Archive for July 10th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 200

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

   

 

 

                          Click to Watch Video Podcast 

旁白: 在昨天的节目里,

    In our program yesterday,

    我们已经在日光岩上

    on the Sunshine Rock,

    俯瞰过这座岛上的老建筑了。

    we already had a bird’s eye view of

    some old buildings on the island.

    那今天呢,

    And today,

    就要和您一起走近它们。

    we’re going to take a closer

    look at them.

    王渊源:韩佳,听说这鼓浪屿

    Han Jia, I heard that Gulangyu

    也有“万国建筑博览”的称号。

    is also billed as a world expo

    of architecture.

    是吗?

    Is that true?

    韩佳: 对呀。据说在这座岛上

    Yes. It is said that on

    this island,

    有上千座风格各异的中外建筑呢。

    there are nearly 1,000 Chinese and foreign

    buildings of different architectural styles.

    王渊源:这“上千座”里的“上”

    How do you explain “shang”

    应该怎么解释呢?

    as in “shang qian zuo”?

    韩佳: “上”在这里是个动词,

    ”Shang” here is a verb,

    表示达到一定的数量

    meaning to reach a certain number,

    或者是够一定的数量。

    or as many as.

    王渊源:“上”在这里是个动词,

    So “shang” here is a verb

    表示达到或超出一定的数量。

    that means to reach or surpass

    a certain number.

    韩佳: 比如我们刚才说的,

    For example just as we said,

    Zhè li yǒu zhe shàng qiān zuò fēnggé gè yì de jiànzhu

    这 里 有 着 上 千 座 风格 各 异 的 建筑。

    There are a thousand or more pieces of

    architecture of different styles here.

    比如,这里有飞檐翘角的庙宇,

    For instance, there are temples

    with protruding eaves,

    有哥特式的教堂,

    a Gothic church,

    还有中国古典的私家园林。

    and classical private gardens

    as well.

    王渊源:还有私家园林呢?

    There are even private gardens here?

    韩佳: 嗯。我们去看看。

    Yes. Let’s go over and

    take a look.

    渊源,

    Yuanyuan,

    这菽庄花园就是一座私家园林,

    the Shuzhuang Garden used

    to be a private garden,

    它可是一座非常有特色的园林哦。

    which is very unique.

    王渊源:有什么特色?

    How unique is it?

    韩佳: 它最主要的特色呢就是“藏海”。

    Its main feature is this Sea-

    Hiding Yard.

    王渊源:“藏海”什么意思啊?

    Sea-Hiding Yard? What does

    it mean?

    韩佳: 你绕过这堵墙我再告诉你吧。

    I’ll tell you after we get

    round this wall.

    王渊源:哇!

    Wow!

    韩佳: 怎么样,什么叫“藏海”?

    Well, what is the Sea-Hiding Yard?

    现在不用我说你也该明白了吧。

    Now you understand without

    my explanation.

    王渊源:那当然了。

    Sure, of course.

    这样的设计可真是太巧妙了!

    It’s such an ingenious design!

    居然是一堵墙把海给藏起来了。

    A wall can hide the sea away.

    韩佳: 对呀。

    Yes.

    这主要就是运用了

    Here the shielding method

    中国古典园林设计中的“障景”手法。

    in traditional Chinese gardening

    was used.

    它给人一种突然间…

    It suddenly gives people

    a sense …

    王渊源:海阔天空的感觉。

    A sense of a vast sky

    and open sea.

    韩佳: 没错儿。“海阔天空”是个成语。

    Exactly. “Hai kuo tian kong”

    is an idiom.

    用来形容大自然的广阔。

    It means as boundless as

    the sea and sky.

    那现在呢,

    It can also be used

    常常用它来比喻说话或者是想象

    metaphorically to refer to straying

    没有拘束或限制,漫无边际。

    from the subject.

