Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Business Chinese:Mandarin Lesson: Salutations in Chinese letters
中文书信的称呼(Zhōngwén shūxìn de chēnghū) Salutations in Chinese letters
Zhōngguó bèi yùwéi "lǐyízhībāng."
中国 被 誉为 “礼仪之邦”。
Wúlùn zài rìcháng shēnghuó háishì shāngwù huódòng zhōng,
无论 在 日常 生活 还是 商务 活动 中，
Zhōngguórén yìzhí dōu hěn zhùyì lǐyí.
中国人 一直 都 很 注意 礼仪。
China is known as the "state of ceremonies." No matter whether it's in daily life or business activities, all Chinese people pay attention to etiquette.
Shūxìn shì shāngwù jiāoliú hěn zhòngyào de yíbùfen,
书信 是 商务 交流 很 重要 的 一部分，
ér chēnghū shì shūxìn de dìyī bùfen. Qiàdàng de
而 称呼 是 书信 的 第一 部分。恰当 的
chēnghū huì gěi dúxìn de rén liúxia shēnkè de yìnxiang.
称呼 会 给 读信 的 人 留下 深刻 的 印象。
Salutations are among the most important elements of business communication. In a formal letter, the salutation occurs first. An appropriate salutation can create a good impression for the letter's reader.
Zài zhōngwén shūxìn zhōng,
在 中文 书信 中，
chēnghū shì duì shōuxìn rén de zūnchēng.
称呼 是 对 收信 人 的 尊称。
Rúhé chēnghū zhǔyào yījù xiānghù jiān de guānxì érdìng.
如何 称呼 主要 依据 相互 间 的 关系 而定。
In Chinese letters, salutations are usually the honorific titles of the reader. The relationship between the addresser and the addressee primarily determines what kind of honorific is used.
Zhōngwén shūxìn zhōng de chēnghū yìbān dōu yǐ "jìngyǔ + chēngwèi"
中文 书信 中 的 称呼 一般 都 以 "敬语 ＋ 称谓"
de xíngshì chūxiàn. Zhōngwén shūxìn zhōng de
的 形式 出现。 中文 书信 中 的
chēnghū dōushì dǐnggé xiě, hòu jiā màohào.
称呼 都是 顶格 写，后 加 冒号。
Salutations in Chinese are usually written using the following form: "honorific + title." Furthermore, they are written on the left hand side of the page, beginning in the first space and then followed by a colon.
Duì bùtóng guānxi de rén yào shǐyòng bùtóng de jìngyǔ.
对 不同 关系 的 人 要 使用 不同 的 敬语。
Chinese use a variety of honorifics to reflect the different relationships in people's lives.
Case and Examples:
Case 1.
Duì shàngjí
对 上级
Salutations Used When Greeting a Superior
"Jìng'ài de + xìngmíng:"
“敬爱 的+ 姓名：”
"Respected + name:"
Jìng'ài de Wáng Lì:
e.g. 敬爱 的 王力：
Respected Wang Li:
Case 2.
Duì tóngjí
对 同级
Salutations Used When Greeting a Colleague
"Qīn'ài de + xìngmíng:"
“亲爱 的+ 姓名：”
"Dear + name:"
Qīn'ài de Liú Yīng:
e.g. 亲爱 的 刘英：
Dear Liu Ying:
Case 3.
Biǎoshì zhèngzhòng
表示 郑重
Showing Respect When Writing Names in Salutations
1) "Zūnjìng de + xìng + zhíwèi:"
1） “尊敬的+ 姓 + 职位：”
"Honorable + surname + occupation title:"
Zūnjìng de Wáng jīnglǐ:
e.g.尊敬 的 王 经理：
Honorable Manager Wang:
Zūnjìng de Wáng lǎoshī:
e.g. 尊敬 的 王 老师：
Honorable Teacher Wang:
2) "Zūnjìng de + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì:"
2） “尊敬 的+姓 +先生/女士：”
"Honorable + surname + Sir/ Madam:"
Zūnjìng de Lǐ nǚshì:
e.g. 尊敬 的 李女士：
Honorable Madam Li:
Case 4.
