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Lesson

The Chinese zodiac, or sheng xiao, is composed of 12 animals, each of which symbolizes a lunar year. Ben ming nian means the year of the animal in which one is born. It is a traditional way to calculate one's age. Sheng xiao is also the source of many traditional customs and newer trends, and the animals are popular images that are seen everywhere.

mài kè: Mĕi gè zhōng guó rén dōu yŏu zì jĭ de shǔ xiàng ma?
麦克: 每个中国人都有自己的属相吗?
Mike: Does every Chinese have his or her own animal sign?
lì li: Duì. Shēng xiāo shì zhōng guó chuán tŏng wén huà de zhòng yào zǔ chéng bù fèn.
丽丽: 对。生肖是中国传统文化的重要组成部分。
Lili: Yes. The zodiac is an important part of traditional Chinese culture.
mài kè: Shēng xiāo zhĭ de shì nă shí èr zhŏng dòng wù?
麦克: 生肖指的是哪十二种动物?
Mike: What are the 12 animals of the zodiac?
lì li: Tā men shì shǔ, niú, hǔ, tù, lóng, shé, mă, yáng, hóu, jī, gŏu, zhū.
丽丽: 它们是鼠、牛、虎、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗、猪。
Lili: They are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.
mài kè: Jīn nián shì shén me nián?
麦克: 今年是什么年?
Mike: What year is this year?
lì li: Jīn nián shì hóu nián.
丽丽: 今年是猴年。
Lili: This year is the Year of the Monkey.
mài kè: Nà me míng nián jiù shì jī nián le?
麦克: 那么明年就是鸡年了?
Mike: So next year is the Year of the Rooster, isn't it?
lì li: Duì. Jī nián shĭ yú èr líng líng wǔ nián èr yuè jiǔ rì chūn jié.
丽丽: 对。鸡年始于2005年2月9日春节。
Lili: Yes. It will start with the Spring Festival on February 9, 2005.
mài kè: Nĭ shì shǔ jī de ma?
麦克: 你是属鸡的吗?
Mike: Were you born in the Year of the Rooster?
lì li: Bú shì. Wŏ shǔ hóu. Jīn nián shì wŏ de bĕn mìng nián.
丽丽: 不是。我属猴。今年是我的本命年。
Lili: No. I was born in the Year of the Monkey. This year is my animal year.
mài kè: Wŏ bĭ nĭ dà liăng suì, wŏ yīng gāi shì shǔ……?
麦克: 我比你大两岁,我应该是属……?
Mike: I am two years older than you, Was I born in the Year of…?
lì li: Nĭ yīng gāi shì shǔ mă.
丽丽: 你应该是属马。
Lili: You were born in the Year of the Horse.
生肖 shēng xiāosymbolic animal of one's birth year shésnake
属相 shǔ xiàng: same meaning as sheng xiao horse
传统 chuán tŏngtradition; traditional yángsheep
动物 dòng wùanimal hóumonkey
shǔrat rooster
niúox gŏudog
tiger zhūpig
rabbit 本命年 bĕn mìng niánthe year of the animal in which one was born
lóngdragon  

Qīn ài de tāng mǔ:
姆:
Hĕn bào qiàn tōng zhī bĕn zhōu néng tiào .
qīn shēng bìng le
Wèi ràng shī wàng , zhăo le zhāng dài .
jué de tiào de gèng hăo .
Zhù hăo yùn
tíng
yuè shí
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shŏu zhū dài tù

守 株 待 兔
Waiting for a hare to turn up – wait for a windfall; trust foolishly to chance and luck

yī xīn yī yì

【 一 心 一 意 】

Put one's whole heart into; with undivided attention

sān xīn èr yì

【 三 心 二 意 】

Be of two minds; be half-hearted; shilly-shally

xiōng yŏu chéng zhú

【 胸 有 成 竹 】

Have a well-thought-out plan, stratagem, etc. in mind

zŏu mă guān huā

【 走 马 观 花 】

Look at flowers while riding on horseback – gain a superficial understanding through cursory observation

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bái shān jìn
huáng hăi liú
qióng qiān
gèng shàng céng lóu
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dà wàn er
大 腕 儿 Person with high skills or rich experiences
dà kuăn
大 款 Person of wealth
xià găng
下 岗 Lose one's job
bèi chăo yóu yù
被 炒 鱿 鱼 To be fired
pào bā
泡 吧 Indulge oneself in spending long time in bar, café or discothèque
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gōng bào jī dīng
宫 爆 鸡 丁
Stir-fried diced chicken with chilli and peanuts
hóng shāo pái gǔ
红 烧 排 骨
Pork ribs in Brown Sauce
hǔ pí jiān jiāo
虎 皮 尖 椒
Tiger-skin green peppers
sōng rén yù mĭ
松 仁 玉 米
Pine nuts with sweet corn
pí dàn dòu fu
皮 蛋 豆 腐
Tofu mixed with salted duck eggs
táng cù ǒu piàn
糖 醋 藕 片
Sweet and sour lotus root slices
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