Published by: Chinese080808
Companion grammar guide found here.

汉字 Pinyin English
(Edward) (Google Translate) (Edward)
现在八点半了，街上还这么热闹！ Xiànzài bā diǎn bànle, jiē shàng hái zhème rènào! It’s half-past eight now, and the streets are so lively!
这儿的人吃完晚饭都喜欢出来活动活动。你看，人们又唱又跳，玩儿得真高兴。 Zhèr de rén chī wán wǎnfàn dōu xǐhuan chūlái huódòng huódòng. Nǐ kàn, rénmen yòu chàng yòu tiào, wánr de zhēn gāoxìng. After dinner, the people here all like to go out for activities. Look, people are singing and dancing, really having fun.
那儿来了很多人，一边跳舞，一边还敲锣打鼓。他们在跳什么舞？ Nàr láile hěnduō rén, yībiān tiàowǔ, yībiān hái qiāo luó dǎgǔ. Tāmen zài tiào shénme wǔ? Lots of people there, dancing and playing gongs and drums. What dance are they doing?
他们在扭秧歌呢。 Tāmen zài niǔyānggē ne. They are doing the Yangge.
扭秧歌？我听说过。 Niǔyānggē? Wǒ tīng shuōguò. Yangge? I’ve heard of this.
这是中国北方的一种民间舞蹈，叫做秧歌舞。秧歌舞的动作又简单又好看，小孩儿、大姑娘、小伙子、老人都可以跳。对老人来说，现在扭秧歌已经是一种锻炼身体的活动了。他们很喜欢扭，常常扭得全身出汗。 Zhè shì Zhōngguó běifāng de yī zhǒng mínjiān wǔdǎo, jiàozuò yānggē wǔ. Yānggē wǔ de dòngzuò yòu jiǎndān yòu hǎokàn, xiǎo háir, dà gūniang, xiǎohuǒzi, lǎorén dōu kěyǐ tiào. Duì lǎorén lái shuō, xiànzài niǔyānggē yǐjīng shì yī zhǒng duànliàn shēntǐ de huódòngle. Tāmen hěn xǐhuan niǔ, chángcháng niǔ de quánshēn chū hàn. This is a northern China folk dance, called the Yangge. The Yangge dance moves are simple and look good, so small children, young ladies, young men, old folk, all can do it. According to old people, now the Yangge is already a sort of physical exercise movement. They like to dance, and will often dance up a sweat.
我看，这种舞很好跳，我也能很快地学会。我跟他们一起扭，可以吗？ Wǒ kàn, zhè zhǒng wǔ hěn hǎo tiào, wǒ yě néng hěn kuài dì xuéhuì. Wǒ gēn tāmen yīqǐ niǔ, kěyǐ ma? Looks to me, like this type of dance is very easy, I can also learn quickly how to do it. Is it ok if I dance with them?
当然可以。 Dāngrán kěyǐ. Of course it’s ok.
不行，不行，我还得先把动作练一练，要不，大家就都看我一个人扭了。前边又走过来了不少老人，他们手里都拿着什么？ Bùxíng, bùxíng, wǒ hái děi xiān bǎ dòngzuò liàn yī liàn, yào bù, dàjiā jiù dōu kàn wǒ yīgè rén niǔle. Qiánbian yòu zǒu guò lái le bù shǎo lǎorén, tāmen shǒu lǐ dōu názhe shénme? No, no, I must still first practice the moves, otherwise, everyone will watch me dancing by myself. Up ahead lots of old people have come over, what are they carrying in their hands?
他们是练太极剑的，手里拿的是剑。太极剑也是一种中国武术，练太极剑可以很好地锻炼身体。我妈妈以前常常生病，不能工作，后来，她就练太极剑。练了两年，她身体好了，现在可以上班了。力波，你不是每天早上都学太极拳吗？现在你学得怎么样了？ Tāmen shì liàn tàijí jiàn de, shǒu lǐ ná de shì jiàn. Tàijí jiàn yěshì yī zhǒng Zhōngguó wǔshù, liàn tàijí jiàn kěyǐ hěn hǎo de duànliàn shēntǐ. Wǒ māmā yǐqián chángcháng shēngbìng, bùnéng gōngzuò, hòulái, tā jiù liàn tàijí jiàn. Liànle liǎng nián, tā shēntǐ hǎole, xiànzài kěyǐ shàngbānle. Lìbō, nǐ bùshì měitiān zǎoshang dōu xué tàijí quán ma? Xiànzài nǐ xué de zěnme yàngle? They are practicing Taijijian, in their hands are swords. Taijijian is also a type of Chinese martial arts, practicing Taijijian is very good physical exercise. Previously my mother was often sick, couldn’t work, so she practiced Taijijian. After practicing for two years, her health improved, now she can go to work. Libo, aren’t you learning Tai Chi every morning? How’s it going now?
