 |
eChineseLearning Newsletter (Jun 10, 2009) |
啃老族 (kĕn lăo zú) Parent-dependent adults
What does it mean?
啃老族(kĕn lăo zú) refers to a group of adults who have a common feature: They stay at home instead of searching for jobs. This group is also called NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in U.K. “啃(kĕn)”means "gnaw," here it is used to vividly describe the group's reliance on their parents. “老”means "the old, the aged." Overall, 啃老族(kĕn lăo zú) means "those people who don't work and totally live off their parents."
Who are they?
啃老族(kĕn lăo zú) is mainly made up of the following groups: some are 大学毕业生(dàxué bìyèshēng) university graduates who don't want to work or are too picky with the job choices, people who often 跳槽(tiàocáo) change jobs, and people who are 失业(shīyè) jobless.
Examples:
越来越多的青年加入到不上学又不工作的啃老族。(yuè lái yuè duō de qīngnián jiārù dào bú shàngxué yòu bù gōngzuò de kĕn lăo zú.)
More and more young people who neither go to school nor go to work have joined the group of Parent-dependent adults.
草根(căogēn) literally means "grass roots." But nowadays, it becomes a symbol of culture. 草根(căogēn) is usually used to define something coming from 基层(jīcéng) the basic level group and 大众(dàzhòng) the masses. These things are spread among common people and have their own status in the society. They are opposite to 主流文化(zhŭliú wénhuà) mainstream culture and 精英文化(jīngyīng wénhuà) elite culture. Mostly, 草根(căogēn) is used with another word, such as 草根明星(căogēn míngxīng)a star from the masses,草根总统(căogēn zóngtŏng)a president with a common background.
Examples:
那个草根作家很受人们欢迎。(nà gè căogēn zuòjiā hĕn shòu rénmen huānyíng.)
The grass-root writer is very popular.
His devotion to his career
成龙(chéng lóng) Jackie Chan is one of the top 功夫(gōngfu) kungfu stars in the world. As an actor, he is respected for his 敬业(jìngyè) high professional devotion. In movie shooting, he never uses 替身(tìshēn) stuntman and always finishes the dangerous actions by himself. His efforts got the recognition all around the world. He once said:
“做人没有目标的话，你永远不会成功！把握你自己的目标，把你所学的东西学好，抓住就去做，总有一天你会成为专家(zuòrén méiyŏu mùbiāo dì huà, nĭ yóngyuăn búhuì chénggōng! băwò nĭ zìjĭ de mùbiāo, bă nĭ suŏ xué de dōngxi xué hăo, zhuāzhù jiù qù zuò, zŏng yŏu yìtiān nĭ huì chéngwéi zhuānjiā.)”
Translation:"people without goals will never succeed. You should know clearly about your goal, try to study hard on what you are learning and finally you will be an expert."
His deep love for motherland
No matter on what occasion, 成龙(chéng lóng) Jackie Chan always likes wearing 唐装(tángzhuāng) clothes originated from Tang Dynasty or 中山装(zhōngshānzhuāng) tunic suits. When asked why, he said:
“我要让别人知道，我是一个中国人(wŏ yào ràng biérén zhī dào, wŏ shì yí gè zhōngguórén.)”
Translation:"I want to tell others that I am a Chinese."
His dream
把中国功夫片发扬到全世界。(bă zhōngguó gōngfupiàn fāyáng dào quán shìjiè.)
Translation: To promote Chinese kungfu movie around the world.
替身 tìshēn： n stuntman
目标 mùbiāo： n a goal, an aim
敬业 jìngyè： v to have high professional devotion
专家 zhuānjiā： n expert, a specialist
发扬 fāyáng： v to promote, to add glory to
Notes:
唐装(tángzhuāng) is a kind of traditional Chinese clothes originated from Tang Dynasty about 1300 years ago. It is known for its softness and gracefulness. 中山装(zhōngshānzhuāng) is another kind of clothes especially designed for easterners according to their figures. First promoted by the great leader Sun Yat-sen, this kind of clothes then got the name 中山装(zhōngshānzhuāng). 中山(zhōngshān) is the given name of Sun Yat-sen.
 |
 |
 |
顾客：请问这条裤子多少钱？
gùkè: qĭngwèn zhè tiáo kùzi duōshăo qián?
