The stories behind the characters

Many people complain about how difficult it is to learn Chinese characters.

It is true that most of the time, we do not have a clue what the pronunciation of a Chinese character is until you learn it.

But, what about the meanings?

Could we tell the meanings of a Chinese character by just looking at it?

(before answering, try looking at these characters, though you have to have some basic knowledge of Chinese characters first!)

明，掰，囍，嬲 ，囚

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day!

Have been reading poems these day and found one I quite like. (Though it is a sad poem!)

Have it translated into English here:

我知道凡是美丽的总不肯，也不会为谁停留。

所以，我把我的爱情和忧伤挂在墙上展览，

并且出售

——席慕容《画展》

Art Exhibition

If beauty does last, it is a rare privilege.

Therefore,

my love and sorrow are hanging for sale,

on the exhibition wall.

-Xi Murong

Symbolisms of Chinese Lunar New Year Food

Gūnghéi fatchòih！



Chinese Lunar New Year is coming! You might have heard about there are many Dos and Don'ts during the New Year, but Chinese people could be far more superstitious than you might first imagine!




Here are the symbolisms behind some popular New Year food(romanization in Cantonese):



Fish (魚; yú)—Have leftovers of money;年年有餘;Nìhnnìhn yáuhyùh



Chive(韭菜;gáuchoi )—Everlasting; 長長久久;chèuhngchèuhnggáugáu



New Year Cake (年糕;Nìhngōu)—Promotion;步步高升;Bouhbouh gōusīng



A kind of algae in dark green colour (髮菜;fatchoi)—Wealth; 發財;fatchòih



Sweet dumplings (湯圓;tōngyún)-Reunion;團圓;tyùhnyùhn

Let the Bullets Fly

A drama between a bandit and a mobster.

The metaphor of the film maybe obvious, but it doesn't make it easier to draw all the connectiones in the cinema.

Here are my favourite quotes:






张麻子：「你说是钱对我重要，还是你对我重要？」

Zhang: What do you think is more important to me? Money or you?

黄四郎：「我」

Huang: Me.

张麻子：「再想想」

Zhang: Think about it again.

黄四郎：「不会是钱吧」

Huang: Well...money?

张麻子：「再想想」

Zhang: Think about it again.

黄四郎：「还是我重要」

Huang: I think it's me.

张麻子：「你和钱对我都不重要，没有你，对我很重要」

Zhang: Neither of them.

WITHOUT YOU-is more important.

The English Language In 24 Accents

Wow! I wish I could do Mandarin in 24 accents too!

The accents are so different that people from the north would have difficulties understanding the accent of people from the south.

Wall Eye Knee

Here is an interesting research done by University of Haifa.

Maybe I should start saying

"knee how ma" to students.

I do agree perception of the speech plays a key role in the second language learning process. If the message is not clear to the learner, no conversation is going to be held.

In the long run, I doubt if it still works. "Wall Eye Knee" sounds a bit awkward to express what you really mean to your Chinese girlfriend.

She is good at everything, except finding the cheese...

I went to Emilie's concert at City Hall on Wednesday.

She is not only a great singer, but also a talented writer.

Read her blog here.

Here is a poem Emilie recently wrote:

(This poem is in Cantonese, and is rhyme with "-au" and "-aau")

有時候

人叫劉

放學後

去長洲

有時候

人叫劉

在酒樓

見朋友

有時候

人叫劉

吃鳳爪

說可口

有時候

人叫劉

喝紅酒

快睡覺

有時候

人叫劉

然之後

痛苦頭