

  and enjoy a Happy Journey

  across China!

  大家好,我是快乐的韩佳。

  Hello there! I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:我是快乐的渊源。

  And I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

  韩佳: 渊源,

  Yuanyuan,

  你知道浦东新区

  do you know which specific districts

  都包括哪几个区吗?

  Pudong New Area includes?

  王渊源:好像包括不少吧。

  It seems to include quite

  many districts.

  韩佳: 浦东新区包括

  Pudong New Area includes

  陆家嘴金融贸易区、

  the Lujiazui Financial and

  Trade Zone,

  金桥出口加工区、

  the Jinqiao Export Processing Zone,

  张江高科技园区

  Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park,

  和外高桥保税区等等。

  and the Waigaoqiao Free

  Trade Zone.

  王渊源:反正啊,

  Anyway,

  我知道浦东新区发展的特别得快,

  I know Pudong New Area has been

  developing very quickly and

  是上海最有活力的地区之一了。

  is one of the most vibrant districts

  in Shanghai.

  韩佳: 说得没错儿。

  Absolutely.

  “活力”是用来指旺盛的生命力。

  ”Huoli” refers to vigor, vitality

  or energy.

  现在我们常常会用它来说,

  It is often used to describe

  a place,

  某个地区很有发展,很有希望。

  which is very vibrant and promising.

  王渊源:“活力”是用来指旺盛的生命力。

  ”Huoli” refers to vigor, vitality

  or energy.

  韩佳: 嗯,那我们可以说。

  Yes. So we can say.

  Zhèli shì shànghǎi zuì yǒu huóli de dìqū zhī yī

  这里 是 上海 最 有 活力 的 地区 之 一。

  This is one of the most vibrant districts

  in Shanghai.

  王渊源:其实啊,我对浦东新区的了解

  In fact, my knowledge of Pudong

  New Area

  不止这些。

  isn’t just limited to this.

  韩佳: 哦?

  Oh, really?

  王渊源:这样吧,

  I think I’d better

  我还是用数字向大家介绍吧。走。

  talk about it with some figures.

  Let’s go.

  韩佳: 数字?

  Figures?

  这跟浦东新区有什么关系啊?

  Do figures have anything to

  do with Pudong?

  王渊源:你别着急啊。

  Be patient.

  这不马上就要介绍了嘛。

  I’ll explain at once.

  我们从这儿开始。

  We start from here.

  韩佳: 世纪大道!

  Century Avenue!

  它可被称为

  It is billed as

  “东方的香榭丽舍大街”啊!

  the Oriental Avenue des

  Champs-Elysees!

  王渊源:没错儿。它全长4.2公里,

  Exactly. It is 4.2 km in total length

  有十二个车道和中央绿化带,

  and 100 meters in width

  with 12 lanes

  宽百米。

  and a dividing green belt.

  韩佳: 果然是张嘴就是数啊。

  Figures indeed, first thing when

  you start talking about it.

  王渊源:那当然了。

  That’s for sure.

  旁白: 我们走上世纪大道,

  When we walk on Century Avenue,

  很快的,上海最为亮丽夺目的景观

  soon the most eye-catching skylines

  就展现在我们眼前了。

  are appearing before our eyes.

  韩佳: 哇!

  Wow!

  果然是直插云霄的摩天大厦呀!

  Those are indeed skyscrapers!

  王渊源:真高啊。等会儿。

  They are so tall. Wait a minute.

  你刚才说的“摩什么”?

  What did you say after “mo”?

  韩佳: “摩天大厦”呀。

  ”Motian dasha”.

  意思是好像接触到天的高楼,

  It means skyscrapers,

  用来形容楼非常得高。

  or extremely tall buildings.

  王渊源:哦,“摩天大厦”

  So, “motian dasha”

  意思是好像接触到天的高楼。

  means skyscrapers.

  这座摩天大厦呢

  This skyscraper

  高度达到了420.5米,

  is 420.5 meters tall,

  是世界第三、中国第一的高楼。

  the third tallest in the world

  and the tallest in China.

  韩佳: 哇,你还真的都是数字式介绍啊!

  Wow, indeed an introduction

  with figures!

  王渊源:那当然。这些数字绝对精确。

  Sure. These figures are

  absolutely accurate.

  韩佳: 不过你漏了一个

  But you omitted one figure,

  到了这里不得不提的数字。

  a figure you mustn’t fail to

  mention since we’re here.

  王渊源:什么数啊?

  What figure?

  韩佳: 就是金茂大厦

  That’s the observation deck

  第八十八层的观光厅啊。

  on the 88th floor of Jin

  Mao Tower.

