炒鱿鱼 (chăo yóu yú) Get fired

In China, when people are fired by their boss, they often like to say "我被炒鱿鱼了(wŏ bèi chăo yóu yú le) I am fired." If foreigners hear this phrase for the first time, they may not understand. Now take a look at the following explanations:

Why say so?
"炒鱿鱼(chăo yóu yú)" first appeared in the south of China, like Guangdong Province. In the 70s and 80s, many "内陆(nèi lù) inland" people went to the coastal area to "谋生(móu shēng) make a living." Employers hired them without providing them with bedclothes, so they had to bring them themselves. When they got fired, they would pack up the bedclothes and left. Then people found that to pack up the bedclothes was quite like the action of frying slices of sleeve-fish to a "卷曲状(juăn qū zhuàng) curly shape." Thus, people used "炒鱿鱼(chăo yóu yú)" to humorously describe this situation.

Only for employees?
In the beginning, "炒鱿鱼(chăo yóu yú)" is used only by those employees who are fired. But now, some people who don't want to work for the current boss and then quit also like using the phrase to express their mood.

e.g.: 老板把我炒鱿鱼了。(lăo băn bă wŏ chăo yóu yú le.)
         My boss fired me.
         我炒老板鱿鱼了。(wŏ chăo lăo băn yóu yú le.)
         I fired my boss.

断背 (duàn bèi) Brokeback

Have you ever seen a movie called "断背山(duàn bèi shān) Brokeback Mountain" directed by Chinese-American director Ang Lee? Do you know what the word "断背(duàn bèi) brokeback" means and where it comes from?

"断背(duàn bèi)" is a new word from the movie. As is shown in the movie, it means "同性恋(tóng xìng liàn) homosexual." Director Ang Lee created the word by himself. He was inspired by a Chinese word "断袖(duàn xiù) cut sleeve" which also refers to "homosexual" but has a long history. An emperor in Western Han Dynasty called Mr. Liu Xin "宠爱(chŏng ài) showed special favor" to his chancellor, Mr. Dong Xian. They ate together and slept together. One day, when they slept, the emperor wanted to stand up, but his sleeve was pressed by Dong Xian, so he cut his sleeve in order not to affect Dong Xian. Afterwards, "断袖(duàn xiù) cut sleeve" was gradually used to refer to the "亲密关系(qīn mì guān xi ) intimate relationship" between two men. Director Ang Lee changed the word to reveal the topic of the movie vividly and after that, 断背(duàn bèi) brokeback has become popular.

内陆 nèi lù： adj inland
谋生 móu shēng： v make a living
卷曲状 juăn qū zhuàng： n curly shape
同性恋 tóng xìng liàn： n homosexuality
宠爱 chŏng ài ：v show special favor to
亲密关系 qīn mì guān xi： n intimate relationship

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Chinese character is one important part to learn Chinese. In the previous issues(June 10, 2009 & June 17, 2009), six kinds of basic Chinese character strokes were introduced: 撇(piĕ) left-falling stroke, 竖(shù) vertical stroke, 捺(nà) right-falling stroke, 横(héng) horizontal stroke, 点(diăn) dot stroke and 提(tí) rising stroke. In this issue, another two kinds of basic strokes will be introduced: turning strokes and hook strokes which must be attached to some other strokes, i.e. dependent strokes.

词源(cí yuán) Etymology: The left part 口 (kŏu) indicates making inquiries and the right part 巴 (bā) is the sound
                                             element.
部首(bù shŏu) Radical: 口(kŏu) mouth
常用词语(cháng yòng cí yŭ) Frequently-used words or phrases: 酒吧(jiŭ bā) pub  

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Beginner Level / 初级chūjí

服务员：先生，您好，您需要点什么？
fú wù yuán: xiān sheng, nín hăo, nín xū yào diăn shén me?
Waiter: Sir, can I help you please?
顾客：我要一份牛排。
gù kè: wŏ yào yī fèn niú pái.
Customer: I'd like a steak.
服务员：好的，请稍等。
fú wù yuán: hăo de, qĭng shāo děng.
Waiter: Ok, wait for a moment, please.

