Archive for July 12th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 202

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

   

 

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旁白: 今天呢,我和渊源要从厦门启航,

    Today, Yuanyuan and I are going

    to sail from Xiamen

    做一次特殊的短途旅行,

    for a special short journey

    目的就是要在海上

    aimed to take a look

    近距离地看看金门。

    at Kinmen at close quarters

    on the sea.

    王渊源:韩佳,

    Han Jia,

    你没弄错吧?

    are you mistaken about the distance?

    从厦门到金门

    How can that be

    怎么可能是短途旅行呢?

    a short journey from Xiamen

    to Kinmen?

    韩佳: 一看你就不了解情况。

    That shows your ignorance.

    厦门是距离金门最近的一座城市。

    Xiamen is the nearest city to Kinmen.

    据说它们之间最近的距离

    It is said the shortest distance

    between them

    才只有四千多米。

    is only a little more than

    4,000 meters.

    王渊源:你刚才说的“才”字

    You just used the word “cai”.

    在这里起什么作用呢?

    What function does it serve?

    韩佳: 这个“才”在这里是个副词。

    The word “cai” is an adverb.

    起到了强调作用。

    It serves the function of emphasis.

    它强调数量小、次数少、

    It emphasizes a small number,

    low frequency,

    能力差、距离短、程度低等等。

    poor ability, short distance,

    low degree, etc.

    王渊源:“才”在这里是个副词,

    So “cai” here is an adverb

    就是只、仅仅的意思。

    that means just or only.

    韩佳: 就好像我们刚才说的,

    Just as we said,

    Tā men zhī jiān zuì jìn de jùlí cái jǐ gōnglǐ

    它 们 之 间 最 近 的 距离 才 几 公里。

    The shortest distance between them

    is just a few kilometers.

    旁白: 据说,金门原来是和大陆相连的。

    It is said Kinmen was originally

    connected with the continent.

    后来因为地壳运动才分开了。

    Later it separated due to the

    movement of the earth crust.

    全岛的海岸线长一百一十多公里。

    The island coastline totals more

    than 110 km.

    下辖二十一个岛屿和若干礁石。

    There are 21 islands and numerous

    reefs under its jurisdiction.

    地理位置非常重要。

    So its geographical position is

    very important.

    韩佳: 渊源,你看,

    Yuanyuan, look,

    那就是金门的大旦岛了。

    that is Tatan Island of Kinmen.

    王渊源:这就到了呀?

    Here we are?

    韩佳: 对呀。

    Yes.

    那我们现在离金门已经很近了。

    Now we’re quite close to Kinmen.

    王渊源:感觉可真近了。

    I feel it is so close.

    你看,岛上的景物

    Look, things on the island

    都能看得一清二楚呢!

    can be seen very clearly!

    韩佳: 是啊。

    Right.

    “一清二楚”是个成语,

    ”Yi qing er chu” is an idiom,

    表示十分明白、清楚。

    meaning to be very clear.

    王渊源:“一清二楚”表示十分明白、清楚。

    So “yi qing er chu” means to

    be very clear.

    其实,

    Actually,

    要是没有今天这个好机会,

    if it were not for the good

    opportunity today,

    我还真不敢相信

    I wouldn’t believe

    厦门和金门有这么近的距离。

    Xiamen is so close to Kinmen.

    韩佳: 对呀。

    Right.

    正因为两岸这种亲近的地缘关系,

    Just because of the close geographical

    relationship,

    再加上血缘、水缘、人缘、情缘这么多的缘分,

    plus the ancestral, maritime, personal

    and sentimental relationships,

    所以呀,我们说两岸是一家嘛。

    we say both sides are of

    the same family.

    旁白: 看过金门之后,

    After having a glimpse of Kinmen,

    我们又回到了厦门的和平码头。

    we returned to the Heping Dock

    of Xiamen.

    这是一座对台开放的客运码头。

    This is a passenger wharf open

    to Taiwan passengers.

