aunt (the wife of one’s uncle):
Chinese Pinyin: jiu4 ma1
(Source: about.com)
Archive for September 3rd, 2008
Chinese Characters: aunt (the wife of one’s uncle) 舅妈
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008Children Chinese – China’s Age of Invention (3)
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008NOVA: How did the Chinese invention of gunpowder move from East to West?
Yates: Although scholars often consider the Song Dynasty to have been very weak, its use of gunpowder was the reason it was able to hold off the Mongols for many decades. Eventually, the Mongols were able to capture Chinese artisans and use the latest gunpowder technology against the Chinese. The Mongols used those people who had a special knowledge of technology and employed them in their own armies as engineers. They carried that technology to the West very rapidly because it was very helpful in their conquests.
What was interesting with this transfer of technology is that it goes both ways. After the introduction of the cannon and gunpowder to the West, Westerners very quickly became expert with cannons. They cast bronze cannons that were eventually much better than those the Chinese could produce. The Western bronze cannon was then brought back to China by the Jesuits in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Ming Dynasty, which fought the Manchus, employed Jesuit priests to cast cannons that were more advanced than the Chinese had at that time.
 The development of printing enabled Chinese officials to distribute important documents. |
NOVA: You’ve made a strong case for the impact of gunpowder all over the world. But were there major non-military inventions during the Song Dynasty that had an impact worldwide?
Yates: Printing and movable type were certainly two of them. Printing was actually invented by the Buddhists in the eighth century for dissemination of religious images and texts. But in the Song Dynasty, the government promoted the publication of the Confucian texts called “The Canons.” These texts had to be studied by examination candidates. Once you passed the examinations you were eligible to become an official. So many copies of the Confucian texts were published at this time. In addition, the government popularized the use of printing for the dissemination of technical manuals, such as agricultural manuals and works on medicine. Eventually, private printing presses started, which fundamentally altered the world of letters and dissemination of knowledge.
In the 11th century, a famous literary artist by the name of Shen Gua records the invention of movable-type printing by a man by the name of Bi Sheng. It was this invention that was eventually taken over to the West and used by Gutenberg for the printing of the Bible. Needless to say, this had a profound effect on the nature of knowledge and the development of literature. So this is probably the number-one invention of the Song Dynasty.
NOVA: Did the development of printing change China the way it would change Europe?
Yates: The effect of printing was different in East and West because of the nature of the Chinese language. The Chinese language, when it is written, uses characters or graphs, sort of like ideograms. It is not an alphabet like we know it. As a consequence, there are literally thousands of Chinese characters. Obviously for most types of writing, you don’t need the 48,000 different Chinese characters. You only need to use 3,000 to 10,000, something like that.
Movable-type printing was more practical, with a very limited number of symbols, such as the letters used in European alphabetic languages. In Chinese writing, you had to have a very large number of characters, each individually carved to set in the press. So even though they invented movable type, it actually was never as useful as wood-block printing—carving the blocks of each page separately and independently. So that was the reason why there were some books printed using movable type, but it never really replaced wood-block printing in the way it did in the West.
NOVA: Was movable type another example of technology moving from East to West, or was it an example of an innovation developing in the East and West simultaneously?
Yates: It’s very unclear, but it does appear that there was a transfer from East to West. The Mongol invaders of China were able to use their highly developed organization and cavalry to conquer all of Central Asia, including parts of India, the Middle East, and Europe. So the invention was probably transferred to the West as a result of the opening up of the trade routes and the lines of communication established by the Mongols. I’m not saying that Gutenberg actually had access to a Chinese press; that’s highly unlikely. Rather, he probably got wind of the idea of printing through some unknown and lost source. It’s rather ironic that Gutenberg was recently voted the man of the millennium, when it was the Chinese who actually invented the technology.
(Source: ancienthistory.mrdonn.org)
Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 255
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 |
从今天开始，我们要带您走进一个缤纷的童话故事王国——香港迪斯尼乐园
从今天开始，
Starting from today,
我们要带您暂时离开现实世界，
we’re going to take you out of
the realistic world temporarily
走进一个缤纷的童话故事王国，
and bring you into a colorful fairyland,
一个可以梦想成真的奇妙世界。
where your dream can come true.
那就是著名的香港迪斯尼乐园。
That is Hong Kong Disneyland.
韩佳： 快乐学汉语！
Learning Chinese the fun way!
王渊源：万里海疆行！
And enjoying a happy journey
along the coast!
韩佳： 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.
怎么样，韩佳，准备好了吗？
Well, Han Jia, are you ready?
我们马上就要进入另外一个世界。
We’ll be soon entering another world.
韩佳： 一切就绪，我已经整装待发了。
Everything is in readiness.
I’m waiting to go.
王渊源：“整装待发”怎么讲啊？
How do you explain “zheng
zhuang dai fa”?
韩佳： “整装待发”这个成语呢
”Zheng zhuang dai fa” is
an idiom,
就是指整理好行装，等待出发。
which means ready and waiting,
or ready to go.
