Gansu: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Guoliang.

1. Xiaoyu

   河(hé)西(xī)走(zǒu)廊(láng)这(zhè)一(yí)路(lù)啊(a)，狭(xiá)长(cháng)得(de)像(xiàng)条(tiáo)夹(jiā)在(zài)山(shān)和(hé)沙(shā)漠(mò)中(zhōng)间(jiān)的(de)带(dài)子(zi)。

   The Hexi Corridor stretches out like this long, narrow ribbon squeezed between the mountains and the desert.

2. Guoliang

   两(liǎng)边(bian)都(dōu)是(shì)大(dà)山(shān)和(hé)戈(gē)壁(bì)吧(ba)？

   It's just mountains and Gobi desert on both sides, right?

3. Xiaoyu

   对(duì)，绿(lǜ)洲(zhōu)就(jiù)一(yì)颗(kē)颗(kē)串(chuàn)在(zài)沿(yán)途(tú)。我(wǒ)刚(gāng)才(cái)画(huà)那(nà)条(tiáo)路(lù)都(dōu)画(huà)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)多(duō)小(xiǎo)时(shí)。

   Yeah, with oases strung all along the way. I spent over an hour just drawing that one stretch earlier.

4. Guoliang

   在(zài)兰(lán)州(zhōu)落(luò)脚(jiǎo)吃(chī)面(miàn)了(le)吗(ma)？

   Did you stop in Lanzhou for noodles?

5. Xiaoyu

   必(bì)须(xū)的(de)！牛(niú)肉(ròu)面(miàn)讲(jiǎng)究(jiu)的(de)是(shì)哪(nǎ)几(jǐ)样(yàng)？

   Of course! What are the key elements of beef noodles?

   1. 五(wǔ)样(yàng) five
   2. 三(sān)样(yàng) three
   3. 两(liǎng)样(yàng) two

   Answer

   五(wǔ)样(yàng) five

6. Guoliang

   一(yì)清(qīng)二(èr)白(bái)三(sān)红(hóng)四(sì)绿(lǜ)五(wǔ)黄(huáng)。清(qīng)汤(tāng)、白(bái)萝(luó)卜(bo)、红(hóng)辣(là)子(zi)、绿(lǜ)蒜(suàn)苗(miáo)、黄(huáng)面(miàn)条(tiáo)。

   Clear broth, white radish, red chili oil, green garlic sprouts, and yellow noodles.

7. Xiaoyu

   现(xiàn)拉(lā)的(de)，要(yào)多(duō)粗(cū)有(yǒu)多(duō)粗(cū)。我(wǒ)特(tè)意(yì)点(diǎn)的(de)大(dà)宽(kuān)。

   Hand-pulled right on the spot, and you can get whatever thickness you want. I specifically ordered the extra-wide ones.

8. Guoliang

   那(nà)肯(kěn)定(dìng)得(děi)你(nǐ)这(zhè)性(xìng)格(gé)才(cái)吃(chī)大(dà)宽(kuān)。

   That definitely fits your personality.

9. Xiaoyu

   然(rán)后(hòu)去(qù)了(le)张(zhāng)掖(yè)看(kàn)七(qī)彩(cǎi)丹(dān)霞(xiá)，山(shān)真(zhēn)是(shi)一(yí)道(dào)道(dào)彩(cǎi)条(tiáo)。

   Then I headed to Zhangye to see the Danxia landform—the mountains really are banded with colors.

10. Guoliang

    彩(cǎi)铅(qiān)带(dài)够(gòu)了(le)吗(ma)？

    Did you bring enough colored pencils?

11. Xiaoyu

    橙(chéng)色(sè)都(dōu)快(kuài)画(huà)秃(tū)噜(lū)皮(pí)了(le)。下(xià)一(yí)站(zhàn)就(jiù)是(shì)敦(dūn)煌(huáng)莫(mò)高(gāo)窟(kū)。

    I've practically worn the orange one down to a stub. Next stop is the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang.

12. Guoliang

    那(nà)一(yì)千(qiān)多(duō)年(nián)的(de)壁(bì)画(huà)，气(qì)势(shì)完(wán)全(quán)不(bù)一(yí)样(yàng)。

    Those murals from over a thousand years ago have a totally different vibe.

13. Xiaoyu

    我(wǒ)站(zhàn)在(zài)上(shàng)千(qiān)年(nián)的(de)艺(yì)术(shù)前(qián)面(miàn)，默(mò)默(mò)把(bǎ)速(sù)写(xiě)本(běn)给(gěi)合(hé)上(shàng)了(le)。

    Standing in front of a millennium of art, I quietly closed my sketchbook.

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