Archive for June 6th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 166

Friday, June 6th, 2008

 

                 Click to Watch Video Podcast

旁白:    中国文化的一个重要特色

       One of the important characteristics

       of Chinese culture

       就是民族众多,

       is that China has many

       ethnic groups

       并且相互融合。

       and they all live in harmony

       with one another.

       您知道畲族吗?

       Do you know the She ethnic group?

       畲族是中国人口较少的民族之一。

       The She people are one of China’s

       ethnic minorities.

       在他们的生活中,

       In their daily lives,

       随时随地都能听到动人的歌声。

       passionate songs can be heard

       at any place and any time.

韩佳:    我们刚到福安的畲族村,

       Soon after we arrived in a

       She village

       没多一会儿啊,

       in Fuan,

       就已经感受到

       we began to realize that

       畲族真的是一个在生活中

       the ethnic She people truly

       live a life

       充满了歌声的民族。

       filled with songs.

王渊源:还真是。

       That’s absolutely true.

嘉宾女:欢庆节日要唱。

       We sing on festive occasions.

嘉宾男:迎亲嫁娶要唱,

       We sing on weddings

       就连平常的生产劳动也要唱。

       and we sing even at work.

王渊源:没错呀。我和韩佳呢

       Exactly. Han Jia and I are

       现在站在茶园中。

       at a tea plantation.

       我们刚才参与的就叫劳动盘歌呀。

       The song we joined them singing

       is an antiphonal work song.

韩佳:    算了吧,

       You think

       我们俩还参与哪?

       we really joined them?

       简直是滥竽充数啊。

       We were there merely to

       make up the numbers.

王渊源:我们倒是可以趁机

       We should as well take

       this opportunity

       讲讲“滥竽充数”的意思呢。

       to explain the meaning of “lan

       yu chong shu”.

韩佳:    嗯。

       Okay.

王渊源:我们不会唱歌。

       We can’t sing their work song.

       能学个成语也不错啊。

       But it is not bad to learn

       an idiom instead.

韩佳:    嗯,那倒是。

       Yeah, that’s true.

       “滥竽充数”中的“竽”啊

       The “yu” in “lan yu chong shu”

       是指一种乐器。

       refers to a kind of musical instrument.

       “充数”就是凑数的意思。

       “Chong shu” means to make up

       a number.

       古时候,有一位南郭先生。

       In ancient times, there was

       a man called Nan Guo.

       他吹竽的技术很差。

       He wasn’t good at playing

       the Yu.

       在乐队里合奏的时候

       But he could get away

       with it

       还可以蒙混过关。

       when playing together with

       a band.

       但是等到他单独演奏的时候就露馅了。

       His poor skill was laid bare when

       he played solo.

       所以“滥竽充数”这个成语呢

       So this idiom is used

       现在用来形容某些人没有本事,

       as a metaphor for someone

       less professional

       却混在人群中

       working together with a group

       of professionals

       冒充有那种本事。

       and pretending to be a professional.

王渊源:所以啊

       So

       咱们也别滥竽充数啊。

       we’d better stop pretending.

       我们还是来听听

       Let’s have a listen

       真正的对歌高手的表演吧。

       to the performance of master singers.

旁白:    这劳动盘歌的场面

       This is my first time to see

       我还是第一次见到。

       people sing an antiphonal

       work song.

       我们见识到了劳动盘歌。

       Now we know what an antiphonal

       work song is like.

       要是有机会能见识一下

       It will be more wonderful if

       we have

       迎亲嫁娶的场面就更好了。

       a chance to experience a

       wedding here.

韩佳:    这事情啊就是这么巧。

       It so happened.

       真让渊源给说着了,

       Just as Yuanyuan anticipated,

       这里正要举行一场热闹的婚礼。

       there is going to be an exciting

       wedding right here.

王渊源:啊,真的呀?

       Oh, really?

韩佳:    嗯。

       Yes.

王渊源:太好了!什么时候啊?

      That’s great! When?

韩佳:    一周以后。

       In a week’s time.

