Archive for April 6th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 38

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

战争夺走了数百万人的生命。可战争不是大规模死亡的唯一成因。700多年前的一种叫黑死病的可怕疾病夺走了超过4000万人的生命。在欧洲,三个人中就有一人死于这种病.

Wars kill millions of people. But war is not the only cause of large-scale death. 700 years ago a terrible disease called the Bubonic Plague killed more than 40 million people. In Europe it killed 1 person in 3.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

 

Cri – Lesson 98

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

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

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

M. First, let’s warm up with the dialogue of the last lesson, then enter the Summer Palace and learn to say things like ‘take a photo’ and ‘good, better, best’.

S. Hǎo zhúyi. And, you guys at home, please repeat everything out loud with us, very important. Here goes.

M. 我们去哪儿买票?wǒmen qù nǎr mǎi piào?

S. 去那儿 qù nǎr.

M. 好,我去买票 wǒ qù mǎi piào. 您好,我要两张票 nín hǎo, wǒ yào liǎng zhāng piào.
WOMAN. 两张票,三十块 liǎng zhāng piào, sān shí kuài.

M. xiè xie. Stuart, 票买好了 piào mǎihǎo le.

S. 多少钱 duō shao qián?

M. 十五块一张 shí wǔ kuài yì zhāng.

S. 好了,我们进去 hǎo le, wǒmen jìn qu.

M. 入口在哪儿 rùkǒu zài nǎr?

S. 入口在那儿 rùkǒu zài nǎr.

M. So, we’ll be in the Summer Palace in seconds.

S. Now we’re in the Yíhéyuán. 现在我们在颐和园里 xiàn zài wǒmen zài Yíhéyuán lǐ.

M. Let’s take a photo, ok? 我们拍个照,好不好?wǒmen pāigèzhào, hǎo bù hǎo?

S. 好。我们在哪儿拍?wǒmen zài nǎr pāi?

M. Here’s good. 这里好 zhèlǐ hǎo.

S. But there’s better. 但是,那边更好 dàn shì, naàbian gènghǎo.

M. I feel here’s better 我觉得这里更好 wǒ juéde zhèlǐ gènghǎo.

S. I reckon there’s better than here. 我认为,那边比这里好 wǒ rènwéi, nà biān bǐ zhèlǐ hǎo.

M. But the best place is over there. 但是,最好的地方是那边 dànshì, zuìhǎo de dìfang shì nàbian.

S. 对了,那边是最好的地方 nàbiān shì zuì hǎo de dìfang.

S. Wow, some very useful Putonghua. Like ‘take a photo’. 拍个照 PAI GE ZHAO, pāigèzhào.

M. Pai1, here means ‘to take’. But, mind you, this word usually means ‘to bounce’, as in ‘bouncing a basketball’. So, everyone say, ‘let’s take a photo, ok?’. 我们拍个照,好不好?wǒmen pāigèzhào, hǎo bù hǎo?

S. And ML said:

M. Here’s good 这里好 ZHE LI zhè lǐ, like zhèr4, means ‘here’. Here’s good, zhèlǐ hǎo, zhèlǐ hǎo.

S. 但是,那边更好. Na4bian NA BIAN na4bian, like 那儿,means ‘there’ nàbiān.

M. And I will now say, ‘good, better, best’ in Han4yu3. Repeat with me. 好 hǎo, 更好 gèng hǎo, 最好 zuì hǎo.

S: And if 坏 HUAI huài, means ‘bad’, how do you say ‘she is very bad, he is worse, but, I am the worst’? Dá duì le: tā huài, tā gèng huài, dàn shì, wǒ zuì huài.

M. And how do you say, ‘he is very clever, you are cleverer, but I am the cleverest’. Right. Tā hěn cōngming, nǐ gèng cōngming, búguò, wǒ zuì cōngming.

S. And so modest. But, time’s up, so we’ll continue taking photos next lesson. Zài jiàn.

 

(Source:english.cri.cn)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 105

Sunday, April 6th, 2008
 
 

                           Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (1月29日播出)

  旁白: 新的一周,新的行程!

  A new week and a new beginning!

