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Episode 35
June 08, 2009 01:28 AM PDT

Click the DOWNLOAD.This is a sample of Basic Chinese for visiting Beijing I made months ago. It is in an interactive Flash format that can led you follow a sentence word by word.

You can open a Flash file(.swf) with
1. Adobe Flash Payer http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP
2. IE or other browsers: Right-click the SWF file, click "Open with", then choose IE or other browser you use in your computer to open the SWF file. If your computer safety level settings are higher, the computer may ask you if the file is allowed to run, it would work after you choose ALLOW.(At least my computer works in this way.)
3. Other ways: Of course, you can use other software like SWF opener http://www.browsertools.net/SWF-Opener/. A friend told me that Flash file can even be opened in Windows Media Player. But it doesn't work in my computer. So I do not guarantee it can work in your computer in this way.

A Rhyme---AI
April 08, 2008 10:22 PM PDT

Hi, I hope you all, old and new friends, are well. Recently I have written some little Chinese rhymes (or doggerels). Firstly, I think they are for kids. But maybe you like them too after learning a lot of solemn Chinese lessons. This time I would like a real language exchange. I paste the text here. If you like it and send me the correction of my translation, I will send you the audio file of it. Please send to kittykittygo@gmail.com or ellenschinese@podOmatic.com

ai āi ái ǎi ài

Written by Ellen Ba
(The character is a calf. )

奶牛妈妈她不在,
奶牛爸爸没回来。
不要问我乖不乖,
不要看着我发呆。
站在房顶下不来,
牛奶牛奶我不卖。

奶牛(nǎiniú)妈妈(māmā)她(tā)不在(bùzài),

奶牛(nǎiniú)爸爸(bàba)没(méi)回来(huílái)。

不要(búyào)问(wèn)我(wǒ)乖不乖(guāibùguāi),

不要(búyào)看(kàn)着(zhe)我(wǒ)发呆(fādāi)。

站(zhàn)在(zài)房顶(fángdǐng)下不来(xiàbulái),

牛奶(niúnǎi)牛奶(niúnǎi)我(wǒ)不(bù)卖(mài)。

English Translation:

Mother cow is out.
Father ox has not come back.
Don't ask me if I am well-behaved or not.
And don't look at me agapely.
Standing on the roof, I have no way to get down.
So I won't sell the milk.

祝大家圣诞节快乐/ Merry Christmas to all of You
December 24, 2007 01:19 AM PST

http://img.ku6.com/common/V2.0.1.swf?vid=81naozaYIq5RdQ85

Periscope on Beijing Opera(Jing1 Ju4), Hong Niang (Red Girl)
December 02, 2007 08:52 AM PST

Click the following to watch the video:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/NdWNmf6Lyjw/

Here is the text part:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d4dxh9f_17cbwjb9

When I was very young, I was taken to a theater to see Beijing Opera once by my parents. What I can remember is that I played at the resting hall most of the time. How could a child bear they sang a word in two minutes with a strange noise. Untill last year I gathered up courage to see a performance of Kum Qu which is a similar kind of Beijing Opera. The lyrics and subtitles projected onto a side-screen. At least, in this way I could understand what they were singing and followed the story.

Since the Beijing Opera is getting well-known, I would like to choose a short video show as my podcast material. But this one has little part for singing. If you like to see more Beijing Opera, maybe this is another choice : http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cz00XNTg0NzE0NA==.html

I have to say, I begin to like listening to an actress of Beijing Opera, Zhang Huoding. Her voice is really special. Here is her show http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/xWPFf7ZW330/ and http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cz00XODY2MTg3Ng==.html
For man's voice, many Chinese people like this actor http://www.56.com/u43/v_MjI5NDEyODA.html

阿豪今天十岁了 Ahao is ten today
November 26, 2007 07:13 AM PST

Hi, sorry for one day late to post the text part. Here it is: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d4dxh9f_14gsztp4

Utmost Chinese, 施(shī) 氏(shì) 食(shí) 狮(shī) 史(shǐ)---Level C
October 28, 2007 09:10 AM PDT

This short story was written by Zhao Yuan Ren (1892-1982) in the style of Classical Chinese. All the characters of it are pronounced shi, but in different tones. Even our Chinese can not understand it when just listening to it.

Please click the link below for the words and explanations
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d4dxh9f_11dd84p4

笼子里的松鼠 The Squirrels in the Cage---Level B
October 21, 2007 08:07 AM PDT

Please click here to see the literal part and explanations. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d4dxh9f_9gnpmjm

' 环境问题 Environmental Problem', Level A
October 07, 2007 08:17 AM PDT

' huánjìngwèntí '

ā háo: wǒ xiǎng ràng zhū lín dào zánmen jiā lái yī tāng , kěyǐ ma?
māma: bùxíng!
ā háo: wèishénme yā?
māma: tā de jiǎo tài chòule , shàngcì tā dào zánmen jiā lái , zǒule zhīhòu , chòuwèir hǎojǐ ge xiǎoshí dōu sǎn bù qù。 zhēn qíguài le , zhème xiǎo de háizi , jiǎo zěnme zhème chòu ā!
ā háo: wǒ ràng tā chuānzhe xié jìnlái , bù tuō xié。
māma: nā jiù gēngbù xíngle! nǐ kàn , wǒ xīnkǔ le bàntiān , gāng bǎ dì cā gānjìng le。
ā háo: māma , qiúqiú nǐ le , wǒ yǒu yī guān yóuxì dǎ bùtōng , wǒ xiǎng qǐng tā lái bāng wǒ dǎtōngle。
māma: nà yě bùxíng! shéi lái dōu kěyǐ , zhǐyǒu tā bù kěyǐ。 tā de jiǎo tài wūrǎn huánjìng le , nǐ yào zhīdào , zài dāngjīn shèhuì , huánjìngwèntí shì fēicháng zhòngyào de wèntí , shì bùnéng tuǒxié de。
ā háo: māma , nǐ kě zhēnshìde!


' 环境(huánjìng)environment(al) 问题(wèntí)problem'

阿(ā)豪(háo):我想(wǒ)(xiǎng)I am going to 让(ràng) let朱(zhū)林(lín) 到(dào)to 咱们(zánmen) our家(jiā) home来(lái) come一趟(yītàng)once,可以(kěyǐ)ok吗(ma)?
妈妈(māmā):不行(bùxíng)no!
阿(ā)豪(háo):为什么(wèishénme)why呀(ya)?
妈妈(māmā):他的(tā)(de)his 脚(jiǎo) feet/foot太(tài) too/so臭(chòu) smelly了(le),上次(shàngcì)last time 他(tā)到(dào)咱们(zánmen)家(jiā)来(lái),走了(zǒu)(le) went之后(zhīhòu)after/later,臭味儿(chòuwèier) smelly smell好几个(hǎojǐ gè) several/many小时(xiǎoshí) hour都(dōu)here means even散(sàn)fade/disperse不去(bù)(qù)not away。真(zhēn)really/so奇怪(qíguài)strange了(le),这么(zhème)so/such小(xiǎo)的(de) 孩子(háizi)kid,脚(jiǎo) 怎么(zěnme) how/why这么(zhème)so臭(chòu)smelly啊(ā)!
阿(ā)豪(háo):我(wǒ)I/me让(ràng)let/want他(tā) him穿着(chuānzhe)wearing 鞋(xié) shoes进来(jìnlái)come in,不(bù) not脱鞋(tuōxié)take off shoes。
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)that就(jiù) just/then/would更(gèng) more/much不行了(bùxíngle)no way!你(nǐ)you看(kàn)look,我(wǒ) 辛苦(xīnkǔ) word hard了(le) 半天(bàntiān)quite a while,刚(gāng) just把(bǎ) it is used to put the object nouns ahead of the verb地(dì) ground/floor擦(cā) to clean干净(gānjìng) clean/neat了(le)。
阿(ā)豪(háo):妈妈(māmā),求求(qiúqiú)entreat你(nǐ)了(le),我(wǒ)有(yǒu)have一(yī)one关(guān)here means the level of a game, a pass/an entry 游戏(yóuxì) game打(dǎ)play不通(bùtōng)not pass,我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)请(qǐng)invite他(tā)来(lái)come 帮(bāng)help我(wǒ) 打通(dǎtōng)play to pass了(le)。
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)也(yě)also/still不行(bùxíng)!谁(shuí)who来(lái)come都(dōu)all可以(kěyǐ)ok,只有(zhǐyǒu)only 他(tā)不(bù)可以(kěyǐ)。他(tā)的(de)脚(jiǎo) 太(tài) 污染(wūrǎn) pollute环境(huánjìng)environment了(le),你(nǐ)要(yào)should知道(zhīdào)know,在(zài) in当今nowaday(dāngjīn) 社会(shèhuì)society,环境(huánjìng) 问题(wèntí) problem是(shì) be非常(fēicháng) very重要的(zhòngyào)(de) important问题(wèntí),是(shì) 不能(bùnéng) can not妥协(tuǒ)(xié)compromise/give in的(de)。
阿(ā)豪(háo):妈(mā)妈(mā),你(nǐ) 可(kě) truely/really真是的(zhēn)(shì)(de)a discontented expression to somebody!

English Translation

'An Environmental Problem'

Ahao: I am going to let (invite) Zhu Lin come to our home, Can I?
Mama: No, you can't.
Ahao: Why?
Mama: His feet are too smelly. Last time he came to our home. The stink could not disappear even hours later after he went out. It is strange. He is only a child. How could his feet be so smelly!
Ahao: I will tell him come in with his shoes on, not take the shoes off.
Mama: That will never do! Look, I have just cleaned the floor after working hard for quite a while.
Ahao: Mama, please, please. I can not pass through a level of (computer) game. I want him to come to help me play it through.
Mama: Still no. Every one may come, only he is not allowed. His feet pollute the 'environment' too much. You should know, in nowaday society, environmental problems are very important problems. We shouldn't make any concession.
Ahao: It truly is? Mom?

Introduction of Song Ci
October 01, 2007 01:00 AM PDT

It is very difficult for me to translate this essay. It took me a whole week. But I would like to do it for I believe many of you may be interested in our Chinese culture and Literature. There must be many improper usage in my translation. Please correct at least one of them if you like to read it and this will encourage me to do more.

The Chinese writer of this essay is the famous writer and philosopher in China, Zhou Guoping. It was written for a reciting performance of Tang and Song poetry. Because the author declares that the excerpting is not permitted, I do not paste it here. If you want to read the original characters (You must be a Chinese expert), please click http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_471d6f6801000ak8.html

Chord Songs of Song Dynasty

Prelude: Art Entertainment

Tonight, let's sail backward along the time river and disembark on the beach of Yangtze River a thousand years ago. The view that is opening up before us is a celebrated dynasty in our history. It was extremely glorious and extremely humiliated. It left us endless memory and endless sigh.

Song Dynasty lasted over three hundreds years. It had an united and prosperous first part, however, in the last part it forfeited the sovereignty and impotently settled for new capital in other place. It had too much mirth and too much tear. However, the mirth and the tear together produced a magic flower in Chinese culture, Song Ci.

Now we comes to the capital of Northern Song Dynasty, Bianjing, now called Kaifeng where you might not imagine its luxury at that time. On the extensive streets galloped fine vehicles and horses, People and visitors roamed on the busy roads. Look around, everywhere was engraved house, drawn pavilions, ornamented doors and red curtains. Along the the deep streets and lane lined side by side the song houses that the number was over ten thousands. The most unusual thing was that when all the whorehouses, song houses, tea-houses and pubs in the city were full of orchestral string and flute music. What a luxuriant scene. No matter you were an ordinary citizen or a dignitary, you could go there. No dynasties could overtake Song Dynasty that supplied the scholar-bureaucrat munificent life. So they led easy lives. Feast and drinking prevailed. Geishas played an important role Whatever in public entertaining places or private feats. Chord songs were a necessary program. Their melodies were ready-composed and literators and poets wrote lyrics enthusiastically. Once an excellent lyric come out, the song would soon be sung all over the country.

Today you may not believe it that China once was a world of popular music for seven hundred years during the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties. The vivid and fast Indian styled music, which was from the Central Asia and Turkestan, once became a rage all over the China and overwhelmed (captivated) both the court and public. So the Chinese ancient music with slow tempo and monotone was left out in the cold and only used in sacrifice rites. In two dynasties, Tang and Song, the Courts set up training houses which were actually the court orchestra and national music college, for rehearsing, educating and composing popular music. There was a 大晟府(literally means big bright prefecture) in Song Dynasty. if it was translated into modern Chinese, it would be called national music administration which exerted as national music press to compile and publish prevalent song scores. At such zealous atmosphere, the writing of Ci became the most fashionable thing and the art of Ci reached the peak in history. Song Ci is regarded as literary treasure of Chinese that can be on a par with Tang Poetry and Yuan songs.

Writers of Ci were literators and scholars, while singers were mostly pubescent girls. This produced subtle connections between them. There is no other types of literature that was deeply influenced by female. For example, in one of Song Ci, "Her eyebrows are like the moon/smiles with /her two dimples are on her smile face/ She sings a song lowly." Of cause the Ci that was song by a beauty by the flowers under the trees should be affectionate. So for a long time, the topics of Ci were mainly about sentimentality for season changing, feelings of parting and love stories, with main style delicate, graceful and restrained. Ci and Shi (poem) began to take different and unwritten roles. Shi conveyed will while Ci conveyed feeling. Shi needed to be solemn but Ci pursued charm. It seemed that all the feelings about love between male and female and about the unheroic loving thought which could not be written into poems (Shi), however, could be thoroughly expressed in Ci. Ci was dedicated to transmit euphemistic and touching feelings and to describe deep and refined emotion. It developed such subtle aesthetic taste into superlative. In the ancient China that characters were generally used to bear and spread thoughts and theories, Song Ci may be the unique literature of aestheticism. No styles of literature can match up to Song Ci on esthetic sense in word, artistic conception and music.

Of course, graceful and restrained was not the only style of Song Ci. Su Shi was the first man who blew a strong, bold and unrestrained wind to Ci. Then Shin Qiji did the same. The boundary between the Shi and Ci was broken up by their influence. The topic scope of Ci enlarged. Ci developed into a new poetry style that could express both feeling and will. After the Accident of Jingkang ( in 1126, Song was invaded by the northern country Jin. One of the royal members escaped into southern China and set up Southern Song Dynasty), the poets in Southern Song imposed sad for land separation into the grace and restraint and mixed grief for undone ambitions into the unrestraint in Ci.

Song Ci is the product of music and the lyrics of popular songs. It is a pity that the song scores have been lost. With Song Ci's passing on along the history, it has separated from music for a long time and been appreciated as literature. Tonight Let us inquire after the Song poets with the music by today's musician, and the songs and recitals by today's performers. We will present our admiration to those litterateurs a thousand years ago who were expert in melodies and poetry formats.

但愿人长久,千里共婵娟
September 24, 2007 10:33 AM PDT

Ancient Chinese Peotry is the most highlight of Chinese literature. Among the countless poems, they are mainly classified as Shi and Ci. Shi follows rhymes while Ci follows different formats.

I more like Ci for its elegant cadences and rich feelings.

