Archive for January 6th, 2009

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 380

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
 
 

    大牛:快乐学汉语,轻松又好记。

  Learning Chinese is easy and fun.

  我牛大帅那可是

  I am Commander Daniel, a man who has

  一人之下万人之上。

  only one above him and millions

  below him.

  众将士随我出征!

  All men follow me on this expedition!

  要说我一人之下,

  The one man above me is none other

  那可是在成吉思汗之下。

  than Genghis Khan.

  韩佳:大牛,你这是在干吗呀?

  Daniel, what are you doing here?

  唱的是哪出啊?

  What do you mean by all this?

  大牛:韩佳,好不容易找着一点当大帅的感觉。

  Han Jia, it’s not easy for me to have just found

  what it feels like to be an army commander.

  一下子被你给搅了。

  Now you have ruined it.

  韩佳:好,就让你过过当大帅的瘾。

  Alright, I’ll let you satisfy your fantasies

  about being a commander.

  牛大帅,这就是你的千军万马吧?

  Commander Daniel, is this your army?

  大牛:对呀。

  Yes.

  你看,前面是我的先锋大军,

  Look, the advanced troops in the front

  后面是我的后勤大营。

  and the logistics battalion in the rear.

  浩浩荡荡,横扫千军吧。

  It’s a formidable and invincible army.

  韩佳:嗯,别说,

  No doubt,

  你还真有点大将风范啊。

  you do show some qualities of a general.

  Bié shuō nǐ hái zhēn yǒu diǎnr dàjiàng fēngfàn.

  别 说, 你 还 真 有 点儿 大将 风范。

  You know what,you do show some

  qualities of a general.

  大牛:男人有几个不爱当英雄的。

  Few men wouldn’t want to be a hero.

  今天来到了成吉思汗陵旅游区,

  At the Genghis Khan Mausoleum

  tourist site,

  我也要做个大英雄。谁是大英雄?

  I also want to be a great hero.

  Who’s the hero?

  韩佳:哎大牛,

  Daniel,

  成吉思汗的丰功伟绩可不是唱出来的。

  Genghis Khan’s great feats were not

  accomplished by words.

  大牛:我知道。

  I know … it was

  他,他统一了蒙古的各个部落。

  he who unified the various Mongolian tribes.

  韩佳:嗯,不光如此。

  Not just that.

  他还建立了幅员辽阔的元大帝国呢。

  He also founded the vast Yuan Empire.

  大牛:韩佳,辽阔这个词我明白,

  Han Jia, I understand the word “liao kuo”,

  就是说非常广阔。

  meaning vast and expansive.

  可是幅员是什么意思?

  But what does “fu yuan” mean?

  韩佳:幅员是指领土的面积。

  ”fu yuan” refers to the size of a territory.

  幅员辽阔是指领土的面积很大,很广阔。

  ”fu yuan liao kuo” means a vast and

  far-reaching territory.

  大牛:幅员,读二声,指领土的面积。

  ”fu yuan”, two second tones,

  means territories.

  幅员辽阔是指领土的面积很大。

  So “fu yuan liao kuo” means vast territories.

  幅员辽阔。

  ”fu yuan liao kuo”.

  韩佳:大牛,看。

  Daniel, look.

  你心目中的大英雄在那儿呢。

  Your hero is over there.

  大牛:嗯。高高在上的,真威风。

  Yes. Mounted up there, he looks so

  impressive.

  这建筑也很有气势。

  The architectural style here is also

  impressive

  韩佳:这处景观的名字更有气势,

  The name of this sight is even

  more impressive.

  叫气壮山河。

  It’s called Mountain-River Moving Spirit.

  你看它前面的台阶。像层层流水一样,

  Look at the steps in the front.

  They look like layers of flowing water,

  这就象征着成吉思汗的精神源远流长。

  symbolizing the distant source

  of the spirit of Genghis Khan

  大牛:一共有三九二十七级台阶。

  Altogether, there are 27 steps.

  韩佳:嗯,没错。

  Yes.

  成吉思汗第一次被推举成部落汗王

  Genghis Khan was first elected

  tribal chief

  就是在他27岁的时候。

  when he was 27 years old.

  大牛:真是年轻有为。

  He was really young and promising then.

  Tā zhēn shì niánqīng yǒuwéi.

  他 真 是 年轻 有为。

  He was highly capable at an early age.

  韩佳:成吉思汗的很多故事用具都流传了下来。

  Many stories about Genghis Khan

  have been passed down to this day.

  但是却没有人知道他究竟被安葬在哪里。

  But no one knows where he was buried.

  大牛:不对呀。

  No, that’s not correct.

  不是有一个很有名的成吉思汗陵吗?

  Isn’t there a famous Mausoleum

  of Genghis Khan?

  韩佳:那只是成吉思汗象征性的陵寝,

  Yes, but it’s only Genghis Khan’s

  symbolic tomb,

  并不是他的安葬之地。

  not his real burial ground.

