我的神啊 (wŏ de shén a)

Where does it originate?
“我的神啊”(wŏ de shén a) first became popular from a hot Chinese TV series武林外传(wŭ lín wài zhuàn "My Own Swordsman")as a pet phrase of Tong Xiangyu, the owner of Tongfu tavern. Then it has been widely spread on the internet. Actually,“我的神啊”(wŏ de shén a) is the assonance of Shaanxi dialect 额滴神啊(é dī shén a).

Where is it used?
Because of its dialect-originated feature, “我的神啊”(wŏ de shén a) is usually used in informal circumstances and among familiar people. You may not say it to someone whom you have never met before or who has a higher rank than you. It is impolite.

Examples:
Someone eventually gets an offer after a long time of job-hunting, she may say:
我的神啊，终于找到工作了。(表示激动)
wŏ de shén a, zhōng yú zhăo dào gōng zuò le. (biăo shì jī dòng)
Oh, God, I finally get an offer. (express excitement)

A man and a woman got married, but people around them never thought it would happen.
They may say:
我的神啊，他们结婚了!(表示惊讶)
wŏ de shén a, tā men jié hūn le! (biăo shì jīng yà)
My god, they got married! (express astonishment)

你太有才了 (nĭ tài yŏu cái le)
First appearing in a sketch performed by Chinese actors Zhao Benshan, Song Dandan and Niu Qun in CCTV 2007 Spring Festival Gala Evening, the phrase你太有才了(nĭ tài yŏu cái le)then became very popular among Chinese young people.

“才(cái)”in this phrase means "talent, ability to do something special. 太(tài)means "too, excessively". And the whole phrase你太有才了(nĭ tài yŏu cái le)means "you are too talented, you are too competent."

Examples:
这部电影很成功，导演太有才了。(表示称赞)
zhè bù diàn yĭng hěn yŏu qù, dáo yăn tài yŏu cái le. (biăo shì chēng zàn)
This movie is very successful. The director is too talented. (express praise)

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Kobe is one of the best-known NBA players in China. In 2009, he started writing his Chinese blog on Sina.com, the most popular internet portal in China (disclosure: eChineseLearning is also the only Chinese language provider for Sina). He recently wrote:

"中国真的是我最喜欢的地方之一。(zhōng guó zhēn de shì wŏ zuì xĭ huan de dì fang zhī yī.)"
Translation: "China is really one of my favorite places in the world."

During the Beijing Olympic Games in 2009, he told the media:

"中国就像我的第二故乡，在这儿我感到宾至如归。中国人的热情支持总是激励着我打好篮球。(zhōng guó jiù xiàng wŏ de dì èr gù xiāng, zài zhè ér wŏ găn dào bīn zhì rú guī. zhōng guó rén de rè qíng zhī chí zŏng shì jī lì zhe wŏ dă hăo lán qiú.)"
Translation: "China is like my second hometown. Here I feel at home when away from home. The enthusiasm and support of Chinese is always a huge motivation for me to perform better and better."

The following is an interview excerpt between Kobe and CCTV journalist Xiaojie:

科比：我爱北京，爱这座伟大的城市，北京作为主人，成功演绎了奥运会，来到北京我非常快乐。
kē bĭ: wŏ ài běi jīng, ài zhè zuò wěi dà de chéng shì, běi jīng zuò wéi zhǚ rén, chéng gōng yăn yì le ào yùn huì, lái
           dào běi jīng wŏ fēi cháng kuài lè.
Kobe: I love Beijing and it is a great city. As the host of the Olympics, Beijing did a successful job. I'm very happy to
            be here.
小节：你的家人和朋友怎么看待这次北京之行？
xiăo jié: nĭ de jiā rén hé péng you zěn me kàn dài zhè cì běi jīng zhī xíng?
Xiaojie: How do your family members and friends think of this trip to Beijing?

科比：我的家人和朋友对我此次来到北京参加奥运会感到非常骄傲，这是我整个家族的荣誉。
kē bĭ: wŏ de jiā rén hé péng you duì wŏ cĭ cì lái dào běi jīng cān jiā ào yùn huì găn dào fēi cháng jiāo ào, zhè shì wŏ
           zhěng gè jiā zú de róng yù.
Kobe: They are very proud of my taking part in Beijing Olympics. It is the honor of my whole family.
小节：你最喜欢吃什么中国菜？
xiăo jié: nĭ zuì xĭ huan chī shén me zhōng guó cài?
Xiaojie: What is your favorite Chinese dish?