  一大早,我们就从平湖出发,

  Early in the morning, we

  left Pinghu

  前往嘉兴的第三站——海盐了。

  for Haiyan, our third stop

  in Jiaxing.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,万里海疆行!

  Learn Chinese the fun way 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:大家好!

  Hi!

  我是快乐的王渊源。

  I’m Happy Wang Yuanyuan.

  韩佳,我们已经到海盐了,

  Han Jia, now that we’ve

  arrived in Haiyan,

  要不你简单的给我介绍一下

  could you give us a brief introduction

  我们今天要去的地方吧?

  of the place we’re going

  to see today?

  韩佳: 其实,今天要去的地方

  In fact, I neither have ever

  been to the places

  我以前也没有去过。

  we’re going to see today.

  不过呢,很有名,

  But they are very famous,

  是海盐的两大名片。

  known as Haiyan’s two

  business cards.

  王渊源:名片?韩佳,你就直说吧,

  Business cards? Han Jia,

  tell us straight

  到底是哪儿啊?

  what places they are exactly.

  韩佳: 其实,就是指那里

  In fact, they refer to

  远近闻名的两项伟大的工程。

  two famous great projects.

  那第一项呢,你肯定知道了,

  The first one, I’m sure

  you know,

  就是秦山核电站。

  is the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant.

  观众朋友们,

  Audience friends,

  现在在我的右手边是杭州湾,

  on my right-hand side is

  Hangzhou Bay

  左手边就是著名的

  and on my left-hand side is

  the well-known

  秦山核电站。

  Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant.

  王渊源:这里的环境还不错。

  The environment here is pretty good.

  核电站背靠秦山,面对大海。

  The nuclear power plant sits against

  Qinshan Mountain and faces the sea.

  韩佳: 对啊。这就叫依山傍海。

  Yes. Such a kind of location

  is called “yi shan bang bai”.

  “依”就是紧挨着的意思。

  ”Yi” means to be next to.

  “傍”就是靠近的意思。

  And “bang” means to be

  close to.

  王渊源:“依山傍海”意思是

  ”Yi shan bang hai” means

  紧挨着山,靠着海。

  to be close to both mountains

  and the ocean.

  Qínshāan hédiànzhàn yīshānbànghǎi

  秦山 核电站 依山傍海。

  The Qinshan Nuclear Power Station is

  close to both mountains and the ocean.

  韩佳: 秦山山不高,

  Qinshan Mountain is not

  very tall,

  有利于大气的流通扩散。

  which is conducive to air

  flow and circulation.

  另外呢,

  Besides,

  杭州湾的海水经过处理之后,

  the plenty of seawater here,

  after treatment,

  能为核电站提供大量的冷却用水。

  can be used as cooling water for

  the nuclear power plant.

  旁白: 秦山核电站?

  Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant?

  我们早就听说过。

  We’ve long heard about it.

  可是真要说起

  But as for

  秦山核电站的规模和现状,

  its current size and operation

  还有怎样利用核能来发电,

  and how to make use of

  nuclear energy

  这里面的学问

  to generate electricity,

  得问问专业人士才行。

  we have to consult some professional.

  嘉宾: 这里是

  Here it is

  我们秦山核电基地的沙盘模型。

  a sand table of our Qinshan

  Nuclear Power Base.

  那么这里,

  Here,

  我们核电基地总共分为三家公司。

  our nuclear power base is comprised

  of three companies.

  一个是秦山核电公司,

  One is the Qinshan Nuclear

  Power Company,

  那么习惯上称为一期。

  known as Phase One.

  这里是秦山核电第三有限公司,

  Here this is the Third Qinshan

  Nuclear Power Co.,

  称为三期。

  known as Phase Three.

  核电秦山联营有限公司二期。

  And the Nuclear Power Qinshan Joint

  Venture Co., known as Phase Two.

  王渊源:其实我有一个问题

  I’ve got a question

  我一直想问。

  I’m going to ask all the time.

  就是用核能来发电

  That is, what are the inner workings

  具体是什么原理?

  of using nuclear energy to

  generate electricity?

  佳斌: 核电它是通过核裂变

  Nuclear power refers to

  产生巨大的热能,

  the tremendous heat

  然后经过蒸汽发生器呢,

  energy generated through nuclear fission.

