Archive for April 12th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 44

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

宠物就像人类一样会生病,它们像我们一样经常需要药品。让狗或猫吃它们需要的药并非易事。首先我们得强迫我们的狗张开嘴然后把药滴进去,但我们发现这是很难的任务。现在我们更喜欢把药混在宠物喜欢的食物中,这种方法好多了。

Pets get sick just like humans. They often need medicine just as we do. It is not easy to get dogs and cats to take the medicine they need. At first we would try to force our dog’s mouth open and drop in the pills. But we found this was a difficult task. We now prefer to mix the medicine with our pet’s favorite food. This way works much better.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 111

Saturday, April 12th, 2008
 
 

                       Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (2月7日播出)

  旁白: 昨天看过了西溪湿地。

  Yesterday we visited the

  Xixi Wetlands.

  今天我们的车队

  Today our team

  又来到了杭州的萧山。

  has arrived in Hangzhou’s

  Xiaoshan Distrcit.

  听说这里的湘湖

  We heard Xianghu Lake here

  可是一个风景优美的好地方。

  is a place of beautiful scenery.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,

  Learn Chinese the fun way

  万里海疆行!

  and enjoy a Happy Journey

  across China!

  大家好,我是快乐的韩佳。

  Hello! I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:大家好!

  Hi there!

  我是快乐的王渊源。

  I’m Happy Wang Yuanyuan.

  我们在杭州的湘湖

  We’re saying hello to you

  向大家问声好。

  at Hangzhou’s Xianghu Lake.

  韩佳: 说到杭州啊,

  When we talk about Hangzhou,

  大家第一个想到的呢

  the first thing you think of

  肯定是西湖。

  is definitely West Lake.

  不过我们现在所在的湘湖啊

  But the scenery of Xianghu Lake

  景色也非常不错哦。

  by our side isn’t bad either.

  王渊源:湖光山色,美不胜收!

  The beautiful lake and hills

  are a feast for the eyes!

  韩佳: 哇,形容得挺贴切呀!

  Wow, what a perfect description!

  王渊源:那是。

  Sure.

  韩佳: 哟,瞧把你美的。

  Hey, look how smug you are.

  王渊源:韩佳,

  Han Jia,

  你夸得我都不好意思了。

  your praise embarrassed me.

  这还是第一次

  This is the first time

  有人说我长得美呢!

  someone has ever said

  that I am handsome!

  韩佳: 哦,我刚才说的“美”啊

  Oh, the “mei” I just said

  是指高兴、得意的意思。

  means self-satisfied.

  王渊源:“美”除了“漂亮”的意思,

  So in addition to meaning beautiful,

  还有高兴、得意的意思。

  ”mei” can also mean self-satisfied.

  韩佳: 那我们举个例子来说吧。

  Let’s explain with an example.

  Tā shòudao kuājiǎng yǐhou xīn li kě měi le

  他 受到 夸奖 以后, 心 里 可 美 了。

  After being praised, he was very

  satisfied with himself.

  王渊源:原来“美”还有这种意思呢!

  The word “mei” also has

  this meaning!

  韩佳: 是啊。长见识了吧?

  Yes. Are you learning something?

  不过这湘湖的美景啊

  But it isn’t enough to appreciate

  the beauty

  光这样欣赏是不够的。

  of Xianghu Lake just by

  looking like this.

  王渊源:那要怎么办呢?

  What should we do?

  韩佳: 坐船游湘湖。

  Take a boat excursion

  on Xianghu Lake.

  王渊源:哎。

  Good.

  坐船游湖,

  Taking a boat excursion

  on the lake

  好像连自己也成为风景的一部分了。

  makes me feels as if I were also

  part of the scenery.

  韩佳: 嗯。

  Right.

  王渊源:哎,韩佳,杭州人,

  Eh, Han Jia, as a native

  of Hangzhou,

  要不你给我们讲讲

  can you tell us something

  这湘湖的背景啊?

  about Xianghu Lake?