现在我已经会打太极拳了。最近，又开始学太极剑。我觉得打太极拳、练太极剑对身体是很好。 Xiànzài wǒ yǐjīng huì dǎ tàijí quánle. Zuìjìn, yòu kāishǐ xué tàijí jiàn. Wǒ juéde dǎ tàijí quán, liàn tàijí jiàn duì shēntǐ shì hěn hǎo. Now I already can do Tai Chi. Recently, also started learning Taijijian. I think that doing Tai Chi, and Taijijian, are good for health.
太极剑的动作非常优美，练太极剑就没有扭秧歌那么容易了。 Tàijí jiàn de dòngzuò fēicháng yōuměi, liàn tàijí jiàn jiù méiyǒu niǔyānggē nàme róngyìle. Taijijian movements are very beautiful, but practicing Taijijian is not as easy as doing the Yangge.
你们看，街心花园那儿围着很多人。那儿安静得没有一点儿声音，他们在做什么呢？咱们过去看看。 Nǐmen kàn, jiēxīn huāyuán nàr wéizhe hěnduō rén. Nàr ānjìng de méiyǒu yīdiǎnr shēngyīn, tāmen zài zuò shénme ne? Zánmen guòqù kàn kàn. Look, there are a lots of people around the garden. It’s quiet with no sound, what are they doing? Let’s go over and see.
（重复） (Chóngfù) (Repeat)
他们在下棋呢。宋华，你喜欢下棋吗？ Tāmen zàixià qí ne. Sòng Huá, nǐ xǐhuan xià qí ma? They are playing chess. Song Hua, do you like playing chess?
喜欢。我也喜欢看别人下棋。我觉得看别人下比自己下更有意思。有的时候我看得忘了吃饭。 Xǐhuan. Wǒ yě xǐhuan kàn biérén xià qí. Wǒ juéde kàn biérén xià bǐ zìjǐ xià gèng yǒuyìsi. Yǒu de shíhou wǒ kàn de wàngle chīfàn. Yes. I also enjoy watching others play chess. I think that watching others play chess is more interesting than playing it myself. Once I was into watching it I forgot to eat.
所以那些站在旁边的人也是在看下棋？ Suǒyǐ nàxiē zhàn zài pángbiān de rén yěshì zài kàn xià qí? So those people at the side of the bus stop are also watching the chess?
是啊，常常两个人下棋，很多人围着看。看的人和下的人也可能互相不认识。 Shì a, chángcháng liǎng gèrén xià qí, hěnduō rén wéizhe kàn. Kàn de rén hé xià de rén yě kěnéng hùxiāng bù rènshi. Yes, often two people play chess, while lots of people watch. Its possible that the people watching and the people playing do not know each other.
这很有意思。 Zhè hěn yǒuyìsi. This is very interesting.
东边的立交桥下还有很多人呢。你听见了吗？那是唱京剧的。 Dōngbian de lìjiāoqiáo xià hái yǒu hěnduō rén ne. Nǐ tīngjiànle ma? Nà shì chàng jīngjù de. There are lots of people under the flyover bridge on the east side. Do you hear that? It’s Peking opera singing.
京剧团怎么到这儿来唱呢？ Jīngjù tuán zěnme dào zhèr lái chàng ne? How come a Peking opera troupe have come here to sing?