  传给管外二回路的水,

  The heat is transmitted to the secondary

  circuit water outside the pipe,

  然后使这个水沸腾变成蒸汽。

  which boils the water and makes

  it into steam.

  然后再冲转气轮机带动发电机发电。

  The steam turns the turbine that

  produces electricity.

  那我们现在去观景平台看一下吧。

  Let’s take a look from the observation deck.

  韩佳: 好。

  Okay.

  走吧。

  Let’s go.

  站在这个观景台上,

  Standing on this observation deck,

  可以看到秦山核电站的全貌啊。

  we can see a general view of the entire

  Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant.

  王渊源:是啊。那幢楼是什么啊?

  Yes. What is that building?

  嘉宾: 那是我们反应堆主厂房。

  That is our main reactor building.

  韩佳: 我刚才在来的路上就在想,

  I was thinking on our way

  here that

  这个核电站的核辐射真是不得了啊。

  this nuclear power plant’s radiation

  must be very strong.

  会不会影响到我们的安全问题啊?

  Will it cause any safety problem?

  嘉宾: 其实,这个大家不必担心。

  In fact, you don’t have to

  worry about that.

  秦山核电站,

  To avoid the leakage of

  radioactive substances,

  为了防止放射性物质外泄呢

  The Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant

  特地设置了三道保护屏障。

  installed three protective shields.

  核电站在安全保障方面

  The nuclear power plant will

  not allow

  要求是万无一失。

  the slightest laxity in safety precautions.

  韩佳: 那刚才说到的“万无一失”呢

  ”Wan wu yi shi”,

  就是指一万次当中不失误一次,

  literally not an error in 10,000 times,

  形容绝对有把握,

  means that something is certain

  完全不出差错。

  and there will be no mistakes.

  王渊源:“万无一失”

  ”Wan wu yi shi” means

  形容绝对有把握,

  that something is certain

  完全不出差错。

  and there will be no mistakes.

  那看来大家一点儿也用不着担心

  That is to say we shouldn’t worry

  at all

  核电站的安全问题了。

  about the safety of this nuclear

  power plant.

  旁白: 也许人们一直有一个误区,

  Perhaps some people have

  the myth that

  觉得核电站很神秘,

  nuclear power plants are mysterious

  甚至有点儿可怕。

  and even terrible.

  其实大可不必。

  Actually they shouldn’t think so.

  核电站对安全措施

  Nuclear power plants’ safety precautions

  以及废物处理的措施,

  and waste disposal measures

  都体现出了万无一失的高标准。

  all embody the highest safety standards.

  作为中国和平利用核能的第一站,

  We wish the Qinshan Nuclear

  Power Plant,

  希望秦山核电站

  the first of its kind in China’s

  可以发展得更好,

  peaceful utilization of nuclear energy,

  even better development

  创造出更多的业绩!

  and even more achievements!

  王渊源:韩佳,

  Han Jia,

  建设秦山核电站

  the construction of Qinshan Nuclear

  Power Plant

  确实是一个很伟大的工程。

  is indeed a very great project.

  那海盐的另一个大工程是?

  What is the other great project

  in Haiyan?

  韩佳: 就是正在建设中的

  It is the Hangzhou Bay

  Transoceanic Bridge

  杭州湾跨海大桥啊。

  which is still under construction.

  王渊源:我们前几天,

  A few days ago, we saw

  刚刚去看了上海的东海大桥。

  the Donghai Bridge in Shanghai.

  难道这儿还有一个跨海大桥啊?

  Is there also a transoceanic

  bridge here?

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  这座跨海大桥要把杭州湾两岸的

  This transoceanic bridge will

  link together

  嘉兴海盐和宁波慈溪连接起来。

  Haiyan of Jiaxing and Cixi of Ningbo

  on both sides of the Hangzhou Bay.

  这座大桥建成之后啊,

  After completion, this bridge

  要比上海的那个东海大桥

  will be four kilometers longer

  还要长将近四公里呢。

  than Shanghai’s Donghai Bridge.

  王渊源:记录又要被刷新了!

  The record will be broken again!