At the day of Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival), I’d like to introduce a Ci written at a night of full moon (1076) by a poet of Song Dynasty of China, Su Shi (1037-1101)

水调歌头
苏轼

  明月几时有?把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙,今夕是何年? 我欲乘风归去,惟恐琼楼玉宇,高处不胜寒.起舞弄清影, 何似在人间?
  转朱阁,低绮户,照无眠。不应有恨, 何事长向别时圆?人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺, 此事古难全。但愿人长久,千里共蝉娟。

水调歌头 (Ci Fornmat) --苏轼(Su Shi)
明月几时有,把酒问青天。
When is there bright moon? I ask the sky, with a cup of wine in my hand.
不知天上宫阙,今夕是何年?
I wonder what day tonight would be in the heaven palace.
我欲乘风归去, 又恐琼楼玉宇,高处不胜寒,
I'd like to go there by the wind. Yet I fear the coldness so high up in the crystal and jade-like palace.
起舞弄清影,何似在人间?
I dance and play with my moon-lit shadow here, How can it come up with our human world?
  
转朱阁,低绮户,照无眠。
The moonlight rounds the red pavilions, Stoops into fine doors and windows, Then shines upon the sleepless people.
不应有恨,何事长向别时圆。
Bearing no grudge, Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?
人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺,此事古难全。
People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart,
  The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane,
  No one can change it since the beginning of time.
但愿人长久,千里共婵娟*。
May we all be blessed with longevity and lasting friendship and love. Though far apart (a thousand miles away), we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

*婵娟 means beauty of women, Here specially means the girl who lives on the moon in Chinese myth story. Finally it represents the moon.
 
A song that its lyric is this peice of Ci
http://www.yb815.net/music/yb.MP3

贝多芬的学生 Beethoven's student, Level A
July 14, 2007 09:24 AM PDT

bèiduōfēn de xuésheng

māma: ā háo , jīntiān gāngqín xué dé zěnmeyàng?
ā háo: yǒu yījiàn shì ràng wǒ tèbié gāoxìng。
māma: shénme shì yā?
ā háo: gǒng lǎoshī shuō tā de lǎoshī de lǎoshī de lǎoshī de lǎoshī shì bèiduōfēn。
māma: nàjiùshìshuō , gǒng lǎoshī shì bèiduōfēn de dì wǔ dài xuésheng le。
ā háo: wǒ yě shì bèiduōfēn de xuésheng!
māma: wā , zhēnde yā! nǐ yīdìng hěn zìháo lóu! nà nǐ háishì hǎidùn de xuésheng ne!
ā háo: zhēn méixiǎngdào , wǒ jìngrán néng hé bèiduōfēn yǒuguānxì!
māma: nà nǐ liàn qín de shíhou , yīdìng yào rènzhēn ō!
ā háo: nà dāngrán le。
māma: wúlùn nǐ jiānglái gàn shénme , tā de zài tiān zhī líng yě huì wèi nǐ gǎndào zìháo de。

贝多芬(bèiduōfēn)的(de) 学生(xuéshēng)(student)

妈妈(māmā):阿豪(āháo),今天(jīntiān)(today) 钢琴(gāngqín)(piano) 学(xué)得(dé)(学/learn/study, verb+得+ complement*) 怎么样(zěnmeyàng)?
阿豪(āháo):有(yǒu)一(yī) 件(jiàn)(measure word) 事(shì) (thing)让(ràng) (let, make)我(wǒ) 特别(tèbié)(specially) 高兴(gāoxìng)(happy, glad)。
妈妈(māmā):什么(shénme)事(shì)呀(ya)?
阿豪(āháo):巩(gǒng) 老师(lǎoshī)(teacher) 说(shuō)他(tā)的(de)老师(lǎoshī)的(de)老师(lǎoshī)的(de)老师(lǎoshī)的(de)老师(lǎoshī)是(shì)贝多芬(bèiduōfēn)。
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)就是说(jiùshìshuō)(that means),巩老师(gǒnglǎoshī)是(shì)贝多芬(bèiduōfēn)的(de) 第五代(dìwǔdài)(the fifth generation) 学生(xuéshēng) (student)了(le)。
阿豪(āháo):我(wǒ) 也(yě)(also, too) 是(shì)贝多芬(bèiduōfēn)的(de)学生(xuéshēng)!
妈妈(māmā):哇(wā),真的(zhēnde)(really, indeed)呀(ya)!你(nǐ) 一定(yídìng)(must) 很(hěn) 自豪(zìháo)(proud) 喽(lou)!那(nà)你(nǐ) 还是(háishì)(also is) 海(hǎi)顿(dùn)的(de)学生(xuéshēng)呢(ne)!
阿豪(āháo):真(zhēn)(really) 没(méi)(not) 想到(xiǎngdào)(bethink of),我(wǒ) 竟然(jìngrán)(unexpectedly) 能和(nénghé)贝多芬(bèiduōfēn) 有关系(yǒuguānxì)(have relationship)!
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)你(nǐ) 练(liàn)(practice) 琴(qín)(instrument) 的(de)时候(shíhòu)(when…),一定(yídìng) 要(yào)(should) 认真(rènzhēn)(be careful) 噢(ō)!
阿豪(āháo):那(nà)当然(dāngrán)了(le)。
妈(mā)妈(mā):无论(wú lùn)( whatever, no matter how/what) 你(nǐ) 将来(jiānglái)(future) 干(gàn)什(shén)么(me),他(tā)的(de) 在(zài)天(tiān)之(zhī)灵(líng)(ling2/soul/spirit, zhi1/的de/of) 也(yě) 会(huì)(would ) 为(wéi)(for) 你(nǐ) 感到(gǎndào)(feel) 自豪的(zìháo de)(proud)。

Explanation:
* verb+得+complement, 跑(pǎo)得(dé)快(kuài)(run fast). 飞(fēi)机(jī)飞(fēi)得(dé)比(bǐ)鸟(niǎo)高(gāo)(Airplanes fly higher than birds.)

English Translation

Beethoven’s Student

Mom: Ahao, How is your piano lesson today?
Ahao: I am very glad at something.
Mom: What’s that?
Ahao: Teacher Gong said that his teacher’s teacher’s teacher’s teacher was Beethoven.
Mom: That means Teacher Gong is the fifth generation student of Beethoven.
Ahao: I am Beethoven’s student either.
Mom: Wow, indeed you are! You must be very proud of that! You are also a student of Haydn.
Ahao: I couldn’t dream of it that I can have relationship with Beethoven.
Mom: So you must be careful when you practice on the piano.
Ahao: Of course, I will.
Mom: Whatever you will do in the future, his soul in the Heaven would be proud of you too.

BTW, Ahao is in summer vacation now. He has so much time spending at home. So I am trying to tell him English Stories. I know there are many audio storeis online. But they are too difficult for him to understand. I have simplified and explained a story about turtle and picnic to him, Here I'd like you, if you like our recordingds, to record this(http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d4dxh9f_0gdb6q4) simplified story for him with an active tone and slow speed, like you are telling a story to a kid.

I would like to thank Barry who kindly recorded The Selfish Giant and The Princess and the Pea for Ahao. I know most of you kindly like to do it but do not know how to record with computers. I use a free recording software downloaded from website, Audacity, ( http://audacity.sourceforge.net ), ( http://lame.sourceforge.net/index.php )
(http://www-users.york.ac.uk/%7Eraa110/audacity/AudacityHelp.html#LAME)
Of course, there are other softwares for recording audio files, but I am not familiar with. Actually, in this websit, my podmail: ellenschinese@podomatic.com can record and send mp3 mails. But its recording quality is too poor.

Ellen

For Colorful Days
July 07, 2007 08:50 PM PDT

This is a short film of an advertisement made by a famous Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou. Click to see the film http://vhead.blog.sina.com.cn/player/outer_player.swf?auto=0&vid=861528&uid=1234975325

女:你会不会轻点儿关门?
男:怎么了?
女:摔给谁看呀!
男:你什么意思呀?
女:这是新车,你不知道?你懂不懂爱惜呀。
男:爱惜,我怎么不爱惜了?
女:有本事摔给你老板看啊!
男:你这是什么意思?什么叫 ‘摔给你老板看’ ?
女:工作不顺心,不要拿车出气。
------开车呀!
-------这车就是咱们家的一个人,咱们三个就像一家人一样,你别那么没感情好不好?你现在对车这样,你将来就会对我这样,新鲜劲儿过去了,就不喜欢了,我看,你就是个冷血动物。
男:你有完没完啊!啊?不就是这两天我没对你笑吗?我笑不出来。你一见我就板着个脸啊!

歌词(Lyrics)
像一阵风,掠过我身边( Like a gust of wind, passing by me)
当你错身而过的瞬间( At the moment you jink and go by)
忽然间,想要去很远( All of sudden, I want to go far away)
和你去看繁华世界(To see the luxuriant world together with you)
Imagination
Never lose my passion
It’s on my way, it’s on my way
Whatever it takes
Not for the destination
It’s on my way, it’s on my way
All my colorful days
Never lose my passion

Pinyin
nǚ: nǐ huìbuhuì qīngdiǎn ér guānmén?
nán: zěnmale?
nǚ: shuāi gěi shéi kàn yā!
nán: nǐ shénme yìsi yā?
nǚ: zhè shì xīnchē , nǐ bù zhīdào? nǐ dǒng bù dǒng àixi1 yā。
nán: àixi1, wǒ zěnme bù àixi1 le?
nǚ: yǒu běnshì shuāi gěi nǐ lǎobǎn kàn ā!
nán: nǐ zhè shì shénme yìsi? shénme jiào “ shuāi gěi nǐ lǎobǎn kàn” ?
nǚ: gōngzuò bù shùnxīn , bùyào ná chē chū qì。
------ kāichē yā !
------- zhè chē jiùshì zánmen jiā de yī ge rén , zánmen sān ge jiùxiàng yī jiārén yíyàng , nǐ bié nàme méi gǎnqíng hǎo bu hǎo? nǐ xiànzài duì chē zhèyàng, nǐ jiānglái jiù huì duì wǒ zhèyàng, xīnxiān jìn ér guòqùle , jiù bù xǐhuanle , wǒ kàn , nǐ jiùshì ge lěngxiě dòngwù。
nán: nǐ yǒuwán méiwán ā! ā? bù jiùshì zhè liǎng tiān wǒ méi duì nǐ xiào ma? wǒ xiào bùchūlái。 nǐ yī jiàn wǒ jiù bǎn zhe ge liǎn ā!

English Version (It is just a translation practice. If you think some words or expressions are not correct, please tell me in email or leave a comment)

Girl: Can you close the door a little more gently?
Boy: What’s wrong?
Girl: Why did you slam the door? (Literally, Slammed to whom to see?)
Boy: What’s your meaning?
Girl: This is a new car, don’t you know? Don’t you know you should treasure it?
Boy: Treasure, why did you say I did not treasure it?
Girl: Slam in front of your boss if you are brave enough! (有本事/have sufficient ability)
Boy: What in the world do you mean? What is ‘ Slam in front of your boss’?
Girl: You are not satisfactory with your work, but don’t vent your anger on the car.
------Drive on!
------This car is a member of our family. We three are just like a family. Don’t sound like you have no love, all right? You now treat the car this way. In the future you will treat me in the same manner. When the fresh feeling is past, you lose love. It appears to me that you are a cold-blooded creature.
Boy: Can you stop? Just because I didn’t smile at you, right? I can not make a smile. You keep a straight face as long as you see me.

月光奏鸣曲 Moonlight Sonata---Level B
July 02, 2007 05:49 AM PDT

月光奏鸣曲

阿豪:妈妈,我让你买的书买了吗?
妈妈:你是说,月光奏鸣曲的谱子吗?
阿豪:当然喽,我早就跟你说过了。
妈妈:买了买了,不过,是爸爸给你买的。上次我去书店,本来想给你买的,可是我不知道哪一首曲子是月光。你看这四本书里,每首曲子的题目都是 “奏鸣曲------献给谁谁谁”。我在哪本书上都找不到“月光”这两个字。后来爸爸去书店的时候, 我让他把四本贝多芬的奏鸣曲乐谱书都买回来了。
阿豪:我知道是哪一首,钢琴老师说过,是第十四首。把书给我,让我看看。真的呀,第一、二、三首都献给了约瑟夫•海顿,后边的---,有的献给了什么什么伯爵夫人,有的献给了什么什么亲王。妈妈,贝多芬把他创作的音乐都献给了别人,那他自己留下什么了?
妈妈:儿子,你真逗,他自己留下什么了呢?嗯---,我想是他所有的音乐吧,还有他不朽的名声。

月光(yuèguāng)奏鸣曲(zòumíngqǔ)

阿豪(āháo):妈妈(māmā),我(wǒ)让(ràng)你(nǐ)买(mǎi)的(de)书(shū)买(mǎi)了(le)吗(ma)?
妈妈(māmā):你(nǐ)是(shì)说(shuō),月光(yuèguāng)奏鸣曲(zòumíngqǔ)的(de)谱子(pǔzi)吗(ma)?
阿豪(āháo):当然(dāngrán)喽(lou),我(wǒ)早就(zǎojiù)跟(gēn)你(nǐ)说(shuō)过(guò)了(le)。
妈妈(māmā):买了买(mǎilemǎi)了(le),不过(búguò),是(shì)爸爸(bàba)给(gěi)你(nǐ)买(mǎi)的(de)。上次(shàngcì)我(wǒ)去(qù)书店(shūdiàn),本来(běnlái)想(xiǎng)给(gěi)你(nǐ)买(mǎi)的(de),可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)不知道(bùzhīdào)哪(nǎ)一(yī)首(shǒu)曲子(qǔzi)是(shì)月光(yuèguāng)。你(nǐ)看(kàn)这(zhè)四(sì)本(běn)书(shū)里(lǐ),每(měi)首(shǒu)曲子(qǔzi)的(de)题目(tímù)都是(dōushì) “奏鸣曲(zòumíngqǔ)------献给(xiàngěi)谁谁(shéishéi)谁(shéi)”。我(wǒ)在(zài)哪(nǎ)本(běn)书(shū)上(shàng)都(dōu)找不到(zhǎobùdào)“月光”(yuèguāng)这(zhè)两(liǎng)个(gè)字(zì)。后来(hòulái)爸爸(bàba)去(qù)书店(shūdiàn)的(de)时候(shíhòu), 我(wǒ)让(ràng)他(tā)把(bǎ)四(sì)本贝多芬(běnbèiduōfēn)的(de)奏鸣曲(zòumíngqǔ)乐谱(yuèpǔ)书(shū)都(dōu)买(mǎi)回来(huílái)了(le)。
阿豪(āháo):我(wǒ)知道(zhīdào)是(shì)哪(nǎ)一(yī)首(shǒu),钢琴(gāngqín)老师(lǎoshī)说(shuō)过(guò),是(shì)第十四(dìshísì)首(shǒu)。把(bǎ)书(shū)给(gěi)我(wǒ),让(ràng)我(wǒ)看看(kànkan)。真的(zhēnde)呀(ya),第一(dìyī)、二、三(èrsān)首(shǒu)都(dou1)献给(xiàngěi)了(le)约瑟夫•海顿(yuēsèfūhǎidùn),后边(hòubian)的(de)---,有(yǒu)的(de)献给(xiàngěi)了(le)什么(shénme)什么(shénme)伯爵(bójué)夫人(fūrén),有(yǒu)的(de)献给(xiàngěi)了(le)什么(shénme)什么(shénme)亲王(qīnwáng)。妈妈(māmā),贝多芬(bèiduōfēn)把(bǎ)他(tā)创作(chuàngzuò)的(de)音乐(yīnyuè)都(dōu)献给(xiàngěi)了(le)别人(biérén),那(nà)他(tā)自己(zìjǐ)留下(liúxià)什么(shénme)了(le)?
妈妈(māmā):儿子(érzǐ),你(nǐ)真(zhēn)逗(dòu),他(tā)自己(zìjǐ)留下(liúxià)什么(shénme)了(le)呢(ne)?嗯(èn)---,我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)是(shì)他(tā)所有(suǒyǒu)的(de)音乐(yīnyuè)吧(ba),还有(háiyǒu)他(tā)不(bù)朽(xiǔ)的(de)名(míng)声(shēng)。

Moonlight Sonata

Ahao: Mom, have you bought the book I told you?
Mom: You mean the music score of the Moonlight Sonata?
Ahao: Of course. I told you ages ago.
Mom: Yes, have bought. But it is Dad who bought for you. Last time I went to the bookstore, I would have bought them if it was not for the fact that I did not know which music is Moonlight. You see, the titles of all the pieces of music in those four books were named “Sonata------dedicated to someone”. I couldn’t find the two words Yue Guang in any of these books. Later when your father went to the bookstore, I told him to buy all the four music books of Beethoven’s sonatas.
Ahao: I know which one is. The piano teacher told me before. It is the No.14. Give me the books and let me see. Indeed, No.1,2 and 3 are all dedicated to Joseph Haydn. And the followings---, some were dedicated to certain countesses, some to certain princes. Mom, Beethoven dedicated all his music he wrote to others. Then what did he leave for himself?
Mom: My son, you are so interesting. What did he leave for himself? Hnn, all his music, I think, and his immortal fame.

