Archive for April 7th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 39

Monday, April 7th, 2008

咖啡店老板打开电视
电视:最近台湾诈骗案频传,也难怪大家都不大敢去相信别人。但是有时候就是有人如此走运。国税局还在等今年的大奖赢家,C. K. 李赛司先生,来领取他的一百万奖金。如果他在一天之内还不来兑取现金,国税局就会抽出另一位得主。
米特:赛司,你听到了吗﹖你真的赢到那些钱了!
赛司:好像电视上的事我都会照单全收咧……开玩笑的啦!(笑着跳起来)来吧,我们走!

The coffee shop boss turns on the news
TV: With Taiwan’s recent spate of scams, it’s no surprise that people are hesitant to trust anyone. But sometimes people really DO get lucky. The national tax authority is still waiting for this year’s grand prize winner, a Mr. C. K. “Seth” Lee, to pick up his one million dollars in prize money. If he does not appear within one day to pick up his cash, the authority will draw another winner.
Milt: Seth, did you hear that? You really did win all that money!
Seth: Like I believe everything I see on TV….Just kidding! [smiles and jumps up] Come on, let’s go!

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 99

Monday, April 7th, 2008

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

S: Wǒ shì Stuart. Remember? 记得吗? jìde ma? Wǒmen zài Yíhéyuán.

M. We want to take a photo. 我们想照张相 wǒmen xiǒng zhàozhāngxiàng.

S. 我们在哪儿照相? wǒmen zài nǎr zhàoxiàng.

M. Here’s good. 这里好 zhèlǐ hǎo.

S. But there’s better. 但是,那边更好 dàn shì, nàbian gèng hǎo.

M. I feel that here’s better. 我觉得这里更好 Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ gèng hǎo.

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 nàbian shì zuì hǎo de dìfang.

M. Have you noticed that this time we used ‘照张相’ instead of ‘拍个照’ in the dialogue? They both mean ‘taking a picture’. Here ‘zhāng’ and ‘gè’ are both measure words.

S: And we can omit them, and simply say ‘zhàoxiàng’ or ‘pāizhào’.

M: And there’s just a few things we didn’t explain last lesson.

S. Like, 我认为,那边比这里好

M. Wǒ rènwéi 认为 REN WEI rènwéi, 4th tone 2nd tone, means, ‘reckon’ or ‘consider’, ren4wei2.

S. So now say, ‘ I reckon here’s good’. Hěn hǎo. Wǒ rènwéi zhèlǐ hǎo. Wǒ rènwéi zhèlǐ hǎo.

M. And, ‘I reckon there’s better’. Méi cuò. Wǒ rènwéi nàbian gèng hǎo, Wǒ rènwéi nàbian gèng hǎo.

S. Now remember, ‘place’ is dìfang, and one way to say ‘but’ is dànshì. So how do we say, ‘But I reckon the best place is there’? Hěn hǎo. Dàn shì, wǒ rènwéi zuì hǎo de dìfang shì naàbian. Dàn shì, wǒ rènwéi zuì hǎo de dìfang shì nàbian.

M. So, we’ll take photos over there. 所以, 我们要在那边照相 suǒyǐ, wǒmen yàozài nàbian zhàoxiàng.

M. Hey, Look. There’s Mary and Zhāng Jiànguó. 嘿,你看,玛丽和张建国在那边.

S. 玛丽,建国, 你们好. Mǎlì, Jiànguó, nǐmen hǎo!
MARY, ZJG. Stuart, Man Li, nǐmen hǎo!

M. 玛丽,建国,我们想照相 mǎlì, jiànguó, wǒmen xiǎng zhàoxiàng.

S. Dear listeners, now try to pick out the word for ‘camera’.
MARY. That’s great! My camera is really good. 我的照相机很好 wǒ de zhàoxiàngjī hěn hǎo.

S. And now pick out the word for ‘even’ or ‘more’.

M. But my camera is even better. 但是,我的照相机更好 dàn shì, wǒ de zhàoxiàngjī gèng hǎo.
ZJG. But my camera is the best. 不过,我的相机是最好的 búguò, wǒ de xiàngjī shì zuì hǎo de.

M. Tiān ā! Seems we have a small argument over who has the best camera. No problem. It’s not for real. We just want you to learn this very useful word 更 gèng, which turns an adjective like ‘good’ into ‘even better’, gèng GENG gèng. gèng hǎo, even better, gèng hǎo. Or an adverb like ‘fast’, kuài, into ‘even faster’ gèng kuài, gèng kuài.

