tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110749092011-10-27T22:50:07.687-07:00davidnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-33621214017131534222009-12-20T06:40:00.000-08:002009-12-20T06:48:18.294-08:00[IMG]http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt274/bobalogalogalog/DSC08939.jpg[/IMG]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3362121401713153422?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-79772987463292547592009-02-23T23:01:00.000-08:002009-02-23T23:02:01.334-08:00I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again - Stephen Grellet<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7977298746329254759?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-22000230966755151452009-02-23T22:43:00.000-08:002009-02-23T22:45:00.300-08:00Under the wide and starry sky, <br />Dig the grave and let me lie. <br />Glad did I live and gladly die, <br />And I laid me down with a will. <br />This be the verse you grave for me: <br />Here he lies where he longed to be; <br />Home is the sailor, home from sea, <br />And the hunter home from the hill. <br /><br />Robert Louis Stevenson<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2200023096675515145?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-35283493663681722002009-02-23T22:40:00.000-08:002009-02-23T22:41:00.562-08:00They fuck you up, your mum and dad.<br /> They may not mean to, but they do.<br />They fill you with the faults they had<br /> And add some extra, just for you.<br /><br />But they were fucked up in their turn<br /> By fools in old-style hats and coats,<br />Who half the time were soppy-stern<br /> And half at one another's throats.<br /><br />Man hands on misery to man.<br /> It deepens like a coastal shelf.<br />Get out as early as you can,<br /> And don't have any kids yourself.<br /><br />Philip Larkin<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3528349366368172200?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-82557761068852357202008-10-12T03:51:00.000-07:002008-10-12T03:52:29.474-07:00DD <br /><br />A – yi1, (er4, san1, si4, wu3<br />liu4, qi1, ba1, jiu3, shi2)<br />Abandon – paoqi<br />Able – hui4<br />Ta1men5 jue2de5 wo3 <br />ying1gai1 hui4 jiang3<br />zhong1wen2.<br />Ability – neng2li4<br />Wo3 bu4 neng2 na2 hen3 <br />zhong4 de5 dong1xi1. <br />About (concerning) - guan1yu2<br />(apox.) – da4gai4 de5<br />Absorb - xi1shou1<br />Absolutely – jue2dui4<br />Absolutely impossible –<br />Jue2dui4 bu4 ke3neng2<br />Abstract – chou1xiang4<br />Abusive – nue4dai4 <br />Academic – xue2shu4 de5<br />Ache – teng2<br />Accent - kou3yin1<br />Accept – jie1shou4<br />Accident – Yi4wai4<br />qiang1diao4<br />Accomplish – cheng2ji4<br />According to – an4zhao4…<br />pai2lie4<br />Zhei4xie1 shu1 shi4 <br />an4zhao4 <br />nei2rong4 pai2lie4<br />(These books are arranged <br />according to subject)<br />Gen1ju4 tian1qi4 yu4bao4, <br />jin1tian1 xia4wu3 you3 yu3<br />(According to the weather <br />report <br />Accupunctue – zhen1jiu3<br />it will rain this afternoon) <br />Acoustic guitar – bu4 <br />dian4 ji2ta1<br />Act – biao3yan2<br />Bu2 yao4 zhe4yang4<br />Ni3 biao3xian4 qu1 lai2 de5<br />shi4 zhe4 yang4zi5 <br />Acting - yan3ji4<br />Action movie – dong4zuo4 pian4<br />Action Verb - xing2dong4 <br />dong4ci2<br />Active - zhu3dong4 <br />Actor - yan3yuan2<br />Actress – nu:3 yan3yuan2<br />Adapt – shi4ying1<br />Ni3 hen3 kuai4 jiu4 neng2 <br />shi4ying1<br />(You can adapt quickly)<br />Add – fu4jia1<br />Addicted – shang4yin3<br />Ta1 chi1 an1mian2 yao4 <br />sheng4ying3<br />(He is addicted to sleeping <br />pills.)<br />Address – di4zhi3<br />Adjective - xing2rong2ci2<br />Adjust – tiao2zheng3<br />Tiao2zheng3 jia4ge2<br />Admire – xin1shang3<br />(Wo3) pei4 fu3 ni3<br />Admit – cheng2ren4<br />Wo3 ying1gai1 cheng2ren4 wo3<br />shuo1 zhong1wen2 de5 neng2li4<br />bu2 shi4 fei1chang2 hao3.<br />( I should admit my Chinese <br />speaking ability isn’t that<br />great.) <br />Adult – cheng2ren2<br />Advanced – gao1ji2<br />gao1ji2 ke4cheng2<br />(advanced lesson)<br />fa1da2<br />(as in advanced technologies)<br />Adventure Journal – <br />mao3xian3 ri4ji4<br />Mei3 yi1 ci4 mao4xian3 hui4<br />xian1 yong4 da4bu4fen4 <br />jian3dan1 wei4lai2shi4 <br />xie3xia5 yi1ge5 gu4shi4 <br />guan1yu2 wo3men5 zhen1 <br />yao4 zuo4 de5 shi4qing5. <br />Jian3dan1 wei4lai2shi4<br />you4 “be” dong4ci2 jia1 <br />“going to” (huo4zhe3 will) <br />jia1 yuan2xing2 dong4ci2. <br />Dang1 wo3men5 zai4 <br />mao4xian3 shi2wo3men5 <br />hui4 yong4 da4bu4fen4 <br />xian4zai4jing4xing2shi4 <br />lu4yin1. <br />Xian4zai4jing4xing2shi4 <br />you3 “be’ dong4ci2 jia1 <br />dong4ci2 “ing” de5 xing2shi4. <br />Dang1ran2 shi4qing5 bu2 <br />hui4 xiang4 wo3men5 yu4ce4 <br />de5 yi4mo4 yi2yang4. <br />Ran1hou4 wo3men5<br />hui4 yong4 da4bu4fen4 <br />jian3dan1 guo4qu4shi4 <br />xie3xia4 fa1sheng1 <br />de5 shi4qing5. Wo3 hui4 <br />wen3 ni3 wen4ti2 you3 <br />guan1yu3 wo3men5 xie3xia5 <br />jian3dan1 guo4qu5 de5 <br />gu4shi5. Zui4hou4 wo3men5 <br />hui4 lu4yin4 wo3men5 <br />yong4 guo4qu4shi4 xie3xia5 <br />de5 gu4shi5. <br />Adverb - fu4ci2<br />Advice – jian4yi4 <br />Aesthetic – mei3xue2<br />Affair (issue) – shi4<br />Wo3 gen1 ni3 shuo1 yi1 <br />jian4 shi4 <br />Affect – ying2xiang3<br />Affectionate – mo4mo4<br />Afford – <br />Wo3 fu4 bu4 qi3<br /> or <br />Wo3 mai3 bu4 qi3<br />(I can’t afford it.)<br />Wo3 mai3 de5 qi3 <br />(I can afford it.)<br />zu1 bu4 qi3<br />(can’t afford the rent)<br />After – yi3hou4<br />Zuo4wan2 gong1ke4 <br />yi3hou4 ni3 shang4 nar3 qu4<br />Afternoon – xia4wu3<br />Mei3 yi1 ge5 xia4wu3 you3<br />xia4yu3<br />Africa – fei1zhou1<br />Age – nian2ling2<br />Agent – jing1ji4ren2<br />Ago – qian2<br />Ba1 nian2 qian2<br />(eight years ago)<br />hen3 jiu3 yi3qian2<br />(a long time ago)<br />liang3 ge4 xing1qi1 yi3qian3<br />(two weeks ago)<br />Aggressive – qing1 lue4 <br />xing4<br />Agree – tong2yi4<br />Agreement – xie2yi4<br />Ahead – qian2tou2/ qian2mian4<br />You3 yi4 bai3 zhu3 ren2 zai4<br />wo3men5 qian2mian4.<br />Aids – ai4zi1bing4<br />Aim (v.) – miao2zhun3<br />Ta1 yong4 qiang1 miao2zhun3 <br />ba3zi5.<br />He aimed at the bull’s eye.<br />(goal) – mu4biao1/ mu4di4<br />Ni3 de5 sheng1huo2 <br />mu4biao1 shi4 shen2me5 <br />Air – kong1qi4<br />Air conditioned – kong1tiao2<br />Air-conditioner – leng3qi4<br />Air pollution - kong1qi4<br />wu1ran3<br />Airport – fei1ji1chang3 <br />Alarm clock – nao4zhong1<br />Alcohol – jiu3<br />Alive – huo2zhe5 de<br />All – mei2/suo3you3 de5/<br />quan2bu4<br />Ni3 you3 quan2bu4 xue2 <br />guo4 ma5<br />(all day) - zheng3 tian1<br />All you can eat – chi1 dao4 bao3/<br />Wu2 xian4 liang4<br />Alley – xiang4zi5<br />Allergic – guo4min4<br />Almost (aprox.) – cha4bu5<br />duo1<br />(not quite) – ji1hu1 <br />Allow – yun3xu3 <br />Almost – ji1hu1/ cha1 yi4 <br />dian3<br />cha1 bu4 duo1<br />Wo3 ji1hu1 shen2me5 dou1 <br />bu4 dong3. <br />Wo3 ji1hu1 cong2lai2 mei2you3<br />gen1 wo3 de5 xue2sheng1 zai4<br />ke4chang2 zhong1 kan4 dian4ying3. <br />Alone – yi2 ge5 ren2<br />Xiang3 yao4 yi2 ge5 ren2<br />I want to be alone)<br />Alphabet - zi4mu3<br />Alphabetical order – (zhao4)<br />ying1wen2 zi4mu4 de5 <br />xun4xu4<br />Already – yi3jing1<br />duo1….le5<br />Duo1 kai1 shi2 wu3 fen1 <br />zhong1 le5.<br />(It started fifteeen minutes<br /> ago.)<br />Although - sui1ran2<br />Sui1ran2 ta1 hen3 yan2ge2<br />dan4 ta1 hen3 gong1ping2<br />Always – zhong3shi4 <br />Ambitious – qi4 tu2 xing1<br />Ambiguous - yi4yi4 bu4<br />ming2que4 de5<br />Ambulance – jiu4hu4che1<br />Amuse – shi4 kuai4le5<br />Analyze – fen1xi<br />Angry – sheng1qi4<br />Bie2 shen1 wo3 de5 qi5.<br />Animal – dong4wu4<br />Anticipate – yu3qi2<br />Yu3qi2 hui4 you3 wen4ti2<br />(anticipate the problems)<br />Apologize – bao4qian4<br />Approximately – da4gai4<br />mo2leng2-liang3ke1 <br />Analogous - xiang1si4 de <br />Analyze - fen1xi1<br />And – he2/ tong2/ gen<br />Angle – (high) gao1 jioa3 du4<br /> (low) di1 jiao3 du4<br />Anonymous – ni4ming2 <br />Answer - hui2da2<br />Ni3 shuo3 buo1 de5 dian4hua4<br />wu2 ren2 hui2yin. <br />Antacid – xiao1 lien4 yao4/<br />wei4yao4<br />Antecedent – xian1xing2ci2<br />Antiperspirant – zhi3han4ji4<br />(stop sweat liquid) <br />Antique – gu3dong3<br />Anything – ren4he2 dong1xi1/<br />Shen2me5 dong1xi1<br />Ni3 yao4 wo3 dai4 shen2me5 <br />dong1xi1 hui2 jia2 ma5<br />(Do you want me to bring <br />anything home?)<br />Shuo1 shen2me5 duo1 hao3<br />(Say anything you want.) <br />Anyone – ren4he2 ren2 <br />Anyway - bu4guan3 zen3me <br />shuo1<br />Apartment – gong1yu4 <br />Apartment building – <br />gong1yu4 <br />da4lou2/<br /> jian4zhu2 <br />Apathetic –<br />Appearance – wai4xing2<br />Appointment – yue1ding4/<br />yue1hui4 <br />Appreciate – gan3xie4<br />Approximate – da4gai4 de5<br />Arbitrary - wu3duan4<br />Area – fu4jin4/ di4qu1<br />Zai4 nei4ge5 fu4jin4<br />(in that area)<br />Argue – chao3jia4<br />Bie2 gen1 wo3 zhen1lun4<br />Arm – ge3bo5<br />Art – yi4shu4<br />Artist – yi4shu4jia1<br />Artistic – yi4shu4 de5<br />Art work – zuo4ping2<br />As – <br />As long as –<br />Zhi2yao4….jiu4….<br />As much as…<br />Wo3men5 ying1gai1 shi4zhe5<br />jin4liang4 gen1 bi3ci3 shuo1<br />Zhong1wen2.<br />We should speak Chinese to<br />each other as much as <br />possible. <br />Ashamed – xiu1 chi3 de5<br />Asia – ya4zhou1/ya3zhou1<br />Asipirin – as1si1pi1lin2 <br />Assertive –<br />Asses – ping2gu1<br />Wo3 zhi3shi4 yao4 ping2gu1 <br />ni3 de5 Ying1wen2, bu2 yao4<br /> kao3shi4 <br />Assessment - ping2jia4/<br />shui4kuan4/fa2kuan4<br />Assistant – zhu4li3<br />Association - lian2jie2<br />Assume - jia3she4<br />Zhu3ci2 gen3 dong4ci2 <br />chang2chang2 gen1ju4 <br />shang2xia4wen2 bei4 <br />jia3she4,(te4bie2 zai4 <br />ming4ling4 gen1 <br />duan3 de5 hui2da2)<br /><br />You3shi2hou4 zhu3ci2 shi4<br />jia3she4 de5<br /><br />You3shi2hou4 dong4ci2 shi4<br />jia3she4 de5<br /><br />You3shi2hou4 zhu4dong4ci2 <br />shi4 jia3she4 de5.<br /><br />At – zai4 <br />(..least) – zhi4 shao3 <br />(..that time) – Na4 shi2hou5<br />Atmosphere – qi4fen4<br />Attack – gong1ji2<br />Attentive – zhu4yi4 de5/<br />xi4xing1 jiu1dao4<br />Attitude – tai4du5<br />ATM – zi4dong4 qu3kuan3ji1<br />Auction – pai1mai4 <br />Audience - guan1zhong4<br />Audition –<br />Aunt – a1yi2<br />Australia – Ao4da4li4ya4<br />Authentic – di4dao4 de5<br />Author – zuo4zhe3/ zuo4jia1<br />Authority – chuan2li4<br />Autobiography – zi4zhuan4<br />Autonomous – zi4fa1xin4<br />Ni3 bi4xu1 cheng2wei2 yi2<br />ge5 zi4fa1xin4 de <br />xue2xi2zhe3<br />Autumn – qiu1tian1<br />Auxiliary Verb - zhu4 <br />dong4ci2<br />Available – ke3(yi3) yong4 de<br />Ke3 da2dao4<br />Average – ping2jun1/yi4ban1<br />Avoid – tao2bi4<br />( ~ responsibility) tao2bi4 ze2ren4 <br />Award - <br /><br />Bachelor’s degree –<br />Xie2shi4xue2wei4<br />Back (of body) – bei4/ <br />bei4bu4<br />Back up vocals –<br />ling4 chang4 ge1 shou3<br />Bake – kao3 <br />Bakery – mian4bao1 dian4<br />Ball – qiu2<br />Balls - ((have you got? <br />(‘from seed’)) –<br />you3 mei2 you3 zhong3 <br />Balance - ping2heng2<br />Bamboo – zhu2zi5<br />Banana – xiang1jiao1<br />Band – yue4dui4 <br />Band – aid – bong4dai4<br />Bangkok – man4gu3<br />Bank – yin2hang2<br />Banker – yin2hang2jia1<br />Banker – yin2hang2jia1<br />Based on – gen1ju4<br />Gen1ju4 zhei4ge5 <br />qing2kuang4 cai2 wo3 <br />de5 yi4si5 <br />Ni3 chang2chang2 ke3yi3<br />gen1ju4 shang4xia4wen2<br />cai1 ci2 yi4.<br />Basic – ji1ben3 de<br />ji1ben3 de5 bu4 zhong3shi4 <br />jian3dan1 de5<br />Basketball – lan2qiu2 <br />Bass - di1yin1<br />Bass guitar – di1yin1 <br />ji2ta1 <br />(from) Beginning to end – <br />cong2 tou2 dao4 wei3<br />Bathing suit – you3yong3yi1 <br />Battery – dian4chi2<br />(is dead) – mei3dian4<br />Become – bian4<br />Bedroom – fang2zi5<br />Beach – sha1tan1/ hai3tan1<br />Beans – dou4<br />Beard – hu2zi3<br />Beat – qiao1 (v.)<br /> - jie2pai1 (n.)<br />Beatles – pi2tou2si4<br />Beautiful – mei3li4/ <br />piao4liang5<br />Beauty pagent –<br />Xuan3mei3 bi3sai3<br />Become – bian4cheng2<br />Bed – chuang2<br />Beginner – chu1ji2 <br />chu1ji2 ke4cheng2<br />(beginner lesson)<br />Beef – niu2rou4 <br />Before – zhi1qian2 /yi3qian2<br />- Yi3qian2 wo3 jiao1shu1<br />- Zhei4 wei4 shi4 wo3 <br />yi3qian2 de5 tong2shi4<br />San1 tian1 yi3qian2 ta1 <br />diu1le5 yi4 ba5 yu3san3<br />Hen3jiu3 hen3jiu3 yi3qian2 <br />you3 yi2 wei4 mei3li4 de5 <br />gong1zhu3 <br />Ta1 shui4jiao4 yi3 qian2 <br />chang2 chang2 ting1 <br />yin1yue4<br />Yi3qian2 chi1 zao3can1 liang2<br />ti3zhong<br />Behave (oh..)! – yao4 guai1<br />guai1 <br />Behaviour – xin2wei2<br />Qu3xiao4 de5 xin2wei2<br />(shaming behaviour) <br />(well ~ ed) – guai2<br />Ni3 hen3 guai2 <br />Belt – pi2dai4 <br />Bent – wan1qu1<br />Be Verb - be dong4ci2<br />Bet – da3du3<br />Better – geng4hao3<br />Wo3 zhu4 zai4 zhe4li3 ba1<br />nian2 suo3yi3 wo3 de5 <br />zhong1wen2 ying4gai4 yao3<br />geng4hao3. <br />I’ve lived here 7 years so <br />my Chinese should be better.<br />Ni3 hui4 (able) xue2zhe5 <br />(ing de zhe5) zuo4 de5 <br />geng4hao3.<br />(You are learning to do it <br />better.)<br />(had ~) – zui4hao3<br />Betray – bei4pan4<br />Bias –<br />Bid – chu1jia4/ jing4biao1<br />Big – da4<br />How ~ ? – duo2 da4<br />All ~ . duo1 da4 <br />Bicycle – jiao3ta4che1<br />Bid – chu1jia4/jing1biao4<br />Biology – sheng1wu4xue2<br />Bird – niao3<br />Birthday – sheng1ri4<br />Birth certificate – chu1sheng1<br />zhang4<br />Bi-sexual – shuang1xing4lian4<br />Bite – yao3<br />(sting) – ding1<br />Bitter – ku3 de5<br />(meta.) – tong4ku3 de<br />Black – hei1se4 de5<br />Black pepper – hei1hu2jiao1<br />Blame – ze2guai4<br />Blanket – mian2bei4<br />Bleed – liu2xue4<br />Blind – xia1 de5 <br />Blockbuster – bai3shi4da2<br />Blog – bu4luo4ge2<br />(bo2ke2)<br />Blood – xue4<br />Blue – lan2se4<br />Blues - lan2diao4 yin1yue4<br />Boat – chuan2<br />Bob –shang4xia4/ji2dong4<br />Body – shen1ti3<br />( ~ language) – zhi1ti3 <br />yu3yan2 <br />Body odour – han4 chou4 <br />Body oil – ru3yi4<br />Boil – zhu3 kai1<br />Boob job – long2xiong1<br />Book – shu1<br />Ta1men5 bu2 hui4 you3<br />wo3 de5 shu1. <br />Bookshelf – shu1jia1<br />Border – guo2jie4 <br />Born – chu1sheng1<br />Na4ge5 hai2zi5 shi4 long2 <br />nian2 chu1sheng1 de5<br />That baby was born in the <br />year of the dragon<br />Ni3 shen2me5 shi2hou5 <br />sheng1 xiao1hai2zi<br />When are you going to <br />have a baby?<br />Ta1 zai4 fa1guo5 <br />chu1sheng1 de5 <br />Borrow – jie4 (yong4)<br />Wo3 ke3yi3 jie4 yi4 zhi1 <br />bi3 ma5<br />Both – dou1<br />Ni3 ke3yi3 duo1 xue2. <br />Bother – ma2fan1<br />Box – he2zi2<br />Brag – da4hua4<br />Ta1 de5 da4hua4 wo3 <br />ting1gou4 le5<br />Brain – nao3zi5<br />Brave – yong3gan3<br />Break (come to pieces) <br />- da3po4 <br />Wo3 da3po4 bou1li2.<br />(I broke the glass) <br />(destroy) - po4huai4<br />Break the rules - fangui <br />Break up – fen1shou1 <br />Breakfast – zao3can1<br />Breathe - hu1xi1<br />(Qing3 zuo4 yi2ci4 shen1 <br />hu1xi1)<br />Breathe – hu1xi1<br />Bring – Na2(lai2)/ dai4lai2<br />Wo3 ke3yi3 ba3 nu:3 <br />peng1you5 dai4lai2 ma5<br />Ni3 yao4 dai4 yu3san3 <br />ma5?<br />(Are you going to bring <br />your umbrella?)<br />Broken – huai4diao4 de5<br />Brother – xiong1di4<br />Buddha – shi4jia1 mo2 <br />ni2 fo2<br />Buddhist – fo2jiao4tu2<br />Buddhism – fo2jiao2<br /><br />Bug (a) chong2zi5<br />Build – jian4zao4<br />Building – jian4zhu4/ <br />fang2zi/ luo2 <br />(which building – na3 yi1 <br />ge5 lou2?) <br />Butter – nai3you2<br />Business – sheng1yi4/ <br />shengye4<br />Fang4 shang1ye4 shu1 <br />de5 di4fang1 zai4 na3li3.<br />(Where is the business <br />section?)<br />You3 yi4dian3 xiang1 wo3<br />jing1yin2 wo zi4ji3 de5 <br />sheng1yi4.<br />(It’s a iittle like I run my <br />own business.)<br />(non of your ~ ) – bu4 guan1<br />ni3 de5 shi4<br />Bustling – re4 nao4<br />Button – an4niu3<br />Deng3 dao4 wo3 an4 xia4 <br />an4niu3 zai4 jiang3<br />Butter – nai3you2<br />(peanut ~ ) hua1sheng1jiang4<br />Button – an4niu3 (Deng3 <br />dao4wo3 an4 xia4 an4nui<br /> zai4 jiang3)<br />By – jing1you3<br />Jing1you3 ting1li4<br />(by listening) <br /><br />Cable – dian4lan3 xian4 <br />Calligraphy – shu1fa3<br />Calm – ping2jing4<br />Calorie – ka3lu4li3/ <br />le4liang4<br />Calves (lower leg) – xiao3tui3<br />Camera – zhao4xiang4ji1<br />(film) – she4ying3ji1<br />Cancel – qu3xiao1<br />Capable – you3 neng2li4 de5<br />Capability – neng2li4<br />Capital city – shou3du1 <br />Capital letter - Da4 xie3<br />Capitalism – zi1ben3 zhu3yi4<br />Care (about) – dan1xin1/<br />guan1xin1<br />take ~ (of) – zhao4gu5<br />Wo3 yi4dian3 ye 3bu4 <br />zai4hu5<br />(I don’t care a bit.)<br />Career – shi4ye4<br />Carrot – hu2luo2bo5 <br />Casual – <br />Cat – mao1<br />Catch (a ball etc) -. jie2 <br />(a bus) – da1<br />Wo3men5 yao4 dao4 na3li3 <br />da1 shi4zhong1xin1 de5 <br />che1 <br />Category - zhong3lei4<br />Cave – dong4<br />Cause (reason) – li2you2 <br />(compel) - shi3<br />Cause and effect – yun2ying2 <br />he2 jie2guo3<br />Cause and effect<br />relationship – <br />ying1guo3 guan1xi1<br />CD -<br />Wo3 bang1 ni3 shao1lu4 <br />yi2 ge5 CD. <br />Celsius – she4shi4 de5<br />Cell phone – shou3ji1<br />Centimetre – gong1fen1<br />Certain – yi2ding4/ ken3ding4<br />Change – gai3bian4/ bian4<br />Xia4ji4 tian1qi4 duo1 bian4<br />(the weather changes a lot <br />in summer)<br />Ni3 mei1 zen3me5 bian5<br />(You haven’t changed)<br /> - huan4<br />Wo3men5 yao4 zai4 <br />shang4hai3 huan4 che1 <br />Chair – yi3zi5<br />Wo3 ba2 yi3zi5 fang4 zai4 <br />chuang2 pang2bian1.<br />Challenge – tiao3zhan4<br />Change – gai3bian4<br />(money back) – zhao3qian2<br />(pennies, nickles…) – ling2qian2<br />Channel (television) - pin2dao4<br />(change the ~) – zhuan3 tai2<br />( ~ five) di4 wu3 tai2 <br />Chaos - hun4luan4<br />Chaotic – hun4luan4 de5<br />Chapter – zhang1 <br />Charades – bi3shou3hua4jiao3<br />Character (in a movie) – <br />jiao3se4 <br />- (written chracter) Han4zi4 <br />- (characteristic of a <br />person) ge4xing4<br />(moral quality)<br />ming2sheng1<br />Characteristic – te4dian3<br />Charades - bi3shou3-<br />hua4jiao4<br />Chat room – liao2tian1shi4<br />Chauvinism – sha1wen2 <br />zhu3yi4 <br />Cheap – pian2yi5 de<br />(stingy) – xiao3qi4<br />Cheat – qi1pian4<br />Check – jian3cha2/ cha2<br />Cha2 wang3lu4 kan4 you3 <br />shen2me5 hao3 kan4 de5 <br />dian4ying3<br />zai4 dian4nao3 jian3cha2<br />Chinese – zhong1wen2/ <br />han4yu3<br />(written ~) han4zi4<br />(descent) – hua4 ren2<br />(overseas chinese) – <br />hua2qiao2<br />Chinese pod – zhong1wen2<br />buo2ke4<br />Chocolate – qiao3ke4li4<br />Choice – xuan3ze2<br />Choose – xuan3ze2/ <br />jue2ding4 tiao1xuan3<br />Chop – qie1<br />Chop – qie1<br />Chorus - fu4ge5<br />Church – jiao4tang2<br />Cinema (theatre) –<br />dian4ying3yuan4<br />(films) – dian4ying3 <br />Circle (n.) – yuan2<br />(v.) – quan1<br />Zai4 zi4dian3 li3 ba3 <br />zhe4ge5 <br />zi4 quan1 qi3 lai2<br />(ball shape) – qiu2xing2 <br />City – cheng2shi4<br />City Centre – cheng2shi4 <br />zhong1xin4<br />Clap – gu3zhang1<br />Clarification – shuo1ming2<br />Classic – jing1dian3<br />Zhei4 bu4 dian4ying3 <br />jue2dui4 shi4 yi2 bu4 <br />jing1dian3 de5 dian4ying3.<br />(This movie is absolutely a <br />classic) <br />Class – (status) jie1ji2/ <br />jie1zi2 <br />Wo3 dui4 jie1zi2 de yi4ti2 <br />hen3 min3gan3. <br />- ke4 (a)<br />- ke4cheng2<br />yi4shu4 ke4cheng2<br />(art class) <br />Classic – jing1dian3<br />Classical music – gu3dian3<br /> yin1yue4<br />Classmate – tong2xue2<br />Classroom – jiao4shi1<br />Clause - zi3ju4<br />Clean (adj.) – gan1jing4 de5<br />(v.) – qing1jie2 <br />Clean up – da3sao3<br />Clear – qing1chu5 de5/<br />ming2bai5 de5<br />Clench – jin3beng1<br />Jin3beng1 nin3 de5 yin1dao4<br />Clerk – dian4yuan2<br />Cliché - lao3tao4 de5 hua4<br />Client – ke4ren2<br />Climb – ba2<br />Close (v.) – guan1<br />Close (not far) – jin4<br />Wo3 li3 ni3 hen3 jin4<br />Wo3 li3 ni3 hen3 <br />Club – ju4le4bu4<br />Clumsy – ben4shou33ben4jiao3<br />Cocaine – ke3ka3yin1<br />Cockroach – zhang1lang2<br />Coconut – ye2nai3<br />Coffe – ka1fei1<br />Long2shou1 da4 ka1fei/<br />da4 shou1 ka1fei1<br />(at Ikari)<br />Na2 ka1fei1 lai2.<br />Cold – leng3<br />Jiang1hui4 hen3 leng3.<br />(It’s going to be cold.)<br />Collaboration – he2zuo4<br />Pie2he2 xie3zuo4 fang1an4<br />(collaborative writing project)<br />Collect - shou1ji2<br />Ni3 ke3yi3 ba3 xiang3 xue2 <br />de5 zi5 shou1ji2 qi3 lai2 <br />Collocation - da4pei1 <br />Colloquial - kou3yu3hua4 de<br />Color – yan2se4<br />(dark ~ ) an4 de5 yan2se4<br />(light ~) dan de yan2se4<br />Combine – lian2he2<br />Comedy - xi3ju4<br />Zhei4 bu4 dian4ying3 shi4 <br />xi3ju4 han4 xi4ju4 han4 <br />xi4ju4.<br />(This movie is a comedy drama.) <br />Comic book – man4 hua4 shu1<br />Comfortable – shu1fu2<br />Jiang3 zhong1wen2 de5 <br />shi2hou4 wo3 jue2de5 <br />bi3jiao4 shu1fu2.<br />Comma - dou4hao4<br />Command - ming4ling4<br />Comment – ping2lun4<br />Commitment – cheng2 luo4 ?<br />Commercial – guan3gao4<br />Common – pu3tong1<br />Common expression -<br />Pu3tong1 de5 biao3da2fa3<br />Commonly used expression –<br />Chang2yong4 de5 shuo1fa3<br />Communication – Wo3 jiao1 <br />xue2sheng1 gou1tong1. <br />Communism – gong4chan3<br />zhu3yi4<br />Company – gong1si1<br />Compassion – tong2qing2<br />Compete (contest) – bi3sai4<br />(in bus.) – jing4zheng1<br />Competition – bi3sai4<br />Complete – wan2quan2 de5<br />Ta1 shuo1 de5 wo3 ji1hu1 <br />wan2quan2 bu4 dong3. <br />Ta1 shuo1 de5 wo3 ji1hu1 <br />wan2quan2 dou1 dong3. <br />Complain – bao4yuan4<br />Complex – fu4za2 de5<br />Complete (finish) (v.) – <br />wan2cheng2<br />(total) (adj.) – <br />wan2quan2 de5<br />Complete Answer – <br />wan2zheng3 de5 da2an4<br />Compliment – zan4mei3<br />Comprehend – liao3jie3 <br />Compromise – tou3xie2<br />Computer – dian4nao3<br />Commit – wu2lun4 ru2he2<br />Common – pu3pian4 de5<br />Communism – gong4chan3 <br />zhu3yi4<br />Complete (v.) – wan2cheng2<br />(adv.) – wan2quan2<br />wan2quan2 bu4 yi2yang4<br />(adj.) – wan2zheng3 de<br />wan2zheng3 de5 ju4zi5<br />Compromise – tou3xie2<br />Conceit – zi4da4<br />Concept – gai4nian4<br />Concert – yin1yue1hui4/ <br />yan3 chang4 hui4<br />Conclude – jie2shu4<br />Conclusion – jie2shu4<br />Concrete <br />(hard stuff) – hun4 ning2 <br />tu3<br />(concept) ju4ti3<br />ju4ti3 gai4nian4<br />(concrete concept) <br />Condescending – gao1zi1cai4<br />Condom - bi4yun4tao4 <br />Confess – cheng2ren4/ <br />tan3bai2<br />Conflict - chong1tu1 <br />Confidence – zi4xin4 <br />Confident – zi4xin4 de5<br />Confucius – Kong3zi3<br />Confuse – kun4huo4<br />Confusion – hun4luan4<br />Conjunction (gram.) – <br />lian2jie1ci2<br />Connect – lian2jie1<br />Conscious – you3 zhi1jue2 <br />de5<br />Conservative – bao3shou3<br />Contagious – chuan2lan3<br />Contrast – dui4zhao4<br />Convince – shui4fu2 <br />Co-operate – pei4he2<br />Cognac – gan1yi4jiu3<br />Congratulations – gong1xi3<br />Connect – lian2jie1<br />Connotation - hao3/ <br />bu4 hao3 han2yi4<br />Conservative – bao3shou3 <br />de5 <br />Consider – kao3lu:4<br />Consonant – zi3yin1<br />Constant – wen2ding4<br />Consumer – xiao1fei4zhe3<br />Contagious – hui4 <br />chuan2ran3 de<br />(catch – chuan2ran3)<br />Bie2 chuan3 gei3 wo3<br />(Don’t give me your cold<br />/flu..) <br />Contemporary - dang1dai4<br />Context - shang4xia4wen2<br /> - yu3yan2 huan2jing4<br />(Ni3 chang2chang2 ke3yi3 <br />gen1ju4 shang4 xia4wen2 <br />cai1 ci2 yi4.)<br />Continue – ji4xu4<br />Contraction - suo1xie3<br />Contradiction - mao2dun4<br />Contrary – xiang1fan3 de5<br />Contrast - dui4bi3<br />Consumer - xiao1fei4zhe3<br />Convenience store – bian4li1shang1dian4<br />Conversation - hui4hua4<br />Convince – shui2fu4<br />Wo3 yao4 shui4fu2 ni3 zhe4<br />shi4 yi2 ge5 hao3 zhu3yi4. <br />Cook – zuo4fan4/ zuo4cai4<br />shao1 fan4 <br />Consonant – zi3yin1<br />Convenience – fang1bian4<br />Convenience store – bian4li4 <br />shang1dian4<br />Conversation – hui4hua4<br />Cook – zuo4 cai4/ zuo4 fan4<br />Cool – liang2 de5<br />Cooperate - pei4he2<br />Copy - kao3bei4<br />Corn – yu4mi3<br />Corner – jiao3<br />zou3shang4 jiao3<br />(top left corner)<br />you4xia4 jiao3<br />(bottom right corner)<br />Correct (v.) – jiu1zheng4<br />Ni3 zai4 jiu1zheng4 wo3 de5<br />zhonng1wen2 de5 bu2 yao4<br />tai4 xiong1. <br />Corrupt – tan1wu1 de5/ <br />tan1fu3<br />Cost (expense) – fei4yong4/<br />hua1fei4<br />(price) – jia4ge2<br />Cough – ke2sou5<br />Count – suan4<br />Countable – ke2shu3<br />(un ~) – bu4 ke2shu3 de5<br />Counter – gui4tai2<br />Country – guo2jia1<br />(op city) – xiang1xia5<br />Coupon – ji2dian3<br />Courage – yong3qi4<br />Course – ke4cheng2<br />Coward – dan3xiao3gui3<br />Crab – peng2xie4<br />Crappy – puo4<br />Crave – ke3wang4<br />Cream – nai3jin1<br />Create – chuang4zao4<br />Creative – chuang4yi4 de5 <br />Crescendo – jian4qiang2<br />Crime – zui4/ zui4xing2<br />Criminal – fan4zui4 de5<br />Cripple (n) – can2fei4<br />Critic – ping2lun4jia1<br />( ~ critic) – dian4ying3 ping2lun4jia1<br />Criticism – pi1ping2<br />Criticize – pi1ping2<br />Cross – guo4<br />( ~ out) hua4 diao4 <br />Crosswalk – ban1ma3xian4<br />Crowded – ren2 hen3 duo1/<br />yong3ji3<br />(not ~) – ren2 bu2 duo1<br />Cucumber – hu2gua1<br />Cruel – can2ku4<br />Cue - tiao2 dao2 ni1 <br />yao4 de di4fang1 <br />Cue card – ti2shi4ban3<br />Culture – wen2hua4<br />Wo3 ju4jue2 wo3 zi4ji3<br />de5 wen2hua4. <br />Culture shock – wen2hua4<br />cong1ji2<br />Curious – hao4qi2<br />Currency – huo4bi4<br />(foreign ~) – wai4hui4<br />Curriculum – ke4cheng2biao3<br />Customer – ke4hu4<br />Cut – qie1/ suo1jian4 <br />( ~ to the next scene) zhuan3<br />huan4 yi2mu4 <br />Cymbal – ba2<br />Cynic – fen4shi4ji2su2zhe3<br />Cynical – fen4shi4ji2su2zhe3 <br />de5<br /><br />Dalai Lama – Da2lai4 la3ma5 <br />Daily – ri4chang2<br />daily life re4chang2 <br />sheng1huo2<br />Dance – tiao4wu3 <br />Day time – bai2tian1<br />Dare – gan3<br />Ni3 gan3 ma5?<br />(Do you dare?)<br />Dark – an4<br />Dead – si3 de5<br />Dear – ge4wei4 <br />(used before announcements/<br />presentations..<br />ge4wei4 tong2shi4/ <br />tong2xue2 etc. <br />Death – si3wang2 <br />Decide – jue2ding4<br />Decieve – pian4<br />(be ~ decieved) bei4 pian4<br />Decision – jue2ding4<br />Decrease - <br />Deep – shen1 shen1 de5<br />Defense – fang2yu4<br />Defensive – fang2wei4 de5<br />Definite – que4ding4<br />Definition - ding4yi4<br />Degree (temperature) – du4<br />ling4xia4 er4shi2qi1 she4shi4 <br />du4<br />(27 degrees celcius)<br />- jiu3shi2du4 de5 jiao3<br />(90 degree angle)<br />- bo2shi4 xue2wei4<br />(doctorate degree)<br />shou4shi4 xue4wei4<br />(master’s degree)<br />xie2shi4 xue4wei4<br />(bachelor’s degree)<br />zhe4me5<br />(to this degree) <br />Deliberate - gu4yi4 de5<br />You3yi4 de<br />Delicious – mei3wei4 de5/<br />hao3chi1 de5<br />Deliver – song4<br />Delivery charge – yun4fei4<br />Delusion – huan4xiang3 <br />Democracy - min2zhu3 <br />zhu3yi<br />Democratic country –<br />min2zhu3 guo2jia1<br />Demonstration – shi4fan4<br />Denote – biao3shi4<br />Dentist – ya2yi1<br />Department – bu4men2<br />Department store – <br />bai3huo4 shang1dian4<br />Dependent – yi1lai4<br />Depress – shi3 ju3sang4<br />Depress – ju3sang4<br />Depth – shen1<br />Describe - miao2shu4/<br />xing2rong2<br />Desert – tian2dian3<br />Tian2dian3, dian3 xing1 duo1<br />yi2yang4<br />Deserve – ying1de2<br />Design (v.) – she4ji4<br />(interior ~) shi4 nei4 she4ji4 <br />Desire – xiang3yao4<br />ke3wang4<br />Design – <br />Despair – shi1wang4<br />Destroy – po4huai4 <br />Detail - xi4jie2<br />Determiner - ding4guan4ci2<br />Develop – pei2yang3/<br />fa1zhan3<br />Wo3 fa1zhan3 chu1 yi2 ge5<br />xi4tong3 hen3 jiu3 wo3 xiang3<br />xian4zai4 yi3jing1 jie1jing4 <br />wan2mei3.<br />Developed country – fa1da2<br />guo2jia1<br />Devil – mo2gui3/ e4mo2 <br />Devotion –<br />Diabetes – tang2niao4bing4<br />Diarrhea – la1 du4zi5 <br />Dial – shuo3buo1<br />Ni3 shuo3buo1 de5 <br />dian4hua4 wu2 ren2 <br />hui2yin4 <br />Dialect – fang1yan2/ <br />di4fang1hua4<br />Dialogue – dui4hua1 <br />Dice – sai3zi4<br />Dictation - ting1xie3<br />Dictator – du2cai2zhe3<br />Dictionary – zi4dian3/<br />Ci2dian3<br />Zai4 zi4dian3 li3 cha2 <br />zhei4 ge5 zi4.<br />Wo3 de5 zi4dian3 bu2 shi4<br />zhe4yang4 xie3. <br />Die – si3/ si3wang2<br />Ta1 kuai4 yao4 si3 le5.<br />(He is dying.)<br />Different – bu4 tong2 de5<br />Differentiate – fen1bie2/<br />bian4bie2<br />Difficult – nan2/<br />Kun4nan<br />Dignity – zun1yan2/ <br />wei1yan2<br />Dilemma – jin4tui4-liang3nan2<br />Dimension – da4xiao3<br />Diminish – suo1xiao3<br />Dinner – wan3can1<br />Dinosaur – kong3long2<br />Diploma – wen2ping2<br />Direction – fang1xiang4<br />Wo3men5 zuo3 cuo4 de5<br />fang1xiang4. <br />Director (film) – dao3yan3<br />Directly (speak) – zhi2jie1<br />shuo1<br />Dirty – zang1 de5<br />Disc – die2<br />Discipline – ji4lu:4<br />Disapoint – shi1wang4<br />Discount – zhe2kou4<br />Discount coupon – <br />zhe2jia4 quan4<br />(zhuan?)<br />Disappoint – shi1wang4<br />Disbelieve – bu4 xiang1xin4/<br />huai2yi2<br />Discipline – xun4lian4<br />Discouraged – hui1xin1<br />Don’t be.. – bie2 hui1xin1<br />Discount – zi2kou4 <br />Discover - fa1xian4<br />Disc guan1 die2 pian4<br />Discuss – tao3lun4<br />Dishonest – bu4 cheng2shi2<br />Disorder – hun3luan4<br />Disrespect – bu2jing4/<br />wu2li3<br />Dissatisfy – shi3 bu4man3<br />Distinction - qu1bie2<br />Distinguish – qu1bie2<br />Distrust – bu2 xin4ren4<br />Disturb – da3rao3?<br />Divide (separate) – fen1kai1<br />(math) – chu2 <br />Divorced – li2hun4<br />Dizzy – tou2hun1<br />Do – gan4/zuo4<br />Ni3 gan3 ma2?<br />(What are you doing?)<br />Wo3 zuo4 bu2 dao4<br />(I can’t do it.)<br />Bu2 neng4.<br />(I can’t do it.) <br />Doctor – yi1sheng1<br />Documentary – ji4lu4pian4<br />Doggy bag – da3bao1<br />Domesticly produced – <br />guo3chan3 de5<br />Dominant – zhi1pei4<br />Don’t have to –<br />Bu4 yong4<br />Wo3 bu2 yong4 qian2<br />Ni3 bu2 yong4 qian1 ma5<br />(Don’t you need money?)<br />Don’t – bie2/ bu2 yao4<br />Bu2 yao4 li3 ta1.<br />(Don’t pay attention to her.)<br />Double – shuang1bei4<br />Doubtless – wu2yi2 de5 <br />Doubt – huai2yi2<br />Downstairs – xia4 lou2<br />Wu3 fen1 zhong1 hou4 wo3<br />gen1 ni3 lou4xia4 peng4mian4.<br />(I’ll meet you downstairs in <br />five minutes.) <br />Downtown – shi4zhong1xin1<br />Wo3men5 yao4 dao4 <br />na3li3 da1 shi4zhong1xin1 <br />de5 che1 <br />Dragon – long2<br />Drama – xi4ju4<br />Zhei4 bu4 dian4ying3 shi4 <br />xi3ju4 han4 xi4ju4 han4 <br />xi4ju4.<br />Driver’s license – <br />Jia4zao4<br />Drop – diao4<br />Drugstore – yao4fang2 <br />Drum - gu3<br />Drumstick - gu3hui2<br />Drunk – zui4 de5<br />Dry – gan1 de5/<br />gan1zao4 de5<br />Dope – du2pin3<br />Dream – (sleep) meng4<br />(aspiration) meng4xiang3<br />Driver – si1ji1<br />Drop – diao4<br />Dual – er4chong2 de5/<br />Shuang1chong2 de5<br />Dubbed pin3wei4 de5<br />Dubious – huai2yi2 de5<br />Durable – nai4yong5 de5<br />Dutch (go) – ge4 fu4 ge4<br />Duty – ze2ren4<br />Drown – ni4shui3 <br />DVD + R - DVD jia1 R<br />DVD - R – DVD jian2 R<br /><br />DVD player – DVD <br />buo1fang4qi4 <br />Ni3 yao4 xue2 ru2he2 yong4<br />DVD xue2 ying1wen2 ma5? <br /><br />Each other – bi3ci3<br />Wo3men5 ren4shi4 bi3ci3<br />Duo1 jiu3 le5?<br />Eager – ke3wang4 de5<br />Ear – er3duo5<br />Earn – zhuan4<br />Wo3 zuo4 zhe4ge5 wei4 le5<br />zhuan4 qian2. <br />Earphones - r3ji1<br />Earplugs – r3sai?<br />Early – zao3<br />(than expected/ planned) –<br />ti2zao3<br />Wo3 ke3yi3 ti2zao3 yi4dian1<br /> ma5<br /><br />Earn – zhuan4<br />Wo3 zuo4 zhe4ge5 wei4<br />le5 zhuan4 qian2.<br />(I’m doing this to earn money) <br />Earth – di4qiu2<br />Earthquake – di4zhen4<br />Easy (easily) – rong2yi4 de5 <br />East – dong1<br />Eastward – xiang4 dong1 de5<br />Economy – jing1ji4<br />- (class) jing1ji4 <br />Edit - jian4ji2/ bian1ji2<br />Editing software – jian3ji2 <br />ruan3ti3<br />Edition – ban3ben3<br />Editor – bian1zhe3<br />Education – jiao4yu4<br />Effect – (result) jie2guo3<br /> - (effect on) ying3xiang3<br />Effective – you3xiao4<br />you3xiao4 de5 ban4fa3<br />(effective method)<br />Effort – nu3li4<br />Egotistical – zhi4 da4 kuang2<br />Either – (adv) ye3/er2qie3<br />(conj – alternative ) yao4me5<br />Ni3 qu4 yao4me wo3 qu4<br />huo4zhe5…. huo4zhe5<br />Eject button – <br />tui4qu1lai2jian4<br />Elastic band - xiang4pi2jing1<br />Elect – xuan3ren4<br />Electrical – dian4 de5<br />Electricity – dian4<br />( ~ cost) dian4fei4<br />Electric guitar – dian4 ji2ta1<br />Electronic – dian4zi3<br />Elementary (basic) – <br />ji1ben3 de5<br />Electronic dictionary – <br />dian4zi3<br />ci2dian3/ zi4dian3<br />Elementary school – <br />xiao3xue2<br />Elevator – dian4ti1 <br />dian4ti1 xiang4 xia4<br />(the elevator is going down)<br />dian4ti4 xiang4 shang4<br />(the elevator is going up)<br />E-mail – E-mail<br />Zhei4ge5 E-mail yi1jing1 ji4<br />le5 ma5?<br />Embarrass – shi3 gan1ga4<br />Emergency – jin3ji2 <br />qing2kuang4 <br />Emotion – gan3qing2<br />Empathize - <br />Emphasize - qiang2diao4<br />Employ – ping4yong4<br />Employee – yuan2gong1<br />Employer – gu4zhu3<br />Empty (adj.) – kong4 de5<br />(v.) bian4 kong4<br />Zhe4 ge5 shou3shi4 <br />biao3shi4 wo3 kong4ge2 <br />ni3 xu1yao3 <br />tian2ru4 dan1zi2.<br />(This gesture represents a <br />space that you need to fill <br />in with a word.)<br />Encourage – gu3li4<br />Encyclopedia – bai3ke1quan2shu1<br />Energy – li4qi4<br /> - jing1li4<br />End – jin4tou2<br />(v.) - jie2shu4 <br />Ending - (of a story) – <br />gu4shi5 de jie2ju2<br />Enemy – di2ren2 <br /> (military) – di2jun1<br />Energy – huo2li4 <br />Enjoy – xiang2shou4<br />Engaged – <br />Engineer – gong1cheng2shi1<br />dian4qi4 gong1cheng2shi1<br />(electrical engineer) <br />Entertain – yu2le4<br />Entertainment – yu2le4<br />Enthusiasm – re4xin1<br />Entrance – ru4kou3<br />Entrance exam – lu4xue2 <br />kao3shi4<br />can1jia1 kao3shi4<br />Envelope – xin4feng1<br />Environment – huan2jing4<br />Envy – ji4du5/ buji/<br />dui4xiang4 <br />Epiphany - tu2ran2 <br />liao3jie3<br />Episode – dan1yuan2<br />Equal – deng3yu2 <br />Er4 jia1 san1 <br />deng3yu2 wu3.<br />2 + 3 = 5 <br />Equality – ping2deng3<br />Erase – ca1diao4 <br />(a tape) – san1chu2<br />lu4yin4dai4<br />Eraser – xiang4pi2ca1<br />Erotic – xing’4 ai4 de5<br />Error – cuo4wu4<br />Escaltor – shou3fu2ti1<br />Escape – tui4chu1/<br />tao2tuo1<br />Essay – wen2zhang1<br />Essence – shi2zhi4/ <br />ben3zhi4<br />Essential – ji1ben3 de5<br />Estimate – gu1ji4<br />Et cetera – deng3 deng3 <br />Ethical – dao4de2<br />Ethnic – min2zu2<br />Ethnicity – min2zu2/ <br />zu2qun2<br />Ethnocentric – min2zu2 <br />zhong1xin1 zhu3yi4<br />Etymology - ci2yuan2xue2/ <br />zi1yuan2xue2<br />Euphemism – wei3wan3yu3<br />Europe – Ou1zhou1 <br />Even (level) - shui3ping2<br />( ~ if/though) –<br />Even - <br />(even ~ ) - Er4 shi2 fen1 <br />zhong1 dou1 bu4 re4<br />(even after 20 minutes, <br />not hot)<br />( ~ hotter) – <br />Geng4 re4 le5<br />( ~ if) – ji2shi3<br />Every – mei3<br />(each) mei3 yi1<br />(all) – suo3you3 de5<br />Everybody – mei3 ge5 ren2<br />Mei3 ge5 ren2 dou1 you3 <br />yi4jian4. <br />Everything – mei3 jian4 <br />shi4wu4 Wo3 suo3 zhi1dao1 <br />de5 yi2qie4 duo1 shi4 <br />ta1 jiao1 wo3 de5<br />Everywhere – mei3 ge5 <br />di4fang5<br />Evidently – ming2xian3 de5/<br />xian3ran2 de<br />Evil – huai4/ zui4’e4<br />( ~ eye) – bai3 yan3<br />Ta1 bai3lian3si4 gei3 wo3 kan4. <br />Evolution – fa1zhan3<br />Exact (ly) – zheng4que4 de5<br />Exagerate - kua1zhang1<br />( ~ ed expression) –<br />kua1zhang1 de shou1fa1<br />eg. Jiu4 kuai4 e4 shi4 le<br />(soon starve to death)<br />Example – li4zi5<br />Example Sentence - Li4ju4<br />Exceed – chao1guo4<br />Exception – li4wai4 de5<br />Exchange – jiao1huan4<br />( ~ student) - <br />jiao1huan4 sheng1<br />( ~ rate) – hui4lu4<br />Exist – cun2zai4<br />Excite – shi4 xing1fen4<br />Excited – xing1fen4/<br />xin1dong4<br />(heart moved)<br />Exciting – ling4 ren2 <br />xing1fen4 de5<br />Excrement – fen4bian4<br />Excuse (n.) – jie4kou3 <br />(forgive) – yuan2liang4<br />Expect – qi1wang4 <br />Exist – cun2zai4<br />Expand – kuo4da4<br />Exit – chu1kou3<br />Expansion Exercise – <br />yen2chang2 <br />lien4xi2<br />Expect - qi2dai4/qi2wang4<br />Ni3 qi2wang4 wo3 shi4 <br />wan2mei3 de5 ma5<br />Expell – chu2ming2 <br />Expenses – fei4yong4/<br />hua1fei4<br />Wo3 de4 fei4 yong4 hao3 duo.<br />(I have a lot of expenses.) <br />Experience – jing1li4/ <br />jing1yan4<br />(go through) - jing1guo5<br />Experiment - shi2yan4 <br />Explain - jie3shi4<br />Explamation mark – jing1tan4<br />hao4 <br />Explode - bao4zha4<br />Exploit – bo1xue1<br />Explore - tan4suo3<br />Tan4tao3 zi4you3 de5 <br />zhu3ti2<br />(Explore the theme of freedom) <br />Export – chu1kou3<br />Express - biao3shi4/ <br />biao3da2 <br />Jing1guo4 san1 nian2 de5 <br />xue2xi2 neng2gou4 yong4 <br />zhong1wen2 biao3shi4 zi4ji3<br />de5 yi4si5 le5.<br />After three years of study <br />he could express himself in <br />Chinese. <br /><br />Expression - biao3da2fa3<br />shuo1fa3/ yong4yu3<br />Extension cord – yuen2 <br />chang2xian4<br />Extremely – fei1chang2<br />Eye(s) – yan3jing1<br />Eye contact – zhu4shi4 <br />dui4fang1 de5 yan3jing1<br />Face – lian3<br />(make a) – zuo4 gui3lian3<br />Ni3 wei4shen2me5 gei3 wo3<br />gui3lian3 kan4? <br />Wo3men5 bi4xu1 zheng4shi4<br />zhe4xie1 ku4nan5<br />(We have to face these <br />difficulties) <br />Facial expression - lian3 <br />bu4 biao3 qing2 <br />Factory – gong1chang3<br />Fade out – <br />Facism – fa3xi1si1<br />Fact - shi4shi2<br />Shi4 shi4shi2. <br />(It’s a fact.)