Archive for April 9th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 41

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

莫理、阿丹跟卡西在讨论他们的旅游计划
阿丹:决定了。我们要去东海岸。
莫理:太好了。我可以拍很多照片。我们要怎么去那边?
阿丹:首先,我们可以搭火车去花莲。然后……
莫理:(莫理插嘴)如果我们要让这趟旅行好玩,我们就该骑单车。
阿丹:那我倒是没想过。好,我们可以把单车扛上公交车……
莫理:(莫理又插嘴)不是,我是说骑我们的单车骑到东海岸。我们可以好好练练身体。

Morley, Dan and Kathy are discussing their travel plans
Dan: It’s settled. We’re going to the East Coast.
Morley: Great, I can take lots of pictures. How will we get there?
Dan: First, we’ll take a train to Hualien, then…
Morley: [Morley interrupts] If we want to do this trip right, let’s ride bicycles.
Dan: That thought hadn’t crossed my mind. OK, we can carry the bikes on a bus…
Morley: [Morley interrupts again] No, I mean ride our bikes to the East Coast. We could get in shape.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 101

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

M: Dàjiā hǎo. Huānyíng nǐmen dào Xiànzài Xué Hànyǔ. Wǒ shò ManLi.

S: Wǒ shì Stuart. Remember? 记得吗? Jìde ma? We’re still in the Yíhéyuán. Wǒmen hái zài Yíhéyuán.

M:We discussed the best place to zhàoxiàng. We said, 这里好 zhèlǐ hào.

S: 但是,那边更好 dànshì, nàbian gèng hǎo.

M: 我觉得这里更好 wǒ juéde zhèlǐ gèng hǎo.

S:  Now listen for the word 比 bǐ when I say ‘I reckon there’s better than here’ 我认为,那边比这里好 wǒ rènwéi, nà bian bǐ zhèlǐ hǎo.

M. Can you guess the meaning of bǐ? Listen when I say ‘I’m better than him’ 我比他好 wò bǐ tā hǎo.

S: Duì le! Bǐ here means ‘compared with’. So how do you say ‘I’m faster than him?

M. Méi cuò. 我比他快 wǒ bǐ tā kuài.

S:  And if 高GAO gao1 means ‘tall’, how do you say ‘You’re taller than him?’

M. Right. 你比他高ni3 bǐ tā gāo.

S:   Now say ‘I’m taller than you’.

M: Duì le. 我比你高wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo.

S: Now listen, and guess the meaning of 矮 ǎi. Manli, 我比你高 wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo.

M: 对,我比你矮 duì, wǒ bǐ nǐ ǎi.

S: Guessed? Right, 矮ǎi ǎi, third tone, means ‘short’.

S: So we’ve learnt ‘tall’ gao1, and ‘short’ ǎi. One small thing: nǐ, bǐ, wǒ and ǎi are all third tone words. But, as we’ve said before, pronouncing a third tone word followed directly by another third tone word is a bit awkward. So the first word is usually pronounced in the second tone. For example, it’s much easier to say ní hǎo than nǐ hǎo. What do you do when you get three or four third tone words in a row? Well, it can get quite complicated if you think about it.

M: So don’t think about it. Just mimic us and say what comes naturally, and you’ll usually be right.

S: For example, ‘I’m very short’ is I 我 very 很 short 矮. ManLi will now tell us she is very short, and you guys at home say the same thing, (even if you are seven feet tall). Ready.

M: 我很矮 wǒ hěn ǎi.

S:  And now, ‘I’m shorter than you’.

M: 我比你矮 wǒ bǐ nǐ ǎi.

S:  Now, ‘he is shorter than me.’

M: 他比我矮 tā bǐ wǒ ǎi.

S:  And I will say, ‘I’m better than you’. 我比你好 wǒ bǐ nǐ hǎo.

M: You’re joking! Nǐ kāi wán xiào.

S: Now, to add to our ways of describing people, we’ll finish by learning ‘fat’ and ‘thin’, and practice using 比 BI bǐ. Listen out for the word for ‘fat’.

M: Stuart, you’re fatter than me. 你比我胖nǐ bǐ wǒ pàng.

S: 对了,我比你胖 wǒ bǐ nǐ pàng.

M: Get the word for ‘fat’? Méi cuò. 胖PANG pàng.

S: And, ML, ‘you’re thinner than me’. 你比我瘦 nǐ bǐ wǒ shòu.