S. And of course you’ve picked out the word for ‘camera’, which is ‘zhàoxiàngjī’, ‘zhàoxiàngjī’. Or sometimes we shorten it into ‘xiàngjī’, ‘xiàngjī’.

M: Ok, time’s up, so we’ll revise things next lesson. Xiàn zài, wǒmen xià kè. Zài jiàn

 

(Source:english.cri.cn)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 106

Monday, April 7th, 2008
 
 

                        Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (1月30日播出)

  旁白: 我们今天要去的

  Our destination for today

  是嘉兴桐乡的乌镇。

  is the town of Wuzhen, Tongxiang

  County, Jiaxing City.

  对于我来说,

  For me,

  应该算是故地重游了。

  it’s a place to be revisited.

  上次去乌镇还是在两年前。

  I came to Wuzhen two years ago.

  听说现在那里

  I heard it has opened a

  new scenic site,

  又开发了一处西栅景区。

  the Xizha Scenic Area.

  真想快点儿看看

  I just can’t wait to see

  那儿又有什么样的变化呢。

  what kind of change has

  taken place there.

  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,我是快乐的韩佳。

  Hi there! I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:我是快乐的渊源。

  And I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

  韩佳: 乌镇的西栅景区

  Wuzhen’s Xizha Scenic Area

  和我们以前去过的东栅景区相比啊,

  is really different from Dongzha

  Scenic Area

  确实变化很大。

  that we visited before.

  王渊源:“确实”

  ”Queshi”

  指对客观情况的真实性表示肯定。

  means certainly or really.

  韩佳: “确实”是个副词。

  ”Queshi” is an adverb.

  对客观情况的真实性表示肯定。

  It means certainly or really.

  王渊源:说起这变化嘛,

  As for differences and changes,

  我还真没有发言权,

  I have no right to say anythig

  因为我没来过乌镇的东栅景区。

  because I’ve never been to Wuzhen’s

  Dongzha Scenic Area before.

  韩佳: 哦,对。

  Oh, right.

  这西栅景区跟东栅景区相比啊,

  In comparison with the Dongzha

  Scenic Area,

  它的水域更宽阔了。

  the Xizha Scenic Area has

  a much wider water area,

  而且水里面多了很多

  in which there are more

  绿色的野生植物。

  green wild plants.

  原生态的味道更加浓了。

  It gives a much stronger sense

  of the wild.

  王渊源:虽然我没来过,

  Although I’ve never been

  here before,

  不过我已经开始感受到

  I have already got the feel

  这里原始的纯朴的风貌。

  of primitive simplicity.

  而且我已经开始喜欢上这座古镇。

  And I’ve begun to like this

  ancient town.

  韩佳: 是吗?那就好好欣赏欣赏。

  Really? Then enjoy yourself.

  旁白: 据说,现在的乌镇西栅景区

  They say Wuzhen’s Xizha

  Scenic Area

  比东栅景区整整大了三倍。

  is three times bigger than the

  Dongzha Scenic Area.

  这里与古老的京杭运河相连,

  There are crisscrossing waterways

  connected to

  河道纵横交错。

  the old Beijing-Hangzhou

  Grand Canal.

  古石桥数量之多

  The town has more ancient

  stone bridges

  都称得上是中国的古镇之最了。

  than any other ancient Chinese towns.

  韩佳: 渊源,你知道这乌镇里

  Yuanyuan, do you know

  存留着多少座古桥吗?

  how many ancient bridges

  still exist in Wuzhen?

  王渊源:这个我说不太清楚。

  I’m not quite clear about that.

  不过我倒是知道

  But I do know

  这里有两座桥非常特别。

  there are two very special

  bridges here.

  韩佳: 哪两座?

  What are they?

  王渊源:就是那边通济桥和仁济桥。

  They are the Tongji Bridge and

  the Renji Bridge over there.

  韩佳: 我知道了。

  I know them.

  你是说那两座桥相邻成直角。

  You mean the two perpendicular

  to each other.

  从任何一座桥的桥洞呢,

  Under the arch of one bridge,

  都可以看到另外一座桥是吧。

  you can always see the

  other bridge.

  王渊源:是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  当地人把它们称为“桥里桥”。

  So locals call them the “Bridge

  inside a Bridge”.

  韩佳,都说乌镇,乌镇的。

  Han Jia, you’ve talked so

  much about Wuzhen.