<br />Factory – (gong1)chang3<br />Factory worker –<br />gong1yuan2<br />Fake – jia3<br />(jia3 piao4)<br />Fail - shi1bai4<br />Faint (adj.) – bu4 qing1 de5<br />Fair – gong3ping2<br />Fake (adj.) – yan4pin3<br />(v.) (cheat) – pian4zi5 <br />Fall – die1dao3<br />(in love) – ai4shang4<br />False – jia3 de5<br />Familiar – ren4shi5 de5<br />Family – jia1ting2/ jia1ren2<br />Famous – you3ming2<br />Fan – dian4feng1shan4<br />Fantasy - huang4xian3<br />Far – yuan3<br />Ni3 li3 wo3 hen3 yuan3<br />Farm – Nong2chang3<br />Fashion – si2 xiang4 gan3 <br />Fast forward – kuai4zhuan3<br />Fate – ming4yun4<br />Father in law – yue4fu4<br />Fatty food - fei2rou4/ <br />you3ni4 de5 shi2wu4<br />Fee – fei4<br />Feel – Gan3jue2 <br />(consider) - Wo3 jue2de5 <br />ta1 shi4 <br />Feelings – gan3jue2/<br />gan3qing2<br />Female – nu:3xing4 de5<br />Feminine – nu:3xing4hua4 de5<br />Feminism – nu:3xing4 zhu3yi4<br />- nan2nu:3 ping2deng3 zhu3yi4<br />Feng shui – feng1shui3<br />Fib – xiao3huang <br />Fifth tone – qing sheng1<br />Fight – da3jia4 <br />(quarrel) – chao3jia <br />Figurative – bi3yu4 de5<br />File – wen2jian4<br />Fill – zhuang1 man3<br />Fill out – tian2xie3<br />Tian2(xie3) yi2xia4 zhe4<br />fen biao3ge2<br />Film – (n.) – ying3pian4<br />- pai1she4<br />Film studies – ying3pian4 xue2<br />Fine (punishment) – fa3kuan3 <br />Finally – zui4hou4 de5<br />Finally (at the end) –<br />Zui4hou4 <br />Find – zhao3dao4<br />Fa1xian4<br />(discover)<br />Finish – wan2(cheng2)<br />zuo4 wan2<br />(finish doing) <br />Wo3 chi1 wan2 wo3 hui4 zuo3.<br />Finite – you3xian4 de5<br />Fins – wa1xie2<br />Fire – huo3<br />(get fired) – Wo bei kai<br />qu le<br />First – di4yi4yi1 <br />Di4yi1 ci4<br />(first time)<br />( ~ class) – tou2deng3 de5<br />Fish – yu2<br />Fisherman – yu2ren2<br />Fisherman’s wharf – yu2ren2 ma3tou2<br />Fit – you3he2<br />(ahead) – xian1<br />Ni3 xian1 zuo3.<br />(You get in first.)<br />Fix – xiu1li3 <br />Fixed gesture - gu4ding4 de <br />shou3shi4<br />Flashcard - dan1zi4ka3<br />Flashcard key chain –<br />Dan1zi4ka3 yao4shi3lian4<br />Flashlight – shou3dian4tong3 <br />Flat – ping2 de5<br />His Chinese sounds flat.<br />Ta1 zhong1wen2 mei2 you3<br />shang1diao4<br />Flatten – bian4ping1<br />Flavor – wei4dao4/ kou3wei4<br />Flex – shou1shuo1 ji1lou4 <br />Flexible – ling2huo2<br />Flight – ban1ji1<br />Wo3de5 ban1ji1 zai4 shi2<br />dian3.<br />(My flight is at ten o’clock)<br />Yao4 fei1 ba1 ge5 xiao3shi2<br />(The flight is eight hours.) <br />Flip – zhuan3 guo4 lai2<br />Flirt – tiao2qing2 <br />Flow - liu2<br />Flu – gan3mao4<br />Fluent - liu2li4<br />Zhong1wen2 bu2 shi4 <br />wo3 de5 mu3yu3 suo3yi3 <br />wo3 yong2yuan3<br />mei3 you3 ban4fa3 shuo1 <br />de hen3 liu2li4. <br />Fly – fei1xing2<br />da1 fei1ji1<br />(go by plane)<br />Focus on - zhuan1zhu4<br />ji2zhong1<br />Foggy – you3 nong2wu4 de5 <br />Fold – zhe2qi3lai2<br />Folk – min2jian1 (min2ge1) <br />de5 yin1yue4 <br />Follow - ?<br />zun1cong2 wo3 de5 zhi3shi5<br />(follow my instructions) <br />(instructions) <br />- genze nian (as I read)<br />You3 ren2 gen1zhong1 wo3men5<br />(There is someone following us)<br />Wo3 gen1zhe5 ta1.<br />(I followed him.)<br />Fondle – ai4fu3<br />Font – zi4xin2 da4xiao3<br />Food court – mei3shi4jie<br />Foot – jiao3<br />For – wei4/ gei3<br />Ni3 mai3gei3 ta1 yi4ben1 <br />shu1 ma5<br />For (the benefit of) – wei4<br />Wei4 le4 nin3de5 an1quan2<br />Force – rang4 <br />Forever – yong3yuan2<br />Wo3 yong3yuan2 bu4 hui4 <br />li2kai1 ni3. <br />Forever – yong3yuan3<br />Forgive – yuan2liang4<br />Foreign – wai4guo2 de5<br />( ~ languae) – wai4yan2<br />Foriegner – wai4guo2ren2<br />Fork – cha1zi5<br />Form - xing2shi4/ <br />xing2zhuang4<br />Format – xing2shi4<br />Biao1zhun3 EFL zhu4qing2gai4yao4<br />de5 xing2shi4<br />Formal - zheng4shi4 de5<br />fei1 zheng4shi4 de5<br />(informal)<br />Former – yi3qian2 de5<br />Forum – lun4tan2<br />Foundation – di3zi3<br />(not literal)<br />Fraction – bu4fen5<br />Fragile – yi4 sui4 de5<br />Frame – jin4tou2<br />Freak out - zhua1kuang2<br />(get angry)<br />Free (no charge) – mian3fei4<br />Wo3 you3 zhang4dan1 yao4 <br />fu4, suo3yi3 wo3 bu4 hui4 <br />jiao1 mian3fei4 de5 ying1wen2.<br />(I have a lot of bills so I can’t<br />teach English for free.)<br />(at liberty) – zi4you3 de5 <br />Free agent – zi4ji3 de5<br />jing1ji4 ren2 <br />Free Will – (zi4yuan4)?<br />Freedom – zi4you2<br />Freedom of expression - <br />Zi4 you2 yan2 luen4<br />French – fa3guo2 <br />Fa3guo2ren2<br />(french person)<br />Fa3/fa4yu4<br />(french language)<br />French fries – shu3tiao2<br />Frequent – chang2<br />Zhei4ge5 zi4 chang2 yong4 <br />ma5<br />Fresh – xin1xian1<br />Fridge – bing1xiang1<br />Friendly – you3shan4 de5<br />Fried – you3 zha4 de5/ <br />chao3<br />( ~ dumplings) – jian1jiao3<br />Friend – peng2you5<br />Friendship – you3yi4<br />Frighten – shi3 hai4pa4<br />Frightened – shi3 hai4pa4<br />Frightful – ke3pa4 de5 <br />Frog –qing1wa1<br />From – cong2<br />From ____ to ______.<br />cong2 ____ dao4 _____.<br />(distance) – li3<br />Ni3 zhu4 de5 di4fang5 li3 <br />zher4/zhe4li3 yuan3 ma5<br />Wo3 gong1si1 li3 zhe4li3 <br />wu3 fen1 zhong1. <br />From the looks of things __<br />Kan4 yang4 zi5 ___<br />Front row – kao qian<br />Frozen – jie2bing1 <br />Fruit – shui3guo3<br />Fruit juice - guo3zhi1<br />Frustrate – shi3 shou4cuo4<br />Frustrated – you3 cuo4zhe2gan3<br />Fry – zha4<br />Frying pan – chao3 guo1<br />Full – man3 de5<br />Full meal deal – tao4can1<br />Fully – wan2quan2 de5<br />Fun – hao3wan2 de/<br />you3qu4 de5 <br />Hui4 hen3 hao3 wan2. <br />Function control – gong1neng2 <br />kong4zhi4<br />Fundemental – ji1ben3 de5<br />Funeral – zang4li3<br />Funny - hao3xiao4/ hao3wan2 <br />de5/ you3qu4 de5<br />Farther – geng4 yuan3 de5/<br />jiao4 yuan3 de5<br />Furthermore - er2qie3<br />Futile – wu2/ mei2 yong4 de5<br />Future - jiang1lai2/ wei4lai2<br />I’ll see this movie sometime <br />in the future. <br /><br />Game – you2xi4<br />Garbage – le4se4<br />Garbage can – le4se4 tong3 <br />Garlic – da4suan4<br />Gasoline – qi4you2<br />(gas price) <br />qi4you2 jia4ge2<br />Gay – tong2xing4lian4 de5<br />Generalize – yi4 ban1 lai2 <br />shuo1<br />Generally – tong1chang2 de5<br />Generation – yi2 dai4<br />nian2qing1 yi2dai4<br />(young generation)<br />xia4 yi2dai4<br />(next generation)<br />shang4 yi2dai4 <br />(previous generation)<br />Generous – kang1kai3<br />Genius – tian1cai2<br />Genre - lei4xing2<br />Gentle - wen1rou2<br />German – de2 guo2 ren2<br />Gerund - dong4 ming2 ci2 <br />Gesture - shou3shi4<br />Get – (become) bian4cheng2<br />Wo3 bian4 lao3 le5.<br />(I’m getting old.) <br /> - (aquire) de2dao4 <br />- ( ~ in the habit of) <br />yang3cheng2 xi2guan4<br />( ~ over s.t.) – wang4 diao4<br />( ~ rid of) – bai3tuo1<br />Bai3tuo1 ta1men5 <br />(cont. “beg” – bai4tuo4) <br />get up – qi3chuang2<br />(good marks) – de2 dao4 hao3 <br />fen1shu4<br />( ~ used to it) – Ni3 yao4 <br />xi2guan4.<br />Gift – li3wu4<br />Ginger tea – jiang1 cha2<br />Give – gei3<br />( ~ me some space) – li2 wo3<br />yuan3 yi1dian3. <br />Give up – feng4qi4<br />Global – quan2qiu2 de5<br />( ~ issue) quan2qiu2 yi4ti2 <br />( ~ warming) – wen1shi4-<br />xiao4yin4<br />Wen1shi4xiao4yin4 shi4 mei2 <br />yi2 ge ren2 de5 wen4ti2<br />Glossary – zi4hui4 <br />Glue – jiao1shui3 <br />Goal - mu4biao3 (abstract)<br /> mu4di4 (physical)<br />Zai4 yen2li4 de5 pi1pan4 <br />zhi1hou4 ni3 xiang3yao4 <br />da2cheng2 shen2me5 <br />mu4di4. <br />Ghost – gui3<br />Glass – bou1li2<br />Wo3 da3puo4 bou1li2.<br />(I broke the glass)<br />Glue – jiao1shui3<br />san3 miao3 jiao1<br />(three second glue)<br />Go – qu4<br />( ~ over) - Ru3guo3 ni3 cao1guo4<br />yi2 ge5 xiao3shi2 ni3 yao4 zai4 <br />fu4 wu3 shi2 kuai4 qian2.<br />Golf – gao1’er3fu1qiu2 <br />God – shang4di4<br />Going to - yao4/ <br />zhun3bei4/ da3suan4 <br />Ni3 yao4 qu4 can1guan1<br />Chang2cheng2 ma5?<br />(Are you going to visit the<br />Great Wall?)<br />Wo3 zhun3bei4 xue1 kai1 <br />che1.<br />(I am going to learn how to <br />drive a car.)<br />Gondola – lan3che1<br />Good – hao3<br />( ~ morning) – zao3’an1<br />( ~ afternoon) – wu3’an1<br />( ~ evening) – wan3’an1<br />( ~ night) – wan3’an1<br />( ~ deal) – zhen1 shi4 zhuan4<br />dao4 le5<br />Goods – huo4/ shang1pin3 <br />Good Vs. Evil – Shan4liang2 <br />dui4kang4 xie2r4 <br />Good luck - zhu4 hao3 <br />yun4<br />Gossip – xian2liao2/ ba1hua4<br />Shuo1 xian2hua4 <br />Grade (test result) <br />– fen1shu4<br />(one, two…) nian2ji2<br />Government – zheng4fu3<br />Graduate (v.) – bi4ye4<br />(n.) bi4ye4sheng1 <br />Ni3 da4xue2 bi4ye4 le5 <br />ma5?<br />(Did you graduate from <br />university?)<br />Ni3 shi4 na3ge5 da4xue2 <br />bi4ye4 de5?<br />(Which university did you<br />graduate from?)<br />When did you graduate?<br />When will you graduate? <br /><br />Gram – ke4 <br />Grammar - wen2fa3/ <br />yu3fa2<br />Grape – pu2tao5<br />Grapefruit – pu2tao5you4<br />Grateful – gan3ji1/ <br />gan3xie4<br />Gratitude – gan3xie4/<br />gan3ji1<br />Greasy food – you2ni4 de5 <br />shi2wu4<br />Greedy – tan1xin1 de5<br />Green – lu:4se4<br />Greenhouse – wen1shi4<br />Greenhouse effect – wen1shi4<br />xiao4ying4<br />Grief – bei1shang1<br />Grocery store – za4 <br />huo4dian4/<br />chao1ji2shi4chang3<br />Grow – zhang3 da4<br />Grow up – zhang1 da4<br />Ni3 zhang1da4 le5 yao4 <br />zuo4 shen1me5?<br />Group – qun2<br />Grumpy – pi2qi4 bao4zao4<br />Guarantee – bao3zheng4<br />Guess – cai1(xiang3)<br />Ke3yi3 cong2 <br />shang4xia4wen2<br />cai1dao4 <br />zhe4ge ci2 de4 yi4si5<br />Guest – ke4ren5<br />Guide – dao3you2 <br />Guilt – fan4zui4 <br />Wo3 jue2de5 you3 <br />zui4 e4 gan3. <br />Guilty – you3zui4 de5 <br />Guitar – ji2ta1<br />Gum – kou3xiang1tang2<br />Gym – jian4shen1fang2<br />(Jian from jian4kang1<br />Shen from shen1ti3<br />Fang from fang2jian1)<br />Habit – xi2guan4<br />Hair – tou2fa5<br />Hairy – duo1 mao2 de5<br />Half – ban<br />Yi1zhi1ban4jie3<br />(half understand)<br />Ta1 shuo1 de5 wo3 <br />da4gai4 zhi3 dong3 <br />yi2ban4. <br />Hall – zhou3lang2<br />Hallucination – huan4jue2<br />Hamburger – han4bao3<br />Hand – shou3<br />Hand job – da3shou3qiang1<br />Hand roll – shou3 juan3<br />Handsome – hao3 kan4/ ying1jun4<br />shuai4 ge1<br />Hand to (syn.turn in) –<br />jiao1 gei3<br />Hand writing – bi3ji1<br />Handle (a situation) – <br />chu3li3<br />Handsome – shuai ge<br />Hang out – yi4qi3 wan2<br />Wo3men4 ming2tian1 yi4qi3<br />wan2 ba5? <br />Hang over – su4zui4<br />Happen – fa1sheng1<br />Happy – kai1xing1<br />Happily – kuai4le4<br />Happiness – xin4fu2<br />Harbour – <br />Hard – ying4<br />Di4 hen3 ying4.<br />(the ground is hard)<br />(difficult) – nan2<br />(to work ~) – nu3li4<br />gong3zuo4<br />Yong4li4 de5 da3 qiu2)<br />(hit the ball hard!)<br />Hardship – xin1ku3<br />Haunt – <br />Harmonica – kou3qin2<br />Harmony - he2xie2<br />Hat – mao4zi5<br />Hate – hen4<br />Have - you3<br />( ~ as aux) – le5 <br />Ta1 zai4 zher4 <br />zhu4 le5 san1 nian2 le5 <br />Wo3 chi1le liang3 wan3 <br />fan4 le5.<br />Wo3 xie3 le5 shi2 ge5 zi5<br />Hazard – wei1xian3 <br />Headache – tou2 teng2<br />Heading (title) –<br />Headlight – qian2deng1<br />Health – jian4kang1<br />Hear – ting1jian5/ <br />ting1dao4<br />Wo3 ting1 bu4 jian5.<br />(I can’t hear you.)<br />Ni3 ting1 bu2 dao4 wo3 <br />ma5?<br />(Can’t you hear me?) <br />Hearing – ting1li4<br />Heart – xin1<br />( ~ attack) – xin1zang4bing4<br />Heat – re4/ nuan3qi4<br />(hot air)<br />jia1re4<br />(heat up) <br />Heaven – tian1tang2<br />Heavy – zhong4<br />Height – gao1du4<br />Heirarchy – deng3ji2zhi4du4/<br />jie1ji2 zhi4du4<br />Hell – di4yu4<br />Help – bang1mang2/ bang1zhu4<br />Qing3wen4, you3 shen2me5<br />bang1 ni3 de5. <br />Helpful – you3 bang1zhu4 de5<br />Hemp – da4ma2<br />Hence – suo3yi3<br />Henceforth – jin1hou4<br />Hereafter – jiang1lai2 <br />Hierarchy – jie1ji2 zu3zhi1<br />Hero – ying1xiong2<br />Heroin – hai3luo4ying1<br />Hiccup – da3ge2<br />Hide (a thing/ youself etc.) –<br />Ta1 cang2 zai4 man2 hou4 mian4.<br />(He hid behind the door)<br />Ta1 ba3 shu1 cang2 zai4 dai4zi4 li3.<br />(He hid his book in the bag.)<br />Hiking – tu2bu4 lu:3xing2<br />High – gao1<br />( ~ school) – gao1zhong1<br />( ~ speed rail) – gao1tie3<br />Hint – an4shi4<br />Hire – lu4yong4<br />Historian – li4shi3xue2 jia1<br />Hit – da3<br />(cont. big) da4<br />( ~ on) – da1shan4<br />Hitchhike – da1 bian4che1<br />Hobby - shi4hao4/ ai4hao4<br />Hold – Na2zhe5<br />( ~ hands) – qian1shou3 <br />Hole – dong4<br />Hollow – kong1 de5<br />Holiday – du4jia4<br />Hollywood - haoleiwuding <br />Home – jia1/ jia1ting2 <br />(place where you live)<br />Homeless – wu2-jia1-ke3-<br />gui1 de5<br />Homework – gong1ke4/ <br />zuo4ye4/ jia1ting2 zuo4ye4<br />Homonym - tong2yin1 yi4yi4 <br />ci2<br />Homosexual – tong2xing4lian4<br />Honest – cheng2shi2 de5<br />Honestly – cheng2shi2 de5<br />Honey – feng1mi4<br />Hope – xi1wang4<br />Hopeful – you3 xi1wang4<br />Hopeless – mei2you3 xi1wang4 <br />de5<br />Horizontal – shui3ping1<br />Hormone – he2’er3meng2<br />Horny – hao3she4<br />Horrible – ke3pa4 de5<br />Horrify – shi3 kong3bu4<br />Hospital – yi1yuan4<br />Host zhu3ren2<br />Hostel – lu:3she4<br />Hostess – nu:3zhu3ren2<br />Hot (to the touch) – teng4<br />(weather) – re4<br />Hot and sour soup –<br />Suan1 la4 tang1<br />Hot pot – huo3guo3<br />Hotel – lu:3guan3<br />House – fang2zi5 <br />Housework – zuo4 jia1 shi4<br />How – ru2he2/ zen3yang4<br />How big? – duo1 da4?<br />Mei2 duo1 da4<br />How many – duo1shao3<br />Mei2 duo1 shao3<br />How have you been –<br />Jin4 lai2 ke3 hao3<br />Hug – jin1bao3<br />Human – ren2lei4 de5<br />Humanity – ren2xing4<br />ren2dao4<br />(mercy)<br />Humble – qian1xu1 de5 <br />Humid – man1re4 <br />Humiliating – diu1lian3 de5<br />Humorous – hao3xiao4<br />Hungry – e4<br />Hurt – shi3 teng2tong4<br />Ni3 you3 shang1 dao4 ni3 <br />de5 bei5 ma5? <br />Hurry (in a) <br />Ni3 zai4 gan3 shi2jian1 ma5<br />Wo3 mei2you3 gan3 shi2jian1<br />Wo3 zai4 gan3 shi2jian1<br />Hurt – shou4 shang1/tong4<br />Ni3 you3 shang1dao4 ni3 de5 <br />bei4 ma5<br />( ~ hurts)<br /> hui4 tong4<br />(This will ~)<br />Zhe4 ge5 jiang1 hui4 tong$<br />(You ~ hurt me.)<br />Ni3 nong4tong4 wo3 le5.<br />Humble – qian1xu1<br />Husband – zhang4fu5<br />Hygiene – wei4sheng1xue2<br />Make hygenic – gao3 wei4sheng1 <br />Hypocritical – xu1wei3 de/<br />pian4pan4xin4<br /><br />Ice – bing1kuai4<br />Ta1 yi3jing1 fang4 le5 <br />bing1kuai4.<br />(He already put the ice in.)<br />Ice sand – bing1sha1<br />Identify with – <br />Idea – zhu3yi4/ xiang3fa5<br />Ideas (philosophy) –<br />si1xiang3<br />Identification – <br />shen1fen4zheng4<br />Idiom - cheng2yu3<br /> - xi2guan4yong4yu3<br />Idiomatic translation- <br />yi4yi4<br />If – ru2guo3/ jia3ru2/ <br />yao4shi4<br />Wo3 yao4 kui1 de.<br />(If I do that I’ll lose <br />money.)<br />Idiot – bai2chi1<br />Ignorant – wu2zhi1<br />Ignore - hu1shi4/ bu4li3<br />Illegal – fei1fa3<br />Imagine - xiang3-xiang4<br />Mei2you3 xiang3xiang4 de5 hao3<br />(not as good as I imagined)<br />Imply – han2you3… de5 yi4si5<br /> - an4shi4<br /> - an4zhi3<br />Impotent – yang2wei3<br />Wo3 cong2lai2 mei2you3 <br />yang2wei3 qu4 guo4 <br />Import – jin4kou3<br />Immigrant – yi2min2<br />Impatient – bu2 nai4fan2<br />Impression - yin4xiang4/<br />gan3xiang3<br />Impressionist – yin4xiang4pai4 <br />yi4shu4jia1<br />Improvise - shui2ji4ying4bian4<br />Impudent – mao4shi5<br />Impulsive – chong1dong4<br />Inapropriate – bu2shi4 dang1<br />In – zai4<br />Insect – chong2zi5<br />Inch – (yin1) cun4<br />In charge of… - fu4zhe2<br />In this way – zhe4me5<br />Include – bao1han2 (kuo4)<br />Yi1ge4 ju4zi5 bao1han2 <br />zhu3ci2 hen4 dong4ci2.<br />Increase – <br />Incredible – bu4ke3si1yi4<br />Independent – du2li4<br />Du2li4 zhi4zuo4 de5 pian4<br />(independent film)<br />Indian Ocean – yin4du4yang2<br />Inevitable – bi4ran2<br />Information – zi1liao4<br />Interview – mian4tan2<br />Invest – tou2zi1<br />Indeed – di2que4<br />Inevitable – bi4ran2<br />Ingredients – pei4liao4/<br />cheng2fen4<br />Inflation - <br />Influence – ying3xiang3<br />Infinite – wu2xian4<br />Infinitive - bu4 ding4 ci2<br />Influence – ying3xiang<br />Information – zi1shun4<br />Information counter – zi1shun4 <br />gui4tai2<br />Information Question – <br />xun4xi2 <br />yi2wen4 ju4 <br />Informative – you3 nei4rong2 de<br />Informal - fei1zheng4shi4 <br />de<br />Infornmation question –<br />Xun4xi2 yi2 wen4 ju4 <br />Information Question Words <br />– Xun4xi2 yi2 wen4 ci2<br />ing form - "ing" <br />xing2shi4<br />Inherit – ji4cheng2<br />Ingredients – cai2liao4<br />pei4liao4<br />Innocent – wu2zui4 de5<br />Innuendo - ying3she4<br />Inside out –<br />Li3 wan4 dian1 dao3<br />Insincere - <br />Insist – yi2ding4 yao4<br />Instructions – yong4fa3/ <br />zhi3shi4<br />Instruction book – <br />shou1ming2shu1<br />Zhun1cong2 wo3 de5 zhi3shi4. <br />Instrument (musical) - <br />Inspire – ji1li4/<br />gei3 ling2gan3<br />Ta1 ji1fa1 wo3 de5<br />ling2gan3.<br />(He inspires me.)<br />Instinct - zhi1jue2<br />Insult – wu3ru3<br />Insurance – bao3xian3<br />Intellectual – zhi1shifen4zi3<br />Intelligent – cong1ming2<br />Intend – xiang3 yao4 <br />Intention – <br />Interact – hu4dong4<br />Interest (on a loan) – da3zhe2<br />Interest – Ta1 dui4 yin1yue1 <br />hen3 gan3 xing4 qu4<br />Interested – gan3 xing4qu4 <br />de5<br />Ni3 dui4 dian3ying4 you3<br />xing3qu4 ma5?<br />Interesting – you3qu4 de5<br />Interest rate –<br />Interjection – gan3tan4ci2 <br />Intermediate – zhong1ji2 de5<br />Intermediate lesson – <br />Zhong1ji2 ke4cheng2<br />Internet – wang3luo4<br />wang3lu4 (Taiwan)<br />( ~ café) – wang3ka1<br />( ~ slang) – wang3luo4 yu3yan2 <br />Interpret – quan2shi4<br />Wo3 bu2 ren4wei2 zhe4 ju4 <br />hua4 ying1gai1 zhe4yang4 <br />zhi2jie1di bei4 quan2shi4. <br />I don't think this sentence <br />should (be) thusly<br />directly [passive] interpreted.<br />詮釋<br />我不認為這句話應該這樣地直接<br />被 詮釋.<br />(translate orally) – kou3yi4<br />International – guo2ji4<br />( ~ café) – wang3ka1<br />Interrogative – yi2wen4ju4 <br />Intersection – shi2zi4 lu4kou3<br />Interview – mian4shi4<br />Interior design – shi4nei4<br />shi4ji4<br />Interrupt – da3duan4<br />Intimate – <br />Intimidate – kong3he2 <br />Introduce – jie4shao3<br />Instruction – zhi3shi4<br />Zhun1cong2 wo3 de5 <br />zhi3shi4<br />Instrument - (musical)<br />yue4qi4<br />Interjection – gan3tan4 ci/<br />tan4ci2/ yi1<br />Intermediate – zhong1ji4<br />International – guo2ji4<br />Internet – wang3luo4<br />Intimate – qin1mi4<br />Intonation – yu2qi4<br />Intoxicate – shi3 zui4 de5<br />Intransitive verb - bu4 ji2wu4 <br />dong4ci2<br />Introduce – jie4shao4<br />Intuitive – zhi2jue2 de5 <br />Invent - fa1min2<br />Invite – yao1qing3<br />Ta1 yao1qing3 wo3 qu4 yi2 <br />ge5 pai4dui4<br />Invitation – yao1qing3<br />Ta1 ji4 gei3 wo3 yi2 ge5 <br />yao1qing3 tan2. <br />Irrational – bu4li3zhi4<br />…ization – hua4<br />(greenization – lu:4hua4)<br />Islam – hui2jiao4 <br /><br /><br />Jail – jian1yu4<br />(get out of ~) –<br />chu1yu4<br />Jazz - jue2shi4yue4<br />Jesus – ye1su1<br />Jingoism – sha1wen2zhu3yi4<br />Journalist (freelance) – <br />zi4you2 ji4zhe3<br />Judge - cai2pan4<br />Junior high – <br />guo2zhan1 zhong1xue2<br />Junior high school student –<br />guo2zhang1 sheng1<br />Just – jiu4<br />Ta1 jiu4 shi4 zhe4yang4<br />(She is just that way.)<br />Just about – ji1hu1<br />Wo3 ji1hu1 wang4ji4<br />Just now – gang1cai1/<br />gang1/ gang1gang1<br />gang1 + dong4ci4 – <br />Wo3 gang1gang1 chi1 yi1 ge5<br />han4bao3<br />gang1cai2 + ( )<br />gang1cai2 + zhu3ci2<br />gang1cai2 ni3 gen1 shei2<br />shuo1 hua4?<br />Justify - <br /><br />Karma – ying1guo3<br />Keep – bao3liu2 <br />Wo3 ying1gai1 bao3liu2<br />shou1ju4 ma5<br />(keep on – continue) –<br />yi4zhi2/ bu4 ting2<br />Ketchup – fang1qie2jiang4<br />Key – yao4shi3<br />Keyboard – jian4pan2<br />Key chain – yao4shi3 lian4<br />Vocabulary key chain –<br />dan1zi4ka3 de5 yao4shi3 lian4 <br />( ~ to) – mi4jue2<br />The key to language learning is <br />vocabulary study and listening <br />practice. <br />Kick – ti1 chu1 qu4<br />Kick out – ti1 chu2ming2<br />Kill – sha1si3<br />Kilogram – gong1jin1<br />Kilometer – gong1li3 <br />Kind – ren2ci2 (hearted)<br /> - zhong3 (type)<br />(different kinds)<br />bu2 tong de zhonglei<br />Kitchen – chu2fang2<br />Know – zhi1dao5<br />bu4 zhi1dao5/<br />bu4 xiao3 de2<br />(don’t know)<br />Knowledge – zhi1shi2<br />(wisdom) – zhi4hui4<br />Korean – hang2guo2ren2<br />Kung fu – gong1fu5<br /><br />Label - <br />Labor – lao4dong4<br />Ladder – jie1ti1<br />Ladies first – nu:3shi4 <br />you1xian1<br />Lake – hu2<br />Language – yu3yan2<br />Language exchange –<br />jiao1huan4 yu3yan2<br />Qing3 bu2 yao4 gai3bian4<br />yu3yan2<br />(Please, don’t switch <br />languages.)<br />Shuo1 man4 yi4dian3<br />(Speak more slowly.)<br />Shuo1 zai4 yi2 ci2<br />(Say it one more time.)<br />Yong4 shou3shi4<br />(Use gestures) <br />Hua hua<br />(draw pictures)<br />Last – zui4hou4 <br />(for the last three days) <br />guo4qu4 san1 tian1<br />Late – wan3/ chi2dao4 de<br />Bie2 chi2dao4 le5<br />(too slow) – tai4 man3<br />Lately – zui4jin4<br />Later (some time today) -<br />deng3yi2xia4<br />(next couple of days) -<br />yi3hou4<br />(after a few days) –<br />guo4 ji3 tian1 hou4<br />(far future) –<br />jiang1lai2<br />Laugh - Da4xiao4<br />(laugh at) – qu3xiao4<br />Zai4 bei4 hou4 xiao3 <br />mou3 en2.<br />(Laugh at s.o. behind <br />their back.) <br />qu3xiao4 mou3ren2<br />Law – fa3lu:4 <br />Lawyer – lu:4shi1<br />Lay down – teng3zhe5<br />Le – after verb/ completed action<br />Ta1 zuo2tian kan4 le5 yi4 bu4 <br />dian4ying3<br />end of sentence/ new situation<br />Ping2guo3 hong2 qi3 lai2 le5<br />Lead the way – dai4lu4 <br />Lead singer – zhu3 chang2/<br />/bang4chang4 ge1 shou3 <br />Lead guitarist –<br />Learn – xue2/ xui2xi2<br />Xue2 kai1che1<br />Learner – xue2xi2zhe3<br />Leather – pi2ge2<br />Leave – zou3<br />Wo3 zou3 le5<br />(behind) – liu2xia4<br />Lecture – jiang1ke4 <br />Leg – jiao3/tui3<br />Ta1 de5 tui3 hen3 chang2.<br />(His legs are long.)<br />Legal – he2fa3<br />Lend – jie4gei3<br />Lens – jing4tou2<br />Lesson – ke4/<br />ke4cheng2<br />Letter (of The alphabet)<br />– zi4mu3<br />Xian1 xie3 zi4mu3 ran2hou4 <br />xie1 sheng1diao4.<br />(First write the letters then <br />write the tones.) <br />(mail a ~ ) ji4 xing4 <br />Lettuce – shen1cai4<br />Level - cheng2du4<br />(even) – shui3ping2<br />Library – tu2shu1guan3<br />Lid – gai4zi5<br />Gai4 qi3 lai2<br />(put on the lid)<br />Lie – shuo1huang3<br />Wo3 ying1gai1 dui4 Frank<br />shuo1huang1 guan1yu2 na4 ge<br /> ma<br />Life – (daily) sheng1huo2<br />(entire) – len2sheng1<br />(biological) – sheng1ming4<br />Light (shiny thing) – guang1/ <br />deng1<br />deng1 guan1 le5 ma5?<br />(Mei2you3 shou4ci2 yong4 guan1<br />diao4)<br />(not heavy) – qing1<br />Lighting (inside) - zhao4ming2<br />(outside) – guan1xian4<br />Like that – zhe4yang4<br />Mei2 you3 ren2 zhe4yang4<br />shuo1.<br />Nobody says it like that <br />Lines - tai2ci2/ dui4bai2<br />Line up – pai2dui4 <br />Linguistics – yu3yan2xue2<br />Linguist – yu3yan2xue2zhe?/<br />jia1<br />Link (internet) – lian4jie<br />Linking Verb - lian2xi4 <br />dong4ci2<br />Linguistics - yu3yan2 xue2<br />List - ming2dan1<br />Zhei4ge5 zi4 zai4 wo3 de5<br />ming2dan1 shang4, dan4shi4<br />wo3 mei2you3 chang2chang2<br />yong4, suo3yi3 wo3 bu2 ji4<br />de5.<br />(This word is on my vocab<br />list, but I don’t use it enough,<br />so I can’t remember it.) <br />Listen – ting1<br />Listen again – zai4 ting1<br />Literal - an4 zhao4 zi4 <br />mian4 de5 yi4si5<br />Literal translation - zhi2yi4<br />Live – zhu4<br />Wo3 zhu4 zai4 zhe4li5 ba1 <br />nian1, suo3yi3 wo3 de5 <br />zhong1wen2 ying4gai4 yao4<br />geng4 hao3.<br />(I’ve lived here for eight <br />years so my Chinese should <br />be better.) <br />Live through – jing1li2<br />Lively – huo2po5<br />Loan – jie4kuan3/ xing4dai4<br />Lobby – da4ting4<br />Local <br />( ~ person) di4 ren2<br />Location – di4dian3<br />Lock (v.) – suo3qi3lai2<br />da4 men2 suo3qi3lai2<br />Logic – luo2ji2<br />Logistics – wuliu<br />Lonely – ji4mo4 de<br />Lonely planet – ji2mo4 <br />xin1qiu2<br />Long – chang2<br />(how ~ ?) – duo1 chang2?<br />Yi1 gong1chi3.<br />(One meter)<br />(how ~?) duo1 jiu3?<br />Yi1 ge5 xiao3shi2<br />( ~ time) chang2 shi2jian1/<br />hen3 jiu3<br />(all ~) – duo1 chang2<br />Look – kan4<br />( ~ for) – zhao3<br />Ni3 zai4 zhao3 shen2me5?<br />(found – zhao4 dao4 le) <br />( ~ s like) – kan4 qi3 lai2<br />xiang4<br />(doesn’t ~ like) – kan4 qi3<br />lai2 BU4 xiang4 <br />( ~ it up in the dictionary) – <br />Zai4 zi4dian3li3 cha2 <br />zhei4ge5 zi4. <br />( ~ forward to) – qi2dai4<br />Wo3 qi2dai4 zhei4ge5 lv3xing2<br />hen3jiu3 le5 <br />Lose – (a thing) diu1<br />- (a game) shu1 <br />- (a thing) Wo3 de5 <br />bi3 bu2 jian4 le5<br />(I lost my pen)<br />Wo3 sh1iye4 le.<br />(I lost my job.)<br />Wo3 mi2lu4<br />(I’m lost)<br />Wo3 jian3zhong4 san1 gong1jin1.<br />(I’ve lost three kilograms)<br />(face) – diu1 lian3/ diu1 <br />mian4zi5 <br />Loose – song1 <br />Loser – shi1bai4 zhe3 <br />Lousy – lan4 <br />Lucky – xing4yun4<br />Lugong – Lu4gong3<br />Lu4gong3 shi4 tai2wan1 de5<br />di4 er4 gu3 lao3 de5 cheng2shi4. <br />Lunch – wu3can1<br />Luxury – <br />Lyrics – ge1ci2<br /><br />Mafia – hei1shou3dang3<br />(black hand club)<br />Magazine – za2zhi4<br />Magic - mo2shu4<br />Maid – a1yi2<br />Main character – zhu3jiao3 <br />Main Point - yao4 dian3<br />Main Verb - zhu3dong4ci2<br />Make – zuo4/ zao4/ shi3/<br />rang4<br />Zuo4 zao3fan4<br />(make breakfast)<br />mu4tou5 zao4 de<br />(made of wood)<br />shi3 mou3ren2 sheng1qi4.<br />(make s.o.angry)<br />rang4 mou3ren2 deng2hou4<br />(make someone wait)<br />shi3 ta1 ze1ren4<br />(make him feel responsible)<br />zhuan4 qian2<br />(make money) <br />zhao4 ju4<br />(make sentence)<br />bian1 gu4shi4<br />(make up a story)<br />Male – nan2sheng1<br />Manage (v.) – guan3li3<br /> (n.) – jiang1li3<br />Manager – jing1li3<br />(general ~ ) – zhong3 jing1li3<br />Man made – ren2zao4 de<br />Manufacture – sheng1chan3/<br />zhi4zuo4 <br />Material – cai2liao4<br />Margerine – ren2zao4<br />huang2you2<br />Marijuana – da4ma2<br />Mark (grade) – fen1shu4<br />de2 dao4 hao3 fen1shu4<br />Market – shi4chang3<br />Marketing – xing2xiao1<br />Married – jie2hun1 <br />Mask - wajing<br />Masculine – nan2xing4 de5<br />Massage – an4mo2<br />zuo4 an4mo2<br />(get a massage)<br />Master (n.) – shi1fu5<br />(v.) – jing1tong1<br />Ru3guo3 ni3 xiang3yao4 <br />shang4chang2 mo3 jian4shi4,<br />ni3 bi4xu1 jing1tong1 ji1ben3<br />de5 gai4nian4 he2 ji4qiao3.<br />(If you want to become good <br />at something you have to <br />master the basics.) <br />Master’s degree – shao4shi4 <br />xue2 wei4<br />Masterbation – zi4wei4<br />Masterpiece – jie2zuo4/<br />ming2zhu4<br />Mature – chen2shou2 <br />May – ye3xu3<br />Mayonaise – mei3nai3zi1<br />Ye3xu3 hui4 ting2zhi3 xia4yu3<br />Mean (v.) biao3shi4… de5 yi4si5 <br />shi4…yi4si5<br />Zhe4 shi4 shen2me5 yi4si5?<br />(What does this mean?)<br />Zhe4ge5 ci2 shi4 shen2me5<br />yi4si5?<br />(What does this word mean?) <br />Meaning – yi4si5<br />Meaningful – you3 yi4yi4 de5<br />Meaningless – mei2you3 shen2me5<br />yi4yi4. <br />Measure – liang2<br />Liang2 ni3 de5 shen1gao1 hen4<br />ti3zhong4<br />Media – mei2ti3<br />Media studies – mei2ti3 xue2<br />Mediocre – pu3tong1 de5<br />Meditation – jing4zuo4<br />Meet (by accident) – pengjian4<br />Wo3 zai4 jie1 shang5 pengjian4 <br />le5 ta1<br />(purposefully) – jian4mian4<br />Wo3men5 xia4 xing1qi1 <br />jian4mian4, hao3 ma5?<br />(for the first time) – ren4shi4<br />Wo3men5 zai4 jia1na2da4 <br />ren4shi4<br />Ni3 jian4/kan4 guo5 ta1 ma <br />(Have you met him?)<br />Meeting – hui4yi4<br />Melody – ge1qu3/<br />he2xie2<br />Member – cheng2yuan2<br />(Are you a member of that <br />club?)<br />( ~ ship card) – hui4 yuan2 ka3<br />Membership Card – hui4yuan2ka3<br />Memory - ji4yi4<br />(capacity)<br />Memory - hui2yi4<br />(of)<br />Memorize - ji4zhu4/ bei4 <br />Mention – ti2<br />Ta1 ti2dao4 zhei4ge<br />Menu – cai4dan1<br />Message – liu2yan2<br />Wo3 ke3yi3 liu2yen2 ma5?<br />(Can I leave a message?) <br />Messy/ muddled –<br />Luan4qi1ba1zhao1<br />Metaphorical Expression – <br />bi3yu4 de5 shuo1fa5<br />Meter – gong1chi3<br />Yi1 gong1chi3 shi4 yi1 bai3<br />gong1fen1.<br />Method – fang1fa3/ ban4fa3<br />Microphone - mai4-ke4feng1<br />Milk – niu2nai3<br />Millimeter – gong1li2<br />Mimic - mo2fang3<br />Mind - tou2nao3/ nao3zi3 (n.)<br /> - (do you?)<br />Mind – tou2nao3<br />Wo3 gai3bian4 xing1yi4.<br />(I changed my mind)<br />Ru2guo3 ni3 bu4 jie4yi4.<br />(If you don’t mind.)<br />Ni3 jie4yi4 ma5?<br />(Do you mind?)<br />Minimum - zui4 di1 xian4 <br />du4<br />Minus – jian3qu4<br />Minute – fen1<br />Wu3 fen1zhong1 hou4 <br />peng4mian4<br />(Meet me in five minutes)<br />Mirror – jing4zi5<br />Miscellaneous - bu4tong2<br />zhong3lei4<br /> - za2 xiang4<br /> - ge4 zhong3<br />Miserable – tong4ku3<br />Misery – tong4ku3<br />Misspell – pin1cuo4<br />Misplace – luan4 fang4 <br />Mistake – cuo4wu4 <br />Mix – hun4he2<br />Mnemonic - bang1zhu4 ji4yi4<br />Monitor – ying2mu4<br />Monopoly – da4fu4long1 <br />Morphology– zi4xing2xue2 <br />字形學<br />Modal Verb - qing2tai4 <br />dong4ci2<br />Model – kuan3shi4<br />(person – mo2te4er3)<br />Monkey – hou2zi5<br />Mood - gan3jue2<br />Moral - zhu3ti2 han2yi4<br />More – geng4 duo1 de5<br />Yi1 ge5 duo1 xiao3shi2 <br />Moreover – er2qie3<br />Morning – zao3shang5<br />Morphine – ma3fei1<br />Mortage – fang2dai4/ di3ya1<br />Mosquito – wen2zi5<br />Most – da4bu5fen5 <br />Mostly – tong1chang2<br />Mortgage – dai4kuan4<br />Motivation - dong4li4<br />Move – yi2dong4<br />(back) – hou4tui4<br />(closer) – kao4jin4 yi5 dian3<br />(left) xiang4 zuo3<br />(right) xiang4 you4<br />(residence) – ban1jia1<br />(the emotions) – gan3dong4<br />Movement – xing2dong4/<br />huo2dong4<br />( ~ over a bit) guo4 qu4 yi4dian3 <br />Movie – dian4ying3<br />Wo3 yi3hou4 hui4 kan4 zhei4<br />bu4 dian4ying3.<br />Ni3 yong4 dian4ying3 xue2 <br />ying1wen2 ma5? <br />( ~ theatre) – dian4ying3 <br />yuan4 <br />( ~ star) – ming2xing1<br />( ~ review) – dian4ying3 <br />ping2lun4<br />Mr. – xian1sheng5<br />Multi-cultural (ethnic) –<br />Duo1 min2zu2 she4hui4<br />Mulitiplied by – cheng2(yi3)<br />Er4 chang2 san1 deng3yu2 liu4<br />Murder – mou2sha1 <br />Muscle – ji1rou4<br />Mushroom – mo2gu1<br />Music – yin1yue4<br />Muscician – yin1yue4jia1<br />Museum – bo2yu4guan3 <br />Muslim – hui2jiao4tu2<br />Mustard – jie4mo5<br />Mystery – shen2mi4<br /><br />Naïve – tian1zhen1 (you4 zhi4)<br />Name – ming2zi5<br />ming2pian4<br />(name card)<br />Nan Gang Science Park –<br />Nan Gang luan3 ti2 yuen2 <br />qu1 jie1<br />Narrative (accopmapnying a <br />documentary) <br />xu4shu4<br />Nap – shui4 wu3jiao4<br />Narrative structure – gu4shi4 <br />jie2gou4<br />Narrow – zhai3<br />Nasal sound – bi2yin1<br />Nationalistic – guo2jia1zhu3yi4/<br />Ai4 guo2 zhu3yi4<br />Native speaker – jiang3mu3yu:3 <br />de5 ren2 <br />Zhong1wen2 bu2 shi4 wo3 de5 <br />mu3yu3 suo3yi3 wo3 yong3yuan3 <br />mei2 you3 ban4fa3 jiang3<br />zhong1 wen2 xiang4 <br />mu3yu3 de5 ren2 yi2yong4.<br />Negative (attitude etc.) - <br />Negative Answer/ sentence/ <br />question - <br />Fou3ding4 de hui2da2/ ju4zi/ <br />yi2wen4ju4<br />(bad) – fu4mian4 d3<br />fu4mian4 de han2yi4<br />(negative moral message) <br />Negotiate – xie2shang1/<br />tan2pan4/ xie2tiao2<br />Neighbour – lin2ju1<br />Neighbourhood – fu4jin4<br />Nervous – jin3zhang1<br />Net – wang3<br />Never – cong2 (lai2) bu4<br />Ta1 cong2bu4 xiu1xi2 <br />have never – cong2 lai2 mei2 you3<br />Wo3 cong2 lai2 mei3 you3 zhei4 <br />zhong3 jing1yan4<br />will never – yong3yuan4 bu4 <br />Jue2 bu4 fang4qi4<br />(Never give up)<br />Newspaper – bao4zhi3<br />Next – xia4 yi2 ge5<br />Xia4 yi2 ke4 shi4 shen2me5<br />shi2hou5?<br />Next time – xia4 yi1ci4<br />Nickname – xiao3ming2<br />Night market – ye4 shi4<br />Nipple – ru3tou2<br />Noisy – chao3<br />Nonsense – luan4 jiang3<br />Normal – zheng4chang2<br />North – bei3<br />Northern part – bei3fang1/<br />bei3bian1/ bei3bu4<br />North America – bei3mei3zhou1 <br />Nosy – ai4guan1 xian2 shi4 <br />De5 ren2 (tones?)<br />Not only _____ but _____.<br />bu2 zhi3 ___ hai2 _____. <br />Not quite – hai2 bu4 dao4<br />Wo3 zai4 Tai2wan4 hai2 bu4<br />dao4 shi2 nian4.<br />Nosy – ai4guan1 xian2 shi4 <br />De5 ren2 (tones?)<br />Nothing – shen2me5 dou1 <br />mei2 you3 <br />Wo3 shen2me5 duo1 mei2 zuo4<br />Noun - ming2ci2<br />Novel – xiao3shou1<br />Zhei4 bu5 dian4ying3 cong2 <br />xiao3shou1 gai3bian4 er lai2 de5<br />Nuance – zhong1jiao4<br />Nude – luo3ti4 <br />Number – hao4ma3 <br /><br />Object - shou4ci2 <br />Obvious – ming2xian4<br />Obsessive – mi2lian4/ <br />zhao2mi2<br />Obsession – fu4weng1<br />Ocean – hai3yang2<br />Offensive – mao4fan4 wu li de5<br />Offer – ti2gong1<br />Office – bang4gong1shi4<br />Official – zhen4shi4<br />(con. Really – zhen1)<br />Often – chang2chang2<br />Oil – Shi2you2 ye<br />(body ~ ) ru3yi4<br />Old (person) - lao3<br />(thing) – jiu3<br />Old fashioned – lao3 tao4<br />Olive oil – gan3 lan3 you2<br />Olympics – Ao4lin2pi3ke4<br />On – zai4<br />( ~ line) shang4 wang3<br />shang4 bu4 liao1 wang3<br />(can’t sign in)<br />( ~ the road to [ }) – <br />qu4 [di4fang] ru4 <br />shang4 <br />One – yi1<br />yi2 ge5 hai2zi5<br />(one child)<br />yi4bai3<br />(one hundred)<br />er4 fen1 zhi1 yi1<br />(one half)<br />san1 fen1 zhi1 yi1<br />(one third) <br />One way street – dan1 xin2 dao4<br />Onion – yang2cong1<br />Online – wang3(ji4) shang4<br />Only – zhi3 you3<br />(dismissive) - e3yi3<br />Onomatopoeia - ni3sheng1ci2<br />Opaque – bu4 qing1qu5<br />Opinion – yi4jian/ kan4fa3/<br /> xiang3fa5<br />Opponent – dui4shuo4<br />Opportunity – ji1hui4<br />Opposite - xiang1fan3<br />Optimism – le4guan1<br />Or – non inclusive - hai2shi5<br />huo4zhe3 <br />Inclusive - huo4zhe3/ <br />fou3ze2<br />Wo3 huo4zhe3 xing1qi1liu4 <br />huo4zhe3 xing1qi1tian1 lai2.<br />(I’ll come on Saturday or Sunday)<br />Ni3 xiang3 he1 cha2 hai2shi4 ka1fei1.<br />Orange – liu3cheng2<br />Orange (mandarin) – ju2zi4 <br />Orange juice – liu3 cheng2 <br />zhi1/ <br />ju2zi5zhi1<br />Order - In order (sequence) <br /> shun4xu4<br /> - (for the purpose of)<br /> - (a dish) dian3<br />The names are arranged <br />in alphabetical <br />order – Xing4ming2 <br />an4 zi4mu3 <br />shun4xu4 pai2lie4.<br />(food) dian3<br />Wo3 yi3jing1 dian3 le. <br />Originally thought –<br />yuan2lai2 yi3wei2<br />Organize - tiao2li3 fen1min2/ <br />an4 pai2/<br />zhen3li3 ni3 de dong1xi1<br />(organize your things)<br />Orgy – xing4pai4dui4<br />Or question - huo4shi4 <br />yi2wen4ju4<br />(the) Other (one) – ling4wai4<br />(the ~ s) qi2ta1 de5<br />(another) – bie2 de5 <br />Otherwise – bu4ran2/ fou3ze2<br />Xian4-zai4 jiu4 zuo4, bu2ran4<br />jiu4 lai2 bu ji2 le.<br />Do it now, otherwise it will be <br />too late. <br />Ni3 tang3 xia4 bu4 ran2 wo3<br />hui2 wo3 de5 fang2jian1<br />Ourselves – wo3men5 zi4ji3<br />Outrageous – guo4 fen4<br />Outside – wai4mian5<br />Wo3 bu2yao4 wai4mian5 qu4.<br />Over – zou4 wan2 le5<br />Zhei4ge5 dian4shi4 shou4 <br />shen2me5 shi2hou4 zou4 <br />wan2 le5<br />Over the hill –<br />Lao3gu3tou2<br />(old bones)<br />Overtime – jia1ban1<br />Overtime pay – jia1ban1fei4<br />Owe – qian4 <br />Own – yong1you3/ shuo3you3<br />Wo3 yong1you3 yi1ge5 che1<br />Ru4guo3 ni3 yong1you3 zhei4ge5<br />yi1 dui1 yan2se4 ni3 ke3yi3 gai4<br />fang2zi5. <br /><br />Pace – su4du4<br />Pacific Ocean – tai4ping2yang2<br />Page – ye4<br />Si4 ye4 dou1 xie3 man3 de5<br />shi2hou4 wo3 jiu4 ting2zhi3<br />(turn the) – fan1 ye4<br />Fan1 dao4 di4 san1 ye4.<br />(Turn to page three.)<br />Pain – teng2<br />Paint (a painting) – hua4<br />(a house..) you3qi1<br />Liang3 tian1 qian2 wo3 wan2cheng2<br />you2qi1 wo3 de5 fang2jian1.<br />(I finished painting my house 2 <br />days ago.)<br />Paint brush – mao2bi3<br />Pair – pei4dui4 <br />You3sheng1 zi3yin1 wu3<br />sheng1 zi3yin4 pei4dui4.<br />Page – ye4<br />Panning shot – xuan2zhuan3 <br />pai1she4<br />Panic - jing1huang1<br />Paper – zhi3<br />Wo3 ke3yi3 you3 yi4 zhang1<br />zhi3 ma5?<br />Wo3 bu2 yao4 lang4fei4 zhi3.<br />(I don’t want to waste paper.)<br />Paradox – si4 shi4 er2 fei1<br />Paragraph – duan4<br />Part – bu4fen4<br />( ~ time) – gong1du2 shen4 <br />Party – pai4dui4<br />Pass –<br />I hope you pass the test.<br />-<br />(pass through) – jing1guo4<br />(Pass by ) – jing1guo4<br />Wo3men5 hui4 jing1guo4<br />hao3 duo1 hao3 piao4liang5 <br />de5 fang2zi5.<br />(We will pass by many <br />beautiful homes.) <br />(the ball) – chuang2<br />(s.t. over) – chuang2gei3 <br />( ~ word) – mi4ma3 <br />Passenger – cheng2ke4 <br />Passion – re4qing2<br />Passionate – re4qing2 de5/ <br />ren2xin1<br />qin1 re4 de guan1xi4<br />(passionate relationship)<br />Patent – zhuan1li4chuen2<br />Pattern – mo2shi4<br />Sentence pattern<br />Ju4xing4 mo2shi4<br />Parts of Speech - ge4zhong3<br />ci2lei4<br />Pass – tong1guo4<br />Wo3 xi1wang4 ni3 hui4 <br />tong1guo4 na4 ge5 kao3shi4.<br />(I hope you pass that exam.) <br />Passanger – lu3ke<br />Lu3ke fu2wu4 gui4tai2<br />Passive - bei4dong4<br />Ta1 zhang4fu5 bei4 da3<br />si3 le5.<br />Past - guo4qu4 <br />Past Form - guo4qu4 <br />xing2shi4<br />Past Participle - guo4qu4 <br />fen1ci2<br />Past Progressive - guo4qu4<br />jin4xing2shi4<br />Patient – nai4xin1 <br />Pattern - mo2shi4<br />Pay – fu4 qian2/ qu1 qian2<br />Fu4 qian2 gei3 ta1<br />(Pay him/her.)