ni hao = hello

Evolution of Text 史说汉字.百年沉浮

2009-06-25T03:13:00.000-07:00

甲骨文－＞金文－＞篆書－＞隸書－＞草書－＞行書－＞楷書。

The evolution of text
Text of the historical development from early to late are: Oracle -> Clementi ->篆书-> Lishu -> script ->行书-> script.

Bird = niao3 鸟

2009-06-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

House . Home = jia1 家

2009-06-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Good = hao3 好

2009-06-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

Chinese Delicacy

2009-06-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the Dragon's beard candy 'live' Demo

The earliest Chinese characters - Shell & Bone Inscription

2009-05-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

The earliest Chinese characters, called Shell and Bone Inscription, were pictographic symbols carved onto turtle shells (and animal bones) by Shang Dynasty people.

That's more than three thousand years ago! It was said that the Chinese characters were invented by a Master Chronicler of History for the Yellow Emperor, in the forms of figures of birds, animals, and objects. The block-shaped characters we use today are the result of constant innovation and improvements by many people in different historical periods, and are gradually evolved from the pictographic symbols of the Shell and Bone Inscription, and the Bronze Inscription.

Wanna know why 'moon' is the radical now used for 'flesh/meat' such as names of body parts? Yes

Dragon's Beard Candy 龙须糖

2009-05-31T01:47:00.000-07:00

Here's how the Dragon Beard Candy is made. Dragon's beard candy is a form of spun sugar traditional in China.
It was invented for the emperor about 2,000 years ago and it mainly consists of many very fine strands of sugar, giving it the appearance and consistency of a fine beard – hence its name.

Dragon Whiskers 龙须糖

2009-05-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

龙须糖 is a candy that children or adults must try! :)

The candy is made by boiling partially solidified sugar or a plain saturated and maltose solution until it just reaches the stage and then leaving it to chill. The resulting solid, which is elastic, is formed into a torus and then repeatedly pulling and folded over, tripling the number of strands after each repetition. While the candy is being folded it is kept covered in toasted glutinous flour, in order to keep the strands from sticking together.

The finished beard is cut up into small pieces and usually then wrapped around crushed peanuts.
The candy is better and fresher to be eaten immediately.

Chinatown

2009-05-29T01:35:00.000-07:00

If you wanna see the chinatown in New York.

The Way

2009-05-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful video to share. It has a wonderful tune that gives a relaxing feeling. Towards the last few seconds, you get to see 'the way' i.e. 道 in an animated form

Paint a dao! promotion

What? 什么?

2009-05-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

These characters in RED, 什么, pinyin: shénme can be used in several ways, here are the six various ways:

[1] (interrogative subject，object，object of prep)

[2] (in indirect questions/speech subject，object) 什么
shénme

[3] (relative) 所…的 suǒ....de

[4] (interrogative，in indirect questions/speech) 什么 shénme

[5] (in exclamations) 多么 duō me

[6] (disbelieving) 什么
shénme

The tone matters.

An exclamation. Or it can be in disbelief. Each said in a different tone gives it a different meaning...

今日事，今日毕

2009-05-15T02:01:00.000-07:00

今日事，今日毕

Pinyin: jīnrì shì, jīnrì bì,

Literally: Today's task, today's job to complete.

Meaning: Don't put off until tomorrow what can be done today.

One of the Chinese idioms that I like very much is 今日事，今日毕. This is also one of the secrets of learning Chinese Mandarin. Many times, someone have the problem of completing a task because of procrastination.

The good news is, procrastination can be overcome. There are strategies that can be learn to help yourself through and overcome procrastination.

Here's a video to share:

If a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined and gifted -- there is practically nothing she can't do. -Helen Lawrenson

Here's how you can Overcome Procrastination

2009-05-14T02:16:00.000-07:00

ACT AFTER YOU PLAN

* start with a written plan of action to avoid getting distracted
* keep your plan simple and straightforward
* start with the one thing you must get done today to feel productive
* should be a manageable item you can complete in 10-15 minutes
* break the day up into a number of "action sessions" for other tasks
* balance the time spent planning with time spent creating or doing
* avoid over-planning -- another method of procrastination
* before ending your day, spend 10 minutes reviewing your progress
* take time to plan your actions for the next day

BE VISION-DIRECTED

* your tasks should match your values or purpose
* if not, you will find it hard to summon the energy to tackle them
* bring each task into congruence with your basic mission
* if you can't, take it off of your list

BITE-SIZED PIECES

* don't put any "to-do" on your list that takes more than 30 minutes
* if it takes longer, it's actually a series of smaller "to-do's"
* break each step out and list it separately
* you don't have to tackle all the steps of a project in one sitting
* spread a large task out over several work sessions
* you will see greater progress as you check more items off your list
* you will avoid getting bogged down in one large task or project

