08 January 2009

Fully furnished upper-floor room - available now!


Rent 240pm inc. all bills, landline phone calls and wireless broadband.

2 mins walk to South Gosforth metro station, bus stops, local shops and bars; 10 mins to Gosforth High Street.

Share with two Asian and one British, mixed sex, non-smoker. Welcome both student and professional aaand cute pets (even though we don't have any).

Period of stay can be flexible. Only require one month's notice before you leave.

Ring Emma on 07863345038 for viewing, or email daozhepa777@hotmail.com, or take the virtural tour below.









30 September 2006

人生 阶段 Life Stages


有人 说,恋爱 的 时候 最 甜,
(you3ren2 shuo1,lian4ai2 de shi2hou4 zui4 tian2)
have-people say, dating ’s time ‘-est’ sweet
Some say, dating is the sweetest time,

买 房 买 车 的 时候 最 苦。
(mai3 fang2 mai3 che1 de shi2hou4 zui4 ku3。)
buy house buy car ’s time ‘-est’ bitter
(while) buying (a) house (and) buying (a) car are the bitterest.

我 觉得 不 一定。
(wo3 jue2de bu4 yi1ding4。)
I think not for-sure
I don’t think (it’s) for sure.

这 个 社会 变 得 太 快,
(zhe4 ge she4hui4 bian4 de tai4 kuai4,)
this ‘measure-word’ society change ‘consequence-indicator’ too fast
This society has been changing too fast.

自由 也 来 得 太 多。
(zi4you2 ye3 lai2 de tai4 duo1。)
freedom also come ‘consequence-indicator’ too much。
Freedom has also come too much.

你 可以 选择 恋爱 后 不 结婚,
(ni3 ke3yi3 xuan3ze2 lian4ai4 hou4 bu4 jie2hun1,)
you can chose dating ‘after’ not get-married
You can chose not to get married after dating (someone),

或者 结婚 后 没有 自己 的 房子,
(huo4zhe3 jie2hun1 hou4 mei2you3 zi4ji3 de fang2zi,)
or get-married ‘after’ not-have self ’s house
or not to have (your) own house after getting married,

更 不要 说 没有 孩子 了。
(geng4 bu2yao4 shuo1 mei2you3 hai2zi le。)
‘-er’ not-do say not-have child/children -
not to even mention without (any) child.

你 甚至 也 可以 选择
(ni3 shen4zhi4 ye3 ke3yi3 xuan3ze2)
you even also can chose
You can even also chose

上 大学 却 不 毕业,
(shang4 da4xue2 que4 bu2 bi4ye4,)
go-to university but not graduate
not to graduate although going to university,

或者 毕业 后 却 不 工作。
(huo4zhe3 bi4ye4 hou4 que4 bu4 gong1zuo4。)
or graduate ‘after’ but not work
or not to work after graduation,

只要 你 对 自己 选择 的 后果 负责,
(zhi3yao4 ni3 dui4 zi4ji3 xuan3ze4 de hou4guo3 fu4ze2,)
only-do you for/to self choice ’s consequence take-responsibility
if only you take responsibility for your own choice.

剩下 的 就 只有 苦 乐 自 知 了。
(sheng4xia de jiu4 zhi3you3 ku3 le4 zi4 zhi1 le。)
remain ’s just only bitter happy self know –
The rest, bitter (or) sweet, can only be known by yourself.


24 September 2006

家人 和 亲戚 Family and Relatives

(jia1ren2 he2 qin1qi4)

1.Husband and Wife

先生 (xian1sheng),太太 (tai4tai) -- [Formal]
丈夫 (zhang4fu),妻子 (qi1zi3) ----- [Formal]
老公 (lao3gong1),老婆 (lao3po2) -- [Informal]


You can introduce your husband or wife to another person with any of the three versions, but you yourself won’t address your partner as 丈夫 or 妻子.

先生&太太 can also mean Mr and Mrs.


