Tag Archives: Chinese Language
A Real NFL Game Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 15, 2009
The other day I attended a live 橄榄球 (American football) game with family and a friend. As we approached the 运动场 (stadium) sponsored by a company which manufactures 剃须刀 (razors), we observed large numbers of 球迷 (sports fans) preparing their 烧烤 (barbecues). The idea of eating meat before watching a gladiatorial match made me wonder…
Words I Never Thought I’d Understand the First Time I Heard Them Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 13, 2009
Below is a list of words that I never thought I’d end up hearing or speaking. 摩丝码 – (mo2si1ma3) – morse code. I would not have understood this word if it were not for the context. Understanding 码 as “code” when it is connected to other words can be very helpful. If someone has a…
H1N1 Vaccine Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 9, 2009
Hi All, Since returning to my hometown in Massachusetts, I have encountered some situations that would be very unlikely to occur in China. The other day I went to get the H1N1 疫苗 (vaccine) in order to 预防 (prevent) the spread of the virus. The vaccine was being distributed for free as part of a…
A Big Surprise Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 6, 2009
I had a plan when I was returning from Shenzhen to Boston. I didn’t tell anyone of my plan prior to doing it, but I planned to stand at my house’s 门口 (entrance) and 按 (press/[ring]) the 门铃 (doorbell), as this would 肯定 (definitely) be a great 惊喜 (surprise). Previously I had arranged for my…
Adventures in Shantou cont’d Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 1, 2009
After enjoying some fine 点心 (dim sum) in the morning, I went to a remote island near Shantou. There I contemplated several things while watching a 蚂蚁 (ant) under an 影子 (shadow) cast by a tree. I also saw some chickens whose legs were bound by plastic strings where the owner had 打结 (tied knots)…
The Past Weekend Posted by Transparent Language on Nov 29, 2009
Last weekend I was on my way in a bus to 汕头 (shantou) when a 交通事故 (traffic accident) on the road slowed the bus and all other traffic to a near-standstill for roughly 1.5 hours. I wasn’t too concerned though, as I was learning about the production of denim jeans and the annoyances of 超标…
Phrasings between the north and south Posted by Transparent Language on Nov 25, 2009
Between northern and southern China, there are many linguistic differences. Differing dialects aside, there are also general lexical differences- similar to the “soda” and “pop” phenomenon in the US. If someone says they’ll give you something 晚一点 (a bit later) in the north, they’d say 迟一点 (a bit later) in the south. What people down…