Lesson 018 Expressions of the Directions in Chinese
Yajie: Perfect Chinese your way, in only five minutes a day. Welcome to Chinese Studio. Glad to have you with us again. I’m Yajie. 早上好.
Cam: And I’m Cam. 早上好(zǎoshang hǎo). What shall we learn today?
Yajie: Well, today we’ll continue learning directions. First let’s check keywords of the day!
***************Key words of the day
Today we’ll learn four words of directions, and they are: 前面,后面, 左边 右边。All in today’s Chinese Studio.
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Yajie: First let’s take a look at “前面” qiánmian, front. 前, the second tone. It means front or ahead. 面, the neutral tone. We can say: 在前面 which means “in the front ” or “in front of”.
Cam: 在前面 (zài qiánmian).
Yajie: 在 means “at”. Let’s look at an example. “老师在前面”, The teacher is in front.
Cam: 老师在前面 (lǎoshī zài qiánmian)
Yajie: Sometimes we can say 在something 的前面。For example: 我在你的前面, I’m in front of you.
Cam: 我在你的前面 (wǒ zài nǐ de qiánmian).
Yajie: And the opposite of 前面is 后面 hòumian. We can say 在后面 which means at the back.
Cam: hòumian.
Yajie: We also say 在something 的后面。For example: 我在你的后面, I’m behind you.
C: 我在你的后面 (wǒ zài nǐ de hòumian.)
Yajie: We already have 前面and后面, now let’s see the other two words: 左边 and右边. They are quite easy.
Cam: 左边(zuǒbian), 右边(yòubian).
Yajie: 左边 means the left side, zuǒbian. 左, third tone. 边has the neutral tone. So it’s左边(zuǒbian).
Cam: 左边(zuǒbian).
Yajie: 右边 means the right side, yòubian. 右, the forth tone.
Cam: yòubian.
Yajie: We can also say: 在左边means on the left;
Cam: 在左边(zài zuǒbian).
Yajie: 在右边 means on the right.
Cam:在右边. (zài yòubian.) Yajie在我的左边 (zài wǒ de zuǒbian.), yajie is on my left side.
Yajie: Well done, Cam. I think you’ve made great progress in learning Chinese!
Cam: Xie xie.
***************Key words reminder
Today we’ve learned four words of directions, and they are: 前面, 后面, 左边, 右边. All in today’s Chinese Studio.
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Yajie: OK, Maybe it’s confusing for you to learn so many new words a day. Now let’s take a quick review of what we’ve learned today: 前面 the front, 后面the back,
Cam: 前面(qianmian), 后面 (houmian).
Yajie: 左边 left side, and 右边 right side。
Cam: 左边 (zuobian), and 右边 (youbian).
Yajie: And also 在前面,in the front. 在后面,at the back.
Cam: 在前面(zai qianmian),在后面(zai houmian).
Yajie: 在左边, on the left side; 在右边on the right side。
Cam: 在左边(zai zuobian),在右边(zai youbian)。
Yajie:我在你的右边 (wǒ zài nǐ de yòoubian.),
Cam: And你在我的左边 (nǐ zài wǒ de zuǒbian.), yajie is on my left side.
Yajie: Right! Well, that’s it for today. Don’t forget you can win a gift by answering the question of the day in Chinese: Where is Beihai Park? Is it somewhere behind the Forbidden City, or in front of the Forbidden City?
Cam: Just make a sentence in pinyin, or the Chinese alphabet! You can send us questions or comments to Chinese@crifm.com. That’s Chinese@crifm.com. Or you can visit us on our website at en.chinabroadcast.cn. Click learn Chinese, where you can enjoy other free Chinese-learning programs.
Yajie: Well, class is over. 再见!
Cam: 再见!
(Written by Zhao Pingping)
Poetry: Don't wait 不要等待
yǒuyì xiànɡ bēi jiǔ 友谊像杯酒 Don’t wait (don’t wait in Chinese means 不要等 búyàoděnɡ, liberal translation here ) bù yào
Da Ying 答应- Daily Mandarin Lesson
Meaning reply; promise Pronunciation Tone marks: ► dā yīng Tone numbers: da1 ying1 Chinese Characters Traditional:
声声中国语:不管三七二十一。 Regardless of the consequence.
不管三七二十一。(Bùguǎn sān qī èr shí yī.)Regardless of the consequence. Explanation “三七二十一”原来是一句乘法口诀,意思是3个七等于21。后来常用这句话表示不顾一切,不管结果怎样,一定要做某件事。 “三七二十一” is a multiplication table. It means three times
Write 丰(fēng)(great) in Chinese character
丰(fēng)Origin:Meaning:abundant; plentiful; great; fine-lookingWords:丰富( fēngfù): rich; abundant; plentiful
Chinese Idiom 南辕北辙
有个北方人想到楚国去。他在太行山脚下骑着马,准备沿着一条通向北方的大道奔驰。一个朋友觉得很奇怪,问他:“楚国是在南方,你应该向南方前进才对,你怎么沿着通向北方的大路前进呢?”
“没关系”,那个北方人固执的回答,“我的马是匹骏马,它跑得很快。”
他朋友说:“你的马无论跑多快,你向北方走总是到不了楚国的。”
那北方人说:“我已经准备了足够的旅费。”
他朋友说:“充分的旅费也无济于事。”
那北方人说:“我有个很健壮能干的马夫帮我。”
他朋友说:“如果你坚持向北方走,虽然有能干强壮的马夫,也是没用的。”
那北方人没有听他朋友的劝告,所以他也始终没有到达楚国。
选自《战国策》
Get in Fed in China – Western Food 头盘及沙拉 Appetizers and Salads
腌熏三文鱼 Smoked Salmon 凯撒沙拉 Caesar Salad 鲜蘑鸡肝 Chicken Liver Terrine with Morel 奶酪瓤蟹盖 Crab Shells Stuffed with Cheese 鲜果海鲜沙拉 Seafood
Words & Phrases 词汇与词组 – 城管 Chengguan
城管
Pinyin: chéng guǎn
Meaning:Chengguan (city management enforcement officers)
Sentence: 他曾经是个体育冠军,但现在只是城管队长。He once was a sports champion but now heads a team of chengguan.
Beautiful Verses in Chinese–Silent noon
Silent noon ——Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Chinese phrase translation: 草根 (cǎo gēn) grass roots
草根 (cǎo gēn) grass roots Usage: “草根”指的是群众的、基层的、基础的或者是来源于乡村的人或物,用来说平民化、大众化或者最底层的人或物。 “草根” describes people or things related to the broader public, local institutions or