例(li4, eg.):

那边 那 位 是 张 先生。
(na4bian1 na4 wei4 shi4 zhang1 xian1sheng,)
over-there that one is Zhang Mr。
That one over there is Mr Zhang.

他的 太太 姓 王,今天 也 来 了。
(ta1 de tai4tai xing4 wang2,jin1tian1 ye3 lai2 le。)
his wife is-surnamed Wang, (who) today also come ‘have-done’.
His wife has a surname of Wang, who has also come today.

位: formal quantity word for people.
Eg. 三 位 小姐(san1 wei4 xiao3jie3) three young ladies


2.Mum and Dad

In Chinese, we say ‘dad and mum’.

父亲 (fu4qin1),母亲(mu3qin1) -- [Formal]
爸爸 (ba4ba),妈妈 (ma1ma) --- [Less formal]

例(li4, eg.):

我的 爸爸 妈妈 是 30 年 前 结婚 的。
(wo3de ba4ba ma1ma shi4 san1shi2 nian2 qian2 jie2hun1 de。)
my dad mum are 30 year(s) ago get-married ‘statement’.
My mum and dad got married 30 years ago.

3.Son and Daughter

儿子 (er2zi),女儿 (nü3r)

孩子 (hai2zi) children

例(li4, eg.):

这 对 夫妇 没有 孩子,
(zhe4 dui4 fu1fu4 mei2you3 hai2zi,)
this pair-of married-couple not-have child
This couple does not have (any) child,

所以 他们 收养 了 一 个 女儿。
(suo3yi3 ta1men shou1yang3 le yi2 ge4 nü3er)
so they adopt ‘have-done’ one ‘measure-word’daughter
so they have adopted a daughter.

4.Brothers and Sisters

兄弟 姐妹 (xiong1di4 jie3mei4)

哥哥 (ge1ge) older brother
弟弟 (di4di) young br0ther
姐姐 (jie3jie) older sister
妹妹 (mei4mei) younger sister

例(li4, eg.):

我的 姐姐 比 我 大 五 岁,
(wo3de jie3jie bi3 wo3 da4 wu3 sui4,)
my older-sister compare me older five years-old,
My older sister is five years older than me,

但是 我的 个子 比 她 高。
(dan4shi4 wo3de ge4zi bi3 ta1 gao1。)
but my height compare her tall
but I am taller than her.



5. Grandpas and Grandmas

Father’s Parents:
祖父 (zu3fu4),祖母 (zu3mu3) --- [Formal]
爷爷 (ye2ye),奶奶 (nai3nai) ---- [Less formal]

Mother’s Parents:
外 祖父 (wai4zu3fu4),外 祖母 (wai4zu3mu3) -- [Formal]
外公 (wai4gong1),外婆 (wai4po2) ------------- [less formal]
姥爷 (lao3ye), 姥姥 (lao3lao) ------------------ [less formal]

例(li4, eg.):

我的 外公 退休 前 是 一 名 工程师。
(wo3de wai4gong1 tui4xiu1 qian2 shi4 yi4 ming2 gong1cheng2shi1。)
my mother’s-father retire before is one ‘measure-word’ engineer
My mother’s father was an engineer before he retired.

6.Grandsons and Granddaughters

Son’s children:
孙子 (sun1zi),孙女 (sun1nü3)

Daughter’s children:
外 孙子 (wai4 sun1zi),外 孙女 (wai4 sun1nü3)

例(li4, eg.):

哥哥 是 爸爸 唯一的 儿子,
(ge1ge shi4 ba4ba wei2yi1de er2zi,)
oder-brother is dad the-only son,
(My) older brother is the only son of Dad,

也 是 奶奶 唯一的 孙子。
(ye3 shi4 nai3nai wei2yi1de shun1zi。)
also is father’s-mother the-only son’s-son
(and) also the only grandson of (my) dad’s mum (on her sons’/son’s side).

So, if grandma has other sons apart from dad, then none of them have any son (which would be grandma’s grandson). ;P confusing, I know.