牛排 niú pái： n steak

Intermediate Level / 中级zhōngjí

服务员：欢迎光临！先生，请问您需要点什么？
fú wù yuán: huān yíng guāng lín! xiān sheng, qĭng wèn nín xū yào diăn shén me?
Waiter: Welcome! Sir, can I help you please?
顾客：我想点一些家常菜，你们这都有什么？
gù kè: wŏ xiăng diăn yī xiē jiā cháng cài, nĭ men zhè dōu yŏu shén me?
Customer: Do you have home-style dishes here? I want to order some.
服务员：这是菜单，请您看看。
fú wù yuán: zhè shì cài dān, qĭng nín kàn kàn.
Waiter: This is the menu, please have a look.
顾客：嗯，我要宫保鸡丁，鱼香肉丝，还有西红柿炒鸡蛋。菜里不要放味精，少放辣椒。
gù kè: èn, wŏ yào gōng băo jī dīng, yú xiāng ròu sī, hái yŏu xī hóng shì chăo jī dàn. cài lĭ bú yào fàng wèi jīng, shăo
            fàng là jiāo.
Customer: Well, I want Kung pao chicken, Fish-flavored shredded pork and Scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Please
                     don't add MSG to the dish and have less hot pepper.
服务员：好的，请稍等。
fú wù yuán: hăo de, qĭng shāo děng.
Waiter: Ok, wait for a minute, please.

家常菜 jiā cháng cài： n home-style dishes
味精 wèi jīng： n MSG
辣椒 là jiāo： n chili, hot pepper

Advanced Level / 高级gāojí

顾客：服务员，点菜。
gù kè: fú wù yuán, diăn cài.
Customer: Waiter, I want to order some dishes.
服务员：好的，先生。请问您几位？
fú wù yuán: hăo de, xiān sheng. qĭng wèn nín jĭ wèi?
Waiter: Yes, sir. For how many people, please?
顾客：两位。请把菜单给我。嗯，这个蚂蚁上树是什么菜？
gù kè: liăng wèi. qĭng bă cài dān gěi wŏ. èn, zhè ge má yĭ shàng shù shì shén me cài?
Customer: Two. Menu please. Uh, what is this dish: Ants climbing trees?
服务员：它的主要原料是肉末和粉条，因为肉末在粉条中间，看起来就像是蚂蚁在爬树，所以就有了这个名字。
fú wù yuán: tā de zhŭ yào yuán liào shì ròu mò hé fěn tiáo, yīn wèi ròu mò zài fěn tiáo zhōng jiān, kàn qĭ lái jiù xiàng
                     shì má yĭ zài pá shù, suó yĭ jiù yŏu le zhè ge míng zi.
Waiter: It is mainly made from minced meat and vermicelli. The vermicelli with spicy minced pork looks like ants
              climbing trees. Thus the dish is named “Ants climbing trees.”
顾客：听起来很有趣，我就要它了；再来个麻婆豆腐，多放点辣椒。另外，再要一个清蒸鲈鱼。
gù kè: tīng qĭ lái hěn yŏu qù, wŏ jiù yào tā le; zài lái gè má pó dòu fu, duō fàng diăn là jiāo. lìng wài, zài yào yī gè qīng
            zhēng lú yú .
Customer: It sounds interesting and we'll take it. I also want Mapo Tofu (Stir-Fried Tofu in Hot Sauce) with enough
                     hot pepper. Besides, I want steamed perch with scallion and black beans.
服务员：好的，先生。再来一个我们店里的特色菜—玉米羹怎么样？我想比较合先生您的口味。
fú wù yuán: hăo de, xiān shen. zài lái yī gè wŏ men diàn lĭ de tè sè cài - yù mĭ gēng zěn me yàng? wŏ xiăng bĭ jiào
                      hé xiān sheng nín de kŏu wèi.
Waiter: Ok, sir, how about our specialty Thick corn soup? It must suit your taste.
顾客：好，来一个，再拿两瓶啤酒。
gù kè: hăo, lái yī gè, zài ná liăng píng pí jiŭ.
Customer: Ok. We'll take it and please give us two bottles of beer.
服务员：好。二位请稍等，菜一会儿就上来了。
fú wù yuán: hăo, èr wèi qĭng shāo děng, cài yí huì erjiù shàng lái le.
Waiter: Yes, sir. Please wait for a minute. The dishes will be served very soon.

