Archive for June 11th, 2009

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 536

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

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韩佳:快乐学汉语,

Learn Chinese the fun way.

轻松又好记。

It’s easy to remember.

欢迎来到《快乐中国》。

Welcome to this edition of

Happy China.

我是快乐的…

I am Merry …

哎,大牛!

Hey, Daniel!

大牛!大牛!

Daniel! Daniel!

你干吗呀?

What’s up?

你看什么呢?

What are you reading?

看得那么入迷,

You were so absorbed in your

reading that

叫了你好几声都没听见!

I called your name a number of

times and you didn’t hear it!

大牛:我在研究东巴文化。

I’m doing research on Dongba culture.

韩佳:东巴文化?

Dongba culture?

你研究这个干吗呀?

What are you doing it for?

大牛:连这你都不知道,

Don’t you know

纳西族的东巴古籍文献

the ancient Naxi Dongba literature

manuscripts

都被列入了

have been listed

《世界记忆遗产名录》啊。

as part of the World Memory Heritage?

现在研究东巴文化的人可多了。

Currently, there are many people

doing research on Dongba culture.

韩佳:哦,明白了,明白了。

Oh, I see.

所以你也来凑凑热闹,对吧?

That’s why you joined in the fun?

大牛:说什么呢?

What are you talking about?

我这叫学习,叫研究。

I am studying and doing research.

韩佳:行。

Okay.

那我先带你去看一样东西。

But I have to take you to

see something.

大牛:也行。

Okay.

韩佳:走。

Let’s go.

哎,咱们到了。

Yeah, here we are.

大牛:这不是个作坊嘛!

Isn’t it an old mill!

韩佳:但这不是一个普通的作坊。

But it isn’t an ordinary old mill.

这儿专门生产东巴纸。

It specializes in making Dongba paper.

大牛:东巴纸?

Dongba paper?

韩佳:对呀。

Yeah.

你不是要研究东巴文化嘛?

Aren’t you studying Dongba culture?

这东巴纸是东巴文化流传至今

Dongba paper is an important

carrier of Dongba

最重要的载体。

culture which has been passed down

through the ages to the present day.

Dōngbā zhǐ shì dōngbā wénhuà liúchuán zhì jīn zuì

Zhòngyào de zǎitǐ

东巴 纸 是 东巴 文化 流传 至 今 最

重要 的 载体。

Dongba paper is an important carrier of Dongba

culture which has been passed down through

the ages to the present day.)

大牛:韩佳,什么叫载体啊?

Han Jia, what is “zaiti”?

韩佳:“载体”就是指承载知识

“Zaiti” means a medium for

the preservation

或信息的物体。

and communication of knowledge

and information.

大牛:“载体”就是指承载知识

“zaiti”, two third tones, means

a medium

或信息的物体。

for the preservation and communication

of knowledge and information.

载体。

“Zaiti”.

那东巴纸跟普通的纸

Is there any difference between

有什么区别吗?

Dongba paper and other kinds

of paper?

韩佳:东巴纸的原料

The raw material for Dongba paper

是丽江一种特有的灌木,

is the bark of a kind of

纳西人把它的树皮剥下来。

local shrub.

要经过几道特殊的工序

The bark is processed into

Dongba paper

才能把它加工成东巴纸。

through a number of steps.

大牛:韩佳,说了半天,

Han Jia, despite what you said,

到底什么叫东巴呢?

what is Dongba in the first place?

韩佳:“东巴”在纳西语中

Dongba means, in the Naxi language,

就是智者。

“pundits”.

他们是东巴教的祭司,

They were the priests of the

Dongba Religion,

不过往往都集巫、医、

who were versed not only in

sorcery, but also

学、艺、匠于一身。

medicine, literature, art and craftsmanship.

大牛:哇,这么神奇!

Wow, that’s amazing!

韩佳:嗯。

Yes.

大牛:那他们岂不是什么都会呀!

Oh, they were all-round talents!

韩佳:对呀。正是因为这样,

Yes, that’s true. Just because

of their versatile abilities,

他们就成为了东巴文化的传播者

they became propagators

和继承者。

and successors to Dongba culture.