    在这里,

    Here

    我们还凑巧碰上了一支特殊的队伍。

    we happened to meet a special contingent.

    这是由厦门市民组成的

    It is a contingent of volunteers

    一支志愿者队伍。

    comprised of Xiamen residents.

    他们每逢节假日的时候,

    On every major festival,

    就会到这里来

    they would come here

    义务帮助台湾客人搬运行李。

    to help Taiwan passengers to

    carry their baggage.

    王渊源:这样的精神可真让人佩服呀!

    Their spirit is really admirable!

    韩佳: 其实,

    Actually

    像这样的例子呢

    examples like this

    在厦门还有很多。

    can be also found in many

    other places in Xiamen.

    为了让台湾同胞在厦门

    To make Taiwan compatriots have

    感到更加的舒适、更加的方便,

    a more comfortable and convenient

    stay in Xiamen,

    一些窗口行业

    some service industries

    还特别推出了相应的服务。

    have launched special services accordingly.

    王渊源:比如说?

    For instance?

    韩佳: 比如说,

    For instance,

    就有银行推出了新台币的兑换业务。

    some banks have launched the New

    Taiwan Dollar conversion service.

    王渊源:这倒是不错呀。

    That’s a good idea.

    不过是不是要在

    But is it that

    指定的网点才能办理呢?

    such a service is available

    only at certain banks?

    韩佳: 这个嘛,

    You can find it out

    你去咨询一下不就知道了。

    at the information desk.

    王渊源:好。

    Good.

    嘉宾: 您好!

    Hello!

    王渊源:您好。我是想咨询一下,

    Hello. I’d like to know

    这个新台币的兑换

    if converting New Taiwan

    Dollars is to be

    是不是只能在指定的网点才能办理。

    conducted only at certain bank branches.

    嘉宾: 不是。

    No.

    在我们厦门中行的

    The service is conducted

    任何一个网点都可以办理。

    at each branch of the Bank

    of China in Xiamen.

    王渊源:那是不是手续特别复杂?

    Is the procedure very complex?

    嘉宾: 不会复杂。

    No, it’s not complex.

    只要持你的护照或者有效证件,

    As long as you have your passport

    or any other valid ID with you,

    在我们柜台就可以办理了。

    you can do it at the counter here.

    王渊源:那么简单!

    Oh, it is that easy!

    嘉宾: 是的。

    Yes.

    王渊源:好,我知道了。谢谢。

    I see. Thanks.

    嘉宾: 不客气。慢走。

    You’re welcome. Have a nice day.

    王渊源:好,再见。

    You too. Bye-bye.

    韩佳,我都弄清楚了。

    Han Jia, now I’m clear.

    非常方便。

    It is very convenient.

    而且,

    Besides,

    刚才那位工作人员的态度也特别的好。

    the that clerk is also very hospitable.

    韩佳: 你不说啊我还差点儿忘了呢。

    If you didn’t say it, I almost

    forgot it.

    优质的服务

    Quality service is

    也是中国银行厦门分行的一大特色。

    a significant feature of the Bank

    of China Xiamen Branch.

    为此呢,

    For this reason,

    他们还特别制定了

    they have formulated

    柜台工作人员的服务行为标准。

    a set of service standards for

    counter clerks.

    不过我想,不论推出什么样的举措,

    But I believe whatever measures

    they have taken,

    目的都只有一个。

    there is only one aim.

    就是更好地为客户服务,

    That is to serve customers

    even better

    让客户来到这里,

    and let them feel

    就会有一种宾至如归的感觉。

    as if they are returning home.

    那“宾至如归”这个成语的意思

    ”Bin zhi ru gui” is an idiom,

    是指客人来到这里,

    which means when guests arrive,

    就像回到了家里一样,

    they feel as if they are

    returning home,

    形容招待得非常周到。

    or they are well received.

    王渊源:“宾至如归”这个成语的意思

    So “bin zhi ru gui” is an idiom

    是指客人来到这里,

    that means when guests arrive,

    就像回到了家里一样。

    it is they feel as if

    they are returning home.