    王渊源:“海阔天空”是个成语,

    So “hai kuo tian kong” is an idiom

    用来形容大自然的广阔。

    that means as boundless as

    the sea and sky.

    现在常常用它来比喻说话或者是想象

    It can also be used metaphorically

    没有拘束或限制,漫无边际。

    to refer to straying from

    the subject.

    韩佳: 这座园子本身的面积并不大。

    This garden is not very big.

    要在有限的空间里,

    To create a sense of a

    boundless sea and sky

    创造出海阔天空的感觉,

    in this limited space

    用的就是“巧借”的手法。

    the designer had to use

    the borrowing technique.

    设计者在这里建桥、造亭,

    The architect built bridges

    and pavilions here

    把周围的景物巧妙地利用起来。

    while making use of the

    surrounding scenery.

    所以我们现在看这座园子

    So we really don’t feel

    并不会觉得它小。

    it’s a small garden.

    旁白: 虽然美丽的菽庄花园让人流连忘返,

    Although we are reluctant to leave

    the beautiful Shuhuang Garden,

    但是岛上其他那些

    there are still many other

    藏在幽静巷子里的老房子,

    ancient houses hidden in the alleys,

    却还吸引着我们。

    which attract us.

    王渊源:韩佳,你说这么一座小岛上

    Why does this small island

    怎么会有这么多

    have so many houses

    不同风格的建筑呢?

    of different architectural styles?

    韩佳: 那是因为从十九世纪中叶之后,

    That’s because after middle of

    the 19 century ,

    厦门就成了对外开放的通商口岸之一。

    Xiamen became one of China’s

    open ports for foreign trade.

    当时大约有十三个国家

    About 13 countries

    在这里设立了领事馆。

    established consulates here.

    随后又有很多商人、传教士,

    Ever since many merchants, missionaries

    还有归国华侨

    and returned overseas Chinese

    在这里办学校、设教堂、建别墅。

    set up schools and built churches

    and villas here.

    所以呢,就逐渐形成了

    Therefore, the place has become

    我们现在所看到的景象。

    what it is today.

    王渊源:那怪不得呢。

    No wonder.

    韩佳: 对呀。这里有一座金瓜楼,

    Right. The old Jingua Building

    就是保存得比较完好,

    has been preserved in good condition.

    也非常有特色的老别墅。

    It is one of the most stylish

    old buildings here.

    王渊源:金瓜楼,

    Is the building called Jingua

    取这个名字难道是因为它

    because of the two

    上面有两个像金瓜一样圆圆的塔顶吗?

    golden melon-shaped domes?

    韩佳: 对呀。

    Yes.

    像这样的塔顶在意大利和奥地利

    Such domes are quite common

    都是比较常见的。

    in Italy and Austria.

    它既有罗马建筑的元素,

    It has both Romanesque elements

    又有洛可可式的美感。

    and rococo esthetic beauty.

    在鼓浪屿众多的老别墅当中

    This building is very unique

    是独一无二的。

    on Gulangyu Island.

    “独一无二”是个成语,

    ”Du yi wu er” is an idiom,

    意思是只此惟一的,没有相同的。

    meaning unique or unparalleled.

    王渊源:“独一无二”

    So “du yi wu er”

    意思是只此惟一的,没有相同的。

    means unique or unparalleled.

    Zhè zhǒng fēnggé de jiànzhu zài zhèlǐ shi dúyīwúèr de

    这 种 风格 的 建筑 在 这里 是 独一无二 的。

    This style of architecture is unique here.

    仔细想一想,还真是。

    After thinking carefully, sure it is.

    虽然刚才我们看过很多欧式的老别墅,

    Though just now we saw many

    European-style old villas,

    但是像这样的塔顶还真是没见着过。

    we surely didn’t see this type of

    domed building.

    韩佳: 是啊。你没发现

    Right. Did you find

    它这门楼也是很有特色的吗?

    the gate tower also very unique?