M: 对了, 我比你瘦 wǒ bǐ nǐ shòu. 瘦SHOU shòu, ‘thin’ or ‘lean’.

S: So I’ll lose weight before the next lesson, zàijiàn.

M: Zàijiàn.

(Source:english.cri.cn)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 108

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
 
 

                         Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (2月1日播出)

  旁白: 相信经过这几天的嘉兴之行,

  I’m sure through our Jiaxing trip

  in the last few days,

  大家都和我一样,

  like me, our audience

  已经充分领略到了

  must have got some idea

  这里江南水乡的韵味。

  of this Jiangnan water-town’s charms.

  今天啊,

  Today,

  我和韩佳要带您去感受一下

  Han Jia and I will be

  taking you

  嘉兴的另一番独特魅力。

  to experience another unique

  charm of 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! I’m Merry Han Jia.

  又在《快乐学汉语》与您如约见面了!

  Welcome to Happy Learning Chinese!

  韩佳: 哎,渊源,你倒是快点儿啊。

  Hey, Yuanyuan, be quick.

  王渊源:我也想快啊。

  I also wanted to be quick.

  可这驴不听我的话呀。

  But the donkey didn’t listen

  to me.

  韩佳: 谁让你要选驴车的呀?

  Why did you choose a

  donkey cart?

  还不如我走得快呢。

  You are not as fast as

  I walk on foot.

  王渊源:我哪儿知道

  I didn’t know

  它会走得这么慢呢。

  it would go so slowly.

  韩佳: 对了,观众朋友们,

  Oh, yeah, audience friends,

  我们现在是在桐乡的

  we’re right now at Tongxiang’s

  华庄生态农业园。

  Huazhuang Eco-Agricultural Park.

  王渊源:没错儿。

  Exactly.

  今天,我们要体验一回农家乐趣,

  Today, we’re going to get a feel

  for the fun of the countryside,

  吃一次农家饭,

  eat a rural meal

  干一天的农活儿。

  and work as a farmer

  for a day.

  韩佳: 没错儿。

  Absolutely.

  那以前我们都坐惯了汽车。

  We’re all used to motor vehicles.

  这回啊,坐了一下这种交通工具。

  So I decide to try this kind

  of transport.

  是不是有点返璞归真的感觉呢?

  Does it look like a return to

  purity and simplicity?

  王渊源:返璞归真?怎么解释啊?

  How do you paraphrase

  ”fan pu gui zhen”?

  韩佳: “璞”就是指没有雕琢过的玉石。

  ”Pu” refers to uncut jade stone.

  “真”就是指本来的样子。

  ”Zhen” means the original state.

  “返璞归真”就是指去掉外在的装饰,

  ”Fan pu gui zhen” means to strip all

  external ornamentations

  恢复到原来的质朴状态。

  and return to purity and simplicity.

  王渊源:“返璞归真”意思是

  So “fan pu gui zhen” means

  恢复到原来的质朴状态。

  to return to purity and simplicity.

  是有点这感觉。

  I do have such a feeling.

  不过我实在是能力有限。

  But my capabilities are limited.

  还是自己走吧。

  I’d better walk myself.

  韩佳: 那你这驴车不要了?

  So you don’t want your

  donkey cart anymore?

  王渊源:还是自己走得快。

  I can walk much faster.

  韩佳: 渊源,这个生态园

  Yuanyuan, not only does

  this eco-agricultural

  不光环境优美,

  park have a beautiful environment,

  而且还培育出了

  but it also has cultivated

  很多优质的绿色农产品。

  a variety of organic agricultural products.

  王渊源:我知道,

  I know that,

  尤其是那精心设计的奇瓜异果园。

  especially its orchard of fancily

  designed fruits.

  里面造型奇特的蔬菜

  The queer-shaped vegetables

  in there

  不仅可以让我们大饱眼福,

  are not only a feast for

  our eyes,

  还能大饱口福啊。

  but they can also satisfy

  our taste buds.

  可以随摘、随做、随吃啊。

  You can pick and eat while

  doing some farm work.

  韩佳: 既然你这么了解,

  Since you’re so familiar

  with it,

  就带大家去看看吧?

  why not take us there

  for a look?

  王渊源:好啊。

  Okay.

  这个奇瓜异果园哪

  The queer fruit and vegetable garden

  种植了很多

  grows many

  具有观赏价值的瓜果品种。

  ornamentation crops.

  韩佳: 具有观赏价值的瓜果品种啊!

