Chongqing: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Haoran.

1. Xiaoyu

   浩(hào)然(rán)，有(yǒu)列(liè)单(dān)轨(guǐ)穿(chuān)楼(lóu)而(ér)过(guò)呢(ne)！是(shì)直(zhí)接(jiē)开(kāi)过(guò)去(qù)的(de)！

   Haoran, there's a monorail running right through an apartment building! It just drives straight through!

2. Haoran

   你(nǐ)现(xiàn)在(zài)在(zài)重(chóng)庆(qìng)呢(ne)。

   You're in Chongqing right now, huh.

3. Xiaoyu

   山(shān)城(chéng)建(jiàn)得(de)层(céng)层(céng)叠(dié)叠(dié)的(de)。我(wǒ)走(zǒu)到(dào)街(jiē)面(miàn)上(shàng)，发(fā)现(xiàn)其(qí)实(shí)踩(cǎi)在(zài)另(lìng)一(yì)条(tiáo)街(jiē)的(de)屋(wū)顶(dǐng)上(shàng)。

   This mountain city is built in all these overlapping layers. I was walking down the street and realized I was actually standing on top of another street's roof.

4. Haoran

   那(nà)两(liǎng)条(tiáo)江(jiāng)呢(ne)？

   What about the two rivers?

5. Xiaoyu

   嘉(jiā)陵(líng)江(jiāng)和(hé)长(cháng)江(jiāng)在(zài)这(zhè)里(lǐ)交(jiāo)汇(huì)。到(dào)了(le)晚(wǎn)上(shang)，洪(hóng)崖(yá)洞(dòng)的(de)吊(diào)脚(jiǎo)楼(lóu)全(quán)亮(liàng)起(qi)来(lai)了(le)。

   The Jialing and Yangtze rivers meet right here. When night hits, all the stilt houses at Hongyadong light up.

6. Xiaoyu

   考(kǎo)考(kao)你(nǐ)，重(chóng)庆(qìng)火(huǒ)锅(guō)的(de)锅(guō)底(dǐ)是(shì)用(yòng)什(shén)么(me)熬(áo)的(de)？

   Let me test you—what is the base of Chongqing hot pot made with?

   1. 牛(niú)油(yóu)、辣(là)椒(jiāo)和(hé)花(huā)椒(jiāo) Beef tallow, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns
   2. 鸡(jī)汤(tāng)加(jiā)枸(gǒu)杞(qǐ) Chicken broth with goji berries
   3. 番(fān)茄(qié)和(hé)菌(jūn)菇(gū) Tomato and mushrooms

   Answer

   牛(niú)油(yóu)、辣(là)椒(jiāo)和(hé)花(huā)椒(jiāo) Beef tallow, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns

7. Haoran

   牛(niú)油(yóu)、辣(là)椒(jiāo)和(hé)花(huā)椒(jiāo)。这(zhè)听(tīng)着(zhe)就(jiù)让(ràng)人(rén)直(zhí)冒(mào)汗(hàn)，真(zhēn)有(yǒu)那(nà)么(me)夸(kuā)张(zhāng)吗(ma)？

   Beef tallow, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns. Just hearing that makes me sweat—is it really that intense?

8. Xiaoyu

   看(kàn)着(zhe)红(hóng)汤(tāng)直(zhí)冒(mào)泡(pào)，这(zhè)简(jiǎn)直(zhí)是(shì)我(wǒ)见(jiàn)过(guo)最(zuì)震(zhèn)撼(hàn)的(de)画(huà)面(miàn)了(le)。

   Watching that red broth bubble away is honestly the most mind-blowing thing I've ever seen.

9. Haoran

   我(wǒ)这(zhè)种(zhǒng)人(rén)去(qù)了(le)能(néng)活(huó)下(xià)来(lái)吗(ma)？

   Would a guy like me even survive a trip there?

10. Xiaoyu

    这(zhè)不(bú)是(shì)有(yǒu)鸳(yuān)鸯(yang)锅(guō)嘛(ma)，特(tè)意(yì)留(liú)了(le)清(qīng)汤(tāng)给(gěi)你(nǐ)这(zhè)种(zhǒng)不(bù)吃(chī)辣(là)的(de)。

    That's what split-pot hot pot is for, they specifically left a mild side for spice cowards like you.

11. Haoran

    那(nà)还(hái)挺(tǐng)贴(tiē)心(xīn)。

    Well, that's thoughtful.

12. Xiaoyu

    你(nǐ)那(nà)边(bian)的(de)清(qīng)汤(tāng)格(gé)特(tè)别(bié)小(xiǎo)。

    Your side of the mild broth is tiny, though.

13. Haoran

    你(nǐ)吃(chī)过(guò)重(chóng)庆(qìng)小(xiǎo)面(miàn)没(méi)有(yǒu)？就(jiù)是(shì)那(nà)种(zhǒng)麻(má)辣(là)的(de)早(zǎo)市(shì)面(miàn)条(tiáo)。

    Have you had Chongqing xiaomian yet? You know, those numbing-spicy morning noodles.

14. Xiaoyu

    吃(chī)过(guò)了(le)呀(ya)！我(wǒ)早(zǎo)上(shang)刚(gāng)吃(chī)完(wán)一(yì)碗(wǎn)，紧(jǐn)接(jiē)着(zhe)又(yòu)吃(chī)了(le)一(yì)碗(wǎn)，因(yīn)为(wèi)刚(gāng)才(cái)那(nà)碗(wǎn)已(yǐ)经(jīng)没(méi)了(le)。

    Already had 'em! I just finished a bowl this morning, and then immediately had another one because the first bowl was gone.

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