Archive for April 4th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 36

Friday, April 4th, 2008

在20世纪,机器大都是电动的。两百年前,电还没有广泛的应用,机器都是靠水力发动,因此,工厂都是开在流动的江河边。然而,现今的工厂可以开在远离河流的地方。

In the 20th century, machines are run mostly by electricity. Two hundred years ago electricity was not in common use. Machines were often run by water, and therefore many factories grew up by running rivers. Today, however, factories can be placed far from our rivers.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 96

Friday, April 4th, 2008

M: Péngyǒumen, nǐmen hǎo! Huānyíng nǐmen dào Xiànzài Xué Hànyǔ. Wǒ shì ML.

S: Dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Stuart. Today it’s a 复习课revision lesson,fùxí kè.

M: Lots to 练习 practice, liànxí.

S. In lesson 93, we decided to go to the Summer Palace – 颐和园. 我们要去颐和园wǒmen yào qù Yíhēyuán.

S. How far? 颐和园离这儿多远? Yíhéyuán lí zhèr duō yuǎn?

M. Six kilometers 六公里liù gōnglǐ.

S. 六公里,那不远 liù gōnglǐ, nà bù yuǎn.

M. You have a bike? 你有自行车吗? nǐ yǒu zìxíngchē ma?

S. 我有自行车 wǒ yǒu zìxíngchē.

M. 我也有自行车wǒ yě yǒu zìxíngchē.

S. We’ll cycle 我们骑车去, 好不好? wǒmen qií chē qù, hǎo bù hǎo.

M. 骑车去, qí chē qù? Hǎo!

S: And in lesson 94, we learnt things like ‘traffic lights’ hónglǜdēng, and ‘3rd ring road’ , san1huan2lu4.

M. Sometimes we also hear people say ‘交通灯’, jiao1tong1deng1. 交通means transport, transportation. So, jiāotōngdēng and hónglǜdēng both mean ‘traffic lights’. Jiāotōngdēng hé hónglǜdēng yíyàng, the same.

S: And ‘ahead’ qiánmiàn. ‘Bridge’ qiáo, qiáo, as in Suzhou Bridge Sūzhōuqiáo.

M. 我们在三环路上wǒmen zài sānhuánlùshàng.

S. 前面就是苏州桥 qiánmiàn jiù shì Sūzhōu Qiáo.

M. 在苏州桥有红绿灯 zài Sūzhōu Qiáo yǒu hónglǜdēng.

S. 我们在红绿灯那儿右拐 wǒmen zài hónglǜdēng nàr yòu guǎi.

M. 我们已经到红绿灯了,右拐!wǒmen dàole hónglǜdēng, yòuguǎi.

S. 快右拐!kuài yòu guǎi.

M. Stuart, 你骑得太快了。nǐ qíde tài kuài le.

S. 不对, 你骑得太慢了。búduì, nǐ qíde taì màn le.

M. 不对, 你骑得太快 nǐ qíde tài kuài.

S. 不对,是你骑得太慢 búduì, shì nǐ qíde tài màn.

M. And, of course as usual, I was right.

M: He NEVER listens!

S: Ok, I guess I did cycle too fast. But, no harm done!

M: I’m glad you realize it! You should cycle more slowly. 你应该骑慢一点。你应该骑慢一点。

S: Right! And, wǒyě yīnggāi xiǎoxīndiǎn. I should also be more careful. 我也应该小心点儿。Be careful, 小心。

M: 对了,别骑太快。 Don’t cycle too fast. Biéqí tàikuài. Here 别 is exactly the same meaning as 不要,both meaning “don’t” in English.

S: So you can easily guess that “但是,也不要太慢” can also be expressed as “但是,也别太慢。” bié, buúyào, yíyàng.

M: Ok, that’s basically what we learned in the past week. Remember to practice as often as possible!

S: And don’t forget, biéwàngle, búyàowàngle, to read everything loud – very important.