他们不是京剧团的，他们是这个小区的京剧爱好者，也都是些老人。以前他们工作的时候，忙得没有时间唱。现在他们人退休了，休闲的时间也多了，晚上就来这儿高高兴兴地唱一唱。因为爱好一样，不认识的人也都成了朋友。一般地说，到这儿来唱的人水平都还可以，喜欢听京剧的就围过来听。他们听得高兴的时候，也可以叫“好”！这也是他们的一种休闲方式。 Tāmen bùshì jīngjù tuán de, tāmen shì zhège xiǎoqū de jīngjù àihào zhě, yě doū shì xiē lǎorén. Yǐqián tāmen gōngzuò de shíhou, máng de méiyǒu shíjiān chàng. Xiànzài tāmen rén tuìxiūle, xiūxián de shíjiān yě duōle, wǎnshàng jiù lái zhèr gāo gāoxìng xìng de chàng yī chàng. Yīnwèi àihào yīyàng, bù rènshi de rén yě doū chéngle péngyǒu. Yībān de shuō, dào zhèr lái chàng de rén shuǐpíng dōu hái kěyǐ, xǐhuan tīng jīngjù de jiù wéi guòlái tīng. Tāmen tīng dé gāoxìng de shíhou, yě kěyǐ jiào “hǎo”! Zhè yěshì tāmen de yī zhǒng xiūxián fāngshì. They are not a Peking opera troupe, they are this district’s Peking opera enthusiasts, also are all old folk. Before when they were working, so busy they had no time to sing. Now they are retired, have lots of leisure time, in the evening come here to happily sing. Because they have the same hobby, people who don’t know each other also become friends. Generally speaking, the skill of those who come here are all ok, those who like listening to Peking opera will come over to listen. When they listening happily, can also shout “good”! This is also a way that they relax.
真有意思。我发现这儿老人的休闲活动有很多特点。简单地说，第一，他们非常注意锻炼身体；第二，最重要的是，他们喜欢很多人在一起活动; 第三，有的人做，有的人看，可能互相不认识，可是大家都玩儿得很高兴。 Zhēn yǒuyìsi. Wǒ fāxiàn zhèr lǎorén de xiūxián huódòng yǒu hěnduō tèdiǎn. Jiǎndān de shuō, dì yī, tāmen fēicháng zhùyì duànliàn shēntǐ; dì èr, zuì zhòngyào de shì, tāmen xǐhuan hěnduō rén zài yīqǐ huódòng; dì sān, yǒu de rén zuò, yǒu de rén kàn, kěnéng hùxiāng bù rènshi, kěshì dàjiā dōu wánr de hěn gāoxìng. Really interesting. I have discovered the leisure activities of the old folk here have many characteristics. Simply speaking, firstly, they really pay attention to their physical health; secondly, and most importantly, they like activities that many people can do together; thirdly, some people do, some people watch, they may not know each other, but everyone has a lot of fun.
你说得很对。当然，这儿老人的休闲方式还很多。早上有做操的，有跑步的，有爬山的，有游泳的，也有带着自己的小狗散步的，还有在家练书法的、养花的。 Nǐ shuō de hěn duì. Dāngrán, zhèr lǎorén de xiūxián fāngshì hái hěnduō. Zǎoshang yǒu zuò cāo de, yǒu pǎobù de, yǒu páshān de, yǒu yóuyǒng de, yěyǒu dàizhe zìjǐ de xiǎo gǒu sànbù de, hái yǒu zàijiā liàn shūfǎ de, yǎng huā de. What you say is correct. Of course, old people here have lots of ways to relax. In the morning there is aerobics, running, hiking, swimming, also taking one’s dog for a walk, also practicing calligraphy at home, growing plants.
年轻人呢？ Niánqīng rén ne? How about young people?
年轻人的休闲活动就更多了。你看，街对面的网吧门口，进进出出的都是年轻人，旁边的舞厅里又出来了两个小伙子。 Niánqīng rén de xiūxián huódòng jiù gèng duōle. Nǐ kàn, jiē duìmiàn de wǎngbā ménkǒu, jìn jìnchū chū de dōu shì niánqīng rén, pángbiān de wǔtīng lǐ yòu chūláile liǎng gè xiǎohuǒzi. There are even more activities for young people. Look, across the street at the entrance to the internet café, the people going in are all young people, and two young guys came out of the nightclub to the side.
走，过去看看。 Zǒu, guòqù kàn kàn. Let’s go over and have a look.
（重复） (Chóngfù) (Repeat)