Customer: Excuse me, how much are these pants?
售货员：130元。
shòuhuòyuán: yībăi sānshí yuán.
Shop Assistant: 130.
顾客：有折扣吗？
gùkè: yŏu zhékòu ma?
Customer: Any discount?
顾客 gùkè： n customer
售货员 shòuhuòyuán： n shop assistant
折扣 zhékòu： n discount
用法(yòngfă) Usage:
“条”(tiáo) is a qualifier. It is frequently used in phrases like:
“一条围巾”(yì tiáo wéijīn) one scarf
“一条鱼” (yì tiáo yú) one fish
“一条船”(yì tiáo chuan) one boat
顾客：请问这香蕉多少钱一斤？
gù kè: qĭngwèn zhè xiāngjiāo duōshăo qián yì jīn?
Customer: Excuse me, how much are these bananas?
售货员：6元一公斤。这些香蕉很新鲜的。
shòuhuòyuán: liùyuán yì jīn. zhèxiē xiāngjiāo hĕn xīnxiān de.
Shop Assistant: Six yuan per kilogram. These bananas are quite fresh.
顾客：价钱能再少点吗？我需要买很多。
gùkè: jiàqián néng zài shăo diăn ma? wŏ xūyào măi hĕnduō.
Customer: Can it be a little cheaper. I need a lot.
售货员：不好意思，我们这里的商品都是明码标价的。
shòuhuòyuán: bùhăoyìsi, wŏmen zhèlĭ de shāngpĭn dōu shì míngmăbiāojià de.
Shop Assistant: I am sorry; our prices are all final prices.
香蕉 xiāngjiāo： n banana
价钱 jiàqián： n price
明码标价 míngmăbiāojià： adj with final price displayed
顾客：能把那双黑色的跑鞋拿给我看一下吗？
gùkè: néng bă nàshuāng hēisè de păoxié ná gĕi wŏ kànyí xià ma?
Customer: Excuse me; would you show me the black running shoes?
售货员：给您。这双鞋我们还有白色，褐色和蓝色。您还要看看别的颜色吗？
shòuhuòyuán: gĕi nín. zhè shuāng xié wŏmen háiyŏu báisè, hèsè hé lánsè. nín háiyào kànkan biéde yánsè ma?
Shop Assistant: Here you are. The other colors of these shoes are white, brown and blue. Are you interested?
顾客：那我还想看看白色的？我要7号的。
gùkè: nà wŏ hái xiăng kànkan báisè de? wŏ yào qīhào de.
Customer: Can I have a look at the white ones. I need size seven.
售货员：给您。您可以试试。
shòuhuòyuán: gĕi nín. nín kéyĭ shì shì.
Shop Assistant: Here you are. You can have a try.
顾客：挺合适的。请问这鞋子多少钱？
gùkè: tĭng héshì de. qĭngwèn zhè xiézĭ duōshăo qián?
Customer: They are suitable for me. How much are they?
售货员：220元。
shòuhuò yuán: èrbăi èrshí yuán.
Shop Assistant: 220 yuan.
顾客：我觉得有点贵了。能少点吗？
gùkè: wŏ juédé yóudiăn guì le. néng shăodiăn ma?
Customer: It is a little high. Could you cut it down a little bit?
售货员：那就两百吧。
shòuhuòyuán: nà jiù liăngbăi ba.
Shop Assistant: How about two hundreds yuan?
顾客：200元还是有点贵了！160元能卖吗？
gùkè: liăngbăi yuán háishì yóudiăn guì le! yìbăi liùshí yuán néng mài ma?
Customer: It is still a little expensive. Could you sell it at 160?
