Archive for April 10th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 42

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

据说数千年前人们的寿命很长。科学家们不能证实也没办法反驳这些说法。可能Methuselah是活了几百年,也可能这只是一个夸张的记述。在我们的时代最长寿的一个人也只活了113岁多一点。 Delina Fikins死时是113岁零214天。科学家们确定她的生辰和死亡日期.

It is said that thousands of years ago people lived to a very old age. Scientists cannot prove or disprove these accounts. Perhaps Methuselah lived hundreds of years. Perhaps this is only an exaggerated account. The greatest age to which a person has lived in our time was only a little more than 113 years. Mrs. Delina Filkins died at the age of 113 years, 214 days. Scientists are sure of her birthday and the date of her death.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

 

Cri – Lesson 102

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

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

S: Wǒ shì Stuart. Remember? 记得吗? jìde ma? We’re still in the Yíhéyuán. Wǒmen hái zài Yíhéyuán. But, before we position ourselves to take photos, zhào xiàng, we have to sort out who is taller and fatter etc. First, can you say ‘I am very tall’?

M: Right. 我很高 wǒ hěn gāo.

S: And, ‘But he is taller’. M: Duì le. 但是,他更高 dànshì, tā gèng gāo.

S: And, ‘I reckon he is the tallest’.

M: Hěn hǎo. 我认为,他是最高的 wǒ rènwéi, tā shì zuì gāo de.

S: And, remembering that ‘all’ is 都 DOU dōu, can you say ‘we are all very tall’?

M: Méi cuò. 我们都很高 wǒmen dōu hěn gāo.

S: And now say, ‘she is very short’.

M: Hěn hǎo. 她很矮 tā hěn ǎi.

S: And, ‘but I am shorter’.

M: Yes! 但是,我更矮 dàn shì, wǒ gèng ǎi.

S: ‘But you are the shortest’.

M: 不过,你是最矮的 búguò, nǐ shì zuì ǎi de.

S: And, ‘they are all very short’.

M: Fēi cháng hǎo. 他们都很矮 tāmen dōu hěn ǎi.

S: And now to fat and thin. Everybody say, ‘I am very fat’.

M: Hěn hǎo! 我很胖 wǒ hěn pàng.

S: ‘But she is fatter’.

M: 但是,她更胖 dàn shì, tā gèng pàng

S: And, ‘I am the fattest’. M: Duìle, 我是最胖的 wǒ shì zuì pàng de.

S: And, ‘We are all very fat’. M: Too good! 太好了! 我们都很胖 wǒmen dōu hěn pàng.

S: And, now, ‘I am very thin’.

M: Méicuò! 我很瘦 wǒ hěn shòu.

S: ‘But he is thinner.’

M: 但是,他更瘦 dàn shì, tā gèng shòu.

S: Finally, ‘we are all very thin’.

M: Congratulations! 恭喜 gōngxǐ! 我们都很瘦 wǒmen dóu hěn shòu.

S: Wow, we need to rest 我们要休息 wǒmen yào xiūxi.

M: Last lesson we learned how to say, ‘you are taller than him’, which is?

S: Duì le! 你你比他高 nǐ bǐ tā gāo.

M: And ‘you’re shorter than me’, which is?

S: Méi cuò. 你比我矮 nǐ bǐ wǒ ǎi.

M: And ‘I’m fatter than you’, which is?

S: Hěnhǎo. 我比你胖 wǒ bǐ nǐ pàng.

M: And, ‘I’m thinner than him’, which is?

S: Duì le! 我比他瘦 wǒ bǐ tā shòu. And to finish our lesson. ‘We are all thinner than you.’

M: Méicuò. 我们都比你们瘦 wǒmen dōu bǐ nǐmen shòu.

S: So, we’ll go eat! 所以,我们吃饭去。 再见.

M: Zàijiàn.

(Source:english.cri.cn)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 109

Thursday, April 10th, 2008
 
 

                       Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (2月5日播出)

  旁白: 一提起海宁

  The mention of Haining

  就有无数美景在我的脑海中闪现,

  would make me recall many

  beautiful sights,

  什么钱塘江大潮、

  such as the tiding Qiantangjiang River,

  陈阁老宅、

  the Residence of Prime

  Minister Chen

  海神庙等等。

  the Sea Goddess Temple

  and so on.

