Learning Chinese through Stories

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2.1.8B 故事解读《小猴子下山》 Sep 06, 2016

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下山 xiàshān Verb phrase, to go downhill 上山，to go uphill 块 kuài Measure word for "farming field", a square unit of a farming field 一块巧克力,a piece of chocolate 玉米 yùmǐ Noun, corn 地 dì Noun, farming field 玉米地，corn field 结 jiē Verb, (fruit, flower) grow(s) 玉米结得又大又好。The corn is big and good. 又……又…… yòu……yòu…… ...(adj) and …(adj) 又大又红,big and red 掰 bāi Verb, to break in the middle with one's hands 掰玉米，to pick up corns(break off corn cobs) 扛 káng Verb, to carry on one's shoulder 扛着枪， to carry the gun on the shoulder 着 zhe Particle word, verb+ 着， it means some action is taking place at that moment 吃着饭，while someone is eating meal 扛着枪， while someone is carrying the gun 棵 kē Measure word for tree(s) 桃树 táo shù Noun, peach tree 底下 dǐxia Noun, the place that is underneath; the place that is under… 桃树底下有很多桃子。 Under the peach tree, there are a lot of peaches. （桌子）底下有一本书。 There is a book under the table. 满树 mǎn shù Noun phrase, the whole tree 满天，the whole sky 满眼，the whole vision 扔 rēng Verb, to throw 摘 zhāi Verb, to pick up (fruit, flower) 摘草莓，to pick strawberries 捧 pěng Verb, to hold or carry with both hands 捧腹大笑，to laugh one's head off 片 piàn Measure word for "farming field", an area of a farming filed 瓜 guā Noun, melon 西瓜，water melon 哈密瓜，honey kiss melon 抱 bào Verb, to hold with one's upper body and both hands; to hug 蹦蹦跳跳 bèng bèng tiào tiào Verb phrase, bouncing and vivacious 真 zhēn Adv, really. 真+adv 可爱 kě'ài Adj, cute 追 zhuī Verb, to chase 跑（进） pǎo (jìn) Verb, to run (into) 树林 shùlín Noun, forest 不见了! bú jiàn le Gone! (Cannot be seen!) 只好 zhǐhǎo One has not choice but… 小猴子只好回家。The little monkey has no choice but to go home. 空 kōng Verb, to empty; adj, empty 空手， empty hands New words and grammatical structures in the story are being taught in this episode. A lot of repetitions are used so that our learners can get master this story in no time! Enjoy the lesson and please find the new word list on our website: www.learningchinesethroughstories.com

1.3.10B 故事解读《乌鸦喝水》 Sep 06, 2016

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乌鸦 wūyā Noun, crow 口渴 kǒu kě Adj, (mouth is) thirsty or 渴到处 dàochù Adv, everywhere 瓶子 píngzi Noun, bottle 可是 kěshì Conjunction word, but; however. Or 但是，然而瓶口 píng kǒu Noun, the mouth of a bottle 着 zháo Particle word, an action to be complete. Verb + (不 )+着。喝(得)着,can get to drink… 喝不着，cannot get to drink… 怎么办 zěnme bàn What should (I/he/she/they) do now? 呢 ne Question particle word, at the end of this sentence softens it and makes it more polite. 你喝水呢还是喝可乐呢？Would you like to drink water or coca? 旁边 pángbiān Noun, (someone or some object's )side 她在我的旁边。She is next to me. 小石子 xiǎo shízǐ Noun, pebble(s) Or 小石子儿办法 bànfǎ Noun, solution 放（进） fàng (jìn) Verb, to put… ( inside…) 把小石子放进瓶子里。Put pebbles inside the bottle. 渐渐 jiànjiàn Adv, gradually; little by little 升高 shēng gāo Verb, to go up 降低(jiàngdī)is the anonym New words and grammatical structures in the story are being taught in this episode. A lot of repetitions are used so that our learners can get master this story in no time! Please find the new word list on our website: www.learningchinesethroughstories.com