  They have ornamentation fruit

  and vegetables?

  那我可得好好看一看了。

  I must take a close

  look at them.

  王渊源:这里一共有近百种作物。

  There are nearly 100 crops here.

  想要一一看清楚,

  It will take you some time

  那得花上一些时间。

  to see them all up close.

  韩佳: 那那边那是什么呀?

  What’s that over there?

  王渊源:那是蛇瓜。

  That’s a snake gourd.

  韩佳: 哦。那这边这个呢?

  Oh. And what is this

  over here?

  王渊源:哦,这个是砍瓜。

  Oh, this is a cut-and-grow melon.

  韩佳: 砍瓜?什么砍啊?

  ”Kan gua”? Why cut it?

  王渊源:砍瓜就是说,想吃多少砍多少,

  It’s called “kan gua” because you

  can cut as much as you want

  砍多少它就长多少。

  and it can grow as much

  as you cut.

  韩佳: 这么神奇呢!

  That’s so fantastic!

  王渊源:是啊,这里光是葫芦,

  Of gourds alone,

  就有大大小小好几个品种呢。

  there are several species here,

  big and small.

  看得出来,这儿的人们

  I can see they put a lot of

  care and effort

  是花了很多心血来培育它们的。

  into cultivating organic foods.

  韩佳: “心血”是指心思和精力。

  ”Xinxue” refers to painstaking

  care and effort.

  王渊源:“心血”是指心思和精力。

  ”Xinxue” refers to painstaking

  care and effort.

  Tāmen huā le hěnduō xīnxuě lái péizhī lǜsè shípǐn

  他们 花 了 很多 心血 来 培植 绿色 食品。

  They put a lot of care and effort into

  cultivating organic foods.

  韩佳: 渊源,我觉得光是这样看

  Yuanyuan, we can’t fully understand

  不能够完全体会到农家的乐趣。

  the fun of farm work just by

  looking round.

  要亲自动手参与才行啊。

  We also have to have some

  hands-on experience.

  王渊源:有道理。

  It sounds reasonable.

  不过这儿都已经种好了。

  But all crops here have

  been planted.

  也不需要我们做什么。

  There is no need for us

  to do anything.

  韩佳: 现在是草莓成熟的季节。

  It’s the ripening season

  for strawberries.

  我知道有一个地方啊,

  I know of a place,

  可以摘到又大又好吃的草莓。

  where we can pick big and

  delicious strawberries.

  王渊源:这个不错。

  It’s a good idea.

  那这个地方在哪儿呢?

  Where is that place?

  这还是我第一次

  This is the first time

  看到这种草莓花儿啊。

  I have ever seen strawberry flowers.

  草莓这么多!

  There are so many strawberries here!

  我这几个篮子好像装不了多少。

  These few baskets of mine

  don’t seem enough.

  韩佳: 你可够贪心的呀!

  You are so greedy!

  拿这么多篮子还嫌少?

  So many baskets here are

  still not enough?

  王渊源:韩佳,你别误会。

  Han Jia, don’t misunderstand me.

  我可没有那么贪心。

  I’m not that greedy.

  我这是给大家摘的。

  I’m picking for our audience.

  韩佳: 哟,看不出来啊,

  Oh, I didn’t realize

  你还挺热心。

  you being so considerate.

  王渊源:我一直是一个很热心的人哪!

  I’m always a considerate man!

  韩佳: 对了,我得告诉你啊。

  Oh, yeah, I have to

  tell you something.

  王渊源:你别说了。我们快摘吧。

  No more talking. Let’s

  pick quickly.

  这么多草莓啊!

  What a lot of strawberries here!

  韩佳: 他还挺性急!

  How impetuous he is!

  王渊源:韩佳,

  Han Jia,

  咱们今天收获不小啊!

  What a rewarding trip it is!

  菜和水果都有了。

  We have got both vegetables

  and fruit.

  就差饭的问题还没解决。

  The only thing missing

  is a meal.

  韩佳: 嗨,这个不难。

  Oh, it’s not difficult.

  这个园子里有稻田。

  There is a paddy field

  in the park.

  我们正好可以去亲自收割水稻呢。

  We can just as well cut some

  rice here.

  王渊源:那真是太好了。

  That’s great.

  哎,韩佳,你看,

  Eh, Han Jia, look,

  我把收割的工具都准备好了。

  I’ve made all the cutting

  tools ready.

  韩佳: 渊源,我把师傅请来了。

  Yuanyuan, I’ve invited a

  farm worker here.

