Thursday, September 19, 2013

Tongue Twister in Chinese_Pronunciation Drills_Finals in Pinyin: ang,eng,ong 中文绕口令Zhongwen Rao Kou Lin


huà fènɡ huánɡ

画  凤   凰

Tongue Twister in Chinese:Drawing a phoenix   




xiǎo fānɡ hé xiǎo huánɡ ,
小   方   和 小   黄    ,
Xiao Fang and Xiao Huang

yì qǐ huà fènɡ huánɡ
一 起 画  凤   凰    。
are competing in drawing a phoenix.

xiǎo fānɡ huà huánɡ fènɡ huánɡ ,
小   方   画  黄    凤   凰    ,
Xiao Fang is drawing a yellow phoenix.

xiǎo huánɡ huà hónɡ fènɡ huánɡ 。
小   黄    画  红   凤   凰    。
Xiao Huang is drawing a red phoenix.

hónɡ fènɡ huánɡ hé huánɡ fènɡ huánɡ ,
红   凤   凰    和 黄    凤   凰    ,
Red phoenix and yellow phoenix

yànɡ zi dōu xiànɡ huó fènɡ huánɡ 。
样   子 都  像    活  凤   凰    。
are both like real phoenixes.


画凤凰

小方和小黄,
一起画凤凰
小方画黄凤凰
小黄画红凤凰
凤凰和黄凤凰,
样子都像活凤凰

Translation:

Drawing a phoenix

Xiao Fang and Xiao Huang are competing in drawing a phoenix.
Xiao Fang is drawing a yellow phoenix.
Xiao Huang is drawing a red phoenix.
Red phoenix and yellow phoenix are both like real phoenixes.


Tongue Twister in Chinese,Pronunciation Drills03,Finals in PinYin,ang,eng,ong,中文绕口令,Zhongwen Rao Kou Lin,Drawing a phoenix,画凤凰,huà fènɡ huánɡ

Sunday, September 15, 2013

The Midautumn Festival-Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody" Chinese Poem 明月几时有

shuǐ diào ɡē tóu

水   调   歌 头 

Thinking Of You


sònɡ. sū shì

宋  . 苏 轼 

Song Dynasty.Author:Sushi



mínɡ yuè jǐ shí yǒu
明   月  几 时  有  ,
When will the moon be clear and bright?

bǎ jiǔ wèn qīnɡ tiān 。
把 酒  问  青   天   。
With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.

bù zhī tiān shànɡ ɡōnɡ què ,
不 知  天   上    宫   阙  ,
In the heavens on this night,

jīn xī shì hé nián 。
今  夕 是  何 年   。
I wonder what season it would be?

wǒ yù chénɡ fēnɡ ɡuī qù ,
我 欲 乘    风   归  去 ,
I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.

yòu kǒnɡ qiónɡ lóu yù yǔ ,
又  恐   琼    楼  玉 宇 ,
Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions

ɡāo chù bú shènɡ hán 。
高  处  不 胜    寒  。
are much too high and cold for me.

qǐ wǔ nònɡ qīnɡ yǐnɡ ,
起 舞 弄   清   影   ,
Dancing with my moonlit shadow,

hé sì zài rén jiān 。
何 似 在  人  间   。
It does not seem like the human world.

zhuǎn zhū ɡé ,
转    朱  阁 ,
The moon rounds the red mansion,

dī qǐ hù ,
低 绮 户 ,
Stoops to silk-pad doors,

zhào wú mián 。
照   无 眠   。
Shines upon the sleepless,

bù yīnɡ yǒu hèn ,
不 应   有  恨  ,
Bearing no grudge,

hé shì chánɡ xiànɡ bié shí yuán ?
何 事  长    向    别  时  圆   ?
Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé ,
人  有  悲  欢   离 合 ,
People have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart,

yuè yǒu yīn qínɡ yuán quē ,
月  有  阴  晴   圆   缺  ,
The moon may be dim or bright, round or crescent shaped,

cǐ shì ɡǔ nán quán 。
此 事  古 难  全   。
This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time.

dàn yuàn rén chánɡ jiǔ ,
但  愿   人  长    久  ,
May we all be blessed with longevity,

qiān lǐ ɡònɡ chán juān 。
千   里 共   婵   娟   。
Though thousand miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.


