Dialogue – Traditional costumes are very popular

Dì wŭ shí sān kè	chuán tǒng fú zhuāng hěn zǒu qiào
第五十三课	传统服装很走俏
Lesson Fifty-three	Traditional costumes are very popular

Background:
Costumes have maintained an important place in Chinese culture for more than three thousand years. Moreover, Chinese costumes are magnificent and colorful. Many dynasties throughout China’s history each had its own unique style of costumes, with styles changing or disappearing as the dynasty changed, declined, or was replaced.

Mài kè:	Nǐ jīn tiān zhè jiàn wài tào hěn piào liang, hěn shì hé nǐ.
麦克：	你今天这件外套很漂亮，很适合你。
Mike:	The overcoat you are wearing today looks very nice. It suits you very much.
Lì li:	Xiè xie. Wǒ Zhè shēn dǎ ban kàn shàng qù hěn xiū xián, shì ma?
丽丽：	谢谢。我这身打扮看上去很休闲，是吗？
Lili:	Thanks. The way I dress today looks very casual, eh?
Mài kè:	Shì de. Wǒ hěn xǐ huān xiū xián zhuāng.
麦克：	是的。我很喜欢休闲装。
Mike:	Indeed. I like casual clothing very much.
Lì li:	Wǒ jué de nǐ chuān xī zhuāng kàn shàng qù yě hěn shuài.
丽丽：	我觉得你穿西装看上去也很帅。
Lili:	I think you look very smart too when you wear a suit and tie (Western clothing).
Mài kè:	Wǒ yī bān bù zěn me chuān xī zhuāng, chú le cān jiā zhòng yào huó dòng.
麦克：	我一般不怎么穿西装，除了参加重要活动。
Mike:	I seldom wear formal dress (Western clothes), only when I participate in important activities.
Lì li:	Wǒ yǒu hěn duō wǎn lǐ fú, dàn chuān de jī huì yě bú shì hěn duō.
丽丽：	我有很多晚礼服，但穿的机会也不是很多。
Lili:	I have many formal evening gowns, but I have few chances to wear them too.
Mài kè:	Nǐ yǒu qí páo ma? Wǒ jué de qí páo hěn yǒu zhōng guó tè sè.
麦克：	你有旗袍吗？我觉得旗袍很有中国特色。
Mike:	Do you have a cheongsam? I think the cheongsam is very characteristically Chinese.
Lì li:	Yǒu a. Xiàn zài zhōng guó chuán tǒng fú zhuāng fēi cháng zǒu qiào.
丽丽：	有啊。现在中国传统服装非常走俏。
Lili:	Yes, I have. Traditional Chinese clothes are very popular nowadays.
Mai kè:	Shuō de duì. Wǒ zhèng dǎ suàn gěi zì jǐ mǎi yí jiàn táng zhuāng ne.
麦克：	说得对。我正打算给自己买一件唐装呢。
Mike:	You are right. I am going to buy a Chinese costume for myself.
Lì li:	Hǎo a. Nǐ kě yǐ shùn biàn zài mǎi yí jiàn mǎ guà.
丽丽：	好啊，你可以顺便再买一件马褂。
Lili:	Good. You could buy a mandarin jacket by the way.
Mài kè:	Tài yǒu yì si le. Nǐ néng péi wǒ yì qǐ qù mǎi ma?
麦克：	太有意思了，你能陪我一起去买吗？
Mike:	That’s interesting. Could you go with me to buy it?
Lì li:	Méi wèn tí. Zhè gè zhōu mò wǒ men yì qǐ qù guàng xiù shuǐ jiē ba.
丽丽：	没问题。这个周末我们一起去逛秀水街吧。
Lili:	No problem. Let’s go shopping along Xiushui Street this weekend.

传统 chuán tǒng: tradition	服装 fú zhuāng: costume, clothing
外套 wài tào: coat; overcoast	适合 shì hé : suit; suitalbe
打扮 dǎ ban:the way someone dresses; dress	休闲装 xiū xián zhuāng : leisure clothing
西装 xī zhuāng: Western-style clothes	晚礼服 wǎn lǐ fú : full evening dress
机会 jī huì: chance; opportunity	旗袍 qí páo:cheongsam
唐装 táng zhuāng:Chinese costume	顺便 shùn biàn:by the way
马褂 mǎ gu:mandarin jacket	秀水街 xiù shuǐ jiē:Xiushui Street