  韩佳: 杭州人是没错儿。

  It is true I’m a native

  of Hangzhou.

  可是我是在西湖边长大的。

  But I grew up by the side

  of West Lake.

  对这湘湖啊

  I am not quite familiar

  还真不太了解。

  with Xianghu Lake.

  哎,不如我们问问旁边那位啊。

  Eh, we had better ask that

  person by our side.

  王渊源:你问问。

  Go ahead.

  韩佳: 您好!

  Hello!

  请问您是当地人吗?

  Are you a native here?

  嘉宾: 是的。

  Yes, I am.

  韩佳: 那请教您几个问题啊。

  We’re got a few questions

  to consult you.

  这个湘湖它为什么叫湘湖呢?

  Why is the lake called

  Xianghu Lake?

  嘉宾: 是这样的。

  The reason is like this.

  当时我们萧山的县令杨石,

  The former magistrate of

  Xiaoshan County, Yang Shi,

  他就带着老百姓…

  led the people here …

  旁白: 原来湘湖是北宋时期,

  As a matter of fact,

  Xianghu Lake

  人们为了灌溉

  is an artificial lake dug

  for irrigation

  而修筑的人工湖。

  during the Northern Song Dynasty.

  嘉宾: 当时的面积有三万多亩,

  It covered an area of

  30,000-odd mu,

  相当于现在西湖面积的4.5倍。

  or about 4.5 times that of

  West Lake.

  没想到湘湖的历史还不短呢。

  To my surprise, Xianghu

  Lake’s history is so long.

  嘉宾: 比湖历史悠久的一些古迹

  Some historical relics with longer

  history than the lake

  在我们湘湖周边还有。

  still exist around Xianghu

  Lake today.

  韩佳: 还有哪些呀?

  What are those relics?

  嘉宾: 就像越王城山上面的

  Such as the city walls on

  Yuewangcheng Mountain

  两千五百年前保存下来的古城墙,

  built 2,500 years ago

  还有在跨湖桥畔出土的

  and the ruins

  跨湖桥遗址。

  of the Kuahu Bridge.

  王渊源:这就是跨湖桥遗址博物馆啊?

  Is this the Kuafu Bridge Ruins

  Museum?

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes, it is.

  跨湖桥遗址

  The Kuahu Bridge ruins

  现在可是格外的出名哦。

  are especially famous.

  王渊源:“格外”就是用来

  ”Gewai” means

  表示超出寻常的意思。

  especially or all the more.

  韩佳: 嗯。“格外”就是用来

  Yeah. “Gewai” means

  表示超出寻常的意思。

  especially or all the more.

  王渊源:其实,原始社会的遗址

  In fact, primitive society ruins

  别的地方也有。

  also exist in other places.

  韩佳: 嗯。

  Yes.

  王渊源:为什么这里的遗址就那么著名啊?

  Why are the ruins here so famous?

  韩佳: 据专家考证呢,

  According to experts’ textual research,

  这跨湖桥遗址

  the Kuahu Bridge ruins

  已经有八千多年的历史了。

  already have a history of

  over 8,000 years.

  把整个浙江省的文明史

  The discovery of these ruins

  extended the history

  都向前推进了一千多年。

  of civilization in Zhenjiang

  Province 1,000 years.

  王渊源:怪不得呢,

  No wonder

  那这个遗址的意义

  the ruins are

  确实非常大。

  of such great significance.

  韩佳: 对呀。

  Yes.

  而且从跨湖桥遗址

  And at the site of the

  Kuahu Bridge,

  还发掘出了很多的文物。

  there have been many cultural

  relics unearthed.

  其中,最出名的就是那个了。

  And of them all, the most well

  known is the thing over there.

  王渊源:这是…

  This is …

  韩佳: 你猜这是什么。

  Just guess what it is.

  王渊源:我觉得看上去有点像独木舟。

  I think it looks a bit like

  a canoe.