    这座门楼是分为两层的。

    This gate tower consists of

    two stories.

    上面是歇山顶,还有这翘角,

    There is a roof with turned-up edges,

    正好跟金瓜的棱角相呼应。

    which correspond with the ridges

    of the domes.

    王渊源:感觉就好像一座小小的古城门一样。

    It looks like a small city gate.

    韩佳: 是呀。在鼓浪屿上,

    Yes. On Gulangyu Island,

    每一幢老建筑的门楼都是很有特色的,

    the gate of every old building is unique

    几乎没有重样的。

    and different.

    王渊源:真的呀?

    Really?

    韩佳: 嗯。

    Yes.

    王渊源:可是这里有那么多老别墅,

    But there are so many

    old villas

    那么多门楼。

    and so many gates.

    没有重样的,这个我不信。

    You said they are all different.

    I don’t believe it.

    韩佳: 不信?

    You don’t believe it?

    这样吧,看完了今天的赏心悦目,

    Okay, you’ll believe it after you

    看他信不信。

    watch today’s Feast for the Eyes.

    赏心悦目:

    风光旖旎的鼓浪屿

    The scenic Gulangyu Island

    有着“万国建筑博览”的美称

    is dubbed “the world expo of architecture”.

    一座座异国情调的老建筑

    Exotic buildings and houses of combined

    精巧别致的院落 中西合璧的房舍

    Chinese and Western styles

    成了这里独具特色的景观

    are a unique feature of the island.

    每当夕阳余辉洒落

    When night falls,

    掩不住的是这座小岛恬静 淡然的气质

    quiet and peacefulness return to the island.

    说不完的

    But the stories

    是那一幢幢老屋里流传久远的故事

    about these old houses never end.

    王渊源:这门楼又不一样。

    This gate is also different.

    韩佳: 怎么样,这回信了吧?

    Well, now do you believe it?

    王渊源:我信了,信了。

    Yes, I do.

    我看了这么多座别墅的门楼,

    After seeing so many the

    villas’ gates,

    个个都不一样。

    now I know they are

    all different.

    韩佳: 瞧你,跑得气喘吁吁的。

    Look, you’re puffing so hard

    after the run.

    这样吧,你先休息休息。

    You’d better take a rest first.

    我带大家再去欣赏一下

    I’m going to show our

    audience around

    这座海天堂构。

    the Hai Tian Tang Gou

    villa complex.

    这海天堂构是由五幢别墅

    Hai Tian Tang Gou consists

    of five villas built

    组合而成的中西合璧的别墅群。

    in a combination of Chinese

    and Western styles.

    要数我们面前的这幢中楼

    The central building before us

    最豪华、最有特色。

    is the most magnificent and

    most unique.

    您瞧瞧,那屋顶上还有藻井呢。

    Look, there is even a caisson

    on the ceiling.

    王渊源:这简直就是一座仿古的大宫殿嘛!

    This is simply an imitated

    grand palace!

    韩佳: 你不是去休息了嘛?

    Didn’t you go for a rest?

    王渊源:我是在休息呀。

    I am resting now.

    欣赏这么美丽的老别墅,

    Isn’t enjoying this beautiful

    old villa

    不就是一种休息嘛?

    also a kind of rest?

    韩佳: 对了。

    Oh, yeah.

    那你今天的有奖问答题都想好了吗?

    Have you prepared today’s award-

    winning question?

    王渊源:当然,早就想好了。

    Of course, I’ve prepared it

    for a long time.

    (问题部分略)

    好了,

    Okay,

    我们今天的节目就要跟您说再见了。

    Our program for today has to

    stop here.

    明天的节目将会更加精彩。

    Our program tomorrow is even

    more wonderful.

    您可千万别错过了。

    So be sure not to miss it.