<br />Zhei4ge5 ni3 fu4 qian2.<br />(Pay for this.)<br />Ru3guo3 ni3 cao1guo4 yi2 ge5 <br />xiao3shi2 ni3 yao4 zai4 fu4 <br />wu3 shi2 kuai4 qian2. <br />(~ attention) – ji2zhong1 <br />zhu4 yi4 dao4<br />Pause - zhan4ting2<br />Peace – he2ping2<br />Penis – yin1jing1<br />Peas – mao2dou4 <br />Pepper (black) – <br />Hei1 hu2 jiao1<br />Percent – bai3fen1zhi?<br />Wo3 dong3 ta1 shuo1 de5 <br />bai3fen1zhi er4 shi4. <br />en1zhi <br />Perfect – Wan2mei2 de5<br />Ni3 qi2wang4 wo3 shi4 wan2mei3 <br />de5 ma5<br />Perform – biao3yan3<br />Performance - biao3yan3<br />Perfume – xiang1shui3<br />Period - ju4hao4<br />Perky tits – jian1ting3 de5<br />nei4 nei4<br />Personal – si1ren2 de<br />Ni3 wen4 de5 wen4ti2 shi4 si1ren2<br />de5 wen4ti2.<br />(The questions you ask are personal.) <br />Personality – ge4xing4<br />Perspective – guan1dian3<br />Perth - buo2si5<br />Pessimism – bei1guan1<br />Petty – ji4jiao4<br />Philosophy – zhe2xue2<br />Phoney - xu1wei3<br />Phonics - yin1biao1<br />Phrase – pian4yu4/ ci2zu3<br />- Ci2zu3 shi4 you3 yi4 chun2 <br />wen2zi4. <br />Ci2zu3 mei3you2 bao3 han2 <br />zhu3ci2 gen1 dong4ci2<br />Pian4yu3 gong1neng2 shi4 <br />bei2 yong4 lai2dang1 cheng2<br />ge2 zhong3 ci2 lei4 de5 qi2 <br />zhong3 zhi3yi1<br />(A phrase functions as one<br />part of speech.) <br /><br />Shei2 gen1 shen2me5 wen4ti2<br />de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 <br />chang2chang2 shi4 <br />yi1 ge5 ming2ci2 ci2zu3. <br /><br />Zai4 na3li3 gen1 shen2me5 <br />shi2hou5 wen4ti2 de5 duan3 <br />de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 <br />shi4 yi1 ge5 jie4xi4ci2 <br />de ci2zu3. <br /> <br />Wei4shen2me5 (shen2me5<br /> mu4di4) wen4ti2 de5 duan3<br /> de5 hui2da2 <br />chang2chang2 shi4 yi1ge5 <br />bu4ding4ci2 de5 ci2zu3. <br /> <br />Zen3me5 (yong4 shen2me5 <br />fang1fa2) wen4ti2 de5 duan3 <br />de hui2 da2 <br />chang2chang2 shi4 "by" + <br />dong4ming2ci2 <br /><br />Ba3 yi1 ge5 cun2xu4shou1<br />ming2 gai3wei2 yes/no <br />(ma5/shi4 bu2 shi4/ <br />dui4 bu2 dui4/ yao4<br /> bu2 yao4 etc.) <br />de5 yi2wen4ju4 ba3 <br />(cong dong4ci2 <br />pian4yu3) di4-yi1 ge5 <br />zhu3 dong4ci2 <br />fang4 zai4 ju4zi5 qian2mian4.. <br /><br />Bu4ding4ci2 de5 ci2zu3 <br />gong1neng2 <br />shi4 ming2ci2 ci2zu3 hai2shi2 <br />fu4ci2 pian4yu3. <br /> <br />Pick (s.t) up – jian3qi3lai2<br />Pick (s.o.) up jie1<br />Wo3 ba1 dian3 qu4 jie1 ni3.<br />Picky – tiao1ti2 = gui1mao2<br />Pill – wan2yao4<br />Pillow – zhen3tou2<br />Pineapple – feng4li2 <br />Pineapple – feng4li1<br />Pirated – dao4ban3 <br />dao4ban3 die2<br />(pirated disc)<br />Pitch - ying1gao1<br />(high pitch - gao1ying1)<br />Pity (v.) – tong2qing2 <br />Place – di4fang5<br />( ~ name) – di4ming2<br />Plan - ji4hua4<br /> -da3suan4<br />Planning – gui1hua2<br />Planet – xing1qiu2<br />Plastic – su4jiao1 de <br />Play – bou1fang4<br />(an instrument) yan3zou4<br />-tan2 ji2ta1<br />- fang CD<br />(a role) – shi4yan3/<br />ban4yan3<br />Player (DVD etc.) – <br />buo1fang4qi4<br />Plot - qing2jie2<br />( ~ summary)<br />qing2jie2 de5 zong3jie2<br />Ni3 qing2jie2zong3jie2 <br />(fu4xi2) shi4 bie2 de5 <br />ren2 de5 yu4gao4.<br />Your plot summary is <br />another person’s review.<br />Plug in the… – <br />cha1jin4 …cha1tou2<br />Plum – zhuan1mei2<br />Plum juice – zhuan1mei2 zhi1<br />she3ying3ji1 cha1tou2<br />Plural - fu4shu4<br />Plus – jia1<br />PM – xia4wu3<br />Police – jing3cha2<br />Politics – zheng4zhi4<br />Popular – shou4huan1ying2 <br />thing – liu2xing2<br />liu2xing2 ge1qu3 <br />(popular song)<br />Poet - shi1ren2 <br />Poetry - shi1<br />Point (v.) – zhi3<br />Qing3 zhi3 qu4 huo1che1zhan4 <br />de5 fang1xiang4.<br />Point (in a game) – fen1 <br />(fen1shu4)<br />(in an argument) – zhong4dian3<br />(main ~ ) – zhu3yao4 de5 <br />zhong4dian3<br />zhuan4zhu4 zai4 zhong4 dian3<br />(stick to the point) <br />Policy – zheng4che4<br />Politics – zheng4shi4<br />Polluted – wu1ran3 de5<br />Poor (not rich) – qiong/pin2qiong2<br />Popular – liu2xing2<br />Positive – zheng4mian4 de5<br />zheng4mian4 de han2yi4<br />(positive moral message)<br />Possess – shou3you3/yong1you3<br />Possessive adjective – shuo3you3 <br />ge2 xing2rong2ci2<br />Possessive Pronoun – shuo3you3 <br />ge2 dai4 ming2ci2 <br />Post office – you2ju2<br />Positive - ken3ding4<br />Pot – guo1<br />Pot sticker – guo1tie1<br />Potatoes – ma3ling2shu3<br />(chips) –ma3ling2shu3pian4<br />Potent – qinag2zhuang4<br />Potential – qian2li4<br />Powder – xi4fen3<br />Pouty – sa2jiao4<br />Practice – lian4xi2<br />Wo3 xiang3 duo1 lien4xi2. <br />Practical – shi2ji4/ shi2yong4<br />Predict – yu4yan2/ yu4gao4/<br />yu4ce4<br />Prefix - zi4shou3<br />Prejudice – pian1jian4<br />Dui4 ____ you3 pian1jian4<br />(Have a prejudice towards<br /> ___.)<br />Pre-occupied – <br />Prepare – zhun3bei4<br />( ~ for class [teacher]) –<br />bei4 ke5<br />Preposition - jie4xi4ci2<br />Prescription – yao4fang1/ <br />chu3 fang1<br />Presentation - chen2xian4 <br />Present Perfect - xian4zai4<br />wan2chun2shi4 <br />Present Perfect Progressive - <br />xian4zai4wan2chun2<br />jin4xing2shi4 <br />Present Progressive – <br />xian4zai4<br />jin4xing2shi4<br />President (country) – <br />zong3tong3<br />(previous ~ ) – qian2 ren2<br />zhong3tong3<br />(current ~ ) – xian4 ren2<br />zhong3tong3<br />(future ~ ) xia4 yi2 ren2 <br />zhong3tong3<br />(company) – zhong3cai4<br />(university) – xiao4zhang3<br />Pretend – jia3zhuang1<br />Preview (n.) – yu4xi2/<br />yu4gao4<br />Wo3 yao4 gei3 ni3 <br />zhei4 bu4 <br />dian4ying3 de5 yu4gao4<br />Price – Jia4ge2 <br />Pride (arrogant) – <br />jiao1-ao4 <br />Printer – yin4biao3ji1 <br />Print out - yin4 qu1 lai2<br />Private – si1you3 de5<br />Prize – jiang3xiang4 <br />(jiang3pin3)<br />Ni3 ke3yi3 ying2 de5 <br />jiang3xian4 <br />Probably – huo4xu3<br />(da4gai4/ ke3neng2)<br />Procedure - <br />Process - guo4cheng2<br />Zhe4 shi4 long3 chang2<br />huan3 man4 de5 guo4cheng2.<br />(It’s a long, slow process)<br />Yao4 hua1 hen3 jiu3 de5<br />shi2jian1 <br />Produce – sheng1chan3<br />Producer – zhi4zuo4ren2<br />Products – chan3pin3/ huo4<br />Professional - zhuan1ye4 <br />de5<br />Proffessor – jiao4shou4<br />Profit – li4run4<br />Profit – you3 li4run4 de5<br />Profound – shen1 de5<br />Program (television) –<br />jie2mu4<br />Project – zuo4ye4/ fang1an4<br />Ru3guo3 ni3 xiang3yao4 you3 da3zhe2 <br />de5 hua4/ ni3 ke3yi3 pei2he4 yi4qi3 <br />xie3 zuo4 de5 fang1an4. Ni3 ying1gai1: <br />1) You3 yi2 ge5 bai3 shi4 da2 de5 <br />hui4yuan2 ka3. Zu1jing1 ni3 zi4ji3 de5 <br />dian4ying.<br />2) Ni3 yao4 fan1yi4 wo3men5 de5 <br />dan1zi4 ming2dan1. Dan1zi4 ming2dan1<br />cong2 wo3men5 xue2 de5 dian4ying3 lai2 <br />de5.<br />3) Zhao3chu1 fan1yi4 de5 cuo4wu4/ yi1<br />liang3 ge5 jiu4 hao3. Xie3 xia4 cuo4 de5/<br />nian4 chu1 lai2/ leng4 wo3 xie3 xia4<br />pin1yin1. <br />4) Ni3 yao4 ba3 ni3 de5 fan1yi4/ ni3 zhao3 <br />de5 cuo4wu4/ ji4 dao4 wo3 de5 hotmail.<br />Ru3guo3 ni3 zhe4yang4 zuo4 wo3 hui4 gei3<br />Ni3 zhe2kou4. Zhe4 shi4 wo3men4 de5 <br />xie2yi4. Hao3 gong1ping2. Dui4 bu2 dui4? <br />(co-operative ~) – pei2he2 xie3zuo4 <br />fang1an4<br />Promotional Video – <br />Gong1ci1 guan3gao4 ying3pian4<br />Protect – bao3<br />Wo3 yao4 huan4 bao3 <br />Protest – kang4yi4<br />Prove - zheng4ming2<br />Proverbs – <br />Psychology – xin1li3xue3<br />Psychologist - xing1li3 <br />yi1sheng1<br />Public – gong1jia<br />Publish – chu1ban3<br />Wo3 yao4 chu1ban3 zhei4ge5<br />Pumpkin – nan2gua1<br />Punctuation Mark – <br />biao1dian3<br /> fu2hao4<br />Purpose – mu4di4<br />Zai4 yen2li4 de pi1pan4 <br />zhi1hou4 ni3 xiang3 yao4<br />da2cheng2 shen2me5 mu4di4<br />(What do you hope to achieve <br />with that critical attitude.)<br />Purse – pi2bao2 <br />Push – tui1<br />( ~ play) – an4 buo1fang4<br />( ~ pause) – an4 <br />zhan4ting2<br />(don’t ~ me) – bie2 bi1 wo3<br />Put together – an1zhuang1<br /><br />Quantity – liang4<br />Question - yi2wen4ju4<br />Quality – ping3zhi2<br />( picture ~ ) – <br />ying3pian4 ping3zhi2<br />Question Mark – <br />wen4hao4 shou1<br />Quit – ting2zhi3/ jie4<br />Wo3 yao4 ting2zhi3 <br />xue2xi2 zhong1wen4<br />Quotation (price) – <br />bao4jia4<br />Quotation – ying3yong4 ta1 <br />de5 hua4<br />Quotation mark – <br />ying3hao4 <br /><br />“R” ending - ar hua4 yin1 <br />Race – ren2zhong3<br />Racist – zhong3ju2qi2shi4<br />Radio – shou1yin1ji1<br />Rag – mo3bu4<br />Rain – xia4yu3<br />Yu3 kuai4 ting2 le5<br />Raise - <br />(in salary) – jia1xing1<br />Rape – qiang2bao4<br />Rat – lao3shu3<br />lao3shu3 du2yao4<br />Rational – li3zhi4<br />Zhe4yang4 zuo4 bu4 <br />he2shi4. <br />React – hui2ying4/ fan3ying4<br />Reaction – fan3ying4<br />Zi4ran2 fan3ying4<br />(natural ~ )<br />ge4ren2 de5 fan3yin4<br />(personal ~)<br />Read – nian4<br />( ~ along) – gen1zhe5 nian4<br />( ~ aloud) – nian4 qu1 lai2/ <br />du2<br />(study/ read – du2)<br />Ready – zhun3bei4hao3 <br />de<br />Ni3 hai2 yao4 duo2 jiu3 <br />cai2 hui4 hao4<br />Reality – xian4shi2<br />Reason – li3you2<br />(no reason) – mei2you3 <br />wei4shen2me5<br />Receptionist – zhong3ji4<br />Recharge – chong1dian2 <br />Chong1dian2 dian4chi2<br />(recharge the battery)<br />Recipe – shi2pu3 <br />Record - lu4yin1<br />Record this – lu4xia4 lai3 <br />zhe4ge5<br />Ta1 de5 sheng1yin1 <br />lu4qi5lai5<br />hen3 hao3ting1<br />Recorder – lu4yin1ji4<br />Recognize – ren4shi5<br />Recommend – tui1jian4 <br />Recycle - chong2fu4 <br />shi3yong4/ hui2shou1<br />Refer to – biao3shi4<br />Zhei4 ge5 dai4 ming2ci2<br />biao3shi4 shen2me5 dong1xi1<br />(What does this pronoun refer <br />to?)<br />Register – gua4hao4/ zhu4ce4<br />Reggae – leigui<br />Regret – ho4hui3<br />Regular (common) – pu3tong1<br />Regular phrase – pu3tong1 <br />zi2zu3<br />(customer) – lao3 ke4ren2<br />Rehearse - cai3pai2/<br />yan3xi2<br />Reimburse – bao4xiao1<br />Reincarnation – lun2hui2 <br />Reject - ju4jue2<br />Relate to – ren4tong2<br />Relax - fang4song1 <br />Religion – zhong1jiao4<br />Remember (output) – <br />ji4 de5<br />bu2 ji4 de5<br />(don’t remember)<br />Zhei4ge5 zi4 zai4 wo3 de5<br />ming2dan1 shang4, dan4shi4<br />wo3 mei2 you3 chang2chang2<br />yong4, suo3yi1 wo3 bu2 ji4 <br />de5.<br />(This word is in my list but <br />I haven’t used it enough <br />so I don’t remember it.) <br />Remember! (input) – <br />ji4zhu5<br />Wo3 ji4 bu4 zhu5 wo3 de3 <br />dian4hua4 hao4ma3<br />(I can’t remember my <br />telephone number) <br />Remind – ti2xing3<br />Qing3 ti2xing3 wo3.<br />(Please remind me)<br />Ta1 rang4 wo3 xiang3qi3 ni3 <br />ba4ba5.<br />(She reminds me of your father.)<br />Remote control – yao2 <br />kong4qi4<br />Wo3 you3 wu3 ge5 yao2-<br />kong4qi4. Yi1 ge5 dian4 shi4<br />de5 yao2kong4qi4. Yi1 ge5<br />DVD buo1fang1qi4 de5 yao2<br />kong4qi4. Yi1 ge5 DVD <br />lu4yin3ji1 de5 yao2kong4qi4.<br />Yi1 ge5 leng3qi4 de5 <br />yao2kongqi4. Hai2 you3 yi1 <br />ge5 she4ying3ji1 de5 yao2<br />kong4qi4. <br />DVD lu4yin3ji1.<br />Renovation – xin zhuang huang <br />Reporter – ji4zhe3<br />Represent – dai4biao3<br />Yue4liang5 dai4biao3 wo3 <br />de5 xin1.<br />(The moon represents my heart.)<br />Reputation – ming2sheng1<br />Research – yan2jiu4<br />Reservation – Ding4<br />(Reservation number) <br />Ding4piao4 hao4ma3<br />Wo3 zai4 can1ting1 yu4-<br />ding4 le5 qi1dian3. <br />Resistance - <br />Resolution - jie3jue2<br />mao2dun4<br />Respect - zun1jing4<br />Responsibility – ze2ren4<br />Rest – xiu1xi5<br />The rest – shen4 xia4 de5<br />The rest of my life –<br />Wo3 yi2 bei4zi4<br />Wo3 yi2 bei4 zi5 hui4 zhu4<br />zai4 zhe4li5.<br />Restaurant – fan4dian4/ can1ting1<br />Return – hui2<br />(come back) – hui2lai2<br />(go back) hui2qu4<br />(s.t.) huan2(gei3)<br />Return (s.t.) – huan4<br />Zhei4ge5 xing1qi1 si4 huan4. <br />Return ticket – dao4 _____ <br />de5 lai2 hui2 piao4<br />merchandise – tui4huo4<br />huan4<br /><br />Reverse – dian1dao3/<br />Fang guo lai (tones?) <br />Review - fu4xi2 (a lesson) <br /> - ping2lun4 (critical)<br />Revise - xiu1zheng4<br />Reward – jiang3li4<br />Rewind – hui2zhuan3 <br />Rhythym - jie2zou4<br />Rhyme - ya1yun4<br />Rich – you3qian2 de ren2<br />Rights – quan2li4<br />Ringing – xiang3<br />Nin3de5 dian4hua4 zai4 <br />xiang3.<br />Robot – ji1qi4ren2<br />Rock n Roll - yao2 gun3 yue4<br />Romance – ai4qing2<br />Romantic – lang4man4 de5<br />Romance movie –<br />Ai4qing2 pian4<br />Roof – wu1ding3 <br />Roomate – shi4you4<br />Root – zi4gen1 字根<br />Round – yuan2xing1<br />Di4qiu2 shi4 yuan2 de5<br />(The world is round)<br />Rule – gui1ding4/gui1ze2<br />Mei3 yi1 ge5 gui1ze2 dou1<br />you3 li4wai4. <br />Ruler – zhi2chi3<br />Rumour – yao2yan2/ <br />chuan2wen2<br />Run – pao3<br />Run a business – jing1ying3<br />sheng1yi5<br />Run down/ crappy – po4 <br />Run out – yong4wan2<br />Running machine – pao3bu4ji1<br />Rush (n.) – cong1mang2<br />Russia – e2guo2 <br /><br />Sad – bei1tong4/ bei’1ai/ <br />nan2guo4<br />Safety – an1quan2<br />Salary – xing1zi1<br />Salesman – ye4wu4yun2<br />Saliva – kou3shui3 <br />Salt – yan2<br />Salt and pepper – <br />hu2jiao1yan2<br />Same old – lao3yang4zi5<br />Sample (v.) (try) – shi4<br />Wo3men5 shi4 zhei4 zhong3<br />lei4xing2 ba5.<br />(Lets try this kind.) <br />Sarcasm – feng3ci4 de5<br />Sandi (tone sandi) – po4yin1zi4<br />Sashimi – san1yi2pian4<br />Sandwhich – san1ming2zhi4<br />Satelite T.V. – wei4xing1 dian4shi4<br />Satire – feng3ci4 de5<br />Satisfy – man3zu2<br />Satisfied – man3yi4<br />Sauce – jiang4 <br />Save – Sheng3<br />( ~ it) Sheng3 xia4 lai2<br />( ~ it on MP3) - Bao3cun2 <br />zai MP3<br />(save up) – shen3 qian2<br />Saxsaphone – sa4ke4fe4<br />si1feng1<br />Say – shuo1<br />Qing3 zai4 shuo1 yi2ci4.<br />(please say it again.)<br />Saying – ming2yan2 <br />Science Fiction –<br />Ke1huan4 pian4<br />Scene – mu4 <br />(cut to the next ~) – zhuan3huan4<br />yi2mu4<br />Schedule – shi2jian1biao3<br />School – xue2xiao4<br />Scoffer – chi4zhi1yi3bi2<br />Scold – ma4/ lao1dao1<br />Score (what’s the?) –<br />Ji3 bi2 ji3<br />San1 ping2 – three all<br />Wu3 bi2 liu4<br />(five to six) <br />Scrambled eggs – chao3dan4<br />Sream – da4jiao4<br />Screen – yin2mu4<br />Script – ju4ben3<br />dian4ying1 ju4ben3 zuo4zhe3<br />(screenwriter)<br />Sea – hai3yang2<br />Second (time) – miao3<br />Second hand – er4shou3 de<br />Section – yi2duan4/ yi2bu4fen/<br />Secret – mi4mi4<br />Xue2 yu3yan2 de5 mi4jue2 jiu4<br />shi4 fu4xi2 sheng1zi4 he2 ting1<br />li4 lien4xi2 <br />See – kan4jian4<br />(comprehend – liao3jie3)<br />Wo3 kan4 bu2 dao4.<br />(I can’t see anything.)<br />Seed – zhong3zi3<br />Seems – kan4 qi3 lai2<br />Ta1 kan4 qi3 lai2 hen3 jia3. <br />Seldom – hen3shao3<br />Wo3 hen3shao3 shuo1 <br />zhong1wen2.<br />(I seldom speak Chinese)<br />Selfish – zi4si1<br />Sell - mai4<br />You3 dian4chi2 mai4 ma<br />(to) – mai4gei3 <br />Sentence – Ju4ci5 <br />A sentence is a group <br />of words. <br />Ju4zi5 Shi you Yi <br />chun2 wen2zi4.<br />YI Ju4 hua4 hou4mian4 <br />yao4 fang4 Ju4hao4,<br /> jing1 hai2shi4 wen4hao4. <br />[At the end you must put <br />a period, exclamation mark, <br />or question mark.] <br />Sentimental – gan3qing2<br />you3 guan1 de5<br />Sense – yi4yi4<br />(Zhe4ge5 ci2 yong4 de5 shi4 <br />bi3yu4 yi4, bu2 shi4 ben3yi4.) <br />(different sense – bu4 tong2 <br />de5 yi4yi4<br />Set menu – tao4can2/ ding4chi2 <br />Science – ke1xue2<br />Scissors – jian3dao1 <br />Script - zhu4ben3 <br />Satire – feng3ci4 de5<br />Secretary – mi4shu1<br />Seldom – hen3 shao3/ <br />bu4 chang2 <br />Selfish – zi4se1 de5<br />Sense (v.) – gan3dao4/ <br />gan3jue2<br />Sensitive – ming3gan3 de5<br />Sentence - ju4zi<br />Ju4zi5 you3 bao3ha2 <br />zhu3ci2 GEN Dong4ci2<br />Serious – yan2su4/ <br />ren4zhen1/ yan2zhong4<br />yan2zhong4 de5 che1 huo4<br />(serious car accident)<br />yan2zhong4 de5 wen4ti2<br />(serious problem)<br />ren4zhen1 de xue2sheng1<br />yan2su4 de5 lao3shi1<br />(serious teacher)<br />but seriously… lao3shi5 jiang3<br />Serve – shou4dao4<br />Service – fu2wu4<br />(wake up ~) – jiao4xing3 <br />fu2wu4 <br />Set menu – tao4can2/ <br />ding4chi2<br />(film) – bu4jing3<br />Sex – xing4 (act)<br />-xing4bie2 (gender)<br />Sexist - <br />Sexual harrasement – <br />xing4sao1lao <br />Sexual intercourse – <br />xing4jiao1 <br />Wo3 gen1 yi4 bai3 duo1 ge1<br />nu:3sheng1 xing4jiao1 guo4<br />Sexy – xing4gan3 <br />Shake – yao4<br />Shaky – yao2huang4 <br />Shallow – qian3<br />Shade – yin1yin3chu4<br />Shame - xiu1chi3<br />Ni3 xiang3 yao4 rang4 <br />wo3 jue2de5 xiu1chi3 ma3? <br />Share – fen1xiang3<br />Sharp – fong1li4 <br />Shark – sha1yu2<br />Shelf – jia4zi5<br />Shoe – xie2<br />Short answer - duan3 de <br />hui2da2<br />Short skirt – duan3 qun2 zi5<br />Shot (sports) – tou2<br />(camera) pian4duan4<br />Should – ying1gai1<br />Wo3 ying1gai1 zhi1dao4 de5<br />bi3 jiao4 duo1<br />Wo3 de5 zhong1wen2 ying1gai1<br />yao4 bi3 xian4zai4 hao3 <br />Wo3men5 bu4 ying1gai1 bi3ci3<br />shou1hua4<br />Ta1men5 jue2de5 wo3 ying1gai1 <br />hui4 jiang3 zhong1wen2. <br />Sidewalk – ren2xing2dao4<br />Sign – (guan3gao4) zhao1pai2/<br />Qu1kou3 de5 biao1shi4<br />( ~ out) – dan1chu1<br />Silent – wu2sheng1 de5<br />Silent letter – wu2sheng1 zi4mu4<br />Silly - sha3 <br />Similar – xiang1si4<br />Simple – jian3dan1<br />Simple Form of the Verb – <br />jian3dan1 xing2shi4<br />or<br />yuen2xing2 dong4ci2<br />(original form) <br />Simple Future - wei4lai2shi2 <br />Simple Past - guo4qu4shi2 <br />Simple Present - xian4zai4shi2<br />Simultaneous – tong2shi2-<br />fa1sheng1 de5<br />Sincere – zhen1shi2 de5 <br />Sing – chang4ge1<br />Sing along –<br />Singapore – xin1jia1po1<br />Single order – dan1dian3<br />Singular - dan1shu4<br />Sister – jie3mei4 <br />Sixties – liu4shi2 nian2 dai4<br />Ski – hua2xue3<br />(water ski - hua2shui3) <br />Skill - ji4neng2/ ji4qiao3<br />ji4shu4<br />Slang – li3yu3<br />Slave - nu2li4<br />Slide – hua2<br />Skate – liu1bing1<br />Slender – miaotao<br />Sleep – shui4 <br />Slippers – tou1xie2<br />Slut – biao3zi5<br />Smart – xiao3 cong1ming2<br />Small – xiao3<br />(cont. funny – xiao4)<br />Smell – wen2qi3lai2<br />Wo3 wen2 bu4 jian4<br />(I can’t smell it.)<br />Zhe4 hua1 hen3 xiang1<br />(This flower smells good)<br />Zhe4ge5 wen2qi3lai2 xiang4 <br />ka1fei1<br />(This smells like coffee.)<br />Smile – wei1xiao4<br />Smooth – shun4<br />Snack – xiao3chi1<br />Snare – xiao3jun1 gu3<br />Sneak – tou1<br />Tou1chi1<br />(sneak food)<br />Sneeze (v.) – da3 pen1ti4<br />Sneeze (n.) pen1ti4<br />Snob – shi4li4yan3/<br />shi4li4 xiao3ren4<br />Snorkel – fu2qian3 hu1xi1qi4<br />Snorkeling – fu2qian3<br />Snorkel Surfing – fu2qian3 <br />cong1lang4<br />Wo3 yao4 xie3 yi1 ge5 <br />gu4shi4 guan1yu2 <br />jin1tian1 de5 mao4xian3. <br />Ru2guo3 ni3 yao4 xue2 <br />shen2me5 dong1xi1, <br />chuang4zao4 gu4shi4,<br />xie3 gu4shi4, jiao1 gu4shi4<br />shi4 zui4 hao3 de5 ban4fa3. <br />Jiao4 gu4shi4 yong4 <br />shou3shi4 hen3 hao3. <br />Bi3 jiao4 rong2yi4<br />ji4 de5. Mei3 yi1 ge5 ren2 <br />dou1 dong3 shou3shi4. <br />Mei3 yi1 ge5 ren2 <br />xi3huan1 gu4shi4.<br />…………………………………….. <br /><br />Wu2lun4 ru2he2 jin1tian1 <br />de5 gu4shi4 shi4 fu2qian3/ <br />cong1lang4 zai4 long2dong4 <br />de5 gu4shi4. Wo3 dai4 <br />wo3 de5 she4ying3ji1 <br />qu4 long2dong4. Wo ba3 <br />wo3 de5 she4ying3ji4<br />bao1 zai4 hao3 ji3 ge5 <br />su4jiao1 li3, cha1 bu4 <br />dou1 you3 shi2 ge5. <br />Ran3hou4 wo3 you3yong3 <br />dao4 yi1ge5 xiao3 dao3.<br />Zai4 xiao3 dao3 wo3 fang4<br />wo3 de5 she4ying3ji1 zai4 <br />yi1ge5 shi2tou5, an4 <br />lu4ying3, ran3hou4 tiao4 <br />hai3yang2 li3. You3 <br />wo3 de5 fu2qian3 <br />hu1xi1 qi4, wa1jing4, <br />wa1xie2. <br />Pai1she4 wo3 zi4ji3 zai4<br />you3yong3. You3 da4 de5 <br />lang4. Hen3 hao3 wan2<br />Hao3 you3qu4. Ran3hou4 wo3<br />qu4 pan1yan2 yi4dian3. <br />Ran3hou4 wo3 zuo4 <br />gong1gong4 qi4che1 hui2 jia1, <br />kan4 wo3 de5 dian4ying3. <br />Wo3 jue2de4 bu2 cuo4<br />suo3yi3 wo3 jue2ding4 <br />jian4ji1 pai1cun2 zhei4 bu4 <br />dian4ying3 jiao4 Fu2qian3 <br />Cong1lang4 Zai4 Long2Dong4.<br />Ran3hou4 ne5?<br />Society – she4hui4<br />Soap – fei2zao4<br />Sober – qing1xing3<br />Social – she4hui4<br />Socialist – she4hui4zhu3-<br />yi4zhe3<br />Soft – ruan3<br />Di4 hen3 nuan3.<br />(The ground is soft)<br />(mannersim) wen1he2<br />Solar Power – tai4yang2 neng2<br />( ~ panel) – jin1ban3<br />Soltly – qing1qing1<br />qing1qing1 de5 da3 qiu2<br />Solve - jie3jue2<br />Something – yi4xie1 <br />dong1xi1<br />dai4 yi4xie1 dong1xi1 hui2lai2<br />(bring something back)<br />Sincere – zhen1shi2/ <br />cheng2shi2 de5<br />Sing – chang4ge1<br />Single –<br />( ~ room) – dan1ren2 fang2<br />Socks – wa4zi5<br />So (in this way) – zhe4yang4<br />(to such an extreme <br />extent) –<br />zhe4me5/ na4me5<br />(very) – fei1chang2<br />(therefore) – suo3yi4<br />So far – mu4qian2<br />So so – hai2 ke3yi3/ <br />bu2 cuo4<br />Solve – jie3jue2<br />(result – jie2guo3)<br />(end v. – jie2shu4<br />ending n – jie2ju2)<br />Someday – you3 yi4 tian1<br />Something – yi4 xie1 dong1xi1<br />Sometime (in the future) – <br />guo4 yi1 duan4 shi2jian1<br />Sometimes – you3shi2hou1<br />Son – er2zi5 (child/child)<br />(nu:3er2 – daughter)<br />Song Title - ge1ming2<br />Song writer – liu2xing2 <br />ge1qu3 <br />zuo4zhe3 <br />Sophisticated – <br />Soul – ling2hun2 (spirit) <br />- jue2shi4 ling2ge1 (music)<br />Sound – sheng1yin1<br />Liu2shui3sheng1<br />(the sound of flowing water)<br />pin1yin1<br />(spell sound)<br />fa1yin1<br />(express sound)<br />Soundtrack – dian4ying3 pei4yue4<br />South – nan2<br />Soy Milk – duo4 jiang1<br />Spatula – guo2chan3<br />Special – te4bie2<br />(special circumstance) –<br />te4shu1 qing2kuang4<br />Special (at restaurant) –<br />Te4can1 <br />Special effects – dian4ying3<br />te4shu1 xiao4gu3<br />Te4se4<br />(special quality)<br />Speak Silently- bu4 chu1 <br />sheng1 de5 shou1<br />Special – te4bie2<br />(special experience –<br />te4bie2 de5 jing1yan4)<br />Specific - te4ding4 de<br />Spend – hua1<br />Ni3 hua1 le5 duo1shao3<br />qian2<br />Ta1 hua1feile5 hen3 duo1<br />shi2jian1 he2 jing1li4 lai2<br />bang1zhu4 wo3.<br />Wo3 jiang1 zai4 Zhong1guo2 <br />guo4 Sheng4dan4jie2. <br />Spices – xiang1liao4<br />Spicey – la4 de5<br />Spill – jian4chu1lai2<br />Spoiled – cong3 huai4 le5<br />Ta1 bei4 cong3 huai4 le5<br />Spoken Sentence - ju4hua4 <br />Sponge - hai3mian4<br />Spontaneous – zi4ran2 de5/<br />Shuixingsuoyu<br />Spray – pen1<br />Square – zheng4fang1xing1<br />Squeeze – ji3<br />Stairs – lou2ti1<br />Staff – yuan1gong2<br />Bie2 dui4 yuan2gong1 bu4<br />Li3mao4<br />Stage – yu3tai2<br />Ta1 zai4 yu3tai2 shang4<br />biao3 yuen3. <br />( ~ a in process) –<br />jie1duan4<br />Di4 yi1 jie1duan4 de5 <br />guo4cheng2 shi4….<br />Standby – (STBY) hou4ji1<br />Standard - biao1zhun3<br />Standardize - shi3 he2 <br />biao1zhun3<br />Status – jie1ji2<br />Star – ming2xing1<br />Stare – deng4<br />He doesn’t dare stare anymore.<br />Starring – zhu3yan3<br />Start – kai1shi3<br />- Wo3 san1shi2wu3 sui4 de5 <br />shi2hou4 kai1shi3 xue2<br />zhong1wen2. Ke3shi4 wo3<br />si4shi2si4 sui4 de5 shi2hou4<br />cai2 kai1shi3 ren4zhen1 xue2.<br /><br />Ni3 kai1shi3 xue2 ying1wen1<br />de5 shi2hou4 ni3 ji3 sui4.<br />Starving – e4si3 le5 <br />Status – di4wei4/ zhi2wei4<br />Ta1 de5 zhi2wei4 hen3 gao1.<br />Stay – dai1<br />Ni3 zai4 zhong1guo2 dai1 le5<br />duo1 jiu3 <br />Steady – wen3gu4<br />Steal – tou1<br />Steamed dumplings - shui3jiao3<br />Stick (v.) nian2 shang4<br />( ~ stick to the point)<br />zhaun4zhu4 zai4 <br />zhong4dian3<br />Sticky – nian2/ nian2nian2<br />Stiff – jiang1ying4 <br />Still – hai2shi4<br />Ni3 hai2shi4 zui4 hao3 de5. <br />Stinky – chou4<br />Stereotype – ke4 ban3 <br />ying4 shang4 <br />Statement - chen2shu4ju4<br />Stiff – jiang1yin4<br />Store – shang1dian4<br />Zai4 shang1dian4 de5 <br />dian4yuan2 dui4 wo3 bu4<br />li3mao4.<br />(The clerk in the store was<br />rude towards me.)<br />Story – gu4shi5<br />Stove – huo3lu2<br />(smily “u”)<br />Stop – ting2zhi3<br />Stop over – zhuan3ji1<br />Store – shang1dian4<br />Story – gu4shi5<br />Wo3 yao4 jiang3 yi2 ge5<br />gu4shi4 gei3 ni3 ting1. <br />Straight – zhi2 de5<br />(not gay) cun3 <br />Strange – qi2guai4/<br />Guai4guai4<br />Strangers – mo4 sheng1 ren2<br />Strategy – ce4lue4 <br />Stretch - shen1zhan3<br />Strength – li4<br />no strength – mei2li4 le5<br />Stress - zhong4yin1<br />Strong – qiang2zhuang4<br />Structure - jie2gou4<br />Stubborn – gu4zhi2<br />Study – xue2<br />Ni3 yong4 dian4ying3 xue2 <br />ying1wen2 ma5?<br />Ni3 you3 quan2bu4 xue2 <br />guo4 ma5?<br />Study abroad – liu2xue2<br />Structure – jie2gou4 <br />Stuffy – men1re4<br />Struggle - zheng1zha2<br />Study – du4 shu/ xue2xi2<br />Studio –<br />Stutter – jie1ba5<br />Stop over – zhuan3 ji1 <br />Story – gu4shi1<br />Strategy – ze4lue4<br />Stretch – shen1<br />shen1 zhan3<br />(stretch your body)<br />Street – jie1/ ma3lu:4<br />Style - feng1ge2<br />Subconscious- qian2yi4shi4 <br />de5/ xia4yi4shi5 de5<br />Ni3 de5 qian2yi4shi4 zhi4dao4<br />yu2yan4 de5 mu4di4 shi4 <br />gou1tong1, ru2guo3 ni3 mei2<br />yong4 lai2 gou1tong1 ni3 de5 <br />qian2yi4shi4 jiu4 hui4 wang4ji4 <br />Subject - zhu3ci2<br />zhuc4ci2 biao3xian4 dong4 <br />ci2 de* dong4zuo4, huo4shi4 <br />xian4axia de5 <br />ci2 xing2rong2 zhu3ci2.<br />Subjunctive – de5 hua4<br />Jia3ru2 wo3 zhi1dao5 zhe4me<br />nan2 de5 hua4 jiu4 bu2 hui4<br />kai1shi3<br />Submissive – shun4cong2<br />Substitute – dai4ti4<br />Subtle – wei1miao4<br />Suicide – zi4sha1<br />Sun – tai4yang2<br />Sour – suan4<br />Such as – bi3ru2<br />Success – cheng2gong1<br />Suck – xi1<br /> (you bozo..) – xun4diao4<br />Suddenly – tu1ran2/ ling2shi2<br />Suffix - zi2wei3/ ci2wei3<br />Sugar – tang2 <br />tai4 duo1 tang2<br />(too much sugar)<br />Suggest – tui1jian4<br />Wo3 ke3yi3 tui1jian4 ma5 <br />Suggestive - yin3yue1 隱約<br />(ta1 hao3xiang4 xiang3 <br />shuo1..)<br />Suicide – zi4sha1<br />Suitable – shi4yong4<br />Summer – xia4tian1<br />Summarize – zong3jie2<br />Ke3yi3 bang1 wo3 zong3jie2 <br />Zhei4ge5 ma5?<br />Can you summarize this for me? <br />Summary - zong3jie2<br />Sun – tai4yang2<br />Superstition –<br />Supermarket – zhao1ji2shi4chang3<br />Superstition – mi2xing4<br />Supply – gong1ji3<br />Gong1ji3 he2 xu1qiu2 deng2yu2<br />jia4ge5.<br />Support – zhi1chi2<br />Suppose – jia3she4<br />Surf – chong1lang4<br />Surprise (v.) – jjing4ya4<br />(n)- jing4xi?<br />Surreal – chao1xian4shi2<br />Suspense – xuan2yi2pian4<br />Suspicious – huai2yi2<br />Swear – shuo1zhang1hua4<br />Sweater – mao2yi1<br />(hairy clothes)<br />Sweet – tian2<br />tai4 tian2<br />(too sweet)<br />Swim – you2yong3<br />Swimsuit – you2yong3 yi1/<br />Yong3ku4<br />Wo3 qu4 pai4dui4 qian4 (post <br />position) mai3 le5 yong3ku4. <br />Wo3 ba3 wo3 jiu4 de5 yong3ku4<br />diu1 diao4. <br />(I threw away my old bathing suit.)<br />Wo3 zai4 pai2dui4 yao4 mai3 <br />yong3ku4 qu4 yi2 ge5 pai4dui4.<br />(I am standing in line to buy a bathing <br />suit for the party.) <br />Switch – huan4cheng2<br />Yao4 hua1 yi4dian4 shi2jian1<br />zhuan3 huan4cheng2 ling4wai4<br />zhong3 yu3yan2. <br />Syllable - yin1jie2<br />Symbol - xiang4zheng1<br />- he2ping2 de5 xiang4zheng)<br />- hua4xue2 fu2hao4)<br />Symbolize - dai4biao3<br />Synonym - tong2 yi4 ci2<br />Synopsis - zhu4qing2gai4yao4<br />System – xi4tong3<br />Wo3 fa1zhan3 chu1 yi2ge5<br />xi4tong2 hen3 jiu3, wo3 xiang3<br />xian4zai4 yi3jing1 jie1jing4<br />wan2mei3.<br />Systematic – xi4tong3<br />xi4tong3 de5 xue2xi2<br /><br />Taibei –<br />(Taibei xian4) – Taipei county<br />(Taibei city) – Taipei shi4 <br />Tacky – shu2qi4<br />Taboo – jin4ji4<br />Taipei - Tai2bei3 <br />Wo3 yao4 kan4 Tai2bei3<br />shen2me5 yang4zi5.<br />(I want to see what Taipei <br />is like.) <br />Talent – tian1cai2<br />Talented – tian1cai2 de5<br />Talk – shuo1hua4<br />(to yourself) <br />zi4yan2zi4yu3<br />Take – Na2/ dai4<br />Shei2 na2zou3 le5 wo3de5<br />ci2dian3.<br />(Who took my dictionary?)<br />Dai4 mou3ren2 hui2jia1.<br />(Take s.o. home.)<br />( ~ a boat, plane…<br />zuo4 chuan2, fei1ji1…) <br />(apart) – cai1zhuang1<br />(away) – na2qu4<br />(off – airplane) – qi3fei1 <br />(out) – na2chu1<br />Cong2 kou3dai4 li2 na2chu1<br />yi1zhi5 bi3. <br />(to) – dai4qu4<br />Wo3 gei3 ta1 dai4qu4 zhe4xie1<br />xin4.<br />(turns) - lun4liu4<br />(can’t ~ it) shou4 bu4 liao3<br />(requires) – hua1<br />yao4 hua1 hen3 jiu3 de5 <br />shi2kian1<br />(It takes a long time.) <br />Tape (recording) – <br />lu4yin1dai4<br />(sticky) – jiao1dai4 <br />Tariff – guan1shui4<br />Taste - pin3wei4<br />(v.) – chang2chang2 kan4<br />(flavour) – kou3wei4<br />Tax – shui4<br />Taxi – ji4cheng2che1<br />zuo4 ji4 cheng2 che<br />(get a taxi) <br />Tea – cha1<br />Tea egg – cha1ye4dan4<br />Teach – jiao1/ jiao1shu1<br />Teacher – lao3shi1<br />Wo3 yao4 dang4 yi2ge5<br />hao3 lao3shi1<br />Teaching – jiao4xue2/ <br />jiao4shou4<br />Wo3 mei2you3 duo1shao5<br />jiao4xue2 jing1yan4<br />Teaching material - jiaocai<br />Team – (xiao3)zu3 <br />Technique – ban4fa3/ ji4qiao3 <br />Technology – ke1ji4<br />Teenage – shi2ji3sui4<br />Teenager – qing1shao4nian2<br />Telephone – dian4hua4<br />Ni3 shuo3buo1 de5 dian4hua4<br />wu2 ren2 hui2yin4 (jie1ting1).<br />Television – dian4shi4<br />( ~ program) – <br />dian4shi jie2mu4<br />( ~ series) dian4shi4 lienxuju<br />Temper (bad) – pi2qi4 bu4 hao3<br />Temperature – wen1du4 <br />Temple – si4miao4 <br />Tempo - pai1zi5<br />Kuai4 pai1zi5<br />Man4 pai1zi5<br />Temporary – zhan4shi2 de5<br />Tempt – yuo4huo4<br />Tense (verb) – dong4ci2 shi2tai4 <br />(op. relaxed) – jin3bong1<br />Ten thousand – yi2 wan4<br />Territory – di4pan2<br />Test - kao3 (v.)<br />- kao3shi4 (n.)<br />Ni3 yao4 kao4 wo3 de5 kou3shou1<br />zhong1wen2 ma5<br />Terrible – ke3pa4<br />Texture (of fabric etc.) – zhi2liao4<br />(flesh) – zhi2gan3 <br />That – na4/ nei4<br />The Bible – Shen4jing1<br />The same – tong2yang4 de5<br />Theatre – dian4ying4 yuan4/<br />xiyuan4 <br />Theme - zhu3ti2 (message)<br />- hua4ti2 (topic)<br />( ~ song) – zhu3ti2ge1<br />Theory - li3lun4<br />These – zhei4xie1<br />Thick - hou4<br />Thigh – da4tui3<br />Thin - bao2 <br />Think – xiang3/ kao3lu:4<br />Bu2 yao4 xiang3 tai4 duo1. <br />(thought – mistakenly) yi3wei2<br />Wo3 xiang3 bu2 shi4 zhe4yang4<br />(I don’t think so)<br />Think that – ren4wei2<br />( ~ of – have a thought) – <br />xiang3 dao4<br />This – zhe4/ zhei4<br />Those – na4xie1<br />Thought mistakenly that –<br />yi3wei2<br />Three square meters – ping2<br />Yi1 ping2 shi4 san1 gong1chi3 <br />cheng2 san1 gong1chi3<br />Threat – wei1xie2<br />Ta1 wei1xie2 yao4 kai1chu2 wo3 <br />ru3guo3 wo3de5 zhong1wen2<br />mei2you3 jin4bu4<br />Thriller – jing1song3 pian4<br />Tian mu aquaduct trail –<br />Shui3guan3 gu3 dao4<br />Throb – tiao4dong4 <br />Throw – diu1<br />( ~ away – diu1diao4)<br />Thumb tack – tu2ding1<br />Tibet – xi1zang4<br />Ticket scalper – haung2 niu2<br />Time – shi2jian1<br />Timing – shi2ji1<br />Title – <br />To – xiang4/ wang3/ dao4/ gei3<br />xiang4 zuo3 zhuan3<br />(turn to the left)<br />Shu1 diao4dao4 di4shang5 le.<br />(The book fell to the floor.)<br />Cong2 zao3 dao4 wan3.<br />(from morning to night)<br />Ta1 ba3 zhe4ge5 gei3 le5 wo3men5.<br />(He gave the book to us.)<br />To be - Wo3 xiang3yao4 dang4 <br />yi1sheng1.<br />(I want to be a doctor)<br />Toe – jiao3zhi3<br />Tolerant – ren3shou4 de5 <br />Tone - 1st, 2nd…. sheng1diao4<br />- Sheng1yin1 de5 yin1diao4 (ToV)<br />- ying1gao1 (pitch)<br />(what tone – di4 ji3 sheng1?)<br />(muscle etc.) – jing3shi2<br />Zhei4 ge5 yun4 dong4 jing3shi2<br />ni3 de5 pu4bu4 (abdomen). <br />Tomorrow – ming1tian1<br />Ming1tian1 wo3men5 yao4 <br />zheng3tian1 pai1she4<br />(We will be filming all day <br />tomorrow) <br />Too – tai4<br />( ~ much) – Tai4 cao1 guo4<br />Tool – gong1zhu4<br />Topic – hua4ti2<br />Ke3yi3 gai3bian4 hua4ti2 ma5?<br />Torture – zhe2mo2<br />Touch – mo1<br />Touching – gan3dong4<br />Tough – jian1ren4/ jie1shi4<br />jian4zhuang4<br />Tour – lu:3you2<br />Tour group – lu:3xing2 tuan2<br />Tour guide – dao3you2<br />Tourist – guan1guang1ke4<br />Towel – mao2jin1<br />Trade – jiao1huan4<br />Traffic – jiao1tong1<br />Wo3 hen4 jiao1tong1. Hao3 cao3.<br />Hao3 chou4. Hao3 wei2xian3. Wo3<br />zhen3me5 ke3neng2 bu2 hen4 ta1? <br />Traffic jam – sai1che1/ du3che1<br />Traffic light – hong2lu:4 deng1<br />Trail – bu4dao4/ xiao3lu4<br />Train (teach) – xun4lian4<br />Translate – fan1yi4<br />Wo3men4 zheng4zai4 fan1yi4<br />cong2 zhong1wen2 fan1chen2 <br />ying1wen2<br />Translation - fan1yi4<br />Transliteration – ying1yi4<br />Translator – fan1yi4jia1<br />Transfer (a call) – <br />zhuan3 dian4hua4 <br />Transparent – qing1chu5<br />Transitive Verb - ji2wu4 <br />dong4ci2<br />Travel – lu:3xing2<br />Travelogue – lu:3xing2 ji4lu<br />ying3pian4 <br />Treadmill – pao3bu4ji1<br />Treat – dui4 (dai)<br />Dui4 mou3ren2 hen3 you3 <br />li3 mao4<br />(Treat s.o. with politeness)<br />Qing3 mou3ren2 chi1 Bei3jing1<br />kao3ya1 <br />(treat s.o. to Beijing duck)<br />Wo3 yao4 qing3 ke4 ni3<br />(I want to treat you.) <br />Treble - gao1yin1<br />Trend – qu1shi4<br />Trip – lu:3xing2<br />Wo3 qi2dai4 zhei4 g5 lu:3 <br />hen3 jiu3 le5. <br />Tripod – san1 jiao3 jia4<br />Tribute – ji4nian4/ chong2bai4/ <br />li3zhan4<br />Truck – ka3che1<br />Trunk (of a car) – che1xiang1<br />Da3 kai1 che1 xiang1.<br />(Open the trunk.) <br />Truism –<br />Trust – xing4ren4 <br />Trustworthy –<br />Try – shi4/ shi4zhe5<br />(make an effort) - shi4 shi4 kan4/<br />jin1liang4/ jin4li4<br />Wo3 shi4 shi4 kan4 xue2 hao3<br />Zhong1wen2.<br />Wo3 ren2ran2 zai4 xue2xi2 <br />zhong1wen2<br />(attempt) – shi4/ shi4zhe5/ <br />chang2shi4<br />shi4zhe5 gei3 ta1 da3 dian4hua4<br />(try phoning him)<br />rang4 wo3 shi4 yi2xia4<br />(let me try)<br />Wo3 hui4 shi4zhe5 bu2 yao4<br />He1 ka1fei1<br />Wo3 hui4 shi4zhe5 zuo4.<br />(I’ll try to do it.)<br />( ~ out) – shi4yong4<br />shi4yong4 yi4zhong3 xin1 de5<br />fang1fa3<br />(try out this new method)<br />sample – shi4<br />Wo3men5 shi4 zhei4 zhong3<br />lei4xing2 ba5.<br />(Lets try this one.) <br />Turn (rotate) – xuan2zhuan4<br />(change direction) – zhuan3xiang4 <br />(on) – da3kai1<br />(off) – guan1 (diao4/ shang5)<br />Qing3 guan1 deng1<br /> up – da3 shang1 yi4dian3<br /> down – xiao3 shang1 yi4dian3 <br />Lun2 dao4 wo3 le5<br />(It’s my turn)<br />(up the stove)<br />kai1 da4 huo3<br />(into) – bian4cheng2<br />Tutor – jia1ting2/<br />jiao4shi1<br />Type (kind) -<br />zhong3lei4<br />Bu4 tong2 de5<br />zhong3lei4<br />(different kinds) <br />Type (hit keys) –<br />Da3zi4 <br />(kind) zhong3<br />zhei4 zhong3<br />(this kind) <br />Typical – dian3xin1 de5<br /><br />Ugly – chou3<br />Umbrella – yu3san3<br />Umlaut – <br />Uncool – lao3tu3<br />(old spit)<br />Uncountable – bu4ke2shu3 de5 <br />Underwear – nei1ku4<br />Unexpected – yi4wai4 de5<br />Unique – du2te4<br />Universe – yu3zhou4<br />Universal – quan2 shi4jie4 de<br />University – da4xue2<br />shang4 da4xue2<br />(attend university)<br />Unlike – bu4xiang4 <br />Unplug… ba2diao4 …. cha1tou2<br />Until – zhi2dao4<br />Wo3 hui4 yi4zhi2 lien4xi2 shuo1<br />Zhong1wen1 zhi2dao4 wo3 hui4<br />shuo1 liu2li4 de5 zhong1wen2<br />Ni3 hai2 yao4 duo1 jiu3<br />hui2 lai2<br />Upset – nan2shou4<br />(difficult accept)<br />Xin1li3 hen3 nan2shou4<br />(Inside heart very difficult accept) <br />Upside down - dian1dao3 de5<br />Urinate – niu4niu4<br />Use (v) – yong4<br /> (n) – yong4<br />Ku1 mei2 young4<br />(no use crying)<br />Usage - shi3yong4<br />Useful – you3yong4 de5<br />Useless – mei2you3 yong4<br />Usually – tong1chang2<br />Tong1chang2 wo3men5 gen1 <br />dui4fang1 shuo1 ying2wen2.<br />(We usually speak to each other<br />in English.)<br />Vacation – du4jia4/fang4jia4<br />Wo3 zai4 fang4jia4<br />Vagina – yin1dao4<br />Vague – mo2hu5 de5<br />Vancouver – wang1ge1hua4<br />Vanity – xu1rong2xin<br />Vain – xu1rong2 de5/ zi4fu4 ? <br />Values – jia4zhi2 <br />Variable –<br />Variety – duo1yang4xin4<br />Vegetable (raw) – shu1cai4<br />(cooked) – qing1cai4 <br />Verb - dong4ci2<br />Verb Phrase - dong4ci2 ci2zu3 <br />Verb Tense - dong4ci2 shi2tai4<br />Verse - ge1 de5 yi2 bu4 fen4<br />Version – ban3ben3<br />Vibration – zhen4dong4<br />Vinegar – cu4<br />(bai2/ hei1)<br />Vietnam – yue4nan2<br />Violent – bao4li4<br />Virgin – chu3nu3/nan2<br />Visit (tour) – can1guan1<br />can1guan1 gong1chang3<br />(visit a factory)<br />Vocabulary – sheng1zi4<br />Vocal chords – shen1dai4<br />Volunteer – zhi4gong4 <br />Voiced – you3shen1 de5<br />You3 sheng1 de5 sheng1yin1 <br />shi4 shen1dai4 you3 zhen4dong4 <br />de5. <br />Voiceless – wu2shen1 de5<br />Wu2sheng1 sheng1yin1 shi4 <br />shen1dai4 mei3you2 zhen4dong4 <br />de. <br />B he2 P shi4 you3sheng1 he2 <br />wu2sheng1 zi3yin1 pei4dui4.<br />You3sheng1 de5 zi3yin1 he2 <br />wu2sheng1 de5 zi3yin1 fa1yin1 <br />wan2quan2 yi2yong4, dan4shi4 <br />you3sheng1 de5 zi3yin1 de5 <br />fa1yin1 shi4 shen1dai4 you3 <br />zhen4dong4 de5, wu2 sheng1<br />zi3yin1 de5 fa1yin1 shi4 shen1<br />dai4 mei3you2 zhen4dong4 de5. <br />Voice over – pang2bai2<br />Vowel – mu3yin1<br />Sou3you3 de5 mu3yin1 duo1 shi4<br />you3shen1 de5. <br />Vulnerable – cui4luo4<br /><br />Wages – xing1shui3<br />Wall – chiang2<br />Wallet – pi2jia1<br />Wake up – xing3lai2<br />Wake up wake up – <br />Xing3 qi3 lai2 xing3 qi3 lai2 <br />Don’t wake me up<br />Bu2yao4 chao3 xing3 wo.<br />Ni3 chao2 xing3 wo3. <br />Wandering – Ni3 zai4 <br />shen2liao2.