Archive for October 30th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 312

Thursday, October 30th, 2008
 
 

 (6月23日播出)

  合: 快乐学汉语,轻松又好记。

  Enjoy learning Chinese and

  it is carefree and easy.

  韩佳:大家好,这里是《快乐中国》。

  Hello, everyone.

  Welcome to Happy China.

  我是快乐的韩佳。

  I am happy Han Jia.

  大牛:我是快乐的大牛。

  I am happy Daniel.

  韩佳:大牛,你怎么了?

  Daniel, what’s wrong with you?

  今天怎么这样说话?

  Why do you speak like that?

  大牛:韩佳,我们来香港三天了。

  Han Jia, we’ve been Hong Kong for

  Three days.

  我发现香港人都有一个共同的特点。

  I found people in Hong Kong have a

  common characteristic.

  韩佳:什么特点?

  What’s that?

  大牛:他们生活节奏快,语速也快。

  They lead a busy life and speak fast.

  每个人都是行色急忙,匆匆的样子。

  Everyone seems in a hurry.

  韩佳:什么叫行色急忙匆匆啊?

  What’s Xing Se Ji Mang Cong Cong for?

  这匆匆就是急急忙忙的意思,

  Cong Cong means in a hurry,

  所以呢你说行色匆匆就可以了。

  so Xing Se Cong Cong is enough.

  大牛:匆匆,读一声,就是急急忙忙的意思。

  Cong Cong, two first tones, is an

  adjective which means rushed or hurried.

  匆匆。

  Cong Cong.

  例如,路上的每个人都是行色匆匆的。

  For example, everyone on the way

  seems in a hurry.

  Lùshang de měi gè rén dōu shì xíngsè cōngcōng de.

  路上 的 每 个 人 都 是 行色 匆匆 的。

  Pedestrians all seem to be in a hurry.

  韩佳:香港人的生活节奏快是人人皆知的。

  We all know that Hong Kong people

  are busy.

  再说咱们现在是在中西区,

  Besides, we are now in the Central

  and Western district,

  这里呢是香港政治、商业、

  the center of politics, commerce,

  金融、交通的中心。

  finance and traffic in Hong Kong.

  这儿的人就更忙了。

  People here are busier.

  大牛:我听说很多商业总部

  I heard that there are many business

  headquarters

  还有银行机构都在中西区。

  and banking institutions in this district.

  合: 没错儿,比如著名的中银大厦。

  Indeed. Such as the famous Bank

  of China Tower.

  大牛:好,我们也提高效率,赶快去看看吧。

  Well, let’s act right now to take a look.

  韩佳:好。

  OK.

  大牛:韩佳,我怎么觉得

  Han Jia, I feel that

  我们现在离中银大厦越来越远了。

  we are getting farer from the Bank

  of China Tower.

  韩佳:判断正确。

  Correct judgement.

  我们现在已经来到了离中环很远的南区。

  We’ve arrived at the South District

  far away from the Central.

  大牛:那为什么到这里来呢?

  Why do we come here?

  是为了看远景吗?

  For a distant view?

  韩佳:这中银大厦跟这里隔着一座山呢,

  But we can’t see it at all,

  根本看不见。

  since there is a mountain

  in between.

  大牛:那来这里干吗啊?

  Then for what?

  韩佳:看这栋楼啊。

  For this building.

  这栋美利楼啊原来并不在这里,

  This Murray House was not here originally,

  而是在中西区花园道一号的位置上。

  but in the No.1 Garden Road, Central

  and Western.

  大牛:啊,那不是现在中银大厦的地址吗?

  Ah, isn’t it the address of the present

  Bank of China Tower?

  韩佳:没错儿。

  That’s right.

  中银大厦就是在这栋楼的原址上

  The Bank of China Tower was built

  建造起来的。

  on the former address of this building.

  大牛:原来是这样。

  I see.

  看见了,看见了。

  I see it.

  中银大厦在那儿呢。

  The Bank of China Tower is over there.

  韩佳:中银大厦是香港的标志性建筑之一。

  The Bank of China Tower is one of the

  landmark buildings in Hong Kong.

  不瞒您说,在香港,我全靠它辨别方向了。

  In fact, I depend on it to distinguish

  directions.