  韩佳: 没错儿,就是独木舟,

  Exactly, it is a canoe,

  而且是八千多年前的独木舟。

  and a canoe made 8,000-odd

  years ago.

  王渊源:八千多年前?

  8,000-odd years ago?

  真没想到八千年以前

  I never imagined 8,000 years ago,

  就有人在这附近生活了。

  there were already humans

  living around here.

  韩佳: 对啊。就算是浙江省

  Yes. Even the very famous

  Hemudu Ruins

  非常出名的河姆渡遗址啊,

  in Zhejiang Province

  也要比它晚一千多年呢。

  only existed 1,000-odd years later.

  旁白: 看过了跨湖桥遗址,

  After seeing the Kuahu Bridge Ruins,

  渊源对湘湖周围的古迹

  Yuanyuan appears more interested

  兴趣更大了。

  in relics around Xianghu Lake.

  对了,刚才啊

  Oh, yeah, just now,

  还听说这里有古代越国的遗迹。

  we heard there are also relics dating

  from the ancient Kingdom of Yue.

  也应该去看一看。

  We should also go

  take a look.

  王渊源:城山怀古。

  ”Cherish the Past on

  Chengshan Mountain”.

  韩佳: 嗯。这座山就叫城山。

  Yes. This mountain is called

  Chengshan Mountain.

  从这儿上去啊,

  Climbing up from here,

  就是我们之前提过的

  we’ll reach the ruins of

  越国固陵城遗址了。

  Guling City of the just mentioned

  Kingdom of Yue.

  王渊源:你是说这上面还有一座城呢?

  Did you mean there used to

  be a city on the hilltop?

  韩佳: 准确地说呢,

  More precisely,

  是一座军事堡垒。

  it was a military citadel.

  到现在,

  Till today,

  已经有两千五百多年的历史喽。

  it already has a history of

  over 2,500 years.

  王渊源:可是为什么要在这儿

  But why was a military citadel

  建军事堡垒呢?

  built here?

  韩佳: 是这样的。

  The reason is like this.

  因为城山啊

  As Chengshan Mountain

  是湘湖的制高点,

  is the highest point in the

  Xianghu Lake area

  所以在春秋战国时期啊,

  and the kingdoms Wu and

  Yue were

  吴国跟越国交战,

  at war during the Spring and Autumn

  and Warring States Period,

  越国就在城山上

  Yue built on the mountain

  修建了固陵城

  the city of Guling

  来抵御吴国的进攻。

  in order to resist the attacks

  of Wu.

  王渊源:你刚才说的

  You said “lai”

  “来”抵御吴国的进攻,是…

  resist the attacks of Wu.

  What does it mean?

  韩佳: 这个“来”

  The “lai” here

  放在动词前面呢

  placed before a verb

  是用来表示

  is used to mean

  为了达到某种目的。

  ”in order to”.

  王渊源:哦。当“来”放在动词前面时,

  Oh. So when placed before a verb,

  和英文“in order to”的用法相似。

  ”lai” can have a meaning similar

  to “in order to” in English.

  韩佳: 那我们举个例子来说吧。

  Let’s explain with an example.

  Wǒ měitiān jiānchí pǎobù lái duànliàn shēntǐ

  我 每天 坚持 跑步 来 锻炼 身体。

  I persist in running every day

  for exercise.

  王渊源:那韩佳,这山顶上

  Han Jia, what else

  现在还有什么呢?

  is there on top of the mountain?

  韩佳: 这山顶上啊,

  On top of the mountain,

  还有一千多米长的古城墙遗址

  there are still ruins of a 1000-

  odd-meter-long city wall

  和一个洗马池。

  and a horse-washing pond.

  王渊源:洗马池?

  A horse-washing pond?

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  洗马池就是古代士兵

  The horse-washing pond was

  where ancient warriors

  用来饮马和洗战马的地方啊。

  watered and and washed their

  battle horses.

  旁白: 这一次的湘湖之行

  The trip to Xianghu Lake

  收获可真不小。

  was really most rewarding.