  让他好好教教我们怎么收割水稻。

  We ask him to teach us how to

  cut rice stalks.

  王渊源:要不您先给我们示范一下?

  Would you please give us

  a demonstration?

  嘉宾: 好的,好的。

  Okay, my pleasure.

  韩佳: 那“示范”就是说

  ”Shifan” means

  做出某种行为或者是动作,

  to set an example

  供别人学习或者是模仿。

  or demonstrate.

  王渊源:“示范”就是说

  ”Shifan” means

  做出某种行为或者是动作,

  to set an example

  供别人学习或者是模仿。

  or demonstrate.

  Qǐng nín gěi wǒmen shìfàn yí xià

  请 您 给 我们 示范 一 下 。

  Please give us a demonstration.

  韩佳: 那师傅,我们现在开始吧?

  Sir, let’s get started, okay?

  嘉宾: 好,开始吧。

  Okay, let’s start work.

  王渊源:应该怎么着?你拿这个。

  What should we do?

  You take this one.

  韩佳: 握住哪里啊?

  Which part should I hold?

  握住这个中间是吧?

  Should I hold the middle part?

  怎么不太割的下来啊?

  Why I can hardly cut

  any stalks?

  嘉宾: 用一点力。

  Give it more strength.

  王渊源:就这么一会儿工夫,

  In such a short time,

  咱们割了不少。

  we cut quite a lot.

  看来今天的饭也有着落了。

  It seems our meal for today

  isn’t a problem now.

  韩佳: 不过,水稻收割完了之后呢,

  But after these rice plants

  are harvested,

  要把它变成我们平时吃的米饭啊,

  to make it into the daily

  edible rice,

  还要经过去壳、晾晒等等

  there still need to be three

  to four steps,

  三四道工序呢。

  including husking.

  王渊源:还有这么多步骤啊!

  Oh, there’ll still be so

  many steps!

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  王渊源:那我们还得请师傅帮忙。

  Let’s ask our farmer friend

  to help us.

  韩佳: 那就请观众朋友们

  Let our audience

  先看看我们今天的赏心悦目,

  take a look at today’s Feast

  for the Eyes

  给我们多一点时间

  so as to give us more time

  去准备今天的饭菜。

  to prepare today’s meal.

  一会儿见。

  We’ll be right back.

  赏心悦目:

  体验农家生活

  At the Huazhuang Eco-Agricultural Farm,

  感受田园乐趣

  holidaymakers can experience the fun

  是华庄生态园的最大特色

  of the countryside.

  奇花异果让人大开眼界

  The queer-shaped fruits and vegetables

  are real eye-openers.

  各色果蔬任人放心品尝

  All fruits and vegetables cultivated here

  are organic.

  人们在这里可以亲自劳作

  Visitors can also get some hands-on experience

  在美丽的风光里

  so that while enjoying the beautiful scenery,

  感受劳动的欢乐

  they can also get a feel of the joy

  of fulfillment.

  王渊源:谁知盘中餐,

  ”Be sure to value the food

  we eat.

  粒粒皆辛苦。

  Every grain of it comes

  from hard toil.”

  这句话说得一点儿也不假。

  This saying is certainly true.

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  我们今天体验了一下收获的喜悦,

  Today we’ve experienced the happiness

  of harvesting

  同时也感受到了

  as well as the hard work

  农民朋友们劳动的辛苦。

  of our farmer friends.

  王渊源:是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  我觉得通过自己的努力做出来的菜

  I’m sure the meal made from

  our hard work

  肯定会特别的好吃。

  will be definitely delicious.

  韩佳: 嗯。您看看,

  Yes. Look,

  这些就是我们今天的劳动成果了。

  these are the fruits of our

  hard work today.

  王渊源:干了一天的活儿,

  After working for a whole day,

  我还真有点饿了。

  now I do feel a bit hungry.

  那我们就赶快来品尝一下

  Let’s hurry and savor our

  今天的成果吧。

  today’s fruits.

  韩佳: 哎,等等。

  Hey, wait a minute.

  先把今天的有奖问答题出了吧。

  You’d better set today’s award-winning

  question first.

  王渊源:好。今天的题目是这样的。

  Okay. Today’s question

  is as follows.

  (问题部分略)

  But before we go,

  还是要提醒您,

  we’d still want to remind you

  别忘了我们的口号。

  not to forget our slogan.

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

  Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

    (Source: cctv.com)