  据史料记载,

  According to historical records,

  成吉思汗,包括元朝的皇帝

  Genghis Khan and other Yuan

  Dynasty emperors

  都是实行秘葬制度的。

  were all buried in secret as required

  by the burial system.

  他们被埋葬的地方是不公布、

  Their burial sites were not to be

  made public,

  不记录在册、不立标志的。

  recorded in writing or marked materially.

  目前中国秦朝、汉朝、唐朝、宋朝、明朝、

  So far, all the imperial tombs of China’s Qin,

  Han, Tang, Song, Ming

  清朝的皇陵都已经找到。

  and Qing dynasties have been located.

  只有这元朝的皇陵还没有被人发现。

  Only Yuan Dynasty imperial tombs

  have not been found.

  大牛:真是千古之谜。

  This is indeed a centuries-old mystery.

  哎,这蒙古文字就是特别。

  Written Mongolian looks so unusual.

  在我的眼里就像图画一样。

  In my eyes, these symbols look

  like pictures.

  韩佳,这里写的是什么呀?

  Han Jia, what’s written here?

  韩佳:听当地人说

  Local people say

  这写的就是大汗的意思。

  the words mean “da han” (great khan).

  这个汗是多音字。

  ”han” is a multi-pronunciation word.

  当在大汗这个词中的时候,

  In “da han”, “han” should be pronounced

  应该读第二声,大汗。

  in the second tone.

  大牛:哎,对。

  Oh, yes.

  所以这位英雄的名字叫成吉思汗。

  So this hero’s name should be

  pronounced “cheng ji si han”.

  韩佳:哎,错了吧。

  Hey, wrong pronunciation.

  大牛:没错。

  It’s correct.

  我读的是第二声,成吉思汗。

  I pronounced it in the second tone,

  ”cheng ji si han”.

  韩佳:成吉思汗是他的称号,并不是他的名字。

  Genghis Khan is his title, not his name.

  Zhè shì tā de chēnghào, bìng bú shì tā de míngzi.

  这 是 他 的 称号, 并 不 是 他 的 名字。

  This is his title, not his name.

  成吉思汗的名字叫铁木真。

  His name is Tiemuzhen.

  汗是中国古代一些少数民族对首领的称呼。

  Khan was a respectful title among ancient

  Chinese minorities for their chiefs.

  大牛:哦,你这么一解释我就明白了。

  Now that you explain it, I understand.

  韩佳:这座博物馆的外形就是这个蒙古文字。

  The shape of this museum is based

  on Mongol writing.

  这里面记载了从成吉思汗的祖先

  Inside on display are objects and records

  about Mongolians dating

  一直到现今蒙古族方方面面的事情。

  from the ancestry of Genghis Khan

  to modern generations.

  大牛:咦,趁观众朋友们欣赏赏心悦目的工夫,

  While our viewers are enjoying

  the Feast for the Eyes,

  我也进去学习学习,

  I’d like to go inside to gain some knowledge

  也好当个蒙古通。

  so I can become an expert on

  Inner Mongolia.

  赏心悦目:

  成吉思汗陵位于鄂尔多斯市中部

  The Mausoleum of Genghis Khan lies

  in the center of the city Ordos.

  气势恢宏的战场

  A visit here conjures up the vast battlefields

  所向披靡的军队

  and the ever-victorious army,

  念当年叱咤风云 气壮山河

  commanded by the almighty, earthshaking

  成吉思汗金戈铁马辉煌的一生

  great hero Genghis Khan.

  在这苍茫草原上谱写出一段不朽的传奇

  This legendary hero will be remembered forever.

  韩佳:哎,爬上来了。

  Oh, I’ve finally reached the top.

  大牛:还是爬到最高处视野开阔。

  At this highest position, we have

  a much broader view.

  不对。

  Oh, not exactly.

  好像那边的建筑比这里还要高。

  It seems the building over there is

  even higher than this.

  韩佳:那就是成吉思汗陵,现在正在整修呢。

  That is the Genghis Khan Mausoleum.

  They are doing renovations inside.

  大牛:这么说这次去不了了。真是太可惜了。

  Which means we can’t go this time.

  What a pity.

  韩佳:没关系。下次有机会再来嘛。

  It doesn’t matter.

  We’ll have other chances to visit.

  大牛:下次来,我一定想着到成吉思汗陵看一看。

  When I come next time, I’ll make sure

  to visit the Genghis Khan Mausoleum.

  韩佳:你呀,先想着给电视机前的观众朋友们

  You’d better now think about

  出有奖问答吧。

  the prize-winning question for our viewers.

  大牛:哦,对。韩佳请出题。

  Yes, Han Jia. Tell us the question.

  韩佳:今天的问题是这样的。

  Today’s question is as follows.

  幅员辽阔是说什么很广阔呢?

  When we say “fu yuan liao kuo”, what does

  ”fu yuan” mean?