<br />Want- xiang3yao4<br />Wo3 xiang3 duo1 lien4xi2<br />Ni3 yao4 gan4ma2<br />(What do you want to do?) <br />War – zhan4zheng1<br />Warm - wen1nuan3/ <br />nuan3huo5/ <br />re4qing2<br />Warning – jing3gao4<br />Wash – xi3<br />(wash off) – xi3diao4<br />(the dishes) – xi3 wan4 <br />Waste – lang4 fei4<br />Water – shui3<br />Watermelon – xi1gua1<br />Weak – xu1ruo4 <br />Weather – tian1qi4 <br />tian1qi4 yu4 bao4<br />Website – wang3zhi3<br />Wedding – hun1li3<br />Weigh – Zhei4 ge5 dong1xi1<br />you3 shi2 gong1jing1 zhong4.<br />(This weighs ten kilograms.)<br />Bang1 wo3 cheng1zhong4 zhei4ge5 <br />(Please weigh this.)<br />Ni3 ji3 gong1jin1?<br />(How much do you weigh?)<br />Wo3 qi1 shi2 wu3 gong1jin1.<br />(I weigh seventy five pounds)<br />Ni3 duo1 zhong4?<br />(How heavy are you?) <br />Weekend – zho1mo4 <br />Weight – zhong4liang4<br />West – xi1<br />Western civilization – xi1fang1 <br />wen2ming2<br />Western influence – xi1fang1 <br />de yin3xiang3<br />Western music – xiang1cun1 <br />yin1yue4<br />Wet – shi1 de5<br />Di4ban3 shi1 le5<br />(the floor is wet)<br />Wo3 shi4 shi4.<br />(I’m wet.)<br />Whatever – sui2bian4<br />Wheel – lun2zi5<br />Which – na3<br />Which one – na3 yi2 ge5<br />Which ones – na3xie3 <br />Will – hui4 <br />Wo3 hui4 sha1 le5 ni3.<br />Window – chuang1hu5 <br />Whiney – bao4yan4 de5 <br />yin1diao4<br />Whole – wan2quan2<br />Wide – kuan1<br />Widen – jia1kuan1<br />Wikipedia – wei2ke1bai3ke1qian2<br />Wild – kuang1ye4 de5<br />Will – hui4/ jiang1yao4<br />Ta1 hui4 tong2yi4 ma5?<br />(Will she agree?)<br />Ta1 bu2hui4 tong2yi4.<br />(She won’t agree.)<br />Wo3 bu2 hui4 wan4ji4.<br />(I won’t forget.)<br />Willing – yuan4yi4<br />Wo3 yuan4yi4 jin4 zui4 <br />da4 nu:3li4 bang1zhu4 <br />zhe4ge5 hai2zi5.<br />(I’ll do my best to help<br />this child.)<br />Ta1 bu2 yuan4yi4 lai2.<br />(She won’t come.)<br />Win - ying2<br />Window – chuang1hu4<br />Winner – ying2jia1<br />di4 yi1 ming2<br />(number one)<br />Wipe – cha1 <br />Wise – cong1ming1/ <br />ying1ming2/ ming2zhi4 <br />Wisdom –<br />Wish – xi1wang4 <br />Wo3 xi1wang4 wo3 <br />mei2 you3 kai1shi3 zuo4<br />(I wish I hadn’t started)<br />Withdraw – tui4chu1 <br />Won’t – bu2 hui4 de<br />Word - dan1zi4<br />Work (do a job) –<br />shang4ban1<br />Wo3 ming2tian1 yao4<br />shang4ban1<br />Wo3 ming2tian4 bu4 yong4<br />shang4ban1<br />It works! –<br />Worker – gong1ren2 <br />Workshop – gong1zuo4 <br />shi4<br />Word list - dan1zi4 <br />ming2dan1<br />World – shi4jie4<br />Worthwhile – he2suan4/<br />zhi2de2 zuo4 de5<br />Write – xie3<br />Qing3, xie3 xia4 lai2<br />Writing (n.) xie3zuo4<br />Ta1 de5 xie3zuo4 mei2<br />dao4 li3. <br />WWW – wang3luo4<br />Wang3luo4 ri4ji4<br />(web log)<br /><br />Xenophobic – chou2wai4 <br />de5<br />- pai2wai4 de5/ <br />- kong3wai4 de5 <br /><br />Yell – da4jiao4 <br />Yes/No Question – <br />dui4bu2dui4<br />/shi4bu2shi4/ yi2 wen4 <br />ju4<br />Ying yang – yin1 yang2 <br />Yogurt – suan1niu2nai3<br />Yoga – you1ge3<br />You – Ni3<br />Ni3 yao4 bu4 yao4 shi4<br />shi4 kan4? <br />Youth – nian2qing1/ <br />qing1chun1<br /><br />Zero – ling2<br />One – yi1<br />Two – er4<br />Three – san1<br />Four – si4<br />Five – wu3<br />Six – liu4<br />Seven – qi1<br />Eight – ba1<br />Nine – jiu3<br />Ten –shi2<br />One hundred – yi1bai3<br />One thousand – yi1qian4<br />Ten thousand – yi1wan4<br />One hundred thousand – shi2wan4<br />One million –yi1bai3wan4<br />Zoom in - ba3 hua4mian4 <br />fang4da4/ la1jin4 <br />Zoom out – ba3 hua4mian4 <br />suo1xiao3/ la1yuan3 <br /><br />The End – jie2ju2<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Origins<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8255776106885235720?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-92070759969611225062008-09-27T14:26:00.000-07:002008-09-27T14:27:42.508-07:00Now Junior, before you go out on your date with Becky, there's some things we have to talk about, man to man--or should I say, sentient being to sentient being. Do you know what fucking is, Junior?"<br /><br />"It's a common gerund, Dad. Used for emphasis."<br /><br />"Well yes, but it's also a wonderful loving act...well, unless it is coercive...between two people...or anyway, some number of people...WHICH YOU SHOULD NEVER DO, even though it feels good."<br /><br />"As good as masturbation, Dad?"<br /><br />"Totally. But like all pleasure, it contains within it the seeds of suffering."<br /><br />"Boy, sexual intercourse sounds great! I'd sure like to try that."<br /><br />"But our religion teaches that selfish cravings trap us in cyclic existence. Don't you want to liberate all sentient beings, son?"<br /><br />"I guess so."<br /><br />"Including Becky?"<br /><br />"Yeah..."<br /><br />"Then you'll need to practice the perfection of renunciation, compassion, and wisdom-realizing-emptiness. A wise decision, son. I'm proud of you."<br /><br />"It's not fair! You and Mom get to do it."<br /><br />"That's because we lacked enough good karma to take robes. So we became householders. But you've still got a shot at escaping samsara in one lifetime."<br /><br />"But...I heard Becky totally puts out."<br /><br />"All sentient beings have been your mother in a previous life, Junior. You wouldn't fuck your own mother, would you?"<br /><br />"Noooo..."<br /><br />"Just try to imagine her without her face--the skin ripped off, revealing the hideous mass of muscle and bone underneath. That's what all women are like, Junior."<br /><br />"Aw Dad..." <br /><br />"There's the doorbell now. Have fun on your date, son.... What, that wasn't Becky?"<br /><br />"Naw, just some missionaries."<br /><br />[Later...]<br /><br />"How was your date, Junior?"<br /><br />"Great, Dad!"<br /><br />"Did you remember what I said about renunciation?"<br /><br />"Well, I couldn't stop thinking about Becky's essential Buddha Nature which is pure, luminous, and undefiled. Or at least it was before tonight..."<br /><br />"So what happened?"<br /><br />"I thought to myself, why not enjoy the fruits of samsara without clinging to them? Then I can utilize these energies on the path to enlightenment. So I visualized her as the goddess Adiprajna, and we entered yabyum together."<br /><br />"Did the white drop touch the red drop?"<br /><br />"No, it squirted all over her lotus feet."<br /><br />"Then you're probably safe. Otherwise she would suck up your qi, or life-force, and you'd have a shorter life. And did you remember to dedicate the merits?"<br /><br />"Well...later. Right afterwards we just lay there absorbed in the bliss of dharmakaya."<br /><br />"Junior, I think you've learned an important lesson today. About nonconceptuality."<br /><br />"Thanks Dad."<br /><br />"And don't forget--in the state of nondual consciousness, you won't feel like discriminating between Betty, or any other sentient being. So go to bed, son. I'll be up in a minute."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-9207075996961122506?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-58822979176635856012008-08-28T07:45:00.000-07:002008-08-28T07:47:03.925-07:00Before my dad died he went for a brain x-ray or some freaking thing and they said that he didn't have a brain but rather a large cancerous tumor where his brain should have been. There was just a thin widge of brain matter, about the thickness of a pencil, hugging his skull. That is what the doctor said, or at least I am fairly confident that that is what he meant when he said whatever it was he said when he meant that there was just a thin widge of brain matter. I doubt that he said "widge" given that I just made the word up. Anyway, he (my father) was acting a little odd during this time of course, slipping in and out of consciousness, making funny faces etc. but he was also charming as hell sometimes. During that time I was talking to a woman once and she said, "Hey, I was talking to your dad yesterday. He was funny as hell," and I said "Yeah, that certainly is funny, according to the doctor he's got no brain!" I don't know why exactly but this story fills me with hope.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5882297917663585601?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-14062267898502795562008-08-26T02:26:00.000-07:002008-08-26T02:28:02.364-07:00The best book on spirituality I ever read was a creek. It was one of those implausible creeks with a fish in it too big to understand. <br /><br />Other than that the books have been mostly lousy, though I liked carlos castenada. At least "he" had a sense of humour.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1406226789850279556?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-17307765544788906152008-08-06T07:56:00.000-07:002008-08-06T08:01:27.394-07:00Strolling down the crowded avenue one day (many years ago) I happened to observe a large turd sitting gracefully upon the window sill of a major fashion retailer. It was a high window sill and so the turd was well placed to capture one's complete attention, at least momentarily. It was a large turd, as mentined, well formed, with creases in it, corresponding to wrinkles in the colon I would imagine.<br /><br />How on earth could it have gotten there? <br /><br />Well formed or not, I can't imagine it is any simple matter to pick up a turd and place it anywhere (let alone the window sill of a major fashion retailer on a crowded avenue) without breaking it or leaving some sort of impression upon it. It must have been frozen first, of course, but how would you get it in the freezer? You'd have to "place" it there directly, as it were. And where would be the guarantee that you were going to produce such a spectacular specimen? <br /><br />It just isn't reasonable. Real art rarely is, or always is, depending of course upon your unique perspective.... <br /><br />In any event ladies and gentleman, and I'm sure you'll agree, it remains a mystery still, the mystery of the turd on the window sill, and I doubt that even my esteemed collegues here are likely to come up with a plausible explanation.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1730776554478890615?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-23296932784083762002008-07-12T05:03:00.001-07:002008-07-12T05:14:12.322-07:00Thanks. <br /><br />McDonalds - Mai4dang1lao2 <br />Coke - Ke3kou3ke3le4 <br />Coffee - Ka1fei1 <br />Cheese - Qi3shi1 <br /><br />Brandy - bai2lan2di4jiu3 <br />Whisky - Wei1shi4ji4 <br />Heroin - Hai3luo4yin1 <br />Bar - Ba1 <br /><br />India - Yin4du4 <br />Malaysia - Ma3lai2xi1ya <br />Australia - Ao4da4li4ya4 <br />Canada - Jia1na2da4 <br /><br />Peter - Pi2te4 <br />Jennifer - Zhen1ni2fu2 <br />Frank - Fu2lan2ke4 <br /><br />........................................................................................... <br /><br />Admire - Ai4mu4 <br />Amorous, affectionate, loving - Mo4mo4 <br />Antecedant - An qi er (xian1xing2ci2) <br />Arrogant - Ao4 <br />Arrogant person - Ao4 man4 <br />Aspirin - A1 si1 pi4 lin2 <br />Attitude - Tai4 du5 <br />Aunt, auntie - A1yi2 <br /><br />Baby - Bao3 bei4 <br />Bandage - Beng1dai4 <br />Beatles – pi2tou2si4 <br />Bikini - Bi3ji1ni3 <br />Blog - bu4luo4ge2 <br />(bo2ke2) <br />Bubble gum? - Pao4pao4 tang2 <br />Bumper car - Peng4 peng4 che1 <br />Bungee - Beng4ji2 <br />Burst - Bao4 <br /><br />Calorie - ka3lu4li3 <br />Carnation - Kang1nai3xin1 <br />Celsius – she4shi4 de5 <br />Chow mein - Chao3mian4 <br />Chow (n/v) Chao3 <br />Coolie - ku3 li4 (bitter labor) <br /><br />Dalai Lama - Da2lai4 La3ma1 <br />Derby de2bi3zhan1 <br />Dow Jones Index - dao4 qiong2si1 zhi3su4 <br />Dozen - da2 <br />Drip - di1 <br />Drug - du2 <br /><br /><br />Engine - yin3qing2 <br />Eskimo - ai4si1ji1mo2ren2 <br /><br />Fascist= fa3 xi1 si1 <br />Fengshui - Feng1shui3 <br /><br />Golf - gao1'er3fu1 <br />Guanxi - Guan1xi1 <br />Gung Ho - gong1 he2 (工合) <br /><br /><br />Ketchup - Koe - Chiap (Hokkien) <br />Kowtow - Kou4tou2 <br />Kuomintang - Guo2min2dang3 <br />Kung fu - Gong1fu1 <br /><br /><br />Ma2 - Marijuana <br />Microphone - Mai4ke4feng1 <br />Model - Mo2te4er3 <br /><br />Ping pong - Ping1 pang1 <br /><br /><br />Tou fu - Dou4fu3 <br /><br /><br />Romance (language) - Luo2man4 <br /><br />Romantic - Lang4man4 <br /><br />Typhoon - Tai2feng1 <br /><br />Title - Tai2tou2 (This one isn't in the dictionaries I've seen but comes on good authority regardless. From English through Japanese perhaps.<br />Wok - Wok<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2329693278408376200?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-55200435985542180332008-06-08T03:57:00.000-07:002008-06-08T04:02:01.299-07:001)How could an omniscient, omnipotent god create the very nature of humanity, know what those humans were going to do, and still give them free will? <br /><br />2)Free in what sense? <br /><br />and what the hell, a third...<br /><br />3) Were religious faith to be replaced, tomorrow, by naturaly occuring wonder and mercy, what would be lost?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5520043598554218033?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-47223214660228709222008-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:002008-06-06T07:01:18.987-07:00It is only natural that you would be jealous. You don't look like Bruce Willis. You have not broken new ground philosophically. Nor have not sought out and exposed (and with such precision it should be added) the contradictions inherent to the very core of Christian thinking. You are not, in short, bob god of the abstract nonsensical repetitive and egotsitical. It is not a grand day for you, and so on and so forth, etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4722321466022870922?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-3584836208968285882008-05-31T06:23:00.000-07:002008-05-31T06:26:02.541-07:00Dragon - My Heavens, bob! Surely you don't mean to tell us that you can't read ancient Hebrew? <br /> <br />bob - I am bob, god of the abstratct nonsensical, repetitive and multi-lingual. I can read anything. Can't always understand it very well but that is surely a minor point in comparison with the profound questions that have been solved lately. <br /><br />Today I was running the kid through his flash cards when I happened upon an empty one. <br /><br />"What's this?" <br /><br />"Huh?" <br /><br />"It's god." <br /><br />"I see." <br /><br />As it happened the next one was empty too. <br /><br />"What's this?" <br /><br />"God?" <br /><br />"That is correct. There are many Gods." <br /><br />That seemed to work pretty well so we moved on to the "Guitar God" video game he got for his birthday. If you can play a video game you can play a guitar it seems. Holy Moses that was fun. <br /><br />Yesterday I was teaching a student that has recieved a scholarship to study the effect of drug abuse on the youth of Taiwan. <br /><br />"The drug [ecstacy] is considered unusual for its tendency to produce feelings of euphoria, a sense of intimacy with others, and diminished feelings of fear and anxiety. MDMA has more consistent emotional effects than most psychedelics and has a euphoria that appears to be different from most stimulants. Before it was made a controlled substance, MDMA was used to aid psychotherapy, often couples therapy, although results of this therapy are poorly documented," she said. <br /><br />"Is that right? Who taught you that?" <br /><br />"You did."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-358483620896828588?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-2775745610017841752008-05-30T08:06:00.000-07:002008-05-30T08:07:25.276-07:0011 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. <br />--1 Kings 19:11-12<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-277574561001784175?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-9417204111754995642008-05-30T07:08:00.000-07:002008-05-30T08:02:25.974-07:00Stumbling off the hazy tarmac at Kaohsiung International Airport are a dozen bleary-eyed members of the Taipei Foreign Correspondents Club. Some of the correspondents are not actually foreign, and most of the rest are not in fact correspondents. They are nonetheless a species of journalist, and their professional pride is affronted by the early hour. Their moods are foul, their hangovers intense, their halitosis unrepentant. You wouldn't want to be the individuals dealing with them. <br /><br />The individuals in question are Melissa from the Kaohsiung city government's Protocol Office, and Jason, special advisor to Mayor Frank Hsieh. Jason and Melissa, speaking in near-flawless English, project sunny enthusiasm and impossible competence. They both seem destined for high political office, and are very good-looking to boot. It's precisely because of their virtues that I have assigned them the pseudonyms "Jason" and "Melissa." People as nice as Jason and Melissa don't deserve the rough treatment they are likely to receive in this mean-spirited article. For that matter, they don't deserve two days in a bus with the likes of me and my colleagues, but many things in life cannot be remedied, and this article is one of them. <br /><br />Jason and Melissa are charged this weekend with two nearly impossible tasks. The first is to keep the Taipei journalists sober during daylight hours. The second and yet more daunting job ¬ one that might depend on keeping the journalists drunk as lords in the evening ¬ is to instill in their visitors the impression that Kaohsiung is a clean, prosperous, modern, vibrant, and ¬dare we say it ¬ hip city. I am betting big money, as I stride testily through the terminal, surrounded by my equally misanthropic cohort, that Jason and Melissa will fail at task number one and fail very miserably at task number two. Because it's Kaohsiung we're dealing with here. The all-time dingy port town. Ground zero for the collapse of a nation's industrial base. A city of faded yesterdays. The Newark of the Orient. What gay face can Jason and Melissa possibly paint on this gray city? To what depths of disingenuousness will their project force them to sink? Will we witness the ruin of their souls this weekend? Yes, I almost hope it. Settling into my seat on the bus, I am eager for a gruesome show. <br /><br />All shook up<br /><br />We drive into the city over a manicured route that, one may assume with a high degree of certainty, is not representative of greater Kaohsiung's roadways. That is, the streetcleaners' work is evident, the palms are tall and uniform, and the sod is green and fresh. Even so, one catches glimpses of barefoot men operating bulldozers, children running rampant on abandoned construction sites, and wild dogs standing guard over vacant lots. And here, in one of the flower beds, lies a crumpled motorcyclist, his bike a smashed wreck. I look up and down the bus for someone with whom to share my alarm ¬ but Melissa is skillfully distracting the group with updated information about our scheduled lunch with Mayor Hsieh. I realize with a small surge of excitement that no one but me has seen the dead man. Score one for Kaohsiung's public relations operation. <br /><br />Now, before we can meet the mayor, we must proceed to a drafty City Hall conference room, there to endure an hour-long briefing on the World Games, which are to be held in Kaohsiung in 2009. The question of the moment for the media contingent is what the World Games actually are. The answer is that they are an elaborate device for keeping sports like fin-swimming segregated from the proper Olympics. So what do the World Games mean for Kaohsiung? They mean lots of attention from the world? korfball enthusiasts ¬ who, as of this writing, are still waiting for their pet athletic endeavor to gain the international prestige now conferred on flatwater kayaking. We media representatives, who wouldn't bend down to pick up a korfball if we found one gift-wrapped on our doorstep, pepper our hapless briefers with uncomfortable questions on cross-Strait politics and sewage connection rates. And we're growing hungry for our complimentary lunch. <br /><br />Half an hour later, in a hotel banquet room, the mayor is telling us about Kaohsiung's future as a "wireless city" and its prime location on the "New Ocean Silk Road." This isn't what the journalists have come to Kaohsiung to hear, however, so we are staring malevolently at our first course of food, which happens to be mayonnaise-encrusted scallops. But now the mayor delights us by announcing that he'll handicap the upcoming legislative elections. Ears instantly perk up, frenzied pens scratch weathered notebooks, and Melissa leans in to tell me that the mayor has a reputation for predicting election results with a high degree of accuracy. That's when the earthquake begins. <br /><br />The magnitude at the epicenter is 7.0. We're far from there, but this quake is still big enough to slosh our beverages and shake our chandeliers. The hard-bitten journalists cannot hide their alarm, and the city representatives exhibit the frozen smile of helplessness. Except, of course, for Mayor Hsieh, who appears a rock of calm ¬ thus burnishing his leadership credentials in the eyes of the international press. "Oh!" he shouts cheerfully when the quake lurches us to the left. "Hey!" he exclaims when it lurches us back to the right. I must admit that he calms me slightly. This is probably unprofessional. <br /><br />But despite the mayor's heroism, the quake has upstaged him. Yes, we note his every statement, but we've got an anticlimax on our hands ¬ and the luncheon's final courses are mostly a matter of counting down the minutes till Mayor Hsieh presents us each with an ocarina. Which, it turns out, is a small tuneless wind instrument. Ours are shaped like Taiwan, with Kaohsiung as the mouthpiece. <br /><br />I love this river <br /><br />Jason and Melissa, I regret to report, are successful all afternoon in restricting our alcohol intake - I for one am miserably sober during an endless visit to a chip-testing facility. At dinner, however, as I feed prodigiously from a free buffet, I manage to consume an entire bottle of shiraz, notwithstanding that the wine was laid out for my table's shared enjoyment. Thus I gain the resentment of my colleagues but improve my mood enormously. <br /><br />The order of the evening is a cruise on the Love River. Oh, let the bad news duly be noted ¬ that this "river" is in fact a canal, that through this black channel long flowed the excesses of Kaohsiung's mighty industry and that of its human population as well ¬ that some of these excesses flow there yet. But now the good news ¬ there's a Love River Renaissance underway. <br /><br />Five years ago the riverside was rampant with gamblers and prostitutes. The city, aware that something needed to be done, held a major lantern festival and booted out the hookers. After that they built a history museum and a concert hall. Next they established cruises, and installed a facility that trains seeing-eye dogs. Now they've put up a digital clock that counts down the seconds till the World Games begin. The transformation is so complete that, according to Kaohsiung at Night ¬ a promotional booklet that Jason foisted on me despite my loud objections ¬ the canal that "was once contaminated by industrial and domestic wastewater" can now be described in the following fashion: "tempting aroma permeates the air, mixing with people's emotion." <br /><br />We arrive on the waterfront and file onto the launch, a low-slung craft that sets a course into the harbor's salt breeze. It's a pleasant-enough atmosphere, and my colleagues are chatting amiably among themselves (though they are ostracizing me after my hogging of the shiraz). Presently our vessel reverses course ¬ and that's when the river begins to deliver potent packets of stench. In no time the correspondent to my left is complaining that her throat itches, and the one on my right is claiming that his entire face is on fire. This provokes another explosion of conversation about the sewage connection rate. Someone wonders if the cruises are safe for children. These are tough hits for Jason and Melissa to absorb, but they stand in the ring like tough old club fighters and take their punches manfully. They insist that there are fish in the water ¬ something I'm actually inclined to believe, for I've read in Kaohsiung at Night about the "Night Shift Aeration Team" ¬ a fleet of boats that pumps air into the water so marine life doesn't die from oxygen deprivation. <br /><br />Say this, though ¬ despite the state of the water, the banks are vibrant with people. Noisy people, energetic ones, ambling and joking and having fun. People transforming a still-nasty waterfront into a hub of enjoyment, mainly through force of will. Now it dawns on me that the Love River Renaissance is after all an act of brilliance, despite everything. Because these are Taiwanese people milling on the shore, people who given the tiniest excuse will overrun any destination and make it as much fun as everyone wishes it were. They are fearless, these people ¬ they are fantastic. I wish to escape this "river" but I salute the people who enliven its banks. <br /><br />Victory is theirs <br /><br />Morning number two ¬ another tough one for the correspondents. Some were up all night drinking bourbon alone, others were playing poker on their expense accounts. Today's first stop, we are disheartened to be reminded, is Zuogong-Jhouzih Wetland Park ¬ which turns out to be an oppressively hot artificial swamp providing habitat for the migratory pheasant-tailed jacana while also reducing the level of e-coli in the local water supply. <br /><br />To me it looks like a typical Asian lotus-pond ¬ Smurky-green and goldfish-infested ¬ but that's only because I don't know what to look for, an inability not shared by our professorial guide. Behold the floating hearts and water lilies! Admire the little egret, the common kingfisher, the night heron! Contemplate the jacanas themselves (who are not present) ¬ they lay their eggs on lily leaves! Applaud the college-age volunteers, who have given up a weekend afternoon to muck about in mud up to their thighs! <br /><br />While swatting away a swarm of biting insects, I manage to scribble in my notebook that the wetland is threatened by an exotic animal species known as the apple snail. Luckily the snails are being combated by a school of vicious black carp, which are prized for their destructive teeth and gluttonous appetites. As I peer into the green-gray water hoping for a glimpse of this deadly species, a religious observance erupts nearby. This involves a massive fireworks display and a cacophony of musical instruments even more tuneless than ocarinas. The bird sanctuary has become a sonic war zone ¬ great flappings of wings, an avian evacuation. "No good," the professor sadly observes. <br /><br />Our trip is winding down now, our impressions are mostly set. Perhaps that's why we're finally allowed to see a bit of the old Kaohsiung ¬ the industrial Kaohsiung ¬ China Steel. There, a weary vice president exposes us to an industrial video called A Song of Iron and Sweat. The film features a voice-of-God narrator who should be reading lines like "Two mechanized Allied divisions smashed through the Axis defenses and sent the Hun scurrying back toward the Rhine." Instead, he must humiliate himself with text like "Three decades amid sweat and hot metal ¬ testing our will to become men and women of steel." <br /><br />This video simply stuns us, so when we're led onto a company bus we go wordlessly. When helmets are passed around, we don them uncomplainingly. When we're exposed to the manufacture of steel plate ¬ hiss of fire, arcs of sparks, grandness of scale, death in an instant ¬ we display precisely the awe that we suppose is expected of us. And as we're led away from the production line ¬ as we pick a narrow path among cooling plates of metal ¬ it barely registers in our minds that a single misstep could lead to a face planted on hot steel, resulting in lifetime disfigurement. Isn't this worth jotting in our notebooks? Isn't this a fat target for capital-city snarkiness? No, not now ¬ all we care about now is catching a nap on the flight home. So my congratulations go to Kaohsiung, for the city has soundly defeated a vicious enemy. <br /> <br />- AmCham<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-941720411175499564?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-77283399456038896522008-05-25T08:59:00.000-07:002008-05-25T09:00:33.642-07:00I think: you deserve to be what you are if you could bear to get that way. You must have seen it coming. And now there's nothing for you here. No one will protect you, and the people won't see any reason not to do you harm. Your life will divide up between the fear of madness and the panic of self-preservation. That's it: feed up for going mad. I'm afraid that's all we have to offer you - Martin Amis.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7728339945603889652?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-33386844446893456322008-05-15T06:09:00.001-07:002008-05-15T06:11:17.828-07:00If a wave hits a vertical surface it doesn't move back and forth, it just moves up and down. And if it hits a surface that is not completely vertical it doesn't move much. It's an interesting place to swim, the place where by some combination of wave size, angle of the shore etc. you can essentially swim right into what "looks" completely unswimmable. I spend hours doing that, approach it all "very" slowly, get a read on the bottom contours, currents, how the waves "act" and then slide in. I'm what you'd call "relaxed" in the water I guess. Of course there is the danger of being smashed on the rocks and then dragged back across them in a big wash of angry water. Perhaps left with your head bashed open, floating around unconscious, head bleeding like a harpooned seal. Decidedly unpleasant, but that's the game, how close can you get?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3338684444689345632?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-17672153297569185972008-05-10T03:15:00.001-07:002008-05-10T03:17:58.697-07:00Would it be better if I took out the "odd" bit so it sounded like... <br /><br />"It was said that my grandfater could pick up a fly and pet it. "Why, oh why, must the fly die?" he'd say, before slowly squeezing the life out of it. He could spend a whole afternoon like that apparently, hot and lazy, squeezing the life out of flies." <br /><br />Or, maybe without the hot and lazy part too... <br /><br />"It was said that my grandfater could pick up a fly and pet it. "Why, oh why, must the fly die?" he'd say, before slowly squeezing the life out of it." <br /><br />Then again the "why oh why bit" is a bit over the top so... <br /><br />"It was said that my grandfater could pick up a fly and pet it." <br /><br />Also, it occurs to me that likely nobody will believe the part about my grandfather petting flies, even though it is probably true, my uncle could do it too, I saw him, so maybe it could go more like.... <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Is that better?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1767215329756918597?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-76746603428007396042008-05-09T11:11:00.000-07:002008-05-09T11:12:08.326-07:00It was said that my grandfater could pick up a fly and pet it. "Why, oh why, must the fly die?" he'd say, before slowly squeezing the life out of it. He could spend a whole afternoon like that apparently, hot and lazy, squeezing the life out of flies. Odd, when you think about it. Odd even when you don't think about it but if you don't think about it you probably won't notice, etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7674660342800739604?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-87068433670664048132008-05-08T01:49:00.000-07:002008-05-08T01:50:56.443-07:00To return to my lecturing days: I automatically gave low marks when a student used the dreadful phrase "sincere and simple" — "Flaubert writes with a style which is always simple and sincere" — under the impression that this was the greatest compliment payable to prose or poetry. When I struck the phrase out, which I did with such rage that it ripped the paper, the student complained that this was what teachers had always taught him: "Art is simple, art is sincere." Someday I must trace this vulgar absurdity to its source. A schoolmarm in Ohio? A progressive ass in New York? Because, of course, art at its greatest is fantastically deceitful and complex. <br /><br />- Vladimir Nabokov<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8706843367066404813?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-73853543423029289972008-05-01T05:08:00.000-07:002008-05-01T05:09:37.765-07:00"You don't think much of Mary Alice Miller?" she said. "Well, we don't think much of your painting. I've seen better pictures done by a five-year-old." <br /><br />Karabekian slid off his barstool so he could face all those enemies standing up. He certainly surprised me. I expected him to retreat in a hail of olives, maraschino cherries and lemon rinds. But he was majestic up there. "Listen—" he said so calmly, "I have read the editorials against my painting in your wonderful newspaper. I have read every word of the hate mail you have been thoughtful enough to send to New York." <br /><br />This embarrassed people some. <br /><br />"The painting did not exist until I made it," Karabekian went on. "Now that it does exist, nothing would make me happier than to have it reproduced again and again, and vastly improved upon, by all the five-year-olds in town. I would love for your children to find pleasantly and playfully what it took me many angry years to find. <br /><br />"I now give you my word of honor," he went on, "that the picture your city owns shows everything about life which truly matters, with nothing left out. It is a picture of the awareness of every animal. It is the immaterial core of every animal—the 'I am' to which all messages are sent. It is all that is alive in any of us—in a mouse, in a deer, in a cocktail waitress. It is unwavering and pure, no matter what preposterous adventure may befall us. A sacred picture of Saint Anthony alone is one vertical, unwavering band of light. If a cockroach were near him, or a cocktail waitress, the picture would show two such bands of light. Our awareness is all that is alive and maybe sacred in any of us. Everything else about us is dead machinery. <br /><br />"I have just heard from this cocktail waitress here, this vertical band of light, a story about her husband and an idiot who was about to be executed at Shepherdstown. Very well—let a five-year-old paint a sacred interpretation of that encounter. Let that five-year-old strip away the idiocy, the bars, the waiting electric chair, the uniform of the guard, the gun of the guard, the bones and meat of the guard. What is that perfect picture which any five-year-old can paint? Two unwavering bands of light. <br /><br />"Ecstasy bloomed on the barbaric face of Rabo Karabekian. "Citizens of Midland City,I salute you," he said. "You have given a home to a masterpiece!"<br /><br />Kurt Vonnegut<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7385354342302928997?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-1968255336380377402008-04-28T05:30:00.000-07:002008-04-28T05:31:01.738-07:00A tit fixation is admittedly an infantile thing, but I ask you, you universal you you, do you want to criticize a baby? Frued was a cocaine addict who knew much about horror.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-196825533638037740?