Archive for April 3rd, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 35

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

米特:好,好。你们两个也该笑够了吧!
爱许:别在意,米特。我最好的朋友上星期差点被一个自称是她表妹的人骗!那时候是半夜。她很想睡,脑袋不太灵光。那个‘表妹’说她惹了大麻烦,需要现金跑路。我朋友连睡衣都还穿着,在去自动提款机的半路上,她想到要问蒋伯伯最近好不好。
米特:问这个干嘛?她当然会说‘很好’。
爱许:她当然这样说了,但是那位 ‘表妹’不知道她并没有蒋伯伯这个亲戚

Milt: OK, OK. You two stop laughing at me already!
Ash: It’s OK, Milt. My best friend was almost scammed last week by someone claiming to be her cousin! It was past midnight. She was asleep and barely thinking straight. The “cousin” said she was in serious trouble and needed cash to escape. My friend was halfway to the ATM, pajamas and all, before she thought to ask how Uncle Jiang is doing.
Milt: What good is that? She’d say, “fine”, of course.
Ash: Of course she did, but the “cousin” didn’t know she doesn’t have an Uncle Jiang.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 95

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

M: Dàjiā hǎo. Huānyíng niǐmen dào Xiànzài Xué Hànyǔ. Wǒ shì ML.

S: Wǒ shì Stuart. ML, jīntiān wǒmen xué shénme?

M. Well, we were on our way to the 颐和园,the Summer Palace, Yíhéyuán, when

S. Ok, I agree, I was cycling too fast. 我同意, 我骑得太快了, wǒtóngyì, wǒ qǐ de tài kuàile. But, no harm done.

M. So we’ll continue on our way, and learn to say ‘be careful!’ and ‘a bit slower’ and more.

S. We cycle to the Yíhéyuán. 我们骑车到颐和园去 wǒmen qíchē dào Yíhéyuán qù.

M. You have to be careful. 你要小心 nǐ yào xiǎoxīn.

S. Right, I should be a bit careful. 对,我应该小心一点 Duì, wǒ yīnggāi xiǎoxīn yì diǎn.

M. Don’t cycle too fast. 别骑太快 bié qí tài kuài.

S. Right, I should cycle a bit slowly. 对,我应该骑慢点 wǒ yīnggāi qí màn diǎn

M. But, not too slowly. 但是,也不要太慢 dànshì, yě bú yào tài màn.

M. Hǎo, let’s look at the new material.

S. I said ‘we cycle to the Summer Palace’ 我们骑车去颐和园.

M. wǒmen qíchē qù Yíhéyuán .

S. So try to say, ‘we cycle to Tiananmen’. Hěnhǎo. Wǒmen qíchē qù Tiān’ānmén.

M. And, You have to be careful. 你要小心 nǐ yào xiǎoxīn. 小心 XIAO XIN xiǎoxīn, literally, ‘small heart’, and it means ‘careful’.

S. So say it, everybody, pretend you are warning someone. Xiǎoxīn, xiǎoxīn.

M. You should be a bit careful. 你应该小心一点 yīnggāi YING GAI yīnggāi, ‘should’, or ‘ought to’. yì diǎn YI DIAN yì diǎnr, ‘a bit’ or ‘a little bit’. So, we can say, xiǎoxīn, or, much the same thing, xiǎoxīn yì diǎn.

S. Don’t cycle too fast. 别骑太快 bié qí tài kuài. I should cycle a bit slowly. 我应该骑慢点wǒ yīnggāi qí màn diǎn.

M. Notice something? Sometimes we can omit the ‘yì’ in ‘yì diǎn’ when the phrase comes after an adjective. So, try to say, ‘please speak a bit slower. Mei2cuo4 请你说慢点. Or, qǐng nǐ shuō màn yì diǎn. 一样,the same, 一样。

S. And can you say, ‘you should eat a bit slower.’ Hěn hǎo, 你应该吃慢点,or, nǐ yīnggāi chī màn yìdiǎn.

M. But, not too slowly. 但是,不要太慢 dànshì, bú yào tài màn.

M. We’ll finish with the dialogue again. Try to repeat it out loud with us. Here we go.

S. 我们骑车去颐和园 wǒmen qíchē qù Yíhéyuán.

M. 你要小心 nǐ yào xiǎoxīn.

S. 对,我应该小心一点 Duì, wǒ yīnggāi xiǎoxīn yì diǎn.

M. 别骑太快 bié qí tài kuài.

S. 我应该骑慢点wǒ yīnggāi qí màn yìdiǎn

M. 但是,也不要太慢 dànshì, bú yào tài màn.

S. Got it all? Great. Keep practicing.

M. See you next lesson. Zài jiàn.

 

 

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 102

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

        Click to Watch Video Podcast

   (1月23日播出)

  旁白: 上海金山区枫泾镇的中洪村,

  Zhonghong Village in suburban

  Jinshan District of Shanghai

  被称为金山区农民画儿的发源地。

  is known as the cradle of Jinshan

  District farmer pictures.