Biǎoshì fēicháng zhèngzhòng
表示 非常 郑重
Showing Very High Respect When Writing Names in Salutations
1) "Zūnjìng de + zhíwèi + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì + jìngqǐ:"
1）“尊敬的 +职位 +姓 +先生/女士 +敬启：”
Honorable + occupation title + surname + Sir/Madam + please open:
Zūnjìng de zhǔguǎn Zhōu xiānsheng jìngqǐ:
e.g. 尊敬 的 主管 周 先生 敬启：
Honorable Supervisor Mr. Zhou, please open:
2) "Zūnjìng de + zhíwèi + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì + zūnjiàn:"
2）“尊敬 的 +职位 +姓 +先生/女士 +尊鉴：”
Honorable + occupation title + surname + Sir/Madam + respectfully discerned:
Zūnjìng de kēzhǎng Mǎ xiānsheng zūnjiàn:
e.g. 尊敬 的 科长 马 先生 尊鉴：
Honorable Section Chief Mr. Ma, respectfully discerned:
3) "Zūnjìng de + zhíwèi + xìng + xiānsheng/nǚshì +yǎjiàn:"
3）“尊敬 的+职位 +姓 +先生/女士 +雅鉴：”
Honorable + occupation title + surname + Sir/Madam + elegantly discerned:
Zūnjìng de jīnglǐ Wáng nǚshìyǎjiàn:
e.g. 尊敬 的 经理 王 女士 雅鉴：
Honorable Manager Miss Wang, elegantly discerned:
生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary
被誉为 (bèi yùwéi) to be well-known as
敬启 (jìngqǐ) please open
尊鉴 (zūnjiàn) respectfully discerned
雅鉴 (yǎjiàn) elegantly discerned
Ref:http://resources.echineselearning.com/business/business-chinese-597.html
Chinese Fun Stuff: Which flowers do you like?
Key Learning Point (Preview):
花 (huā) n./v. flower/to spend (money)
Conversation:
Nǐ xǐhuan shénme huā?
Boy: 你 喜欢 什么 花?
Which flowers do you like?
Wǒ xǐhuan liǎng zhǒng huā.
Girl: 我 喜欢 两 种 花.
I like two kinds of flowers.
Nǎ liǎng zhǒng? Wǒ sòng gěi nǐ!
Boy: 哪 两 种? 我 送 给 你!
I’ll get them both for you!
Yǒu qián huā, suíbiàn huā!
Girl: 有 钱 花, 随 便 花!
I can spend money as I wish.
From the above conversation, you can see that the Chinese word “花 (huā)” has drastically different meanings. When used as a noun, it means flower. When used as a verb, it means to spend (money).
Key Learning Point:
花 (huā) n./v. flower/to spend (money)
Examples:
Lily xǐhuan gè zhǒng gè yàng de huā.
Lily 喜欢 各 种 各 样 的 花。
Lily likes all kinds of flowers.
Jiějie shì yíge hěn ài huāqián de rén.
姐姐 是 一个 很 爱 花钱 的 人。
My sister really likes spending money.
Tiān na, wǒ yìtiān jiù huā wán le zhège yuè de gōngzī.
天 哪，我 一天 就 花 完 了 这个 月 的 工资。
My God, I spent my entire month’s salary in one day.
Practice:
1. Which one of the following is not a meaning of “花 (huā)? ”
A. flower B. spend C. salary
Wǒ jīntiān ___le 200 kuài qián.
2. 我 今天___ 了200 块 钱。
I have spent 200 Yuan today.
A. 花 (huā) B. 丢 (diū) C. 挣 (zhèng)
Answers to the practice questions: 1. A 2.B
Ref:http://resources.echineselearning.com/funstuff/funstuff-chinese-63.html
Chinese Fun Stuff: Do you look “safe?”
Key Learning Point Preview：
安全 (ānquán) adj./n. safe/safety
Story: After spending the evening together, Lucy and Lily are saying goodbye and getting ready to go home.
Zhème wǎnle, wǒ yǒudiǎn hàipà!
Lucy：这么 晚了，我 有点 害怕！
I’m a bit scared to go outside so late.