  毕竟,海宁我们已经来过两次了。

  After all, we’ve been to Haining

  twice already.

  这第三次的海宁之行,

  On this third visit to Haining,

  可要看点儿新的东西了。

  I must try to see something new.

  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:我是快乐的渊源。

  And I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

  哎呀,韩佳,

  Wow, Han Jia,

  你对海宁可是太熟悉了。

  you’re so familiar with Haining.

  你刚才说要看点儿新的东西

  What is something new you

  just mentioned

  是什么呢?

  you wanted to see?

  韩佳: 以前我们来海宁呢,

  During our previous visits

  to Haining,

  看的都是人文景观和自然景观。

  we saw mainly some historical

  and scenic sites.

  那这次我们来呢,

  For this visit,

  要看看、说说、研究研究

  we’ll see, talk about and discuss

  海宁的商业发展情况。

  Haining’s commercial development.

  怎么样?

  What do you think?

  王渊源:哎,商业?这个好啊。

  Oh, commerce? That’s good.

  要是研究好了,

  With a good research,

  没准儿咱们也能在这儿开个店,

  maybe we could open a

  shop here

  当个老板什么的。

  and become proprietors.

  韩佳: 你想得也太远了吧。

  Maybe you’re thinking too far.

  王渊源:这不远,不远。

  No, not at all too far.

  要是真的看准时机开了店,

  If I opened a shop at

  the right time

  生意越来越火,

  and my business became

  increasingly brisk,

  别说是“万里海疆行”了,

  I would take our audience

  on a global tour,

  我请大家环游地球都没问题了。

  let alone a Happy Journey

  across China!

  韩佳: 这八字还没一撇呢。

  There is not the slightest sign

  of anything happening yet.

  你说得倒是挺热闹啊。

  And you started talking

  so much.

  王渊源:说开店的事儿。

  I was talking about opening

  a shop.

  你怎么,什么撇不撇的?

  What do you mean by

  ”mei yi pie”?

  韩佳: 我说的是“八字没一撇”

  ”Ba zi mei yi pie” is

  这句俗语常常用来比喻

  a common saying meaning

  there is not

  事情还没有头绪呢。

  the slightest sign of anything

  happening yet.

  王渊源:哦,“八字没一撇”是个成语,

  Oh, “Ba zi mei yi pie” is

  an idiom,

  常用来比喻

  which means that

  事情还没有头绪呢。

  there is not the slightest sign

  of anything happening yet.

  那我们就先做做市场调查吧。

  Let’s do some market

  research first.

  你说从哪儿看起呢?

  What do you think we

  should see first?

  韩佳: 就先在这宰相府

  Let’s take a stroll first

  along Zaixiangfu

  风情街转转吧。

  Tourist Street.

  旁白: 宰相府风情街

  Zaixiangfu Tourist Street

  得名于这条街上的陈阁老宅。

  was named after the Residence of

  Prime Minister Chen on the street.

  看看今天的这条街。

  Look at this street.

  两边满是店铺、门面,

  It’s flanked on both sides

  with stores,

  有卖小吃的、开茶楼的,

  snack shops and teahouses,

  应有尽有。

  selling everything you need.

  别看街不长,

  Though not very long,

  却既展现了海宁的旧时风貌,

  the street brings to life Haining

  in olden days

  又发展了现代的旅游事业。

  and helps develop the city’s

  tourism industry.

  可谓一举两得啊。

  It is a measure that serves

  two purposes.

  韩佳: 我真是服了他了!

  I’m convinced by him!

  还没开始工作,

  He hasn’t started work yet,

  就先品上茶了。

  but now is already savoring

  tea there.

  王渊源:你这回可是冤枉我了。

  You wronged me.

  为了开自己的店,

  I’m doing a market research here

  我这是在做市场调查呢。

  in order to open my shop.

  韩佳: 哇,你还真要开店啊?

  Wow, do you really want to

  open a shop?

  王渊源:那当然了。

  Of course, I do.

