Archive for July, 2010

Chinese Reading – 问题广告闹笑话 – Learn Chinese Class

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

千万不要以为这些是笑话!它们可是美国分类广告中的真实语言。这些句子要不是语言模棱两可,可以这样理解,也可以那样理解;要不就是印错或使用错了单词,造成了歧义。看来美国人还真是挺幽默的啊!

语意摸棱两可型

裁缝广告

We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.

我们不使用机器撕毁您的衣服。我们会小心翼翼地用手撕。

(原意是要表达:我们不使用机器,以避免撕毁您的衣服。我们会用手工小心地修补衣服。)

你们可真够狠的!不用机器撕我的衣服,非要故意用手一点一点、仔细地撕。你们安的什么心啊!

家政广告

Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.

厌倦自己洗澡了吗?让我来帮你洗吧。

(原意是要表达:厌倦自己打扫房间了吗?让我来帮你做吧。)

就算我自己厌倦了洗澡,我也会自己洗。让你洗?你认为我是小孩吗?

宠物广告

Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.

出售小狗:不挑食,喜欢吃小孩。

(原意是要表达:出售小狗:不挑食,喜欢与儿童相处。)

我的天啊!我可不想让我的孩子成为这只狗的盘中餐。

二手车广告

UsedCars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first!

UsedCars公司:为什么要去其它地方受骗呢?还是先来这里吧!

(原意是要表达:UsedCars公司:为什么要选择去别的地方?当心受骗!还是先来我们这里看看吧!)

难道非要让你们先把我骗一回,你们UsedCars公司才开心吗?

招聘广告

3-year-old teacher need for pre-school. Experience preferred.

幼儿园招聘3岁大的老师。有经验者优先。

(原意:幼儿园招聘照看3岁幼童的老师。有经验者优先。)

3岁大的老师?可能是个神童吧!!

公益广告

Illiterate? Write today for free help.

不识字吗?今天就写信请求得到免费帮助吧。

(原意是要表达:我们可以为不识字的人提供免费帮助。)

我都不认字了。你还让我写什么啊?成心吧你!

印错用错单词型

杀虫剂广告

Get rid of aunts: Zap does the job in 24 hours.

(注:把意为“蚂蚁”的ants印成了意为“阿姨”的aunts;Zap是一种产品)

干掉阿姨:Zap在24小时内把一切搞定。

(原意是要表达:驱除蚂蚁:Zap在24小时内把一切搞定。)

别人都说我是孝顺的晚辈,我可不想落下残害长辈的罪名。

保育广告

Our experienced Mom will care of your child. Fenced yard, meals, and smacks included.(注:误用了意为“掴掌”的smack,应该使用意为“零食”的snack )

我们的保姆阿姨会照顾好你的孩子。我们的庭院装有保护杆,提供饭菜,小孩还会被掌嘴。

(原意是要表达:我们的保姆阿姨会照顾好你的孩子。我们的庭院装有保护杆,提供饭菜和零食。)

谁的孩子谁不爱!非要自己的孩子去受罪、挨抽吗?

(Source: learning.sohu.com)

Chinese Grammar – Grass – Cao – Chinese Character Profile – Chinese language

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

The Chinese character 艸 (cǎo) means grass. It is a pictograph showing two shoots of grass.

This character is relatively uninteresting, as it not an element of any other Chinese character. The radical form of this character, however, is used in many characters that are related to plants. The radical form is a horizontal stroke with two small vertical strokes: 艹. When used as an element of a more complex character, it always appears at the top of the character.

Here are some examples of characters which incorporate this radical:

  • 芃 – péng – luxuriant growth
  • 芙 – fú – lotus
  • 芟 – shān – cut down; mow; scythe
  • 芥 – jiè – mustard
  • 芬 – fēn – fragrant
  • 花 – huā – flower; blossom
  • 芽 – yá – bud; sprout
  • 苔 – tái – moss
  • 苪 – bǐng – bright; splendid
  • 英 – yīng – English; brave
  • 蘋 / 苹 – píng – apple
  • 葉 / 叶 – yè – leaf; page
  • 莊 / 庄 – zhuāng – farm; village
  • 薔薇 / 蔷薇 – qiáng wéi – rose
  • 蘑 – mó – mushroom

(Source: mandarin.about.com)

Learn mandarin – 指鹿为马 – Chinese Podcast

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

China’s first emperor Qin Shihuang died in 209 BC. Shortly after his death, a treacherous eunuch named Zhao Gao enticed Huhai, the emperor’s youngest son, to kill his oldest brother, the successor to the throne, and helped him to become emperor. Later the young emperor killed all his remaining 12 brothers and ten sisters on the suggestion of Zhao Gao in order to consolidate his position. After that, Zhao Gao, through intrigue, killed the prime minister and took over his post.

The young emperor Huhai was a muddle-headed and incompetent ruler. Zhao Gao could do whatever he liked. He became so ambitious that he finally plotted to usurp the throne. But he was afraid that the other court officials wouldn’t obey him. To test whether or not they were loyal to him, Zhao Gao presented a stag to the young emperor one day and deliberately said it was a horse.

“Are you kidding?” the young emperor laughed. “You’re calling a stag a horse!”

Zhao Gao insisted that it was a horse. He then asked the other officials’ opinion. He said, in a threatening tone, “I said it was a horse. What would you say?”

Some officials kept silent because they were afraid of being persecuted by Zhao Gao. Some said yes just to flatter him. “Yes, your Highness, it’s a horse”. “It’s nothing but a horse.” But there were upright officials who spoke the truth. In the end, none of these officials could escape persecution by Zhao Gao.

(Source: english.cri.cn)