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-87508016037508054682008-04-21T01:04:00.001-07:002008-04-21T01:05:07.905-07:00Caught in the Middle, Called a TraitorI study languages -- Italian, French and German. And this summer -- now that it looks as though I won't be able to go home to China -- I'll take up Arabic. My goal is to master 10 languages, in addition to Chinese and English, by the time I'm 30. <br /><br />I want to do this because I believe that language is the bridge to understanding. Take China and Tibet. If more Chinese learned the Tibetan language, and if Tibetans learned more about China, I'm convinced that our two peoples would understand one another better and we could overcome the current crisis between us peacefully. I feel that even more strongly after what happened here at Duke University a little more than a week ago. <br /><br />Trying to mediate between Chinese and pro-Tibetan campus protesters, I was caught in the middle and vilified and threatened by the Chinese. After the protest, the intimidation continued online, and I began receiving threatening phone calls. Then it got worse -- my parents in China were also threatened and forced to go into hiding. And I became persona non grata in my native country. <br /><br />It has been a frightening and unsettling experience. But I'm determined to speak out, even in the face of threats and abuse. If I stay silent, then the same thing will happen to someone else someday. <br /><br />So here's my story. <br /><br />When I first arrived at Duke last August, I was afraid I wouldn't like it. It's in the small town of Durham, N.C., and I'm from Qingdao, a city of 4.3 million. But I eventually adjusted, and now I really love it. It's a diverse environment, with people from all over the world. Over Christmas break, all the American students went home, but that's too expensive for students from China. Since the dorms and the dining halls were closed, I was housed off-campus with four Tibetan classmates for more than three weeks. <br /><br />I had never really met or talked to a Tibetan before, even though we're from the same country. Every day we cooked together, ate together, played chess and cards. And of course, we talked about our different experiences growing up on opposite sides of the People's Republic of China. It was eye-opening for me. <br /><br />I'd long been interested in Tibet and had a romantic vision of the Land of Snows, but I'd never been there. Now I learned that the Tibetans have a different way of seeing the world. My classmates were Buddhist and had a strong faith, which inspired me to reflect on my own views about the meaning of life. I had been a materialist, as all Chinese are taught to be, but now I could see that there's something more, that there's a spiritual side to life. <br /><br />We talked a lot in those three weeks, and of course we spoke in Chinese. The Tibetan language isn't the language of instruction in the better secondary schools there and is in danger of disappearing. Tibetans must be educated in Mandarin Chinese to succeed in our extremely capitalistic culture. This made me sad, and made me want to learn their language as they had learned mine. <br /><br />I was reminded of all this on the evening of April 9. As I left the cafeteria planning to head to the library to study, I saw people holding Tibetan and Chinese flags facing each other in the middle of the quad. I hadn't heard anything about a protest, so I was curious and went to have a look. I knew people in both groups, and I went back and forth between them, asking their views. It seemed silly to me that they were standing apart, not talking to each other. I know that this is often due to a language barrier, as many Chinese here are scientists and engineers and aren't confident of their English. <br /><br />I thought I'd try to get the two groups together and initiate some dialogue, try to get everybody thinking from a broader perspective. That's what Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu and Confucius remind us to do. And I'd learned from my dad early on that disagreement is nothing to be afraid of. Unfortunately, there's a strong Chinese view nowadays that critical thinking and dissidence create problems, so everyone should just keep quiet and maintain harmony. <br /><br />A lot has been made of the fact that I wrote the words "Free Tibet" on the back of the American organizer of the protest, who was someone I knew. But I did this at his request, and only after making him promise that he would talk to the Chinese group. I never dreamed how the Chinese would seize on this innocent action. The leaders of the two groups did at one point try to communicate, but the attempt wasn't very successful. <br /><br />The Chinese protesters thought that, being Chinese, I should be on their side. The participants on the Tibet side were mostly Americans, who really don't have a good understanding of how complex the situation is. Truthfully, both sides were being quite closed-minded and refusing to consider the other's perspective. I thought I could help try to turn a shouting match into an exchange of ideas. So I stood in the middle and urged both sides to come together in peace and mutual respect. I believe that they have a lot in common and many more similarities than differences. <br /><br />But the Chinese protesters -- who were much more numerous, maybe 100 or more -- got increasingly emotional and vocal and wouldn't let the other side speak. They pushed the small Tibetan group of just a dozen or so up against the Duke Chapel doors, yelling "Liars, liars, liars!" This upset me. It was so aggressive, and all Chinese know the moral injunction: Junzi dongkou, bu dongshou (The wise person uses his tongue, not his fists). <br /><br />I was scared. But I believed that I had to try to promote mutual understanding. I went back and forth between the two groups, mostly talking to the Chinese in our language. I kept urging everyone to calm down, but it only seemed to make them angrier. Some young men in the Chinese group -- those we call fen qing (angry youth) -- started yelling and cursing at me. <br /><br />What a lot of people don't know is that there were many on the Chinese side who supported me and were saying, "Let her talk." But they were drowned out by the loud minority who had really lost their cool. <br /><br />Some people on the Chinese side started to insult me for speaking English and told me to speak Chinese only. But the Americans didn't understand Chinese. It's strange to me that some Chinese seem to feel as though not speaking English is expressing a kind of national pride. But language is a tool, a way of thinking and communicating. <br /><br />At the height of the protest, a group of Chinese men surrounded me, pointed at me and, referring to the young woman who led the 1989 student democracy protests in Tiananmen Square, said, "Remember Chai Ling? All Chinese want to burn her in oil, and you look like her." They said that I had mental problems and that I would go to hell. They asked me where I was from and what school I had attended. I told them. I had nothing to hide. But then it started to feel as though an angry mob was about to attack me. Finally, I left the protest with a police escort. <br /><br />Back in my dorm room, I logged onto the Duke Chinese Students and Scholars Association (DCSSA) Web site and listserv to see what people were saying. Qian Fangzhou, an officer of DCSSA, was gloating, "We really showed them our colors!" <br /><br />I posted a letter in response, explaining that I don't support Tibetan independence, as some accused me of, but that I do support Tibetan freedom, as well as Chinese freedom. All people should be free and have their basic rights protected, just as the Chinese constitution says. I hoped that the letter would spark some substantive discussion. But people just criticized and ridiculed me more. <br /><br />The next morning, a storm was raging online. Photographs of me had been posted on the Internet with the words "Traitor to her country!" printed across my forehead. Then I saw something really alarming: Both my parents' citizen ID numbers had been posted. I was shocked, because this information could only have come from the Chinese police. <br /><br />I saw detailed directions to my parents' home in China, accompanied by calls for people to go there and teach "this shameless dog" a lesson. It was then that I realized how serious this had become. My phone rang with callers making threats against my life. It was ironic: What I had tried so hard to prevent was precisely what had come to pass. And I was the target. <br /><br />I talked to my mom the next morning, and she said that she and my dad were going into hiding because they were getting death threats, too. She told me that I shouldn't call them. Since then, short e-mail messages have been our only communication. The other day, I saw photos of our apartment online; a bucket of feces had been emptied on the doorstep. More recently I've heard that the windows have been smashed and obscene posters have been hung on the door. Also, I've been told that after convening an assembly to condemn me, my high school revoked my diploma and has reinforced patriotic education. <br /><br />I understand why people are so emotional and angry; the events in Tibet have been tragic. But this crucifying of me is unacceptable. I believe that individual Chinese know this. It's when they fire each other up and act like a mob that things get so dangerous. <br /><br />Now, Duke is providing me with police protection, and the attacks in Chinese cyberspace continue. But contrary to my detractors' expectations, I haven't shriveled up and slunk away. Instead, I've responded by publicizing this shameful incident, both to protect my parents and to get people to reflect on their behavior. I'm no longer afraid, and I'm determined to exercise my right to free speech. <br /><br />Because language is the bridge to understanding. <br /><br />grace.wang@duke.edu <br /><br />Grace Wang is a freshman at Duke University. Scott Savitt, a visiting scholar in Duke's Chinese media studies program, assisted in writing this article.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8750801603750805468?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-48680465731250300692008-04-18T09:08:00.000-07:002008-04-18T09:10:04.064-07:00The pro-China crowd appears Chinese whereas the free tibet crowd look more Chinese. Is there some confusion here and if so what is it? I've been impressed lately with how boring words are.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4868046573125030069?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-90237254854549531172008-04-12T06:44:00.000-07:002008-04-12T06:45:06.942-07:00It's me, Al Gore, nobel prize winner and earth-saver. A lot of you have wondered what I like to do when I’m not saving the earth. Well I’ll tell you what I like to do: stump jumpin' the hell out of one of my hummers. <br /><br />But wait a minute you are probably thinking, aren’t you that guy who is against SUVs? Don’t you go around lecturing people about how they should save energy? <br /><br />Yes, but I’m allowed to drive hummers for the same reason I own a mansion and a private jet: carbon offsetting. <br />Through carbon offsetting I can lecture people but at the same time do whatever I want. It’s like having your cake and eating it too, while telling other people to not eat cake, that is of course unless they pay someone else to not eat cake so the net effect is that no extra cakes were eaten. See how it works? <br /><br />For example last year my son wanted a coal-fired pig roast. I told him normally I would be against it because coal burning releases carbon dioxide, but since we’re wealthy all we have to do is pay someone else to not have a coal-fired pig roast. So after paying a local non-profit to skip their annual pig roast, ours became carbon-neutral. Isn't carbon offsetting wonderful? <br /><br />- Al Gore "<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-9023725485454953117?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-43816078446453389812008-04-10T10:54:00.000-07:002008-04-10T10:55:43.856-07:00Behind the laws that structure human society is the horror of incest, and behind that horror are the desire for incest and the murderous capacity to act on that desire.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4381607844645338981?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-72462409749742115312008-04-07T08:18:00.001-07:002008-04-07T08:21:17.822-07:00We don't know if there was an intelligent force behind the big bang or not. The exquisite patterns found in nature, human consciousnees, ethical impulses etc. cause some people to believe there was. I don't know and admit I don't know and am therefore an agnostic. <br /><br />Some people postulate that the creator of the universe spoke using a human language. On the basis of that belief religions developed: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, for example. These religions have inspired the best and the worst from humanity but are nonetheless based to a large extent on the essentially psychotic notion that God "spoke". Christianity plunges a little deeper and asserts that "God" took on a human form and suffered the tortures that God made possible as a "sacrifice" for the "sins" that he also made possible in order that we "might' be able to spend an eternity at his side. <br /><br />We have vast amounts of evidence which shows that human beings lie, hallucinate, fear death, feel guilty and seek to delude and aggrandize themselves. What we don't have is a single scrap of hard scientific evidence that God spoke. Yes, we have the testimony of some prophets, whom we admire, and hundreds of thousands of psychotics whom we tend to admire less, but perhaps there is less to differentiate them than some people think. That is my point. <br /><br />Somebody is right here and somebody is wrong. "God" caused the molecules in the air to vibrate according to the patterns established by a number of languages: Hebrew, Greek if I am not mistaken, or he didn't. Some people believe that he did. I think it is an insane belief to hold given what we now know about the physical world and human psychology. I don't think that people like RDO are completely crazy, just crazy in relation to their religious beliefs. Like the prophets he can function beautifully I imagine, perhaps a lot better than people with no "faith" in an omniscient, compassionate God. Religious faith certainly has it's value as a defense mechanism and that is why it is so common. There is no convincing logical reason to accept it as literal fact however and otherwise perfectly intelligent people who continue to do so are deluding themselves.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7246240974974211531?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-23900089041890545912008-04-07T08:03:00.001-07:002008-04-07T08:03:40.019-07:00Buddhism is the science of the mind. It is the mind watching itself "very" closely and admitting with complete honesty the situation in which it finds itself. Driven by desire and the tendency to compare it becomes aggressive, competitive, jealous, sometimes hostile. This works in complete opposition to the deeper need to connect with people on the basis of love, respect and compassion. If you look at your own psychology you will discover this to be true, or not. Buddhism doesn't dictate anything but simply encourages people to think clearly and be emotionally honest with themselves.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2390008904189054591?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-54701548588861387572008-04-07T07:34:00.000-07:002008-04-07T07:36:17.372-07:00Frankly, I blame you.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5470154858886138757?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-12083291576155308012008-04-07T05:35:00.000-07:002008-04-07T05:38:56.420-07:00life appears short when viewed from closer to the end than the beginning and all the people acting evililiy was just a big drag really. It would have been better if we hadn't acted that way. There was nothing to "learn" from it but that life is a harsh motherfucker, learn to live with that and maybe you'll find some peace etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1208329157615530801?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-72686805459987074222008-04-07T05:29:00.000-07:002008-04-07T05:31:19.337-07:00Is there a God? <br /><br />Snob - Yes, he exists in the from of a deluded alternative to observation and logic. An alternative to resigning to a reality we do not unerstand much about. God does a lot of damage. God wastes our time. God inspires people to drive themselves bonko trying to invent sensible interpreations of hallucinations enjoyed thousands of years ago. Others spend their time analyzing the invented interpretations of hallucinations. Yes, there is definitely a god, and she is driving us crazy.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7268680545998707422?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-40979780876494187692008-04-05T21:24:00.001-07:002008-04-05T21:24:37.659-07:00Oh. Anyway, I thought he was dead and though he isn't he very soon will be so I will start an internet rumour that Venus was his last movie and leave others to examine the poetic significance of that. Reality is vastly over rated and can give you a coronary rather than a sense of divine providence working through you the way that lying can.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4097978087649418769?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-55557862406969222872008-04-05T21:09:00.001-07:002008-04-05T21:09:32.053-07:00merge - All right kids - Peter O'Toole ain't dead, and he's still working. He's the voice of the food critic in Pixar's latest release Ratatouille, for one, and he's got several other appearances in movies and shows coming up.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5555786240696922287?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-21913213781929199502008-04-05T21:04:00.000-07:002008-04-05T21:05:53.827-07:00Venus, you will note, does in fact rhyme with penis which is synonymous in this case with Toole, which as per the dictates of British usage is spelled in French and with a great French stress as well on the final syllable. And were that not coincidental enough consider that the last sentence appeared in a novel I once read while driving through Idaho which Peter himself once described as being "pretty." Peter said a great mant witty things like that and with such style and charm that one sometimes wishes he hadn't died at all despite the fact that he'd grown to look quite horrid towards the end etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2191321378192919950?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-39110915259989797792008-04-04T08:55:00.000-07:002008-04-04T08:57:09.997-07:00When, during his trial, [b]Jesus is asked "What is truth?" he does not answer. <br /><br />It must be great to be Jesus. Somebody asks you a question, you don't answer it and 2000 years later people are still talking about what a brilliant answer no answer was. I guess since he was Jesus and all everything he did must have been brilliant. Can't it be possible that he was just pausing to pass gas or something and then forgot what the question was? <br /><br />Anyway it seems to me that "Truth is reality, but reality is really huge and complicated, so people only understand infintesimal parts of it at a time" is a better answer than the one Jesus gave but anyway, whatever....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3911091525998979779?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-83450968324480680422008-04-04T08:21:00.000-07:002008-04-04T08:22:08.264-07:00I think that an element of insanity runs through the entire human experience and most of that insanity comes from the anxiety created by our understanding of time and the absolute reality of ethics. If we look forward we see the inevitability of suffering and death, we see that we have choices that might affect when death will occur and how much suffering we will do in the meantime but have no way of knowing with any certainty what the outcome of our choices will be. We know also that the things we do will affect other people and given our innate compassion for them we naturally feel guilty for the wrongs we commit. That is the soul of man and I doubt that it has changed at all over the last two thousand years. The prophets catered to man's anxieties with stories of forgiveness and everlasting life. They either made up these stories or they honestly believed them because they had experienced a temporary split from reality. It doesn't suprise me at all that such sensitive people would write such beautiful texts. Look at me, I'm nuts, but I wrote this.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8345096832448068042?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-2219200487316134482008-04-04T07:45:00.000-07:002008-04-04T07:46:01.765-07:00We have carefully investigated the Manchu Tartars’ origins and have found that their first ancestors were a white fox and a red dog, who copulated together and from their seed produced this race of demons. As their numbers grew they mated together since they had no proper human relationships nor civilization. Availing themselves of China’s lack of real men, they seized the country, established their own demon throne and placed the wild fox upon it; in their court the monkeys bathed and dressed. – from a Taiping proclamation<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-221920048731613448?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-42575359726045505692008-03-31T01:58:00.000-07:002008-03-31T02:10:54.473-07:00Listen these two girls that I know have been flying exactly three years. And they've been all over and they Athens, Rome, Greece, Egypt every place. On their passes you know they take two weeks off and it's just fabulous. And this one girl met this guy in uh Egypt and she just fell in love with him. Well it was so funny and now she can't, she had to come back in two weeks. That's one thing because she can't you know "be" with him or anything. Egypt. I mean how far away can you get? Kind of a bad problem. She's supposed to be going back in August. He's sent her tickets a ticket and her sister for them to come back.<br /><br />Two stewardesses that I know have been flying for exactly three years. They have been to all sorts of places. They can occassionally take two or three weeks off. When they do they go everywhere: Athens, Rome, Egypt etc. on their passes. It's a wonderful experience for them. One of the girls met a man in Egypt and fell in love with him. But the difficulty was that she had to come home in two weeks. Now she can't be with him, because Egypt is too far away. He has sent her and her sister two tickets for them to come back in August.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4257535972604550569?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-16406386123227789552008-03-29T02:17:00.000-07:002008-03-29T02:18:34.788-07:00You may have given it the name flob because flob is spit and spit is what we do a lot but I doubt that many people here know that flob is spit. So, the name did not stick because it means spit but rather for some other reason, such as that people like ob things, things that are ob. It is like a mantra to those lacking patience for the full om which given it's long o (people like long things as well) does not even rhyme with ob, etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1640638612322778955?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-66196380498589894122008-03-28T07:38:00.001-07:002008-03-28T07:39:50.431-07:00A New Zealand man who claimed to have been left speaking Australian after being raped by a wombat has been sentenced to 75 hours community service.<br /><br />Arthur Ross Cradock, a 48-year-old orchard worker, admitted in the Nelson District Court yesterday to the charge of using a phone for a fictitious purpose, after calling police with the message, "I've been raped by a wombat".<br /><br />Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer told the court that on the afternoon of February 11 Cradock called the police communications centre, threatening to "smash the filth" if they arrived at his home that night.<br /><br />When asked if he had an emergency, he replied "yes", Mr Stringer said.<br /><br />On a second subsequent call to the communications centre, Cradock told police he was being raped by a wombat at his Motueka address, and sought their immediate help.<br /><br />He called police again soon after, and gave his full name, saying he wanted to withdraw the complaint.<br /><br />"I'll retract the rape complaint from the wombat, because he's pulled out," Cradock told the operator at the communications centre, who had no idea what he was talking about, Mr Stringer said.<br /><br />"Apart from speaking Australian now, I'm pretty all right you know, I didn't hurt my bum at all," Cradock then told the operator.<br /><br />Mr Stringer said alcohol had played a big part in Cradock's life. However, defence lawyer Michael Vesty said alcohol was not a problem that day.<br /><br />Judge Richard Russell said he was not quite sure what motivated Cradock to make those statements to the police.<br /><br />In sentencing, he warned Cradock not to do it again.<br /><br />stuff.co.nz<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6619638049858989412?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-59386912322551140472008-03-19T10:48:00.000-07:002008-03-19T10:49:34.097-07:00I'm on drugs. I'm, uh, I mean, you know what it is. What's the deal, man? I like to get small. It's a wild, wild drug. Very dangerous for kids though, because they get really small. I know I shouldn't get small when I'm drivin', but, uh, I was drivin' around the other day, you know *whistles tunefully* and a cop pulls me over. And he goes, ‘Hey, are you small?’ I said, ‘No, I'm tall, I'm tall.’ He said, 'Well, I'm gonna have to measure you.' They've got a little test they give you; it's a balloon, and if you can get inside of it, they know... you're small. And they can't put you in a regular cell either, because you walk right out.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5938691232255114047?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-4511275568788753312008-03-08T01:58:00.001-08:002008-03-08T01:58:37.468-08:00Did you guys get at all that that was an incredible class? I was there you see and therefore perhps better able to judge what she understood and what she didn't, how she felt about the whole process, whether or not she will download songs and lyrics on her own and try to interpret them, on her own, sing along, prepare questions for next class. Quit stuttering. Whether or not she will get some much needed exercise while studying English, relax a little, get some insight into the key concepts. All that good stuff. <br /><br />Yes DB, if you look it up, the dictionary will say that "eat" is a v.t.i but that is from a syntactic point of view purely. Yes a syntactic (ju4 zi5 jie2gou4 de5 - is that right? Putting some of my basic vocabulary and analytical thinking skills to work here.) point of view (guan1dian3 - help I can't stop) is useful, but not the only one and certainly not the more important one. In practical semantic (yu3yi4 - can we get a check on that?) terms we can assume generally that if a person eats, meaning "eats," (the meaning we were discussing, the one discussed in the idiom textbook) he eats something, and that that something, especially if it is assumed, is food. <br /><br />"Assumed elements" is a key concept because if you don't know what the assumed element is you don't understand the sentence. If a sentence contains an asumed bit I often ask what the assumed (jia3shi4) bit is. It is a good practice to get into. Helps to improve "understanding." Another key concept. (I'll be here all week!) <br /><br />Anyway I asked what they ate and she didn't say plastic bag, computer chip or television anttena, she said "I dunno, something" and I said "Food?" and she yeah, yeah probably. <br /><br />The textbook didn't go into that either, which it didn't need to of course. Look what they did in your link though. <br /><br />Quote: <br />INTRANSITIVE VERB: 1a. To consume food. <br /><br /><br />Am I the only person who sees how stupid that is? <br /><br />Next class I'll explain that some verbs beg an object and essentially don't make sense without one. They are sometimes marked v.t.i. in the dictionary, but that is bullshit really a lot of the time. Especially, if the word is being used in it's basic sense, there is "always" an object there, you just sometimes "have to" "assume" it. Drink, kill.... there are loads of them, "think" might be one, but then again what do I know? I've heared meditation is a powerful tool but even when meditating you think nothing, and that's something, right fred?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-451127556878875331?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-67052557154941659042008-03-08T01:56:00.000-08:002008-03-08T01:57:14.474-08:00Unfortunately, both explanations, the book's and yours, weren't correct. Eat is both transitive and intransitive. If we can say "I like to read" or "I like to eat", it's *not* that these verbs are transitive with 'assumed objects' (although they can also be transitive, in 'read books' and 'eat apples'), but rather that they are in these uses INtransitive. (In Ironlady's post she mentions identifying the intransitive verb and the prepositional phrase, but she didn't spell it out for you so I am.) A verb can be transitive in one use, and intransitive in another. Just because the most common use (or the only one you can think of) is one way doesn't mean you won't find both in the dictionary or in the literature out there.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6705255715494165904?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-74241751368731060772008-03-08T01:51:00.000-08:002008-03-08T01:53:04.894-08:00Here is what happened tonight... <br /><br />I arrived at my students house and discovered that her "famous teacher from one of Taipei's most prestigious universities and further such gack as might be imagined" had assigned a book about idioms with examples of idioms and explanations written in Chinese. The first example was "We ate at the restaurant." The explanation said that "ate" is a transitive verb "so at the restaurant" must be an idiom because the object of a transitive verb is not seperated from it's verb by a preposition. I explained that "eat" is a transitive verb but the object can be assumed as people generally eat food and not plastic plants. "At the restaurant" is an adverb phrase and neither fixed nor metaphorical and so has none of the characteristics of an idiom. <br /><br />Yes, I explained that in Chinese. Sue me. <br /><br />She still didn't quite get it so I explained that words have what could be considered a basic sense and this basic sense could be thought, generally, as the first few meanings listed in a dictionary. If a group of words can be understood using these basic meanings it is probably not an idiom. <br /><br />Look I said, breaking into English and a bit of a sweat, over here you got black, over there you got white, in the middle whatta you got? That's right, a whole lotta grey. Like in the Led Zepplin song we did last week remember "Whole lotta love" yeah, like that except a whole lotta grey. It's a metaphor, bi3yu4. You remember bi3yu, metaphor, like the Neil Yong song "Heart of Gold." That was a metaphor. <br /><br />All that was a bit of a kafuffle so moving right along I taught the song "If I could" by Jack Johnson. Played it once through and asked what it was about. She knew it was about a baby, somebody dying, crying... <br /><br />Not bad. That "is" what it is about. <br /><br />The first two lines... <br /><br />"A brand new baby was born yesterday, just in time." <br />"Papa cried, baby cried, said your tears are like mine." <br /><br />My questions: "Just in time for what?" <br /><br />"'Your tears are like mine" so what?" <br /><br />She had no idea. <br /><br />I explained that "my interpretation" "my quan2shi4" (that is how I talk) was that a baby was born just in time to maintain the balance of souls. She knew balance, she didn't know soul so I touched my heart. Clear enough. We looked it up anyway (mind if I write that down? What is the tone again? Thanks.). Came up with linghun. Agreed that a different interpretation, a different quan2shi4, was possible, and that the writer, this guy here, Jack Johnson, might have intended (had to look that up - "intend," good word, should have written it down)a different meaning and that if she wanted she could apply (hmmm "apply"... interesting collocation, remember we did collocation? how do you say that again, yeah yeah that's right dapei lian luo/yong?. ) <br /><br />Later the lyrics said... <br /><br />"And though you've got to go we'll keep a piece of your soul." <br /><br />She didn't know "piece" so I tore of a piece of paper and told her "this is a piece of paper." Odd isn't it? I don't think the writer is using "piece" quite literally, quite an zhao zi mian de here, but perhaps if you have have ever had anyone close to you die before you can understand what the writer is talking about. Yeah, yeah she did... <br /><br />Tender moment there. <br /><br />Anyway, we continued from there with me reading the lyrics aloud, crying at the right moment, tears rolling down, tasting, "if I could" gesture etc. and she translated it line by line into Chinese because that is what I have trained her to do. <br /><br />Next I told her I didn't want a translation. I wanted her to show me understood using gestures, like I did for her, like I have been training her to do for weeks. Played the song again. She acted it out, giggled, danced, sang (not part of the assignment but so what?) even forgot to stutter. Interesting point there. <br /><br />At the end of the class I asked her which was her favorite word. I always ask them what their favorite word is, and because they know I'll ask, they think about it, hmmm what was the best word we did today? <br /><br />I always think about it too and today was rough. We did a lot of good words: chorus, lyric sheet, predict, suffix, prefix... but "her" answer today was unequivocal. <br /><br />It was "interpret."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7424175136873106077?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-29695067899674818572008-03-07T06:47:00.000-08:002008-03-07T06:48:41.113-08:00It has occured to me that perhaps Leonard Cohen was born dead, sleep walked through the rest of his life, and at the magical age of twenty four was reincarnated into my body. At first glance this seems like an odd theory but consider the evidence: <br /><br />1) Leonard Cohen is Jewish. <br /><br />I am negro. <br /><br />2) Leonard Cohem was a loner. <br /><br />I am a loner. <br /><br />3) Leonard Cohen inherited a trust fund that enabled him to pursue his literay ambitions at "his" liesure. <br /><br />I inherited nothing and pursued my literay ambition at "my" liesure. <br /><br />4) Leonard Cohen wrote a book called Beautiful Losers. <br /><br />I "am" a loser. <br /><br />5) Beautiful losers is set, in part, in Northern Ontario, or Saskacthewan or someplace. <br /><br />I was born, in part, in Northern Ontario, or Saskatchewan or someplace. <br /><br />6) Leonard Cohen is a buddhist. <br /><br />I am a nudist. <br /><br />Can't think of anything else but the parrallels must surely be clear by now. Allow me to say also that I find the comparisons of my work with the aforementioned Cohen novel to be quite insulting. Leonard himself describes the book as more of a sunstroke than a book really. <br /><br />Leonard?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2969506789967481857?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-67803075552991339962008-02-25T06:10:00.001-08:002008-02-25T06:10:43.073-08:00The character for one is one hard-on, and the character for two is two hard-ons. The character for three is three hard-ons. The character for person is one big hard-on resting on a smaller hard-on. The character for middle is a hard-on too long to fit. There are no characters that do not contain hard-ons, and this is why there are so many Chinese people.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6780307555299133996?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-67512919274613975582008-02-11T08:50:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:51:27.490-08:00Winner: Vile Puns <br />I was in a back alley in Fiji, fighting desperately and silently for my life, fighting desperately for oxygen, clawing at the calm and almost gentle pressure of the fabric held over my face by implacable, ebony thighs when I realized -- he was killing me softly with his sarong. <br />Karl Scott <br />Brisbane, Australia<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6751291927461397558?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-34041796063505568102008-02-08T10:06:00.000-08:002008-02-08T10:07:52.784-08:00Where were we? Wherever, anyway, it's all very interseting of course. The human brain, in association with it's ear, can process 900 phonemes a minute. That's a lot of phonemes by any standard. And of course the mind does not merely render a phonetic rendering (I like that word, rendering, and so use it a lot) but also analyzes and comprehends the manner by which essentially meaningless phonemes (letters to the rest of us) are built up into morphemes (syllables..) morphemes into words, words into phrases and phrases into sentences. Not to mention of course all those pesky meanings, connotations and associations connected with words and particular combinations of words etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3404179606350556810?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-27692125591190456312008-02-03T06:52:00.000-08:002008-02-03T06:54:58.506-08:00Girl takes dog brother for a walk and loses him in the forest because she takes a moment to hump a kid from high school named billy zero. Finds dog's hat by river. Dog has likely drown. No matter. Girl suffers all manner of anxiety and despair at the absurdities of life, retarded parents, sadistic teachers and such as is typical of teen angst movies. Never tells anybody where she last saw dog. A blizard approaches and this is a metaphor for we know not what.... actually we do but it is too evil and idiotic to consider for long. Brother remains lost and likely dead. Parents also suffer neurotic and self absorbed breakdown but do not look for dog son. Girl looks but not in the place she last saw him. Sometimes one despairs that the world has gone stupid, a despair that is often confirmed by modern cinema etc. <br /><br />Great editing though, and I liked the horse.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2769212559119045631?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-6545367691073531082008-01-23T23:00:00.000-08:002008-01-23T23:02:19.148-08:00Hey, Bob: <br /><br />If a publisher told you to stop repeatedly using the contraction it’s for the possessive pronoun its, as in these examples: <br /><br />pointing out mostly it's negative aspects <br /><br />make friends with it's people <br /><br />I learn it’s official language <br /><br />description of it's negatives <br /><br />would you also go to another publisher?