Intermediate - Christmas Gifts From China
Right-Wingnut
February 09, 2013 at 11:06 PM posted in Transcripts with TalLesson here.
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:50 AM
14:33
John: But most Americans can't either.
Dilu: 那你觉得最实用的礼物［有］是什么？
John: I think that really depends on the person.
Dilu: 那你有没有送过红包？
John: 红包? For Christmas?
Dilu: 你可以试一试啊。我觉得这个应该会很好。
John: We do that, but we do it without the actual red envelope. Its called giving money.
Dilu: Cool. That's the gift.
John: I think clearly we're out of things to say here, so if you have any questions you can come to ChinesePod.com and ask us.
Dilu: 好。今天的课先到这里吧。我们下次再见。
John: 再见。
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:41 AM
Dilu: 那黄酒呢，你有试过吗。
John: I've done that too.
Dilu: 对。这个也比较有中国特色。
John: And they're not going to just drink it down, but they'll share it with their friends, and they think its pretty cool.
Dilu: ［？］挺有意思的。那你觉得面具呢？
John: 面具 I personally think is a terrible ...
Dilu: 那这个也是很有中国特色，很special。
John: But Chinese people themselves don't even put it in their homes. How many of these masks do you have hidden in your home Dilu?
Dilu: 没有没有。因为我can't really appreciate the high level art。
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:30 AM
13:31
John: Actually I kind of like giving this present of 白酒.
Dilu: 你爸爸喝白酒吗？
John: Its not because Americans like it, they don't like it at all. But its really 特别. They try it and they're like 'Whoa, Chinese people actually drink this stuff?' 'Yeah, my father in law drinks it every day'. And they find it really hard to believe.
Dilu: Really? 那你可以给他们买醋啊。Vinegar.
John: But that's not special because we have vinegar.
Dilu: 对啊对啊对啊。
John: This is slightly different. But 白酒 is not only slightly different, its very different.
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:24 AM
13:19
Dilu: John, 我问你啊，你应该有很多送礼物的经验吧。
John: 有。
Dilu: 因为你常常要回美国去看你的家人。
John: Right.
Dilu: 你觉得最有中国特色的礼物是什么？
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:18 AM
12:02
Dilu: 对。红包最实用了。
John: That's 'practical'? 2nd tone, 4th tone.
Dilu: 对。第二声和第四声。实用。
John: That's the end of the dialog, lets listen one more time.
12:12 - Dialog
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:16 AM
11:31
John: This is pretty soft, right? Its not 'what a stupid idea'.
Dilu: 没有没有。就他自己觉得这个不是一个好的idea。
John: So its generally rebuffing that idea. And then what does the girl say?
Dilu: 那她觉得最好的礼物就是红包。送红包吧，最实用了。
John: So give money in a red envelope as a Christmas present to Americans.
Dilu: You don't think its a good idea?
John: She's joking, right?
Dilu: Probably.
John: This 实用, she says 红包最实用了.
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:08 AM
11:01
Dilu: 香烟。送长辈香烟。
John: 'Fragrant smoke', that's cigarettes.
Dilu: Fragrant smoke. 对。就是cigarettes。
John: Two 1st tones. But Tom doesn't like that idea. What does he say?
Dilu: 他说：香烟还是算了吧，不健康。
John: This use of 还是 is 'we had better do this'. It doesn't mean 'still'.
Dilu: 不是不是啊。
John: It doesn't mean 'or'.
Dilu: 'Its better that we do this'.
John: 'Its better to just forget that idea'.
Dilu: 对。香烟还是算了吧。
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 06:01 AM
Dilu: 还有一些，就是送长辈香烟。
John: You're giving this to who?
Dilu: 长辈。长辈。第三声和第是声。
John: That's the older generation?
Dilu: 就是你家人里面年纪比较大的人。
John: Men and women?
Dilu: 对。都可以呀。
John: As long as they're old they're 长辈.
Dilu: 但是跟你是同样generation的人就不能叫长辈。也许年龄会比你大很多。
John: So they can't be your generation. They have to be an older generation.
Dilu: 没错。
John: So you 送 the 长辈 what?
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 05:50 AM
9:59
Dilu: 那在这里有一个＇符合习惯＇。还有一些，比如说＇符合标准。
John: 'Conforms to the standard', or 'adheres to the standard'.
Dilu: 还有＇符合要求＇。
John: 'Meets the requirements'.
Dilu: 还有符合＇口味＇。
John: 'It suits your tastes'. I feel like I'm translating it differently with every single combination of words. Its kind of a flexible word.
Dilu: 对。但是在中文里面就是符合。
John: Speaking of 白酒符合中国人的习惯, what else?