王渊源:你这不是逗我呢嘛?

       Are you kidding me?

韩佳:    这你就有所不知了吧,

       You obviously don’t know

       畲族婚礼最大的特点呢,

       the biggest difference of a

       She wedding

       就是在结婚之前

       is that long before the marriage,

       就已经开始对歌了。

       the bride and groom will start

       to sing antiphonal songs.

王渊源:啊,什么意思?

       What do you mean?

       你给我讲讲吧。

       Explain to me in detail.

韩佳:    不用听我讲。

       It is needless for me

       to explain.

       我现在呢就带你去瞧瞧。

       I’ll take you to a place for you

       to see for yourself.

       没准儿啊,

       Perhaps,

       你还可以当一回表弟呢。

       you’ll have a chance of acting

       as a cousin.

王渊源:啊,当表弟?

       What, acting as a cousin?

韩佳:    其实啊,我说的是

       In fact, what I said

       畲族婚俗中的一个环节。

       is a part of the wedding customs

       of the She ethnic group.

       为了考验准新娘对歌的本领,

       To test a would-be bride’s

       antiphonal skill,

       姑娘们在出嫁前

       many such girls

       都要去跟表弟们对歌。

       would sing antiphonal songs

       with their cousin.

       当然了,很多表弟跟准新娘

       Of course, many such cousins

       都没有真正的亲属关系。

       don’t have any family relations

       with the brides.

王渊源:你这么一解释,我就明白了。

       After your explanation, now

       I’m clear.

       没问题啊。

       No problem.

       我这个洋表弟啊

       I’m sure they will like me

       她们一定喜欢。

       as a foreign cousin.

韩佳:    哎,你先别美啊。

       But don’t be smug so early.

       要知道这新娘子的唱歌水平

       You know what, this bride

       可是一流的。

       is a first-rate singer.

       你要小心喽。

       So you must be careful.

王渊源:哎,等等等等。

       Oh, wait, wait.

       你说新娘的唱歌水平怎么着?

       What did you say about the

       bride’s singing skill?

韩佳:    一流啊。

       “Yiliu”.

       “一流”呢是个形容词。

       “Yiliu” is an adjective.

       就是指第一等的、最好的。

       It means first-class or first-rate.

王渊源:“一流”就是指第一等的、最好的。

       So “yiliu” means first-class

       or first-rate.

   Tā  de  chànggē  shuǐping  kěshi  yīliú  de

             唱歌     水平    可是  一流  的。

       She is a first-rate singer.

 

       那怎么对呀?

       But how should I sing with her?

嘉宾:    有我们在怕什么。过来吧。

       Don’t be afraid with us being here.

       Come on here.

王渊源:来了。

       Yeah, I’m coming.

       你们可以教我,是吧?

       You can teach me, right?

嘉宾:    是啊。

       Sure.

韩佳:    按照畲族的风俗啊,

       According to She customs,

       男方要派一位

       the groom’s family should

       send a man,

       能说会唱的男子,

       who is both eloquent and good

       at singing,

       到女方家去迎亲。

       to the bride’s family to

       greet her.

       哎,渊源,你说你不能

       Eh, Yuanyuan, don’t you think

       光帮新娘子是不是,

       you should not only help

       the bride,

       这新郎你也得帮帮吧?

       but also the groom, right?

王渊源:你是说我今天又要对歌了?

       Do you mean I’m going to sing

       antiphonal songs today?

韩佳:    对啊,今天你要唱借鋟歌。

       Right, today you’re going to sing

       the pot-borrowing song.

       这“鋟”就是指那种煮饭的锅。

       “Huo” refers to a rice-cooking pot.

       唱好了,才能生火煮饭哦。

       Only after you sing well, would

       they start cooking.

王渊源:唱不好连饭都不给吃啊?

       So if I didn’t sing well, they

       wouldn’t give me a meal?

韩佳:    嗯。

       No.

王渊源:那要跟我对歌的是?

       Who would sing opposite me?

韩佳:    当然是新娘子的姐妹团喽。

       Of course it’s the bride’s sister group.