  想象着那里江南民居,

  Picturing the Jiangnan-style

  dwelling houses,

  小桥流水般世外桃源的景象,

  little bridges and quiet streams,

  我们决定慕名前去拜访一下。

  we decided to visit it out

  of admiration.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,

  Learn Chinese the fun way!

  王渊源:万里海疆行!

  And enjoy a Happy Journey

  across China!

  韩佳: 大家好,

  Hello,

  我是快乐的韩佳。

  I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:我是快乐的渊源。

  And I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

  韩佳,我们刚走到村口,

  Han Jia, we’ve barely reached

  the village

  就看见了好几幅农民画儿。

  and now already seen several

  farmer pictures.

  韩佳: 那当然了。

  That’s natural.

  要知道,

  We ought to know

  这个村子里几乎人人都会画画儿。

  nearly all of the villager here

  can paint.

  王渊源:“几乎”表示非常接近、差不多。

  ”Jihu” means almost or nearly.

  韩佳: “几乎”是个副词,

  ”Jihu” is an adverb,

  表示非常接近、差不多。

  meaning almost or nearly.

  Zhège cūnzi li jǐihū rén rén dōu huì huàhuar

  这个 村子 里 几乎 人 人 都 会 画画儿。

  Nearly all of the villagers here

  can paint.

  王渊源:那我今天也要在这里

  Today we should

  好好地看一看,学一学。

  take a close look and try to

  learn something.

  韩佳: 好啊。走。

  Sure. Let’s go.

  王渊源:韩佳,

  Han Jia,

  这个就是金山农民画儿啊?

  is this a Jinshan farmer picture?

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes.

  王渊源:这跟我们平时看到的画儿

  It looks a bit different from

  the pictures

  不太一样啊。

  we’ve previously seen.

  这些小人都特别可爱。

  These little figures are

  all so lovely.

  手上没手指啊!

  No fingers on the hand!

  韩佳: 这你就不懂了吧,

  You obviously don’t understand

  农民画画儿是凭想象的,比较随意。

  farmer pictures are based on

  imagination and less formal.

  画面不讲究特别的技巧。

  Techniques are less strict.

  据说这里的村民

  It is said villagers here

  一般都是白天干农活,

  work as farmers in the daytime

  晚上就用画画儿的方式

  and record their life of

  the day

  来记录一天的生活。

  by painting at night.

  王渊源:那就跟我们写日记一样?

  Just like keeping diaries

  like we do?

  韩佳: 差不多。

  It’s about the same.

  最初的时候,金山农民画儿的作者

  At first, the painters of Jinshan

  farmer pictures

  都是农村的妇女。

  were all women villagers.

  她们把画儿

  They painted pictures

  画在自己家做饭的灶壁上。

  on their kitchen walls.

  王渊源:直接画在灶台上啊?

  Painting directly on kitchen walls?

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  所以这个金山农民画儿

  So Jinshan farmer pictures actually

  是起源于江南农村

  originated from kitchen murals

  每家每户都有的灶壁画儿。

  that used to be seen in every

  home in the Jiangnan region.

  旁白: 这个村子真不愧是

  This village deserves to

  be called

  农民画儿村。

  a village of farmer pictures.

  到处都能看到农民画儿。

  Farmer pictures can be

  seen everywhere.

  王渊源:真看不出来,

  It’s unbelievable that

  这些农民画儿刚兴起了二三十年。

  this type of painting only became

  popular 20 or 30 years ago.

  韩佳: 是啊,“兴起”就是指

  Yes, indeed. “Xingqi” means

  开始出现并兴盛起来。

  to rise or spring up.

  王渊源:“兴起”就是指开始出现并兴盛起来。

  ”Xingqi” means to rise or spring up.

  Zhè zhǒng huàr gāng xīngqǐ èr sānshí nián

  这 种 画儿 刚 兴起 二 三十 年。

  This type of painting only became

  popular 20 or 30 years ago.

  韩佳: 它的发展速度的确是很快。

  It has developed very quickly.