科比：饺子，非常好吃。
kē bĭ: jiăo zi, fēi cháng hăo chī.
Kobe: Dumplings, very tasty.
小节：烤鸭呢？
xiăo jié: kăo yā ne?
Xiaojie: How about Peking duck?

科比：切成薄片沾上糖，非常美味。
kē bĭ: qiē chéng báo piàn zhān shàng táng, fēi cháng měi wèi.
Kobe: If sliced and added sugar, it would be very delicious.
小节：你能用中文问候一下我们的观众吗？
xiăo jié: nĭ néng yòng zhōng wén wèn hòu yí xià wŏ men de guān zhòng ma?
Xiaojie: Can you say hello to our audience in Chinese?

科比：早上好。
kē bĭ: zăo shang hăo.
Kobe: Good morning.

故乡 gù xiāng： n hometown
宾至如归 bīn zhì rú guī： adj feel at home when away from home
荣誉 róng yù： n/v honor
饺子jiăo zi： n dumplings
北京烤鸭 běi jīng kăo yā： n Peking duck
切 qiē： v slice, cut
问候 wèn hòu： v/n say hello to, greet

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HUSBAND
Women usually call their husbands as“老公(lăo gōng)”and “孩子他/她爸(hái zi tā/tā bà).” These two terms are quite informal and colloquial. “老公(lăo gōng)”refers to the man with whom a woman will live a long time together (i.e.: get old together). In this term,“老(lăo)”means "old" and “公(gōng)”refers to male. “孩子他/她爸(hái zi tā/tā bà)”; directly means "my kids' father," “他(tā)”is the equivalent word of "he," and “她(tā)”means "she."
 “先生(xiān sheng)”also means "husband" and is very formal.
e.g. 你是找我家先生吗？(nĭ shì zhăo wŏ jiā xiān sheng ma?)
        Are you looking for my husband?

Actually, besides the meaning of "husband," this term has broad usages. The male teachers have also been called "先生(xiān sheng)." People entitle these distinguished and honorable person as "先生(xiān sheng)," such as accomplished scientists, politics and literary greats.

“丈夫(zhàng fu)”is a widely used term referring to "husband" (formal). The general meaning of “夫(fu)” means "male."

 “爱人(ài ren)” also means "husband". “爱(ài)”means "love," and "人(rén)"means "person." The combination of “爱(ài)”and “人(rén)” literally means "the person you love." This term can also refer to "wife." So the introduction “这是我的爱人(zhè shì wŏ de ài ren)” "This is my husband/wife." can be used both by wives and husbands.

WIFE
“老婆(lăo po)” refers to the woman with whom a man will live a long time together (i.e., get old together).
 “孩子她/他妈(hái zi tā/tā mā)” is the equivalent term as “孩子他/她爸(hái zi tā/tā bà),” and the meaning is "my kids' mom." That is, my kids' mom is my wife.
“屋里的(wū lĭ de)”: This term describes a wife to be "the woman staying in the house." “屋(wū)” means "the house." “里(lĭ)”is a preposition and means "in."
“妻子,夫人,太太(qī zi, fū rén, tài tai)”: These three terms are used to address married women in formal situations. “妻子(qī zi)”is generally used along with “丈夫(zhàng fu).” “夫人(fū rén) ”and “太太(tài tai)”show more respect to the married women than do other terms.

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Imagine this: A beautiful and cool girl is standing opposite a young man. He puts on his new clothes, plays his guitar and sings his favorite songs to attract her attentions. Here is a song expressing a boy's loneliness and complex feelings in this situation. It is a very popular Karaoke song in China!
Listen to this SONG.