而且东巴教奉行的传统是

And as a rule, it was forbidden

传男不传女,传内不传外。

to teach women and outsiders.

Chuán nán bù chuán nǚ chuán nèi bù chuán wài

传 男 不 传 女,传 内 不 传 外。

It was forbidden to teach women

and outsiders.

大牛:等等,请问,什么叫“奉行”?

Hold on, what does “fengxing” mean?

韩佳:“奉行”就是指

“Fengxing” means

遵照、实行的意思。

to observe or abide by.

大牛:奉行,“奉”读四声,“行”读二声,

“fengxing”, fourth tone, second tone,

就是遵照、实行的意思。

means to observe certain rituals

and traditions.

奉行。

“Fengxing”.

那韩佳,

Han Jia,

平时东巴们都怎么占卜呢?

how do Dongba priests normally

practice augury?

韩佳:你来看!

Come on and look!

大牛:哇,真有意思!

Wow, so interesting!

这是什么呀?

What is this?

韩佳:这就是东巴们使用的

This is an augury diagram Dongba

priests used.

占卜图啊。叫青蛙八格图。

It’s called Qingwa Bage Diagram.

你看,一只箭从青蛙的腹部穿过。

Look at that arrow piercing through

a frog’s belly.

这就象征着五方、五行、

The diagram represents five directions,

five substances,

五色、八位。

five colors and eight positions.

大牛:好复杂呀。

Oh, it’s so complicated.

听得我头都晕了。

I am confused.

不过

But

这外面的这些动物我都认识。

I can recognize all the animals around.

应该是十二生肖吧?

Are they the 12 zodiac animals?

韩佳:对呀,就是十二生肖。

Yes, they are the 12 zodiac animals.

这些图像互相搭配,

Different combinations of these patterns

就是东巴祭司占卜的根据。

provide the basis for a Dongba

priest’s augury.

可以用来解释自然,

They used these signs to

interpret nature

也可以用来预测人类的生活。

and foretell someone’s future.

Tā kěyǐ yòng lái jiěshì zìrán.

它 可以 用 来 解释 自然。

It can be used to interpret nature.

大牛:看来我对东巴文化的了解

It seems that my understanding

of Dongba

还远远不够。

culture is still far from sufficient.

要是能见一位真正的东巴

How wonderful it would be

该多好啊!

if I could meet a real Dongba!

韩佳:哎!

Why not

大牛:不会吧!

That can’t be true!

连这你都能办到?

Are you sure you can make it happen?

韩佳:那当然。

Of course.

这位就是和石松先生,

This is Mr. He Shisong,

一位真正的东巴。

a real Dongba.

和先生,您好!

Hello, Mr. He!

嘉宾:您好!

Hello!

韩佳:我是《快乐中国》的韩佳。

I am Han Jia from Happy China.

大牛:您好,我是大牛!

Hi, I am Daniel!

韩佳,这些都是和先生的作品吗?

Han Jia, are they all works by Mr. He?

韩佳:那当然了。

Of course, they are.

和先生不仅东巴文写得好,

Mr. He is good not only at

Dongba handwriting,

汉字也写得非常好。

but also at Chinese handwriting.

大牛:真的?

Really?

那和先生,

Mr. He,

您能不能给我们栏目组

can you write a pair of scrolls in

the Dongba script

写一副东巴文的对联呢?

for our program?

嘉宾:没问题,好的。

Okay, no problem.

大牛:太好了!

Great!

那么我们趁和先生写字的时间,

Well, while Mr. He is writing,

一起来看看今天的赏心悦目。

let’s watch together today’s

Feast for the Eyes.

赏心悦目:

对每一个纳西人来说

The ethnic Naxi people

纳西族的文化永远值得骄傲

are always proud of their

cultural traditions.

东巴文字造型奇特

The Dongba script is pictographic.

古朴精致的手工艺品

Naxi people are known for their

elegant handicrafts.

传统朴实的生活方式

This is an honest and plain-living people.