The Hidden Wings
June 29, 2007 03:08 AM PDT

A friend of mine is suffering the pain of loss of mother. I feel sorry I can help nothing. This moment I would like to share this beautiful Chinese song here with my friend and everybody.

yǐnxíng de chìbǎng
gēshǒu: zhāngshàohán

měiyī cì
dōu zài páihuái gūdān zhōng jiānqiáng
měiyī cì
jiùsuàn hěn shòushāng , yě bù shǎn lèiguāng
wǒ zhīdào
wǒ yīzhí yǒu shuāng yǐnxíng de chìbǎng
dài wǒ fēi , fēiguò juéwàng

bù qù xiǎng
tāmen yōngyǒu měilì de tàiyáng
wǒ kànjiàn
měitiān de xīyáng yě huì yǒu biànhuà
wǒ zhīdào
wǒ yīzhí yǒu shuāng yǐnxíng de chìbǎng
dài wǒ fēi , gěi wǒ xīwàng
wǒ zhōngyú
kàndào suǒyǒu mèngxiǎng dōu kāihuā
zhuīzhú de niánqīng gēshēng duō liáo liàng
wǒ zhōngyú áoxiáng
yòngxīn níng wàng bù hàipà
nǎli huì yǒufēng jiù fēi duōyuǎn ba

yǐnxíng de chìbǎng
ràng mèng héng jiǔ bǐ tiāncháng
liú yī ge
yuànwàng
ràng zìjǐ xiǎngxiàng

隐形的翅膀 The Hidden Wings
歌手singer 张韶涵

每一次 every time
都在徘徊孤单中坚强I become strong in wandering or lonely time
每一次 every time
就算很受伤 though very hurted
也不闪泪光 I don't flash tears
我知道 I know
我一直有双隐形的翅膀 I always have one pair of hidden(invisible) wings
带我飞 makes me flying
飞过绝望 flying over the desperation
不去想 I would not think
他们拥有美丽的太阳 that they have the beautiful sun
我看见 I have seen
每天的夕阳也会有变化 that the sunset also has different patterns everyday
我知道 I know
我一直有双隐形的翅膀 I always have one pair of hidden wings

带我飞 make me flying
给我希望 bring me hope

我终于看到I finally see
所有梦想都开花 all dreams come into blossom
追逐的年轻歌声多嘹亮 The songs of youth in pursual is so loud and clear

我终于翱翔I finally soar
用心凝望不害怕 and gaze by heart without fear
哪里会有风 where there are winds
就飞多远吧 where I can go further

隐形的翅膀 the hidden wings
让梦恒久比天长 make dreams long long for ever
留一个愿望 keep one hope
让自己想象 let myself imagine

Amended by Ellen according to the translation here
http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/4ab62c16010007jb

BTW, the singer is also very beautiful. You can see her here
http://vhead.blog.sina.com.cn/player/outer_player.swf?auto=0&vid=317152&uid=1257120914

网上聊天 Chat Online, Level A
June 24, 2007 12:54 AM PDT

Wǎngshàng liáotiān

māma: zhīdào wǎngshàng liáotiān er ba?
ā háo: en , zhīdào。 wǒ gēn bèibèi liáoguò , wǒmen zhèlǐ shì wǎnshàng jiǔdiǎn , tā nàli jiùshì zǎoshàng jiǔdiǎn。
māma: nàjiào shí chā。 tāmen nar4 yǔ wǒmen zhèr de shí chā shì shí èr ge xiǎoshí。
ā háo: wǒ hé bèibèi shì hǎopéngyou 。
māma: zhīdào , bèibèi xiànzài qù Měiguó le , nǐmen háishì hǎopéngyou。 xiànzài , jiǎrú nǐ hé wǒ búrènshí , wǒmen zěnme kāishǐ ne? lái , wǒmen shìshi。
ā háo: nǐ xiān lái。
māma: hǎo。 wǒ jiào Ellen, shì zhōngguórén , zhùzài Běijīng。 nín yǒushíjiān ma? wǒ xiǎng xiàng nín xuéxí yīngyǔ , wǒ kěyǐ bāng nín xué hànyǔ。
ā háo: hǎo ā! wǒ jiào ------, māma , wǒshìshéi yā?
māma: ēn ---, nǐ shì --- tāngmǔ kèlǔsī
ā háo: tāngmǔ kèlǔsī shì shéi yā?
māma: tā shì Měiguó de dà míngxīng , yǎnguò 《dié zhōng dié》 。
ā háo: hǎokàn ma?
māma: hǎokàn。 lái , jiēzhe liáo , gāi nǐ le。
ā háo: hǎo , wǒ jiào tāngmǔ kèlǔsī , wǒ shì měiguórén , wǒ zhùzài ------, māma , tā zhùzài nǎer ā?
māma: bù zhīdào , Niǔyuē ba?
ā háo: wǒ juéde tā zhùzài hǎoláiwù。
māma: xíng , hǎoláiwù yě kěyǐ。
ā háo: wǒ zhùzài hǎoláiwù , zhèlǐ hěn piàoliang。 nǐ láiguò Měiguó ma?
māma: wǒ méi qùguò Měiguó , nǐ láiguò Zhōngguó ma? tā qùguò Shànghǎi。
ā háo: shìde , wǒ qùguò Shànghǎi , wǒ hěn xǐhuan nàge chéngshì。
māma ; yě huānyíng nǐ dào Běijīng lái。
ā háo: māma , wǒ méishénme shuō de le。
māma: nā jiù jiéshù ba。
ā háo: xièxie , hěn gāoxìng yǔ nín tánhuà , ēn , shífēn zhōng hòu , wǒ yào chūmén , xiànzài , wǒ bìxū qù huàn yīfu 、 shàng xǐshǒujiān。 wǒmen yǐhòu zài liáo , kěyǐ ma?
māma: hǎo , xièxie , zàijiàn!
ā háo: zàijiàn
māma: hāhā , tāngmǔ kèlǔsī hé wǒ jiā āháo yíyàng , chūmén zhīqián yě yào shàngcèsuǒ yā。
ā háo: shéi dōu děi shàngcèsuǒ。

Explanations:

网上(wǎngshàng)(through internet, online) 聊天(liáotiān)(chat)

妈妈(māmā):知道(zhīdào)(know) 网上(wǎngshàng) 聊天儿(liáotiānér) 吧(ba)?
阿豪(āháo):嗯(en), 知道(zhīdào)。 我(wǒ) 跟(gēn)(with, and) 贝(bèi)贝(bèi) 聊过(liáoguò)(chatted),我们(wǒmen)(we, us) 这里(zhèlǐ)(here) 是(shì) 晚上(wǎnshang)(evening) 九点(jiǔdiǎn)(9 O’clock), 她(tā)(she) 那里(nàli)(there) 就是(jiùshì)(is) 早上(zǎoshang)(morning) 九(jiǔ)点(diǎn)。
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)叫(jiào) 时差(shíchā)(time difference)。 他们(tāmen)那儿(nàer) 与(yǔ) 我们(wǒmen) 这儿(zhèer)的(de) 时差(shíchā) 是(shì) 十二(shí èr)(twelve) 个(gè)(measure word) 小时(xiǎoshí)(hour)。
阿豪(āháo):我(wǒ)和(hé)贝贝是(bèibèishì) 好朋友(hàopéngyǒu)(good friend)。
妈妈(māmā):知道(zhīdào),贝(bèi)贝(bèi) 现在(xiànzài)(now) 去(qù)(go) 美国(měiguó)(the US)了(le),你们(nǐmen) 还是(háishì)(still be) 好朋友(hàopéngyǒu)。现在(xiànzài),假如(jiǎrú)(if, pretend) 你(nǐ)和(hé)我(wǒ) 不(bu2) 认识(rènshi),我们(wǒmen) 怎么(zěnme)(how) 开始(kāishǐ)(start) 呢(ne)? 来(lái)(come on),我们(wǒmen) 试试(shìshì)(try)。
阿豪(āháo):你(nǐ) 先(xiān)(first) 来(lái)。
妈妈(māmā):好(hǎo)。 我(wǒ)叫(jiào)Ellen,是(shì) 中国人(zhōngguórén)(Chinese),住(zhù)(live) 在(zài) (in) 北京(běijīng)(Beijing)。您(nín)(respect form of you)有(yǒu)(have) 时间(shíjiān)(time)吗(ma)?我(wǒ)(I, me) 想(xiǎng)(want, hope) 向(xiàng)(from) 您(nín) 学习(xuéxí)(learn, study) 英语(yīngyǔ)(English),我(wǒ) 可以(kěyǐ)(can, may) 帮(bāng)(help) 您(nín) 学(xué) 汉语(hànyǔ)(Chinese)。
阿豪(āháo):好(hǎo)啊(ā)!我(wǒ)叫(jiào)------, 妈妈(māmā),我(wǒ)是(shì)谁(shuí)(or shei2, who, whom)呀(ya)?
妈妈(māmā):嗯(en1)---,你(nǐ)是(shì)---汤姆•克鲁斯(tāngmǔkèlǔsī)
阿豪(āháo):汤姆•克鲁斯(tāngmǔkèlǔsī)是(shì) 谁(shuí) 呀(ya)?
妈妈(māmā):他(tā)(he)是(shì) 美国的(měiguó de)(American) 大(dà)(big) 明星(míngxīng)(bright start),演(yǎn)过(guò)(played a role)《谍中谍》(diézhōngdié)。
阿豪(āháo):好看吗(hǎokàn ma)?(for a film or a book, it means ‘Is the film(book) good?’. For a person, it means ‘good-looking?’.)
妈妈(māmā):好看(hǎokàn)。来(lái),接着(jiēzhe)(go on, continue) 聊(liáo),该你了(gāi)(nǐ)(le)(your turn)。
阿豪(āháo):好(hǎo),我(wǒ)叫(jiào)汤姆•克鲁斯(tāngmǔkèlǔsī),我(wǒ)是(shì) 美国人(měiguórén),我(wǒ)住(zhù)在(zài)------,妈妈(māmā),他(tā)住(zhù)在(zài) 哪儿(nǎer)(where)啊(ā)?
妈妈(māmā):不知道(bùzhīdào)(not know),纽约(niǔyuē)(New York)吧(ba)?
阿豪(āháo):我(wǒ) 觉得(juéde)(feel) 他(tā)住(zhù)在(zài) 好莱坞(hǎoláiwù)。
妈妈(māmā):行(háng),好莱坞(hǎoláiwù) 也(yě)(also, too) 可以(kěyǐ)(Ok)。
阿豪(āháo):我(wǒ)住(zhù)在(zài)好莱坞(hǎoláiwù),这里(zhèlǐ) 很(hěn)(very) 漂亮(piàoliang)(beautiful)。你(nǐ) 来过(láiguò)(have been to, came) 美国(měiguó) 吗(ma)?
妈妈(māmā):我(wǒ) 没(méi)(not) 去过(qù guò)(have gone to) 美国(měiguó),你(nǐ)来(lái)过(guò)中国(zhōngguó)(China)吗(ma)? 他(tā) 去(qù)过(guò) 上海(shànghǎi)。
阿豪(āháo):是(shì)的(de)(yes),我(wǒ)去(qù)过(guò)上海(shànghǎi),我(wǒ)很(hěn) 喜欢(xǐhuan)(like) 那个(nàge) (that)城市(chéngshì)(city)。
妈妈(māmā);也(yě) 欢迎(huānyíng)(welcome) 你(nǐ) 到(dào)北京(běijīng)来(lái)(到---来 means ‘come to---')。
阿豪(āháo):妈妈(māmā),我(wǒ) 没什么(méishénme)(nothing) 说的(shuōde)(what you talk)了(le)。
妈妈(māmā):那就(nà jiù)(then) 结束(jiéshù)(end) 吧(ba)。
阿豪(āháo):谢谢(xièxiè),很(hěn)(very)高兴(gāoxìng)(glad)与(yǔ)(with, and)您(nín) 谈话(tánhuà)(talk, conversation),嗯(èn),十分钟(shífēnzhōng)(ten minutes)后(hòu)(later, behind, back),我(wǒ)要(yào) 出门(chūmén)(get out of door),现在(xiànzài),我(wǒ) 必须(bìxū)(must, have to) 去(qù) 换(huàn)(change) 衣服(yīfu)(clothes)、上(shàng)(go to)洗手间(xǐshǒujiān)(toilet room. 洗/wash, 手/hand, 间/room)。我们(wǒmen) 以后(yǐhòu)(later)再(zài)(again)聊(liáo),可以(kěyǐ)吗(ma)?
妈妈(māmā):好(hǎo),谢谢(xièxiè),再见(zàijiàn)!
阿豪(āháo):再见(zàijiàn)
妈妈(māmā):哈哈(hāhā),汤姆•克鲁斯(tāngmǔkèlǔsī) 和(hé)(and)我家(wǒ jiā)(my home, my family)阿豪(āháo)一样(yíyàng)(和------一样/the same as------),出门(chūmén) 之前(zhīqián)(before)也(yě)要(yào)上(shàng) 厕所(cèsuǒ)(toilet room)呀(ya)。
阿(ā)豪(háo):谁(shuí)(who, everyone) 都得(dōu dé)(should, have to, must) 上(shàng)厕(cè)所(suǒ)。

English Version

Chat online

Mom: You know chat online, Don’t you?
Ahao: Hn, yes. I chatted with Beibei. When it is 9 O’clock in evening here, it is 9 O’clock in morning there.
Mom: That is time difference. The time difference between our place and her place is twelve hours.
Ahao: Beibei and me are good griends.
Mom: I know. Now Beibei is in the US. You are still good friends. Now Let’s pretend we do not know each other. How should we start. Let’s try.
Ahao: You first.
Mom: OK, my name is Ellen. I am a Chinese and live in Beijing. If you have time, I’d like to learn English from you and help you learn Chinese?
Ahao: That’s good. My name is------, Mom, who am I?
Mom; Hn, you are--- Tom Cruise.
Ahao: Who is Tom Cruise?
Mom: He is a big star in America. He played in “Mission: Impossible”.
Ahao: Is the film good?
Mom: Yes, it is. OK, let’s continue our chat. Your turn.
Ahao: Ok, my name is Tom Cruise. I am an American. I live in-----, Mom, where does he live?
Mom: I don’t know. Maybe, New York.
Ahao: I guess he lives in Hollywood.
Mom: All right, Hollywood is Ok.
Ahao: I live in Hollywood. It is beautiful. Have you ever been to the US?
Mom: No, I haven’t. Have you ever been to China? He has been to Shanghai before.
Ahao: Yes, I have been to Shanghai. I like that city very much.
Mom: You are welcome to Beijing.
Ahao: Mom, I have nothing to say.
Mom: Then make an end.
Ahao: I am very glad to talk with you. Hn, but I have to go out in ten minutes. So now I must change clothes and go to toilet. Can we chat later?
Mom: Ok, thanks. Bye.
Ahao: Bye
Mom: Haha, Tom Cruise is the same as our Ahao. They must go to toilet before they go out of home.
Ahao: Everyone must go to toilet.