原料 yuán liào： n raw material
肉末 ròu mò： n minced pork
口味 kŏu wèi： n taste
特色菜 tè sè cài： n specialty

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In Chinese, the surname comes first and then the given name. The full name of a Han Chinese is composed of two parts: the surnames and the given name.

Surnames
A Chinese surname (姓 xìng) refers to one of the over seven hundred family names used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups. The term the hundred family names (百姓 băi xìng) is colloquially used in Chinese to mean people/commoners. Chinese surnames are mainly passed from the father.

Given names
Generally speaking, Chinese given names have one or two characters, and are written after the family name. When a baby is born, parents often give him or her a "pet name" (乳名rŭ míng) or "little name" (小名xiăo míng), such as Little Gem (小宝xiăo băo) or two characters that repeat "Ming Ming" (明明míng míng). The given name is then usually chosen later and is often chosen with consultation of the grandparents.

As mentioned earlier, in Chinese, the surname comes first and then the given name. Therefore "John Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John." For instance, the NBA star Yao Ming should be addressed as "Mr. Yao", not "Mr. Ming."And people like to add“小 (xiăo)” before family name, such as“小王(xiăo wáng) ,” “小郑(xiăo zhèng) ,” “小李 (xiăo lĭ)” and so on. In calling their superiors or elders, the Chinese are accustomed to the nonreciprocal or asymmetrical addressing. They use “title +surname” to address their superior or elders rather than call them surnames (e.g. Professor Wang), while the superior or elders call the addressers their names directly. The Chinese tend to abide by the principle of depreciating oneself and respecting others to show appropriate respects towards the persons being addressed. Otherwise, the addresser may be considered as ill mannered, ill educated or rude.

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What are the necessities to survive the heat in hot summer days? In this section, we are going to introduce you how to talk about some common summer necessities in Chinese.

(1) 太阳镜 (tài yáng jìng) sunglasses
       你需要买一副太阳镜吗？nĭ xū yào măi yí fù tài yáng jìng ma?
       Do you need a pair of sunglasses?

(2) 止汗露(zhĭ hàn lù) antiperspirant
       在夏季，我每天都用止汗露。zài xià jì, wŏ měi tiān dōu yòng zhĭ hàn lù.
       In summer, I use antiperspirant everyday.

(3) 防晒霜(fáng shài shuāng) sun block
       你用什么牌子的防晒霜？nĭ yòng shén me pái zi de fáng shài shuāng?
       What is the brand of your sun block?

"太阳镜(tài yáng jìng)" is counted by "副(fù)," which is used as a quantifier here. There are three meanings when 副 (fù) is used as a quantifier. It can mean " a set," such as "一副耳环(yí fù ěr huán)" a set of ear-rings, "一副棋(yí fù qí)" a set of chess. "副(fù)" can also mean"a pair of, "such as"一副眼镜(yí fù yăn jìng)" a pair of glasses, "一副手套(yí fù shŏu tào)" a pair of gloves.