对面的女孩看过来 duì miàn de nǚ hái kàn guò lái A girl standing opposite me looks over here

对面的女孩看过来    duì miàn de nǚ hái kàn guò lái    A girl standing opposite me looks over here
看过来，看过来    kàn guò lái,     kàn guò lái      Look over here, Look over here
这里的表演很精彩     zhè lĭ de biáo yăn hěn jīng căi    The performances here are wonderful
请不要假装不理不睬    qĭng bú yào jiă zhuāng bù lĭ bù căi    Please don't pretend to be cold

对面的女孩看过来    duì miàn de nǚ hái kàn guò lái    A girl standing opposite me looks over here
看过来，看过来    kàn guò lái, kàn guò lái    Look over here, Look over here
不要被我的样子吓坏    bú yào bèi wŏ de yàng zi xià huài      Don't be scared by my appearance
其实我很可爱      qí shí wŏ hěn kě ài      Actually I am very cute
寂寞男孩的悲哀      jì mò nán hái de bēi āi      The single boys' loneliness
说出来，谁明白      shuō chū lái, shuí míng bai      Could never be cared even I share with people
求求你抛个媚眼过来      qiú qiú nĭ pāo gè mèi yăn guò lái      Please girl, pay attention to me
哄哄我逗我乐开怀      hŏng hŏng wŏ dòu wŏ lè kāi huái      and I'll be very happy
我左看右看，上看下看      wŏ zuŏ kàn yòu kàn, shàng kàn xià kàn      I keep looking around
原来每个女孩都不简单      yuán lái měi gè nǚ hái dōu bù jiăn dān      And find that every girl is not so simple
我想了又想，我猜了又猜      wŏ xiăng le yòu xiăng, wŏ cāi le yòu cāi      I keep guessing girls' minds
女孩们的心事还真奇怪   nǚ hái men de xīn shì hái zhēn qí guài    And find it is hard to get what these girls are thinking
寂寞男孩的苍蝇拍      jì mò nán hái de cāng ying pāi      The lonely boy's fly paddle
左拍拍，右拍拍      zuŏ pāi pāi, yòu pāi pāi      is beating from right to left
为什么还是没人来爱      wèi shén me hái shì méi rén lái ài      Why is there no girl fall in love with me
无人问津，真无奈      wú rén wèn jīn, zhēn wú nài     I am helpless with my loneliness

对面的女孩看过来     duì miàn de nǚ hái kàn guò lái      A girl standing opposite me looks over here
看过来，看过来     kàn guò lái，kàn guò lái     Look over here, look over here
寂寞男孩情窦初开      jì mò nán hái qíng dòu chū kāi      I am lonely and just arrived at my puberty
需要你给我一点爱     xū yào nĭ gěi wŏ yì diăn ài       I need a girl's love
我左看右看，上看下看      wŏ zuŏ kàn yòu kàn, shàng kàn xià kàn      I keep looking around
原来每个女孩都不简单      yuán lái měi gè nǚ hái dōu bù jiăn dān      And find that every girl is not so simple
我想了又想，我猜了又猜      wŏ xiăng le yòu xiăng, wŏ cāi le yòu cāi      I keep guessing girls' minds
女孩们的心事还真奇怪   nǚ hái men de xīn shì hái zhēn qí guài  And find it is hard to get what these girls are thinking
我左看右看，上看下看      wŏ zuŏ kàn yòu kàn, shàng kàn xià kàn      I keep looking around
原来每个女孩都不简单      yuán lái měi gè nǚ hái dōu bù jiăn dān      And find that every girl is not so simple
我想了又想，我猜了又猜      wŏ xiăng le yòu xiăng, wŏ cāi le yòu cāi      I keep guessing girls' minds
女孩们的心事还真奇怪   nǚ hái men de xīn shì hái zhēn qí guài   And find it is hard to get what these girls are thinking

第一天上班 dì yì tiān shàng bān First day of work

李强：你好，你是新来的吧？如果我没记错，你叫杰克，对吗？
             nĭ hăo, nĭ shì xīn lái de ba? rú guŏ wŏ méi jì cuò, nĭ jiào jié kè, duì ma?
Li Qiang: Hello, aren't you a newcomer here? And if I'm not mistaken, you must be Jack, right?

杰克：是的，这是我第一天上班。
             shì de, zhè shì wŏ dì yì tiān shàng bān.
 Jack: Yes, I am. It's my first day here.

李强：你好，我是这个公司的总经理，我叫李强！
             nĭ hăo, wŏ shì zhè ge gōng sī de zŏng jīng lĭ, wŏ jiào lĭ qiáng!
Li Qiang: How do you do! I am the general manager of this company and my name is Li Qiang.