王渊源:今天是新郎和新娘

       So today is the wedding day

       举办婚礼的日子了。

       of the bride and groom.

韩佳:    也就是两位新人大喜的日子。

       Yes, it is the bride and groom’s

       wedding day.

王渊源:哎,韩佳,

       Oh, Han Jia,

       “大喜的日子”常指举行婚礼的日子?

       in Chinese, “daxi de rizi” is used to

       mean wedding day, right?

韩佳:    没错儿。

       Right.

 

    Jīntiān  shi  liǎngwei  xīn  rén  dà  xǐ  de  rìzi

          今天       两位               日子。

       Today is the bride and groom’s

       wedding day.

 

 

王渊源:韩佳,我发现这畲族的婚礼

       I find this ethnic She wedding

       非常有特色呀。

       very unique.

韩佳:    那当然了。

       Yes indeed.

       一会儿,新郎和新娘

       In a moment, the bride and groom

       就要去拜堂成亲了。

       will bow to become married.

王渊源:那咱们是不是也该

       Should we also go

       讨杯喜酒去喝了?

       and ask for a glass of wine

       at the wedding feast?

韩佳:    哎,好主意。

       Yeah, good idea.

       我们跟着他们一块儿去吧。

       We should go together with them.

 

 

赏心悦目:

 

       畲族是中国的一个古老纯朴的民族

       The She ethnic group has a long history.

       宁德市是畲族的主要聚居地

       They mainly live in the Ningde area.

       畲族人民勤劳淳朴 能歌善舞

       The hardworking She people are good

       at singing and dancing.

       有着独特的民族传统习惯

       They have a unique tradition of their own.

       在日常生活和劳动中

       In their daily lives as well as at work,

       他们以歌代言 以歌传情

       they often communicate with one

       another in songs.

       丰厚的畲族文化

       With a rich culture

       独具特色的民族风情

       and unique customs,

       成为中华民族大家庭中的一朵奇葩

       they claim their own niche in the Chinese

       family of various ethnicities.

王渊源:这个村子真是太美了!

       This village is so beautiful!

       我在想,

       I was thinking that perhaps

       it is

       说不定是因为这儿的风光这么美,

       because of the beautiful scenery here

       才让畲族朋友

       that all these She people

       个个都那么爱唱歌。

       love singing so much.

韩佳:    嗯,也许吧。

       Yeah, it may be true.

       其实,这畲族的歌还有一个用途。

       But actually, She songs have

       another function.

       就是记录历史。

       They are also used to

       record history.

       畲族有自己的语言,

       The ethnic She have their

       own language,

       但是没有自己的文字。

       but not their own written language.

       从前,历史就是靠这歌谣

       In the past, history was

       passed down

       一代一代流传下来的。

       from generation to generation

       through songs.

王渊源:难怪畲族的男女老少

       No wonder all She people of

       all ages and both sexes

       都对唱歌这么痴迷啊。

       are so fond of singing.

韩佳:    嗯,好了,

       Okay,

       那美景看了,民歌听了,

       we’ve seen some beautiful scenery,

       listened to some folk songs

       独特的畲族婚礼您也见识了。

       and experience a unique ethnic

       She wedding ceremony.

       现在又到了我们的互动时间了。

       Now it’s our interacting time again.

王渊源:没错儿。

       Absolutely.

       今天的有奖问答题是这样的。

       Here’s today’s award-winning question.

 

(问题部分略)

 

韩佳:    那这一次的礼品呢

       And the present is right here

       已经在我手中了。

       in my hand.

       您瞧,就是这畲族银饰。

       Look, it’s a silver ornament of

       the ethnic She people.

       怎么样,很有诱惑力吧?

       Is it attractive?

       赶快行动哦。

       So be quick to act.

王渊源:没错。

       Absolutely.