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  王渊源:观众朋友们,大家好!

  Hello, everyone!

  《快乐中国》现在向您作现场报道。

  Happy Learning Chinese is reporting

  on the spot.

  我现在所在的地方,

  The place where I’m standing

  就是即将刷新世界纪录的

  is the worksite of the

  transoceanic bridge

  跨海大桥的施工现场。

  that will set a new world record.

  韩佳: 渊源,你又在作现场报道了!

  Yuanyuan, you’re doing another

  on-the-spot report!

  王渊源:关于这座跨海大桥的

  As for the details

  具体情况,

  of this transoceanic bridge,

  下面请韩佳来作介绍。

  please listen to Han Jia’s report.

  韩佳: 这就交给我了?你可真行!

  Now you gave the task to me?

  You smart!

  王渊源:我跟你开个玩笑。

  I was just kidding.

  这座跨海大桥什么时候能通车呀?

  When will this transoceanic bridge

  open to traffic?

  韩佳: 这座大桥是2003年6月奠基的。

  Construction of this bridge started

  in June 2003.

  听说它的建设工期在五年左右。

  I was told construction will last

  about 5 years.

  另外这座跨海大桥一开通,

  And that soon after its completion,

  杭州湾地区的城市之间的

  exchange and cooperation

  between cities

  交流和合作都会加强。

  within the Hangzhou Bay area

  will be enhanced.

  这样的话,

  Thus,

  对城市的发展将会有深远的影响。

  it will be of great significance

  for urban development.

  王渊源:“深远”

  ”Shenyuan”

  形容影响或者是意义深刻而且长远。

  means profound and far-reaching.

  韩佳: “深远”这个词呢,

  ”Shenyuan”

  我们常常会用它来形容

  is often used to describe

  影响或者是意义非常深刻

  very profound

  而且长远。

  or far-reaching significance.

  Zhè zuò dàqiáo de jiànchéng jùyǒu shēnyuǎn de yìyì

  这 座 大桥 的 建成 具有 深远 的 意义。

  The construction of this bridge

  is of profound significance.

  王渊源:不过海上施工实在是不太方便。

  But construction on the sea is

  no easy job.

  真是辛苦了这些施工者啊。

  It must be very difficult for

  the workers.

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes.

  那就让我们满怀期待

  Let’s look forward toward

  期待着这座跨海大桥早日通车吧。

  the early completion of this

  transoceanic bridge.

  赏心悦目:

  海盐现代工业发展迅速

  Modern industries have been developing rapidly

  in Haiyan.

  秦山核电站是中国第一座核电站

  The Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, the first

  of its kind in China,

  对中国核电事业发展具有重要意义

  is of great significance for the development

  of China’s nuclear power industry.

  严格的管理 一流的设备

  Strict management and firs-rate equipment

  展现了中国飞速发展的核电技术

  embody the rapid development of China’s nuclear

  power technology.

  杭州湾大桥尚在建设之中

  The Hangzhou Bay Bridge under construction

  不凡的气势已经初见端倪

  has already shown its initial grandeur.

  精良完备的机械 严谨细致的施工

  The excellent machinery and stringent

  construction requirements

  是大桥顺利建成的最好保证

  are the best guarantees for the bridge’s

  successful completion.

  王渊源:今天了解了海盐的两个大工程。

  Today we’ve learned about

  Haiyan’s two great projects.

  收获还不小啊!

  What a learning experience

  we have had!

  韩佳: 那希望电视机前的您呢

  We hope our audience

  也跟我们一样有收获。

  have also learned something.

  同时也希望您能够

  Meanwhile, we also hope

  积极参与我们的有奖互动答题。

  you would actively take part in

  our interactive questions.

  王渊源:好,今天的问答题是。

  Well, here’s today’s question.

  (问题部分略)

  韩佳: 节目的最后呢,

  At the end of this program,

  还是要提醒您,

  we’d like to remind you

  明天同一时间

  to continue to be with us

  请继续跟我们一起

  same time tomorrow

  “万里海疆快乐行”。

  for the Happy Journey across China.

  王渊源:我们的口号不能忘。

  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: 明天见。

  See you tomorrow.

  (Source: cctv.com)