Lantern Festival: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Zhiyuan and Xiaoyu.

1. Zhiyuan

   今(jīn)儿(r)晚(wǎn)上(shang)公(gōng)园(yuán)里(lǐ)的(de)花(huā)灯(dēng)都(dōu)挂(guà)起(qǐ)来(lái)了(le)，您(nín)来(lái)不(bù)来(lái)？

   The lanterns are all up in the park tonight. You coming?

2. Xiaoyu

   只(zhǐ)要(yào)有(yǒu)灯(dēng)谜(mí)我(wǒ)就(jiù)去(qù)，今(jīn)年(nián)我(wǒ)一(yì)准(zhǔn)儿(r)能(néng)猜(cāi)中(zhòng)。

   I'm in as long as there are riddle guesses. I'm totally nailing them this year.

3. Zhiyuan

   您(nín)去(qù)年(nián)可(kě)是(shì)一(yí)个(ge)都(dōu)没(méi)猜(cāi)对(duì)。

   You didn't get a single one right last year.

4. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)去(qù)年(nián)那(nà)个(ge)离(lí)对(duì)就(jiù)差(chà)那(nà)么(me)一(yì)点(diǎn)儿(r)。

   Mine were so close last year, just a hair off.

5. Zhiyuan

   今(jīn)儿(r)可(kě)是(shì)头(tóu)一(yí)个(gè)满(mǎn)月(yuè)，正(zhèng)好(hǎo)把(bǎ)年(nián)过(guò)完(wán)了(le)。

   Tonight's the first full moon though, wrapping up the New Year celebrations properly.

6. Xiaoyu

   总(zǒng)算(suàn)过(guò)完(wán)了(le)，我(wǒ)可(kě)吃(chī)不(bú)下(xià)饺(jiǎo)子(zi)了(le)。

   Thank goodness, because I can't stomach another dumpling.

7. Zhiyuan

   那(nà)可(kě)真(zhēn)遗(yí)憾(hàn)，您(nín)猜(cāi)今(jīn)儿(r)晚(wǎn)上(shang)该(gāi)吃(chī)什(shén)么(me)？

   That's too bad. What do you suppose we're supposed to eat tonight?

   1. 带(dài)汤(tāng)的(de)甜(tián)汤(tāng)圆(yuán) sweet soup dumplings
   2. 更(gèng)多(duō)的(de)饺(jiǎo)子(zi) more dumplings
   3. 月(yuè)饼(bing) mooncakes

   Answer

   带(dài)汤(tāng)的(de)甜(tián)汤(tāng)圆(yuán) sweet soup dumplings

8. Xiaoyu

   还(hái)得(děi)是(shì)汤(tāng)圆(yuán)！我(wǒ)吃(chī)多(duō)少(shao)都(dōu)行(xíng)，就(jiù)要(yào)黑(hēi)芝(zhī)麻(ma)馅(xiàn)儿(r)的(de)。

   Tangyuan it is! I can eat those forever, as long as they're black sesame.

9. Zhiyuan

   您(nín)说(shuō)说(shuo)，这(zhè)汤(tāng)圆(yuán)为(wèi)啥(shá)非(fēi)得(děi)做(zuò)成(chéng)圆(yuán)的(de)？

   Tell me, why do they always make tangyuan round?

10. Xiaoyu

    圆(yuán)滚(gǔn)滚(gǔn)的(de)多(duō)好(hǎo)，寓(yù)意(yì)着(zhe)阖(hé)家(jiā)团(tuán)圆(yuán)。

    They're chubby and cute, and they stand for family reunion.

11. Zhiyuan

    这(zhè)寓(yù)意(yì)挺(tǐng)好(hǎo)，我(wǒ)自(zì)个(gè)儿(r)吃(chī)红(hóng)豆(dòu)馅(xiàn)儿(r)的(de)。

    That's a nice meaning. I'll stick to red bean for myself.

12. Xiaoyu

    您(nín)瞧(qiáo)这(zhè)道(dào)灯(dēng)谜(mí)，写(xiě)得(de)简(jiǎn)直(zhí)就(jiù)是(shì)我(wǒ)。

    Look at this riddle. It's practically written about me.

13. Zhiyuan

    谜(mí)底(dǐ)上(shàng)明(míng)明(míng)写(xiě)着(zhe)“非(fēi)您(nín)莫(mò)属(shǔ)”四(sì)个(gè)字(zì)，您(nín)可(kě)别(bié)多(duō)想(xiǎng)。

    The answer literally spells out it's made for you, so don't flatter yourself.

Hear it read aloud in the app