Henan: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Guoliang.

1. Xiaoyu

   今(jīn)天(tiān)看(kàn)见(jiàn)个(gè)十(shí)岁(suì)左(zuǒ)右(yòu)的(de)小(xiǎo)男(nán)孩(hái)，无(wú)缘(yuán)无(wú)故(gù)在(zài)路(lù)边(biān)来(lái)了(le)个(gè)后(hòu)空(kōng)翻(fān)。

   I saw a boy around ten years old doing backflips by the side of the road for no reason today.

2. Guoliang

   你(nǐ)跑(pǎo)哪(nǎ)儿(r)去(qù)了(le)这(zhè)是(shì)？

   Where on earth did you go?

3. Xiaoyu

   嵩(sōng)山(shān)少(shào)林(lín)寺(sì)呀(ya)，少(shào)林(lín)功(gōng)夫(fu)的(de)老(lǎo)根(gēn)儿(r)就(jiù)在(zài)这(zhè)儿(r)。

   Songshan Shaolin Temple. The roots of Shaolin kung fu are right here.

4. Guoliang

   跟(gēn)着(zhe)练(liàn)两(liǎng)下(xià)没(méi)有(yǒu)？

   Did you join in and practice a couple of moves?

5. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)拉(lā)伸(shēn)了(le)一(yí)下(xià)，腰(yāo)里(lǐ)咯(gē)嘣(bēng)一(yì)声(shēng)，老(lǎo)老(lǎo)实(shi)实(shi)坐(zuò)下(xia)了(le)。

   I stretched, heard a loud pop in my lower back, and sat right back down.

6. Guoliang

   行(xíng)啊(a)大(dà)侠(xiá)。洛(luò)阳(yáng)南(nán)边(bian)还(hái)有(yǒu)一(yí)处(chù)特(tè)别(bié)厉(lì)害(hai)的(de)石(shí)刻(kè)，叫(jiào)什(shén)么(me)来(lái)着(zhe)？

   Not bad, hero. There's another really impressive set of stone carvings south of Luoyang, what's it called again?

   1. 龙(lóng)门(mén)石(shí)窟(kū) Longmen Grottoes
   2. 莫(mò)高(gāo)窟(kū) Mogao Caves
   3. 云(yún)冈(gāng)石(shí)窟(kū) Yungang Grottoes

   Answer

   龙(lóng)门(mén)石(shí)窟(kū) Longmen Grottoes

7. Xiaoyu

   龙(lóng)门(mén)，明(míng)天(tiān)去(qù)。这(zhè)省(shěng)份(fèn)太(tài)惊(jīng)喜(xǐ)了(le)，好(hǎo)几(jǐ)个(gè)古(gǔ)代(dài)王(wáng)朝(cháo)都(dōu)在(zài)这(zhè)儿(r)建(jiàn)过(guò)都(dōu)。

   Longmen, I'm heading there tomorrow. This province is such a pleasant surprise, so many ancient dynasties set up their capitals here.

8. Guoliang

   早(zǎo)饭(fàn)吃(chī)胡(hú)辣(là)汤(tāng)了(le)吗(ma)？那(nà)可(kě)是(shì)必(bì)尝(cháng)的(de)。

   Did you have hulatang for breakfast? You've gotta try it.

9. Xiaoyu

   满(mǎn)嘴(zuǐ)胡(hú)椒(jiāo)味(wèi)儿(r)那(nà)个(ge)？我(wǒ)今(jīn)儿(r)早(zǎo)七(qī)点(diǎn)就(jiù)喝(hē)了(le)，辣(là)得(de)耳(ěr)朵(duo)都(dōu)醒(xǐng)了(le)。

   That pepper-packed one? I had some at seven this morning, it was so spicy it woke my ears up.

10. Guoliang

    午(wǔ)饭(fàn)安(ān)排(pái)河(hé)南(nán)烩(huì)面(miàn)。宽(kuān)面(miàn)条(tiáo)现(xiàn)拉(lā)的(de)，羊(yáng)肉(ròu)汤(tāng)熬(áo)得(de)浓(nóng)浓(nóng)的(de)。

    For lunch, go for Henan braised noodles. Wide noodles pulled fresh, with a rich mutton broth.

11. Xiaoyu

    已(yǐ)经(jīng)点(diǎn)上(shàng)了(le)。煮(zhǔ)面(miàn)师(shī)傅(fu)正(zhèng)瞅(chǒu)着(zhe)我(wǒ)怎(zěn)么(me)对(duì)付(fu)这(zhè)面(miàn)条(tiáo)的(de)长(cháng)度(dù)呢(ne)。

    Already ordered them. The noodle chef is watching me figure out how to handle how long these noodles are.

12. Guoliang

    放(fàng)宽(kuān)心(xīn)，你(nǐ)绝(jué)对(duì)行(xíng)。

    Don't worry, you've got this.

13. Xiaoyu

    这(zhè)是(shì)我(wǒ)在(zài)河(hé)南(nán)唯(wéi)一(yì)没(méi)出(chū)洋(yáng)相(xiàng)的(de)一(yì)回(huí)了(le)。

    That's the one time in Henan I didn't make a complete fool of myself.

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