1.3.10A 故事《乌鸦喝水》 Sep 06, 2016

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This is a classic fable story about a thirsty crow trying to figure out how to get a drink from a water bottle that only has a little bit water inside. 一只乌鸦口渴了，到处找水喝。乌鸦看见一个瓶子，瓶子里有水。可是，瓶子里水不多，瓶口又小，乌鸦喝不着水。怎么办呢？乌鸦看见旁边有许多小石子，想出办法来了。乌鸦把小石子一个一个地放进瓶子里。瓶子里的水渐渐升高，乌鸦就喝着水了。 ——摘自小学一年级语文课本

2.2.9B 故事解读《掩耳盗铃》 Sep 02, 2016

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从前 cóngqián Noun, long time ago 挂着 guàzhe Verb phrase, (something) is hanging on (somewhere) 门上挂着一个铃铛。墙上挂着一幅画。铃铛 língdāng Noun, bell 偷 tōu Verb, to steal 小偷，thief 明明 míngmíng Adv, (someone knows something)clearly 她明明知道吃巧克力会发胖，晚上还吃了两包巧克力。碰 pèng Verb, to touch (usually without permission) 别碰我！Don't touch me! 丁零丁零 dīngling dīngling Onomatopoeia, the sound of a bell 铃铛"丁零丁零"地响。响 xiǎng Verb, (alarm, instrument) make a certain sound 被 bèi Passive word, Object + 被 + subject + verb/verb phrase. 铃铛被人偷了。The bell is stole by someone. 发觉 fājué Verb, to come to know; to be aware that… 掩 yǎn Verb, to cover 伸 shēn Verb, to stick out 捂 wǔ Verb, to cover 比喻 bǐyù Verb, to analogize; Noun, analogy 这个成语比喻做事要实事求是。This idiom analogizes that one should seek the truth from facts. 欺骗 qīpiàn Verb, to lie to; to cheat or 骗却 què Conjunction word, but; however or 可是，但是了 liǎo Particle word, action is complete 去得了，can go(the action of going can be complete) 去不了, cannot go(the action of going cannot be complete) 自欺欺人 zìqīqīrén Chengyu, deceive oneself and [as well as] others New words and grammatical structures in the story are being taught in this episode. A lot of repetitions are used so that our learners can get master this story in no time! Please find the new word list on our website: www.learningchinesethroughstories.com

2.2.9A 成语故事《掩耳盗铃》 Sep 02, 2016

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This Chengyu (Chinese idiom) story is about a thief who was stealing a bell with a hand covering his ear. He thought if he covered his ear, then the bell owner would not hear the bell ring either. This Chengyu is used to describe someone who is being dishonest with himself/herself. 从前，有一个人，看见人家大门上挂着一个铃铛，想把它偷走。他明明知道，那个铃铛只要用手一碰，就会丁零丁零地响起来，就会被人发觉。可是他想：响声要耳朵才能听见，如果把耳朵掩起来，不是就听不见了吗？他掩住了自己的耳朵，伸手去偷那个铃铛。谁知手刚碰到铃铛，就被人发觉了。掩耳盗铃：捂住耳朵去偷铃。比喻自己欺骗自己，却骗不了别人。做人、做事都不能自欺欺人。

2.2.8B 故事解读《自相矛盾》 Sep 02, 2016

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古时候 gǔ shíhòu Noun phrase, ancient times 古代的时候朝代 cháodài, noun,dynasty 矛 máo Noun, spear 长矛, long spear 盾 dùn Noun, shield the same with 盾牌(pái) 街上 jiē shàng On the street 街上，有人卖水果，有人卖衣服。叫卖 jiàomài Verb, to announce publicly as for sale 举 jǔ Verb, to hold up 举手，have one's hand up 举起…来， to raise…up 夸口 kuākǒu Verb, to brag; to boast or夸下海口锐利 ruìlì Adj, sharp (this word is used to describe sharp weapons, such as spear, knife and etc.) 不论什么……都…… búlùn shénme……dōu…… Conjunction, all of …(noun) apply to ...(verb/adj phrase) 不论什么巧克力我都吃过。I have tasted all sorts of chocolates. 戳穿 chuōchuān Verb phrase, to pierce through 戳得穿, can be pierced through 戳不穿，cannot be pierced through 坚固 jiāngù Adj, sturdy 哑口无言 yǎ kǒu wú yán Chengyu, speechless 比喻 bǐyù Verb, to analogize; Noun, analogy 这个成语比喻做事要实事求是。This idiom analogizes that one should seek the truth from facts. 前后不符 qiánhòu bùfú Verb phrase, the latter statement does not correspond with the former statement 你说的这些前后不符。What you said has not been consistent. 互相 hùxiāng Adv, Multually or 相互抵触 dǐchù Verb, to be in conflict 实事求是 shíshìqiúshì Chengyu, be honest about what one's doing/working on; seek the truth from facts 夸大其词 kuādàqící Chengyu, to extravagate what one is talking about boast; to brag 否则 fǒuzé Conjunction, or else… New words and grammatical structures in the story are being taught in this episode. A lot of repetitions are used so that our learners can get master this story in no time!

