Archive for October 24th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 306

Friday, October 24th, 2008

                               Click to Watch Video Podcast

       旁白: 出天津,往南走,

   Driving southward from Tainjin,

   就到了河北沧州的的黄骅市。

   we soon arrived in Huanghua,

   Cangzhou Prefecture, Hebei.

   这是一座正在发展中的

   This is a medium-sized developing

   中型滨海城市,

   coastal city,

   有着悠久的历史和丰富的资源。

   which has a long history and

   rich natural resources.

  王渊源:我们今天的任务呢,

   Our today’s task is,

   就是要和您一起找找

   together with you, to find out

   黄骅最有名的土特产品。

   Huanghua’s special native product.

  韩佳: 土特产?

   Special native product?

   哦,我知道了,就是…

   Oh, I know it is …

  王渊源:黄骅冬枣。

   It is the Huanghua winter jujube.

  韩佳: 哎,你也知道啊!

   Hey, you also know it!

  王渊源:那当然了!

   Of course!

   黄骅是中国冬枣之乡。

   Huanghua is home to Chinese

   winter jujubes.

   这儿产的冬枣好吃,有营养。

   Jujubes produced here are tasty

   and nutritious.

  韩佳: 嗬,知道的还不少。

   Ha, you do know quite a lot.

   这黄骅的冬枣可是远近闻名呢。

   Huanghua jujubes are famous

   both near and far.

王渊源:”远近闻名”就是说

   “Yuanjin wenming” means

   从近处到远处都知道了。

   famous both near and far.

  韩佳: “远近闻名”就是说

   “Yuanjin wenming” means

   从近处到远处都知道了,

   known both near and far,

   形容名气很大。

   or very famous.

  Huánghuá de dōngzǎao yuǎnjìnwénmíng

   黄骅的冬枣远近闻名。

   For instance, Jujubes from Huanghua

   are famous both near and far.

  王渊源:咱们今天又有口福了。

   We’re going to satisfy our taste

   buds today.

  韩佳: 冬枣又叫苹果枣。

   Locals also call winter jujubes

   apple jujubes.

   含有很多人体必需的营养成分。

   The fruit contains many of the nutrients

   needed by the human body.

   在黄骅的聚馆村,

   Juguan Village of Huanghua

   有一千多亩的冬枣林。

   grows over 1,000 mu (166 acres)

   of winter jujube trees.

   光古冬枣树就有一千多株。

   More than 1,000 of these trees

   are very old.

   据说这些树当中

   It’s said that

   树龄最小的也在一百年以上。

   the youngest trees are already

   over 100 years old.

   可是,你看看它们,

   But, you may see,

   还是照样开花结果。

   they can still blossom and bear fruit.

   所以,有人就把它们叫做

   So people call them

   冬枣树的活化石。

   the living fossils of winter jujube trees.

  画外音:哎,韩佳,渊源去哪儿了?

   Eh, Han Jia, where’s Yuanyuan?

  韩佳: 哎,你说他呀?

   Oh, Yuanyuan?

   一到这儿就兴奋得不得了。

   He couldn’t be more excited

   soon after we got here.

   不知道跑哪儿去了。

   I’ve no idea where he’s gone.

   走,我们找找他去。

   Let’s go and find him.

  王渊源:奇怪。

   It’s so odd.

   现在已经秋天了,

   It’s already autumn,

   怎么这些枣都还是绿的呢?

   but why are they still green?

  嘉宾: 因为啊

   That’s because

   这个冬枣比其他的枣成熟期要晚。

   winter jujubes ripen much later

   than other kinds of jujubes.

   在秋末冬初的时候才熟呢。

   They ripen between late fall and

   early winter.

  王渊源:哎,那就是说

   Oh, that means

   我们这次还吃不到枣呢。

   we can’t eat such jujubes while

   we’re here.

  韩佳: 怎么会呢。

   That’s not true.

   这次啊,我们虽然吃不到

   Though we can’t eat

   刚刚摘下来的新鲜冬枣,

   fresh winter jujubes,

   不过还有这个呀,

   there are still

   经过烘焙加工过的脆冬枣。

   cured crispy winter jujubes available

   for us.

  王渊源:哎,我来吃一个。

   Oh, let me taste one.

  韩佳: 怎么样啊?

   What do you think?

  王渊源:还真不错啊。

   Not bad.

  嘉宾: 嗯,当然好吃了,

   Mm, of course delicious

   因为咱们黄骅的冬枣

   because our Huanghua winter jujubes

   在过去是专给皇上的贡品。

   used to be a special tribute

   to emperors.

  王渊源:是吗?

   Really?

  韩佳: 渊源,

   Yuanyuan,

   我看你是光知道这冬枣有名,

   I think you only know that the winter

   jujubes here are famous,

   其实呢,对它还不是很了解。

   but actually, you know very little

   about the fruit.

  王渊源:确实。

   That’s true.

   不过,你刚才说的”光”是指”亮光”吗?

