Archive for July 2nd, 2009

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 557

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

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旁白: 听当地人说

I heard from some locals that

不去旅顺,

visiting here but not seeing Lushun,

就像到厦门没去鼓浪屿;

like visiting Xiamen without

seeing Gulangyu Island

到海南岛没去三亚一样,

or visiting Hainan Island without

seeing Yanya,

等于没到大连。

means the visitor hasn’t been

to Dalian.

我还听说

I also heard that

旅顺是渤海的“咽喉地带”,

Lushun is the throat zone of

the Bohai Sea,

也是我国北方重要的军港。

as an important military harbor

in north China.

它的地理位置十分重要。

Its geographical location is

of great importance.

韩佳: 快乐学汉语,

Learn Chinese the fun way

万里海疆行。

and enjoy a happy journey across China!

大家好,我是快乐的韩佳。

Hello there! I’m Merry Han Jia.

王渊源:大家好!

Hi!

我是快乐的王渊源。

I’m Happy Wang Yuanyuan.

韩佳: 你今天怎么怪怪的呀?

Why are you looking so odd today?

王渊源:那当然了。

Of course.

今天咱们来的这个旅顺口区

Does the place Lushun we

are visiting

不是有个军港嘛?

have a military harbor?

那我也得来点儿军人的架式。

So I am dressed like a soldier, too.

韩佳: 原来你是有备而来呀!

Oh, you came here prepared!

王渊源:那当然了。

Of course.

韩佳: 这里就是旅顺口城区的

This is the Baiyu Mountain, the

highest point

最高点白玉山了,

in the urban area of Lushun.

王渊源:那咱们眼前看的

Then what we are seeing here

应该就是举世闻名的旅顺军港啊。

should be the world-famous

Lushun Military Harbor.

韩佳: 没错儿。

Exactly.

那个出海口就是

That outlet to the sea is the

main channel

军舰出入的航道。

for incoming and outgoing naval vessels.

每次只能通过一艘军舰。

But it is passable only to one

vessel at a time.

王渊源:韩佳,我看出来了

Han Jia, I can tell

这应该就是老虎尾半岛。

this should be the Laohuwei Peninsula.

韩佳: 你怎么知道的?

How did you know?

王渊源:你看,

Look,

它弯曲的样子是不是很像老虎的尾巴呀?

does the curve look like the

tail of a tiger?

据说它和咱们那天看的老虎滩

It is said it’s associated in

a story with

还有些故事呢。

Laohutan Beach which we

saw the other day.

韩佳: 什么故事?

What story?

王渊源:以前有一只猛虎

In the past there was a fierce tiger

经常伤人。

which often hurt people.

有一位勇敢的渔夫

Later, a brave fisherman

最后上山把它给制服了。

got on the mountain and brought

it under control.

老虎的头变成了老虎滩,

The tiger’s head turned into

Laohutan Beach

它的尾巴被甩到了旅顺,

and its tail was swung into Lushun

变成了我们现在看到的

and turned into Laohuwei Peninsula

这个老虎尾半岛。

as we see today.

韩佳: 可以呀!

You are great!

你知道的比我都多。

You know more than I do.

王渊源:谁比谁知道得多,

The comparative structure,

我看这个比较句式

“Someone knows more than

someone else”,

咱们得分析分析。

warrants some analysis.

韩佳: A比B怎么样呢,

A “bi” B followed by an adjective

就构成了一个比较句。

forms a comparative structure.

王渊源:A比B怎么样呢,

A “bi” B followed by an adjective

就构成了一个比较句。

is a comparative structure.

韩佳: 举个例子来说吧。

Let me give you an example.

Nǐ bǐ wǒ gāo

你 比 我 高。

You are taller than me.

王渊源:我也来造一个句子吧。

I also want to make a sentence.

今天比昨天热。

Today is hotter than yesterday.