中国功夫 Chinese Kung Fu, A Song My Son loves
June 19, 2007 01:25 AM PDT

中国功夫
歌手:屠洪刚

卧似一张弓
站似一棵松
不动不摇坐如钟
走路一阵风
南拳和北腿,少林武当功,太极八卦连环掌
中华有神功
卧似一张弓
站似一棵松
不动不摇坐如钟
走路一阵风
南拳和北腿,少林武当功,太极八卦连环掌
中华有神功
棍扫一大片,枪挑一条线
身轻好似云中燕,豪气冲云天
外练筋骨皮,内练一口气
刚柔并济不低头,我们心中有天地

卧似一张弓
站似一棵松
不动不摇坐如钟
走路一阵风
南拳和北腿,少林武当功,太极八卦连环掌
中华有神功
青风剑在手,双刀就看走
行家功夫一出手,他就知道有没有
手是两扇门,脚下是一条根
四方水土养育了我们中华武术魂

东方一条龙, 儿女似英雄
天高地远八面风, 中华有神功
东方一条龙, 儿女似英雄
天高地远八面风, 中华有神功
中华有神功

The translation of lyrics is too difficult to me. Here I just make the meaning clear. Hope you make it perfect.

Chinese Kung Fu

Lying is like a bow
Standing is like a pine
Not moving, not waving, sitting is like a big clock
Walking is like a gust of wind
Southern fists(punches) and northern legs(kicks), Wudang and Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and chain palm skill of Eight Diagrams*
China has super Kung Fu
Staff sweeps in a large scale, spear pokes into a line
Body is light as birds in clouds, The heroic spirit is as high as sky
Chasten bones, muscles and skins outside, train breath(spirit) inside
Firmly and flexibly, not eat dirt. Heaven and earth are all in our hearts

Qingfeng Swords in my hands, just see a pair of cutlery dance.
Expert’s Kung Fu once show, you would realize what the real Kung Fu is.
Hands are like two gates, feet are like roots.
On the large square of water and earth raises the spirit of our Chinese Wu Shu.

A dragen in the East, its sons and daughters are like heroes.
With the high sky, wide-spread.soil and the wind from eight quarters (direction?), China has super Kung Fu.

*Naquan, Beitui, Shaolin Gong, Wudang Gong, Taiji, Bagua Lianhuan Zhang are different kinds of Kung Fu

九江大桥倒塌事故The Collapsing Accident of Jiujiang Bridge, Level C
June 16, 2007 10:08 AM PDT

The accident happened on June 15,2007
Clich here to see the Video
http://img.ku6.com/common/V2.0.1.swf?vid=odMQCjCPru0mMGEO

今天早上五点多钟,广东南海境内的325国道九江大桥中段发生桥面倒塌事故,倒塌范围约200米,造成325国道这一路段交通堵塞。据初步调查,事故因江面突起大雾,一艘载重一千五百(1500)多吨的运沙船撞击主航道桥墩导致。运沙船上共有十人,其中两人受了轻伤。桥面有无人员伤亡有待进一步的查实。
南海九江大桥跨越西江,是广州---湛江公路上的一座特大型公路桥梁,全长一千六百八十二(1682)米,1988年建成通车。

At a time past five this morning, In the area(district) of Nanhai in Guangdong Province, a collapsing accident happened in the middle part of Jiujiang Bridge of No.325 national road. The collapsing is about 200 meter’s length and has caused a blockage at this erea in 325 national road. According to the basic investigation, the accident was due to the fog rising quickly and then a sand-laden ship, which loaded more than 1500 tons, hit a pier of the main route. There were ten people in the sand-laden ship. Among them two people injured slightly. Whether people injured or died on the bridge need to be further verified.

Jiujiang Bridge of Nanhai spanned over Xijiang River. It is a superhuge road bridge on the highway between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang. Its length is 1682 meters and it was built up and opened to traffic in 1988 .

More information http://english.cri.cn/2946/2007/06/15/48@238770.htm

六一儿童节2007(I),Children's Day 2007(I)---Level B
June 13, 2007 09:18 AM PDT

As this episode is a bit long, I divided it into two part. I hope to know you like a longer one or two short ones?

六一儿童节2007(II),Children's Day 2007(II)---Level B
June 13, 2007 09:10 AM PDT

六一儿童节2007

爸爸:阿豪,今天是六一儿童节,你想好了要什么礼物吗?
阿豪:我想要一台电脑。
妈妈:咱们家已经有两台电脑了,你用就是了。
阿豪:我想要一台自己的。
爸爸:那咱们把这台搬到你的桌子上,再贴上标签,写上名字。
阿豪:我不干,我要一台自己的,新的。
妈妈:阿豪,实际点,提个爸爸、妈妈今天能办到的要求。你看姐姐,要了一套书,四十多本呢,爸爸、妈妈昨天就给她买回来了。
阿豪:那我要吃麦当劳的汉堡。
妈妈:这个要求也太低了,再高一点儿的。
阿豪:那我要一茶几饮料,让饮料摆满一茶几。
爸爸:好,可以。
----------------------------------
妈妈:另外,爸爸、妈妈今天要运动一下,你和我们一起去爬香山吧。
阿豪:我不去。要爬,我就要爬黄山。
妈妈:黄山? 在安徽省呢!千里之外呢!
爸爸:要是咱们坐火箭去,今天能让你爬上黄山。
妈妈:想想,还想干啥?游乐园,不想去吗?
阿豪:我要划船。
爸爸:好主意。是去颐和园还是圆明园?离咱们家都很近。
阿豪:都去过八百遍了,我想去北海公园。
爸爸:好,准备走。
阿豪:那饮料什么时候买啊?
爸爸:回来的路上。

Pinyin

liùyī értóngjié 2007

bàba: ā háo , jīntiān shì liùyī értóngjié, nǐ xiǎnghǎole yào shénme lǐwù ma?
ā háo: wǒ xiǎng yào yī tái diànnǎo。
māma: zánmen jiā yǐjīng yǒu liǎng tái diànnǎo le , nǐ yòng jiùshìle。
ā háo: wǒ xiǎng yào yī tái zìjǐde。
bàba: nà zánmen bǎ zhè tái bān dào nǐ de zhuōzi shàng , zài tiēshàngbiāoqiān , xiěshàng míngzi。
ā háo: wǒ bu2 gàn , wǒ yào yī tái zìjǐde , xīn de。
māma: ā háo , shíjì diǎn , tí ge bàba 、 māma jīntiān něng bàn dào de yāoqiú。 nǐ kàn jiějie , yàole yītào shū , sìshí duō běn ne , bàba 、 māma zuótiān jiù gěi tā mǎi huílái le。
ā háo: nà wǒ yào chī màidāngláo de hànbǎo。
māma: zhège yāoqiú yě tài dī le , zài gāo yīdianr3 de。
ā háo: nà wǒ yào yī chájǐ yǐnliào , ràng yǐnliào bǎimǎn yī chájǐ。
bàba: hǎo , kěyǐ。
----------------------------------
māma: lìngwài , bàba 、 māma jīntiān yào yùndòng yīxià , nǐ hé wǒmen yīqǐ qù pá xiāngshān ba。
ā háo: wǒ bù qù。 yào pá , wǒ jiù yào pá huángshān。
māma: huángshān? zài ānhuī shěng ne! qiānlǐ zhīwài ne!
bàba: yàoshì zánmen zuò huǒjiàn qù , jīntiān néng ràng nǐ páshàng huángshān。
māma: xiǎngxiǎng , hái xiǎng gàn shá? yóulèyuán , bù xiǎngqù ma?
ā háo: wǒ yào huáchuán。
bàba: hǎo zhǔyi。 shìqù yíhéyuán háishì yuánmíngyuán? lí zánmen jiā dōu hěnjìn。
ā háo: dōu qùguò bābǎi biàn le , wǒ xiǎngqù běihǎi gōngyuán。
bàba: hǎo , zhǔnbèi zǒu。
ā háo: nà yǐnliào shénmeshíhòu mǎi ā?
bàba: huílai de lùshang。

EnglishTranslation:(Please tell me the better translation if you feel some words or phases or sentences inappropriate.)

June 1, Children’s Day 2007

Dad: Ahao, Today is June 1 Children’s Day. Have you thought up what present you want to get?
Ahao: I want a computer.
Mom : We have had two computers at our home. You can use it without problem.
Ahao: I want one belonged to my own.
Dad: Well, we can move this one onto your table and paste a label on which we write down your name.
Ahao: I won’t. I want my own, new one.
Mom: Ahao, be practical and make a request that dad and mon can manage today, like your sister, she asked for a series of books. There are more than forty books. But we have bought back for her yesterday.
Ahao: Well, I want to have hamburger of MacDonald.
Mom. This request is too little. Much bigger?
Ahao: I want a tea-table of drinks. The drinks should be put full of table.
Dad: Ok, that’s fine.
---------------------------------------------

Mom: besides, Dad and Mom are going to do some exercise today. How about you climb the Fragrant Mountain(Xiang Shan) together with us.
Ahao: I won’t. If I climb mountain, I’ll climb Huangshan.
Mom: Huangshan? It is in Anhui Province, a thousand of miles away!
Dad: If we go there by rocket, I were sure we could make you climb up to Huangshan.
Mom: Just think what your other ideas are. Amusement park? Don’t you want to go?
Ahao: I am going boating.
Dad: Good idea. Shall we go to Summer Palace or Yuanmingyuan Park? They are both near our home.
Ahao: I have been there eight hundred times. I want to go to Beihai Park.
Dad: All right. Be ready to go.
Ahao: Well, when shall we buy the drinks.
Dad: On the way home.

八点差十分 Ten to Eight
June 10, 2007 08:49 AM PDT

Click the link and then click the arrow to play
http://v.blog.sina.com.cn/swf/player.swf?vid=4317246&uid=1236124741
or
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i1CJwTdsBcM

幸福死了Happy to Death
Explicit
June 07, 2007 07:55 AM PDT

This podcast is dedicated to Chris(Mandarin_student)

Today we will discuss 幸福死了,高兴死了,饿死我了,烦死了 or something similar. If someone tells you:“老张的儿子考上了北京大学,他高兴死了(Lǎozhāng de érzi kǎo shàngle běijīngdàxué, tā gāoxìng sǐle)。You don’t need to be serious about the words 死了 here. Don’t think he is died. This sentence just means: Lao Zhang’s son has been received by Beijing University. Lao Zhang is very very happy.

死了is often used in daily talk. Everyday when my son comes home, he always says 我快饿死了(wǒ kuài è sǐle . I am so hungry about to die).
My daughter would say 笑死我了(xiào sǐ wǒ le , It made me laugh so much.) when she reads a joke.
I often say 累死我了,累死我了(lèi sǐ wǒ le, lèi sǐ wǒ le。 I am very very tired) after hours’ housework.
My husband often says你们把我烦死了(nǐmen bǎ wǒ fán sǐle 。 You are boring me too much.)because when he is concentrating on reading or writing, my son likes to talk to him and my daughter likes to rush into his room time after time。

But sometimes you must be serious when someone says like these:
老李心脏病发作死了。(Lao Li died of the attack of heart disease.)
王小姐昨天因为车祸死了。(Ms. Wang died yesterday because of the traffic accident.)
Ellen 无疾而终,死时面带微笑,享年九十九岁,她的亲人和朋友参加了她的葬礼,其中,还有几位外国朋友,他们是Chris, Barry……等等。haha
(Ellen dies without any illness but with smile on her face, at her age of 99. Her family members and friends attend her funeral. Among them, there are several foreign friends. They are Chris, Barry……etc. haha)

I hope someone tell me if the joke is offending as you understand in your way.

Pinyin:
lǎolǐ xīnzàngbìng fāzuò sǐle。
wáng xiǎojie zuótiān yīnwèi chēhuò sǐle。
Ellen wú jí ér zhōng , sǐ shí miàn dài wēixiào , xiǎngnián jiǔshíjiǔ suì , tā de qīnrén hé péngyou cānjiāle tā de zànglǐ , qízhōng , hái yǒu jǐ wèi wàiguópéngyǒu , tāmen shì Chris, Barry ......Deng3deng3)

Something you don’t need to be serious:
老张的儿子考上了北京大学,他高兴死了。
(Lao Zhang’s son has been received by Beijing University. Lao Zhang is very very happy.)
我快饿死了(I am so hungry about to die).
笑死我了(It made me laugh so much.)
累死我了,累死我了( I am very very tired.)
你们把我烦死了(You are boring me too much.)
北京今天三十六度,热死我了。(It is 36C today in Beijing. I feel much too warm.)

Pinyin:
Lǎozhāng de érzi kǎo shàngle běijīngdàxué, tā gāoxìng sǐle
wǒ kuài è sǐle (I am so hungry about to die) .
xiào sǐ wǒ le (It made me laugh so much.)
lèi sǐ wǒ le , lèi sǐ wǒ le ( I am very very tired.)
nǐmen bǎ wǒ fán sǐle (You are boring me too much.)
Běijīng jīntiān sānshíliù dù , rè sǐ wǒ le。(It is 36C today in Beijing. I feel much too warm.)

什么是幸福?What Is Happy?
June 03, 2007 01:01 AM PDT

非常非常感谢大家对我的鼓励和褒奖,我感到很幸福。在中文里,幸福是超越快乐和高兴的一种感觉,当你爱着或被爱着的时候,你的感觉就是幸福。对于舞台上的演员来说,他的表演赢得了观众的热烈的掌声,他一定感觉非常幸福。对于我们普通人来说,幸福是多么的简单,看看这里吧!
http://v.blog.sina.com.cn/b/396493-1063682450.html

Since I began to be busy with other things recently, I didn’t make an original episode this time. But I will soon.

片中人物对话

嗯,你说,什么叫幸福(啊)?
啊,什么?
你叫什么?
杨红旗呀!刚才你问我什么?
什么叫幸福?
幸福啊?
嗯,你怎么看?
幸福,那就是,我饿了,看别人手里拿个肉包子,那他就比我幸福;我冷了,看别人穿了一件厚棉袄,他就比我幸福;我想上茅房,就一个坑,你蹲那儿了,你就比我幸福。可笑吗?没上过茅房啊?