心灵手巧与勤劳俭朴

They are ingenious and hardworking.

同时在纳西人身上完美地体现

All these are the fine qualities

of the Naxi.

韩佳:好了,

Well,

赏心悦目看完之后呢,

having watched the Feast for the Eyes,

大牛,赶快把问题告诉大家吧。

Daniel, now please tell us

today’s question.

大牛:观众朋友们听好了。

Audience friends, listen carefully.

今天的问题是这样的。

Here’s today’s question.

(问题部分略)

韩佳:大牛,和先生写完了。

Daniel, Mr. He has finished

his writing.

大牛:您写的上联是什么呀?

What’s written on the right scroll?

嘉宾:上联是:学说中国话。

On the right scroll, it is “Learn Chinese”.

韩佳:哦,东巴文的“学说中国话”。

Oh, that’s “Learn Chinese” in the

Dongba script.

大牛:那我知道下联是什么了。

Now I know what’s written on

the left scroll.

韩佳:那你说说看。

Tell us what it is!

大牛:朋友遍天下。

“Make friends everywhere!”

(Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 469

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

自1871年起,英国便有银行假日了。“银行假日”这个名称起源于银行关闭以至所有交易暂停的时期。如今,尽管银行在这些日子里仍然关门,但是很多商店还是照常营业的。

British bank holidays have been recognized since 1871. The name Bank Holiday comes from the time when Banks were shut and so no trading could take place. Even though Banks are still closed on these days many shops now remain open.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cri – Lesson 351

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Insurance coverage

Ping An shall undertake the following insurance liabilities during the period of insurance:

1.Death Insurance

Ping An shall pay the stipulated amount of insurance compensation if the Insured dies of any accidental injury or disease (including SARS). Insurance liabilities thus terminate.

2. Disability Insurance

If the Insured suffers from any accidental injury which results in any disability within 180 days since the occurrence of the accidental injury, The sum insured shall be paid by Party B in the amount of agreed insured sum specified in the insurance policy multiply by certain proportion stated in the Disability Degree and Payment Proportion Table of Ping An Life Insurance Corporate Of China, Ltd. (See Annex 1). If the treatment is not finished on the 180th days, disability identification shall be conducted on the basis of the Insured’s physical condition on the 180th day, and the Insurance for Accidental Disability shall be paid in accordance with the Disability Degree and the Payment Proportion Table .

If the same accidental injury results in two or more disabilities listed in the Disability Degree and Payment Proportion Table to the Insured, the Insurer shall pay the sum insuredto the sum of the amount to each corresponding disability. However, however if different disabilities take place to the same arm or leg, only one disability insured amount shall be paid;If the disabilities fall into different disability degrees, the disability insured amountfor the more serious disability shall be paid.

If with the disability resulted from this accidental injury and the previous disability taken together, the Insured could draw the insurance for the more serious disability, the insurance shall be paid in accordance with the standard for the more serious disability, but the disability insurance which has previously been paid (the disabilities took place before buying insurance or the disabilities listed in the Proportion Table between the Degree of Disability and the Payment which were resulted from exceptions shall be treated as being compensated already)shall be deducted.

Party B shall respectively pay the insurance compensation for accidental disability in accordance with the policy, no matter the Insured suffers from accidental injury for once or several times, however the accumulative payment hereto shall not exceed the stipulated sum insured.
The accumulative amount of insurance for accidental disability or death of each insured shall not exceed the insured sum set for the corresponding accidental injury.

If the Insured dies of the same reason within 180 days since the occurrence of accidental injury which results in any disability, Party B shall be liable only for the difference between the stipulated insured amount for accidental death and for accidental disability; if the Insured dies after 180 days, Party B shall pay the stipulated insured amount for accidental death no matter if the death is caused by the same reason., and the insurance liability shall be terminated.

3.Accidental Injury Medical Treatment Insurance Liability

If the Insured receives any medical treatment within 180 days since the occurrence of the accidental injury, the insurer shall be liable for the full amount of the actual and reasonable expenses for medical treatment; however the accumulative payment shall not exceed the stipulated insured sum.