M: Ok, we’ll see you next lesson.

S: Zài jiàn.

 

(Source:english.cri.cn)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 103

Friday, April 4th, 2008

 

       Click to Watch Video Podcast
    (1月24日播出)

  旁白: 嘉兴是浙江省

  Jiaxing is the nearest city

  离上海最近的一座城市。

  to Shanghai in Zhejiang Province.

  它历史悠久,名人荟萃,

  With a long history and as the

  birthplace of many famous people,

  是一座典型的

  it is a typical Jiangnan water-town

  具有江南水乡风情的文化名城。

  as well as a renowned cultural city.

  相信只要是来过嘉兴的人,

  I’m sure all visitors to Jiaxing

  都会被这里古朴

  will be attracted by its

  quaint simplicity

  而又独特的韵味所吸引。

  and unique charms.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,

  Learn Chinese the fun way!

  王渊源:万里海疆行!

  And enjoy a long journey

  across China!

  韩佳: 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: 人们都说

  People say

  嘉兴是一座因水而生的城市。

  Jiaxing is a city born of water.

  王渊源:我看哪,

  I think, due to its close

  relationship with water,

  还可以用水在城中,

  it can be described as a

  city with water inside it

  城在水中来形容嘉兴和水的密切关系。

  and a city inside water.

  画外音:嘉兴和水

  What kind of close relationship

  有什么密切的关系啊?

  does Jiaxing have with water?

  王渊源:我们说的水

  The water we speak of

  就是著名的京杭大运河呀。

  refers to the well-known Beijing-

  Hangzhou Grand Canal.

  韩佳: 对。嘉兴的运河

  Yes. The history of Jiaxing’s canals

  历史可以追溯到春秋时期,

  can be traced back to the Spring

  and Autumn Period

  距今已经有两千五百年了。

  some 2,500 years ago.

  王渊源:韩佳,“追溯”是什么意思?

  Han Jia, what does “zhuisu” mean?

  韩佳: “追溯”就是指逆流而上,

  ”Zhuisu”, literally to walk upstream

  向江河的发源处走,

  to the source of a river,

  用在这里是指探索事物的由来。

  means to trace back to or

  to date from.

  王渊源:“追溯”就是指探索事物的由来。

  ”Zhuisu” means to trace back

  to or to date from.

  Jiāxīng yùnhé de lìshǐ kěyi zhuīshuò dao chūnqiū shíqī

  嘉兴 运河 的 历史 可以 追溯 到 春秋 时期。

  The history of Jiaxing’s canals

  can be traced back to the Spring

  and Autumn Period.

  韩佳: 虽然嘉兴运河的历史

  Although the history of

  Jiaxing’s canals

  已经有两千五百年了,

  dates back 2,500 years,

  但是直到隋朝的隋炀帝

  It was not until Emperor Tangdi

  of the Sui Dynasty

  开凿京杭大运河之后,

  dug the Beijing-Hangzhou

  Grand Canal

  嘉兴才成为南北交通干线的连接点。

  that Jiaxing became a link along

  this north-south trunk transport line.

  南北贸易的往来,

  The north-south trade

  也给嘉兴带来了新的文化,

  also brought new culture

  to Jiaxing,

  使嘉兴逐步成为了一座文化名城。

  which gradually made it a famed

  cultural city.

  旁白: 嘉兴是江南文化的发源地之一。

  Jiaxing was one of the birthplaces

  of Jiangnan culture.

  它在古老运河的孕育中一天天地崛起。

  It grew day by day under the nurture

  of the old Grand Canal.

  俗话说得好:

  Just as the saying goes:

  “一方水土养一方人”,

  ”Each place nurtures its

  own inhabitants,”

  是大运河的滋养

  it was the nurture of the

  Grand Canal

  造就了嘉兴无数的文化名人;

  that brought forth so many

  cultural personages,

  像国学大师王国维,

  such as Wang Guowei, a master

  of Chinese studies,

  现代文学巨匠茅盾,

  Mao Dun, a giant of modern

  Chinese literature,

  漫画宗师丰子恺,

  Feng Zikai, a pioneering caricaturist,

  还有著名的诗人徐志摩等等。

  and Xu Zhimo, an eminent poet.