  既欣赏了美丽的风光,

  Not only did we enjoy

  beautiful scenery,

  还了解了不少历史知识。

  but also learned a lot of

  historical knowledge.

  对了,还有湘圃观鱼没看呢。

  Oh, yeah, we haven’t watched

  the fish at Xiangpu yet.

  王渊源:哇,好多观赏鱼啊!

  Wow, there are so many

  ornamental fish here!

  韩佳: 嗯。这里呢

  Yeah. Here is

  是湘湖新开发的一个景点,

  a newly opened tourist attraction,

  叫湘圃观鱼。

  called Xiangpu Guanyu.

  这些鱼啊

  These fish

  就是专门供人们观赏的。

  are kept especially for people

  to watch.

  王渊源:是挺漂亮的,

  They are really pretty

  五颜六色的。

  and very colorful.

  你看,他们那边在喂鱼啊。

  Look, they are feeding fish

  over there.

  可惜我没带吃的。

  Pity I didn’t bring any

  food with me.

  韩佳: 早就给你准备好了。

  I’ve long prepared it for you.

  王渊源:哎,太好了!开饭喽!

  Oh, great! Meal time now!

  赏心悦目:

  湘湖历史悠久 风景秀丽

  The beautiful Xianghu Lake has a long history.

  舟行碧波上 人在画中游

  A boat excursion can best appreciate its

  picturesque beauty.

  越王城山屹立湖畔

  Yuewangcheng Mountain stands by its side.

  千年前的铁马金戈声

  The battle cries over a thousand years ago

  仿佛仍在耳边回荡

  seem to be still lingering around.

  八千年前的独木舟

  The canoe dating from 8,000 years ago seems

  描述着湘湖的古老与沧桑

  to be recounting the changes around the lake.

  跨湖桥遗址记录着浙江久远的历史

  The ruins of the Kuahu Bridge record Zhejiang’s

  distant history.

  韩佳: 这个渊源。

  Look at Yuanyuan.

  我们在看赏心悦目,

  While we are watching the

  Feast for the Eyes,

  他倒挺会找乐儿!

  he is certainly good at

  seeking fun for himself!

  玩得多开心啊!

  What a good time he

  is having!

  那这样吧,

  Well,

  我先来给大家出今天的有奖问答题。

  let me set today’s award-winning

  question for you.

  您听好了。

  Listen carefully.

  (问题部分略)

  好了,节目的最后呢,

  Well, before we wrap up,

  让我们一起喊出口号。

  let’s shout our slogan together.

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

  Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

  韩佳: 再见。

  So long.

(Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Culture – Qiuse Arts of Foshan(1)

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Located in South China’s Guangdong Province, Foshan city is the famous hometown of Qiuse (autumn) arts, which refer to the activities held in celebration of the autumn harvest, also called “Qiuse contests” or a “Qiuse Tideng Gathering”.

 Origin of Qiuse arts in Foshan

Qiuse arts in Foshan have a long history. It is said that one night during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) after the autumn harvest, a group of children shaped the husk of a wild rice stem into a dragon, inserted a lit joss stick into its body and used a bamboo pole to wave the fire dragon around while roaming the streets and alleys and singing and beating their drums late into the night. This activity later developed into a fixed form of entertainment, which was gradually elaborated to become Qiuse arts, with an added local touch.

Known as one of the “four famous towns” in China since ancient times, Foshan is celebrated for its handicrafts and prosperous business; the town’s Qiuse activities held every autumn are the epitome of the city’s prosperous development.

Qiuse activities are strict in form and content and fall into two categories — performing arts and handicrafts. Performing arts include lantern demonstrations, playing with dragon lanterns, acting out drama stories, lion team processions, walking on high stilts, etc; the handicrafts include sculptures, zhen ke (“needle carving”), nian tie (“pasting”), pi xiao (“paring”), zhi pu (“paper sculpting”), and so on.

Source: chinaculture.org