Dialogue – Stroll around a temple fair

dì liù shí èr kè guàng miào huì
第六十二课 逛庙会  
Lesson Sixty-two Stroll around a temple fair

The temple fair is a popular social activity in China. It originated in ancient times when people worshipped gods and prayed for blessings. It gradually evolved into a marketplace for people to exchange products and a place for cultural performances. Traditional shows are a colorful part of temple fairs, including crosstalk, opera performances, kung fu shows and lion dances. This old tradition is still preserved today, and it is also a great time for people to have fun!

lì li: chūn jié qī jiān nǐ qù guàng miào huì le ma?
丽丽：春节期间你去逛庙会了吗？
Lili: Did you stroll around any temple fairs during the Spring Festival?

mài kè: qù le. wǒ dà nián chū yī qù guàng le dì tán miào huì.
麦克：去了。我大年初一去逛了地坛庙会。
Mike: Yes, I did. I went to Ditan Temple Fair on the first day of the lunar year.

lì li: wǒ yě qù le. běi jīng de miào huì zhēn shì rè nao jí le.
丽丽：我也去了。北京的庙会真是热闹极了。
Lili: I did, too. The temple fair in Beijing is so lively.

mài kè: yǒu hěn duō biǎo yǎn, rú zá jì, xiàng sheng, jīng jù, wǔ shī zi děng děng.
麦克：有很多表演，如杂技、相声、京剧、舞狮子等等。
Mike: There were many performances, like acrobatics, crosstalk, Peking Opera and a lion dance.

lì li: nǐ méi yǒu pǐn cháng yí xià miào huì shàng de fēng wèir xiǎo chī ma?
丽丽：你没有品尝一下庙会上的风味小吃吗？
Lili: Did you have a taste of the local delicacies that are featured in a temple fair?

mài kè: pǐn cháng le. wǒ chī le táng hú lu, zhá niáo gāo, jiǎo zi, xiǎo lóng bāo deng deng.
麦克：品尝了。我吃了糖葫芦、炸年糕、饺子、小笼包等等。
Mike: Yes, I did. I had sugar-coated haws on a stick, fried glutinous rice flour cakes, dumplings and small steamed stuffed buns.

lì li: yí dìng chī de hěn bǎo! nǐ yīng gāi zài hē diǎnr tāng.
丽丽：一定吃得很饱！你应该再喝点儿汤。
Lili: You must be very full! You should have tried some soups, too.

mài kè: dāng rán le! wǒ hái pǐn cháng le dòu jiāng hé dòu fu nǎor.
麦克：当然了！我还品尝了豆浆和豆腐脑儿。
Mike: Of course! I also had soya-bean milk and jellied bean curd.

lì li: miào huì shàng hái jiāo shòu mín jiān shǒu yì ne, nǐ méi xué yī shǒu ma?
丽丽：庙会上还教授民间手艺呢，你没学一手吗？
Lili: There were local crafts teaching in the fair. Did you learn any?

mài kè: xué le. yí wèi shī fu jiāo wǒ rú hé niē ní rénr.
麦克：学了。一位师傅教我如何捏泥人儿。
Mike: Yes, I did. A master taught me how to mold clay figurines.

lì li: bú cuò ma. kàn lái nǐ de shōu huò bù xiǎo a!
丽丽：不错嘛。看来你的收获不小啊。
Lili: Not bad. It seems you made a fruitful trip.

mài kè: shì de. wǒ hái mǎi le yì xiē xiǎo jì niàn pǐn.
麦克：是的。我还买了一些小纪念品。
Mike: Yes. I also bought some small souvenirs.

New Words
生词

逛庙会 guàng miào huì: stroll around a temple fair
热闹 rè nao: bustling, lively
表演 biǎo yǎn: performance
杂技 zá jì: acrobatics
相声 xiàng sheng: crosstalk
品尝 pǐn cháng: taste, try (food)
风味小吃 fēng wèir xiǎo chī: local delicacy
糖葫芦 táng hú lu: sugar-coated haws on a stick
年糕 niáo gāo: glutinous rice flour cakes
小笼包 xiǎo lóng bāo: small steamed stuffed buns
豆浆 dòu jiāng: soya-bean milk
豆腐脑儿 dòu fu nǎor: jellied bean curd
教授 jiāo shòu: teach
民间手艺 mín jiān shǒu yì: local crafts
师傅 shī fu: master who gives instruction in any trade, business or art
捏泥人 niē ní rénr: mold clay figurines
收获 shōu huò: gains, results, fruitful
纪念品 jì niàn pǐn: souvenir