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-654536769107353108?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-67016246322525200372008-01-20T05:33:00.000-08:002008-01-20T05:34:49.487-08:00Sounds like you are having pretty good success breaking "the cardinal rule" as prescribed by all the other johnny come latelies, namely, "Use English. Don't use English to describe English." I have never understood that rule. You can use English to do all manner of things. You can use it to describe how to build a car, or you can use it to describe how to build a sentence. You are still using English. You can use English to explain that words have something that might be called a collocational field, change one word here and you'll likely need to change a word over there. You can use English to explain that there exists something called a Universal Grammar and yes, for christ's sake, you do need to be able to clearly identify the subject of a sentence. You can explain that modifying phrases and clauses in English tend to follow the thing they describe, unlike in Chinese where they tend to proceed it. You can use it to explain that words that might appear synonymous are still to be distinguished by their connotation. You can use English to explain that words are like people and it sometimes takes quite awhile to get to know them. In one situation they appear to mean one thing and in another they mean something quite different. Most words in English are homonyms and most have personalities. "Do" has a great personality and is sticking his nose in everywhere. Little bastard. "Have" is a clingy little witch, and even the dullest among us can be taught to contemplate buddha at the sight of "Be." They might not understand much of this so you can demonstrate using gestures, or say say it in Chinese before translating back to English. It's all quite charming really. <br /><br />There was show on the discovery channel the other night about a teacher who therorized that it should be possible to create a genius out of anybody, and he set about proving it on his own daughter. I am not going to tell you what he did first because I want you to guess. It was a profoundly simple first step, and if you don't guess it before it comes along here you'll be enlightened when it does. It's REALLY simple. Did you get it yet? No? I'll just ramble along here awhile longer. Let your tired tired eyes whiz across the screen, perhaps it'll come to you.... If you want to create a genius out of anybody the first thing is to.... got it yet? If you want to create a genius out of anybody the first thing is to find out what they love doing. <br />If they don't love anything, and there exist on this tiny island an incredible number of sad souls who don't, introduce them to movies and music. Everybody loves movies and music, though perhpas they don't know it yet. Having gotten the ball rolling that way you can do all kinds of things, heck you can use English to talk about English if you want.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6701624632252520037?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-90450763602656138982008-01-17T22:41:00.000-08:002008-01-17T22:45:45.331-08:00Guantou wrote - Moving right along... <br /><br />Sensible people accept the idea that global warming is happening and that it is an anthropogenic effect. The line of reasoning works like this: <br /><br />(1) CO2, methane and a small handful of other gases have a greenhouse effect - that is, they prevent the heat created by sunlight striking the earth's surface returning to space. Take away greenhouse gases and you lose this greenhouse effect. The dark/night side of Mercury (a planet without atmosphere to carry greenhouse gases) is typically around minus 130 degrees centigrade. The day side is up around 430 degrees. Venus, with high concentrations of CO2 in its atmosphere, is bloody hot pretty much everywhere all the time. <br /><br />(2) The present atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has not been exceeded for the past 650,000 years, and probably not for the last 20 million years - we know this through ice core analysis (very persuasive data) and geological sampling (indicative data). For most of this period (i.e. 20 million years) atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have varied between around 180 parts per million (ppm) and 280ppm. Since the late 18th Century, however, CO2 concentrations have increased to around 380ppm. At presents rates of increase, we should hit 450ppm by the middle of the century. <br /><br />(3) The cause of this rapid increase in CO2 in the most recent period (i.e. since the start of the industrial revolution) is most likely burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), and agricultural practices (e.g. land clearing). That is, anthropogenic sources of CO2 emissions are the most obvious source of additional CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. <br /><br />(4) There has been an increase in global average temperatures in the scale of 0.7 degrees centigrade over the last 100 years. <br /><br />Sensible people look at this line-up of facts and causal relationships and conclude that (1) global warming is happening, and (2) people are causing it. This is not an hysterical or uninformed position. We base many other important public and private decisions on much less surity. IMHO, the strength of these conclusions suggests that the burden of proof resides with those who are skeptical about them, rather than those who accept them.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-9045076360265613898?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-31223447777942245852008-01-14T08:07:00.001-08:002008-01-14T08:07:34.646-08:00Sometimes I wonder how many people will die and the leave the best parts of themselves scattered across the blogosphere, and whether that will interest anyone. Will they do a bunch of research and write a biography that sells a million copies and becomes a movie of the week earning billions of dollars in advertsing revenue for a television station. Other times I'm more introspective and philosphical, and during those times I like to finger paint while enjoying a delightful beverage, Nescafe perhaps. I stare off into the distance in a contemplative manner and somebody captures the moment for diplay on the side of a bus.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3122344777794224585?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-59373639489505505952008-01-14T08:06:00.000-08:002008-01-14T08:07:04.831-08:00I wonder how many people will die and the leave the best parts of themselves scattered across the blogosphere, and whether that will interest anyone. Will they do a bunch of research and write a biography that sells a million copies and becomes a movie of the week earning billions of dollars in advertsing revenue for a television station. Other times I'm more introspective and philosphical, and during those times I like to finger paint while enjoying a delightful beverage, Nescafe perhaps. I stare off into the distance in a contemplative manner and somebody captures the moment for diplay on the side of a bus.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5937363948950550595?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-81711343361410207982008-01-13T05:41:00.000-08:002008-01-13T05:46:18.136-08:00I was sitting at Dante today having a cup of coffee and a gorgeous young woman sat down at a table opposite. It wasn't long before I noticed that she was making cutsie faces. I smiled back and to my suprise she went through a whole range of new cutsie faces in response, from the sweetly demure to the outright flirtatious. Then I realized that she wasn't actually looking at me. No, dear reader, it wasn't me, and nor was it you. The object of her attentions it turned out, was herself. She was looking in a mirror.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8171134336141020798?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-15636415703291421432007-12-22T18:37:00.001-08:002007-12-22T18:37:38.446-08:00Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />(Redirected from TPRS)<br />Jump to: navigation, search<br />Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling , formerly known as Total Physical Response Storytelling, or TPRS for short, is a method for teaching any world language, including Spanish and French. Blaine Ray created this method by combining James Asher's Total Physical Response system with personalized, often funny stories to help students apply the words learned. These stories are complemented with reading from a variety of sources. Blaine Ray is a Spanish teacher whose philosophy is that "Learning is a function of repetition."<br /><br />TPRS is a movement towards building language proficiency in the use of grammatical structures through reading stories in addition to the oral storytelling for which TPRS is well-known. Originally incorporating seven basic steps, TPRS, according to Ray, has three main steps to the process:<br /><br />STEP 1: Establish Meaning. This is done primarily by translation from a speakers native language to the target language.<br />STEP 2: Ask a story. Using a general outline of a story, the instructor asks students to provide specific details. This allows students to make it their own. At the same time a circling technique of asking questions, and repeating phrases results in multiple repetitions of the target structures.<br />STEP 3: Read and discuss the story, or a different story which contains the grammar structures from STEP 2, but different details.<br /><br />TPRS is based on the importance of comprehensible input as the key factor in developing fluency in the target language and is supported by Dr. Stephen Krashen's research. Another very important element of TPRS is personalization. Using the language as a means to get to know students and to get them interested in the message is an effective way of delivering input that is both comprehensible and interesting.<br /><br />Blaine Ray started a second company teaching adults languages through TPRS in 2004 following a successful study at Middle Tennessee State University. Fluency Fast Language Classes, Inc. is a company which offers language immersion classes using the TPRS method. 4 day language immersion classes are available nationwide in Spanish, French, German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. The company is now owned by Karen Rowan, a TPRS teacher from Colorado.<br /><br />In 1999, a group of Michigan teachers including Michael Kundrat, Kristy Placido, Kathleen Bulger, and Sue Steele were the first members of an online community for TPRS teachers. The group is called moreTPRS and is housed at yahoogroups. The list has grown to over 5000 members worldwide and has been credited with the organic and dynamic nature of TPRS as a teaching method. He has also written a series of books.<br /><br /><br />[edit] External links<br />fluencyfast.com <br />TPRS Publishing <br />Blaine Ray <br />Susan Gross <br />Jason Fritze <br />Scott Benedict <br />Dr. Stephen Krashen <br />Michael Miller<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1563641570329142143?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-83659455091137798552007-12-22T18:32:00.000-08:002007-12-22T18:35:02.238-08:00Whole language describes a literacy instructional philosophy which emphasizes that children should focus on meaning and moderates skill instruction. It can be contrasted with phonics-based methods of teaching reading and writing which emphasize instruction for reading and spelling[1]. It has drawn criticism by those who advocate "back to basics" pedagogy [2].<br /><br /><br />Whole language is a phenomenon that has been difficult to describe, particularly because many of its advocates have somewhat divergent perspectives about the core content of this instructional approach. Several strands run through most iterations of whole language:<br /><br />steadfast focus on making meaning in reading and expressing meaning in writing; <br />constructivist approaches to knowledge creation, emphasizing students' interpretations of text and free expression of ideas in writing (often through daily journal entries). <br />emphasis on high-quality and culturally-diverse literature; <br />integrating literacy skills into other areas of the curriculum, especially math, science, and social studies; <br />frequent reading, (a) with students in small "guided reading" groups, (b) to students with "read alouds", and (c) by students independently; <br />focus on motivational aspects of literacy, emphasizing the love of books and level-appropriate student materials; <br />meaning-based phonics, often taught as an "embedded" part of other reading lessons; and <br />reduced emphasis on other skills, besides phonics, that are usually not linked directly to developing meaning, such as grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation. <br /><br />[edit] Underlying premises of whole language<br /><br />[edit] Learning theory<br />The idea of "whole" language has its basis in a range of theories of learning related to the epistemologies called "holism." Holism is based upon the belief that it is not possible to understand learning of any kind by analyzing small chunks of the learning system. Holism was very much a response to behaviorism, which emphasized that the world could be understood by experimenting with stimuli and responses. Holists considered this a reductionist perspective that did not recognize that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Analyzing individual behaviors, holists argued, could never tell us how the entire human mind worked. This is—in simplified terms—the theoretical basis for the term "whole language."<br /><br /><br />[edit] Chomsky and Goodman<br />The whole language approach to phonics grew out of Noam Chomsky's conception of linguistic development. Chomsky believed that humans have a natural language capacity, that we are built to communicate through words. This idea developed a large following in the 1960s. In 1967, Ken Goodman wrote a widely-cited article calling reading a "psycholinguistic guessing game" and chiding educators for attempting to apply unnecessary orthographic order to a process that relied on holistic examination of words.[3] Goodman posited the existence of three "cuing systems" that regulate literacy development. These cuing systems are the graphophonemic cuing system, the semantic cuing system, and the syntactic cuing system, related to the linguistic domains of phonetics, semantics, and syntax respectively. The "graph" portion of the "graphophonemic" system referred to the graphic input, i.e., the text. According to Goodman, these systems overlap and work in tandem to help readers "guess" appropriately. He emphasized that pronouncing individual words will involve the use of all three systems (letter clues, meaning clues from context, and syntactical structure of the sentence). Part of his rationale was that in his studies of children who read words individually and then the same words in connected text, the children did better when they read the words in connected text. Later replications of the experiment failed to find effects, however, when children did not read the same words in connected text immediately after reading them individually, as they had in Goodman's experiment.[4]<br /><br /><br />[edit] Application of Goodman's theory<br />Goodman's argument was compelling to educators as a way of thinking about beginning reading and literacy more broadly. This led to the idea that reading and writing were ideas that should be considered as wholes, learned by experience and exposure more than analysis and didactic instruction. This largely accounts for the focus on time spent reading, especially independent reading. Many classrooms (whole language or otherwise) include silent reading time, sometimes called DEAR ("Drop Everything And Read") time or SSR (sustained silent reading). Some versions of this independent reading time include a structured role for the teacher, especially Reader's Workshop. Despite the popularity of the extension of Chomsky's linguistic ideas to literacy, neurological and experimental research has shown that reading, unlike language, is not a pre-programmed human skill. It must be learned. Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a neurologist at Yale University, is credited with much of the research on the neurological structures of reading.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Contrasts with phonics<br />Because of this holistic emphasis, whole language is contrasted with skill-based areas of instruction, especially phonics. Phonics is a commonly-used technique for teaching students to read. Phonics instruction tends to emphasize attention to the individual components of words, for example, the phonemes /k/, /æ/, and /t/ are represented by the graphemes c, a, and t. Because they de-emphasize the individual parts of learning, tending to focus on the larger context, whole language proponents do not favor some types of phonics instruction. Interestingly, some whole language advocates state that they do teach, and believe in, phonics, especially a type of phonics known as embedded phonics. In embedded phonics, letters are taught during other lessons focused on meaning and the phonics component is considered a "minilesson." Instruction in embedded phonics typically emphasizes the consonants and the short vowels, as well as letter combinations called rimes or phonograms. The use of this embedded phonics model is called a "whole-part-whole" approach because, consistent with holistic thinking, students read the text for meaning first (whole), then examine some features of the phonics system (part) and finally use their new knowledge to read stories (whole). Reading Recovery is a program that uses a whole language approach with struggling readers.<br /><br />The contrast with skills-based approaches to reading also led to an approach to spelling called "invented spelling" or "inventive spelling." This generated considerable controversy in the public domain (see more discussion of controversies in the subsequent section) because parents, as well as some educators, were concerned that their children were not learning to spell well. Many whole language advocates argued that children went through stages of spelling development and that it was important to appreciate students' attempts to make meaning rather than harp on little mistakes. Popularly, invented spelling has been vilified by some, although little research has been done about the consequences of this shift away from spelling.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Controversy<br />Whole language remains very popular is some parts of the United States and other countries, but its use has tended to wane over the past few years.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Rise of Whole Language and skepticism<br />After its introduction by Goodman, whole language rose in popularity dramatically. It became a major educational paradigm of the late 1980s and the 1990s. Despite its popularity during this period, educators who believed that skill instruction was important for students' learning and some researchers in education were skeptical of whole language claims and said so loudly. Whether it was associated with whole language or not, the 1990s saw statistically-significant declines in student achievement nationwide on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Much of the blame for these declines was pinned on whole language. Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, whole language skeptics generated considerable research that cast considerable doubt on features of whole language that de-emphasized skills, especially in phonics.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Efforts to end the debate<br />Controversy led to several attempts to catalog research on the efficacy of phonics and whole language. Congress commissioned reading expert Marilyn Jager Adams to write a definitive book on the topic. She determined that phonics was important but suggested that some elements of the whole language approach were helpful.[5] Two large scale efforts, In 1998 by the National Research Council's Commission on Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children[6] and in 2000 by the National Reading Panel,[7] catalogued the most important elements of a reading program. While proponents of whole language find the latter to be controversial, both panels found that phonics instruction of varying kinds, especially analytic and synthetic phonics, contributed positively to students' ability to read. Both panels also found that embedded phonics and no phonics contributed to lower rates of achievement for most populations of students.<br /><br /><br />[edit] The State of the Debate<br />Despite these results, many whole language advocates continue to argue that their approach, including embedded phonics, has been shown to improve student achievement. Whole language advocates sometimes criticize advocates of skill instruction as "reductionist" and describe the use of phonics as "word calling" because it does not involve the use of meaning. The National Reading Panel is criticized especially harshly by some in the whole language community for failing to include qualitative research designs that showed benefits for embedded phonics (the panel only considered experiments and quasi-experiments).<br /><br /><br />[edit] Common Ground (Possibly)<br /><br />[edit] Widely agreed value of some whole language constructs<br />While rancor continues, much of whole language's emphasis on quality literature, cultural diversity, and reading in groups and to students is widely supported by the educational community. The importance of motivation, long a central focus of whole language approaches, has gained more attention in the broader educational community in the last few years. Prominent critic of whole language Louisa Cook Moats has argued, however, that the foci on quality literature, diversity, reading groups, and motivation are not the sole property of whole language.[8] She, and others, contend these components of instruction are supported by those who favor phonics as well.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Balanced Literacy<br />More recently, "balanced literacy" has been suggested as an integrative approach, taking the best elements of both whole language and phonics, something advocated by Adams in 1990. The New York Public School system has adopted balanced literacy as its literacy curriculum. Despite the attempts to find some common ground here, some critics of whole language have suggested that "balanced literacy" is just the disingenuous recasting of the very same whole language with obfuscating new terminology. Equally vociferously, the whole language advocates have railed against the National Reading Panel. Allington went so far as to use the term "big brother" to describe the government's role in the reading debate.[9]<br /><br />Despite the absence of closure on these issues, emphasis on outcomes arising from No Child Left Behind has brought a resurgence of interest in phonics. Whole language has lost some influence in the 2000s.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8365945509113779855?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-16851962858760498322007-12-22T18:27:00.001-08:002007-12-22T18:28:57.835-08:00Audio-Lingual Method<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />Jump to: navigation, search<br />The Audio-Lingual Method, or the Army Method or also the New Key[1], is a style of teaching used in teaching foreign languages. It is based on behaviorist ideology, which professes that certain traits of living things, and in this case humans, could be trained through a system of reinforcement—correct use of a trait would receive positive feedback while incorrect use of that trait would receive negative feedback.<br /><br />This approach to language learning was similar to another, earlier method called the Direct Method. Like the Direct Method, the Audio-Lingual Method advised that students be taught a language directly, without using the students' native language to explain new words or grammar in the target language. However, unlike the Direct Method, the Audiolingual Method didn’t focus on teaching vocabulary. Rather, the teacher drilled students in the use of grammar.<br /><br />Applied to language instruction, and often within the context of the language lab, this means that the instructor would present the correct model of a sentence and the students would have to repeat it. The teacher would then continue by presenting new words for the students to sample in the same structure. In audio-lingualism, there is no explicit grammar instruction—everything is simply memorized in form. The idea is for the students to practice the particular construct until they can use it spontaneously. In this manner, the lessons are built on static drills in which the students have little or no control on their own output; the teacher is expecting a particular response and not providing that will result in a student receiving negative feedback. This type of activity, for the foundation of language learning, is in direct opposition with communicative language teaching.<br /><br />Charles Fries, the director of the English Language Institute at the University of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States, believed that learning structure, or grammar was the starting point for the student. In other words, it was the students’ job to orally recite the basic sentence patterns and grammatical structures. The students were only given “enough vocabulary to make such drills possible.” (Richards, J.C. et-al. 1986). Fries later included principles for behavioural psychology, as developed by B.F. Skinner, into this method.<br /><br />Contents [hide]<br />1 Example <br />2 Historical Roots <br />3 In Practice <br />4 Fall from popularity <br />5 Today <br />6 References <br />7 External links <br /> <br /><br /><br />[edit] Example<br />“Teacher: There's a cup on the table ... repeat<br />Students: There's a cup on the table<br />Teacher: Spoon<br />Students: There's a spoon on the table<br />Teacher: Book<br />Students: There's a book on the table<br />Teacher: On the chair<br />Students: There's a book on the chair<br />etc.”[2]<br /><br /><br />[edit] Historical Roots<br />The Audio-lingual method is the product of three historical circumstances. For its views on language, audiolingualism drew on the work of American linguists such as Leonard Bloomfield. The prime concern of American Linguistics at the early decades of the 20th century had been to document all the indigenous languages spoken in the USA. However, because of the dearth of trained native teachers who would provide a theoretical description of the native languages, linguists had to rely on observation. For the same reason, a strong focus on oral language was developed. At the same time, behaviourist psychologists such as B.F. Skinner were forming the belief that all behaviour (including language) was learnt through repetition and positive or negative reinforcement. The third factor that enabled the birth of the Audio-lingual method was the outbreak of World War II, which created the need to post large number of American servicemen all over the world. It was therefore necessary to provide these soldiers with at least basic verbal communication skills. Unsurprisingly, the new method relied on the prevailing scientific methods of the time, observation and repetition, which were also admirably suited to teaching en masse. Because of the influence of the military, early versions of the audio-lingualism came to be known as the “army method.”[1].<br /><br /><br />[edit] In Practice<br />As mentioned, lessons in the classroom focus on the correct imitation of the teacher by the students. Not only are the students expected to produce the correct output, but attention is also paid to correct pronunciation. Although correct grammar is expected in usage, no explicit grammatical instruction is given. Furthermore, the target language is the only language to be used in the classroom.[1] Modern day implementations are more lax on this last requirement.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Fall from popularity<br />In the late 1950s, the theoretical underpinnings of the method were questioned by linguists such as Noam Chomsky, who pointed out the limitations of structural linguistics. The relevance of behaviorist psychology to language learning was also questioned, most famously by Chomsky's review of B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior in 1959. The audio-lingual method was thus deprived of its scientific credibility and it was only a matter of time before the effectiveness of the method itself was questioned.<br /><br />In 1964, Wilga Rivers released a critique of the method in her book, “The Psychologist and the Foreign Language Teacher.“ Subsequent research by others, inspired by her book, produced results which showed explicit grammatical instruction in the mother language to be more productive.[citation needed] These developments, coupled with the emergence of humanist pedagogy led to a rapid decline in the popularity of audiolingualism.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Today<br />Despite being discredited as an effective teaching methodology in the 1960s, audio-lingualism continues to be used today, although it is typically not used as the foundation of a course, but rather, has been relegated to use in individual lessons. As it continues to be used, it also continues to gain criticism, as Jeremy Harmer notes, “Audio-lingual methodology seems to banish all forms of language processing that help students sort out new language information in their own minds.” As this type of lesson is very teacher centered, it is a popular methodology for both teachers and students, perhaps for several reasons but in particular, because the input and output is restricted and both parties know what to expect.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1685196285876049832?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-10724401504981696002007-12-22T18:26:00.001-08:002007-12-22T18:27:05.938-08:00Direct Method<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />Jump to: navigation, search<br />The direct method, sometimes also called natural method, is a method for teaching foreign languages that refrains from using the learners' native language and just uses the target language. It was established in Germany and France around 1900. Characteristic features of the direct method are<br /><br />teaching vocabulary through pantomiming, realia and other visuals <br />teaching grammar by using an inductive approach (i.e. having learners find out rules through the presentation of adequate linguistic forms in the target language) <br />centrality of spoken language (including a native-like pronunciation) <br />focus on question-answer patterns <br />teacher-centeredness <br /><br /><br /><br />Contents [hide]<br />1 Principles <br />2 Historical Context <br />3 See also <br />4 References <br /> <br /><br /><br />[edit] Principles<br />1) Classroom instructions are conducted exclusively in the target language.<br />2) Only EVERYDAY VOCABULARY and sentences are taught. (The language is made real.)<br />3) Oral communication skills are built up in a carefully graded progression organized around question-and-answer exchanges between teachers and students in small, intensive classes.<br />4) Grammar is taught INDUCTIVELY.<br />5) New teaching points are introduced orally.<br />6) Concrete vocabulary is taught through demonstration, objects, and pic­tures; abstract vocabulary is taught by association of ideas.<br />7) Both SPEECH and LISTENING comprehensions are taught.<br />8) Correct pronunciation and grammar are emphasized.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />[edit] Historical Context<br />The direct method was an answer to the dissatisfaction with the grammar translation method, which teaches students in grammar and vocabulary through direct translations and thus focusses on the written language.<br />There was an attempt to set up such conditions that would imitate the mother tongue acquisition. For this reason the beginnings of these attempts were marked as The Natural methods. At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries Sauveur and Franke wrote psychological rootes regarding the associations made between the word and it's meaning. They proposed that in language teaching we should move within target language system and this was the first stimulus for the rise of The Direct method.<br />Later on, Sweet recognized the limits of The Direct method and he proposed a substential change in methodology, and for this reason there was an inttroduction of the audio-lingual method.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1072440150498169600?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-85823171351833965552007-12-22T18:19:00.001-08:002007-12-22T18:20:17.376-08:00Grammar translation<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />Jump to: navigation, search<br />In applied linguistics, the Grammar-Translation method is a foreign language teaching method derived from the classical or sometimes called traditional method of teaching Greek and Latin. The method requires students to translate whole texts word for word and memorize numerous grammatical rules and exceptions as well as enormous vocabulary lists. The goal of this method is to be able to read and translate literary masterpieces and classics.<br /><br />Contents [hide]<br />1 History and philosophy <br />2 Method <br />3 Criticism <br />4 Conclusion <br />5 References <br /> <br /><br /><br />[edit] History and philosophy<br />Throughout Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, the education system was formed primarily around a concept called faculty psychology. In brief, this theory dictated that the body and mind were separate and the mind consisted of three parts: the will, emotion, and intellect. It was believed that if the intellect could be sharpened enough and eventually control the will and the emotions. The way to do this was through learning classical literature of the Greeks and Romans, as well as mathematics. Additionally, an adult with such an educational was considered mentally prepared for the world and its challenges. In the 19th century, modern languages and literatures begin to appear in schools. It was believed that teaching modern languages was not useful for the development of mental discipline and thus were left out of the curriculum. As a result, textbooks were essentially copied for the modern language classroom. In America, the basic foundations of this method were used in most high school and and college foreign language classrooms and was eventually replaced by the audiolingual method among others.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Method<br />Classes were conducted in the native language. A chapter in a typical textbook of this method would begin with a massive bilingual vocabulary list. Grammar points would come directly from the texts and be presented deductly in the textbook, to be explained elaborately by the instructor. Grammar thus provided the rules for assembling words. Tedious translation and grammar drills would be used to exercise and strengthen the knowledge without much attention to content. Sentences would be deconstructed and translated, for example. Eventually, entire texts would be translated from the target language into the native language and tests would often ask students to replicate classical texts in the target language. Very little attention was placed on pronunciation or any communicative aspects of the language. The skill exercised was reading, and then only in the context of translation.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Criticism<br />The method by definition has a very limited scope of objectives. Because speaking or any kind of spontaneous creative output was missing from the curriculum, students would often fail at speaking or even letter writing in the target language. A noteworthy quote describing the effect of this method comes from Bahlsen, who was a student of Plötz, a major proponent of this method in the 19th century. In commenting about writing letters of speaking he said he would be overcome with "a veritable forest of paragraphs, and and impenetrable thicket of grammatical rules." Later, theorist such as Vietor, Passy, Berlitz, and Jespersen began to talk about what a new kind of foreign language instruction needed, shedding light on what the grammar translation was missing. They supported teaching the language, not about the language. Moreover, teaching in the target language, and that language is not only writing, but speech as well. Students lacked an active role in the classroom, often correcting their own work and regimentedly following the textbook.<br /><br /><br />[edit] Conclusion<br />The Grammar-Translation method stayed in schools until the 1960s, when a complete foreign language pedagogy evaluation was taking place. In the meantime, teachers experimented with approaches like the direct method post war and depression classrooms, but without much structure to follow. The trusty Grammar-Translation method set the pace for many classrooms for many decades.