Nǐ zhǎng de zhème ānquán! Méi shìr!
Lily： 你 长 得 这么 安全！ 没 事儿！
You look so safe. Don’t worry!
Key Learning Point：
安全(ānquán) adj./n. safe/safety
In Chinese, as in English, “safe” denotes an unthreatened situation — the opposite of being “in danger.” The word “safe” is used in a lot of word combinations. For examples: 人身安全 (rénshēn ānquán) personal safety, 处境安全 (chǔjìng ānquán)securely situated, and 安全距离 (ānquán jùlí) a safe distance. However, in daily communication, people also use the term “安全 (ānquán)“ to describe a person’s appearance. Saying that someone looks “safe” is another way of calling someone unattractive. Usually, it’s used as a joke or a way for people to laugh at themselves. Now, can you find the humor in what Lily says to Lucy?
For example:
Zhè niántóu, zhǎng de xiàng tā zhème ānquán de rén zhēn shì shǎo jiàn na!
这 年头， 长 得 像 他 这么 安全 的 人 真 是 少 见 哪！
Nowadays, it’s hard to find such a safe person (such an unattractive person)!
Practice:
Wǒ zhǎnɡ de zhème ānquán, búyònɡ dānxīn ānquán wèntí.
我 长 得 这么 安全， 不用 担心 安全 问题。
In this sentence, the first “安全” means ( ), the second “安全” means( ).
A. unattractive
B. safety
C. beautiful
D. danger
Answer: A, B
Ref: http://resources.echineselearning.com/funstuff/funstuff-chinese-67.html
Tourist Chinese:Lesson Four At the Free Market
In Beijing agricultural products markets offer a varied assortment, at reasonable and negotiable prices. Mike is going to buy some grapes here.
dì sì kè zài zì yóu shì chăng
第四课 在自由市场
Lesson Four At the Free Market
Nǚ hái: Xiān shēng, nín yào diănr shén me?
女孩： 先生，您要点儿什么？
Girl: What can I do for you, sir?
mài kè: Pú táo duō shăo qián yī jīn?
麦克： 葡萄多少钱一斤？
Mike: What’s the price of grapes per jin?
Nǚ hái: Yī kuài bā máo qián yī jīn.
女孩： 一块八毛钱一斤。
Girl: One yuan and eight mao per jin.
mài kè: Tài guì le, pián yi diănr xíng ma?
麦克： 太贵了，便宜点儿行吗？
Mike: That’s too expensive. Can you make it a bit cheaper?
Nǚ hái: Zuì duō yī jīn pián yi wŭ fēn.
女孩： 最多一斤便宜五分。
Girl: The most I could come down is five fen.
mài kè: Yī kuài liù máo qian yī jīn kĕ yĭ ma?
麦克： 一块六毛钱一斤可以吗？
Mike: How about one yuan and six mao per jin?
Nǚ hái: Duō măi kĕ yĭ.
女孩： 多买可以。
Girl: If you buy a lot, that’ll be okay.
mài kè: Nà me wŏ măi wŭ jīn ba.
麦克： 那么我买五斤吧。
Mike: Then I’ll buy five jin.
1. 自由市场 zì yóu shì chăng: free market
2. 斤 jīn: jīn (Chinese unit of weight)
3. 贵 guì: expensive
4. 便宜 pián yi: cheap
5. 最 zuì: most
6. 多 duō: a lot
7. 葡萄 pú táo: grape
8. 那么 nà me: then
Friday, September 7, 2012
Chinese Daily Figurative Slangs 1：Easily.
动不动
dòng bú dòng
Meaning: Easily.
This phrase means someone is easily inclined to do something.
他就是这么婆婆妈妈的，动不动就掉眼泪.
Ta jiushi zheme popobaba de, dong bu dong jiu diao yanlei.
He's such a sissy he easily breaks down and cries.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Chinese Literature: Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber 红楼梦
"The Story of the Stone" redirects here. For Barry Hughart's fantasy novel on ancient China, see The Story of the Stone (Barry Hughart). Dream of the Red Chamber, The Red Chamber Dreams or A Dream of Red Mansions (红楼梦Hónglóu mèng), also known as The Story of the Stone (石头记Shítóu jì) is one of the masterpieces of Chinese fiction and one of the Chinese Four Great Classical Novels. It was composed sometime in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is attributed to Cáo Xuěqín (Cao Zhan).