DECIDE TO SCHEDULE IT

* determine how much you can do or tolerate at a time
* don't push yourself too far or you'll get bored or frustrated
* plan these project "pieces" into your daily activities
* set a "completion point" for accomplishing each small task
* completion points give you an end in sight to look forward to

GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH

* don't try to do everything perfectly
* perfectionism often causes procrastination
* perfectionists would rather put it off than do an incomplete job
* rather than perfection, aim for progress
* any small step toward completion is an accomplishment

JUST DO IT

* do the worst job (or part of the job) first and get it out of the way
* once you tackle the part you are dreading, the rest is a breeze
* stop spending time planning and just jump into doing it
* set a time limit -- "I'll file papers for 5 minutes"
* alternate unpleasant jobs with tasks you enjoy
* delegate out items you can't make yourself do

PLAN AROUND INTERRUPTIONS

* interruptions tend to occur in identifiable patterns
* notice when interruptions occur, by whom, and why
* take steps to prevent those interruptions before they occur
* if they can't be prevented, learn how to delegate to someone else
* if they can't be delegated, learn how to delay until you are finished

REMEMBER TO MAKE IT FUN

* make the project and environment as pleasant as possible
* play music, open a window, have a cold drink, etc.
* give yourself the best tools and work space for the project
* take a few minutes to organize your work space
* a clean desk allows you to focus without visual distraction
* it's only a chore if you think of it as a chore

STAYING MOTIVATED

* find an "accountability partner" to track your progress
* schedule a regular time to check in with a friend or colleague
* rewarding your accomplishments encourages productivity
* give yourself a break, a treat, a nap -- whatever is a reward for you
* reward every step along the way, not just the end result
* the bigger the accomplishment, the bigger the reward

Source

History of Ancient China

2009-05-02T01:31:00.000-07:00

An animated history of ancient china

A bird that speaks Chinese!

2009-05-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how even animals have such level of intelligence.

Taking the first step to learn the Mandarin Chinese language is the most critical.
The other important element is the cultivation of your interest!
If a bird can do it, you can too!

6 year old speaking Mandarin

2009-04-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

桃树
[táoshù]

peach tree

Terracotta Army 兵马俑 bīngmǎ yǒng

2009-03-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Terracotta Army
兵马俑
bīngmǎ yǒng

The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin 秦始皇 (Qin Shi Huang, Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE . Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife.

公元前246年至公元前208年
中国秦朝皇帝秦始皇的陵墓
世界遗产=World Heritage

Chinese Song - 原来你什么都不要

2009-03-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

我知道这样不好

我也知道你的爱只能那么少

我只有不停的要

要到你想逃

泪湿的枕头晒干就好

眼泪在你的心里

只是无理取闹

以为在你身后

是我一辈子的骄傲

原来你什么都不想要

我不要你的呵护

你的玫瑰

只要你好好久久爱我一遍

就算虚荣也好贪心也好

哪个女人对爱不自私不奢望

我不要你承诺

不要你的永远

只要你真真切切爱我一遍

就算虚荣也好贪心也好

最怕你把沉默当做对我的回答

With Pinyin:

Featured Non-native who speaks Putonghua: Julien Gaudfroy

2009-03-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

Julien Gaudfroy（朱力安）－French speaking Mandarin Putonghua

钢琴 [gāngqín]

noun
piano

大提琴 [dàtíqín]

noun
cello

采访－ Part 2

2009-03-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

Intermediate - Advanced - 不仅…还…

2009-03-20T04:32:00.000-07:00

过几招

采访=interview

2009-03-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

四是四，十是十

2009-03-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

四是四，十是十，十四是十四，四十是四十，
谁能说准四十、十四、四十四，谁来试一试，
谁说十四是四十，就打谁十四，
谁说四十是细席，就打谁四十

单口相声

2009-03-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

相声, xiàngsheng

2009-03-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

相声 also known as Crosstalk, is a traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a dialogue or a monologue or, even less frequently, a multi-player talk show. The language, rich in puns and allusions, is used in a rapid, bantering style.

Xiangsheng is one of China's foremost performing arts.

Today's featured person is 大山 Dàshān, literally "Big Mountain". 大山 is Mark Rowswell's Chinese stage name. He works as a freelance performer in People's Republic of China. Relatively unknown in the West, Dashan is perhaps the most famous Western performer in China, where he occupies a unique position as a foreign national who has become a bona fide domestic celebrity. Dashan's fame "is built on his now legendary ability to speak Mandarin Chinese better than many Chinese people."