  刚才跟老板聊了半天,

  Just now I talked at length

  with the proprietor

  他什么客源哪、

  here about his customer ressources,

  货源哪、成本哪、收益啊

  supply resources, cost and profit.

  都跟我讲清楚了。

  He told me everything clearly.

  韩佳: 了解得够全面的呀。

  Now you have a very comprehensive

  understanding of this.

  王渊源:那是。“全面”意思是全部的、广泛的。

  Sure. “Quanmian” means overall

  or comprehensive.

  韩佳: 就拿刚才我说的那句话

  Just take the sentence

  I just said

  作为例子吧。

  as an example.

  Tā liǎojiě de kě zhēn quánmiàn a

  他 了解 得 可 真 全面 啊!

  He has a comprehensive understanding

  of this.

  那结果怎么样呢?

  What was the result?

  王渊源:把这些因素综合起来考虑,

  Taking into consideration all

  these factor,

  我还真…

  I really …

  韩佳: 还真打算开一个茶楼?

  You really want to open

  a teahouse?

  王渊源:我还真不能开这个茶楼。

  I really should not open

  a teahouse.

  韩佳: 啊?

  What?

  王渊源:不适合我,不适合我。

  It is not suitable for me.

  韩佳: 为什么呀?

  Why not?

  你刚才不是说得挺好的嘛。

  Didn’t you talk very confidently

  just now?

  嘉宾: 说得是挺好的。

  Yes, he did talk very confidently.

  可他连红茶和绿茶都分不出来。

  But he can’t even tell black tea

  from gree tea.

  怎么开店啊?

  How could he open a

  shop himself?

  韩佳: 啊?

  Really?

  旁白: 这个渊源!

  Poor Yuanyuan!

  一心想着自己开店做买卖的事儿。

  He is so intent on starting up

  his own business.

  也不知道他是从哪儿打听到的。

  But I’m not sure where he got

  all that information.

  说现在的海宁

  He learned that the most

  thriving business

  最火的生意是皮货生意。

  in Haining is the retail of

  leather products.

  海宁的皮衣年产量

  Haining’s annual output of

  leather jackets

  要占中国总产量的三分之一呢。

  accounts for one third of

  China’s total.

  渊源一听就动心了。

  He was excited at this news.

  死活非要马上去皮革城。

  He said he must visit the

  leather-ware market.

  王渊源:哇,好大的市场啊!

  Wow, what a big market!

  韩佳: 这么多家卖皮货的店。

  There are so many leather-ware

  shops here.

  你怎么也能学到点开店的技巧吧。

  No matter what, you can always learn

  some shop management skill here.

  王渊源:那倒也是。

  That’s for sure.

  “怎么也能”

  ”Zenme ye neng”

  意思是无论怎样都可以。

  means that no matter what, something

  is certain to be able to happen.

  韩佳: “怎么也能”就是指

  ”Zenme ye neng” means that

  无论如何也可以。

  no matter what, something

  is certain to happen.

  Zhè me duō píhuò wǒ zěnme yě néng tiāo chū jǐ jiàn lai

  这 么 多 皮货, 我 怎么 也 能 挑 出 几 件 来。

  With so many fur and leather products, I’ll

  certainly be able to choose some suitable ones.

  王渊源:那韩佳,你…

  Han Jia, do you …

  韩佳: 我就不打扰你做市场调查了。

  I won’t disrupt your market research.

  咱们一小时以后见吧。

  See you in an hour.

  你去慢慢学习吧。

  Take your time to learn.

  王渊源:嘿,得,自个儿转吧!

  Hey, let her stroll herself!

  旁白: 在皮革城转上一圈,

  After touring around the

  leather-ware market,

  我才真正体会到了

  now I’ve truly realized

  海宁皮革制造业的发达与兴盛。

  the advanced and prosperous

  leather-making industry in Haijing.

  整个皮革城有两千多家商户。

  In this entire leather-ware market,

  there are more than 2,000 shops.

  他们告诉我做这门生意得选店面、

  They told me to be engaged

  in this business,

  了解市场行情、

  I have to pay attention to

  a shop’s location,

  找供货商、进货…

  market information, suppliers, delivery …

  说得我直犯晕。

  Oh, I was almost befuddled.