水调歌头
.苏轼

明月几时有
把酒问青天。
不知天上宫阙,
今夕是何年。
我欲乘风归去,
又恐琼楼玉宇,
高处不胜寒。
起舞弄清影,
何似在人间。

转朱阁,
低绮户,
照无眠。
不应有恨,
何事长向别时圆?
人有悲欢离合,
月有阴晴圆缺,
此事古难全。
但愿人长久
千里共婵娟

Translation 2


The Midautumn Festival
Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody"

How long will the full moon appear?
Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.
I do not know what time of the year
It would be tonight in the palace on high.
Riding the wind, there I would fly,
Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be
Too high and cold for me.
I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.
On high as on earth, would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions red
Through gauze-draped window soft to shed
Her light upon the sleepless bed.
Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?
Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;
The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.
There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.
So let us wish that man
Will live long as he can!
Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.
 (by Xu Yuanchong)


The Midautumn Festival,Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody",Chinese Poem,水调歌头,明月几时有,宋朝,苏轼,Thinking of you,Song Dynasty,Author,Sushi

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A famous Chinese Poem: chūn wànɡ 春望 Spring Yearning

 

《 chūn wànɡ 》

《 春   望   》                    

Looking at the Springtime

 

dù fǔ
杜 甫
Du Fu


ɡuó pò shān hé zài ,  
国  破 山   河 在  ,
In fallen States hills and streams are found,
  
chénɡ chūn cǎo mù shēn      
城    春   草  木 深 
Cities have Spring, grass and leaves abound;
      
ɡǎn shí huā jiàn lèi     
感  时  花  溅   泪 
Though at such times flowers might drop tears,
    
hèn bié niǎo jīnɡ xīn 。  
恨  别  鸟   惊   心  。
Parting from mates, birds have hidden fears:
  
fēnɡ huǒ lián sān yuè , 
烽   火  连   三  月  ,
The beacon fires have now linked three moons,

jiā shū dǐ wàn jīn 。 
家  书  抵 万  金  。
Making home news worth ten thousand coins;

bái tóu sāo ɡènɡ duǎn ,  
白  头  搔  更   短   , 
An old grey head scratched at each mishap

hún yù bú shènɡ zān 。
浑  欲 不 胜    簪  。
Has dwindling hair, does not fit its cap!


This is one of the most famous poems in Chinese, by one of China's greatest poets,Du Fu. He lived through a time of brilliant flourishing of the arts, then turmoil and disaster, when the formerly good ruler, Tang emperor Xuanzong, fell in love with his son's wife Yang Guifei, forgot his responsibilities, and eventually was driven into exile by rebels. After years of warfare, he eventually remounted the throne, but the Tang dynasty never recovered its prosperity.


《春望》         Spring Gaze
作者:杜甫   Author:Du Fu               

国破山河在,Nation broken mountain river exist 
城春草木深  City-wall spring grass tree deep   
感时花溅泪  Feel times flower sprinkle tears  
恨别鸟惊心Hate parting bird alarm heart 
烽火连三月,Beacon fire consecutive three month
家书抵万金。Family letter worth ten-thousand gold-pieces
白头搔更短,White hair scratch more short 
浑欲不胜簪。Quite about-to not bear hairpin 


chūn wànɡ 》   Spring Yearning
zuò zhědù fǔ  Author:Du Fu                  

ɡuó pò shān hé zài ,     The country is destroyed but hills and rivers remain;
chénɡ chūn cǎo mù shēn    In the city, spring, with trees and plants thick.
ɡǎn shí huā jiàn lèi      In sorrow at the time, the flowers are splashed with tears;
hèn bié niǎo jīnɡ xīn 。  In grief at separation, the birds alarm the heart.
fēnɡ huǒ lián sān yuè ,  Beacon fires have linked three months;
jiā shū dǐ wàn jīn 。     Family letters are worth ten thousand pieces.
bái tóu sāo ɡènɡ duǎn ,  My white hair, through scratching, is still shorter; 
hún yù bú shènɡ zān 。    It very nearly fails to support my hairpin.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Shaoxing Opera 越剧 Butterfly Lovers 梁祝 - 楼台会 Meeting in pavilion