       那在我们今天的节目的最后,

       At the end of today’s program,

       我们还是要提醒您,

       we’d still want to remind you

       我们的口号是不能忘的。

       not to 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)

China Travel – Ta’er Temple (2)

Friday, June 6th, 2008

The Ta’er Temple was the birthplace of Zongkaba, the founder of the Gelug Sect. In the 12th year (1379) of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Zongkaba’s mother built a pagoda at the birthplace of her son, and a tiled house to shelter it. This is the oldest religious building in the Ta’er Temple. In the 39th year (1560) of the Jiajing reign in the Ming Dynasty, Monk Renqinzong Zhejianzan who was cultivating built a small Buddhist temple at the south foot of the Lotus Flower Mountain. In the 5th year (1577) of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a Buddhist monk built an Amitabha Buddha hall on the left side of the Daling Pagoda according to the order of the third Dalai Lama. After that, monks and disciples of all dynasties extended and refurbished the Ta’er Temple many times and made it more magnificent. It attracted tens of thousands of people in different nationalities such as the Tibetan, Han, Mongolian and so on to worship and became the center of Buddhist activities in the northwest. It enjoys fame far and wide and is the well-known Holy Land of Buddhism.

 

The main hall of the Ta’er Temple is the Large Gold Tile Hall, which is the earliest building in the temple. Covering nearly 450 square meters and with three eaves relying on the sidewalls, it is in the Han style displaying a magnificent view. The hall was first built in 1379 and it was a simple and crude house covered with tiles. Later on, the hall was expanded by the nearby Tibetans and disciples with alms. In the 50th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a Mongolian county official in Qinghai donated one thousand and three hundred taels of gold and twelve thousand taels of silver to cover the middle layer of the roof with gold-plated bronze tiles. In the 5th year (1740) of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1840), the then Tibetan King set aside 27,000 taels of silver to roof the Large Gold Tile Hall with all gold-plated tiles. On the ridge of the hall a big gold roof shaped in a treasure vase was placed, with a pair of puffing flame decorations on both sides of it. The hall is 19 meters high and the Daling Pagoda is enshrined in it. The Pagoda is 11 meters in height, gold-plated on the silver base and inlaid with various treasures. Zongkaba’s clay statue is enshrined in the middle niche of the pagoda.

 

In front of the pagoda, there are ornaments and musical instruments used in the Buddhist mass, such as gold lamps, silver lamps, bronze lamps, ivories, and ancient vases, etc. On the lotus throne, there are statues of Buddha. Buddhist stories were painted on the walls and ceiling. The pictures are vivid and vigorous. In the hall, there is a stele granted by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. Hundreds of Buddhist sutras are treasured up in the hall. On both sides of the Large Gold Tile Hall, there is the Amitabha Buddha hall. The right one (called as the Upper Xiankang) was built in the 5th year (1577) of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty and the left one (called as the Lower Xiankang) was built in the 22nd year (1594) of the Wanli reign.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 99

Friday, June 6th, 2008

来到罐头陈列区前
金咪:我要‘杰森主厨汤’。他在电视上好可爱哦!
妈妈:那太贵了。我们买平价的老鹰牌好了,价格只要一半。
金咪:可是我喜欢杰森主厨。
妈妈:我这是在教你买东西时如何比价,好不好?我们一种买一个,看看吃起来有没有不同。
金咪:好啊,妈,我也真的真的好想要果冻。我们买一点好吗?拜托?
妈妈:好吧,不要再吵了。你跟山姆去拿果冻,我去拿谷类麦片。我跟你们在收银台前会合。这次别再让我抓狂啰!

They make it to the canned food aisle
Kim: I want this Chef Jason soup. He’s so cute on TV!
Mom: It’s too expensive. Let’s just get the generic Eagle brand for half the price.
Kim: But I like Chef Jason.
Mom: I’m teaching you here about comparison shopping, OK? We’ll buy one of each and see if they taste any different.
Kim: OK. Mom, I really really want some jello, too. Can we get some? Please?
Mom: Fine. Enough already! You and Sam go grab the jello, and I’ll get the cereal. I’ll meet you in the check-out aisle. And don’t make me mad this time!

 

(Source: wwenglish.com)