王渊源：“整装待发”
So “zheng zhuang dai fa”
就是指整理好行装，等待出发。
means ready and waiting,
or ready to go.
韩佳： 嗯。那我们平时啊
Yes. When we plan
准备出发要去做某件事情的时候呢，
to start off to do something,
经常会用到这个成语。
we often use this idiom.
Wǒmen yǐjīng zhěngzhuāngdàifā le
我们 已经 整装待发 了。
We’re ready to go.
王渊源：观众朋友们，
Audience friends,
您一定要跟紧我们的脚步哦。
you must follow us closely.
韩佳： 走。
Let’s go.
|
从今天开始，我们要带您走进一个缤纷的童话故事王国——香港迪斯尼乐园
从今天开始，
Starting from today,
我们要带您暂时离开现实世界，
we’re going to take you out of
the realistic world temporarily
走进一个缤纷的童话故事王国，
and bring you into a colorful fairyland,
一个可以梦想成真的奇妙世界。
where your dream can come true.
那就是著名的香港迪斯尼乐园。
That is Hong Kong Disneyland.
韩佳： 快乐学汉语！
Learning Chinese the fun way!
王渊源：万里海疆行！
And enjoying a happy journey
along the coast!
韩佳： 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.
怎么样，韩佳，准备好了吗？
Well, Han Jia, are you ready?
我们马上就要进入另外一个世界。
We’ll be soon entering another world.
韩佳： 一切就绪，我已经整装待发了。
Everything is in readiness.
I’m waiting to go.
王渊源：“整装待发”怎么讲啊？
How do you explain “zheng
zhuang dai fa”?
韩佳： “整装待发”这个成语呢
”Zheng zhuang dai fa” is
an idiom,
就是指整理好行装，等待出发。
which means ready and waiting,
or ready to go.
王渊源：“整装待发”
So “zheng zhuang dai fa”
就是指整理好行装，等待出发。
means ready and waiting,
or ready to go.
韩佳： 嗯。那我们平时啊
Yes. When we plan
准备出发要去做某件事情的时候呢，
to start off to do something,
经常会用到这个成语。
we often use this idiom.
Wǒmen yǐjīng zhěngzhuāngdàifā le
我们 已经 整装待发 了。
We’re ready to go.
王渊源：观众朋友们，
Audience friends,
您一定要跟紧我们的脚步哦。
you must follow us closely.
韩佳： 走。
Let’s go.
香港迪斯尼乐园
Hong Kong Disneyland
在2005年正式开业。
officially went into operation in 2005.
它是全球第五家迪斯尼。
It is the 5th of its kind in
the world.
对于很多到香港的人来说，
For many Hong Kong residents,
迪斯尼已经成为必须要去的地方。
Disneyland is a must-see place.
王渊源：我们现在已经穿越了时光隧道，
Now we’ve crossed the time tunnel
来到了二十世纪初的美国小镇。
and arrived in a 20th-century
small American town.
韩佳： 这里就是美国小镇大街，
This is Main Street of the small
American town,
展现的是二十世纪初
presenting the classical appearance of
经典的美国小镇面貌。
small American towns in the early
20th century.
王渊源：嗯。在这个时代呢，
Yes. In this historical period,
煤气灯已经被电灯取代。
gas lamps have been replaced
by electric bulbs.
汽车也在逐渐地代替马车。
And cars have gradually
replaced horse carriages.
韩佳： 还有这周围的市政大楼啊、
The surrounding town hall,
百货商店啊，还有歌剧院，
department stores and the opera house
都充满了怀旧气息。
are all full of a nostalgic atmosphere.
王渊源：说到怀旧，
Speaking of nostalgia,
这里除了一些老式的建筑之外呢，
in addition to some old-style buildings,
还有一些古老的交通工具。
there are also a few old-time vehicles.
你看，那就是其中一个呢。
Look, here is one of them.
韩佳： 哎，渊源，
Oh, Yuanyuan,
这就是那个时候的TAXI吗？
is this a taxi cab of the time?
王渊源：嗯，没错。我们上车吧。
Yes, absolutely. Let’s get aboard.
韩佳： 好啊。
Okay.
王渊源：喇叭一响，我们就可以出发了。
When the horn blares, we’ll
set off.
韩佳： 先生，我们先去哪里啊？
Sir, where are we going first?
司机： 先去梦想花园吧。
We’re going to Fantasyland first.
韩佳： 渊源，你有什么梦想吗？
Yuanyuan, do you have any dream?
说来听听。
Tell us anyway.
王渊源：我的梦想？
My dream?
要说我的梦想嘛，
My dream is that
我希望我能见到
I hope to see soon
我最喜欢的迪斯尼朋友——高菲。
my favorite Disney friend, Goofy.
还有我希望我可以见到米奇，
I also want to see Mickey,
还有米妮，我还希望…
Minnie and also …
好像有点太多了。
Maybe a bit too many.
韩佳： 不多不多。
Not too many.
在这个梦想花园里啊，
At Fantasyland,
什么事情都有可能发生。
anything can happen.