yuè jù : liánɡ zhù  -  lóu tái huì  

越  剧 : 梁    祝   -  楼  台  会   

Shaoxing Opera:Butterfly Lovers - Meeting in pavilion




  

lóu tái huì
楼  台  会 

shì liánɡ shān bó yǔ zhù yīnɡ tái de ɡù shi zhōnɡ dì qí zhōnɡ yí duàn 。
是  梁    山   伯 与 祝  英   台  的 故 事  中    的 其 中    一 段   。

zài xiǎo tí qín xié zòu qǔ 《 liánɡ zhù 》 zhōnɡ ,
在  小   提 琴  协  奏  曲 《 梁    祝  》 中    ,

lóu tái huì bèi miáo huì dé fēi chánɡ bī zhēn ér qiě ɡǎn rén ;
楼  台  会  被  描   绘  得 非  常    逼 真   而 且  感  人  ;

lìnɡ wài yuè jù 《 lóu tái huì 》 ɡènɡ shì kuài zhì rén kǒu zhī zuò 。
另   外  越  剧 《 楼  台  会  》 更   是  脍   炙  人  口  之  作  。

zhù yīnɡ tái de fù qìnɡ jiɑ shū zhāo zhù yīnɡ tái ɡuī jiā ,
祝  英   台  的 父 亲   家  书  招   祝  英   台  归  家  ,

yīnɡ tái yǔ liánɡ shān bó shí bā lǐ xiānɡ sònɡ dào chánɡ tínɡ 。
英   台  与 梁    山   伯 十  八 里 相    送   到  长    亭   。

lín bié shí zhù jiānɡ “ jiǔ mèi ” ( qí shí jiù shì zhǐ zì jǐ )
临  别  时  祝  将    “ 九  妹  ” ( 其 实  就  是  指  自 己 )

xǔ pèi jǐ liánɡ ( shǔ yú sī dìnɡ zhōnɡ shēn ) ,
许 配  给 梁    ( 属  于 私 订   终    身   ) ,

yuē dìnɡ liánɡ zài qǐ qiǎo zhī rì dào zhù jiā tí qīn 。
约  定   梁    在  乞 巧   之  日 到  祝  家  提 亲  。

hòu lái liánɡ cónɡ shī mǔ nà lǐ zhī dào zhù nǎi nǘ zǐ ,
后  来  梁    从   师  母 那 里 知  道  祝  乃  女 子 ,

ɡāo xìnɡ dì dào zhù jiā qù 。
高  兴   地 到  祝  家  去 。

dàn cǐ shí yīnɡ tái yǐ bèi fù qīn
但  此 时  英   台  已 被  父 亲 

xǔ pèi mǎ tài shǒu zhī zǐ mǎ wén cái 。
许 配  马 太  守   之  子 马 文  才  。

liánɡ lái le yǐ hòu , zhù fù rànɡ yīnɡ tái hǎo shēnɡ quàn wèi liánɡ 。
梁    来  了 以 后  , 祝  父 让   英   台  好  生    劝   慰  梁    。

yú shì liánɡ zhù èr rén zài yīnɡ tái de lóu tái shànɡ xiānɡ huì ,
于 是  梁    祝  二 人  在  英   台  的 楼  台  上    相    会  ,

yīnɡ tái jiānɡ shí qínɡ ɡào su liánɡ ,
英   台  将    实  情   告  诉 梁    ,

liánɡ shí fēn zhèn jīnɡ shānɡ xīn ,
梁    十  分  震   惊   伤    心  ,

yīnɡ tái biǎo shì cǐ xīn yónɡ yuǎn shǔ yú liánɡ ,
英   台  表   示  此 心  永   远   属  于 梁    ,