Pinyin in the dialogues:

en , nǐ shuō , shénme jiào xìngfú (ā) ?
a2 ? shénme?
nǐ jiào shénme?
yáng hóngqí yā! gāngcái nǐ wèn wǒ shénme?
shénme jiào xìngfú?
xìngfú ā?
en , nǐ zěnme kàn?
xìngfú , nà jiùshì , wǒ è le , kàn biérén shǒu lǐ ná ge ròu bāozi , nà tā jiù bǐ wǒ xìngfú ; wǒ lěng le , kàn biérén chuānle yījiàn hòu miánǎo , tā jiù bǐ wǒ xìngfú ; wǒ xiǎngshàng máo fáng , jiù yi2ge kēng , nǐ dūn nar4 le , nǐ jiù bǐ wǒ xìngfú。 kěxiào ma? méi shàngguò máo fáng ā?

English version

Thanks a lot to everybody for the encouraging and applaud words. I feel happy so much. In Chinese xing4fu1 is a kind of feeling that exceeds over kuai4le4 and gao1xing4. When you fall into love or be loved by someone, your feeling is xingfu. For an actor in the stage, whose performance is rewarded by warm applause, he must feel very happy(xingfu). Happiness is so simple for our common people. Take a look here, http://v.blog.sina.com.cn/b/396493-1063682450.html

Since I began to be busy with other things, I didn’t make an original episode this time. But I will soon.

Dialogues in the video

Hn…you say, what is happy?
Ah? What?
What’s your name?
Yanghongqi (The literal and sound meaning of his name is raising a red flag). What did you asked me just now?
What is called happy?
Happy?
Yes, what’s your opinion?
Happy, that is, when I am hungry and see other person is taking a steamed meat-stuffed bun in his hand, then he is happier than me; when I am cold and see other person is wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket, he is happier than me; When I want to go to Maofang* and there is only one pit (place) there, but you are crouching there, you are happier than me. Laughable? Haven’t gone to maofang before?

Maofang is a kind of simply built toilet in undeveloped areas. It is horrible when you look down. But now in many cases it is commonly referred to general toilets whatever it is individual’s speaking habit or for fun.

Where Are You?
May 26, 2007 06:00 AM PDT

 

红橙黄绿青蓝紫 Red, Orange, Yellow, Green,Cyan, Blue, Purple / Level A
May 05, 2007 10:21 AM PDT

hóng chéng huáng lǜ qīng lán zǐ

māmā:āháo,wǒmen jīntiān tántán yánsè ba。 èn,nǐ xǐhuan shénme yánsè?
āháo:lánsè,tiānkōng de yánsè。
māmā:èn,dàhǎi yěshì lánsè de。
āháo:dàhǎi shì lǜsè de。
māmā:duì,dàhǎi yǒushí yě shì lǜsè de。nǐ zhīdào duōshǎo zhǒng yánsè?
āháo:èn,hóng chéng huáng lǜ qīng lán zǐ,háiyǒu hēi bái。
māmā:duì,jiǎndāndì shuō,shì zhèyàng,hóng chéng huáng lǜ qīng lán zǐ、hēibái。nàme,wǒmen lái shuōshuō,dōu yǒu shénme dōngxī shì zhèxiē yánsè de。
āháo:píngguǒ shì hóngsè de,cǎoméi yě shì hóngsè de;júzi hé chéngzi shì chéngsè de;huángsè de ma-----,èn,xiāngjiāo shì huángsè de;xiǎocǎo shì lǜsè de。
māmā:qīngsè de ne?
āháo:bùzhīdào。
māmā:zhège yánsè bù tài chángyòng,cóng yuǎnchù kàn, shān shì qīngsè de。gāi lánsè de le, ō,gāngcái shuō guò le, tiānkōng shì lánsè de,nàme,shénme shì zǐsè de ne?
āháo:qiézi shì zǐsè de,háiyǒu pútáo yě shì zǐsè de。māmā,wǒ xiǎng chī pútáo。
māmā:érzi,xiànzài háishì chūntiān ne,pútáoténg gāng zhǎngchū yèzi。nàixīn diǎnér,děngdào qiūtiān ba。
āháo:kěshì,chāoshì lǐ yǒu pútáo。
māmā:nàxiē pútáo bù xīnxiān le,zuìhǎo bié chī。
āháo:nà wǒ chī shénme?bīngjīlíng,xíngma?
māmā:kěyǐ。
āháo:yē!
māmā:āi,hái méiwán ne?
āháo:ò,hēiyè shì hēide,báitiān shì bái de。Bye!

English Version

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue and Purple

Mom: Ahao, let’s talk about colors today. Hnn, what color do you like?
Ahao: Blue, the color of sky.
Mom: Hnn, the sea is blue too.
Ahao: The sea is green.
Mom: Yes, the ocean is sometimes green. How many kinds of color do you know?
Ahao: Hnn,red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and black, white.
Mom: Yes, simply say, it’s right. Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, black and white. Well, let’s talk about what things are in these colors.
Ahao: Apples are red and strawberries are red too; júzi and chéngzi are orange. Yellow------,hnn, bananas are yellow; Grass is green.
Mom: What about cyan?
Ahao: I have no idea.
Mom: This color is not often used. Mountains are cyan when you look at them at a distance. The next one should be blue. Oh, we have said it. The sky is blue. Then what is purple?
Ahao: Eggplants are purple, so are grapes. Mom, I want to eat grapes.
Mom: My son, it still is spring now. The leaves have just outgrown from the grapevines. Be patient, wait till autumn.
Ahao: But there are grapes in the supermarket.
Mom: those grapes are not fresh. We’d better not eat them.
Ahao: Then what can I eat? Ice cream, OK?
Mom: OK.
Ahao: Yeh!
Mom: Ai, we have not finished yet.
Ahao: Oh, night is black and day is white. Bye!

Word Explanations
红(hóng)(red)橙(chéng)(orange)黄(huáng)(yellow)绿(lǜ)(green)青(qīng)(cyan)蓝(lán)(blue)紫(zǐ)(purple)

妈妈(māmā):阿豪(āháo),我们(wǒmen)(we)今天(jīntiān)(today)谈谈(tántán)(talk about)颜色(yánsè)(color)吧(ba)。嗯(èn),你(nǐ)喜欢(xǐhuan)什么(shénme)颜色(yánsè)?
阿豪(āháo):蓝色(lánsè),天空(tiānkōng)(sky)的(de)(it makes the previous word(s) adjective)颜色(yánsè)。
妈妈(māmā):嗯(èn),大海(dàhǎi)(ocean, sea)也(yě)(too, also)是(shì) 蓝色的(lánsède)(blue, 色(sè)/color)
阿豪(āháo):大海(dàhǎi)是(shì) 绿色的(lǜsède)(blue)。
妈妈(māmā):对(duì)(right),大海(dàhǎi) 有时(yǒushí)(sometimes)也(yě)是(shì)绿色(lǜsè)的(de)。你(nǐ) 知道(zhīdào)(know) 多少(duōshǎo)(how many/much) 种(zhǒng)(kind, sort)颜色(yánsè)?
阿豪(āháo):嗯(èn),红(hóng)橙黄(chénghuáng)绿(lǜ)青蓝(qīnglán)紫(zǐ),还有(háiyǒu)(still, also, and)黑(hēi)(black, dark) 白(bái)(white)。
妈妈(māmā):对(duì),简单(jiǎndān)地(dì)(simply)说(shuō)(say, speak, talk),是(shì) 这样(zhèyàng)(like this, so, this way),红(hóng)橙黄(chénghuáng)绿(lǜ)青蓝(qīnglán)紫(zǐ)、黑白(hēibái)。那么(nàme)(well, then),我们(wǒmen)来(lái)说(shuō)说(shuō),都(dōu)有(yǒu)什么(shénme) 东西(dōngxī)(thing)是(shì) 这些(zhèxiē)(these)颜色(yánsè)的(de)。
阿豪(āháo):苹果(píngguǒ)(apple)是(shì)红色(hóngsè)的(de),草莓(cǎoméi)(strawberry)也(yě)是(shì)红色(hóngsè)的(de);桔子(júzi)和(hé)橙子(chéngzi)(in English these two kinds of fruit are all called orange)是(shì)橙色(chéngsè)的(de);黄色(huángsè)的(de)嘛(ma)------,嗯(èn),香蕉(xiāngjiāo)(banana)是(shì)黄色(huángsè)的(de);小草(xiǎocǎo)(grass)是(shì)绿色(lǜsè)的(de)。
妈妈(māmā):青色(qīngsè)的(de)呢(ne)?
阿豪(āháo):不知道(bùzhīdào)。
妈妈(māmā):这个(zhège)颜色(yánsè)不(bù) 太(tài)(very)常用(chángyòng)(in common use),从(cóng)(from) 远处(yuǎnchù)(beyond, any place at a distance)看(kàn),山(shān)(mountain, hill)是(shì)青色(qīngsè)的(de)。该(gāi)(should be, be one’s turn)蓝色(lánsè)的(de)了(le),噢(ō),刚才(gāngcái)(a moment before)说过了(shuōguòle)(have said),天空(tiānkōng)是(shì)蓝色(lánsè)的(de),那么(nàme),什么(shénme)是(shì)紫色(zǐsè)的(de)呢(ne)?
阿豪(āháo):茄子(qiézi)(eggplant)是(shì)紫色(zǐsè)的(de),还有(háiyǒu) 葡萄(pútáo)(grape)也(yě)是(shì)紫色(zǐsè)的(de)。妈妈(māmā),我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)吃(chī)葡萄(pútáo)。
妈妈(māmā):儿子(érzǐ),现在(xiànzài)(now) 还(hái)(still)是(shì) 春天(chūntiān)(spring)呢(ne),葡萄藤(pútáoténg)(grapevine)刚(gāng)(just)长出(zhǎngchu1)(out grow)叶子(yèzi)(leaf)。耐心(nàixīn)点儿(diǎnér)(be patient),等到(děngdào)(wait till)秋天(qiūtiān)(autumn)吧(ba)。
阿豪(āháo):可是(kěshì)(but),超市里(chāoshìlǐ)(in supermarket, 在(zài)---里(lǐ)/---里(lǐ)/在(zài)---/in/at)) 有(yǒu)(there is/are)葡萄(pútáo)。
妈妈(māmā):那些(nàxiē)(those)葡萄(pútáo)不(bù) 新鲜(xīnxiān)(fresh)了(le),最好(zuìhǎo)(had better)别(bié)(not, don’t)吃(chī)(eat)。
阿豪(āháo):那(nà)(then)我(wǒ)吃(chī)什么(shénme)?冰激凌(bīngjīlíng)(ice cream),行吗(xíngma)(OK?)?
妈妈(māmā):可以(kěyǐ)(OK)。
阿豪(āháo):耶(yē)!
妈妈(māmā):哎(āi),还(hái)(still)没(méi)(not) 完(wán)(finish, end)呢(ne)?
阿豪(āháo):哦(ò),黑夜(hēiyè)(dark night)是(shì) 黑的(hēide)(black),白天(báitiān)(day)是(shì) 白的(báide)(white)。Bye!

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-d9527bdba16b0848f863781aa3d7260f}

The Man Who Stayed Behind
May 03, 2007 09:34 AM PDT
itunes pic

Today I would like to recommend a book for the people who are interested in understanding our Chinese people and the pain we suffered in the last century. This book is The Man Who Stayed Behind. The Chinese version of this book is 《红幕后的洋人——李敦白回忆录》. One of the authors, Sidney Rittenberg (Chinese name李敦白) , an American, lived in China for 35 years including 16 years in prison. He underwent all the things we Chinese experienced at the Maoist era. Once you learn the past, you may understand Chinese people at present better.

The following is the preface of this book in Chinese:

《红幕后的洋人——李敦白回忆录》前言
李敦白

我写这本书,只因为我必须写。
我第二次入狱时,曾对自己许下这个承诺。我告诉自己,有朝一日出狱,要原原本本地讲述这些真实的故事。当初来自美国南卡州查尔斯顿市,充满理想的男孩,是如何被中国的革命者点燃了心中的火苗,如何倾其所有献身中国革命,并且深信,借着革命的梦想,所有人都能找到救世之道——不只在中国,最终还将遍及全世界。我又是如何在艰难困境中,甚至长期囚牢中,依然追随梦想,而这些梦想后来又如何引领我——还有其他人——步入迷途。
这个故事,是要讲述我以及像我这样的人,如何走上共产主义道路,以求创造一个更新更好的世界。在那些岁月里,如何成功地,甚至是超越理想地,投身社会最需要的改造。但同时,我也决意要清楚地讲述那些随之而来的不幸。我的眼睛见过它们,我的生活曾与之共存,在某些情况下——说来令人羞愧自责——我也和它们同流。
在讲述中,我已尽我所能保持故事的真实。我没有隐瞒任何事,没有编造任何事,也没有粉饰任何事。书中所述事件,也是依我个人所记得的经历写成。我尽量摆脱后见之明,以免影响我对于当年自己所想所为的描述。
这本书是我和另外一位合著作者,经过数千个小时的采访、交谈及书信往返后的产物。没有她,这本书或许根本尚未动笔。
一开始我就告诉她:“你的任务就是从我身上挖出真实的故事。”幸好我是实话实说,因为后来她正是这么做的。我需要的正直、理解力、才能,还有不屈不挠追求真相的精神,她都具备。
我们两个人一起审阅了上千页的草稿。这些草稿是在过去十三年中,我在不同时间写下的,其中还包括了一份1979年的手稿,当时离我第二次出狱才刚过一年,正是对这些事件的记忆最清楚的时候。
在回忆中,伴随我一生的勤做笔记的习惯强化了我的记忆力。每天晚上,我都会把当天的事情记录下来思索。这些笔记中的一部分保存了下来,主要是1958到1959年大跃进期间的纪录,其他则毁的毁丢的丢。尽管如此,每天写日记的规律磨砺了我的记忆力。当然,十六年的幽囚岁月也让我有许多思考的空暇。
另外我也参考了公共文献。在中国报纸上,有一些关于我个人,以及我所参与之活动的报道,例如哈佛大学费正清中心(Fairbank Center)所搜集的红卫兵报纸中,就登载了我在“文化大革命”中发表的一些演讲及主持会议的实录。
我也请教了众多此地及在华的中国朋友,他们认识我的岁月可以追溯到延安时期。除了希望他们唤起我的回忆外,也想借此比较彼此对事件的记忆。在写这本书的那三年内,我回到中国十六次,花了数百个小时与五十多人访谈。
然而,最终它所叙述的是我的故事,我的回忆,我的一生。

你还擦什么?What Are You Rubbing For? Level B
April 27, 2007 06:29 PM PDT

你还擦什么?

阿豪:妈妈,你是最漂亮的妈妈。
妈妈:是吗?你这么说,我很高兴。 不过,所有的孩子都认为自己的妈妈最漂亮。
阿豪:可是,我真的觉得其他小孩的妈妈都很丑,她们都不如你好看。
妈妈:我也觉得你是世界上最可爱的小男孩。
阿豪:是吗?我还差得远呢。
妈妈:你太谦虚了,看你高兴的。过来,让世界上最漂亮的妈妈亲一下世界上最可爱的小男孩。
阿豪:可是------,千万不要把唾沫弄到我脸上,
妈妈:绝对不会!
阿豪:那好吧!
妈妈:哎,我没把唾沫弄到你脸上,你还擦什么呀?