韩佳: 看来你已经掌握了这个比较句的用法了。

It seems you have mastered the

usage of this comparative structure.

王渊源:我们从这边看这个军港

It’s a bit too far for us to see

好像有点儿远哪。

this naval base clearly from here.

如果能近一点儿看

It would be a lot better

那就好了。

if we could watch it closely.

韩佳: 这个好办。

It’s easy.

我们可以去军港公园看看。走。

We can take a look at the Military

Harbor Park. Let’s go.

怎么样?

What do you think?

从这里看军港

Is it a lot closer here to see

the naval base

比山上的位置要近多了吧?

than on the mountain?

王渊源:是啊。这两座山

Yes indeed. These two mountains

好像是一个天然的屏障,

seem to be a natural barrier

使这个港内“天平浪静”。

making waters inside the harbor

a lot calmer.

韩佳: 风平浪静。

Yes, a lot calmer.

难怪人家说这旅顺港呢

No wonder people say Lushun

是一个天然良港。

is an excellent natural harbor.

王渊源:你看前面那边,

Look, the area over there in the north

北边就可以停很多那种

can moor many vessels

水上的舰艇。

above water.

南面就是潜艇基地。

The area in the south is the

submarine base.

那边呢?

What’s that over there?

韩佳: 看来今天我真的可以好好歇歇了。

It seems today I could really have

a nice rest.

王渊源:那座山是什么呀?

What’s that mountain?

上面有一座塔。

It has a tower on it.

韩佳: 那你不知道啊?

You don’t know that?

那是老铁山。

It’s the Laotie Mountain.

山上的灯塔年代也很久远了。

The lighthouse on it is quite old.

渊源,我发现一提到这旅顺港

Yuanyuan, I find you do know a lot

你知道的还真不少。

whenever we talk about Lushun Harbor.

介绍起来滔滔不绝的。

You can keep explaining fluently.

王渊源:今天也没什么风啊。

There isn’t any wind here today.

哪来的波涛?

Where are the waves coming from?

韩佳: 我说的“滔滔不绝”

By “taotao bu jue”

是指说的话多,

I mean to say a lot

说得流畅。

in a very fluent manner.

并不是指海里的波涛。

It doesn’t refer to waves in the sea.

王渊源:“滔滔不绝” 是指说的话多,

“Taotao bu jue” refers to saying a lot

说得流畅。

in a very fluent manner.

韩佳: 对。

Great.

对于这旅顺港

Surely, I know less than you

我知道的还真没你多。

about Lushun Harbor.

要向你好好学习了。

I should learn from you.

旁白: 离开了军港,

After leaving the naval base,

我们的心中都有点儿遗憾,

we felt a bit disappointed

因为没有看到战舰出港,

because we didn’t see any military vessels

或远航归来的情景。

leaving or coming back to the base.

我们只能想像着舰队

We had to imagine ourselves

和水兵的样子了。

what those vessels and seamen

look like.

王渊源:韩佳,

Han Jia,

这是咱们刚才看到的那座灯塔吧?

is this the lighthouse we saw just now?

韩佳: 对啊。

Yes, it is.

这座灯塔是清朝的时候建造的。

This lighthouse was built in the

Qing Dynasty.

至今保存完好。

It has been kept in perfect condition.

王渊源:那它有什么作用呢?

What use does it have?

韩佳: 它可以用来当瞭望台

It can be used as a watchtower

还可以给航船指引方向。

while giving guidance to the

passing vessels.

那这里的“还”呢

“Hai” in this case

是补充所说内容的意思。

introduces new information in

a sentence.

王渊源:“还”是补充话语内容的意思。

“Hai” introduces new information

in a sentence.

韩佳: 那我们举个例子来说吧。

Let’s explain with an example.

Wǒ xǐhuan lǔyóu hái xǐhuan kāi chē

我 喜欢 旅游,还 喜欢 开 车。

I like to travel and I also like to drive.

