Jiangsu: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Wanqing.

1. Xiaoyu

   在(zài)苏(sū)州(zhōu)这(zhè)一(yí)座(zuò)园(yuán)子(zi)里(lǐ)，我(wǒ)从(cóng)中(zhōng)午(wǔ)坐(zuò)到(dào)了(le)现(xiàn)在(zài)，根(gēn)本(běn)舍(shě)不(bu)得(de)走(zǒu)。

   I've been sitting in this Suzhou garden since noon and honestly can't bring myself to leave.

2. Wanqing

   苏(sū)州(zhōu)古(gǔ)典(diǎn)园(yuán)林(lín)？有(yǒu)什(shén)么(me)看(kàn)不(bu)腻(nì)的(de)？

   A Suzhou classical garden? What's so endlessly fascinating about them?

3. Xiaoyu

   透(tòu)过(guò)月(yuè)洞(dòng)门(mén)看(kàn)过(guò)去(qù)，每(měi)一(yí)处(chù)景(jǐng)致(zhì)都(dōu)是(shì)精(jīng)心(xīn)框(kuàng)好(hǎo)的(de)。

   Looking through the moon gate, every single view is like a carefully framed picture.

4. Wanqing

   为(wèi)了(le)开(kāi)扇(shàn)窗(chuāng)，得(děi)费(fèi)多(duō)少(shao)心(xīn)思(si)。

   Think of all the thought that goes into placing just one window.

5. Xiaoyu

   婉(wǎn)清(qīng)，多(duō)亏(kuī)有(yǒu)你(nǐ)带(dài)着(zhe)，我(wǒ)才(cái)没(méi)错(cuò)过(guò)这(zhè)些(xiē)。

   Wanqing, I'd have missed all of this if you hadn't shown me around.

6. Wanqing

   行(xíng)啦(la)。那(nà)道(dào)炸(zhà)得(de)像(xiàng)把(bǎ)扇(shàn)子(zi)一(yí)样(yàng)的(de)名(míng)鱼(yú)叫(jiào)什(shén)么(me)来(lái)着(zhe)？

   Alright, alright. What's the name of that famous fish fried to look like a fan?

   1. 松(sōng)鼠(shǔ)桂(guì)鱼(yú) sweet and sour mandarin fish
   2. 清(qīng)蒸(zhēng)生(shēng)姜(jiāng)鲤(lǐ)鱼(yú) steamed ginger carp
   3. 徽(huī)州(zhōu)臭(chòu)鳜(guì)鱼(yú) Huizhou fermented mandarin fish

   Answer

   松(sōng)鼠(shǔ)桂(guì)鱼(yú) sweet and sour mandarin fish

7. Xiaoyu

   松(sōng)鼠(shǔ)桂(guì)鱼(yú)。刀(dāo)工(gōng)深(shēn)浅(qiǎn)匀(yún)称(chèn)，炸(zhà)完(wán)浇(jiāo)上(shàng)酸(suān)甜(tián)汁(zhī)，真(zhēn)跟(gēn)松(sōng)鼠(shǔ)似(shì)的(de)。

   Sweet and sour mandarin fish. The cuts are so even and deep, and when it's fried and drenched in sweet and sour sauce, it really looks like a squirrel.

8. Wanqing

   浇(jiāo)汁(zhī)的(de)时(shí)候(hou)会(huì)吱(zhī)吱(zhī)叫(jiào)吗(ma)？

   Does it sizzle when they pour the sauce over it?

9. Xiaoyu

   当(dāng)地(dì)人(rén)都(dōu)说(shuō)浇(jiāo)汁(zhī)时(shí)会(huì)响(xiǎng)呢(ne)，我(wǒ)凑(còu)过(guò)去(qù)听(tīng)，结(jié)果(guǒ)被(bèi)服(fú)务(wù)员(yuán)笑(xiào)话(hua)了(le)。

   The locals say it makes a sizzling sound, but when I leaned in close to listen, the waiter laughed at me.

10. Wanqing

    那(nà)边(bian)还(hái)有(yǒu)扬(yáng)州(zhōu)炒(chǎo)饭(fàn)呢(ne)。

    There's Yangzhou fried rice over there, too.

11. Xiaoyu

    里(lǐ)头(tou)有(yǒu)鸡(jī)蛋(dàn)、虾(xiā)仁(rén)和(hé)火(huǒ)腿(tuǐ)。还(hái)有(yǒu)皮(pí)白(bái)肉(ròu)嫩(nèn)的(de)南(nán)京(jīng)盐(yán)水(shuǐ)鸭(yā)。

    It's packed with eggs, shrimp, and ham. Plus those Nanjing salted ducks with skin as white and tender as can be.

12. Wanqing

    水(shuǐ)乡(xiāng)、园(yuán)林(lín)加(jiā)上(shàng)鸭(yā)子(zi)，把(bǎ)你(nǐ)脾(pí)气(qi)都(dōu)磨(mó)平(píng)了(le)。

    Water towns, gardens, and duck—they've completely mellowed you out.

13. Xiaoyu

    江(jiāng)南(nán)水(shuǐ)乡(xiāng)就(jiù)是(shì)有(yǒu)这(zhè)种(zhǒng)本(běn)事(shi)。菜(cài)品(pǐn)精(jīng)致(zhì)带(dài)点(diǎn)甜(tián)，吃(chī)完(wán)人(rén)心(xīn)里(lǐ)特(tè)别(bié)踏(tā)实(shi)。

    Jiangnan water towns just have that magic. The food is delicate with a hint of sweetness, and it leaves you feeling totally at peace.

Hear it read aloud in the app