  Zhàn chǎng

  A.战 场 Battlefield

  Tián dì

  B.田 地 Land or fields

  Lǐng tǔ de miàn ji

  C .领 土 的 面 积 The size of a territory

  韩佳:赶快把您的答案发送给我们,

  Send your answer to us now

  赢取精美纪念品吧。

  so to win a beautiful souvenir.

  大牛:请用以下方式与我们联系。

  You can also use the following

  methods to contact us.

  别忘了我们的口号:

  Don’t forget our motto:

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下。

  Learn Chinese and have friends everywhere.

(Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 313

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

如果你讲的语言不是当地的主要语言,在你出去之前应当学点当地语言的课程。各种短语词汇书是必要的,但学习语言的最好方法是听。听录音磁带是一种很好的选择

If your language is not the main language spoken, make sure you take some classes in the local language before you go. Phrase books are all very well, but listening is the best way to learn. Audiotapes are a good alternative.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 195

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

(mms://enmms.chinabroadcast.cn/new/lang/ch/studio/lesson314.wma)

R: Hey welcome everyone to another edition of Chinese Studio. Wo shi Raymond.
Y: And wo Shi Yajie. We’ve got an incredible show as we’re continuing our Chinese about Night Activities.
R: Yep and what are we doing tonight?
Y: Well we’re all tired out from the clubbing and massages, so lets do something that doesn’t involve dancing.
R: Ok lets check out the key words of the day.

Key Words Of the Day
Which bar is the cheapest? 哪间酒吧比较便宜? Go and watch a movie 去看电影吧。Go and sing karaoke 去k歌吧。 All in today’s Chinese. 

Y: I’m running low on dough. Maybe we should go to a different place this time.
R: Yea, I don’t want to be broke. I do have to eat for the rest of the month.
Y: Well we could go to a cheaper place?
R: Ok good idea. Lets go to a cheap bar. Lets ask this guy. Wait before that how do you say “Which bar is the cheapest” in Chinese?
Y: you’d better have me ask this question: nei3 jian1 jiu3 ba1 bi3 jiao4 pian2 yi4?
R: nei3 jian1 jiu3 ba1 bi3 jiao4 pian2 yi4?
Y: Remember last time, we learned that nei3, is the colloquial pronunciation for na3, and it means which or what,
R: nei3, 
Y: jian1 is the measure word for bar,
R:  jian1,
Y: bar in Chinese is jiu3 ba1,
R:  jiu3 ba1,
Y: bi3 jiao4, relatively or comparatively,  
R:  bi3 jiao4, 
Y: pian2 yi4, is cheap,
R:  pian2 yi4,
Y: nei3 jian1 jiu3 ba1 bi3 jiao4 pian2 yi4?
R: nei3 jian1 jiu3 ba1 bi3 jiao4 pian2 yi4?  Which bar is the cheapest?

Conversation 1
A: 哪间酒吧比较便宜?
B: 这间酒吧好像比较便宜。

R: Hey I think I’ve had too much to drink.
Y: Me too. Those mixed drinks were definitely mixed.
R: Yea, I think we need to go rest. What time is it?
Y: 8:30 pm.
R: Oh my gosh, we got plastered and its only 8:30. I guess we should do something else.
Y: Yea lets go watch a movie and kill some more time.
R: Ok how do you say “Go and watch a movie”?
Y: qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3 ba. 
R:  qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3 ba.
Y: qu4 kan4, go and watch, 
R:  qu4 kan4,
Y: dian4 ying3, a movie,
R:  dian4 ying3,
Y: ba is used to indicate suggestion,
R:  ba,
Y: qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3 ba. 
R: qu4 kan4 dian4 ying3 ba.  Go and watch a movie.

Conversation 2
A: 才8点,时间还早呢。
B: 去看电影吧。
A: 好啊。

Y: Well that was an interesting movie.
R: Yea, I dunno if I really like Josie and the Pussycats.
Y: It was so much fun! But hey its only 10:30.
R: Dang, its still too early to go in. I think my roommates would laugh at me if I got home this early.
Y: I know, I love singing. Lets go and sing some karaoke!
R: Ok how do you say “Go and sing Karaoke” in Chinese?
Y: Listen up, here is a trendy way: qu4 K ge1 ba.
R:  what? 
Y: well, let me explain for you. k ge1: is a trendy way for singing karaoke, instead of saying: ka3 la1 okay.
R:  k ge1.
Y: qu4 is go,
R:  qu4, 
Y: qu4 K ge1 ba.
R:  qu4 K ge1 ba.  Go and sing karaoke.

Conversation 3
A: 去k 歌吧。
B: 好的,很久没k歌了。

Y: Well we’re just going to enjoy the rest of the night here. I hope you all picked up on some of these night time fun times.
R: And we’re going to do the quiz of the day before we end this program.
Y: The quiz of the day is how do you say “Go and sing a karaoke” in Chinese.
R: That’s right we’re giving away an incredible Chinese handbook with idioms to the winner. It could be you.
Y: So send it to us at Chinese@crifm.com

(Source:english.cri.cn)