  看来,想开个店还真不容易。

  It seems it is really not easy

  to open a shop.

  不过呀,这么多漂亮的皮衣、

  But there are so many pretty

  leather jackets

  皮具,韩佳可美了!

  and other leather-wares.

  Han Jia will like them!

  王渊源:哎呀,你的收获倒不小啊!

  Wow, you bought quite

  a lot!

  韩佳: 不好意思,不好意思。

  I’m a bit embarrassed.

  对了,你的调查做得怎么样了?

  Oh, yeah, how is your research going?

  王渊源:考虑到这个皮革贸易

  Considering the fact that the

  leather-ware retail business

  要求的专业素养太高,

  requires extremely high professional

  skills,

  我决定放弃了。

  I’ve decided to give it up.

  韩佳: 早该这样了嘛。

  You should have done that earlier.

  好好地干好现在的工作。

  You’d better do a good job

  your current work.

  开什么店啊。

  You should open no shops

  at all.

  王渊源:我决定直接进军皮革制造业,

  I decide to enter the leather-making industry

  去皮革厂了解一下皮货制造的工艺。

  and find out the craftsmanship

  at a leather-making plant.

  对以后开店肯定特有帮助。

  Definitely it’ll be helpful for

  my shop opening plan.

  韩佳: 啊!

  What!

  旁白: 来到皮革厂,

  Only after I came to a

  leather-making plant

  听了工作人员的介绍之后,

  and heard some staff’s explanation,

  我才知道皮具的制作工序有多复杂。

  did I know how complicated the

  leather-making process is.

  王渊源:哎呀,

  Oh,

  我看一时半会儿是记不下来了。

  I don’t think I can remember

  all those details.

  这样吧,您看看赏心悦目,

  I suggest you watch today’s

  Feast for the Eyes

  我呢再琢磨琢磨。

  while I give my plan some

  further consideration.

  赏心悦目:

  海宁不仅以人文风景著称

  Haining is known not only for its

  scenic beauty,

  同样因商业发达而闻名

  but also for its well-developed commerce.

  宰相府风情街古香古色

  The quaint Zaixiangfu Tourist Street

  同时展现了海宁的旧时风貌

  brings to life Haining’s old-time appearance

  与别具特色的商业风情

  with shops catering to tourists.

  海宁皮革业发达

  Haining is also known for its leather-making

  industry.

  皮革城中集中了数千商行

  The leather-ware market has thousands

  of shops

  商品琳琅满目 店面豪华精美

  selling a dazzling array

  让人目不暇给

  of leather products.

  韩佳: 渊源,你干吗去呀?

  Yuanyuan, where are you going?

  王渊源:我上车呀。

  I’m getting into the car.

  韩佳: 上车?

  Getting into the car?

  那你的店什么时候开张啊?

  When will your shop open

  to service?

  王渊源:嗨,我了解了情况之后,

  Hey, after my investigations,

  我觉得我啊

  I think

  还是别想着开什么皮货店了。

  I’d better not open any shop.

  哎,您要是来海宁的话,

  But if you come to Haining,

  倒是可以去韩佳的店买些皮货。

  you can buy some leather products

  at Han Jia’s shop.

  韩佳: 我的店?

  My shop?

  我什么时候说要开店啦?

  When did I open a shop?

  王渊源:我看你买的那些皮衣、皮包什么的,

  I think with those leather jackets

  and leather bags you bought,

  还不够开个店啊。

  you certainly can open a shop

  of your own.

  韩佳: 好了好了。言归正传,

  Okay. Now to be serious,

  给大家出今天的有奖问答题吧。

  set today’s award-winning

  question, please.

  王渊源:好。今天的题目是这样的。

  Okay. Here’s today’s question.

  (问题部分略)

  韩佳: 节目的最后呢,

  At the end of the program,

  还是要提醒您

  we’d still want to remind you

  别忘了明天同一时间,

  not to forget to continue to

  be with us

  继续跟我们一起

  tomorrow at the same time

  “万里海疆快乐行”。

  for the Happy Journey

  across China.

  王渊源:也别忘了我们的口号。

  And also 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)