2.2.8A 成语故事《自相矛盾》 Sep 02, 2016

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This is an Chengyu (Chinese idiom) story about an ancient street vendor who was being inconsistent while advertising for his spear and shield. Spear and shield were thus used to describe contradictions since then. 古时候，有一个人，一手拿着矛，一手拿着盾，在街上叫卖。他举起矛，向人夸口说："我的矛锐利得很，不论什么盾都戳得穿！"接着又举起盾，向人夸口说："我的盾坚固得很，不论什么矛都戳不穿它！" 有人问他："用你的矛戳你的盾，会怎么样呢？"他哑口无言，回答不出来了。自相矛盾：用自己的矛戳自己的盾。比喻说话、做事前后不符，互相抵触。说话、做事要实事求是，不能夸大其词，否则只会自相矛盾。

2.2.7B 故事解读《上海"70后"城管101次无偿献血救人》 Sep 01, 2016

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上海 Shànghǎi Chinese metropolitan city, Shanghai 70后 70 hòu Noun phrase, people who were born during 1970-1979 80后，90后，00后，10后城管 chéngguǎn Noun, Chinese urban management officer 次 cì Noun, time(s) 一次，once 两次， twice 三次， three times 无偿 wúcháng Adv, voluntarily 献血 xiànxiě Verb phrase, to donate blood 救 jiù Verb, to save one's life "救命(mìng)！"means "Help!" 眭 Suī Noun, surname (uncommonly seen) 区 qū Noun, district 土生土长 tǔshēngtǔzhǎng Adj, to be born and grow up in the local community 个头 gètóu Noun, a person's height synonym or 个子黝黑 yǒuhēi Adj, tanned skin color (usually caused by outdoor physical work) 话语 huàyǔ Noun, utterance 话语不多， quiet 留着 liúzhe Verb phrase, 留着 +name of hair style 留着长发/短发/平头小平头 xiǎo píngtóu Noun phrase, flat(hair style) or平头坚持 jiānchí Verb, to persist; to keep doing without quitting 再坚持一下! Be persistent, you will finish it soon. 来 lái Particle word, a period of time word+来 : in the past a period of time 10年来，in the past ten years 捐献 juānxiàn Verb, to donate 这个公司给学校捐献了10万元钱。This company donated 100,000 dollars to the school. 全血 quánxiě Noun, whole blood 累计 lěijì Verb, to add up 毫升 Háoshēng Noun, milliliter 升，liter 血小板 xuèxiǎobǎn Noun,Blood platelet 人份 rénfèn Noun, serving 5人份，servings for 5 people 熟悉 shúxī Adj, familiar 我和他不熟悉。I am not familiar with him. 传为佳话 chuán wèi jiāhuà chengyu，to become a favorite tale 制服 zhìfú Noun, uniform 穿梭 chuānsuō Verb, to walk through 穿梭在城市里, to walk through the city 街头 jiētóu Noun, street 队员 duìyuán Noun, team player 脱下 tuō xià Verb phrase, to take off (clothing items) 瘦小 shòuxiǎo Adj, skinny and small (use to describe a figure) 微不足道 wēibùzúdào 成语，too tiny/ordinary to be noticed/mentioned 普普通通 pǔ pǔtōng tōng Adj, orginal form is 普通，ordinary 啥 shá Pronoun, (colloquial form) what? Origins from dialect word in northeast part of China 做什么？=干啥？憨厚 hānhòu Adj, simple and honest New words, sayings and grammatical structures in the story are being taught in this episode. A lot of repetitions are used so that our learners can get master this story in no time!

