Posted by Andrew
Hello readers!
Apologies for the brief posting gap- I’ve been running around the Pearl River Delta and closing out my apartment up north (more to follow on that). As a result of the national holiday, there were large celebrations throughout the 大陆 (mainland) including a large-scale 游行 (parade) in Beijing, a 假期 (vacation period) of 8 days, and when everybody 放假 (went on vacation) they went to 团圆 (reunite) with family to celebrate 中秋 (Mid-Autumn Festival) and eat 月饼 (moon cakes). As for me, I decided to go see how the National Day would be observed in China’s 特别行政区 (special administrative regions). The first part of the day, I was in Hong Kong, where I saw numerous 国旗 (national flags) and a banner saying 祝贺中华人民共和国 (congratulations/well wishing to the People’s Republic of China). When I got to Macau, I saw the world’s tallest 蹦极 (bungee) platform, and came to the conclusion that you wouldn’t be aware of the National Holiday in Macau unless somebody told you beforehand. However, there were a couple of those banners at the MGM Grand.
Words
大陆 da4lu4 - Mainland
游行 you2xing2 - parade
假期 jia4qi1 - vacation period
放假 fang4jia4- go on vacation
团圆 tuan2yuan2 - reunite (used with families)
中秋 zhong1qiu1 - mid-autumn festival (full name is 中秋节 zhong1qiu1jie2 with jie2 meaning holiday)
月饼 yue4bing3 - mooncakes
特别行政区 te4bie2xing2zheng4qu1 - Special Administrative Region(s)
国旗 guo2qi2 - national flag
蹦极 beng4ji2 - Bungee jumping
祝贺 zhu4he4 - wish
中华人民共和国 - zhong1hua2ren2min2gong4he2guo2 - People’s Republic of China
Posted by Andrew
I’m going to do it. Specifically, I am going to 搬家 (move) to the 珍珠三角洲 (Pearl River Delta) to the 经济特区 (Special Economic Zone) city of 深圳 (Shenzhen)- a city where you can get from the Mainland to Hong Kong by 铁路 (railroad), foot, boat, or helicopter, leaving your passport cluttered with 入境章 (entry stamps). Shenzhen is unique in that it is made up largely of 外地人 (out-of-towners), and it was also the first place to test the ideas of 股市 (stock market) and 彩票 (lottery) before they expanded to other parts of China. Owing to its proximity to Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a very 开放 (open) city, and I hope the move goes smoothly!
搬家 ban1jia1 - move/relocate
珍珠三角洲 zhen1zhu1san1jiao3zhou1 - Pearl River Delta
经济特区 jing1ji4te4qu1- Special Economic Zone
深圳 shen1zhen4 - Shenzhen
铁路 tie3lu4 - railroad
入境章 ru4jing4zhang1 - entry stamp (of a passport)
外地人 wai4di4ren2 - people from outside a particular area, outsiders/out-of-towners
股市 gu3shi4 - stock market
彩票 cai3piao4 - lottery
开放 kai1fang - open
Posted by Andrew
As nearly everybody in the world knows, the other day a famous 歌星 (music star) 逝世 (passed away). Yes, it was 迈克尔 杰克逊 (Michael Jackson), the creator of the record-holding best-selling 唱片 (album) in history. Nobody expected for him to 去世 (pass on) at such an early age. Thousands of 歌迷 (fans) lined up all around the world to mourn him. News from 伊朗 (Iran) was moved to the side on all major media portals. There will never be another person who could make the 灵异 (supernatural) as mainstream as he did, nor will there ever be a dance quite like the 太空舞步 (moonwalk) again.
歌星 ge1xing1 - music star
逝世 shi4shi4 - pass away
迈克尔 mai4ke4er3 - Michael
杰克逊 jie2ke4xun4 - Jackson
唱片 chang4pian1 - album (of music)
去世 qu4shi4 - pass on (more colloquial than shi4shi4)
歌迷 ge1mi2 - music fans
伊朗 yi1lang2 - Iran
灵异 ling3yi4 - supernatural
太空舞步 tai4kong1wu3bu4 - translated, it’s something like “space dancestep”
Posted by Andrew
Hello readers!
So these days it’s pretty hot in Beijing, reaching 40 摄氏度 (degrees Celsius), that’s 104F for people who use 华氏度 (degrees Fahrenheit). I have tried to use my 空调 (air conditioner) but to no avail, leaving me somewhat 郁闷 (melancholy). Also, in Beijing, the 空气 (air) owing in part to 污染 (pollution), can be a little bit 浓 (thick). Concerned urban residents have little choice but to 出汗 (sweat) and pity those who 怕热 (are afraid of heat).
摄氏度 she4shi4du4 - Celsius degrees
华氏度 hua2shi4du4 - Fahrenheit degrees
空调 kong1tiao2 - air conditioner
郁闷 yu4men4 - melancholy
空气 kong1qi4 - air
污染 wu1ran3 - pollution
浓 nong2 - thick
出汗 chu1han4 - sweat
怕热 pa4re4 - be afraid/averse of/to heat
Posted by Andrew
Yesterday I wen to a huge 音乐会 (concert) where the only music was 电子音乐 (electronic music). It was held at a 广场 (plaza) in the 798 area, a place known for its new-age 艺术 (art). Notably during the festival, there were very few 垃圾桶 (trash cans) near the areas where people were 跳舞 (dancing), leaving cups strewn all over the place. Some people tried to jump up on stage, but a group of 保安 (guards) rushed over to move them away. The afterparty was canceled owing to 考虑 (considerations) about security. It’s not like this is the first time that Beijing has hosted an event with a large 观众 (audience). Oh well, 下次吧. (next time)
音乐会 yin1yue4hui - concert
电子音乐 dian4zi3yin1yue4 - electronic music
广场 guang3(2)chang3 - plaza, public square
艺术 yi4shu4 - art
垃圾桶 la1ji1tong3 - trash can
跳舞 tiao4wu3 - dance
保安 bao3an1 - guard(s)
考虑 kao3lv4 - consider/concern
观众 guan1zhong4 - audience
下次吧 xia4ci4ba - next time