你(nǐ)还(hái)擦(cā)什么(shénme)?

阿豪(āháo):妈妈(māmā),你(nǐ)是(shì)最(zuì)漂亮(piàoliang)的(de)妈妈(māmā)。
妈妈(māmā):是(shì)吗(ma)?你(nǐ)这么(zhème)说(shuō),我(wǒ)很(hěn)高兴(gāoxìng)。 不过(búguò),所有(suǒyǒu)的(de)孩子(háizi)都(dōu)认为(rènwéi)自己(zìjǐ)的(de)妈妈(māmā)最(zuì)漂亮(piàoliang)。
阿豪(āháo):可是(kěshì),我(wǒ)真的(zhēnde)觉得(juéde)其他(qítā)小孩(xiǎohái)的(de)妈妈(māmā)都(dōu)很(hěn)丑(chǒu),她们(tāmen)都(dōu)不如(bùrú)你(nǐ)好看(hǎokàn)。
妈妈(māmā):我(wǒ)也(yě)觉得(juéde)你(nǐ)是(shì)世界(shìjiè)上(shàng)最(zuì)可爱(kěài)的(de)小(xiǎo)男孩(nánhái)。
阿豪(āháo):是(shì)吗(ma)?我(wǒ)还(hái)差(chà)得(dé)远(yuǎn)呢(ne)。
妈妈(māmā):你(nǐ)太(tài)谦虚(qiānxū)了(le),看(kàn)你(nǐ)高兴(gāoxìng)的(de)。过来(guòlái),让(ràng)世界(shìjiè)上(shàng)最(zuì)漂亮(piàoliang)的(de)妈妈(māmā)亲(qīn)一下(yíxià)世界(shìjiè)上(shàng)最(zuì)可爱(kěài)的(de)小(xiǎo)男孩(nánhái)。
阿豪(āháo):可是(kěshì)------,千万(qiānwàn)不要(búyào)把(bǎ)唾沫(tuòmò)弄到(nòngdào)我(wǒ)脸(liǎn)上(shàng),
妈妈(māmā):绝对(juéduì)不会(búhuì)!
阿豪(āháo):那(nà)好(hǎo)吧(ba)!
妈妈(māmā):哎(āi),我(wǒ)没(méi)把(bǎ)唾沫(tuòmò)弄到(nòngdào)你(nǐ)脸(liǎn)上(shàng),你(nǐ)还(hái)擦(cā)什(shén)么(me)呀(ya)?

English Version

What Are You Rubbing For?

Ahao: Mama, you are the most beautiful mother.
Mom: Am I? I am very glad to hear you say so. But all the children think their own mothers the prettiest.
Ahao: But I really feel that mothers of others kids are all ugly. None of them are as beautiful as you.
Mom: I too feel you are the loveliest little boy in the world.
Ahao: Really? I am still far from that. ( I have a great way to go.)
Mom: You are so modest. Look at yourself, you are so glad. Come here, let the most beautiful mother in the world give a kiss to the loveliest boy in the world.
Ahao: But, never let your saliva onto my face.
Mom: absolutely not.
Ahao: All right.
Mom: Hey, I haven’t made my saliva onto your face. What are you rubbing for?

出门之前 Before Going Out, Level A
Explicit
April 22, 2007 12:50 AM PDT

chūmén zhīqián

bàba:jīntiān wǎnshang,wǒmen chūqù chīfàn,dōu kuài huàn yīfu ba!
māmā:wǒ huàn hǎole。ā yīn、āháo,kuài diǎnér!
āháo:wǒ yě huàn hǎole。
māmā:nà zǒu ba。
āháo:děngyíxià,wǒ yào shàng gè cèsuǒ。
āyīn:wǒ yě yào qù yíxià。

bàba:dōu shàng wánliǎo,kěyǐ zǒule ba?
āháo:bàba, wǒ háiyào shàng cèsuǒ。
bàba:búshì gāng shàngwán ma?
āháo:gāngcái shì sāniào,xiànzài shì lāshǐ,wǒ bìxū děi shàng。
māmā:tiānna!
bàba:kànlái,wǒ kěyǐ shuì yījiào qùle。nǐ kuài qù ba。

(èrshí fēnzhōng yǐhòu)

āháo:bàba、māmā,wǒ hǎole。
bàba:wǒmen zǒu ba。
āyīn:děngyíxià,wǒ yào shàng gè cèsuǒ。
bàba:wǒmen hái néngbunéng chū zhège mén le?
māmā:wǒ yě xiǎng shàng gè cèsuǒ,xíng bùxíng?
bàba:wǒ néng shuō bùxíng ma?

出门(chūmén)(go off, go out of the door) 之前(zhīqián)(before)

爸爸(bàba):今天(jīntiān)(today) 晚上(wǎnshang)(evening, night),我们(wǒmen)出去(chūqù) 吃饭(chīfàn)(have dinner),都(dōu)(all)快(kuài)(quick. Quickly)换(huàn)(change)衣服(yīfu)(clothes)吧(ba)!
妈妈(māmā):我(wǒ)换(huàn) 好(hǎo)了(le)(ready, ok)。阿(ā)音(yīn)、阿豪(āháo),快(kuài) 点儿(diǎnér)(a bit, a little)!
阿豪(āháo):我(wǒ) 也(yě)(also, too) 换好了。
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)(then) 走(zǒu)吧(ba)。
阿豪(āháo):等一下(děng yíxià)(wait a minute),我(wǒ) 要(yào)(want, be going to) 上个厕所(shàng gè cèsuǒ)(go to toilet one time, 上(shàng)/go, 个(gè)/measure word, 厕所(cèsuǒ)/toilet)。
阿(ā)音(yīn):我(wǒ)也(yě)要(yào)去(qù) 一下(yíxià)(one time)。

爸爸(bàba):都(dōu)上(shàng) 完了(wánliǎo)(finished, have done),可以(kěyǐ)(may, can)走(zǒu)了(le)吧(ba)?
阿豪(āháo):爸爸(bàba), 我(wǒ) 还(hái)(still, again)要(yào)上厕所(shàngcèsuǒ)。
爸爸(bàba):不是(búshì)(isn’t) 刚(gāng)(just) 上(shàng)完(wán)吗(ma)?
阿豪(āháo):刚才(gāngcái)(just, a moment ago) 是(shì) 撒尿(sāniào)(leak, urinate),现在(xiànzài)(now)是(shì) 拉屎(lāshǐ)(shit),我(wǒ) 必须(bìxū)(must, have to) 得(dé)(have to, need to)上(shàng)。
妈妈(māmā):天哪(tiān nǎ)(My God)!
爸爸(bàba):看来(kànlái)(sound like),我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ) 睡一觉(shuì yī jiào)(have a nap)去(qù)了(le)。你(nǐ)快(kuài)去(qù)吧(ba)。

二十分钟(èrshífēnzhōng)(twenty minutes) 以后(yǐhòu)(later)

阿豪(āháo):爸爸(bàba)、妈妈(māmā),我(wǒ)好(hǎo)了(le)。
爸爸(bàba):我们(wǒmen)走(zǒu)吧(ba)。
阿(ā)音(yīn):等(děng)一下(yíxià),我(wǒ)要(yào)上(shàng)个(gè)厕所(cèsuǒ)。
爸爸(bàba):我们(wǒmen)还(hái) 能不能(néngbunéng)( can or not, 能(néng)/can) 出(chū)(go out of) 这个门(zhège mén)(this door)了(le)?
妈妈(māmā):我(wǒ)也(yě)想(xiǎng)上(shàng)个(gè)厕所(cèsuǒ),行不行(xíngbùxíng)(ok or not?)?
爸爸(bàba):我(wǒ)能(néng) 说(shuō)(speak, say) 不(bù)行(xíng)吗(ma)?

Before Going Out

Dad: Tonight we will go out for dinner. All of you change clothes at once.
Mom: I am ready. Ayin, Ahao, be quick!
Ahao: We are ready too.
Mom: Ok, let’s go.
Ahao: Wait for a moment. I am going to the toilet.
Ayin: So am I.

Dad: Everyone is ok. Can we go?
Ahao: Dad, I want to go to toilet again.
Dad: You just did, didn’t you?
Ahao: Just a leak before. Now I need to spend a little longer time on the toilet. I must do it.
Mom: Oh, my God.
Dad: Sounds like I can have a nap. You go on at once.

(Twenty minutes later)
Ahao: Dad, Mom, I am ready.
Ayin: Waite a minute. I am going to toilet.
Dad: We can go out of this door, can’t we?
Mom: I too want to go to toilet, can I?
Dad: How can I say NO?

Comments:
In a formal situation we should say去(qù)洗(xǐ)手(shǒu)间(jiān)。 拉(lā)屎(shǐ)和(hé)撒(sā)尿(niào) are used among members of family or among kids. The order is the following from formal to unformal ways:
去(qù)洗手间(xǐshǒujiān)------去(qù)(上(shàng))厕所(cèsuǒ)------去(qù)解手(jiěshǒu)------去(qù)大便(dàbiàn)/小便(xiǎobiàn)------去(qù)拉(lā)屎(shǐ)/撒尿(sāniào)
If we talk about animals, of course , they wouldn’t go to toilet. The wild is a best place for them to deal all the things. So only 大(dà)便(biàn)/小(xiǎo)便(biàn)and拉(lā)屎(shǐ)/撒(sā)尿(niào) can be used in animals.

A friend told me in email that the original sentence, JUST A LEAK BEFORE,NOW IT IS SHITING, is not right because shit has the meaning of swear word and the sentence can be translated in indirect way like this: Just a leak before. Now I need to spend a little longer ........It's so good to know that the native English speakers say like this. But I still wonder if there is a direct way to say it and not to introduce negative meanings. In Chinese, the words like 屎,尿,粪便 do not contain the meaning of swear. Of course, if you say somebody is 一堆臭大粪,or,一堆狗屎,these are not to cry him up. The national swear word in Chinese is (他)妈的 that means you are very angry with somebody or something. Hope you forget it at once.

一只特立独行的猪 A Peculiar Pig, Level C
Explicit
April 21, 2007 07:10 PM PDT

Wang Xiaobo died in April 10th ten years ago. Many people like me in China like his writings very much. Here for commemorating him, I invite my husband to record one of his essays, A Peculiar Pig. Luckily, I found an English translation at: http://www.dreamsofwhitetiles.com/?p=55 .This link automatically omits the tail part ?p=55. I have no technical idea how to let these machines add it to the end. If you really want to read the English version, please paste the link instead of click.

一只特立独行的猪

作者:王小波

  插队的时候,我喂过猪、也放过牛。假如没有人来管,这两种动物也完全知道该怎样生活。它们会自由自在地闲逛,饥则食渴则饮,春天来临时还要谈谈爱情; 这样一来,它们的生活层次很低,完全乏善可陈。人来了以后,给它们的生活做出了安排:每一头牛和每一口猪的生活都有了主题。就它们中的大多数而言,这种生 活主题是很悲惨的:前者的主题是干活,后者的主题是长肉。我不认为这有什么可抱怨的,因为我当时的生活也不见得丰富了多少,除了八个样板戏,也没有什么消 遣。有极少数的猪和牛,它们的生活另有安排。以猪为例,种猪和母猪除了吃,还有别的事可干。就我所见,它们对这些安排也不大喜欢。种猪的任务是交配,换言之,我们的政策准许它当个花花公子。但是疲惫的种猪往往摆出一种肉猪(肉猪是阉过的)才有的正人君子架势,死活不肯跳到母猪背上去。母猪的任务是生崽儿, 但有些母猪却要把猪崽儿吃掉。总的来说,人的安排使猪痛苦不堪。但它们还是接受了:猪总是猪啊。
  对生活做种种设置是人特有的品性。不光是设置动物,也设置自己。我们知道,在古希腊有个斯巴达,那里的生活被设置得了无生趣,其目的就是要使男人成为亡命战士,使女人成为生育机器,前者像些斗鸡,后者像些母猪。这两类动物是很特别的,但我以为,它们肯定不喜欢自己的生活。但不喜欢又能怎么样?人也好,动物也罢,都很难改变自己的命运。
  以下谈到的一只猪有些与众不同。我喂猪时,它已经有四五岁了,从名分上说,它是肉猪,但长得又黑又瘦,两眼炯炯有光。这家伙像山羊一样敏 捷,一米高的猪栏一跳就过;它还能跳上猪圈的房顶,这一点又像是猫——所以它总是到处游逛,根本就不在圈里呆着。所有喂过猪的知青都把它当宠儿来对待,它也是我的宠儿——因为它只对知青好,容许他们走到三米之(以)内,要是别的人,它早就跑了。它是公的,原本该劁掉。不过你去试试看,哪怕你把劁猪刀藏在身后,它 也能嗅出来,朝你瞪大眼睛,噢噢地吼起来。我总是用细米糠熬的粥喂它,等它吃够了以后,才把糠对到野草里喂别的猪。其他猪看了嫉妒,一起嚷起来。这时候整个猪场一片鬼哭狼嚎,但我和它都不在乎。吃饱了以后,它就跳上房顶去晒太阳,或者模仿各种声音。它会学汽车响、拖拉机响,学得都很像;有时整天不见踪影, 我估计它到附近的村寨里找母猪去了。我们这里也有母猪,都关在圈里,被过度的生育搞得走了形,又脏又臭,它对它们不感兴趣;村寨里的母猪好看一些。它有很 多精彩的事迹,但我喂猪的时间短,知道得有限,索性就不写了。总而言之,所有喂过猪的知青都喜欢它,喜欢它特立独行的派头儿,还说它活得潇洒。但老乡们就不这么浪漫,他们说,这猪不正经。领导则痛恨它,这一点以后还要谈到。我对它则不止是喜欢——我尊敬它,常常不顾(管)自己虚长十几岁这一现实,把它叫做“猪 兄”。如前所述,这位猪兄会模仿各种声音。我想它也学过人说话,但没有学会——假如学会了,我们就可以做倾心之谈。但这不能怪它。人和猪的音色差得太远 了。
  后来,猪兄学会了汽笛叫,这个本领给它招来了麻烦。我们那里有座糖厂,中午要鸣一次汽笛,让工人换班。我们队下地干活时,听见这次汽笛响就 收工回来。我的猪兄每天上午十点钟总要跳到房上学汽笛,地里的人听见它叫就回来——这可比糖厂鸣笛早了一个半小时。坦白地说,这不能全怪猪兄,它毕竟不是 锅炉,叫起来和汽笛还有些区别,但老乡们却硬说听不出来。领导上因此开了一个会,把它定成了破坏春耕的坏分子,要对它采取专政手段——会议的精神我已经知道了,但我不为它担忧——因为假如专政是指绳索和杀猪刀的话,那是一点门都没有的。以前的领导也不是没试过,一百人也这不住它。狗也没用:猪兄跑起来像颗鱼雷,能把狗撞出一丈开外。谁知这回是动了真格的,指导员带了二十几个人,手拿五四式手枪;副指导员带了十几个人,手持看青的火枪,分两路在猪场外的空地上兜捕它。这就使我陷入了内心的矛盾:按我和它的交情,我该舞起两把杀猪刀冲出去,和它并肩战斗,但我又觉得这样做太过惊世骇俗——它毕竟是只猪啊;还有一个理由,我不敢对抗领导,我怀疑这才是问题之所在。总之,我在一边看着。猪兄的镇定使我佩服之极:它很冷静地躲在手枪和火枪的连线之内,任凭人喊狗咬,不 离那条线。这样,拿手枪的人开火就会把拿火枪的打死,反之亦然;两头同时开火,两头都会被打死。至于它,因为目标小,多半没事。就这样连兜了几个圈子,它 找到了一个空子,一头撞出去了,跑得潇洒之极。以后我在甘蔗地里还见过它一次,它长出了獠牙,还认识我,但已不容我走近了。这种冷淡使我痛心,但我也赞成它对心怀叵测的人保持距离。
  我已经四十岁了,除了这只猪,还没见过谁敢于如此无视对生活的设置。相反,我倒见过很多想要设置别人生活的人,还有对被设置的生活安之若素的人。因为这个原故,我一直怀念这只特立独行的猪。(摘自《我的精神家园》 文化艺术出版社, 1997年)