售货员：不好意思，200是我们的最低价了！这个价钱很值了。这鞋很舒服。
shòuhuòyuán: bùhăoyìsi , liăngbăi yuán shì wŏmen de zuìdījià le! zhè ge jiàqián hĕn zhí le. zhè xié hĕn shūfu.
Shop Assistant: Sorry, 200 is our lowest price. These shoes are very comfortable and worth this price.
顾客：那好吧！我就要这双白色的了。
gùkè: nà hăo ba! wŏ jiù yào zhè shuāng báisè de le.
Customer: OK! I will take the white shoes.
合适 héshì： adj/v suitable/fit
用法(yòngfă) Usage:
“把”(bă)字句式的用法(sentences with the word “把”bă)
In the sentences with “把”(bă), the subject comes before the word “把”bă and the object follows. Sentences with “把”bă is in the active voice.
i.e. 我把那本小说看完了。(wŏ bă nà bĕn xiăoshuō kàn wán le.)
I have finished this novel.
玛丽把房间布置得漂亮极了。(mă lì bă fáng jiān bù zhì dé piàoliàng jí le.)
Mary has delicately decorated the room.
Super Girl is one of the most popular TV shows in China and is quite similar to the American Idol show in the U.S. The program is a 真人秀(zhēn rén xiù) reality competition to discover new music talent. Super Girl is a great chance to produce super 偶像(ŏuxiàng) idol. The 海选(hăixuăn) first audition of the 2009 season Super Girl is currently under the way. It has attracted millions of females above eighteen. Every competition from the first audition to the finals would be broadcasted live. The viewers are able to participate in the judging process by sending text messages on their mobile phones to vote for their favorite contestants. The popularity of Super Girl has inspired the creations of other talent-searching shows.
偶像 ŏuxiàng： n idol
海选 hăixuăn： n first audition
 |
 |
 |
Listen to the tongue twister.
南南有个篮篮， nánnán yŏu gè lánlán,
Nannan has a basket.
篮篮装着盘盘， lánlán zhuāng zhe pánpán,
A plate is in the basket.
盘盘放着碗碗， pánpán fàng zhe wănwăn,
A bowl is in the plate.
碗碗盛着盐盐。 wănwăn chéng zhe yányán.
Salt is in the bowl.
南南搬了篮篮， nánnán bān le lánlán,
Nannan moves the basket.
篮篮扣了盘盘， lánlán kòu le pánpán,
The basket overturns the plate.
盘盘倒了碗碗， pánpán dăo le wănwăn,
The plate topples over the bowl.
碗碗撒了盐盐。 wănwăn să le yányán.
The bowl sprinkles the salt.
拼音(pīnyīn) pin yin: nĭ
笔画(bĭhuà) number of strokes: 7
含义(hányì) meaning: you
笔顺(bĭshun) stroke order:
词源(cíyuán) Etymology: The right part “尔 (ĕr)”of this character is the old form for "you".
部首(bùshŏu) Radical: 亻
常用词语(chángyòng cíyŭ) Frequently-used words or phrases: 你好(nĭhăo) hello / how are you, 你们(nĭmen) you (plural)
The Chinese character 你(nĭ) includes parts of the basic strokes of Chinese characters as following:
Can you complete the Chinese words by filling in the blanks marked with numbers?
Hints:
Horizontal:
①&②every movement and every action
③news
④name
Vertical:
①&④world-famous
②sports
⑤dictionary
Horizontal lines:
① 春(chūn)
② 好(hăo)
③ 点(diăn)
Vertical lines:
⑴ 点(diăn)
⑵ 好(hăo)
⑶ 日(rì)
Still have any questions? Take a Free 1-on-1 live online lesson with our professional teachers from China.
 |
 |
 |
Please do NOT directly reply to this email. If you have any questions or comments or need additional Mandarin learning help, please send your email to: Jennifer.Zhu@eChineseLearning.com. Thank you!
To unsubscribe the eChineseLearning Newsletter, please send email to: unsubscribe@echineselearning.com.