   But what do you mean by

   “guang”, “light”?

  韩佳: 不是。我刚才说的”光”,

   No. When I said “guang” just now,

   可不是”亮光”的意思。

   I did not mean “light”.

   在这里它是个副词,

   Here it is an adverb,

   跟”只”、”单”的意思是一样的。

   the same as “just” or “only” like

   “zhi” or “dan”.

  王渊源:在这里,”光”不是”亮光”的意思,

   So “guang” here doesn’t mean “light”,

   跟”只”、”单”的意思是一样的。

   it means “just” or “only”, like “zhi”

   or “dan”.

  韩佳: 嗯,没错儿。

   Yes, exactly.

  Nǐ guāng zhīdao dōngzǎo hǎo chī kě bùxíng, hái děi duō

  liáojiě ta

   你 光 知道 冬枣 好 吃 可 不行,还 得 多

  了解 它。

   It’s not enough to just to know that jujubes

   tastes good,you also need to know more about them.

嘉宾: 我们这片原始冬枣林,

   This primitive grove of winter

   jujube trees

   它是目前我国惟一一个

   is the earliest and largest

   栽培历史最长、面积最大、

   of its kind in China.

   品质最好的原始冬枣林了。

   They are also the best primitive

   winter jujube trees.

   那么今年又被确定为

   And this year, the grove has

   been designated

   是国家重点的文物保护单位。

   as one of the country’s key historical

   sites under protection.

   它也开创了我国树木类

   It was the first time for trees to bid

   申办这个国保的先河。

   for the status of being under

   national protection.

  旁白: 看完了冬枣林,

   Having seen this winter jujube grove,

   我们的车子又出发了。

   now our caravan is setting off again.

   据说七百多年前,

   It is said that some 700 years ago,

   在黄骅东南部海丰镇的位置,

   in the town of Haifeng southeast

   of Huanghua,

   有着古代中国北方最大的商港。

   there used to be the largest ancient

   port in north China.

   后来因为河水改道,

   Later it declined

   才逐渐衰落下来。

   due to the change of a river course.

   不过今天哪,

   But today,

   在黄骅的海域上,

   in the sea area of Huanghua,

   又重建起了一座

   a big modern port, Huanghua Port,

   以煤炭运输为主的

   has been built

   现代化大型港口–黄骅港。

   mainly for the transportation of coal.

   我们现在就要去港口看看。

   Now we’re going to take a look there.

  韩佳: 哎,渊源,

   Eh, Yuanyuan,

   你知道中国的”神华工程”吗?

   do you know China’s Shenhua Program?

  王渊源:嗯,不知道。

   No, I don’t.

   那是什么工程啊?

   What kind of program is it?

  韩佳: 是个煤矿、铁路、电站、

   It’s a key national program

   港口、航运一体化建设的,

   incorporating coal mining,

   railroad transport,

   国家重点工程

   power generation, a port

   and shipping.

   而我们现在所在的这个黄骅港

   And Huanghua Port, the place

   where we are,

   就是这个工程的龙头项目。

   is the program’s leading project.

  王渊源:”龙头”是指龙的头吗?

   “Longtou”, dragon’ head?

  韩佳: 我在这里说的”龙头”啊

   No. The “longtou” here

   可不是指龙的头。

   does not refer to a dragon’s head.

   而是指带头的、起主导作用的事物。

   It means something in a leading position.

   那我们可以说”龙头企业”、

   So we can say a leading enterprise,

   “龙头产品”。

   a leading product.

  王渊源:”龙头”在这里是”领导”的意思,

   So “longtou” can mean “leading”,

   指带头的、起主导作用的事物。

   as in a leading enterprise, or

   a leading program.

  韩佳: 渊源,你看那是什么?

   Look, Yuanyuan, what’s that?

  王渊源:翻车机。

   It’s a car dumper.

   哦,我知道了。

   Oh, I know.

   这个机器能把火车车厢翻转过来,

   This machine can tip over a rail car

   这样就能把里面装的煤

   so that the coal in a car

   顺利地倒出来了。

   can be dumped easily.

   对吧?

   Am I right?

  嘉宾: 您说对了。

   Yes, you’re right.

   这就是我们黄骅港的翻车机房。

   Here is our car dumping control room

   at Huanghua Port.

   来到港口的煤

   All the coal coming to the port

   都要经过这里才能进行翻卸。

   is unloaded here.

   大家可以看到,

   As you may see,

   翻车机系统主要是由定位车、

   the car dumping system consists

   of three parts,

   推车机和翻车机三部分组成的。

   the car position fixer, the car

   pusher and the car dumper.

   你们看,火车被牵引到翻车机内

   Look, the car is being drawn

   into the dumper

   进行精确定位。

   to have its position precisely fixed.

   然后进行一百六十度的翻转,

   Then the car will be turned upside down

   煤通过漏斗直接落到皮带上,

   and the coal will fall through a

   funnel on to the conveyor belt

   从而送到堆场。

   to be carried to the storage site.