There are two points that my husband read a bit different from the original essay. But I did not ask him to correct them because the mistakes are too small and do not change the meanings. They are: 三米之内→三米以内;不顾→不管。

英语作业 English Homework, Level B
April 15, 2007 08:42 AM PDT

英语(yīngyǔ)作业(zuòyè)

爸爸(bàba):阿豪(āháo),你(nǐ)的(de)英语(yīngyǔ)作业(zuòyè)做(zuò)了(le)吗(ma)?
阿豪(āháo):没(méi)做(zuò)呢(ne)。
爸爸(bàba):知道(zhīdào)什么(shénme)作业(zuòyè)吗(ma)?
阿豪(āháo):不知道(bùzhīdào)。
爸爸(bàba):这(zhè)是(shì)妈妈(māmā)在(zài)你(nǐ)书包(shūbāo)里(lǐ)找到(zhǎodào)的(de)作业(zuòyè)通知单(tōngzhīdān),听(tīng)着(zhe),读(dú)两(liǎng)篇(piān)英语(yīngyǔ)故事(gùshì),看(kàn)两(liǎng)部(bù)英文(yīngwén)电影(diànyǐng)。
妈妈(māmā):故事(gùshì)的话(dehuà),我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ)读(dú)给(gěi)你(nǐ)听(tīng);电影(diànyǐng)------,你(nǐ)看(kàn)《泰山》(tàishān)和(hé)《狮子王》(shīziwáng)就(jiù)行(háng)了(le)。
阿豪(āháo):耶(yē)!太(tài)好(hǎo)了(le),太(tài)好(hǎo)了(le)!
爸爸(bàba):还有(háiyǒu)呢(ne),还要(háiyào)记录(jìlù)故事(gùshì)和(hé)电影(diànyǐng)中(zhōng)的(de)精彩(jīngcǎi)对白(duìbái)。
阿豪(āháo):什么(shénme)是(shì)对白(duìbái)?
妈妈(māmā):对白(duìbái)就是(jiùshì)剧(jù)中(zhōng)演员(yǎnyuán)表演(biǎoyǎn)的(de)角色(juésè)的(de)对话(duìhuà)。
阿豪(āháo):那(nà)我(wǒ)先(xiān)看(kàn)《泰山》(tàishān)去(qù)了(le)。
妈妈(māmā):好(hǎo),要(yào)看(kàn)英文版(yīngwénbǎn)哟(yō)!
-------
妈妈(māmā):动画(dònghuà)片儿(piānér)看(kàn)完了(wánliǎo)?
阿豪(āháo):看(kàn)完了(wánliǎo)。
妈妈(māmā):那(nà)你(nǐ)记住(jìzhù)什么(shénme)英文(yīngwén)对白(duìbái)了(le)?
阿豪(āháo):啊(ā)~啊(ā)~啊(ā)~啊(ā)

英语作业

爸爸:阿豪,你的英语作业做了吗?
阿豪:没做呢。
爸爸:知道什么作业吗?
阿豪:不知道。
爸爸:这是妈妈在你书包里找到的作业通知单,听着,读两篇英语故事,看两部英文电影。
妈妈:故事的话,我可以读给你听;电影------,你看《泰山》和《狮子王》就行了。
阿豪:耶!太好了,太好了!
爸爸:还有呢,还要记录故事和电影中的精彩对白。
阿豪:什么是对白?
妈妈:对白就是剧中演员表演的角色的对话。
阿豪:那我先看《泰山》去了。
妈妈:好,要看英文版哟!
-------
妈妈:动画片儿看完了?
阿豪:看完了。
妈妈:那你记住什么英文对白了?
阿豪:啊~啊~啊~啊

English Version

English homework

Dad: Ahao, have you done your English homework?
Ahao: No, I haven’t.
Dad: Do you know what the homework is?
Ahao: No.
Dad: This is the homework notice your mother found in your school bag. Listen, Read two English stories and watch two English films.
Mom: As for stories, I can read for you; Films------, you can see《Tarzan》and《The Lion King》.
Ahao: Ye! Great!
Dad: There is other else. You have to write down some brilliant dialogues in the stories and the films.
Ahao: What is the meaning of 对白.
Mom: 对白 is dialogues of characters who are played by actors/actress in a play.
Ahao: So I will watch《Tarzan》first.
Mom: All right. Watch the English edition.
------
Mom: Did you finish seeing the cartoon film.
Ahao: Yes I did.
Mom: Have you remembered any English dialogue? (What dialogue did you remember?)
Ahao: ah~ah~ah~ah.

小朋友 Little Fellow, Level A
April 13, 2007 10:52 PM PDT

xiǎo péng yǒu

shì shuí ya?
ā yí,nín hǎo!qǐng wèn,zhè shì ā háo de jiā ma?
shì ā。
ā háo zài jiā ma?
tā búzài,nǐ qǐng jìn,qǐngzuò,tā yìhuìer jiù huílái。ō,duìbuqǐ,wǒwàng le nǐ de míngzì le。
wǒ jiào lǐtiān。
ō,duìle,wǒ xiǎng qǐ lái le。wǒ hái jiàn guò nǐ māma, tā zhǎng dé zhēn piàoliang,tā shì yǎnyuán ma?
bú shì。
tā shì zuò shénme gōngzuò de?
tā shì yīshēng。
nǐ bàba zuò shénmè gōngzuò?
tā shì dàxué jiàoshòu。
ā,tài hǎo le!nà nǐ zhǎngdà le xiǎng gàn shénme ya?
wǒ xiǎng mài bīngjīlíng。
ó?nà wǒ gàosù nǐ,nǐ kěyǐ gēn ā háo hézuò,tā xiǎng kāi bīngjīlíng gōngchǎng。

小(xiǎo)(little, small) 朋友(péng yǒu)(friend, fellow)

是(shì)(is)谁(shuí)(who, whom)呀(ya)(auxiliary word)?
阿姨(āyí)(aunt),您好(nín hǎo)(Hello, How are you? Good morning! etc。nín is respectfull form of nǐ 你)!请问(qǐngwèn)(excuse me 请qǐng, please; 问(wèn),ask),这(zhè)(this)是(shì) 阿豪的(ā háo de)(Ahao’s)家(jiā)(home)吗(ma) (a particle used at the end of questions)?
是(shì)啊(ā)。
阿(ā)豪(háo) 在(zài)(in,at)家(jiā)吗(ma)?
他(tā)(he)不(bù)(No, not)在(zài),你(nǐ)(you) 请进(qǐng jìn)(please come in),请(qǐng) 坐(zuò)(sit),他(tā) 一会儿(yìhuìer)(a while)就(jiù)(just, at once)回来(huílái)(come back)。对不起(duìbuqǐ)(excuse me, I am sorry),我(wǒ)(I, me) 忘了(wàng le)(forgot)你的(nǐ de)(your)名字(míngzì)(name)了(le)。
我(wǒ)叫(jiào)李天(lǐtiān)。
噢(ō),对了(duìle)(yes, speakers say it when they remember something suddenly),我(wǒ) 想起来(xiǎngqǐlái)(bring to mind, remember)了(le)。我(wǒ) 还(hái)(also, still)见过(jiàn guò)(saw before)你(nǐ)妈妈(māmā),她(tā) 长(cháng)(grow)得(dé)(verb or adjective +得(dé)+ effect)真(zhēn)(really, indeed, so)漂亮(piàoliang)(pretty, beautiful),她(tā)(she)是(shì) 演员(yǎnyuán)(actress)吗(ma)?
不是(búshì)(no)。
她(tā)是(shì) 做(zuò)(do,make)什么(shénme)(what)工作(gōngzuò)(work, job)的(de)?
她(tā)是(shì) 医生(yīshēng)(doctor)。
你(nǐ)爸爸(bàba)做(zuò)什么(shénme)工作(gōngzuò)?
他(tā)是(shì) 大学(dàxué)(university)教授(jiàoshòu)(professor)。
啊(ā)(ah),太好了(tài hǎo le)(great, wonderful)!那(nà)(then, so)你(nǐ)长大(zhǎngdà)了(le) 想(xiǎng)(want to)干(gàn)(do)什么(shénme)呀(ya)?
我(wǒ)想(xiǎng) 卖(mài)(sell)冰激凌(bīngjīlíng)(ice cream)。
噢(ō)?那(nà)我(wǒ) 告诉(gàosù)(tell)你(nǐ),你(nǐ) 可以(kěyǐ)(can, may)跟(gēn)(with)阿(ā)豪(háo) 合作(hézuò)(cooperate, collaborate),他(tā)想(xiǎng) 开(kāi)(open, run)冰激凌(bīngjīlíng) 工厂(gōngchǎng)(factory)。

Little Fellow

Who is it?
Good morning, Aunt! Excuse me, is this Ahao’ home?
Yes.
Is Ahao at home?
No. Please come in. Have a seat. He will come back just a while later. Oh, I am sorry. I forgot your name.
My name is Li Tian.
Oh, yes, I remember it now. I also have seen your mother. She is so beautiful. Is she an actress?
No, she isn’t.
What does she do?
She is a doctor.
What does your father do?
She is a professor in a university.
Ah, Great! Then what are you going to do when you grow up?
I am going to sell ice cream.
Oh? Ok, let me tell you. You can cooperate with Ahao. He wants to run a factory of ice cream.

鹫峰之游 The Visit to the Peak of Golden Eagle---Level B
April 09, 2007 07:37 PM PDT
itunes pic

鹫(jiù)峰(fēng)之(zhī)游(you)

春(chūn)色(sè)诱(yòu)人(rén),周(zhōu)六(liù),我们(wǒmen)全家(quánjiā)老少(lǎoshào)五(wǔ)口(kǒu)去(qù)爬(pá)了(le)一(yī)趟(tàng)北京(běijīng)郊外(jiāowài)的(de)鹫(jiù)峰(fēng)。天气(tiānqì)不错(búcuò),是(shì)周(zhōu)末(mò),又是(yòushì)观(guān)花(huā)的(de)季节(jìjié),山(shān)里(lǐ)的(de)人(rén)自然(zìrán)比(bǐ)平日(píngrì)多(duō)一些(yìxiē)。满山(mǎnshān)的(de)桃花(táohuā)和(hé)美景(měijǐng)吸引(xīyǐn)着(zhe)我们(wǒmen),就(jiù)连(lián)七十(qīshí)岁(suì)的(de)母亲(mǔqīn)也(yě)跟着(gēnzhe)我们(wǒmen)爬上(páshàng)了(le)峰顶(fēngdǐng)。
九(jiǔ)岁(suì)的(de)儿子(érzǐ)在(zài)半山腰(bànshānyāo)的(de)一(yī)个(gè)休息站(xiūxīzhàn)看到(kàndào)了(le)一(yī)根(gēn)漂亮(piàoliang)的(de)桃(táo)木棍(mùgùn),拿(ná)在(zài)手(shǒu)里(lǐ),再(zài)也(yě)不肯(bùkěn)放下(fàngxià)。看(kàn)山人(shānrén)告诉(gàosù)我们(wǒmen),这么(zhème)粗(cū)的(de)桃(táo)木(mù)要(yào)十几年(shíjǐnián)才能(cáinéng)长成(zhǎngchéng)。经(jīng)不住(bùzhù)儿子(érzǐ)的(de)软磨硬泡(ruǎnmóyìngpào),我们(wǒmen)终于(zhōngyú)给(gěi)他(tā)买(mǎi)下(xià)了(le)这(zhè)根(gēn)桃(táo)木棍(mùgùn),儿子(érzǐ)一路上(yílùshàng)扛(káng)着(zhe)它(tā),接受(jiēshòu)了(le)不少(bùshǎo)爬山(páshān)人(rén)对(duì)这(zhè)根(gēn)木棍(mùgùn)和(hé)扛(káng)木棍(mùgùn)的(de)男孩(nánhái)的(de)赞赏(zànshǎng)。
女儿(nǚér)在(zài)山下(shānxià)才(cái)爬(pá)了(le)几(jǐ)步(bù)就(jiù)开始(kāishǐ)喊(hǎn)累(lèi),知道(zhīdào)她(tā)并不是(bìngbúshì)真的(zhēnde)累(lèi),我(wǒ)也(yě)并不(bìngbù)理会(lǐhuì)。还好(háihǎo),她(tā)带(dài)了(le)一(yī)本(běn)书(shū),爬(pá)一会儿(yìhuìer),坐下(zuòxià)来看(láikàn)一会儿(yìhuìer)书(shū),看见(kànjiàn)我们(wǒmen)走(zǒu)远(yuǎn)了(le),她(tā)赶紧(gǎnjǐn)追上(zhuīshàng)来(lái)。
峰顶(fēngdǐng)上(shàng)有(yǒu)一块(yíkuài)巨石(jùshí),叫(jiào)望月(wàngyuè)石(shí)。两(liǎng)个(gè)孩子(háizi)看到(kàndào)这(zhè)块(kuài)巨石(jùshí),立刻(lìkè)来(lái)了(le)精神(jīngshén),急忙(jímáng)扑(pū)过去(guòqù),开始(kāishǐ)摸索(mōsuǒ)如何(rúhé)爬上(páshàng)去(qù),头(tóu)两(liǎng)次(cì)上去(shàngqù)的确(díquè)费(fèi)了(le)很多(hěnduō)力气(lìqi),但(dàn)后来(hòulái)有了(yǒule)经验(jīngyàn),爬上(páshàng)去(qù)就是(jiùshì)轻而易举(qīngéryìjǔ)的(de)事情(shìqíng)了(le)。于是(yúshì),两(liǎng)个(gè)孩子(háizi)就(jiù)像(xiàng)两(liǎng)只(zhī)大(dà)猴子(hóuzi),爬上(páshàng)去(qù),再(zài)下来(xiàlái),再(zài)爬上(páshàng)去(qù),这样(zhèyàng)爬(pá)了(le)十(shí)多次(duōcì)。在(zài)我(wǒ)女儿(nǚér)爬(pá)第五(dìwǔ)次(cì)的(de)时候(shíhòu),来(lái)了(le)一(yī)个(gè)男孩(nánhái),看到(kàndào)我(wǒ)女儿(nǚér)眨眼(zhǎyǎn)的(de)功夫(gōngfu)就(jiù)手脚(shǒujiǎo)麻利(máli)地(dì)上去(shàngqù)了(le),惊(jīng)叹(tàn)道(dào):“哇(wā),这(zhè)是(shì)人(rén)吗(ma)?”