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 05:43 AM
9:29
John: Maybe originally you didn't think of it, or maybe you didn't think it was a very good idea, but now that you think about it, you realise it actually is good.
Dilu: 这个idea挺符合中国人的习惯呢。
John: So this idea of giving 送酒 as a present goes pretty well, it conforms pretty well to Chinese people's customs.
Dilu: 没错。这里有一个动词叫：符合。符合。两个第二声。
John: 符合, meaning 'conforms to', 'is in line with'. What other words do we usually see 符合 collocating with?
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 05:36 AM
9:01
Dilu: 对。
John: Then they talk about 白酒.
Dilu: 他们想送他爸爸一瓶白酒。
John: And what does his Chinese friend think about that?
Dilu: 送酒倒是挺符合中国人的习惯的。
John: So she's affirming that its a good idea.
Dilu: 是的。
John: In the beginning we have this 送酒倒是, and this 倒是 you might be a little bit confused by. Its kind of like in English when we say 'actually'. Like 'Oh yeah, that's actually a pretty good idea.
Dilu: 没错。
Right-Wingnut
February 11, 2013 at 05:29 AM
Dilu: 不是嘛，这个很有中国特色吧。
John: It has Chinese characteristics, but what are you going to do with it? I guess hang it on your wall.
Dilu: Or for Halloween.
John: Halloween? OK. But there's a pattern when they're listing different possible presents. What is it?
Dilu: 就是筷子，毛笔，面具，什么的。
John: 什么的。
Dilu: 对。什么的。
John: So we see this on the end of a list of things, and it kind of means 'and stuff like that'.
Dilu: 非常有用的一个词语啊。就是A,B,C什么的。
John: So there might be other things, but I'm too lazy to list them all.
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 08:29 AM
8:02
John: 毛笔 - the hairy pen. That's the calligraphy brush.
Dilu: 对对对。不讲hairy pen吧。
John: And the other one was?
Dilu: 面具。面具。
John: Two 4th tones, that's a mask?
Dilu: 这［本质］的应该是中国京剧的那种。脸谱。
John: From Peking Opera, the 脸谱, the special Beijing Opera masks.
Dilu: 对。
John: I've got to say, that doesn't sound like a great present. Its not something you can really use.
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 08:19 AM
7:31
John: So what are they?
Dilu: 有茶叶，丝巾。
John: 茶叶, 2nd and 4th, that means 'tea leaves'.
Dilu: 对。
John: Just 'tea'. And the other one was?
Dilu: 丝巾。丝巾。两个第一声。
John: Two 1st tones, and that is silk scarves?
Dilu: 这个一般性ladies都会比较喜欢。
John: This is what you buy at the silk markets that are scattered around China. What other presents?
Dilu: 还有筷子，毛笔，面具，什么的。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 08:12 AM
7:05
John: Socialism with Chinese characteristics. Different from Soviet socialism.
Dilu: 其实我也不知道是什么意思，但是就一直听到，一直听到。
John: That's the phrase.
Dilu: 有中国特色的社会主义 blah blah blah blah blah。
John: And this is still a really useful phrase - 有中国特色的 something. Its used a lot in business, in culture, all kinds of things.
Dilu: 对。那我们今天是看一看有中国特色的礼物。有一些什么。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 08:06 AM
John: In English we translate it as something or other 'with Chinese characteristics'.
Dilu: 对。
John: In Chinese its ...
Dilu: 有中国特色的。有中国特色的。
John: Then after 的 its something.
Dilu: 对。
John: 特色, two 4th tones, that's 'characteristics'.
Dilu: 是的。两个第四声。特色。
John: This phrase is thrown about all around nowadays, but it was originally made famous by which particular collocation?
Dilu: 我们小的时候在上课的时候一直要听到：有中国特色的社会主义。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:54 AM
Dilu: 是的。第一声，第三声，和第一声。伤脑筋。
John: So it hurts your brain.
Dilu: 当然不是真的hurt your brain，而是觉得有一些头痛，很麻烦。
John: 麻烦 - so its bothersome, its kind of mentally taxing.
Dilu: 对。
John: But this year, what is the plan?
Dilu: 他打算送一些有中国特色的东西。有中国特色的东西。
John: This is a pretty long adjectival phrase, but its pretty useful.
Dilu: 在中国经常会听到这样一个phrase。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:48 AM
5:34
John: So they had to think about what to but, then you have to actually buy it, then you have to wrap it.
Dilu: 这些都是准备礼物的过程。
John: 包, 1st tone, means 'to wrap'.
Dilu: 是的。
John: So what does he say about this process?
Dilu: 准备礼物很伤脑筋。伤脑筋。
John: 脑筋 - doesn't that mean 'brain'?