  大牛:她把中银大厦当做路标了。

  She regards the Bank of China Tower

  as her sign post.

  韩佳:谁让它那么有特点呢,一眼就能看见了,

  Because it is so characteristic,

  it can be found at a glance

  大牛:而且总能看见。

  at any time.

  韩佳:总能看见?

  At any time?

  大牛:对呀。每张上面都有。

  Yes. It’s on the each piece.

  韩佳:中银大厦乍一看,

  At first sight,

  像是一个没有规律的多面体。

  the Bank of China Tower seems

  an irregular polyhedron.

  但实际上呢,

  But in fact,

  它是由四个高度不等的三棱体组成的。

  it is made up of four triangular prism

  of different height.

  非常有规律。

  It is in a regular form.

  大牛:我看出来了。

  Now I see.

  这栋大厦上就数三角形最多了。

  The building was designed with

  many triangles.

  Zhè dòng dàshà shàng jiù shǔ sānjiǎoxíng zuì duō le.

  这 栋 大厦 上 就 数 三角形 最 多 了。

  This building was designed with

  many triangles.

  韩佳:这正是中银大厦设计建筑最有突破性的地方。

  That’s the most outstanding characteristic

  design of the Bank of China Tower.

  大牛:怎么讲?

  What do you mean?

  韩佳:你看,外墙上那些对角线钢架。

  Look at the diagonal steel frames

  on the external walls.

  把大厦的重量完全分传到了四角的四根柱子上。

  They distribute the weight of the building

  to four pillars at the four angles.

  大牛:这么说,楼里就不用柱子来支撑了。

  So there is no pillar inside the building.

  韩佳:没错。这种设计使这幢大厦

  That’s right. Compared with

  other buildings of the same height,

  和同等高度的建筑相比,

  such design saves nearly

  节省了将近一半的钢材。

  half of the steel materials.

  大牛:既美观又节省用料。

  It’s good-looking and economical.

  贝聿铭先生真是太高明了。

  Mr. Bei Yuming is so brilliant.

  韩佳:你连是谁设计的都知道啊?

  Do you even know the designer?

  大牛:那当然了,

  Certainly,

  谁不知道大名鼎鼎的美籍华人

  Bei Yuming is celebrated

  建筑师贝聿铭啊。

  Chinese American architect.

  韩佳:大牛,你知道贝老先生的创作灵感

  Daniel, do you know where Mr. Bei’s

  来源于哪里吗?

  creative inspiration originate?

  大牛:我想这么多斜面玻璃银光闪闪的,

  There are so many pieces of bevel glass

  shining on it.

  一定是水晶。

  It must be crystal.

  韩佳:不对。

  No.

  大楼的创作灵感来源于竹子。

  Creative inspiration for this building

  came from bamboo.

  合: 竹子?是啊。你看这大厦的外形

  Bamboo? Yes. The outline of the building

  就像一节节竹子不断地向上延伸。

  looks like upward growing bamboo.

  这就代表着节节高升,

  It represents constant advancement

  象征着锐意进取的精神。

  and symbolizes determined and

  enterprising spirit

  同时呢也寓意着中银香港的蓬勃发展。

  as well as the prosperous development

  of Bank of China Hong Kong Ltd.

  大牛:韩佳,等等。

  Han Jia, wait a minute.

  什么叫锐意进取的精神呢?

  What do you mean by Rui Yi Jin Qu

  De Jing Sheng?

  韩佳:锐意就是指意志坚决,勇往直前;

  Rui Yi means determined and dauntless

  进取就是指不断往前,

  Jin Qu means enterprising.

  立志有所作为的意思。

  So it refers to determined and

  enterprising spirit.

  Ruìyì jìnqǔ

  锐意 进取

  To have a strong will to make

  progress and achieve great things

  大牛:韩佳,你这么一说,

  Han Jia, after your explanation,

  我还真能体会到锐意进取的这种寓意。

  I really can feel such moral.

  韩佳:到了晚上,你能更充分地理解这种精神。

  You can understand it better in

  the evening.

  大牛:是吗?

  Really?

  我明白了。晚上还有灯饰。

  I see. It has illuminations in

  the evening.

  韩佳:简单的灯光在夜空中

  The simple light can help it to show

  更能显现出中银大厦独特的轮廓

  its unique outline and architectural style

  和建筑风格。

  better in darkness.