2.2.7A 新闻故事《上海"70"后城管101次无偿献血救人》 Sep 01, 2016

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Chinese Chengguan (urban management officers) usually have a very bad reputation. Check at today's news story about an awesome Chengguan doing good deeds by donating blood for 101 times in 10 years and the reason why he is doing this. 上海"70后"城管101次无偿献血救人 2016年8月29日，上海，眭庆是一名城管，在静安新城十区工作。37岁的他是土生土长的上海人，个头不高，黝黑的脸，话语不多，留着小平头。从2006年起，眭庆坚持无偿献血，10年来，眭庆已捐献全血7次累计2600毫升，血小板94次累计178人份，在熟悉他的人中传为佳话。眭庆，穿上城管制服，他是穿梭在城市街头的一名城管队员；脱下制服，瘦小的他显得微不足道,普普通通。就是这样一个普通的年轻人，101次无偿献血救人。要问眭庆献血到底为了啥？憨厚的他笑着说："不为别的，想着能救人一命就觉得快乐。" ——摘自腾讯新闻http://news.qq.com/a/20160901/007808.htm#p=1

3.3.2A故事《他的深圳故事》 Aug 31, 2016

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This is a real story about a Chinese man, one of the many who are working hard and trying to make more money for their family at Shenzhen. Shenzhen is a metropolitan city in Guanggong, where there are many big manufacturers, such as Foxconn, which assembles apple products. Many Chinese people from other parts of the country come to work, in pursuit of more money and a good life. 他的深圳故事作者：周雨施深圳市宝安区观澜镇蚌岭村，大小工厂星罗棋布，随之而来的是大量的外来廉价劳动力。他是其中之一，二十多岁时南下，进入一个生产耳机的厂工作。在村里租了一间老旧的平房，每个月130元，有了落脚的地方。十五年以后，他仍住这里。七年前妻子也来了，房子外面桌上放了台小电视，悄悄架了天线，晴天的时候能看到十几个台，房子里面是床，煤气炉。地方虽小，五脏俱全。墙上挂着一支笛子，蒙上厚厚的灰。"太久不吹了，老婆觉得吵。"他拭去灰尘，拿着笛子，几次靠近嘴边，最终还是拒绝了我听一曲的愿望。这笛子，或许会永远挂着吧。他是我奶奶的侄女婿，我应该称他表姑爷。为了多赚几百块，他们夫妇总是加班。供两个孩子读书、养活农村的父母，这就是动力。十五年，回家过了两次春节。每年加班到腊月二十九，买不到火车票，汽车票又抬价太高。"太不划算，回家一趟要花好多钱。"他说。大儿子中考考上了县的高中，于是奖励他暑假来深圳玩，也就来过一次。小女儿养在外公家，只有在电话里才能听到声音。谈到未来，他笑着说："肯定不会永远在这里。"珠三角转型升级的号角响起，他所在的厂已经有车间转移到惠州。他会不会一同搬走？不知道。他不甘心的是在这个厂子做了十多年，精明的台湾老板没有给员工他们买养老保险。他只去过深圳市区几次，高物价令他望而却步。一年复一年，生活在蚌岭，自行车可以达到的范围就是活动区域。蚌岭村口，一道铁栅栏横亘路中央，一侧是铁门挡道的新村，当地农民的别墅，光鲜的轿车，戒备森严，一侧是旧村，老房子，低矮的白墙黑瓦，随意进出。新旧之间有令："未经允许，禁止入内。" 故乡，永远回不去的地方。城市，永远融不进的地方。蚌岭，就是落脚的地方。然而，生活，看不到起伏，也看不到希望。不远处，就是亚洲最大的观澜高尔夫球场，无数新贵在蓝天白云青山绿水之间，扭动腰肢，挥汗如雨，挥金如土…… 文章出处：http://www.infzm.com/content/85202

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