No matter the Insured suffered from accidental injury once or many times, the Insurer shall respectively pay for the Accidental Injury Medical Treatment in accordance with the foresaid provisions, but the accumulative amount of payment shall not exceed the Insured amount, where the accumulative amount of payment amounts to the insured’s Insured sum, the said insurance liability for the said Insured shall be terminated.

4.Hospitalization Medical Treatment Insurance Liability

If the hospitalization is diagnosed to be necessary of the insured due toany accidental injury, or for any disease (including SARS) after the day of insurance policy become effective (Ambulatory Surgery and observation room treatment due to no bed available shall be treated as hospitalization medical treatment), Party B shall be liable for the actual and reasonable expenses for medical treatment including nursing fee (limited to RMB100 Yuan per day for accumulative 30 days), ambulance fee, medical record fee, heating fee, air conditioner fee, bed fee (limited to RMB300 Yuan per day), expenses for docimasia, special examination and treatment, operation, medicine, treatment, laboratory test, radiation and etc., and shall pay 100% of the costs of hospitalization medical treatment.

If hospitalization treatment which is within the scope of insurance liability is necessary to the insured , the outpatient and emergency treatment fee before and after hospitalization arise from the same disease shall be paid in accordance with the payment standard of hospitalization medical treatment.

Insurer shall pay the costs of hospitalization without reference to the number of times within the regulated limits, however insurance liability shall be terminated once the accumulative payments reached the sum insured.

If the Insured suffered from critical illness or chronic disease before buying this insurance, the Insurer shallbe released from its liability to make payments.

Note: 1)All the foregoing medical organizations shall be limited to the public hospitals established within the board of the People’s Republic of China.

2)The scope of medical treatment expenses shall be limited to the items and expenses which can be reimbursed in accordance with the local regulations on social basic medical insurance. However the expenses for the B-class medicine shall be paid by insured.

Liability Exemption

Liability Exemption for Death and Disability

This corporate shall be exempted from the insurance liabilities for the death and disability of the Insured for any of the following circumstances:

1. Any intentional act of the applicant for insurance or the beneficiary;

2. Criminal act, addiction to narcotic, fighting, drunkenness, self-injury or suicide of the insured;

3. Driving while intoxicated or driving without license;

4. Pregnancy, miscarriage or childbirth of the insured;

5. AIDS or other VD of the insured;

6. War, military action, civil rebellion or armed revolt;

7. Nuclear explosion, radiation or pollution;

8. High-risk sports and athletic activities by the professionals;

If any of the foregoing circumstances happens resulting in the death of the Insured, the insurer shall end the insurance liabilities and return the unearned premium after the deduction of the commission charge.

Liability Exemption for Medical Treatment (accidental injury medical treatment and hospitalization medical treatment)

The insurer shall be exempted from the insurance liabilities for any of the following circumstances:

1. Intentional killing or injure the insured by the applicant or the beneficiary;

2. Criminal act or arrest resistance , suicide or intentional self-injury of the insured;

3. Fighting, drunkenness, drug taking, addiction or injection of the insured;

4. Driving while intoxicated or without license or driving motor-driven vehicle without valid driving certificate of the insured;

5. Medical accident occurred during the cosmetic operation or other physician or surgery operations of the insured;

6. The expenses for orthopaedic, cosmetic operation or rehabilitating treatment of the insured;

7. The expenses food and telephone of the insured;

8. Taking, coating or injecting drugs not in conformity with doctor’s advice;

9. War, military act, rebellion or armed revolt;

10. Nuclear explosion, radiation or pollution;

11. Pregnancy, miscarriage or childbirth of the insured

12. Out-patient treatment expenses of common disease.

Notes: Matters not mentioned herein shall be executed in accordance with the provisions of Ping An Group Accidental Injury Insurance, Ping An One-year Fixed Term Life Insurance, Ping An Additional Insurance for Group Accidental Injury Medical Treatment and Ping An Group Hospitalization Medical Treatment Insurance.

(Source: bjchinese.bjedu.cn)