16 September 2006

姓名 和 国籍 name and nationality

(xing4ming2 he2 guo2ji2)


- 你好,请 问 你 会 说 中文 吗?
(Ni3hao3, qing3 wen4 ni3 hui4 shuo1 zhong1wen2 ma1?)
hello, please ask you can speak Chinese ‘?’
- Hello. Could I ask if you can speak Chinese?

- 我 只 会 一点。
(Wo3 zhi3 hui4 yi4dian3。)
only can a little
- I can only (speak) a little.

- 真的?太 好 了。你 叫 什么 名字?
(Zhen1de? Tai4 hao3 le。Ni3 jiao4 shen2me ming2zi4?)
really? extremely good -. you are-called what name?
- Really? Great. What’s your name?

- 我 叫 安娜。
(Wo3 jiao4 an1na4。)
I am-called Anna.
- My name’s Anna.

- 你 是 英国 人 吗?
(Ni3 shi4 ying1guo2 ren2 ma1?)
you are Britain people ‘?’
- Are you British?

- 我 是 苏格兰 人。
(Wo3 shi4 su1ge2lan2 ren2。)
I am Scotland people.
- I’m Scottish.

- 哦。很 高兴 认识 你。
(O4。Hen3 gao1xing4 ren4shi4 ni3。)
I-see. very pleased-to know you.
- Right. Pleased to meet you.

- 我 也 是。
(Wo3 ye3 shi4。)
I also am.
- Me too.

- 这 是 我的 电子邮箱。
(Zhe4 shi4 wo3de dian4zi3you2xiang1。)
this is my email-address
- This is my email address.

- 谢谢,这 是 我的。
(Xie4xie,zhe4 shi4 wo3de。)
thanks, this is mine
- Thank you. This is mine.

- 以后 常 联络 啊。
(Yi3hou4 chang2 lian2luo4 a。)
later often keep-in-touch ‘!’
- Keep in touch.

- 一定 一定。
(Yi2ding4 yi2ding4。)
must must
- Yes, I will.


- 先生 贵姓?
(Xian1sheng1 gui4 xing4?)
Mister honoured family-name
- Sir, may I have your surname?

- 我 姓 李。
(Wo3 xing4 li3。)
I am-surnamed Li
- My surname is Li.

- 哦,李 先生。您 介意 我 坐 在这里 吗?
(O4,li3 xian1sheng1。Nin2 Jie4yi4 wo3 zuo4 zai4 zhe4li3 ma?)
I-see, Li Mr. YOU mind me sitting here ‘?’
- Right, Mr Li. Hi. Do YOU mind me sitting here?

- 没 关系,您 请 随便 坐。
(Mei2 shir4,nin2 qing3 sui2bian4 zuo4。)
no matter, YOU please as-you-wish sit
- Never mind. Please sit as you wish.

- 谢谢。您 是 中国 人 吧?
(Xie4xie。Nin2 shi4 zhong1guo2 ren2 ba?)
thanks. YOU are China people ‘?’
- Thank you. YOU are Chinese, right?

- 是 啊。
(Shi4 a。)
yes ‘?’
- Yes?

- 我 是 英国 人。您 是 中国 哪里 人?
(Wo3 shi4 ying1guo2 ren2。Nin2 shi4 zhong1guo2 na3li3 ren2?)
I am Britain people. YOU are China where people?
- I’m British. Which part of China are you from?

- 我 家 在 大 西 北。兰州 市,您 听说 过 吗?
(Wo3 jia1 zai4 da4 xi1bei3。Lan2zhou1 shi4,nin2 ting1shuo1 guo4 ma?)
my home is-in great west north. Lanzhou city, YOU hear ‘have-done’ ‘?’
- I’m living in the Great North-west. The city of Lanzhou, have you heard of it?

- 当然。我 还 去 黄河 市场 买 过 中药。
(Dang1ran2 ting1 guo4。Wo3 hai2 qu4 huang2he2 shi4chang3 mai3 guo4 zhong1yao4。)
of-course。I even go-to Yellow-River market buy ‘have-done’ Chinese-Traditional-Medicine。
- Of course. I have even been to the Yellow River Market and have bought (some) Chinese Traditional Medicine (there).