  大牛:韩佳,你看。灯光还有变化呢。

  Han Jia, look!

  The light is changing.

  韩佳:这就是中银大厦显光芒,

  The Bank of China Tower shines

  with brilliant rays,

  雄峙维港耀香江啊。

  towering above the Victoria Harbor

  and shedding light on Hong Kong.

  大牛:好诗句。

  Good sentence.

  韩佳:我不是原创。

  It’s not my creation,

  大牛:不在这里抒发一下,也对不起这里的美景啊。

  but it’s unfair to the beautiful scenery

  if I don’t express myself.

  韩佳:你也要来两句?

  Do you have something to express?

  大牛:啊,学说中国话,朋友遍天下。

  Ah, learn to speak Chinese

  and make friends everywhere.

  我还是这两句最熟。

  I am most familiar with this sentence.

  赏心悦目:

  美利楼的原址上坐落着中银大厦

  Bank of China Tower is on the former

  site of Murray House,

  位于香港的金融中心地带

  It’s located in the heartland of Hong

  Kong’s financial center

  这里交通便利 四通八达

  with convenient transportation.

  内部设计合理 简约时尚

  The interior design of the Tower is

  reasonable, simple and stylish.

  名家所作焦墨山水 气势磅礴

  Landscape works of great masters are

  full of great momentum.

  快节奏 高效率的办公氛围

  Busy and high-efficient working atmosphere

  使其成为香港经济发展不可或缺的部分

  enable it to be an inseparable part for

  economic development of Hong Kong,

  日夜交替间 展现着独有的魅力

  and exhibit its unique charm day and night.

(Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 245

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

业务部门同事在上班时发送免费的《哈利波特三》电影票
怡君:太赞了。我等不及去看最新的《哈利波特》电影了。你的票要怎么利用?
鲍伯:我要把票给我女儿。她在英国时看过前两部。
怡君:我这五本全都读过。你是英国人。你或许也全读过对吧?
鲍伯:我可没有。但是我的确有排过一整天队就为了买第五集给我女儿。
怡君:我先生也帮我排过,因为我得工作。我真的很爱这些小说。
鲍伯:我对哈利波特疯很反感。到处都是哈利波特,尤其在英国。而且帮我女儿买这买那的,花了我不少银子。
怡君:你得承认,这位作家本身的故事很有趣。

A coworker from the sales department hands out free Harry Potter 3 tickets at work
Yijun: Awesome. I can’t wait to go see the new Harry Potter movie. What are you going to do with your ticket?
Bob: I’m giving mine to my daughter. She saw the first two back in England.
Yijun: I’ve read all five of the books. You’ve English. You probably read them all, too, right?
Bob: Not me. But I did wait in line all day to buy the fifth book for my daughter.
Yijun: My husband did that for me since I had to work. I just love these books.
Bob: I’m sick of Potter mania. It’s everywhere, especially in England. And it’s cost me a fortune to get everything for my daughter.
Yijun: You have to admit, the author’s story is interesting.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Chinese Culture – Yuanshan Site

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

 

Shell mound site of the Neolithic Age

 

Location: Taibei, Taiwan Province

 

Period: 2,400- 1,100 BC

 

Excavated in 1953

 

Jade objects of man and animal: ornament (up); Shouldered stone axe: tool (mid); Pottery jar and the remnant mouth of jar: container (bottom, the largest is 14 cm high)

Significance: The site has supplied important material objects to the study of the prehistoric cultures of Taiwan.

 

 Introduction

 

As one of the first and most regionally renowned archeological findings in Taiwan, the Yuanshan Archeological Site contains the island’s largest collection of prehistoric shell mounds and a wealth of finely crafted artifacts. The mounds, left by the Neolithic Yuanshan Culture, were identified in 1897 when crude stone tools were discovered here. Subsequent excavations since the discovery revealed vast mounds of shells mixed with animal bones, stone, jade, pottery, and bone implements as well as funerary objects. From these remains we know that this early community lived on fishing, hunting, and farming.

 

Yuanshan Site is the representative of the Yuanshan Culture. It has been excavated several times, however, due to limited manual labor and techniques it is difficult to do a complete research in a short period. Although the site is not very large, yet it holds historic and cultural values.

Source: chinaculture.org