  那乌镇这个名字

  Where did the name Wuzhen

  到底是怎么得来的呀?

  come from?

  韩佳: 关于“乌镇”这个镇名

  There are many versions

  of history

  有很多种说法。

  about the town’s name, Wuzhen.

  那更多的人认为

  But most people believe

  乌镇是为了纪念

  the town was so named

  唐代的一位乌赞将军而得名的。

  in memory of General Wu Zan.

  你看,这就是乌将军庙。

  Look, this is the General

  Wu Temple.

  王渊源:那这个乌赞将军又是谁呀?

  Who was General Wu Zan?

  韩佳: 乌赞将军

  General Wu Zan

  是唐代一位忠臣,

  was a loyal, brave and

  非常的勇猛善战。

  skillful general of the Tang Dynasty.

  他在这里镇压叛乱的时候,

  When he was here putting

  down an insurgency,

  被叛军设计陷害了。

  he was framed and killed

  by insurgents.

  最终埋葬在这里。

  He was buried here.

  那当地的老百姓为了纪念他,

  To commemorate him,

  就把这儿取名叫乌镇。

  local people named the

  place Wuzhen.

  王渊源:原来乌镇名字的由来

  That’s why the town

  是这么回事啊。

  was named Wuzhen.

  旁白: 听当地人说,

  I heard from locals that

  乌镇西栅景区里面

  in the Xizha Scenic Area,

  除了乌将军庙,

  apart from the General

  Wu Temple,

  还有很多的历史遗迹。

  there are also many other

  historical sites.

  其中,有一座

  One of them, the archway

  in commemoration

  昭明太子读书的牌坊,

  of Crown Prince Zhaoming’s

  studies here,

  吸引了我们的目光。

  which attracts our attention.

  韩佳: 昭明太子是南北朝时期

  Crown Prince Zaoming was

  the son of Emperor

  梁武帝的儿子萧统。

  Liang Wudi in the Northern

  and Southern Dynasties.

  他编辑整理了

  He compiled

  中国的第一部诗歌散文选集,

  China’s first collection of poems,

  命名为《昭明文选》。

  called “Zhaoming Anthology”.

  王渊源:那他作为太子,

  As crown prince,

  为什么要在这儿学习呢?

  why did he study here?

  韩佳: 是这样的。

  Oh, it’s like this.

  昭明太子的老师是乌镇人,

  Prince Zhaoming’s teacher

  came from Wuzhen

  而且他的父亲就葬在这里。

  and his father was buried

  in here.

  这位老师非常的孝顺。

  This teacher was a dutiful son.

  所以每年都有这么几个月,

  For several months each year,

  要回到这儿来守墓。

  he would come here to

  keep vigil at the tomb.

  那昭明太子不想荒废学业。

  Crown Prince Zhaoming didn’t

  want to neglect his studies.

  总是跟随老师一块到乌镇来读书。

  So he always followed his teacher

  to Wuzhen to continue his studies.

  王渊源:“荒废”就是浪费的意思吧?

  Does “huangfei” mean to waste?

  韩佳: 不不不。

  No, it doesn’t.

  “荒废”和“浪费”是不一样的。

  ”Huangfei” is different from

  ”langfei”.

  “浪费”是指无节制的、不恰当的

  ”Langfei” means to waste

  使用财务、人力、时间等等。

  financial resources, manpower

  or time.

  而“荒废”是指学业、技术等不练习,

  And “huangfei” means to neglect

  时间长了就都不会了。

  as a neglect a skill or be

  out of practice.

  王渊源:“浪费”是指消耗、耗损。

  ”Langfei” means to waste.

  而“荒废”是指学业、技术等不练习,

  And “huangfei” means to neglect

  时间长了就都不会了。

  as a neglect a skill or be

  out of practice.

  Tā bù xiǎng huāngfèi xuéyè

  他 不 想 荒废 学业。

  He didn’t want to neglect

  his studies.

  旁白: 昭明太子读书

  Though Crown Prince Zhaoming

  studied here

  虽然已经是一千多年前的事了,

  more than 1,000 years ago,

  但是人们一直把这段故事

  the story has remained

  作为佳话传颂着。

  on everybody’s lips.

  其实,在这里

  In fact, the town

  还诞生了不少的名人名著。

  has been home to many famous

  persons and famous works.

  其中有一个人我们可不能不提,

  The man we must mention

  那就是…

  is …

  合: 茅盾。

  Mao Dun.

  韩佳: 你也知道啊?

  You also know about him?