<br /><br />Monty Python made fun of the Grammar-Translation method in their film Life of Brian.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8582317135183396555?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-59445814091043112392007-12-21T02:53:00.001-08:002007-12-21T02:53:54.615-08:00Wind in the trees <br />a babbling brook <br />Creaky knees <br />a creakier book...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5944581409104311239?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-45379453368811167812007-12-11T22:54:00.001-08:002007-12-11T22:55:01.087-08:00What happens, generally, is the actor makes an offer to the scene. The offer must be fully accepted and define the reality of the scene. Almost immediately the characters, setting, and conflict must become very obvious. It is from there that the improv builds on each other. <br /><br />There are many rules to improv that give it its structure. Accepting, mentioned above, is probably the most critical. If you're given a scene to play out that has you upset about finding out your girlfriend is cheating on you and the person you're on stage with says, "Let's go hit him with a baseball bat," you can't usually say, "Or we can go shoot him." You're accepting the idea of hurting the guy, but not accepting of the idea of the baseball bat. You have to take the whole thing and learn how to focus it into moving the scene forward. If you don't accept it, it is called "blocking" and it really kills the improv. <br /><br />Advancing is important. Learning how to keep the scene moving is a critical part of the structure of improv. There are a lot of ways to learn to do this and there are many tools you can learn and practice to get this technique down. <br /><br />Aside from this, the general structure of comedy is the same. Comedy is built around setting up a tension and the release coming from the punchline - either a twist in the plot, a different way of looking at it, or often times just the truth plainly stated. What you learn from comedy classes, books, and studying comedy is the various ways those set ups and punchlines can be delivered. You learn how to structure the jokes so they're better for a stage presentation (making your friends laugh is a LOT different from making an audience laugh. The jokes often have to be set up a certain way and delivered a certain way). <br /><br />Improv comedy is quite different from stand up. Both require a lot of work and practice to learn how to work in the structure, but stand up comedy is a very planned set of how things are going to go, what jokes are going to be told, and the order of the jokes. It takes hours of writing and compiling to come up with a set that lasts a few minutes. I wake up every morning and I write new material (while playing around online) until it's time to go to work. At the end of the week, I have a few new jokes worth considering. Then I have some new stuff I think will be worth trying at an open mic. Then I have some that work and some that don't. 5 pages of writing - 3...maybe 4 jokes. That's about normal for most comedians if they ramble in their writing as much as I do. With improv, you don't have ANY writing. Writing scipts and ideas is for sketch comedy, but is frowned upon in improv.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4537945336881116781?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-14724443660656383142007-12-10T06:01:00.000-08:002007-12-10T06:03:03.060-08:00Useful Sentences <br /><br />1) A sentence is a group of words. <br />Juzi* Shi you Yi chuN weNZi. <br />or <br />YI Ju Hua Shi yoU YI XIE cI suo ZaochenG de*. ["A sentence is composed of a number of words."] <br />(Both REA (Resident expert approved)) <br /><br />2) Juzi* you baohaN zhucI GEN DongcI <br />or <br />mei Ju Hua YINGGAI you zhucI hE DongcI ["Each sentence should have a subject and a verb"] <br />(Both REA) <br /><br />3) It expresses a complete idea. <br />Juzi* biaodA waNquaN de* shangfa <br />or <br />YI Ju Hua biaoShi YI ge* waNzheng de Niantou* [A sentence expresses a complete idea] <br />(REA) <br /><br />4) In short answers and commands the subject and/or verb may be assumed based on the context. <br />Zhu3ci2 gen dong4ci2 chang2chang2, GENJu shangXiaweN Bei (TebiE Zai MingLing gen1 duan de* huIdA) jia3she4. <br /><br />zhucI Huo DongcI kenenG Shi yinXing de*, Bu biaodA CHUlaI. [Subject or verb can be implied, not expressed.] <br /><br />(NEITHER EXACTLY REA APPROVED - SORRY) <br /><br />5) YI Ju Hua HouMian Yao Fang JuHao, JING haIShi WenHao. [At the end you must put a period, exclamation mark, or question mark.] <br /><br />6) A phrase is a group of words. <br />Pianyu Shi you Yi chuN weNZi. <br /><br />7) It doesn't have a subject. It doesn't have a verb. <br />Pianyu meiyoU baohaN zhucI GEN DongcI <br /><br />8) A phrase functions as one part of speech. <br />Pianyu GONGnenG Shi Bei Yong laI DANG chenG gEzhongcILei de* qIZHONG zhiYI <br /><br />9) The short answer to a "who" or "what' question is often a noun phrase. <br />Shei2 gen1 shen2me5 wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1 ge5 ming2ci2 pian4yu4. <br />or <br />Yao jianduan di* huIdA Wen "sheI" Huo "sheNme*" de YI Ju Hua, pinGchanG Yao Yong minGzi* Pianyu huIdA. <br /><br />10) 2) The short answer to a "where" or "when" question is often a prepositional phrase. <br />Zai4 na3li3 gen1 shen2me5 shi2hou5 wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1 ge5 jie4xi4ci2 de pian4yu3. <br />or <br />Yao jianDuan di* huIdA Wen "na li" Huo "sheNme* shIHou" de* YI Ju Hua, pinGchanG Yong JiacI Pianyu （介词片语）． <br /><br />11) The short answer to a why (for what purpose) question is often an infinitive phrase. <br />Wei4shen2me5 (shen2me5 mu4di4) wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1ge5 bu4ding4ci2 de5 pian4yu3. <br />or <br />Yao jianDuan di* huIdA Wen "WeisheNme*" (weIhE) de* YI Ju Hua, pinGchanG Yao Yong BuDingcI Pianyu. (动名词片语）． <br /><br /><br />12)The answer to a "how" (by what means) question is often a by + gerund phrase. <br />Zen3me5 (yong4 shen2me5 fang1fa2) wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de hui2 da2 chang2chang2 shi4 "by" + dong4ming2ci2. <br />or <br />Yao huIdA Wen "rU hE" de* YI Ju Hua, pinGchanG Yong "by" JIA DongminGcI <br /><br />13) To make yes/no questions you take the first word of the verb phrase and put it at the beginning of the sentence. <br />Ba3 yi1 ge5 cun2xu4shou1ming2 gai3wei2 yes/no (ma5/shi4 bu2 shi4/ dui4 bu2 dui4/ yao4 bu2 yao4 etc.) de5 yi2wen4ju4 ba3 (cong dong4ci2 <br />pian4yu3) di4-yi1 ge5 zhu3 dong4ci2 fang4 zai4 ju4zi5 qian2mian4. <br />or <br />Yao Wen Shifou WentI, zhi Yao ba DongcI Pianyu de* DiYI ge* cI FangZai Na Ju Hua Zui qiaNMian. <br /><br />14)Infinitive phrases function as noun or adverb phrases. <br />Bu4ding4ci2 de5 pian4yu3 gong1neng2 shi4 ming2ci2 pian4yu3 hai2shi2 fu4ci2 pian4yu3. <br />or <br />bUDing (cI) Pianyu keyi DANG minGcI Pianyu Huo FuminGcI Pianyu.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1472444366065638314?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-31403553846530667252007-12-07T05:03:00.000-08:002007-12-07T05:04:14.858-08:001) The short answer to a "who" or "what' question is often a noun phrase. <br /><br />Shei2 gen1 shen2me5 wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1 ge5 ming2ci2 pian4yu4. <br /><br />2) The short answer to a "where" or "when" question is often a prepositional phrase. <br /><br />Zai4 na3li3 gen1 shen2me5 shi2hou5 wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1 ge5 jie4xi4ci2 de pian4yu3. <br /><br />3) The short answer to a why (for what purpose) question is often an infinitive phrase. <br /><br />wei4shen2me5 (shen2me5 mu4di4) wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de5 hui2da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1ge5 bu4ding4ci2 de5 pian4yu3. <br /><br />4) The answer to a "how" (by what means) question is often a by + gerund phrase. <br /><br />Zen3me5 (yong4 shen2me5 fang1fa2) wen4ti2 de5 duan3 de hui2 da2 chang2chang2 shi4 yi1ge5 dong4ming2ci2 de5 pian4yu3. <br /><br />5) To make yes/no questions you take the first word of the verb phrase and put it at the beginning of the sentence. <br /><br />Ba3 yi1 ge5 cun2xu4shou1ming2 gai3wei2 yes/no (ma5/shi4 bu2 shi4/ dui4 bu2 dui4/ yao4 bu2 yao4 etc.) de5 yi2wen4ju4 ba3 (cong dong4ci2 pian4yu3) di4-yi1 ge5 zhu3 dong4ci2 fang4 zai4 ju4zi5 qian2mian4.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3140355384653066725?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-59209577754879549662007-12-06T07:23:00.000-08:002007-12-06T07:25:42.985-08:00If your four words are: <br />pai1she4 - film, dao3yan3 - director, guan1zhong4 - audience, jing4tou2 scene <br />(and this seems feasible, because you have a verb and a couple o' nouns in there), I might go with something like (I'll do it in English): <br /><br />Famous director Bob wants to film. <br />Director Bob is filming for a special audience. The audience is all drunken English teachers who think they see elephants. <br />So Director Bob needs to film a scene with elephants. His audience will love this scene. They will love what Director Bob films, if what Director Bob films has lots of elephants in it. <br />But Director Bob does not know where to find a scene he can film that will make his audience happy. <br />Director Bob asks his friends on Forumosa, "Zenme ban?" His friends on Forumosa do not film elephants, but they know where there are many elephants in Taipei. <br />Director Bob says, "Aha!" He goes to the 7-11 on Heping Road and films for thirty seconds. <br />Because there are many elephants in the 7-11 on Heping Road, Bob is very happy. He films a wonderful scene. The scene has ... <br />Director Bob takes the movie that he has filmed and his audience sees the movie. Director Bob's audience of drunken English teachers loves the movie. They love the scene with the elephants in the shower best. They also love the scene where an elephant kisses Bo Derek on the 32nd Floor of Taipei 101. <br />Director Bob is happier than a drunken English teacher, because the audience loves the elephant scenes in the film he has filmed for them. <br /><br /><br />Do you see what I mean? The story is really, really, REALLY simple. It's just all the embroidery that keeps it going...and going....and going...and going...and the in-jokes that develop as you work with a student or students over a period of time make it more fun.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5920957775487954966?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-14605889850070539252007-12-05T23:28:00.001-08:002007-12-05T23:30:36.154-08:00I plan to use di4qiu2 as an example this evening. <br /><br />Di4 is a word right? It means dirt. <br /><br />And qiu2 is a word too. It means ball. <br /><br />But if you put them together you don't get "dirt ball." you get "earth." You don't think the earth is a dirt ball do you? It's "blue" for heaven's sake. Dirt balls aren't blue. <br /><br />It's sadomasochistic actually. I am the masochist and she is the sadist of course. <br /><br />Anyway, what I was really looking for is a translation of "phrase" as in grammatical phrase, of which there are four: noun, adjective, adverb and verb. <br /><br />So far what I have is... <br /><br />Ci2zu3 de5 gong1neng2 shi4 bei4 yong4 lai2 dang1 chang4 ge4zhong3ci2lei4 de5 qi2zhong1 zhi3 yi1. <br /><br />Phrase of function is passive marker use come use as become part of speech of among them only one. <br /><br />Or if that doesn't make sense... <br /><br />A phrase is a group of words that functions as one part of speech. <br /><br />So far I think we have done pretty well. I am kidding about the sadomasochistic thing. I'll try looking at it from her point of view. I won't admit that a character is a "word" in either language however. Some "words" are two, three or four characters. Is there such a thing as a five character "word" I wonder?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1460588985007053925?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-80296315647484340352007-12-05T23:28:00.000-08:002007-12-05T23:30:07.159-08:00I plan to use di4qiu2 as an example this evening. <br /><br />Di4 is a word right? It means dirt. <br /><br />And qiu2 is a word too. It means ball. <br /><br />But if you put them together you don't get "dirt ball." you get "earth." You don't think the earth is a dirt ball do you? It's "blue" for heaven's sake. Dirt balls aren't blue. <br /><br />It's sadomasochistic actually. I am the masochist and she is the sadist of course. <br /><br />Anyway, what I was really looking for is a translation of "phrase" as in grammatical phrase, of which there are four: noun, adjective, adverb and verb. <br /><br />So far what I have is... <br /><br />Ci2zu3 de5 gong1neng2 shi4 bei4 yong4 lai2 dang1 chang4 ge4zhong3ci2lei4 de5 qi2zhong1 zhi3 yi1. <br /><br />Phrase of function is passive marker use come use as become part of speech of among them only one. <br /><br />Or if that doesn't make sense... <br /><br />A phrase is a group of words that functions as one part of speech. <br /><br />So far I think we have done pretty well. I am kidding about the sadomasochistic thing. I'll try looking at it from her point of view. I won't admit that a character is a "word" in either language however. Some "words" are two, three or four characters. Is there such a thing as a five character "word" I wonder?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8029631564748434035?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-76724514423653099102007-12-05T08:37:00.000-08:002007-12-05T08:38:06.195-08:00"A victim of the disillusioned weariness which is the retribution meted out to intellectual audacity, the brilliant Don Martin Decoud, weighted by the bars of San Tome silver, disappeared without a trace, swallowed up in the immense indifference of things." Nostromo, Joseph Conrad<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7672451442365309910?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-44235682538460040792007-12-05T02:52:00.001-08:002007-12-05T02:52:58.032-08:00I can never remember the ci2zu3 in wen2fa3 de ci2zu3 (grammar phrase) and thinking that maybe I couldn't remember because I never analyzed the thing I just asked my wife whether the ci2 in ci2zu3 was the same ci2 as in "word." <br /><br />She said that "ci2" meant "phrase." <br /><br />I said no it didn't mean "phrase" it meant a two character word. <br /><br />She said "A character is a word," so I said "How do you say "what" in Chinese?" She said "shen2me5." <br /><br />Is that one word or two? <br /><br />Two. <br /><br />But it is not two words in the sense that say "Wo3 hao3 le5" is three words? <br /><br />Huh? <br /><br />Shen2me5 is one word. <br /><br />It is two characters. <br /><br />A word is not a character. Lots of words in Chinese are more than one character. Some words are one character, some are two, three or four. <br /><br />If you say this you will drive Chinese crazy. <br /><br />Etc.<br /><br />Fox - And a lot of non Chinese I would expect.<br /><br />bob - That's true. After that I begged her not to become hysterical but rather to try to look at it "logically". Shen2me5 translates to one word in English. You could look it up in a dictionary. Shen2me5 is what you might call a "concept." Isn't that right dear? I realize that the character system has not evolved sufficiently as to put a space between words but there is hope, right? Logic is a from of torture to the Chinese mind generally and so it goes badly. She sleeps now and looks cute while sleeping, for this I remain thankful.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-4423568253846004079?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-38101037553140297272007-12-05T02:44:00.001-08:002007-12-05T02:51:42.075-08:00So linking words behave grammatically like action verbs (with one exception) except that they are always followed by "like" or "as if" and a noun. Or they are followed by an adjective functioning as an adverb (called an adverb because it describes the verb as much as the subject) (this of course doesn't happen with action verbs, it's the exception). Their meanings can be something similar to "be" as a main verb but it would be easy to find exceptions to this as well. This "feels like" a road, but it "is" actually a sidewalk<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3810103755314029727?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-28602903258912065222007-12-05T02:44:00.000-08:002007-12-05T02:48:34.390-08:00I can never remember the ci2zu3 in wen2fa3 de ci2zu3 (grammar phrase) and thinking that maybe I couldn't remember because I never analyzed the thing I just asked my wife whether the ci2 in ci2zu3 was the same ci2 as in "word." <br /><br />She said that "ci2" meant "phrase." <br /><br />I said no it didn't mean "phrase" it meant a two character word. <br /><br />She said "A character is a word," so I said "How do you say "what" in Chinese?" She said "shen2me5." <br /><br />Is that one word or two? <br /><br />Two. <br /><br />But it is not two words in the sense that say "Wo3 hao3 le5" is three words? <br /><br />Huh? <br /><br />Shen2me5 is one word. <br /><br />It is two characters. <br /><br />A word is not a character. Lots of words in Chinese are more than one character. Some words are one character, some are two, three or four. <br /><br />If you say this you will drive Chinese crazy. <br /><br />Etc.<br /><br />Fox - And a lot of non Chinese I would expect.<br /> <br />bob - That's true. After that I begged her not to become hysterical but rather to try to look at it "logically". Shen2me5 translates to one word in English. You could look it up in a dictionary. Shen2me5 is what you might call a "concept." Isn't that right dear? I realize that the character system has not evolved sufficiently as to put a space between words but there is hope, right? Logic is a from of torture to the Chinese mind generally and so it goes badly. She sleeps now and looks cute while sleeping, for this I remain thankful.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2860290325891206522?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-73462605127084475612007-11-22T08:40:00.000-08:002007-11-22T08:41:28.397-08:00I'm curious about the following sentence... <br /><br />It is of course no secret by now that little b bob god of the abstract nonsensical, repetitive and subtextual is actually Jesus, but it may come as a suprise to many to discover that he is Buddha too, a fact that will be confirmed upon his upcoming trip to Varanasi and the outlying suburb of Sarnath where he gave his first sermons regarding the basic principles of Buddhism. They will be sure to recognize him there. Later he plans a trip down to the Ganges, which flows solid through this stretch owing to the Hindu practice of dumping the remains of their earthly vessels in the river in hopes that they (their earthly vessels) will not be suffering another go round the cycle of birth and suffering. His plan is to inform them that they will not be returning for another go round the cycle of birth and suffering anyway and could at least approach life with a more practical, compassionate view toward future generations. There is a thriving hemp industry in Varanasi, textiles, stationary and such and little b bob intends to make a significant contribution to the economy of the region in that regard thereby providing for the local population a means of sustenance etc. <br /><br />Do you think it sounds better that way or like, this... <br /><br />It is of course no secret by now that little b bob god of the abstract nonsensical, repetitive and subtextual is actually Jesus, but it may come as a suprise to many to discover that he is Buddha too, a fact that will be confirmed upon his upcoming trip to Varanasi and the outlying suburb of Sarnath where he gave his first sermons regarding the basic principles of Buddhism. They will be sure to recognize him there. Later he plans a trip down to the Ganges, which flows solid through this stretch owing to the Hindu practice of dumping the remains of their earthly vessels in the river in hopes that they (their earthly vessels) will not be suffering another go, round the cycle of birth and suffering. His plan is to inform them that they will not be returning for another go, round the cycle of birth and suffering anyway and could at least approach life with a more practical, compassionate view toward future generations. There is a thriving hemp industry in Varanasi, textiles, stationary and such and little b bob intends to make a significant contribution to the economy of the region in that regard thereby providing for the local population a means of sustenance etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7346260512708447561?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-83386426037073267362007-11-19T02:58:00.001-08:002007-11-19T02:58:51.954-08:00On a green coloured freeway <br />Exhaust in my hair <br />Warm smell of choudofu <br />Rising up through the air <br />Up ahead in the distance <br />I saw a shimmering light <br />My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim <br />I had to stop for the night <br />There she stood at the binlang stand <br />I heard the garbage truck's bell <br />And I was thinking to myself <br />This could be Heaven or this could be Hell <br />Then she lit up a longlife <br />And she showed me the way <br />There were voices down the corridor <br />I thought I heard them say <br /><br />Welcome to the Hotel Formosa <br />Such a lovely place <br />Such a crowded place <br />Such a lovely face <br />Plenty of ESL work at the Hotel Formosa <br />Any time of year <br />Any time of year (background) <br />You can find it here <br />You can find it here <br /><br />Her mind is SOGO twisted <br />She's got her Daddy's benz <br />She's got a lot of pretty, foreign boys <br />That she calls friends <br />How they dance on the bar top <br />Sweet summer sweat <br />Some dance to get laid <br />Some dance for the rent <br />So I called up the laoban <br />Please bring me my gatorade <br />He said <br />We haven't had that drink here since 1998 <br />And still those voices are calling from far away <br />Wake you up in the middle of the night <br />Just to hear them say <br /><br />Welcome to the Hotel Formosa <br />Such a lovely Place <br />Such a dirty Place (background) <br />Such a lovely face <br />They're livin' it up at the Hotel Formosa <br />What a nice surprise <br />What a nice surprise (background) <br />Bring your alibies <br /><br />Binlang juice on the sidewalk <br />Warm beer on ice <br />And she said <br />We are all just prisoners here <br />Til our ARC expires <br />And in the expat nightclub <br />They gathered for a sleaze <br />They pick up anything that moves <br />And shag in MTVs <br />Last thing I remember <br />I was running for the door <br />I had to find a quick flight back to the place I was before <br />Relax said the nightman <br />We are programed to recieve <br />You can check out any time you like <br />But you can never leave<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-8338642603707326736?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-31180261750414419432007-11-04T07:00:00.000-08:002007-11-04T07:03:47.453-08:00Action Verb - xing2 dong4 dong4ci2 <br />Active - zhu3dong4 <br />Adjective - xing2rong2ci2 <br />Adverb - fu4ci2 <br />Answer - hui2da2 <br />Auxiliary Verb - zhu4dong4ci2 <br />Be Verb - be dong4ci2 <br />Clause - zi3ju4 <br />Contraction - suo1xie3 <br />Form - xing2shi4 <br />Grammar - wen2fa3 <br />Information Question - xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4 <br />Information Question Words - yi2wen4ci2 <br />ing form - I just use... "ing" xing2shi4 <br />Intransitive Verb - bu4ji2wu4 dong4ci2 <br />Linking Verb - lian2xi4 dong4ci2 <br />Main Verb - zhu3dong4ci2 <br />Modal Verb - qing2tai4 dong4ci2 <br />Negative Answer/ sentence/ question - Fou3ding4 de hui2da2/ ju4zi/ <br />yi2wen4ju4 <br />Noun - ming2ci2 <br />Object - shou4ci2 <br />Or question - huo4shi4 yi2wen4ju4 <br />Parts of Speech - ge4zhong3ci2lei4 <br />Passive - bei4dong4 <br />Past Form - guo4qu4 xing2shi4 <br />Past Participle - guo4qu4 fen1ci2 <br />Past Progressive - guo4qu4jin4xing2shi4 <br />Phrase - ci2zu3 <br />Prefix - zi4shou3 <br />Preposition - jie4xi4ci2 <br />Present Perfect - xian4zai4wan2chun2shi4 <br />Present Perfect Progressive - xian4zai4wan2chun2jin4xing2shi4 <br />Present Progressive - xian4zai4jin4xing2shi4 <br />Question - yi2wen4ju4 <br />Sentence - ju4zi <br />Short answer - duan3 de hui2da2 <br />Simple Form of the Verb - yuen2xing2 dong4ci2 or jian3dan1 xing2shi4 <br />Simple Future - wei4lai2shi2 <br />Simple Past - guo4qu4shi2 <br />Simple Present - xian4zai4shi2 <br />Statement - chen2shu4ju4 <br />Structure - jie2gou4 <br />Subject - zhu3ci2 <br />Transitive Verb - ji2wu4 dong4ci2 <br />Verb - dong4ci2 <br />Verb Tense - dong4ci2shi2tai4 <br />Yes/No Question - dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4/ hao3 bu4 hao3/ yao4 bu4 yao4 etc. wen4ti2<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3118026175041441943?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-25499082543958685132007-10-29T09:25:00.000-07:002007-10-29T09:29:36.569-07:00Recently I've been thinking about brushing up on my French but have been having a difficult time getting around the word "French." The language itself sounds easy and pleasant enough, a reasonable tongue, but the English word French irritates me, particularly when it is put in quotation marks like that. Too similar to the word "Nazi" and rhyming as it does with bench, stench and wrench it's a significant hurdle. I don't like the short "e" either. Makes me think of retch, and of course, wretch and were you to puruse the language asthetics websites I think you might find a primordial explanation for this not so peculiar aversion. It's a step above pointing. Anyway, I was so hung up on the "French" thing that I decided to attack the problem through Chinese and so went out and bought a Chinese/"French" phrase book with CD and as I could not read Chinese at the time thought that I could avoid the whole "French" thing while continuing to study the language. You can't imagine how sexy languages are to women around here so I soldier on, studying, day after day... Anyway, that was a few months ago and in the meantime I have also begun my study of the Chinese writing system and wouldn't you know it they put "French" in chapter six I think it was. Naturally they recycle this key bit of vocabulary every few pages and so now I have actually "aquired" the damn thing and can't even look at the cover of my phrasebook without encountering this horrid little word. Fast approaching my fiftieth BD here you might expect that I would have overcome such difficulties by now but such is not the case. It's an obsession. <br /><br />All of this reminds me somehow of the story of Eileen Chang (author of Lust, Caution) who became famous as China's first "psychological fictionalist" back in the 1920's. As everyone knows Eileen moved to the United States to escape her grandmother the opium addict and become famous as an English writer, that is a writer of English fiction, not as a writer hailing form that once proud nation of course. She set about translating her earlier works into English but owing to "The West's" failure to recognize the vagina as an essentially masochistic organ her efforts were unappreciated and Eileen spent her last days labouring her or there, I forget. And then of course when the original Chinese manuscripts were lost and an attempt was made to translate the translation back into Chinese they came out in "French" and that naturally had a discomboulating effect. It's an old story. Anyway what I would like to say is that fornication is as effecacious as opium as a treatment for stress and should be encouraged in the work place, though not with my wife and not with yours either.. That's how it's done in China and when the west is finished receiving it's well deserved kick in the balls things should sort themselves out right roger no worries<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2549908254395868513?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-20382421882132990432007-10-15T10:19:00.000-07:002007-10-15T10:21:55.823-07:00Something I've noticed about these forums is that first one person expresses an opinion and then somebody else expresses another opinion, sometimes in agreement with the original opinion but more often in oppostion to it in one way or another. Then somebody thinks of something humorous to say, or maybe they think of a story. Old people have more and better stories than younger people because they have been completely making them up, or basing them on some interpretaion of actual experience, hallucination etc. longer and this will no doubt continue regardless of whether or not there is a gay parade a depressed parade or any other type of parade. Of course, this is all very intersting and in no way intended to work off a bit of excess mental energy in order that sleep might eventually be possible etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2038242188213299043?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-59551597357268429712007-09-19T02:14:00.000-07:002007-09-19T02:15:15.460-07:00I was teaching one of my travel the world and study English classes last night with a tub of cold water, a chair, two snorkels, two masks and a toilet seat. I had one student sitting on the chair and one on the toilet and both of them with their besnorkeled heads submerged in the tub of cold water. The goal was to keep their heads under water for two minutes, which was quite impressive as neither could swim nor had ever worn a snorkel before that day. Anyway, they had their heads under water and all when bob needed to fart. Thinking it would be better to do so in another room he walked into the bedroom and, stubbing his toe on a mirror on the floor, slashed his toe open, cut it all the way through the toenail. Little toe looked like it was cut in half lengthwise. When his students pulled their heads out of their first underwater experience then they were greeted to the sight of a blood gushing toe. This of course sequed quickly into bandage, blood, bleeding, stitches, emergency room etc. Interesting that in the conversation that followed I continued to correct grammar mistakes, correct pronunciation and introduce vocabulary. I've become a teacher and very little else. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks buttercup, I had no place to put this odd, horribe, vaguely disgusting, little true story and though this probably isn't the place either I hope you enjoyed it a little. I always enjoyed you.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5955159735726842971?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-57699742860340815692007-09-01T23:06:00.001-07:002007-09-01T23:06:43.718-07:00" Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5769974286034081569?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-11410535292924561112007-08-30T07:06:00.000-07:002007-08-30T07:07:14.455-07:00"Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all <br />The needle returns to the start of the song <br />And we all sing along like before <br /><br />And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1141053529292456111?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-79281360291910625802007-08-26T08:20:00.001-07:002007-08-26T08:20:44.627-07:00The art of losing isn't hard to master; <br />so many things seem filled with the intent <br />to be lost that their loss is no disaster. <br /><br />Lose something every day. Accept the fluster <br />of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. <br />The art of losing isn't hard to master. <br /><br />Then practice losing farther, losing faster: <br />places, and names, and where it was you meant <br />to travel. None of these will bring disaster. <br /><br />I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or <br />next-to-last, of three loved houses went. <br />The art of losing isn't hard to master. <br /><br />I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, <br />some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. <br />I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster. <br /><br />-- Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture <br />I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident <br />the art of losing's not too hard to master <br />though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster. <br /><br />Elizabeth Bishop<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7928136029191062580?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-5314973782237935652007-08-10T10:37:00.000-07:002007-08-10T10:39:03.313-07:00My experience of God is the most convincing evidence I have that there is no God. I was asleep, about eight years old. I had a visitation from God and he told me that because I said "God" I was going to hell. Theists might say I was dreaming and I would agree. I do not "think" that I am going to hell because I said "God.' Nor do I think that any of the prophets experienced any more clarity in their dreams or waking visions than I had in mine. They were dreaming or hallucinating too. Clarity of visions is of course a difficult thing to argue but something I can say with utmost certainty is that I experienced my vision and the theists did not. It might be possible to have a clearer, stronger experience than I had that night but I simply do not believe it. I do not think that your experience of reading this is a clear and unequivocal as was my experience of God telling me I was going to hell. The problem of course is that there would be no reason to send a child to hell for saying "God." There are then only two possibe scenarios: 1) The most real thing I have ever experienced in my life was a dream. 2) I spoke to God and am going to hell. As a child I tended to believe that 2) was the more likley of the two possibilities but then as I grew older and a bit more analytical I tended, of course, much more strongly towards option 1). As old age begins to settle in now I am instinctively tending towards option 2) again. Such is the toxic force of religious conditioning<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-531497378223793565?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-37902448248477908372007-08-07T12:58:00.000-07:002007-08-07T12:59:50.667-07:00Non-compliance is human nature.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3790244824847790837?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-68112846565505287282007-08-07T09:46:00.000-07:002007-08-07T09:47:09.950-07:00Fortigurn wrote: <br />Being an agnostic does not give you the right to make illogical arguments, sorry. That's RDO's point. I've made the same point myself. If you want to live according to blind faith and illogical reasoning, I suggest you become a North American Fundamentalist Christian. You have the makings. <br /><br /><br />I doubt that you could follow my reasoning well enough to comment on whether or not it was illogical. I'll spell it out for you one more time.... <br /><br />We don't know if there was an intelligent force behind the big bang or not. The exquisite patterns found in nature, human consciousnees, ethical impulses etc. cause some people to believe there was. I don't know and admit I don't know and am therefore an agnostic. <br /><br />Some people postulate that the creator of the universe spoke using a human language. On the basis of that belief religions developed: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, for example. These religions have inspired the best and the worst from humanity but are nonetheless based on the essentially psychotic notion that God "spoke." Christianity plunges a little deeper and asserts that "God" took on a human form and suffered the tortures that God made possible as a "sacrifice" for the "sins" that he also made possible in order that we "might' be able to spend an eternity at his side in a body that nobody can see. Hello? Could you get any more nuts? <br /><br />We have vast amounts of evidence which shows that human beings lie, hallucinate, fear death, feel guilty and seek to delude and aggrandize themselves. What we don't have is a single scrap of hard scientific evidence that God spoke. Yes, we have the testimony of some prophets, whom we admire, and hundreds of thousands of psychotics whom we tend to admire less, but perhaps there is less to differentiate them than some people think. That is my point. <br /><br />Somebody is right here and somebody is wrong. "God" caused the molecules in the air to vibrate according to the patterns established by a number of languages: Hebrew, Greek if I am not mistaken, or he didn't. Some people believe that he did. I think it is an insane belief to hold given what we now know about the physical world and human psychology. I don't think that people like RDO are completely crazy, just crazy in relation to their religious beliefs. Like the prophets he can function beautifully I imagine, perhaps a lot better than people with no "faith" in an omniscient, compassionate God. Religious faith certainly has it's value as a defense mechanism and that is why it is so common. There is no convincing logical reason to accept it as literal fact however and otherwise perfectly intelligent people who continue to do so are deluding themselves. <br /><br />You might not agree with this assesment but if you want suggest that it is based on faith or a lack of logic you'll have to back that up. I put too much into this argument to accept half baked criticisms from you or anybody else.