兰州 的 牛 肉 面 也 很 好吃。
(Lan2zhou1 de niu2 rou4 mian4 ye3 hen3 hao3chi1。)
Lanzhou ’s bull/ox/cow meat also very (is-)delicious.
The beef noodle of Lanzhou is also very delicious.

- 您 真 知道 了 不 少。下 次 再 去,我 请客。
(Nin2 zhen1 zhi1dao4 le bu4 shao3。Xia4 ci4 zai4 qu4,wo3 qing3 ke4。)
YOU so know ‘have-done’ not less. next time again go, I treat
- You’ve known so much. Next time (if you) go (there) again, I’ll treat (you a meal).

14 September 2006

中国 地图 China Map

(zhong1guo2 di4tu2)


中国 的 面积
(zhong1guo2 de mian4ji)
China 's area

有 960 万 平方 公里,
(you3 jiu3bai3liu4shi2 wan4 ping2fang1 gong1li3)
has 960 ten-thousand square kilometer(s)

约 等于 370 万 平方 英里,
(yue1 deng3yu2 san1bai3qi1shi2 wan4 ping2fang1 ying1li3)
about equal to 370 ten-thousand square mile(s)

是 英国 面积 的 38 倍 左右。
(shi4 ying1guo2 mian4ji de san1shi2ba1 bei4 zuo3you4)
is Britain('s) area of 38 time(s) around

China has an area of 9.6million square kilometers. That equals approximately to 3.7million square miles and it's about 38 times of the area of Britain.

中国 现 有 23 个 省,
(zhong1guo2 xian4 you3 er4shi2san1 ge4 sheng3)
China now has 23 (measure word) province(s)

5 个 自治区, 4 个 直辖市
(wu3 ge4 zi4zhi4qu1, si4 ge4 zhi2xia2shi4)
5 (measure word) autonomous region(s), 4 (measure word) municipality(-ies)

和 2 个 特别 行政 区。
(he2 liang3 ge4 te4bie2 xing2zheng4 qu1)
and 2 (measure word) Special Administrative Region

China now has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities and 2 Special Administrative Regions.


(zhu4) Notes:

The municipalities are cities directly governed by the Central Government. They are 北京 (bei3jing1, capital of China), 上海 (shang4hai3), 天津 (tian1jin1) and 重庆 (chong2qing4).

The two SARs are 香港 (xiang1gang3, Hong Kong) and 澳门 (ao4men2, Macao).

The Autonomous Regions are places where a lot of people from the same ethnical minority groups are living together and are given regional autonomy of their own. The five ARs are:

新疆 维吾尔 自治区
(xin1jiang1 wei2wu4er3 zi4zhi4qu1)
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

西藏 自治区
(xi1zang4 zi4zhi4qu1)
Tibet Autonomous Region

内蒙古 自治区
(nei4meng2gu3 zi4zhi4qu1)
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

宁夏 回 族 自治区
(ning2xia4 hui2 zu2 zi4zhi4qu1)
Ningxia Hui (ethnical group) Autonomous Region

广西 壮 族 自治区
(guang3xi1 zhuang4 zu2 zi4zhi4qu1)
Guangxi Zhuang (ethnical group) Autonomous Region

Unfortunately, for some of the above administrational unities I have not found their English websites. So, no links at the moment I'm afraid.

19 August 2006

a test


If i put a link here, will it be able to play the recording? --- no :(
What about a file? where can i put a file for people to download? Anyone could help???
And the animation in this picture is lost. 555~~
Can you see these 汉字 then?YES, at least i've done one thing. Let's call it a day.



16 August 2006

A brand new blog!

tai4 bang4 le0 --- Great!

Dear everybody, this blog is now officially open to help us learn Chinese. I will prove to you that learning Chinese ... is FUN ! ...... but if you want to have both fun and some results, don't ever stop any single day ! Let's do it.