  王渊源:对对对。

  Yes, yes.

  说起这观光厅呢,

  The observation deck

  它距离地面有三百四十米,

  is 340 meters above ground

  还有啊…

  and besides …

  韩佳: 别还有了。

  No more besides.

  我们上去看看不就都知道了。

  We’ll know everything after

  we get up there.

  王渊源:也对啊。

  Yes, that’s true.

  韩佳: 登高望远,

  Glancing around high up here,

  果然视野开阔啊。

  we’re enjoying a much wider view.

  你看这黄浦江

  Look, the Huangpu River

  就像是一条长长的飘带。

  looks like a long ribbon.

  还有那些车啊、船啊、

  And those vehicles, boats

  高楼大厦啊,

  and high-rise buildings

  都像是一个个小小的模型。

  all look like small models.

  王渊源:我都有“一览众山小”的感觉了。

  Now I feel everything has become

  so small down below.

  韩佳: 渊源,你发现没有,

  Yuanyuan, did you find that

  这金茂大厦啊

  although Jin Mao Tower

  虽然看上去很现代,

  looks very modern,

  但是呢,

  in fact,

  还是有中国传统建筑的特色。

  it still shows some traditional

  Chinese architectural features.

  王渊源:是吗?

  Really?

  我看不出来。

  No, I don’t see that.

  韩佳: 你看,它的外形啊

  Look, its exterior

  是模仿古塔的样子来建造的。

  was built in imitation of

  ancient pagodas.

  王渊源:哦,也就是说底层最大,

  Oh, that means this type of construction

  has a broad base

  然后一层一层

  and the higher up,

  越往上越小的建筑方式。

  the narrower it becomes.

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  这就叫古为今用,

  It’s called making the ancient

  serve the present

  现代与传统相结合呀。

  or a combination of tradition

  and modernity.

  旁白: 在金茂大厦的

  From the 53rd floor up to

  第五十三层到第八十七层,

  the 87th floor of Jin Mao Tower,

  是目前世界上

  there is the highest hotel

  离地面最高的酒店。

  in the world.

  从八十八层望下去,

  Looking down from the 88th floor,

  二十八道环廊在霓虹灯的照射下

  the visitor will see 28 circular corridors,

  金光闪闪,美不胜收。

  glittering under neon lights,

  a real feat for the eyes.

  这独特的酒店中庭

  The unique hotel atrium

  被人们誉为“时空隧道”、

  is billed as a Tunnel of Time

  and Space

  “金色年轮”。

  and Golden Annual Rings.

  不过,不久后

  But soon

  金茂大厦“中国第一高楼”的称号,

  Jin Mao’s title as China’s tallest building

  会被上海环球金融中心所取代。

  will be replaced by Shanghai

  World Financial Center.

  这座建设中的大厦,

  The building still under construction,

  将以四百六十米的楼高,

  with a height of 460 meters,

  成为世界第一高楼。

  will be the tallest building

  in the world.

  王渊源:韩佳,转了这么半天,

  Han Jia, after strolling for

  such a long time,

  咱们可还没去看上海最有代表性的…

  we haven’t seen Shanghai’s

  most representative …

  韩佳: 哦,东方明珠。

  Oh, you mean Oriental Pearl Tower.

  这座东方明珠电视塔呢

  The Oriental Pearl TV Tower

  被看作是上海的标志性建筑。

  is considered as Shanghai’s

  landmark building.

  王渊源:对对对,

  Yes, yes,

  这座电视塔可是亚洲第一、

  It is surely Asia’s tallest

  世界第三高的广播电视塔。

  the world’s third tallest TV tower.

  韩佳: 数字又来了!

  Figures again!

  王渊源:我再说最后一个数。

  Now I’m going to say

  the last figure.

  它是四百六十八米高。

  It is 468 meters in height.

  韩佳: 没错儿。

  Exactly.

  不过这座电视塔的独特之处

  But the unique features of

  this TV tower

  不光体现在高度上,

  are not demonstrated just

  by its height,

  更体现在它的创意和造型上。

  but also by its conception

  and design.

  王渊源:造型确实很独特。

  Its design is surely very unique.

  韩佳: “独特”就是指独有的、特别的。

  ”Dute” means unique or distinctive.

  王渊源:“独特”就是指独有的、特别的。

  ”Dute” means unique or distinctive.

  韩佳: 那我们可以说。

  So we can say.

  Zhè zuò diànshìtǎ de zàoxíng shífēn dútè

  这 座 电视塔 的 造型 十分 独特。

  The design of this TV tower

  is very unique.