王渊源:那我也可以说

We can also say

我有一个弟弟还有一个妹妹。

I have a younger brother and also

a younger sister.

韩佳: 是吗?你知道吗,

Really? Do you know

我们现在就已经在辽东半岛的最南端了?

we are already at the southernmost

tip of the Liaodong Peninsula?

那前面就是

The demarcation line

黄海和渤海的分界线。

between the Yellow Sea and the

Bohai Sea is right there before us.

王渊源:两海的分界线能看得出来嘛?

Can we see clearly the demarcation line?

韩佳: 怎么,你还不信啊。

Why, you don’t believe me.

那我们下去看看。

Let’s go down have a look.

王渊源:从这个角度看来,

Seen from this angle,

这个分界线真的很明显哪。

the demarcation line is quite clear.

韩佳: 是啊。

Yes.

这个分界线形成的原因是多方面的。

The cause for the formation of this

demarcation line is multifaceted.

跟潮汐、海底结构,

It has something to do with the tides,

还有地球引力都有关系。

the seabed structure and the

earth’s gravity.

王渊源:这可是个奇特的景观

You mustn’t miss

你千万不要错过。

this unique sight.

赏心悦目:

旅顺口是渤海的“咽喉地带”

Lushun is billed as the throat

of the Bohai Sea.

它就像一座天然的屏障

The mountains on both sides

are natural barriers

将军港环抱在臂弯之中

embracing a naval base inside.

百年灯塔静静地守护着这片海域

This lighthouse has safeguarded

the waters here for 100 years,

为往来的船只指引航向

guiding both incoming and

outgoing vessels.

黄海渤海分界线清晰可见

The demarcation line between the Yellow

Sea and the Bohai Seas is clearly visible,

形成了老铁山“一山担两海”的自然景观

with Laotie Mountain wedged

between them.

王渊源:韩佳,咱们明天该上哪儿去?

Han Jia, where are we going tomorrow?

韩佳: 听导演说明天要去露营。

I heard from the director we’re going

to go camping tomorrow.

王渊源:去哪儿露营呢?

Where are we going to camp?

韩佳: 这个我没问。

I didn’t ask about it.

王渊源:那咱们还是专心给观众朋友们

Then, let’s set today’s award-winning

question

出今天的有奖问答题吧。

for our audience now.

韩佳: 好吧。您听好了。

Okay. Listen carefully.

(问题部分略)

王渊源:别忘了我们的口号:

Don’t forget our slogan:

合: 学说中国话,

Learn Chinese

朋友遍天下。

and make friends everywhere!

(Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Conversation – lesson 490

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

到达士林夜市
盖柏:老兄,看看这么多人!我们怎么挤得进去?
莫理:我们一定可以。你只要走进去,然后变成人潮的一部分。
盖柏:在老家没有像这样的地方。甚至购物中心也从不会这么挤。
莫理:中国人喜欢夜市这个样子。他们称做‘热闹’,意思有点像‘这是个刺激的地方’。
盖柏:哇,那个乞丐在做什么啊?你有看到他头后面隆起来吗?
莫理:有啊。他总是在这里。

Arriving at Shilin Night Market
Gabe: Dude, look at all the people! How are we ever going to cram ourselves in there?
Morley: We’ll be OK. You just walk in and become part of the flow.
Gabe: There’s nothing like this at home. Malls don’t even get this packed.
Morley: Chinese people love night markets to be like this. They call it “renao”, which kind of just means “this place is happening.”
Gabe: Holy cow, what’s wrong with that beggar? Do you see all those ridges in the back of his head?
Morley: Yeah. He’s always here.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Cir – Lesson 372

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Boiled Tripe

Fried tripe is a famous item among the Beijing snacks, mostly offered by Hui people. As early as in Qianlong reign period of Qing dynasty, there were records for it. In the past and even now, when it comes to the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the Muslim restaurants and peddlers in Beijing would offer it. The most famous brands for it are Tripe by Shi in Tianqiao, Tripe by Yang in Menkuang Alley, and Tripe by Feng, Tripe by Man, etc.