  在中国历史上,

  They all occupy

  都占有非常重要的位置。

  important positions in Chinese history.

  韩佳: 悄悄地我走了,

  ”Quietly I walked away,

  正如我悄悄地来。

  Just as quietly I came.

  我挥一挥衣袖,

  I slung my sleeve,

  不带走一片云彩。

  Taking no cloud with me.”

  王渊源:写得真是太美了,太美了!

  How beautifully this was written!

  我听说嘉兴出名人。

  I heard Jiaxing is home to

  many famous persons.

  这名人写的诗就是不一样。

  A famous person’s poem

  is surely different.

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  嘉兴就是这样一个名人辈出的地方啊!

  Many famous people have come

  from Jiaxing!

  王渊源:名人什么?

  ”Mingren” what?

  韩佳: “名人辈出”啊。

  ”Mingren beichu”.

  “辈出”就是指一批接一批地涌现出来。

  ”Beichu” means to come forth in

  large numbers.

  “名人辈出”呢

  ”Mingren beichu”

  就是形容这里的名人很多。

  means many famous people

  have come from here.

  王渊源:“辈出”就是指一批接一批地涌现出来。

  ”Beichu” means to come forth in

  large numbers.

  Jiāxīng shì ge míngrén bèichū de dìfang

  嘉兴 是 个 名人 辈出 的 地方。

  Many famous people have

  come from Jiaxing.

  旁白: 听韩佳说

  I heard from Han Jia that

  嘉兴之所以能涌现出那么多名人,

  many famous people have

  come from Jiaxing

  与这里长期以来,

  because since ancient times,

  重视教育是分不开的。

  people here have paid

  attention to education.

  直到今天,嘉兴人

  Till today, Jiaxing residents

  依然保持着重视教育、

  have retained the fine tradition

  of paying

  崇尚文化的优良传统。

  attention to education and learning.

  所以,我们决定

  So we decide

  要去嘉兴的百年老校感受一下

  to take a look at a 100-year-old

  school in Jiaxing

  那里的校园生活。

  to get a feel for the campus

  life there.

  韩佳: 这里就是嘉兴的一所百年老校

  This is Jiaxing’s 100-year-old

  秀州中学。

  Xiuzhou Middle School.

  它从1900年建成以来,

  Founded in 1900,

  已经为中国培养出了

  it has trained for China

  很多优秀的人才。

  many talented people.

  王渊源:那是不是也有很多名人哪?

  Did they include many

  famous people?

  韩佳: 那当然了。秀州中学

  Of course. Xiuzhou Middle School

  为中国培养出了十位院士呢,

  produced ten academicians,

  其中世界数学大师陈省身;

  including Chen Xingshen, a

  world-renowned mathematician,

  诺贝尔物理学奖得主李政道;

  Tsung-dao Lee, a Nobel Laureate

  in Physics,

  以及两弹一星的功勋奖获得者程开甲。

  and Cheng Kaijia, winner of the Two

  Bombs and One Satellite Award.

  都在秀州中学上过学。

  They all studied at Xiuzhou

  Middle School.

  王渊源:我能在这所学校里学习

  I am really lucky

  真是幸运!

  to learn at this middle school!

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  要不然这所学校…

  That’s why this middle school…

  学生: 你好!

  Hello!

  韩佳: 你们好!

  Hello!

  你们下课了?

  Did you finish class?

  旁白: 在和同学们的接触中,

  Through our contacts with

  these students,

  我们了解到这所学校,

  we learned that,

  除了具备完善的现代化教学设施,

  in addition to its perfect modern

  teaching facilities,

  还非常注重对学生素质的培养。

  this school also pays attention to the

  fostering of the students’ qualities.