  那渊源,

  Yuanyuan,

  你知道它为什么要叫“东方明珠”吗?

  do you know why it’s called

  Oriental Pearl?

  王渊源:“东方”我可以理解,

  I understand “dong fang”,

  可是这“明珠”。

  but not “ming zhu”.

  韩佳: “明珠”这一词呢

  The word “ming zhu”

  来自于白居易的名句,

  comes from Bai Juyi’s verse,

  “大珠小珠落玉盘”。

  ”Pearls, large and small,

  fall on a jade plate.”

  你看,那座电视塔

  Look, this TV tower

  它是由大大小小的十一个球组成的。

  is composed of 11 balls.

  远远看去啊,

  Seen from a distance,

  就像是一串从天而降的明珠,

  it looks like a string of pearls

  falling from the sky

  降落在黄浦江这块玉盘上。

  on the “jade plate” Huangpu River.

  更妙的是它与左右两侧的

  What’s more interesting,

  the tower

  杨浦大桥、南浦大桥,

  and the Yangpu Bridge and

  Nanpu Bridge on its sides

  组成了一个双龙戏珠的样子。

  form a picture of two dragons

  frolicking with a pearl.

  王渊源:让你越说越妙啊。

  The more you talk, the more

  interesting it seems.

  真是处处都有美景!

  Beautiful scenery can be

  seen everywhere!

  来来来,

  Come on,

  请观众朋友们和我们一起,

  together with our audience,

  let’s enjoy

  在这儿赏心悦目吧。

  the Feast for the Eyes.

  赏心悦目:

  浦东 上海新近崛起的一颗明珠

  Pudong is billed as a bright new pearl

  in Shanghai.

  陆家嘴金融区高楼林立

  The Lujiazui Financial Zone is full

  of high-rises.

  东方明珠 金茂大厦

  The amazing heights of Oriental Pearl Tower

  以令人惊叹的高度

  and Jin Mao Tower

  向人们证明了上海蓬勃的经济

  demonstrate Shanghai’s dynamic economy.

  浦东成熟而具有活力

  Pudong is mature and vibrant.

  到处洋溢着现代化的商业气息

  It brims with a modern business atmosphere.

  整洁的街道 宽阔的广场

  It has clean and tidy streets and

  spacious squares.

  浦东以自己的优良环境

  Thanks to its excellent environment, Pudong

  吸引了无数国内外的金融投资

  draws in countless investments

  both from home and abroad,

  为上海的发展作出了重要贡献

  contributing greatly to Shanghai’s development.

  韩佳: 一到晚上,

  When night falls,

  黄浦江两岸真的是灯火辉煌啊。

  both sides of the Huangpu River

  are ablaze with lights.

  王渊源:那我就在美丽的滨江大道上,

  Here on this beautiful Riverside Avenue,

  给大家出今天的有奖问答题吧。

  let’s set today’s award-winning question.

  韩佳: 好。

  Okay.

  (问题部分略)

  好了,最后呢,

  Well, before we wrap up,

  还是要跟您

  we’d like to remind you to

  相约在明天同一时间。

  stay tuned to us same

  time tomorrow.

  不见不散哦。

  Be there or be square.

  王渊源:还有口号不能忘。

  And also don’t forget our slogan.

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

  Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

  韩佳: 明天见。

  See you tomorrow.

(Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Pinyin – Street Sign Styles(1)

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Style is an important element in how well information is conveyed, though most people don’t notice this on a concious level. This page presents examples of different styles and explains some of their advantages and disadvantages.

I should perhaps add that I see no reason to use English on street signs — romanization of Mandarin is quite sufficient. Thus, I prefer “Nanjing Donglu” to “Nanjing E. Rd.” But it may be too late for this sort of practice to catch on in Taiwan, which has embraced the mixed style. I hope that cities in China, where most signs have been purely in romanized Mandarin rather than in a mixture of romanized Mandarin and English, will not start putting English on street signs (though English on much other signage would be appropriate and welcome).

Nanjing E. Rd. Sec. 4

Good

Clean, simple, and easy to read — this is the best style when both romanized Mandarin Chinese (Nanjing) and English (E. Road Sec.) are used, as long as this is large enough to be read from a distance. This also takes less horizontal space than all of the other styles, an important consideration in places where space is at a premium. The font used here doesn’t have long descenders, which means that, for example, the j and the g don’t descend very far below the line on which the other letters sit; this is good for saving vertical space, which is important, because signs need to have both characters and romanized forms.

Unfortunately, however, I have seen some new signs in this style in which the type has been so small that one practically has to be next to the sign to make out for sure just what street’s name is given there.

(Source: pinyin.info)