Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Chinese Idiom "指鹿為馬" (Zhiluweima; Point to a Deer, Call It a Horse)


December 30, 2009

Since I posted a 成語 (成语, chéngyǔ, idiom) about (马, mǎ, horse), I'm going to post more 成語 related to .
I'm going to call them 馬系列成語 (马 系列 成语, Mǎ Xìliè Chéngyǔ, Horse Series Idioms). :D

CLICK HERE for 馬系列成語 1: 老馬識途 ( Lǎomǎshìtú, an old horse knows the way).

Here's 馬系列成語 2 for you: 指鹿為馬 (指鹿为马, Zhǐlùwéimǎ, point to a deer,call it a horse), means deliberately misrepresent, call a stag a horse, call white black, deliberate deception or distort facts. The script in the video is traditional Chinese.




Script in simplified characters, pinyin and translations, the translations are done by the Chinese characters order so the grammar may not be proper:

指鹿为马, Zhǐlùwéimǎ, Point to a Deer, Call It a Horse

秦 二 世 时, 丞相 赵高 独揽 大权,
Qín èr shì shí, chéngxiàng Zhào Gāo dúlǎn dàquán,
Qin second emperor period (210 BC - 207 BC), prime minister Zhao Gao monopolized power.

但 他的 野心 并 没有 满足, 一 心 想 登上 帝位。
Dàn tāde yěxīn bìng méiyǒu mǎnzú, yī xīn xiǎng dēngshàng dìwèi。
However his ambition at all not has satisfied, entire heart wanted ascend the throne.

"嗯! 我 想 当 皇帝, 有些 大臣 一定 会 反对 的。
"En! Wǒ xiǎng dāng huángdì, yǒuxiē dàchén yīdìng huì fǎnduì de。
Hum! I want to be the emperor, some ministers must will oppose.

嗯, 有 *了!
En ,yǒu le!
Ah, have! ( I have an idea!)
*了 le: completed action marker.

我 得 试试 他们, 然后 *把 他们 提前 铲除。"
Wǒ dě shìshì tāmen, ránhòu bǎ tāmen tíqián chǎnchú。"
I have to try them, then get them in advance eliminated (then get rid of them in advance).
*把 : particle marking the following noun as a direct object.

于是 赵高 牵 了 一 *头 鹿 来 上 早朝。
Yúshì Zhào Gāo qiān le yī tóu lù lái shàng zǎocháo。
Hence Zhao Gao pulled a dear came to the morning court.
*头 tóu: head or classifier for some animals.

大臣们 觉得 很 奇怪, 都 不 明白 赵高 想要 干 什么。
Dàchénmen jdé hěn qíguài, dōu bù míngbái Zhào Gāo xiǎngyào gàn shíme。
Ministers felt very strange, all not understood Zhao Gao wanted to do what.

"*臣 有 一 *匹 千里马, 特 敬献 给 皇帝 陛下。"
"Chén yǒu yī pī qiānlǐmǎ, tè jìngxiàn gěi huángdì bìxià。"
"I have a fine steed, special offer to emperor Your Majesty."
*臣 chén: when talking to the emperor, the ministers say 臣 instead of 我 (, I).
*匹 : classifier for horses.

"哈 哈 哈! 丞相 你 说 错 了,
Hā hā hā! Chéngxiàng nǐ shuō cuò le,
"Hahaha! Prime minister you spoke wrong,

这 明明 是 鹿, 怎么 会 是 马 *呢?"
Zhè míngmíng shì lù, zěnme huì shì mǎ ne?"
This obviously is deer, how will be horse?"
*呢 ne: question particle.

"哼!
"Hèng!
"Humph!

众 大臣 你们 说说, 这 究竟 是 马 还是 鹿 呢? 你们 说!"
Zhòng dàchén nǐmen shuōshuō, zhè jiūjìng shì mǎ háishì lù ne? Nǐmen shuō!"
All ministers you say, this actually is a horse or a deer? You say!"

"阿, 这 是 马!"
"ā, zhè shì mǎ!"
"Ah, this is horse!"

赵高的 亲信 为了 讨好 赵高, 睁著 眼睛 瞎说。
Zhào Gāode qīnxìn wèile tǎohǎo Zhào Gāo, zhēngzhe yǎnjīng xiāshuō。
Zhao Gao's trusted aides in order to fawn on Zhao Gao, opened eyes spoke nonsense.

"这 是 鹿, 这 不 是 马! 不 是 马!"
"Zhè shì lù, zhè bú shì mǎ ! Bú shì mǎ!"
"This is deer, this not is horse! Not is horse!"

耿直的 大臣 也 不 含糊。
Gěngzhíde dàchén yě bù hánhú。
Upright ministers also not vague.