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In the previous issue (June 17, 2009), the story ended with "At that time, a wolf came…" Let's see what happens next:

1. 狼来到猪老大的房子前，一口气就把猪老大的草房吹倒了。猪老大只能向猪老三的砖头房子跑去。
    láng lái dào zhū lăo dà de fáng zi qián, yī kŏu qì jiù bă zhū lăo dà de căo fáng chuī dăo le. zhū lăo dà zhĭ néng
     xiàng zhū lăo sān de zhuān tóu fáng zi păo qù.
    The wolf came to the eldest pig's thatch cottage and blew it down. The eldest pig then ran to the brick house for
    help.

2. 这只狼又来到猪老二的房子前，很快就把猪老二的木房也吹倒了。猪老二也只好向猪老三求救去了。
    zhè zhī láng yòu lái dào zhū lăo èr de fáng zi qián, hěn kuài jiù bă zhū lăo èr de mù fáng yě chuī dăo le. zhū lăo èr
    yě zhĭ hăo xiàng zhū lăo sān qiú jiù qù le.
    The wolf came to the second eldest pig's log house and blew it down. The elder pig also ran to the brick house
     for help.

3. 狼知道那间砖头房子里有三只猪，可是怎么也打不开这间用砖头盖的房子。这时，狼看到了房顶上的烟囱。于是，他
     就准备从烟囱爬进房子里面去。
    láng zhī dào nà jiān zhuān tóu fáng zi lĭ yŏu sān zhī zhū, kě shì zěn me yě dă bù kāi zhè jiān yòng zhuān tóu gài de
    fáng zi. zhè shí, láng kàn dào le fáng dĭng shàng de yān cōng. yú shì, tā jiù zhŭn bèi cóng yān cōng pá jìn fáng zi lĭ
    miàn qù.
    The wolf knew there were three pigs in the brick house but failed to open the door. He found there was a
     chimney on the roof and decided to go inside the house from the chimney.

4. 三只猪很团结也很聪明。他们就在房子里烧起火来。从烟囱里冒出的火苗烧焦了狼的尾巴。狼吓得再也不敢来找三只
     小猪了。
     sān zhī zhū hěn tuán jié yě hěn cōng míng. tā men jiù zài fáng zi lĭ shāo qí huŏ lái. cóng yān cōng lĭ mào chū de
     huŏ miáo shāo jiāo le láng de wěi ba. láng xià dé zài yě bù găn lái zhăo sān zhī xiăo zhū le.
     The three pigs were quite united and smart. They made a fire in the house and the flame of the fire from the
     chimney burnt the wolf's tail. Since then, the wolf dare not came to the pigs' house any more.

5. 猪老大和猪老二也从这件事情中吸取了教训。他们也给自己盖了坚固的砖房，并且从此很努力地工作，过上了幸福的
    生活。
    zhū lăo dà hé zhū lăo èr yě cóng zhè jiàn shì qíng zhōng xī qŭ le jiào xùn. tā men yě gěi zì jĭ gài le jiān gù de zhuān
    fáng, bìng qiě cóng cĭ hěn nŭ lì de gōng zuò, guò shàng le xìng fú de shēng huó.
    The eldest pig and the second eldest pig have learned a lesson this time. They went home and also built a brick
    house for themselves. Since then, they have worked hard and lived a happy life.

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Instructions: Fill in the blanks

Hints:
Horizontal:
⑴to lease
⑵children ∕ sons and daughters
⑶child

Vertical:
①to devote
②rent a house (topic of the conversation in the previous issue of Newsletter)
③daughter ④childhood

Answer keys to the crossword in the previous issue (June 10, 2009):

Horizontal:
①流(liú)
②词(cí)
③法(fă)

Vertical:
⑴流(liú)
⑵法(fă)

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Learn Chinese Tip III: Learning Chinese characters comes just after learning Pinyin. To learn Chinese characters, you can read books, such as Fun with Chinese Character, which explains the structure and meaning of each character with illustrations and little stories.

Learn Chinese Tip IV: Most characters are built of components which represent physical items. Thus, try to build up mental images featuring the components for each character, meanings of the characters and the pronunciation.

More helpful tips to learn Chinese?Join our program to learn Chinese in summer.

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