没准儿啊，
It’s likely that
就会有意想不到的惊喜呢。
there’ll be unexpected surprises.
王渊源：“惊喜”就是指又吃惊又欢喜，对吧？
”Jingxi” means surprise, right?
韩佳： 嗯，没错儿。
Yes, exactly.
“惊喜”呢
”Jingxi”
就是指人受到外界刺激，
means something stimulating
一时又吃惊又欢喜。
that makes you both surprised
and happy.
Wǒmen zài zhè li shuō bú dìng huì yǒu yì xiǎng bú
dào de jīngxǐ
我们 在 这 里，说 不 定 会 有 意 想 不
到 的 惊喜。
We may have some unexpected
surprises here.
王渊源：韩佳，你看，果真有惊喜啊！
Look, there is indeed a
surprise here!
在这里，
Here,
每个人都可以找到
everyone can find
自己最喜欢的迪斯尼朋友。
their favorite Disney friend.
而可爱的迪斯尼朋友们
And all these lovely Disney friends
也都热情地欢迎大家，
warmly welcome visitors,
跟大家合影，给大家签名留念。
posing for photos with them
or autographing for them.
韩佳见到了她最喜欢的米妮老鼠。
Han Jia met her favorite character
Minnie Mouse.
我也找到了我最钟爱的高菲。
And I also found my favorite
character Goofy.
您瞧，就连我们的工作人员，
Look, even other members
of our film crew
也都各自找到了
have all found
自己最喜欢的迪斯尼朋友。
their favorite Disney friends.
此时此刻，
Right now,
每一个人都沉浸在
each of us is deeply immersed
无比欢乐的氛围之中了。
in the happy atmosphere.
王渊源：韩佳，你看，
Han Jia,
我给你照了很多跟他们的照片。
I took a lot of photos of you
together with them.
韩佳： 我也有好多你的呀。
I also took a lot of photos
of you.
你看，这是你跟高菲照的。
Look, this is a photo of you
with Goofy.
怎么样，帅吧？
Do you think it’s pretty good?
王渊源：不错呀。不过我觉得最好的
Not bad. But I think
还是你跟米奇的这一张啊。
the photo of you and Mickey
is much better.
韩佳： 哦，跟米奇这张真的挺漂亮的。
Yeah, the photo of me with Mickey
is indeed very pretty.
还有这个这个。
And also this one.
你看，还带着城堡呢。
Look, it even shows the castle.
王渊源：真是挺好的。
Very good indeed.
韩佳： 哟，咱俩别再看了，
We’d better stop looking
at these pictures,
要不然该错过一项大型活动了。
or we’ll miss a large-scale activity.
王渊源：什么活动啊？
What activity?
韩佳： 迪斯尼大巡游啊。
It’s Disneyland Parade.
赶快去吧。
Let’s hurry up.
王渊源：韩佳，你看，
Han Jia,
我给你照了很多跟他们的照片。
I took a lot of photos of you
together with them.
韩佳： 我也有好多你的呀。
I also took a lot of photos
of you.
你看，这是你跟高菲照的。
Look, this is a photo of you
with Goofy.
怎么样，帅吧？
Do you think it’s pretty good?
王渊源：不错呀。不过我觉得最好的
Not bad. But I think
还是你跟米奇的这一张啊。
the photo of you and Mickey
is much better.
韩佳： 哦，跟米奇这张真的挺漂亮的。
Yeah, the photo of me with Mickey
is indeed very pretty.
还有这个这个。
And also this one.
你看，还带着城堡呢。
Look, it even shows the castle.
王渊源：真是挺好的。
Very good indeed.
韩佳： 哟，咱俩别再看了，
We’d better stop looking
at these pictures,
要不然该错过一项大型活动了。
or we’ll miss a large-scale activity.
王渊源：什么活动啊？
What activity?
韩佳： 迪斯尼大巡游啊。
It’s Disneyland Parade.
赶快去吧。
Let’s hurry up.
王渊源：韩佳，你看，
Han Jia,
我给你照了很多跟他们的照片。
I took a lot of photos of you
together with them.
韩佳： 我也有好多你的呀。
I also took a lot of photos
of you.
你看，这是你跟高菲照的。
Look, this is a photo of you
with Goofy.
怎么样，帅吧？
Do you think it’s pretty good?
王渊源：不错呀。不过我觉得最好的
Not bad. But I think
还是你跟米奇的这一张啊。
the photo of you and Mickey
is much better.
韩佳： 哦，跟米奇这张真的挺漂亮的。
Yeah, the photo of me with Mickey
is indeed very pretty.
还有这个这个。
And also this one.
你看，还带着城堡呢。
Look, it even shows the castle.
王渊源：真是挺好的。
Very good indeed.
韩佳： 哟，咱俩别再看了，
We’d better stop looking
at these pictures,
要不然该错过一项大型活动了。
or we’ll miss a large-scale activity.
王渊源：什么活动啊？
What activity?
韩佳： 迪斯尼大巡游啊。
It’s Disneyland Parade.
赶快去吧。
Let’s hurry up.
(Source: cctv.com)
