Archive for June, 2010
Honda Strikes and Social Discourse Posted by Stephen on Jun 13, 2010
The Honda automobile corporations, 本田 (Běn tián)，has made the headlines in Asian news as a rash of protests 抗议(kàng yì) have threatened to halt production in the mainland. The protesters, which have organized, and are bordering on unionizing, are fighting for an increase in basic wages, living stipends and more bargaining power against the majority…
Going to a Concert Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 13, 2010
The other day I attended a concert where the band 五月天 (wu3yue4tian1 – Mayday) was playing. They’re a group from 台湾 (tai2wan1 – Taiwan) who has been playing their form of 摇滚乐 (yao2gun3yue4 – rock music) for over a decade. They make it very clear that they draw a lot of inspiration from the 披头四 …
An Art Show Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 11, 2010
The other day I went to an art show in Hong Kong sponsored by 德意志银行 (de2yi4zhi4 yin2hang2 – Deutsche Bank), held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Works from 世界各地 (shi4jie4ge4di4 – all over the world) were on display. Some of the more recognizable works on display included the exaggerated smiling faces made…
China’s Labor Strikes Posted by Stephen on Jun 8, 2010
If you’ve been following the news of late, you’ve most likely heard rumblings about factory workers in China striking for better pay (most notably, at Foxconn). Someone asked me what these labor strikes mean for China, both domestically and globally. In terms of the effect on the rest of the world it will mean higher…
Talking about Income Inequality Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 8, 2010
The income gap in China is a topic of frequent discussion, and below are some relevant terms that can help you understand news reports as well as participate in discussions of your own. Numerous reports of the Foxconn employees leaving their 宿舍 (su4she4 – dormitories) to 跳楼 (tiao4lou2 – jump [from a] building) has raised…
NBA in China (美国篮球联赛) Posted by Stephen on Jun 7, 2010
Move over pingpong and say so long to soccer because China has turned into a nation obsessed with the sport of basketball. Flip through the CCTV channels and you’re almost sure to find a replay or live match of the NBA finals with Chinese announcers calling the game. Walk outside to various parks and sports…
Comparing Ideas or Actions Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 3, 2010
Earlier I discussed how to compare people, places, and things. What about comparing ideas? Take a look at the first example, which follows from the previous illustrations of how to make comparisons using 比 (bi3). Swimming’s more fun than dancing. 游泳比跳舞好玩 (you2yong3 bi3 tiao4wu3 hao3wan2 – lit. swimming [compare] dancing fun) To form a negative…