    我们也可以

    In English we might say

    用英语说“a home away from home”

    ”a home away from home”

    或者是“just like home”。

    or “just like home”.

    韩佳: 比如说,

    For example,

    Měi yíwèi kèhù lái dao zhè lǐ dōu huì yǒu bīnzhìrúguī de gǎnjué

    每 一位 客户 来 到 这 里,都 会 有 宾至如归 的 感觉。

    Every customer who arrivers here feels

    as if he or she is returning home.

    那说到“宾至如归”

    Speaking of “bin zhi ru gui”,

    我又想到了一个地方,

    I thought of another place,

    在那里呢,

    where

    很多台湾同胞都会找到

    many Taiwan compatriots will find

    像回到家一样的感觉。

    the feeling of returning home.

    王渊源:那你快带我去看看吧。

    Then take me there to

    have a look.

    韩佳: 好啊。

    Okay.

    那我们现在就出发。

    Let’s start right now.

    对了,观众朋友们,

    Oh yeah, audience friends,

    您先看看我们今天的赏心悦目。

    take a look at today’s Feast

    for the Eyes first.

    我们一会儿再见。

    We’ll be right back.

    赏心悦目:

    厦门与金门隔海相望

    Xiamen faces Kinmen across the

    Taiwan Strait.

    两岸同胞密切往来

    Compatriots on both sides have close

    contacts with each other.

    血浓于水的亲缘 一衣带水的地缘

    The narrow strip of water cannot

    separate them

    把两岸紧紧地联结在一起

    as blood is thicker than water.

    就连饮食也是一脉相承

    Even their cuisines can be traced back

    to the same origin.

    这座年轻而富有活力的城市

    Xiamen, dynamic young city,

    已经成为海峡两岸沟通的重要纽带

    has become an important bond for exchanges

    across the Strait.

    王渊源:看起来每道菜都会非常好吃啊。

    Each dish here looks delicious.

    韩佳: 是啊。

    Yes.

    这些呢都是地道的闽式菜肴。

    All these dishes are authentic

    Fujian cuisine.

    另外,

    Besides,

    还有一些非常有特色的闽南小吃。

    there are also some special

    Fujian snacks.

    王渊源:不过你为什么要说

    But why did you say

    台湾客人来到这里,

    Taiwan travelers here

    能找到像在家一样的感觉呢?

    can find the homecoming feeling?

    只是因为这儿的老板是台湾人吗?

    Is it because the proprietor here

    is Taiwanese?

    韩佳: 当然不是了。

    Of course, not.

    这里的老板是地道的厦门人。

    The proprietor here is a typical

    Xiamen native.

    但是因为服务非常好,

    But because the service here

    is excellent

    而且这里经营的菜肴和小吃

    and the food and snacks here

    口味又跟台湾的差不多,

    are about the same as that

    in Taiwan,

    所以很多从台湾来的客人

    many Taiwan customers here

    到了这里就找到了回家的感觉。

    feel as if they are returning home.

    王渊源:让我来看看。

    Let me have a look.

    这个我认识。

    This I know.

    就是台湾特色小吃——海蛎煎。

    It is a Taiwan-style snack,

    oyster omelet.

    韩佳: 对呀。你着什么急呀。

    Yes. Take it easy.

    还没给大家出今天的有奖问答题呢。

    You haven’t set today’s award-

    winning question yet.

    王渊源:好。

    Okay.

    今天的有奖问答题是这样的。

    Here’s today’s award-winning question.

    那我们今天的节目

    Our program for today

    就要跟您说再见了。

    is about to end here.

    明天的节目将会更加精彩。

    The program for tomorrow is

    even more wonderful.

    您可千万别错过了。

    Be sure not to miss it.