杰克：您好，李总，久仰您的大名。
             nín hăo, lĭ zŏng, jiú yăng nín de dà míng.
Jack: How do you do! Mr. Li, I've heard a great deal about you.

李强：不敢当，很高兴见到你！
             bù găn dāng, hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nĭ!
Li Qiang: I am afraid that is an overstatement. Good to meet you.

杰克：见到您我也感到非常荣幸。
             jiàn dào nín wŏ yě găn dào fēi cháng róng xìng.
Jack: Pleasure to meet you, too.

李强：你是美国人，对吧？你的汉语讲得很不错！
             nĭ shì měi guó rén, duì ba? nĭ de hàn yǚ jiăng dé hěn bú cuò!
Li Qiang: You are American, aren't you? But your Chinese is pretty good!

杰克：哦，谢谢，您过奖了！
            ò, xiè xiè, nín guò jiăng le!
Jack: Oh, thanks, I am flattered.

李强：我代表我们公司全体员工欢迎你的加入。
             wŏ dài biăo wŏ men gōng sī quán tĭ yuán gōng huān yíng nĭ de jiā rù.
Li Qiang: I would like to welcome you on behalf of all the staff in this company.

杰克：真是万分感谢您！初来乍到，以后要让您费心了，请您多多关照！
             zhēn shì wàn fēn găn xiè nín! chū lái zhà dào, yĭ hòu yào ràng nín fèi xīn le, qĭng nín duō duō guān zhào!
Jack: Thanks a million. Since I just got here, please take care of me in the future.

李强：你太客气了。我希望你在这里工作愉快！
             nĭ tài kè qi le. wŏ xī wàng nĭ zài zhè lĭ gōng zuò yú kuài!
Li Qiang: Not at all. I hope you will enjoy your stay here.

杰克：谢谢，我相信我会的。
            xiè xiè, wŏ xiāng xìn wŏ huì de.
Jack: I appreciate that. And I bet I will.

久仰 jiú yăng：v hear much about somebody
荣幸 róng xìng：a be honored
费心 fèi xīn：v give a lot of care
初来乍到 chū lái zhà dào：n have just arrived
关照 guān zhào ：v/n care/attention/concern
客气 kè qi：a courteous

用法(yòng fă) Usage:

过奖(guò jiăng) and不敢当(bù găn dāng)
Under certain circumstances, both of “过奖(guò jiăng)” and “不敢当(bù găn dāng)” refer to over praise and undeserved compliment. Thus these two phrases are used to express modesty when hearing other's compliments. "You" is the subject of “过奖(guò jiăng)” and "I " is the implied subject of “不敢当(bù găn dāng)”. In China, we usually say “您过奖了！(nín guò jiăng le!)” or “过奖了！(guò jiăng le!)”or“不敢当！(bù găn dāng!)”

你(nĭ) and 您(nín)
“你(nĭ)” and “您(nín)” are two personal pronouns in Chinese which are represented by the same word "you" in English. “您(nín)” is the respectful form of “你(nĭ)” and is often used to call those who are older or have a higher rank. Both of the words have plural forms: “你们(nĭ men)” and “您们(nín men).”

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Listen to this SONG now.

数字歌 (shù zì gē)   Number song：

一二三三二一，yī èr sān sān èr yī,
One two three three two one,
一二三四五六七， yī èr sān sì wǚ liù qī,
One two three four five six seven,
五六七呀八九十，wŭ liù qī ya bā jiǚ shí,
Five six seven eight nine ten,
十九八七六五四，shí jiǚ bā qī liù wŭ sì,
Ten night eight seven six five four,
六五四呀三二一，百千万。 liù wŭ sì ya sān èr yī, băi qiān wàn.
Six five four three two one, hundred thousand ten thousand.

Instructions: Fill in the blanks

Hints:
Horizontal lines:
①celebrate the Spring Festival on the first lunar month
②a greeting used when people meet in the morning
③things like cakes or deserts

Vertical lines:
⑴breakfast
⑵an auspicious greeting during the Spring Festival
⑶memorial days or traditional days to celebrate or offer sacrifices to ancestors such as The Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-autumn Festival

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