liǎnɡ rén hù sù xiānɡ sī xiānɡ yuē zhī qínɡ ,
两    人  互 诉 相    思 相    约  之  情   ,

hòu yuē dìnɡ shēnɡ bù tónɡ qīn sǐ tónɡ xué ,
后  约  定   生    不 同   衾  死 同   穴  ,

shānɡ xīn dì fēn shǒu , liánɡ bù jiǔ bìnɡ sǐ ,
伤    心  地 分  手   , 梁    不 久  病   死 ,

yīnɡ tái dé zhī hòu ,
英   台  得 知  后  ,

zài jià wǎnɡ mǎ jiā de nà tiān jīnɡ ɡuò liánɡ de mù ,
在  嫁  往   马 家  的 那 天   经   过  梁    的 墓 ,

kū sù yì fān , tiān dì wéi dònɡ ,
哭 诉 一 番  , 天   地 为  动   ,

mù bèi léi pī kāi , yīnɡ tái tiào jìn mù lǐ ,
墓 被  雷  劈 开  , 英   台  跳   进  墓 里 ,

yǔ liánɡ huà wéi hú dié 。
与 梁    化  为  蝴 蝶  。 

The legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is set in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Zhu Yingtai is a beautiful and intelligent young woman, the ninth child and only daughter of the wealthy Zhu family of Shangyu, Zhejiang. Although traditions of that era discourage females from going to school, Zhu manages to convince her father to allow her to attend classes in disguise as a young man. During her journey to Hangzhou, she meets Liang Shanbo, a scholar from Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing). They chat and feel a strong affinity for each other at their first meeting. Hence, they gather some soil as incense and take an oath of fraternity in the pavilion of a thatched bridge.

They study together for the next three years in school and Zhu gradually falls in love with Liang. Although Liang equals Zhu in their studies, he is still a bookworm and fails to notice the feminine characteristics exhibited by his classmate.

One day, Zhu receives a letter from her father, asking her to return home as soon as possible. Zhu has no choice but to pack her belongings immediately and bid Liang farewell. However, in her heart, she has already confessed her love for Liang and is determined to be with him for all eternity. Before her departure, she reveals her true identity to the headmaster's wife and requests her to hand over a jade pendant to Liang as a betrothal gift.

Liang accompanies his "sworn brother" for 18 miles to see her off. During the journey, Zhu hints to Liang that she is actually a woman. For example, she compares them to a pair of mandarin ducks (a symbol of lovers in Chinese culture), but Liang does not catch her hints and does not even have the slightest suspicion that his companion is a woman in disguise. Zhu finally comes up with an idea and tells Liang that she will act as a matchmaker for him and his "sister". Before they part, Zhu reminds Liang to visit her residence later so he can propose to marry her "sister." Liang and Zhu reluctantly part ways at the Changting pavilion.

Months later, when Liang visits Zhu, he discovers that she is actually a woman. They are devoted to and passionate about each other and they make a vow of "till death do us part". The joy of their reunion is short-lived as Zhu's parents have already arranged for her to marry a man from a rich family called Ma Wencai. Liang is heartbroken when he hears the news and his health gradually deteriorates until he becomes critically ill. He dies in office later as a county magistrate.
On the day of Ma and Zhu's marriage, mysterious whirlwinds prevent the wedding procession from escorting the bride beyond Liang's grave, which lies along the journey. Zhu leaves the procession to pay her respects to Liang. She descends in bitter despair and begs for the grave to open up. Suddenly, the grave opens with a clap of thunder. Without further hesitation, Zhu throws herself into the grave to join Liang. Their spirits turn into a pair of beautiful butterflies and emerge from the grave. They fly away together as a pair of butterflies and are never to be separated again.

The story also inspired the production of Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto, or Liang Zhu Violin Concerto as known in Chinese, a work for violin and orchestra. It was composed by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao in 1958. The piece has been the most musically symbolic retelling of the legend;