The cooking procedure of boiled tripe is: Clean and well wash the beef and lamb tripe, cut it into strips and put into boiled water to cook. Prepare flavoring paste with oil, vinegar, chili oil, fermented bean curd, parsley, chopped green onion, etc. When all is ready, take some tripe strips and dip into the paste to eat, which would be fresh, crispy, and delicious.

In the past, people were quite particular with the cooking of tripe, and different parts of the lamb tripe would be cut off for the customers to select whichever they like. Different parts of the tripe would need different time to cook, the shortest being several seconds. In the last few years, as the number of customers keeps increasing, the fresh tripe is difficult to preserve, and its supply is often in short. Consequently, the restaurants supplying tripe according to different parts have been extinct.

Except that the tripe must be fresh, the secret for top boiled tripe mainly falls on boiling, in other words the boiling time must be well managed, less or over boiled are not good cooks, for example, when it is overdone, it would be hard to chew. One poem in Assorted Poems for Snacks in Yan Capital reads, “It would be ready instantly in the boiling water, you just enjoyed it with various seasoning and a cup of wine. It is not completely chewed as my teeth are blunt, so I have to swallow it down as it is”. The author continued to say, “Put small square pieces of lamb tripe into boiling water, and take it out after an instant, this is called boiled tripe. Dip it into seasoning made of soy sauce, chopped onion, vinegar, sesame paste, etc. The tripe that is not well boiled is very crispy, although it is hard to chew, people just like it done that way and swallow down.” Therefore, the criteria for fine boiled tripe is crispy and fresh, but different parts of it need different timings in cooking.

In the past, the restaurants for boiled tripe were almost all managed by Hui people. The lamb tripe must be from sheep killed by Hui people, and the tripe would be well washed and cleaned. Whenever it smells bad, they will reject it. So their boiled tripe is well accepted by customers. Many celebrities in opera community favor it very much, such as Mei Lanfang, Ma Lianliang, Xiao Mogu, Junior Bai Yushuang, Li Wanchun. Boiled tripe is crispy, fresh, non-greasy, and it is said that it can be useful to cure stomach disease. People who are eating boiled tripe would often drink some liquor, then eat one or two Shaobing shortly baked, which would be really a comfortable experience. In consequence, the old Pekingese often like to eat boiled tripe, especially after the solar term of start of autumn, as people in Beijing have the custom of eating for the autumn, and another saying follows, “If you want to eat for the autumn, boiled tripe is a good choice”.

The earliest record for boiled tripe was during the reign of emperor Qianlong of Qing dynasty, and it was mostly managed by Hui people. The famous brands for it in Beijing are Tripe by Shi in Tianqiao, Tripe by Wang in Dong’an Market, Tripe by Zhang in Houmen, and Tripes by Yang, Feng, Man, etc.

In the past, people were fastidious about eating lamb tripe. The tripe would be cut into different parts according to the positions, so customers can selected what they like best. The boiling time for different parts is different too. In recent years, boiled tripe is very popular, and fresh tripe is hard to guarantee, so supply in separate parts is not available now. Except that the tripe must be fresh, the secret for top boiled tripe mainly falls on boiling, in other words the boiling time must be well managed. People who are eating boiled tripe would often drink some liquor, then eat one or two Shaobing fresh from the baker, it would be really a comfortable experience. In Beijing, there was a custom of eating for the autumn with the popular saying, “If you want to eat for the autumn, boiled tripe is a good choice”. At the start of autumn on lunar calendar, boiled tripe is particularly popular. Some opera celebrities, such as Mei Lanfang, Ma Lianliang, Xiao Mogu, Junior Bai Yushuang, Li Wanchun, etc. all like to eat boiled tripe.
(Source: bjchinese.bjedu.cn)