  在嘉兴,

  In Jiaxing,

  无论是百年历史的老校、图书馆,

  this 100-year-old school, a library

  还是充满现代感的嘉兴大剧院,

  and the modern-style Jiaxing Theater

  都在向我们展示

  all demonstrate to us

  这座文化名城正在发生的变化。

  the occurring changes of this

  cultural city.

  这其中,有一条梅湾老街。

  One of the old streets is Meiwan.

  就是嘉兴文化的一个典型代表。

  It is typical of Jiaxing culture.

  韩佳: 渊源,这里就是梅湾街。

  Yuanyuan, this is Meiwan Street.

  王渊源:据我所知,

  To my knowledge,

  这里应该是嘉兴现存传统民居

  it should be one of the areas

  in which

  较为集中的区域之一吧。

  Jiaxing’s traditional dwelling

  houses still exist.

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes, it is true.

  这条历史老街全长大约有三百米,

  Houses along this 300-meter-long

  old street

  都是一些清末时期的住宅。

  all date from the late Qing

  Dynasty period.

  堪称是江南民居的典型啊。

  They can be rated as typical

  Jiangnan dwellings.

  “堪称”就是指可以称为、

  ”Kancheng” means “can

  be rated as

  称得上的意思。

  or can be called.”

  王渊源:“堪称”就是指可以称为、

  ”Kancheng” means “can

  be rated as

  称得上的意思。

  or can be called.”

  在这个现代化的城市中,

  It isn’t really easy for

  this modern city

  能保存这么一条历史文化老街

  to preserve an old, historical street

  很不容易。

  like this one.

  韩佳: 对呀。

  Yes indeed.

  所以人们对这里的一些名人故居,

  Some residences of past famous people,

  还有一些传统的建筑,

  as well as some traditional structures,

  都进行了保护性的修缮,

  have all undergone protective repairs

  保持了原有的风格。

  to maintain their original styles.

  王渊源:能看得出

  I can still perceive

  整条街的文化底蕴还是很深厚。

  the cultural profundity of this

  entire street.

  韩佳: 对呀。那观众朋友们,

  Yes indeed. Audience friends,

  您是不是也跟我们一样,

  are you, like us,

  被这里的古老文化气息

  also attracted by

  所吸引了呢?

  the old cultural atmosphere here?

  下面就让我们

  Now let’s

  一边来欣赏风景,

  enjoy the scenery

  一边来品味一下

  while savoring

  古老的历史文化吧。

  the old history and culture here.

  赏心悦目:

  嘉兴会集了水乡风韵与悠久的历史

  Jiaxing is a typical Jiangnan water-town

  两千余年的积淀

  with a long history of over 2,000 years

  浓厚的文化氛围

  and a strong cultural ambience.

  为嘉兴造就了许许多多的名人

  Jiaxing is home to many famous persons.

  崇尚教育的优良传统

  The fine tradition of paying attention

  to education

  是这里人才辈出的重要原因

  accounts for the great number of

  talented people.

  嘉兴正以崭新的姿态

  Jiaxing looks forward to its future

  迎接灿烂美好的明天

  with confidence and in a brand-new posture.

  王渊源:观众朋友,

  Audience friends,

  看了今天的节目,

  seeing today’s program,

  您是不是已经开始喜欢上

  do you think you have begun

  to like

  这座文化名城了呢?

  this famed cultural city?

  韩佳: 那明天呢,

  As for tomorrow,

  我们要带您去嘉兴的平湖看一看

  we’ll be taking you to Jiaxing’s

  Pinghu County

  感受一下不同的魅力。

  to get the feel of its charms.

  (问题部分略)

  王渊源:节目的最后还是要提醒您,

  At the end of this program,

  we’d still

  别忘记了我们的口号。

  want to remind you of

  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)