"哼! 咱们 走著瞧!"
"Hèng! Zánmen zǒuzheqiáo!"
"Humph! Let's walk and see (Let's wait and see)!

赵高 暗暗 记下 了 这些 忠 臣 的 名字,
Zhào Gāo ànàn jìxià le zhèxiē zhōng chén de míngzì,
Zhao Gao inwardly recorded down these loyal ministers' names,

后来 藉 故 把 他们 都 杀 了。
Hòulái jiè gù bǎ tāmen dōu shā le。
Later found excuses them all killed (Later found some excuses and killed them all).

成语 指鹿为马 由此 而 来。
Chéngyǔ Zhǐlùwéimǎ yóucǐ ér lái。
Idiom Zhiluweima from this and come (The idiom Zhiluweima is from this story).


Example sentences:

1. 赵高 明明 是 指鹿为马,你们 为什麽 要 附和 他?
Zhào Gāo míngmíng shì zhǐlùwéimǎ ,nǐmen wèishíme yào fùhè tā?
Zhao Gao obviously is zhiluweima, you why must parrot him?

2. 你 指鹿为马, 休想 我 会 支持 你!
Nǐ zhǐlùwéimǎ , xiūxiǎng wǒ huì zhīchí nǐ!
You zhiluweima, don't think I will support you!


Practice writing
: CLICK HERE and hit the brushes next to each character to see the stroke orders. Grab a piece of paper and write them down.




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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

冬至 (Dongzhi, The Winter Solstice) and Chinese Children Song "賣湯圓" ( Mai Tangyuan, Selling Rice Balls )


December 22, 2009

Today is 冬至 Dōngzhì (The Winter Solstice Festival), one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians, a time for the family to get together. Many families are making and eating 湯圓 (汤圆 tāngyuán rice balls) which symbolize reunion.

I didn't get a chance to eat 湯圓 today, I'll have to go to the Asian market to shop some.
Here are some 湯圓 photos which make me 流口水 ( liú kǒushuǐ drooling):
1. 汤圆
2. 茼蒿 豬肉 鹹 湯圓
(茼蒿 猪肉 咸 汤圆 Tónghāo Zhūròu Xián Tāngyuán Crowndaisy Pork Salty Rice Balls)

Here's a Children song "賣湯圓" ( 卖 汤圆 Mài Tāngyuán Selling Rice Balls ) I'd like to share with you. Thanks to Bananaz reminded me the song.


The 小二哥 ( xiǎoèr gē, long time ago in China, people called the server in restaurants
小二 or 小二哥. 小二哥 is more polite.) in the video is cute. The way he throws the rice balls in the pot is pretty cool though it's probably edited.
There's a white flag with "酒" ( jiǔ wine ) on it in the video. It means a place that serve food.
In the beginning of the video, it says
卖汤丸 Mài Tāngwán. 丸 wán is also balls or pills.
Click the 圖片 ( 图片 túpiàn image ) below to open the video page:


歌詞 簡體 中文, 拼音 和 英文 翻譯:
Gēcí jiǎntǐ zhōngwén, pīnyīn hé yīngwén fānyì:
Lyrics in simplified characters, pinyin and English translations:

1.
卖 汤圆, 卖 汤圆
Mài tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Sell rice balls, sell rice balls. (Rice balls for sell, rice balls for sell.)

小二 哥 的 汤圆 是 圆 又 圆
Xiǎoèr gē de tāngyuán shì yuán yòu yuán
The server's rice balls are round and round.

一 碗 汤圆 满 又 满
Yī wǎn tāngyuán mǎn yòu mǎn
One bowl rice balls full and full. ( One bowl of rice balls are full and full.)

三 毛 钱 呀 买 一 碗
Sān máo qián ya mǎi yī wǎn
30 cents buy one bowl. ( 30 cents for a bowl.)

汤圆, 汤圆, 卖 汤圆
Tāngyuán, tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Rice balls, rice balls, sell rice balls. ( Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sell.)

汤圆 一样 可以 当 茶饭
Tāngyuán yīyàng kěyǐ dāng cháfàn
Rice balls same can be used as tea rice. ( Rice balls can be used as meal as well. )

嘿...哟Hēi...yō
Hey...yo ( Yo is used at the end of sentence as exclamation.)

汤圆, 汤圆, 卖 汤圆
Tāngyuán, tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Rice balls, rice balls, sell rice balls. ( Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sell.)

汤圆 一样 可以 当 茶饭Tāngyuán yīyàng kěyǐ dāng cháfàn
Rice balls same can be used as tea rice. ( Rice balls can be used as meal as well. )

2.
卖 汤圆, 卖 汤圆
Mài tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Sell rice balls, sell rice balls. (Rice balls for sell, rice balls for sell.)

