Double Ninth Festival: a Chinese conversation with pinyin

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Haoran.

1. Xiaoyu

   快(kuài)起(qi)来(lai)，今(jīn)天(tiān)必(bì)须(xū)去(qù)登(dēng)高(gāo)。

   Get up, we've gotta go climb a hill today.

2. Haoran

   大(dà)周(zhōu)末(mò)的(de)，我(wǒ)折(zhē)腾(teng)这(zhè)干(gàn)嘛(má)？

   It's the weekend, why are you dragging me out for this?

3. Xiaoyu

   今(jīn)天(tiān)是(shì)重(chóng)阳(yáng)节(jié)啊(a)，农(nóng)历(lì)九(jiǔ)月(yuè)初(chū)九(jiǔ)。

   It's the Double Ninth Festival, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.

4. Haoran

   在(zài)山(shān)脚(jiǎo)下(xià)远(yuǎn)远(yuǎn)看(kàn)一(yì)眼(yǎn)不(bù)行(xíng)吗(ma)？

   Can't we just look at the mountain from the bottom?

5. Xiaoyu

   一(yí)路(lù)上(shang)还(hái)得(děi)顺(shùn)便(biàn)赏(shǎng)菊(jú)呢(ne)。

   We're supposed to check out the chrysanthemums along the way, too.

6. Haoran

   为(wèi)啥(shá)非(fēi)得(děi)是(shì)九(jiǔ)？这(zhè)数(shù)字(zì)谐(xié)音(yīn)是(shì)啥(shá)来(lái)着(zhe)？

   Why specifically nine? What's the word play on that number again?

   1. “久(jiǔ)”，代(dài)表(biǎo)长(cháng)长(cháng)久(jiǔ)久(jiǔ) 'Jiǔ', meaning eternity and longevity
   2. “发(fā)”，代(dài)表(biǎo)发(fā)财(cái)致(zhì)富(fù) 'Fā', meaning getting rich
   3. “顺(shùn)”，代(dài)表(biǎo)一(yí)切(qiè)顺(shùn)利(lì) 'Shùn', meaning everything goes smoothly

   Answer

   “久(jiǔ)”，代(dài)表(biǎo)长(cháng)长(cháng)久(jiǔ)久(jiǔ) 'Jiǔ', meaning eternity and longevity

7. Xiaoyu

   “久(jiǔ)”啊(a)，代(dài)表(biǎo)长(cháng)长(cháng)久(jiǔ)久(jiǔ)。所(suǒ)以(yǐ)现(xiàn)在(zài)也(yě)是(shì)敬(jìng)老(lǎo)节(jié)。

   'Jiǔ', as in forever. That's why it's also Seniors' Day now.

8. Haoran

   那(nà)我(wǒ)得(děi)把(bǎ)奶(nǎi)奶(nai)背(bèi)上(shàng)山(shān)？

   So do I need to carry my grandma up the mountain?

9. Xiaoyu

   你(nǐ)奶(nǎi)奶(nai)要(yào)是(shi)爬(pá)起(qi)来(lai)，分(fēn)分(fēn)钟(zhōng)把(bǎ)你(nǐ)甩(shuǎi)后(hòu)头(tou)。

   If your grandma started climbing, she'd leave you in the dust in no time.

10. Haoran

    这(zhè)倒(dào)也(yě)是(shì)，她(tā)老(lǎo)人(rén)家(jiā)去(qù)年(nián)还(hái)登(dēng)过(guò)泰(tài)山(shān)呢(ne)。

    That's true, she climbed Mount Tai just last year.

11. Xiaoyu

    那(nà)你(nǐ)待(dāi)会(huì)儿(r)去(qù)给(gěi)她(tā)买(mǎi)重(chóng)阳(yáng)糕(gāo)。

    Well then, you can go buy her some chongyang cake later.

12. Haoran

    有(yǒu)重(chóng)阳(yáng)糕(gāo)？早(zǎo)说(shuō)啊(a)，这(zhè)动(dòng)力(lì)这(zhè)不(bú)就(jiù)来(lái)了(le)。

    They have chongyang cake? You should've led with that, now I'm motivated.

13. Xiaoyu

    在(zài)山(shān)顶(dǐng)呢(ne)，自(zì)己(jǐ)爬(pá)上(shàng)去(qù)吃(chī)。

    It's up at the peak, you'll have to climb up to eat it.

14. Haoran

    你(nǐ)这(zhè)算(suàn)盘(pán)打(dǎ)得(de)可(kě)真(zhēn)精(jīng)。

    You really know how to work an angle, don't you?

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