  王渊源:是啊。

  Yes, indeed.

  那这些村民一定接受过专业训练吧?

  These villagers must have received

  some kind of professional training?

  韩佳: 那你可说错了。

  No, you’re wrong.

  这些村民从来没有接受过

  None of the these villagers

  has ever

  任何专业训练。

  received any professional training.

  王渊源:啊,没接受训练

  Wow, they can paint so well

  就画得这么好啊!

  without any training!

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes, they do.

  他们就是靠自己的想象力,

  They just depend on their imaginations

  把身边熟悉的生活习俗

  and paint the life, the customs

  和劳动场景都画出来。

  and work scenes that they

  are familiar with.

  还把民间的印染、刺绣、

  They also incorporate textile

  printing, embroidery

  木雕等古老的艺术,

  and wood carving techniques

  结合到了绘画当中去。

  into their creative work.

  旁白: 金山农民画儿主要是一种家庭创作。

  The painting of Jinshan farmer pictures

  is mostly a household affair.

  说来也巧,

  Luckily,

  我们正好遇到了一户

  we happened to meet a

  big family,

  祖孙四代都画农民画儿的大家庭。

  whose members of four generations

  all paint farmer pictures.

  嘉宾: 这是我奶奶,这是我爸爸,

  This is my granny, this is

  my dad

  这个是我妈妈。

  and this is my mom.

  我是妹妹

  I am her younger sister.

  我是她侄子

  And I am her nephew.

  我是她先生。

  I’m her husband.

  王渊源:四代人都会画农民画儿啊?

  All of you guys of four generations

  paint farmer pictures?

  嘉宾: 对。

  Yes, we do.

  王渊源:这真是很难得呀!

  This is incredible!

  韩佳: 是啊。难得的是

  Yes. What’s amazing is that

  奶奶这么大年纪了也画吗?

  granny in such an advanced

  age also paints.

  嘉宾: 画的。奶奶她今年八十六岁。

  She does. My granny is

  86 years old.

  七十岁开始画画儿。

  She started painting at age 70.

  而且她画都是

  And all she paints

  儿时看到的民间娱乐活动。

  are folk entertainment activities

  she saw in her childhood.

  第一幅作品

  Her first work

  就在全国性的画展中获奖。

  won an award at a national

  art exhibition.

  韩佳: 这么厉害,奶奶!

  Your granny is so great!

  王渊源:真不错!

  Really amazing!

  爸爸妈妈是什么时候开始画的呀?

  When did your father and mother

  start painting?

  嘉宾: 像我父亲,

  My father

  他是从上个世纪五十年代末

  started painting farmer pictures

  开始创作农民画儿。

  in the 50s of last century.

  那么就是说

  That means

  他是我们这个家族画得最早,

  he was the earliest to paint

  farmer pictures

  也是整个金山区

  in our family clan

  画农民画儿画得最早。

  and also in the entire

  Jinshan District.

  韩佳: 那爸爸一般都画什么呢?

  What does your dad normally paint?

  嘉宾: 画自己的生活。

  He paints his personal life.

  韩佳: 画自己的生活。

  Oh, he paints his personal life.

  那边还有一个小朋友。

  There is also a young friend

  over there.

  王渊源:你好!

  Hello!

  韩佳: 小朋友,你也画画儿啊?

  Young friend, you also paint?

  几岁开始画的?

  When did you start to paint?

  嘉宾: 很小时候就开始了。

  I started when I was

  very young.

  韩佳: 几岁啊?

  How old were you then?

  嘉宾: 三岁。

  Three.

  合: 三岁?

  Three years old?

  韩佳: 那你平时都画些什么呀?

  What do you normally paint?

  嘉宾: 画些风景之类的。

  I paint landscapes and things

  like that.

  韩佳: 风景?那这个是你画的?

  Landscapes? Did you paint this?

  嘉宾: 嗯。

  Yes.

  韩佳: 画的什么?

  What is this painting about?

  嘉宾: 他们在举行游泳赛。

  They are having a swimming contest.

  韩佳: 哦,这三个人要游泳比赛!

  Oh, these three are competing

  in swimming!

  王渊源:真不错。

  Not bad.

  说实话,我其实很羡慕你们的。

  To be frank, I really admire you.

  我一直想画画儿,

  I always want to paint,

  画得不是特别好。

  though I don’t paint very well.

  韩佳: 那渊源刚才说的“羡慕”呢。

  Yuanyuan just said “xianmu”.