鹫峰之游

春色诱人,周六,我们全家老少五口去爬了一趟北京郊外的鹫峰。天气不错,是周末,又是观花的季节,山里的人自然比平日多一些。满山的桃花和美景吸引着我们,就连七十岁的母亲也跟着我们爬上了峰顶。
九岁的儿子在半山腰的一个休息站看到了一根漂亮的桃木棍,拿在手里,再也不肯放下。看山人告诉我们,这么粗的桃木要十几年才能长成。经不住儿子的软磨硬泡,我们终于给他买下了这根桃木棍,儿子一路上扛着它,接受了不少爬山人对这根木棍和扛木棍的男孩的赞赏。
女儿在山下才爬了几步就开始喊累,知道她并不是真的累,我也并不理会。还好,她带了一本书,爬一会儿,坐下来看一会儿书,看见我们走远了,她赶紧追上来。
峰顶上有一块巨石,叫望月石。两个孩子看到这块巨石,立刻来了精神,急忙扑过去,开始摸索如何爬上去,头两次上去的确费了很多力气,但后来有了经验,爬上去就是轻而易举的事情了。于是,两个孩子就像两只大猴子,爬上去,再下来,再爬上去,这样爬了十多次。在我女儿爬第五次的时候,来了一个男孩,看到我女儿眨眼的功夫就手脚麻利地上去了,惊叹道:“哇,这是人吗?”

English Version

The Visit to Peak of Golden Eagle

Spring sceneries attract us all. Last Saturday, total five members of my family, the young and the old, visited the Peak of Golden Eagle at the suburb of Beijing. It was a fine weekend day and also is a season for viewing flowers. So people are a little more than usual at the mountain. The peach blossom and sceneries are everywhere and attract us. Even my seventy year old mother climbed up to the peak with us.

My nine years old son found a beautiful peach crabstick at the break station which is in the middle of the mountainside. He never put it down after he had held it. The mountain guardian told us that such a thick crabstick is made from a tree that is more than ten years old. Not standing my son’s suasion by all means, finally we bought him this crabstick. He put it on his shoulder all the way and accepted much admiration for the crabstick and the boy who hold it.

My daughter began to say she was tired just after climbing up several steps. I knew she was not really tired. So I paid no attention to it at all. It was helpful that she brought a book with her. She would have a break and read the book for a while after climbing for a while, then catch up with us when sawing us at a distance.

There was a huge stone, Stone of watching the Moon, at the peak. My kids got excited at once when they saw it. They rush at it in a hurry and began to explore how to climb up. They indeed paid much strength at the first two times. But later they got experience and felt it was a thing easy to do. Then, they climbed up and down, and up again, just like two monkeys. They climbed more than ten times. When my daughter climbed her fifth time, a boy came. He saw my daughter climbed up this stone with her adroit hands and foot at a short time of blinking. He was amazed at her and said: “ Is this a human?”

给爸爸的生日礼物 A Gift for Dad's Birthday---Level A
April 07, 2007 09:44 AM PDT

gěi bàba de shēngrì lǐwù

(zài bǎihuò shāngchǎng)

māmā,zhè shì shénme ya?
ràng wǒ kànkan,ō,shì jìbùqì。
tā shì zuò shénme yòng de。
jìlù nǐ zǒu le duōshǎo bù。
bàba xǐhuan sànbù,tā guò shēngrì,wǒ sònggěi tā zhège,tā kěndìng xǐhuan。
búcuò búcuò,wǒmen shìshì ba。lái,nǐ xiān shì,děng yí xià,hǎo le,yìbiān zǒu yìbiān shǔ。
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (yī èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ shí)
kànkan xiǎnshì duōshǎo,8,bùzhǔn ā!zàiláiyícì, hǎohǎo zǒu。
māmā,wǒ yào xiàng jūnrén nàyàng zǒu ma?
méi yǒu bìyào.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 (yī èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ shí shíyī shíèr shísān shísì shīwǔ)
zhèhuí xiǎnshì duōshǎo?14,āi,chàbuduō le。zài shì yīcì ba
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (yī èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ shí), māmā,xiǎnshì de zhènghǎo shì 10。
búcuò,zhè dōngxī háishì zhǔn de,gāngcái shì nǐ méi zǒu hǎo,búshì tā bùzhǔn。jiùshì tā ba。yǐhò, nǐ bàba zǒulù děi biāozhǔn diǎnér。
māmā, zhège dōngxī duōshǎo qián a?
28 yuán。hǎo le,wǒ qù jiāo qián,nǐ zài dài zhe tā zǒuzǒu。
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
131 132 133 134 135 136

给(gěi)(give) 爸爸(bàba)的(de) 生日(shēng rì)(birthday) 礼物(lǐwù) (present)

【在(zài)(in, at) 百货商场(bǎihuò shāngchǎng)(department store)】

妈妈(māmā),这(zhè)(this) 是(shì)(is) 什么(shénme)(what)呀(ya)?
让(ràng)(let) 我(wǒ) 看看(kànkan)(have a look),噢(ō),是(shì) 计步器(jìbùqì)(step counting gadget)。
它(tā)(it) 是(shì)做(zuò)什么(shénme) 用(yòng)(use)的(de)。
记录(jìlù)(record)你(nǐ) 走(zǒu)(go)了(le) 多少(duōshǎo)(how many, how much) 步(bù)(step, pace)。
爸爸(bàba) 喜欢(xǐhuan)(like) 散步(sànbù)(take a walk),他(tā) 过生日(guòshēngrì)(have one’s birthday),我(wǒ) 送给(sònggěi)(give)他(tā) 这个(zhège)(this one),他(tā)(he)肯定(kěndìng)(be sure, certainly)喜欢(xǐhuan)。
不错(búcuò)(right, not bad)不错(búcuò),我们(wǒmen)(we)试试(shìshì)(have a try)吧(ba)。来(lái)(come on),你(nǐ) 先(xiān)(first) 试(shì)(try),等一下(děng yí xià)(wait a moment), 好了(hǎole)(ok),一边(yìbiān)(at the same time)走(zǒu)一边(yìbiān) 数(shǔ)(count)。
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
看看(kànkan)(look, have a look) 显示(xiǎnshì)(show, display)多少(duōshǎo),8,不准(bùzhǔn)(not accurate)啊(ā)! 再(zài)来(lái)一(yí)次(cì)(once again), 好好(hǎohǎo)(well) 走(zǒu)。
妈妈(māmā),我(wǒ)要(yào)(will, be going to, need )像(xiàng)(like, as)军人(jūnrén)(armyman)那样(nàyàng)(in that way)走(zǒu)吗(ma)?
没有(méiyǒu)(not) 必要(bìyào)( necessary)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
这回(zhèhuí)(this time)显示(xiǎnshì)多少(duōshǎo)?14,哎(āi),差不多(chàbuduō)(almost)了(le)。再试一次(zài shì yī cì)(try again)吧(ba)。
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10,妈妈(māmā),显示(xiǎnshì)的(de) 正好(zhènghǎo)(just, precisely)是(shì)10。
不错(búcuò),这(zhè) 东西(dōngxī)(thing) 还(hái)(still) 是(shì) 准(zhǔn)的(de),刚才(gāngcái)(just a moment ago)是(shì)你(nǐ) 没(méi)(not)走(zǒu)好(hǎo),不是(búshì)(not) 它(tā) 不(bù)(not) 准(zhǔn)。就(jiù) (just)是(shì) 它(tā)(it) 吧(ba)。以后(yǐhòu)(later, since now)你(nǐ)爸爸(bàba) 走路(zǒulù)(walk) 得(děi)(have to)标准(biāozhǔn)(standard)点儿(diǎnr)(a bit)。
妈妈(māmā),这(zhè) 个(gè)(measure word)东西(dōngxī)(thing)多少(duōshǎo) 钱(qián)(money)啊(ā)?
28(èr shí bā) 元(yuán)。好(hǎo)了(le),我(wǒ) 去(qù) 交钱(jiāoqián)(pay the money),你(nǐ) 再(zài)(again) 带着(dàizhe)(bringing with someone, wearing)它(tā) 走(zǒu)走(zǒu)(walk for a while)。
------

English Version

A gift for Dad’s birthday

(At the department Store)

Mom, what’s this?
Let me have a look. Oh, it’s a gadget for recording steps.
What is it used for?
For recording how many steps you walk.
Dad likes walking. I am going to give this to him at his birthday. I am sure he will like it.
Good, good, let’s have a try. Come on. You try it first. Wait, wait. Ok, Count (steps) when walking.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Let me see how many it is displaying. 8. It is not accurate. Try once again. Walk well.
Mom, should I walk like an armyman?
Not necessary.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15
How many is it showing this time. 14, almost the same. Try again.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10, Mom, it shows just 10.
Good. It is accurate anyway. You just didn’t walk rightly, not the gadget's problem. We will have this one. Your father have to walk in a standard way later on.
Mom, how much money is its price?
28 Yuan. Ok, I ‘ll go for paying. You wear it and have a walk again.
------

儿子的牙要掉了 One of my son's tooth is about to drop
March 25, 2007 07:03 AM PDT

儿子的牙要掉了

儿子:妈妈,我有一颗牙松动了。
妈妈:我想它是要掉了,新的牙很快就要长出来了。
儿子:可是,我一吃饭,它就疼。
妈妈:那怎么办呢?我们去看牙医吧,请他把活动的牙拔掉,你就不用受苦了。
儿子:去医院?我不想去,你帮我把牙拔下来吧。
妈妈:我?我不敢。 过来,让我看看,噢,这颗牙只连着一点点肉了,也许爸爸可以帮忙。
儿子:不,不行!我害怕爸爸给我拔牙。
妈妈:我给你想个办法吧,咱们找一个长点儿的线,把线的一端绑在你的牙上,另一端嘛,比如说,拴在门把手上,然后一关门,你的牙就被拔下来了。
女儿:妈妈,妈妈,我以前看过一个笑话,讲的是一个人想要拔牙,就找了一根绳子,他把绳子的一端拴在要拔的牙上,另一端拴在一匹马上,他希望马一跑就把他的牙拉掉。可是他非常紧张,马一跑,他也跟着跑,他跑得跟马一样快。

A tooth of my son is going to go (drop?)

Son: Mom, I have an unstable tooth. (A tooth of mine is unstable.)
Mother: I think it is about to drop away. A new tooth is going to grow out soon.
Son: But as soon as I eat meal, it hurts.
Mom: What can we do? Let’s go to see a dentist. Let him pull out the loose tooth. Then you will not suffer.
Son: Go to hospital? I won’t. You pull out the tooth for me.
Mom: Me? I dare not. Come here, let me see. Oh, the tooth connects with only little flesh. Maybe Dad can help.
Son: No, no way. I fear dad pull out the tooth for me.
Mom: Let me think and find an idea for you. Let’s look for a bit long thread. Bind one end of the thread to your tooth and the other end to, for example, a doorknob. Then shut the door. Your tooth would be pulled out.
Daughter: Mom, Mom, I read a joke before. It said that a man wanted to pull out his tooth. He found a rope and tied one end to the tooth he would pull and the other end to a horse. He wished that as long as the horse run, the tooth would be pulled out. But he was very nervous. When the horse began to run, he ran too, along with the horse. He ran as fast as the horse. (The corrected translation http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=d4dxh9f_16fcwb68&hl=en)

Some explanations:
一……就……:as soon as, 一 + an action 就+ another action that follows the first one
跟(和)……一样:the same as, as……as
e.g.她长得和她妈妈一样。
中国的月亮跟外国的月亮一样圆。

介绍自己 Introduce oneself, Level A
March 25, 2007 02:49 AM PDT

儿(ér)子(zǐ):你(nǐ)好(hǎo)!我(wǒ)是(shì)阿(ā)豪(háo),我(wǒ)的(de)英(yīng)文(wén)名(míng)字(zì)叫(jiào)Jason。
妈妈(māmā):我(wǒ)是(shì)阿(ā)豪(háo)的(de)妈妈(māmā),叫(jiào)我(wǒ)Ellen吧(ba)。
儿子(érzǐ):我(wǒ)住(zhù)在(zài)北京(běijīng),我(wǒ)是(shì)北京人(běijīngrén)。
妈妈(māmā):我(wǒ)也(yě)住(zhù)在(zài)北京(běijīng),我(wǒ)也(yě)是(shì)北京人(běijīngrén),不过(búguò),我(wǒ)是(shì)在(zài)哈尔滨(hāěrbīn)长大(zhǎngdà)的(de)。
儿子(érzǐ):我(wǒ)家里(jiālǐ)有(yǒu)爸爸(bàba)、妈妈(māmā)、姐姐(jiějiě)和(hé)我(wǒ)。我(wǒ)今年(jīnnián)9(jiu3)岁(suì),我(wǒ)的(de)姐姐(jiějiě)1( shi2)3(san1)岁(suì),我(wǒ)的(de)妈妈(māmā)------
妈妈(māmā):哎(āi),哎(āi),哎(āi),该(gāi)我(wǒ)了(le)。嗯(en),阿(ā)豪(háo)和(hé)爸爸(bàba)是(shì)男(nán)的(de),女儿(nǚér)和(hé)我(wǒ)是(shì)女(nǚ)的(de)。
儿子(érzǐ):对(duì),你(nǐ)的(de)儿子(érzǐ)是(shì)男(nán)的(de),你(nǐ)的(de)女儿(nǚér)是(shì)女(nǚ)的(de)。我(wǒ)想(xiǎng),你(nǐ)最(zuì)好(hǎo)别(bié)说(shuō)了(le)。
妈(mā)妈(mā):好(hǎo)吧(ba),再(zài)见(jiàn)。

儿子(son):你好(Hello)!我(I, me)是(be)阿豪,我的(my, mine)英文(English)名字(name)叫(is, call)Jason。
妈妈(Mom, mother):我是阿豪 的(one’s)妈妈,叫我Ellen 吧(modal word used at the end of a statement)。
儿子:我 住(live)在(in) 北京(Beijing),我是 北京 人(people, person)。
妈妈:我 也(too, either)住在北京,我也是北京人,不过(but),我是 在(in, at) 哈尔滨(Harbin)长大(grow up)的(a word that makes the preceding words adjective) 。
儿子:我家里(in my home, 家:home)有(there be, have)爸爸、妈妈、姐姐(elder sister)和(and)我。我 今年(this year)9岁(years old),我的姐姐13岁,我的妈妈------
妈妈:哎(hey),哎,哎,该(be one’s turn)我 了(something end)。嗯(hum),阿豪和爸爸是 男的(male),女儿(daughter)和我是 女的(female)。
儿子:对(yes, right),你的(your)儿子(son)是男的,你的女儿是女的。我 想(think),你(you) 最好(would better)别(not, stop)说(talk, speak)了。
妈妈:好(good, all right)吧,再见(Bye.再:again;见:see)。

English Version

Introduce self

Son: Hello, I am Ahao. My English name is Jason.
Mom: I am Ahao’s mother. Call me Ellen.
Son: I live in Beijing. I am a Beijinger(I am from Beijing).
Mom: I live in Beijing,too. I am a Beijinger, too. But, I grew up in Harbin.
Son: In my home, there are Dad, Mom, elder sister and me. I am 9 years old this year. My elder sister is 13 years old. My mother------
Mom: ai, ai, ai, my turn. Hum, Ahao and his father are male. My daughter and I are female.
Son: Yes. Your son is male and your daughter is female. I think you’d better stop talking.

(The corrected translation is here http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=d4dxh9f_15g73nd2&hl=en)