The novel is believed to be semi-autobiographical, mirroring the fortunes of Cao's own family. As the author details in the first chapter, it is intended to be a memorial to the women he knew in his youth: friends, relatives and servants.
The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters (most of them female) and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of the life and social structures typical of 18th-century Chinese aristocracy.
Plot summary
A scene from the story, painted by Xu Bao (born 1810).
Other scenes.The novel provides a detailed, episodic record of the two branches of the Jia Clan, the Ning-guo and Rong-guo Houses, who reside in two large adjacent family compounds in the capital. Their ancestors were made Dukes, and as the novel begins the two houses remain among the most illustrious families in the capital. The novel describes the Jias' wealth and influence in great naturalistic detail, and charts the Jias' fall from the height of their prestige, following some thirty main characters and over four hundred minor ones. Eventually the Jia Clan falls into disfavor with the Emperor, and their mansions are raided and confiscated.
The story's preface has supernatural Taoist and Buddhist overtones. A sentient Stone, abandoned by the Goddess Nüwa when she mended the heavens aeons ago, begs a Taoist priest and Buddhist monk to bring it to see the world, falls in love with a Crimson Pearl Flower, and then enters the mortal realm.
The main character, Jia Baoyu, is the adolescent heir of the family, possibly a reincarnation of the Stone (although in the most reliable Jiaxu manuscript the Stone and Jia Baoyu are separate while related). The Crimson Pearl Flower is incarnated now as Baoyu's sickly cousin, the emotional Lin Daiyu. Baoyu is predestined in this life to marry another cousin, Xue Baochai. This love triangle against the backdrop of the family's declining fortunes forms the most well-known plot line in the novel.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tourist Chinese:Lesson Three Taking a Taxi
dì sān kè zuò chū zū qì chē
第三课 坐出租汽车
Lesson Three Taking a Taxi
In Beijing one can reserve taxis or call them at doorways of any hotels, restaurants at any time. Different models of taxis charge different prices. In each taxi there must be an odometer.
麦克： 司机，去北京饭店吗？
Mike: Driver! To Beijing Hotel?
sī jī: qù, qĭng shàng chē.
司机： 去，请上车。
Driver: Yes. Get in, please.
mài kè: wŏ yŏu jí shì, nín kĕ yĭ kuài yī diănr ma?
麦克：
我有急事，您可以快一点儿吗？
Mike: I have something urgent. Could you drive a little faster?
sī jī: bié zhāo jí, yī dìng zhŭn shí găn dào.
司机： 别着急，一定准时赶到。
Driver: Don’t worry. We’ll get there on time.
mài kè: chē fèi zĕn me suàn?
麦克： 车费怎么算？
Mike: How do I pay for fare?
sī jī: yī gōng lĭ yī kuài èr.
司机： 一公里一块二。
Driver: One yuan and twenty fen per km.
mài kè: wŏ huái yào găn huí lái, nín néng bù néng dĕng yī huìr?
麦克： 我还要赶回来，您能不能等一会儿？
Mike: I’ll be back. Can you wait a moment?
sī jī: kĕ yĭ.
司机： 可以。
Driver: Of course.
mài kè: dĕng hòu fèi zĕn me suàn?
麦克： 等候费怎么算？
Mike: How is the waiting fee determined?
sī jī: wǔ fēn zhōng yī kuài èr.
司机： 五分钟一块二。
Driver: One yuan and twenty fen five minutes.
New Words
1． 出租汽车chū zū qì chē: taxi
2． 司机sī jī: driver
3． 去 qù: to go
4． 上车shàng chē: to get on
5． 急事 jí shì: something urgent
6． 一点儿 yī diănr: a little
7． 着急 zhāo jí: to worry
8． 一定 yī dìng: certainly
9． 准时zhŭn shí: on time
10. 车费 chē fèi: fare
11. 公里 gōng lĭ: kilometer
12. 回来 huí lái: to come back
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)