  王渊源:是啊。

  Yes, I do.

  茅盾的童年和少年时代

  Mao Dun spent his childhood

  and teenage

  都是在这里度过的。

  years here.

  韩佳: 对对对。

  Yes, yes.

  你看,后面就是茅盾纪念馆了。

  Look, that is the Mao Dun

  Memorial Hall.

  我们一起进去看一看。

  Let’s take a look inside together.

  渊源,你读过茅盾先生的作品吗?

  Have you ever read works

  by Mao Dun?

  王渊源:没有。

  No.

  不过《子夜》是他写的吧?

  But did he write the novel

  ”Midnight”?

  韩佳: 对对对。这座纪念堂

  Yes, yes. This memorial hall

  就和他的代表作《子夜》有关。

  has something to do with his

  signature work, “Midnight”.

  刚才我听导游介绍,

  I just heard from the

  tour guide that

  说通往茅盾先生陵园的这条路呢

  this road leading to the Mao Dun

  Mausoleum

  就是按照“子”字的形状铺设的。

  was laid in the shape of

  the character “zi”.

  整条路一共有八十五级台阶,

  The entire road consists

  of 85 steps,

  代表了茅盾先生

  representing Mr. Mao Dun’s

  一生走过的八十五个春秋。

  85 years of life.

  王渊源:“春秋”就是春季和秋季是吧?

  Does “chunqiu” mean spring

  and autumn?

  韩佳: “春秋”在这里呢

  ”Chunqiu” here

  是指人的年岁,也泛指光阴。

  refers to a person’s age

  or time spent.

  Tā yìshēng zǒu guò le bāshi wǔ ge chūnqiū

  他 一生 走 过 了 八十 五 个 春秋。

  He lived for 85 years.

  那这纪念堂里面,

  The memorial hall

  展出了茅盾先生的一些遗物

  exhibits some of Mr. Mao

  Dun’s belongings

  以及一些跟他有关的图片,

  and pictures of him,

  展现了茅盾先生丰富多彩的一生。

  displaying Mr. Mao Dun’s

  colorful lifetime.

  王渊源:你看,那边有座塔呀。

  Look, there is a pagoda

  over there.

  韩佳: 那是白莲塔,高五十一米。

  That is Bailian Pagoda,

  51 meters tall.

  要是站在塔顶,

  If you stand on top

  of the pagoda,

  可以把乌镇的美景尽收眼底。

  you’ll have a panoramic view

  of the entire town of Wuzhen.

  王渊源:那你还有没有力气?

  Do you still have strength?

  待会儿咱们爬上去。

  We’ll climb it in a moment.

  韩佳: 好啊。

  Okay.

  站在高处视野开阔。

  A high place commands a

  much wider view.

  那就让我们一起赏心悦目吧。

  Let’s enjoy the Feast for

  the Eyes.

  赏心悦目:

  走入乌镇

  Entering the town of Wuzhen,

  眼前展现出一幅古老的画卷

  the visitor will see a picture of the old,

  古庙 古街 古宅

  old temples, old streets and old houses.

  岁月在这里洗去了铅华

  Their former splendor has been washed away

  by time.

  给人以无尽的回味

  But their charm has remained unchanged.

  乌镇自古名人辈出

  Wuzhen has been home to famous people

  since ancient times,

  为后人留下了宝贵的精神财富

  who left valuable spiritual wealth for posterity.

  轻舟浆影 水色空蒙

  Visitors may take a boat ride to get

  a feel for the serene environment.

  落日余晖勾勒出的

  Under the sunset glow,

  是乌镇不变的宁静与质朴

  Wuzhen appears more quiet and unassuming.

  王渊源:这乌镇西栅景区真是太大了。

  Wuzhen’s Xizha Scenic Area

  is so large.

  我们今天是看不完了。

  We can’t see all of

  it today.

  韩佳: 是啊。这里的内容十分丰富。

  Of course not. There is

  so much to see.

  不过没有关系。

  But that doesn’t matter.

  明天我们会继续带着您游乌镇。

  Tomorrow we’ll continue to

  show you around Wuzhen.

  王渊源:这个安排不错。

  It’s a very nice arrangement.

  我举双手赞成。

  I am all for it.

  韩佳: 好吧。

  Good.

  那接下来呢,

  Up next,

  我要给大家

  I’m going to set

  出今天的有奖问答题了。

  today’s award-winning question.

  您听好了。

  Listen carefully.

  (问题部分略)

  口号不能忘。

  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)