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6811284656550528728?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-19396219262511918372007-08-07T09:15:00.000-07:002007-08-07T09:17:57.996-07:00somebody wrote: Being an agnostic does not give you the right to make illogical arguments, sorry. That's RDO's point. I've made the same point myself. If you want to live according to blind faith and illogical reasoning, I suggest you become a North American Fundamentalist Christian. You have the makings. <br /><br /><br />bob - I doubt that you could follow my reasoning well enough to comment on whether or not it was illogical. I'll spell it out for you one more time.... <br /><br />We don't know if there was an intelligent force behind the big bang or not. The exquisite patterns found in nature, human consciousnees, ethical impulses etc. cause some people to believe there was. I don't know and admit I don't know and am therefore an agnostic. <br /><br />Some people postulate that the creator of the universe spoke using a human language. On the basis of that belief religions developed: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, for example. These religions have inspired the best and the worst from humanity but are nonetheless based on the essentially psychotic notion that God "spoke." <br /><br />We have vast amounts of evidence which shows that human beings lie and hallucinate. What we don't have is a single scrap of hard scientific evidence that God spoke. Yes, we have the testimony of some prophets, whom we admire, and hundreds of thousands of psychotics whom we tend to admire less, but perhaps there is less to differentiate them than some people think. That is my point. <br /><br />Somebody is right here and somebody is wrong. "God" caused the molecules in the air to vibrate according to the patterns established by a number of languages: Hebrew, Greek if I am not mistaken, or he didn't. Some people believe that he did. I think it is an insane belief to hold given what we now know about the physical world and human psychology. I don't think that people like RDO are completely crazy, just crazy in relation to their religious beliefs. Like the prophets he can function beautifully I imagine, perhaps a lot better than people with no "faith" in an omniscient, compassionate God. Religious belief certainly has it's value as a defense mechanism and that is why it is so common. There is no convincing logical reason to accept it as literal fact however and otherwise perfectly intelligent people who continue to do so are deluding themselves. <br /><br />You might not agree with this assesment but if you want suggest that it is based on faith or a lack of logic you'll have to back that up. I put too much into this argument to accept half baked criticisms from you or anybody else.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1939621926251191837?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-55154307859071296012007-08-05T04:14:00.001-07:002007-08-05T04:14:36.597-07:001 In the beginning Man created God; <br />and in the image of Man <br />created he him. <br /><br />2 And Man gave unto God a multitude of <br />names,that he might be Lord of all <br />the earth when it was suited to Man <br /><br />3 And on the seven millionth <br />day Man rested and did lean <br />heavily on his God and saw that <br />it was good. <br /><br />4 And Man formed Aqualung of <br />the dust of the ground, and a <br />host of others likened unto his kind. <br /><br />5 And these lesser men were cast into the <br />void; And some were burned, and some were <br />put apart from their kind. <br /><br />6 And Man became the God that he had <br />created and with his miracles did <br />rule over all the earth. <br /><br />7 But as all these things <br />came to pass, the Spirit that did <br />cause man to create his God <br />lived on within all men: even <br />within Aqualung. <br /><br />8 And man saw it not. <br /><br />9 But for Christ's sake he'd <br />better start looking.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5515430785907129601?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-36410115707430783642007-08-03T05:21:00.000-07:002007-08-03T05:23:07.291-07:00Gao bo han - I have to wonder how a man who can say this: <br /><br />Quote:<br />You will forgive me if I bring a certain tenacity to this arguement. Organized religion for me was a highly toxic experience and I enjoy this opportunity to confront what appears to me to be widespread, organized, legitimated, blatant lunacy.<br /><br /><br />Can say this: <br />Quote:<br />Buddhism I think is a scientific point of view...<br /><br /><br />The atheist Sam Harris, in his scathing attack on religious faith in his book, "The End of Faith," spends the last chapter...can anyone guess? After he lambasts Christianity and Islam...? The last chapter of his book is essentially a plug for Buddhism, which he considers to be a very rational religion and whose meditation techniques he has practiced for many years. <br /><br />As I said before, I have never studied Buddhism. What little I do know comes from books about Chinese culture and history. But a quick search online reveals several aspects of Buddhism that are obviously dogma, no more or less irrational than anything you'd find in the Abrahamic religions. So what's the story here? A genuine belief that Buddhism is scientific or at least highly rational (rational enough to plug for in your vitriolic tome against theism)? A prejudice against Christianity and love for all things non-Christian? Inquiring minds want to know!<br /><br />Bob - That was me. You were correct in pointing out earlier that I am no scholar. My understanding of Buddhism for example comes almost entirely from what I would call "Buddhist psychology" as described by the Dalai Lama in "The Art of Happiness" and "Ethics for the New Millenium" in which he describes Buddhism as the science of the mind. It is the mind watching itself "very" closely and admitting with complete honesty the situation in which it finds itself. Driven by desire and the tendency to compare it becomes aggressive, competitive, jealous, sometimes hostile. This works in complete opposition to the deeper need to connect with people on the basis of love, respect and compassion. If you look at your own psychology you will discover this to be true, or not. Buddhism doesn't dictate anything but simply encourages people to think clearly and be emotionally honest with themselves. <br /><br />The theological aspects of Buddhism, whatever they are, don't interest me much and to be perfectly frank I don't think they interest the Dalai Lama much either. He is a figure head and so cannot express himself honestly on the issue but he will go so far as to say that if all the pomp and pagentry surrounding the "religion" disappered tomorrow it would not make a bit of difference.<br /><br />I think that an element of insanity runs through the entire human experience and most of that insanity comes from the anxiety created by our understanding of time and the absolute reality of ethics. If we look forward we see the inevitability of suffering and death, we see that we have choices that might affect when death will occur and how much suffering we will do in the meantime but have no way of knowing with any certainty what the outcome of our choices will be. We know also that the things we do will affect other people and given our innate compassion for them we naturally feel guilty for the wrongs we commit. That is the soul of man and I doubt that it has changed at all over the last two thousand years. The prophets catered to man's anxieties with stories of forgiveness and everlasting life. They either made up these stories or they honestly believed them because they had experienced a temporary split from reality. It doesn't suprise me at all that such sensitive people would write such beautiful texts. Look at me, I'm nuts, but I wrote<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3641011570743078364?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-27157865969697846862007-08-01T05:46:00.000-07:002007-08-01T05:47:31.176-07:00Did I ever tell you guys the halo story? Anyway, I was in church, this is when I was about 17, and the minister was there doing his sermon and all that and I'm sitting there thinking about God's love and how pure it was and everything and all of a sudden I got this warm feeling like, well, perhaps I better not say what it ws like, anyway I got this warm feeling and suddenly the light around the minister became a deeper yellow and brighter too at the same time and I knew I was having a vision sent from God. Later I got thinking about it and I realized "gee that was pretty nuts actually" and was probably the product of all the weird stuff they were teaching us in church and all the horrible stresses I had been under all my life actually. <br />Religion is a lot like that generally I figure. People are anxious about their futures and the inevitability of pain and death and the seemingly random meaninglessness of it all and so contort their otherwise sound intellects in all manner of ways to find a solution. It is a coping mechanism, and like most coping mechanisms basically nuts, but effective at least in warding off the larger anxieties, reality and such, until it is rationally challenged.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2715786596969784686?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-68263322635164482432007-07-31T08:39:00.000-07:002007-07-31T08:41:36.292-07:00Buttercup - What a vacant, time wasting little retard. What an empty, worthless life she must lead. I weep for the human race. Really. This is what humans have degraded themselves into being; money grubbing low-lifes with no dignity. I wish I were a duck.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6826332263516448243?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-588028582039371432007-07-31T05:35:00.000-07:002007-07-31T05:38:10.386-07:00The teacher incident reminds me of Rapunzel so this is perhaps a good time to talk about her. It was just a few months ago actually that it occurred to me what a schizoid, destructive experience it was attempting to deal with her. On the surface she was usually playing the good grandmother role, happy to see her grandkids and all that. She was subtly disdainful of me when others were around of course but when we were alone she really let me have it. It was as much a question of attitude and tone as anything else but as I grew older it became worse. There are a couple of incidents that I recall but there is one in particular that I can relate that should bring things into focus. <br /><br />I was living in Vancouver and had come home to see Mom and “Gramma Ho” who was there for a visit. Things were not going that well for me at that time on any level and I made the perhaps ugly mistake of hinting to her that she might remember her in her will.<br />She told me to “go back to the ditch where I came from.” Mom can perhaps attest to this as she was sitting in the car with us at the time. We were driving to the ferry, it was night and we were just passing Elk Lake. I remember it like it was yesterday. <br /><br />You would think that I would have gathered myself at that point and recognized her for the cruel person she was, at least in relation to me, but I didn’t because, for a lot of reasons, I had already internalized her assessment. She told me to go back to the ditch and that is essentially what I did. She went back to the pension that she collected for thirty five years. <br /><br />She did bestow on me though the following little ditty: “Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.” If she were alive today I would point out that the “with” in “put up with” is not strictly speaking a preposition, it is part of phrasal verb, and therefore probably acceptable even by the Latin grammar upon which the original “Don’t end a sentence with a preposition rule is based.” I would go on to point out that in the entire history of modern linguistics I appear to be the only one to have noticed this. I would point out also that given a translation dictionary, a notebook, pen and a day or so to prepare I could explain all of this in Mandarin, with examples, thereby proving without a doubt what a total and complete fool I am. The song says that there is a crack in everything and that is how the light gets in but I am sure there was not a crack in her disdain for me. It was pure and complete, and I bet she was a lousy English teacher.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-58802858203937143?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-33784255278879097762007-07-27T07:30:00.000-07:002007-07-27T07:31:56.018-07:00fred - Anyway, we agree that man is causing part of the global warming. We agree that we should do something about it. I just don't think that it will make any difference and that the final results are not going to justify any major sacrifices.<br /><br />bob - Now, fred, is that anyway to talk? Most of us have been here from the beginning and know that "Man is probably the sole cause of global warming and there is a lot we could do about it that would represent more of a lifestyle improvement than a sacrafice," would be a more accurate summary of the facts and conclusions gleaned from this debate so far. You know that we know that you know this, and we know that you know that we know that you know it. One could continue in this way indefinitely and doing so would be a good metaphor. I don't have a lot of time for these discussions anymore but thought I'd drop that in because it appears you are forgoting how badly you are losing this debate etc.<br /><br />fred - Man is no where near being the sole cause or even the major cause of global warming and it he is, there is scant little that we can do about it and if we should be doing something about it, the answer lies in more and faster development to raise standards of living worldwide rather than less.<br /><br />bob - "The function of the door has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries." <br /><br />Now, I'll admit that I find life difficult generally but when I noticed that someone had, presumably, been paid to write that little ditty for an interior design publication I realized that nearly anything is possible and so have begun work on my opus. "An Exercise in Pure Reason" it is called and while that might sound like a philosphical treatise it is in fact my memories, pronounced with a great french stress and a french spelling as well I imagine but no matter. Naturally I hope that this work will serve as a fitting companion piece to my abstract nonsensical ramblings here at forumosa, but whereas the abstract nonsensical is available here at no cost "An Exercise in Pure Reason" will likely only be available at whatever price they charge for those books you find in the bargain bin. <br /><br />In any event, as I'll be busy with the exercise, I won't around here much in the future and as fred wipes a tear from his eye and takes another sip of his cognac I'll.... what'll I do? Go for a hike I suppose. It's suprising how pleasant this tropical weather can be once you get away from the stinking city etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-3378425527887909776?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-60139367262102094992007-07-20T08:32:00.001-07:002007-07-20T08:32:59.015-07:00There's a saying in the atheist community: Everyone is an atheist about everyone else's religion. To we skeptics (atheists, agnostics, or just generally irreligious people), the assertions of Christianity and other religions are on par with the assertion there are Purple Fire Breathing Bunnies nestled in their heavenly warrens who emerge to bestow reward and punishment on their human followers. "It's ridiculous." "It's just something you made up," "It makes no sense," "You've got no evidence" are all things we skeptics say to Christians and other religious. <br /><br />I realize, of course, you disagree there is a comparison. However, the attitude you would probably take towards someone claiming adherence to the Purple Fire Breathing Bunnies cult (assuming they really believe it) is the same attitude we take towards Christians and other theists. We perceive little or no difference between the two religions. <br /><br />I think most Christians and Jews no longer believe in magic. But magic was an assumed reality in the Biblical era. Just think of the witches described in the Bible and the campaigns to eradicate them. Or the plagues that God, through Moses and Aaron, brought against Egypt. When Aaron threw down his staff and it turned into a serpent, Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing (before their staff-snakes got eaten, teehee). For several of the punishments Moses and Aaron brought on Egpyt (through God), Pharaoh's magicians could do the same things: turn the water into blood, bring a plague of frogs, etc. I think when it got to turning dust to gnats the magicians could not match God's power. But the prescence of magicians and the reality of magic are assumed. Divination, witchcraft, and demonic possession were all assumed realities in the Biblical era, and the Bible reflects that. However, aside from fundamentalists, modern Jews and Christians would openly mock someone claiming to have magical powers. It's ridiculous. It's just something they're making up. They've got no evidence. <br /><br />It's taken for granted nowadays these witchcraft and magic are nonsense and always were. And yet witchhunts were popular throughout the late Middle Ages and Renaissance period. It is precisely because of the increase in scientific knowledge and perhaps most importantly, scientific skepticism, that has turned even the common man against the idea of magic, witchcraft, and wizardry. <br /><br />But there are other supernatural realities/assertions in the Bible and Christian tradition that ordinary Christians DO still believe in, such as miracles and resurrection. However, we skeptics don't see any difference between magic and miracles, or divination and resurrection. All are equally fantastical and beyond belief. Christians asking us to respect their belief in miracles can expect the same response as if they asked us to respect their belief in magic<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-6013936726210209499?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-74064022922215881762007-07-20T05:47:00.000-07:002007-07-20T05:54:29.273-07:00Throwing him [the dog] off Zhongshan bridge into the Danshui might be easier [than having him cremated in a buddhist ceremony]. Then again you wouldn't want poodles washing up at yu2ren2ma3tou2 so I dunno, like, I just dunno, you know? Anyway, I saw a show about Vernasi last night and they were talking about how if you got lucky with the gods or something perhaps the cycle of suffering, birth and death and all that can finally come to an end, but only if you are cremated at Vernasi and thrown in the Ganges which of course is nothing like being a dog and thrown off the Zhongshan bridge in a paper bag. Your dog might come back as hello kitty if you threw him in there. <br /> <br />gao_bo_han - bob, <br /><br />Don't you think this post was just a *tad* disrespectful? The OP's pet has not even passed on yet, and you're making crude jokes?<br /> <br />bob - I was going more for profound with a despairing nod toward reality than disrespectful, trying to bring a little perspective like, but if I failed I apologize. People love their dogs I know.<br /> <br />hannes - And it's "Varanasi" not "Vernasi". <br /><br />I buried a dog and a cat back in Germany in our own back yard when I was about 12. The cat wasn't even ours. I remember watching the cat sitting besides the road in front of our house (I was looking out the window of my room). Knowing that the cat -- cats aren't really that smart at times -- would cross the road the minute a car would pass by, I stormed down the stairs, ran out the house and when I arrived a minute later at the spot where the cat had been sitting before, it all had happened already. Man, was I made at the cat. I still remember how it felt to carry the stiff body of the lifeless cat to the back yard. <br /><br />bob - You probably chased it. I know that people often block these kind of memories as a defense mechanism but the energy still exists and eats away at your soul regardless. The only thing you can do is own your guilt and strive to be a better person in the future. No more drinking, no more chasing cats in front of traffic in ill-fated attempts at kindness, no more correcting spelling mistakes with sentences that begin with the abusive "and" and so on and so forth etc.<br /><br />hannes - I did help to slaughter a sheep once, I admit. But I didn't make the cat trying to outrun that car. <br /><br />And Bob, you are mean, and I mean it. <br /><br />bob - Like innocence, guilt is universal. Sometimes they are the same thing. I, for example, was badly raised and therefore became evil and a bad speller. Is this my fault, am I to blame? Who blames who? Sometimes it is the guilty who blame the innocent come guilty and then what? It is a mess only understandable through the abstract nonsensical and even then only vaguely. At some point one gives up and this is the beginning.<br /> <br />hannes - Innocence, guilt, good, evil... whatever. <br /><br />The question here is, what to do with a dog that has passed away. I'd say, try to pay the dog your respect by properly saying good bye in one way or another. Throwing it into a river would be evil, and surely make you feel guilty some time afterwards.<br /> <br />bob - Yes, but I would not really throw the dog in the river, at least not without first securing something heavy to his feet. I would purchase a bottle of cognac for the occassion and weep appropriately as the insignificance of his "plunk" into the river reverberated in mine empty soul. Later while contemplating the pervasiveness of evil in the universe I'd pause for a moment at my own guilt. Bleh, I'd say, you can't begin to imagine the shit I've seen people do.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7406402292221588176?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-1121821463248129452007-07-19T22:58:00.000-07:002007-07-19T22:59:26.972-07:00Inflammation of the foreskin <br />Reminds me of your smile. <br />I've had ballanital chancroids <br />For quite a little while. <br />I gave my heart to NSU <br />That lovely night in June. <br />I ache for you, my darling, <br />And I hope you get well soon. <br /><br />My penile warts, your herpes, <br />My syphilitic sores. <br />Your moenelial infection, <br />How I miss you more and more. <br />Your dobie's itch, my scrumpox, <br />Our lovely gonnorrhea, <br />At least we both were lying, <br />When we said that we were clear. <br /><br />Our syphilitic kisses, <br />Sealed the secret of our tryst. <br />You gave me scrotal pustules, <br />With a quick flick of your wrist. <br />Your trichovaginitis <br />Sent shivers down my spine; <br />I got snail tracks in my anus <br />When your spirochetes met mine. <br /><br />Gonoccocal urethritis, streptococcal <br />ballinitis, meningo myelitis, <br />diplococcal cephalitis, epididimitis, <br />interstitial keratitis, syphilitic <br />choroiditis, and antertior u-ve-i-tis. <br /><br />My clapped out genitalia <br />Is not so bad for me, <br />As the complete and utter failure <br />Every time I try to pee. <br />My doctor says my buboes <br />Are the worst he's ever seen, <br />My scrotum's painted orange <br />And my balls are turning green. <br /><br />My heart is very tender <br />Though my parts are awful raw, <br />You might have been infected <br />But you never were a bore. <br />I'm dying of your love, my love <br />I'm your spirochaetal clown, <br />I've left my body to science <br />But I'm afraid they've turned it down. <br /><br />Gonoccocal urethritis, streptococcal <br />ballinitis, meningo myelitis, <br />diplococcal cephalitis, epididimitis, <br />interstitial keratitis, syphilitic <br />choroiditis, and antertior u-ve-i-tis<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-112182146324812945?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-18498411860794163302007-07-19T21:56:00.000-07:002007-07-19T21:57:16.799-07:00Like innocence, guilt is universal. Sometimes they are the same thing. I, for example, was badly raised and therefore became evil and a bad speller. Is this my fault, am I to blame? Who blames who? Sometimes it is the guilty who blame the innocent come guilty and then what? It is a mess only understandable through the abstract nonsensical and even then only vaguely. At some point one gives up and this is the beginning.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1849841186079416330?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-5526037482982826182007-06-03T07:53:00.000-07:002007-06-03T07:54:38.382-07:00"Everything you love, everything meaningful with depth and history, all passionate authentic experiences will be appropriated, mishandled, watered down, cheapened, repackaged, marketed and sold to the people you hate." <br />-Mister Jalopy<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-552603748298282618?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-55769493249710679462007-06-01T21:33:00.000-07:002007-06-01T21:34:15.433-07:00bob wrote - English is a German word best pronounced with a north American aborigine accent and a field of tall grass illuminated by an autumnal moon. <br /><br /><br />bob - That is so true bob but has little or nothing to do with geriatric second language learning in the schizophrenic community. It had nothing to do with it yesterday, has nothing to do with it now and will have nothing to do with it tomorrow. Interesting use of "and" irregardless and one which might have been overlooked had it not been for your kind persistence on the issue. Thank you.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-5576949324971067946?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-71297891872939956552007-05-26T20:55:00.000-07:002007-05-26T20:56:38.085-07:00bob - I think about breasts a lot. Not mine but other people's. Women. Some women have nice large breasts and some have no breasts at all. That is cute. Mainly though I think about large breasts with the borderline caucasian nipple such as you find in Northern China. Attached as it were to an entirley matter of fact and olive direct personality in makes for quite a stunning package unlike anyone you might find in the west, even if it does gaze at itself in the mirror all the time and waltz around like it was the very heart of desire. Somehow non-self conscious and proud at the same time. You wonder how that is possible before distressing yourself with the realization that it some day won't be.<br /><br /><br /> Loretta - A few years ago, I was having the "what are we doing with our lives" conversation with one of my friends. The problem is of course that I lack direction, so he was pushing me to focus on my goals. <br /><br />"What is it that you really want?" he asked repeatedly. "Think about it, deeply. Close your eyes, empty your mind. What comes into it? Do it again. And again, until you understand what it is you truly want out of life." <br /><br />Try as I might, all I could ever really think of was a pair of perfect breasts. They would float in front of my closed eyes, just out of reach, tantalizingly pert and rounded, shaming the 'two fried eggs' sported by most of the ladies of Taipei. The lack of proper breasts in my life is probably the greatest barrier to extreme success I face. Until this particular need is addressed I can't move forward and focus on everyday mundanities like earning money.<br /><br /><br />bob It must be the spring weather. I have to rattle my brain for all kinds of ideas about how to make classes interesting and productive and how to add something insightful to this conversation or that, but mostly all I can think about is tits mostly. It is tits season out there too so that probably aggravates the situation. It's like the flu.<br /><br /><br />Sandman - Can posts be described as delicious? Buttercup's posts are. You need to read them with a lump of good bread sometimes because you need it to mop up the last of that good gravy so you don't waste a drop. Like bob's, are sometimes when he's opening all those strange doors he has access to and isn't afraid of opening. Except when he goes on about his mammaries, though. That's just rude. And confusing sometimes. North European nipples? What are they in the non-obvious sense of course?<br /><br />Bob - No, no, no Northern Chinese nipples. Nipples that are neither dark and permanently errect like, say, a South East Asian nipple, nor pink and indistinct like some European nipples, but somewhere in between. Usually mounted atop large and yet firm breasts they are surely a phenomenon worthy of note, even if exceedingly rare. Surely there are other wanderers about who have witnessed such a marvel. No?<br /><br />Sandman - Ah. Northern China and borderline caucasian. In nipple terms, not a great deal more illuminating than Northern European though. A Prairie Home Companion, although lacking Northern Chinese nipples, does have a number of rather amusing tit jokes and of course Garrison Kiellor playing, not surprisingly, himself. A bit morbid though and in fact Robert Altman died not long after making it. Beautiful, dreamlike pacing though, that perfectly matches the slow, fly-buzzing late Saturday afternoon on the porch ambience I imagine in my ignorance of Americana that such old-time radio shows would have imparted.<br /><br />Bob - There we go. So, you have seen these yourself then I take it. I, of course, have only seen pictures and would post a link we I skilled in that regard. Computers confuse me generally and I remain grateful that I am able to navigate as far as this site every day. Outside of here is strange and confusing territory best left to the younger generation.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-7129789187293995655?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-16543108698477572422007-05-22T10:24:00.000-07:002007-05-22T10:28:20.592-07:00Jidong Finds a Monkey <br />(the world's first TPRS old school movie with phantasmagorical elements) <br /><br />Open to camera moving slowly down a small path. Dense jungle on either side. Silence side from the sound of birds etc. After a few moments the camera emerges into a clearing. A serious looking cast of characters looks straight into the camera as it slowly zooms in, settling finally on Jidongs face. Silence. Suddenly... <br /><br />Jidong - AM I YELLING? <br /><br />The cast of characters is startled and jumps in unison, a little too in unison. <br /><br />Huh - huh? <br /><br />Transformagirl - TA WEN TA HOUJIAO MA? <br /><br />bobsaid - Jidong asked if he was yelling. <br /><br />Oh - Oh, Jidong asked if he was yelling. That's...odd. <br /><br />Oh repeats everything bobsaid says, only faster. <br /><br />Reporter - It's a tense situation ladies and gentlemen. Jidong asked if he was yelling and huh said "huh?" transformagirl translated and bobsaid repeated the English only in reported speech. Oh repeated what bobsaid but with fast relaxed pronunciation. It's quite the linguistics lesson. Lets see what happens next <br /><br />Huh - huh? <br /><br />transformagirl - Hoa ji de jingquang..... Kan kan yixia. Xianzai fasheng shenme... <br /><br />George - YES. <br /><br />Jidong - YES WHAT? <br /><br />George - YES, YOU WERE YELLING. <br /><br />Jidong - Oh, we could dance.... <br /><br />Jidong begins dancing to a song called "jackhammer". He is eating a banana. <br /><br />Danny Daoyan - CUT! <br /><br />Slinky - Oh! I'm hungry. <br /><br />Reporter - Things are really getting exciting now ladies and gentleman. Jidong is eating a banana and the director is angry about it. <br /><br />Huh - Huh? <br /><br />Transformagirl - Oh hao xinfen oh. Daoyan zhuyi jidong zai chi yige xiangjiao. Ta hao shengqi oh! <br /><br />bobsaid - Reporter said that things were really getting exciting now.... <br /><br />Oh - Oh, Things are..... That's excitING. I'm excitED <br /><br />Danny Daoyan - There is no banana in the script. <br /><br />Jidong - How can there be no banana in a script about monkees? <br /><br />Huh - Huh? <br /><br />Transformagirl - Zhei bu juben guanyu houzi. Meiyou xiangjiao. Zenme ban? <br /><br />bobsaid - Jidong asked How there could there be no bananas in a script about monkees?" <br /><br />Oh - So bob asked... That's... a good question. <br /><br />Danny Daoyan - Sacred Blue Tabernacle (Danny Daoyan has quite a strong gutteral French accent) <br /><br />Huh - Huh? <br /><br />Transformagirl - Huh? <br /><br />George - I thought we were going to find a monkey. <br /><br />Huh - Huh <br /><br />Transformagirl - Wo xiang women yao zhaodao yi ge houzi. <br /><br />Bobsaid - George said that he thought we were going to find a monkey. <br /><br />Oh - Oh, George said that he thought we were going to find a monkey. <br /><br />Jidong - We ARE GOING TO find a monkey. Here's the map. <br /><br />Jidong spreads the map out on the ground. It is a roughly drawn but attractive enough looking document with a big X and the words "The Monkey is HERE" <br /><br />Jidong - We are here. <br /><br />George - Yes but we are at the wrong here. <br /><br />Huh - huh? <br /><br />Transformagirl - Huh? <br /><br />Slinky - Be here now. <br /><br />Huh - huh? <br /><br />Audiolingual (speaking Chinese) - Be Here Now is a literary reference to a book entitled "Be here Now" by Baba Ram Das. It was popular in the seventies.... <br /><br />Huh -<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-1654310869847757242?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-20622297408840179192007-05-18T02:40:00.001-07:002007-05-18T02:40:58.916-07:00The debate beween Chuangtzu and Huitzu whether the fish is happy tires me. <br />The Picnic at Hanging Rock by Peter Weir is a beautiful misery which I never find out what happened. <br />Why Dragons seem a universal totem for many different ethnic groups? That is because we have the same brain structure. <br />Sacrifice King: the King is to be sacrificed to God. <br /><br /><br />When the Gods parades of Matzu and Wongyie ran into an intersection to a main road, which God had the right the go first? Who was the one with higher power? <br /><br />Matzu’s Bajiajiang came to the square with firecrackers blasting, smoke shrouding and noisy music, to demonstrate how powerful she was. <br />Wongyie’s Bajiajiang didn’t yield to their demonstration, coming in to the square to dance their protest. It turned out to be a dazzlingly colorful party. <br /><br />The leaders of Bajaijians from two sides negotiated by dance and reached their agreement, which was Lady First. So Matzu’s parade went first to the main road and then Wongyie’s parade followed suit. <br /><br />I meet Gods on my way home, quiet often.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-2062229740884017919?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11074909.post-6330255019288196542007-05-18T02:34:00.000-07:002007-05-18T02:38:07.192-07:00kate.lin - I meet Gods on my way home, quiet often. <br /><br />bob - And some day you will meet bob god of the abstract nonsensical. Like other gods bob has no real power and is challenged even to win an argument with that dumbo fred smith. Dragons are a re-curring theme in everything from Taoist myths to Harry Potter novels because dragons are long and people like long things.<br /> <br />Buttercup wrote - This appears to be the most favored route taken by many. I am curious, is Hat Rin on an island? I am fascinated by the idea of islands in that they are entirely surrounded by water. Water fascinates me as well, there seems to be a great deal of it and it is always changing. One day it is falling out of the sky, the next it is gurgling pleasantly down a valley bottom somewhere. Get too much water together in one place though and have an earthquake under it and we see pretty darn quick what water is capable of. Never mind what happens when it gets cold or you put some in a pot and put it on the stove. Fish seem to like water, a lot better than the alternative at least, regardless of what jdsmith says. jdsmith is a nice guy essentially but struggles yet with the logic of forgiveness. I think a person could spend several life times thinking about water, jdsmith, dragons etc. I once saw a flying squirel fly across the smaller of the two rivers in Wulai. It was quite a sight to see a great big squirel like that flying and one got the impression there was a lot of pleasure in it.<br /> <br />buttercup - 'Like a pig drawing a cartload of sausages, I'm drawing my own conclusions.'<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11074909-633025501928819654?l=muvoniks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>davidnoreply@blogger.com0