Dilu: 对的。很hurt你的脑筋。
John: 伤 meaning 'hurt'.
Dilu: 对。
John: 1st, 3rd, 1st.
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:42 AM
5:04
John: So 看 is getting a workout in this lesson. There's lots of different possible meanings. And then what does he say?
Dilu: 他有说：每年准备礼物很伤脑筋。准备礼物很伤脑筋。
John: 准备, 3rd tone, 4th tone, that means 'to prepare'.
Dilu: 是的。
John: So why does he say 准备礼物, why doesn't he just say 买礼物?
Dilu: 因为准备礼物是：你要先想送什么礼物，然后在去买礼物，然后在去包礼物。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:34 AM
4:34
John: 4-3-4-4.
Dilu: 对。
John: After 各种各样的, what does he say?
Dilu: 看他们喜欢什么。看他们喜欢什么。
John: This 看 also doesn't mean 'look', it doesn't mean 'Ive noticed'. What does it mean?
Dilu: 这个就是depends on。
John: So 'depends what they like'.
Dilu: 是啊。
John: 这个看, if you want to say 'depends', you can also say 要看, right?
Dilu: 对。我们常常也会说：要看他们喜欢什么。两个都可以呀。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:28 AM
John: This is 'normally'. 'Normally what kind of presents do you give someone at Christmas?'
Dilu: 对。比如说：美国人一般怎么过圣诞节？
John: Normally how do Americans spend Christmas?
Dilu: 对。
John: So what's the answer to this 一般送什么礼物？
Dilu: 他们说是有各种各样的礼物，看他们喜欢什么。
John: 各种各样的, so that's 'all kinds'.
Dilu: 对。各种各样。
John: 'This kind, that type'. The tones are?
Dilu: 第四声，第三声，还有两个第四声。各种各样。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:16 AM
Dilu: 还有很多中国人是会回家过春节。
John: So don't get in the habit of trying to always translate things word for word. Its a little bit different in Chinese. You say 回家过节.
Dilu: 没错。
John: Home for the holidays. Then the Chinese friend asks about presents.
Dilu: 你们一般送什么礼物？你们一般送什么礼物？
John: This 一般, there's a tone change, so its 4th and 1st.
Dilu: 对。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:11 AM
3:03
Dilu: 对。他要回去过圣诞节。回去过圣诞节。
John: So 'Go back to spend Christmas'.
Dilu: 我们常常会说过节。那它是过圣诞节。
John: 过节 means 'to spend a holiday', 'to celebrate a holiday'.
Dilu: 是的。
John: And in English we usually say 'go home for Christmas'.
Dilu: 但是在中文里面是：回去过圣诞节。
John: So I can say 回美国过圣诞节。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 07:05 AM
2:35
John: So this 我看 can be like 'I've noticed', 'I've been seeing this'.
Dilu: 对。它不是一个look这样一个动作。而是说：看到过之前发生这些事情。
John: So if you want to say 'I've noticed', you can say 我看. But 我看 can also introduce an opinion.
Dilu: 也可以，但是这边啊就是I noticed。
John: Got it. Then this Tom guy, he talks about his plans for Christmas.
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 06:59 AM
John: So 一个快递 means a delivery.
Dilu: 对。
John: And you can also say 快递公司 - a courier company.
Dilu: 对。两种都可以，但是according to the context这边呢我们是you have a package。You have a delivery。
John: And 快递 can also be a verb.
Dilu: 对啊，也可以做动词。
John: Like 快递给我.
Dilu: 可以呀。吧这个东西快递给我。两个第四声。快递。
John: But apparently this guy isn't getting a 快递 for the first time.
Dilu: 那个女孩儿说：我看你最近买了很多东西。我看你最近买了很多东西。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 06:51 AM
1:41
John: In the beginning of the dialog this Chinese girl tells the foreigner what?
Dilu: Tom，你有一个快递。你有一个快递。
John: 快递, two 4th tones, isn't that like a courier service? A type of business?
Dilu: 可以是这个service也可以是指他有一个package。
Right-Wingnut
February 10, 2013 at 06:47 AM
John: Hey ChinesePod listeners, I'm John, this is an Intermediate lesson.
Dilu: 你好，我是Dilu。欢迎收听中文播客。
John: Today we've got a lesson about this guy who's preparing to go to his home country for Christmas, and he's leaving from China.
Dilu: 对。从中国要回家，所以说他要想一想送家里人一些什么样的礼物。
John: 送礼物 - he wants to give them presents from China.
Dilu: 所以那一些是好的中国的礼物呢。
John: So we're probably going to hear some good ideas and some bad ideas. Let's listen.
Dilu: 好。先听以下对话。
Right-Wingnut
February 09, 2013 at 11:07 PM14:30-end