    韩佳: 当然了,口号也不能忘哦。

    And of course, 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)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 133

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

并非所有的美国人都崇拜运动,但运动的确是他们文化当中极为重要的一部份。在他们的学校生活当中,美国人学习许多运动。所有的学生都必须在学校修体育课。许多人也喜欢从事一些非竞争性的活动像健行、骑单车、骑马、露营或打猎。要和美国运动迷沟通,最好是能畅谈运动。

Not all Americans worship sports, but athletics are an important part of their culture. Throughout their school life, Americans learn to play many sports. All students take physical education classes in school. Many people also enjoy non-competitive activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping or hunting. To communicate with American sports nuts, it helps if you can talk sports.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 15

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Y: Perfect Chinese your way, in only five minutes a day. Welcome to Chinese Studio. I’m Yajie.
C: Hi, everyone, I’m Cam. 早上好 zǎoshang hǎo, yajie.
Y: 早上好!Today we’ll learn how to ask one’s age in Chinese. First let’s check our key words of the day!

************Key words of the day
Today we’ll continue with the usages of the numbers. 你几岁了? 您多大了?All in today’s Chinese Studio. 
***********
C: In the West, we don’t usually ask a person’s age. Especially a girl. It is usually considered private!
Y: In China you can ask a person’s age. And there are different ways of asking. For example, if you saw a lovely kid, and you were wondering how old she or he was, you could say “你几岁了?” (nǐ jǐ suì le?)
C: “你几岁了?” (nǐ jǐ suì le?)
Y: 你, we’ve learnt that before, right? It means you. Remember? The pronunciation of 你 is similar to the English word knee. 你, the third tone.
C: yes. 你  (nǐ)
Y: 几 means how many. And 岁 means age.
C: 几岁(jǐ suì).
Y: Right. Now let me explain the usage of 了. Here 岁, a noun, plus the Chinese character了. It has a similar meaning to that of a verb, indicating the completion of an action. For example, 我八岁了 means that I’ve already grown up (请重读,以突出、强调变化) to eight years old.
Y: If you want to know the age of somebody around your age – or a peer — you can ask this way: 你多大了?
C: 你多大了?(ní duō dà le?)
Y: 多, here means how many? 多大 together means how old.
C: 你多大了?
Y: Sometimes when answering the question of how old they are,  people would just say我plus the number of your age. For example, if you were twenty years old, you could say 我二十了. 
Y: Right. One more thing.  There is a more courteous way of asking an elderly or senior person’s age. You can say 您多大了?
C: 您多大了?(nín duō dà le?) We’ve learned 您. It’s the polite form of 你, right?
Y: Exactly. 您多大了?There is another way of asking a senior citizen’s age. You can say 您高寿?高 means high, and 寿 means age. Together 高寿means your venerable age. 您高寿?
C: 您高寿?(nín gāo shòu) It’s a little bit difficult for me to say.
Y: You can keep practicing.  This is a polite thing to say to elderly people.  It shows respect.
**********Key words reminder
You could ask a kid “你几岁了?” For an adult, you can say 你多大了?And您多大了?is a courteous way of asking an elderly or senior person’s age. Also when asking an old person’s age, you can say 您高寿?高 means high, and 寿 means age. Together 高寿means your venerable age.
***********
Cam: Yajie, 你多大了?
Y: Sorry, Cam. I forgot to tell you that now in China more and more people do not ask a lady’s age. So it’s a secret.
Cam: Ok. I see. I’ll have to remember that!
Y: Well, class is over for this time. Don’t forget you can win a gift by answering the question of the day in Chinese: what’s the polite form of asking a senior citizen’s age?
C: Just make a sentence! Send us your answer to chinese@crifm.com. That’s chinese@crifm.com. If you answer the question correctly, you’ll be able to win CRI prizes! Also you are welcome to log on the website, that’s en.chinabroadcast.cn, then you can learn Chinese whenever you want.
Y: Well class is over. 再见!
C: 再见!
(Source:english.cri.cn)