  王渊源:这可真够先进的!

   It’s quite advanced!

  韩佳: 嗯,真不愧是以煤炭为主的

   Oh, it surely deserves its reputation

   综合性港口。

   as a coal port.

  嘉宾: 如果你们有兴趣,

   If you are interested,

   一会儿我可以带你们

   we may take a look

   去一下专业的煤码头去看一下。

   at the coal dock in a moment.

  王渊源:好啊好啊。

   Good, good.

   那观众朋友,

   Audience friends,

   就请您先来看看

   please enjoy

我们今天的赏心悦目。

   today’s Feast for the Eyes

   for now.

   咱们一会儿码头上见。

   See you at the dock in a moment.

  赏心悦目:

   黄骅有着悠久的历史和丰富的资源

   With a long history and rich natural resources,

   被称为中国的冬枣之乡

   Huanghua is home to Chinese winter jujubes.

   三千多年的栽培史

   Jujube planting here dates back 3,000 years.

   使千年枣树享有”活化石”的美誉

   The ancient jujube trees here are billed as

   living fossils of the plant.

   国家的重点工程黄骅港

   Huanghua Port is a key national project.

   作为专业化的煤码头

   This specialized coal port

   是神华工程的龙头企业

   is the flagship of the Shenhua Program

   带动着整个城市经济的繁荣发展

   leading the city’s economic development.

  嘉宾: 你们看,

   Look,

   刚才我们看到堆场的煤

   the coal we saw just now at

   the storage site

   就是经过头顶上这个皮带机传送到这里来

   is brought here by the belt

   conveyor overhead.

   继而装船就可以出港了

   The coal from here can then

   be loaded for shipping.

  韩佳: 怪不得整个港区都这么干净。

   No wonder the entire port

   is so clean.

   原来这个运煤过程

   The whole of coal transport here

   基本上都是封闭的呀。

   is conducted in a closed manner.

  王渊源:这么专业的煤码头啊

   This is my first time to have

   ever seen

   我们还是头一回看到呢。

   such a specialized coal dock.

   真是长见识了。

   It’s really a learning experience.

  韩佳: 那现在我们就要来检验一下

   I suggest we have a test

   今天大家的学习成果。

   of what we have learned today.

  王渊源:好。

   Okay.

   观众朋友请听好。

   Audience friends, listen carefully.

  (问题部分略)

  韩佳: 啊,什么特别的礼物啊?

   Ah, what special present is it?

  嘉宾: 当然是我们黄骅的冬枣儿了。

   Of course it’s our Huanghua

   winter jujubes.

  韩佳: 哦,是这样。

   Oh, I see.

   那好吧。节目的最后还是要提醒大家,

   That’s OK. Before we go, we’d still

   like to remind you

   口号不能忘啊:

   not to forget the 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 Culture – Taosi Site

Friday, October 24th, 2008

 

Site of the Neolithic Age

 

Location: Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province

 

Period: 2,500-1,900 BC

 

Excavated from 1975 to the present 

Painted pottery tray with dragon design: water vessel (up, mouth diameter 37 cm, height 8.8 cm); Pottery object: function unknown (bottom, height 83.6 cm); Cong, a cuboid jade with a hole in the middle: ritual object (in the background, the side is 7 cm in length)

 

Significance: It plays the key role in exploring the origin of ancient Chinese civilization, and the social development and history of the period of Yao and Shun, two legendary figures in ancient documents.

 

 Introduction

 

Taosi Site is located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, covering an area of about 3 million square meters. The site has relics mainly of the Longshan Culture, some of Miaodigou Culture and a few from the Warring States Period, Han, Jin and Yuan dynasties. Large quantities of pottery, stone, copper and wood wares buried in unearthed tombs, pottery kilns and wells were excavated in the site. So far, over 70 sites of the Taosi kind have been discovered in Shanxi Province.

Source: chinaculture.org

Chinese Conversation – lesson 239

Friday, October 24th, 2008

珍妮:其实想想你还算好运。至少你没买到黑心电视或黑心冷气。
约翰:我没料到想省钱的结果代价这么大。
珍妮:黑心用品有时候还会在家里爆炸。
约翰: 我真不敢相信这些商人会黑心到卖这样子的商品。
珍妮:我甚至听说过有些公司卖假婴儿奶粉哩。
约翰:甚至还有头发和蟑螂蛋制的黑心酱油。
珍妮:不过至少我在深圳买的这个袋子还不赖。

Janet: Consider yourself lucky. At least you didn’t buy a “dirty” TV or air conditioner.
John: I didn’t think trying to save money would wind up costing so much.
Janet: “Dirty” appliances sometimes explode in people’s houses.
John: I can’t believe these businessmen are cold hearted enough to sell these kinds of products.
Janet: I’ve even heard of companies that sell fake baby formula.
John: There’s even “dirty” soy sauce made out of hair and cockroach eggs.
Janet: At least this bag I bought in Shenzhen isn’t so bad.

(Source: wwenglish.com)