  就是指看到别人的优点、长处,

  It means to admire or envy

  或者是有利条件,

  someone’s merits

  心里希望自己

  or advantages, hoping also

  也能够具备或者是得到。

  to have them.

  王渊源:“羡慕”就是指看到别人的优点、长处。

  ”Xianmu” means to admire or envy.

  我不知道我能不能学一学。

  I’m wondering whether I

  can learn it.

  我跟您学,陈老师。

  I’ll learn from you, Mrs. Chen.

  嘉宾: 没问题。

  No problem.

  王渊源:好。

  Good.

  韩佳: 那好吧,

  Well,

  不知道渊源会画出什么东西来。

  we have no idea what Yuanyuan

  will paint.

  我们就先来休息一下,

  Let’s take a break now

  待会儿再来看看渊源的作品。

  before taking a look at

  Yuanyuan’s work.

  赏心悦目:

  金山农民画是江南特有的民间艺术

  Jinshan farmer pictures are a folk art

  peculiar to the Jiangnan region.

  从传统民间工艺中汲取营养

  Drawing nourishments from other folk arts,

  将浪漫的想象和大胆的艺术夸张相融合

  painters create their works out of imaginations

  and bold exaggerations,

  展现了农村的生活习俗和劳动场景

  depicting their rural customs and daily lives.

  它的作者全部来自农家 并以妇女居多

  The painters, mostly women, are all farmers.

  简朴纯真的构思 明快强烈的色彩

  Unsophisticated conceptions, bright colors,

  巧妙和谐的构图 细腻流畅的技法

  ingenious compositions and delicate painting skills

  在中国现代民间绘画中独树一帜

  are all characteristic of this unique modern

  Chinese folk art.

  韩佳: 现在金山农民画儿的名气

  Jinshan farmer pictures have become

  是越来越大了。

  increasingly popular.

  尤其是陈修这边的画儿,

  And many paintings, particularly

  by Chen Xiu,

  很多都是限量发行的。

  are published with a limit.

  那渊源在这里学画画儿,

  Since Yuanyuan is learning

  to paint,

  岂不是他的画儿也能卖个好价钱?

  will his painting also sell

  for a good price?

  渊源,画得怎么样了?

  Yuanyuan, how is your

  painting going?

  王渊源:你别急,别急。

  Be patient.

  马上就好了。

  It’ll be done soon.

  韩佳: 那你慢慢画。

  Take your time with your painting.

  我们先来看看今天的有奖问答题。

  Now let’s take a look at today’s

  award-winning question.

  您听好了。

  Listen carefully.

  (问题部分略)

  王渊源:差不多了。你过来看看。

  Almost. Come take a look.

  我感觉这幅肯定能卖个好价钱。

  I think it will definitely

  sell for a good price.

  韩佳: 你这画的是船?

  Is it a boat that you painted?

  王渊源:船。

  Yes, a boat.

  韩佳: 那旁边的肯定是鱼喽?

  Those must be fish on

  both sides?

  王渊源:有鱼。

  There are fish in it.

  韩佳: 可你这画得也太抽象了吧?

  Isn’t your painting a bit

  too abstract?

  王渊源:你别说,我这幅也是限量发售,

  Believe it or not, copies of

  this painting of mine

  数量有限。

  will be sold with a limit.

  欲购从速。

  Orders must be sent in

  as soon as possible.

  韩佳: 是吗?那你赶快给大家看看。

  Really? Be quick to show

  it to our audience.

  王渊源:怎么都笑啊?

  Why are you all laughing?

  难道我画得不好吗?

  Did I paint it too poorly?

  嘉宾: 不错,蛮好的。

  Not bad, pretty good.

  再练练就好了。

  You need further practice.

  不过也蛮有个性的。

  But it does show some

  unique style.

  王渊源:谢谢,谢谢!

  Thanks, thanks!

  我们今天很高兴

  Today we were very pleased

  能够跟这一家人一起看画儿,学画儿。

  to enjoy paintings and learn some

  painting skills from this family.

  韩佳: 对。

  Yes.

  希望电视机前的观众朋友们,

  we hope our audience have

  got a feel for

  也能感受到我们这边的欢乐气氛。

  our joyous atmosphere.

  王渊源:现在我们的节目

  Our program

  马上要结束了。

  is about to end soon.

  欢迎您明天同一时间,

  We expect to see you same

  time tomorrow

  继续收看我们的节目。

  on this program.

  韩佳: 也别忘了我们的口号。

  And don’t forget our slogan.

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

  Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

  韩佳: 再见。

  Bye-bye.

    (Source: cctv.com)