    韩佳: 好了,

    Okay,

    节目的最后呢,

    at the end of the program,

    还是要提醒您口号不能忘。

    we’d still want to remind you

    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)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 135

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

许多的运动是从外国引进来的。欧洲移民把网球、高尔夫、保龄球和拳击带进了美国。橄榄球和棒球则源自其它的欧洲传统比赛。只有篮球是唯一真正源自美国本土。即使在今日,一些原本是外来的运动例如英式足球也吸引了许多的美国运动迷。在一九九四年,美国首次负责举办世界杯足球赛。

Many sports were imported from other countries. European immigrants brought tennis, golf, bowling and boxing to America. Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Even today some formerly “foreign” sports like soccer are gaining American fans. In 1994 the U.S. hosted the World Cup for the first time ever.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 17

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Cam: Perfect Chinese your way, in only five minutes a day. Welcome to Chinese Studio, I’m Cam..
Yajie: It’s a new week,and we are starting a brand new lesson. I’m Yajie.
Cam: What are we going to learn today?
Yajie: Well, we want to make sure that you don’t get lost in this vast country.  So today we are going to talk about directions.  Let’s check our key words of the day!
****************Key words of the day
Today we’ll learn four directions : 东边,南边,西边,北边, 日本在中国的东边,  泰国在中国的南边. All in today’s Chinese Studio.
*****************
Cam: Knowing directions can be very important, especially in Beijing. How do you  say “east”?
Yajie: It’s 东. Dōng, first tone.
Cam: dōng.
Yajie: In oral Chinese we usually say “东边”。“边”means side. Bian is said in the neutral tone. In common speech, some syllables are pronounced both light and short. Such a tone is called the neutral tone. So it’s “东边”, meaning the eastern side or the eastern direction, dōngbian.
Cam: dōngbian. OK, then how do you say “to the east”?
Yajie: It’s 在东边。For example, you can say:。Japan is to the east of China. 日本在中国的东边
Cam: 日本在中国的东边。(Rìběn zài Zhōngguó de dōngbian) OK, how do you say west in Chinese?
Yajie: It’s 西,xi, the first tone. Also西边, xībian. Here the pronunciation of 边 is the same as that of 东边.
Cam: xībian. And I can say 在西边?
Yajie: Yes, right. You can say 在西边, to the west.
Yajie: South is 南, nán ,second tone.
Cam: nán
Yajie: Yeah, nán. And we say, 南边nánbian。
Cam: nánbian and 在南边 (zài nánbian). To the south.
Yajie: Right, and you can say: 泰国在中国的南边。Thailand is to the south of China.
Cam: 泰国在中国的南边(Thaiguo zai Zhongguo de nanbian.) We have north left now. What’s “north” in Chinese?
Yajie: North is 北,běi third tone. That’s the 北of 北京 which means capital in the north. And the pronunciation is similar to that of the English word “bay”, the third tone, běi.
Cam: OK, běi ,and also 北边 and 在北边?
Yajie: Yeah 北边. Here边also has the neutral tone. 北边. the northern part and 在北边,to the north.
****************Key words Reminder
东边,南边,西边,北边, 日本在中国的东边,  泰国在中国的南边. All in today’s Chinese Studio.
*****************
Yajie: OK, let’s take a quick review of what we’ve learned today. What’s east?
Cam:东, the first tone.
Yajie: west?
Cam:西
Yajie: South?
Cam: 南
Yajie: And north?
Cam:北
Yajie:北。And all together it’s东南西北。
Cam: 东南西北.
Yajie: Great! OK, that’s it for today. Hopefully you can practice saying these directions in Chinese sometime today. Don’t forget you can win a CRI gift by answering today’s question: Where is Japan? Is it east of China, or west?
Cam: That should be easy! Just make a sentence. You can send us questions or comments to Chinese@crifm.com.  That’s Chinese@crifm.com.  Or you can visit us on our website at en.chinabroadcast.cn. Click learn Chinese, where you can enjoy other free Chinese-learning programs.
Yajie: Well class is over. 再见!
Cam: 再见!

(Source:english.cri.cn)