小二 哥 的 汤圆 是 圆 又 圆
Xiǎoèr gē de tāngyuán shì yuán yòu yuán
The server's rice balls are round and round.

一 碗 汤圆 满 又 满
Yī wǎn tāngyuán mǎn yòu mǎn
One bowl rice balls full and full. ( One bowl of rice balls are full and full.)

三 毛 钱 呀 买 一 碗
Sān máo qián ya mǎi yī wǎn
30 cents buy one bowl. ( 30 cents for a bowl.)

汤圆, 汤圆, 卖 汤圆
Tāngyuán, tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Rice balls, rice balls, sell rice balls. ( Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sell.)

公平 交易 可以 包 退还Gōngpíng jiāoyì kěyǐ bāo tuìhuán
Fair trade can guarantee return. ( Fair deal with money back guarantee.)

嘿...Hēi...yō
Hey...yo ( Yo is used at the end of sentence as exclamation.)

汤圆, 汤圆, 卖 汤圆Tāngyuán, tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Rice balls, rice balls, sell rice balls. ( Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sell.)

公平 交易 可以 包 退还Gōngpíng jiāoyì kěyǐ bāo tuìhuán
Fair trade can guarantee return. ( Fair deal with money back guarantee.)

3.
卖 汤圆, 卖 汤圆Mài tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Sell rice balls, sell rice balls. (Rice balls for sell, rice balls for sell.)

小二 哥 的 汤圆 是 圆 又 圆Xiǎoèr gē de tāngyuán shì yuán yòu yuánThe server's rice balls are round and round.

要 吃 汤圆 快 来 买Yào chī tāngyuán kuài lái mǎi
Want eat rice balls fast come buy. ( If you want to eat rice balls, hurry come to buy.)

吃 了 汤圆 好 团圆Chī le tāngyuán hǎo tuányuán
Eat rice balls so reunion. ( Eat the rice balls so you can have a reunion.)

汤圆, 汤圆, 卖 汤圆Tāngyuán, tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Rice balls, rice balls, sell rice balls. ( Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sell.)

慢 了 一 步 只怕 要 卖完Màn le yī bù zhǐpà yào màiwán
Slow a step only afraid will sold out. ( I'm only afraid that they will be sold out even if you are only one step behind.)

嘿...Hēi...yō
Hey...yo ( Yo is used at the end of sentence as exclamation.)

汤圆, 汤圆, 卖汤圆Tāngyuán, tāngyuán, mài tāngyuán
Rice balls, rice balls, sell rice balls. ( Rice balls, rice balls, rice balls for sell.)

慢 了 一 步 只怕 要 卖完Màn le yī bù zhǐpà yào màiwán
Slow a step only afraid will sold out. ( I'm only afraid that they will be sold out even if you are only one step behind.)

Practice writing: CLICK HERE and hit the brushes next to each character to see the stroke orders. Grab a piece of paper and write them down.


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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Fun with Chinese Characters


December 15, 2009


I've been thinking about sharing these interesting books with you:
Fun with Chinese Characters Vol. 1, 2 and 3.
These are the most interesting books for Chinese characters I have ever seen.
Click on the book covers below for detail:



Here are sample pages of each book, click on them for larger images:

There are 10 pages in-depth introduction on the genesis of the characters in Vol 1:



Vol 2 page 65, :


CLICK HERE for Chinese idiom: 老馬識途 Lǎomǎshìtú

Vol 3 page 139, :



Vol 1 page 7, :


CLICK HERE for Chinese love song, 回家 Huí Jiā

At the end of vol 3, there's index of all 480 characters in the 3 books and their location:



Here's an awesome video about 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals. You will find out why
* the rat is the first place in the 12, 
* the rat is afraid of the cat,
* 豕 is pig.



The character for the sheep 羊 is messed up with the pig 豕 @ 04:36, thanks to Cyrano for pointing that out. CLICK HERE to see etymology of 羊 (remember to scroll down to see all the different forms).

Practice the 12 animals:

CLICK HERE and hit the brushes next to each character to see the stroke orders. Grab a piece of paper and write them down.

I hope you find them fun and help you understand more characters.
Please post comment below to let me know. ^_^


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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

哇... 我得奖了!! WOW...I Got an Award!!


December 08, 2009

哇... 我得奖了!!
WA ... wǒ dé jiǎng le!!

WOW...I Got an Award!!


What a surprise to me that
the #1 Canadian Blog has given me the Inukshuk Blog Award for Edutainment 2009! Please click the image or the link above to check what the award is about. Thanks to all of you who are supporting me and encouraging me. I will keep doing my best to make this blog better and better!

Here's the video about what an Inukshuk is:





Practice the words I shout out in this post: CLICK HERE and hit the brushes next to each character to see the stroke orders. Grab a piece of paper and write them down.

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