Qinghai: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Dawa.

1. Xiaoyu

   这(zhè)湖(hú)也(yě)太(tài)大(dà)了(le)点(diǎn)儿(r)吧(ba)，一(yì)眼(yǎn)望(wàng)过(guò)去(qù)根(gēn)本(běn)看(kàn)弗(fú)到(dào)边(biān)。

   This lake is ridiculously huge, you can't even see the other side.

2. Dawa

   青(qīng)海(hǎi)湖(hú)嘛(ma)，本(běn)来(lái)就(jiù)是(shì)全(quán)国(guó)最(zuì)大(dà)的(de)内(nèi)陆(lù)咸(xián)水(shuǐ)湖(hú)。

   Well, it's Qinghai Lake, the biggest inland saltwater lake in the country.

3. Xiaoyu

   感(gǎn)觉(jué)像(xiàng)是(shì)一(yí)片(piàn)大(dà)海(hǎi)跑(pǎo)到(dào)了(le)高(gāo)原(yuán)上(shàng)，迷(mí)路(lù)了(le)一(yí)样(yàng)。

   Feels like an ocean just wandered up onto the plateau and got lost.

4. Dawa

   这(zhè)儿(r)可(kě)是(shì)平(píng)均(jūn)海(hǎi)拔(bá)3000多(duō)米(mǐ)的(de)高(gāo)原(yuán)，走(zǒu)路(lù)别(bié)太(tài)猛(měng)。

   We're sitting at an average altitude of over 3,000 meters here, so take it easy.

5. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)懂(dǒng)，正(zhèng)搁(gē)这(zhè)儿(r)画(huà)牦(máo)牛(niú)呢(ne)。它(tā)们(men)看(kàn)着(zhe)倒(dào)挺(tǐng)淡(dàn)定(dìng)，一(yí)步(bù)都(dōu)没(méi)挪(nuó)。

   I know, I'm just sketching a yak right now. They look totally unfazed, haven't moved an inch.

6. Dawa

   在(zài)大(dà)草(cǎo)滩(tān)上(shàng)吃(chī)草(cǎo)呢(ne)吧(ba)？

   Probably just grazing out on the grassland, right?

7. Xiaoyu

   吃(chī)得(de)慢(màn)条(tiáo)斯(sī)理(lǐ)的(de)，派(pài)头(tóu)十(shí)足(zú)。

   They're taking their sweet time, total bosses.

8. Dawa

   考(kǎo)考(kao)你(nǐ)，三(sān)江(jiāng)源(yuán)除(chú)了(le)澜(lán)沧(cāng)江(jiāng)，还(hái)有(yǒu)哪(nǎ)两(liǎng)条(tiáo)大(dà)江(jiāng)大(dà)河(hé)从(cóng)这(zhè)儿(r)发(fā)源(yuán)？

   Quick trivia question: besides the Lancang, what are the other two major rivers that start in the Three-River Source region?

   1. 长(cháng)江(jiāng)、黄(huáng)河(hé) Yangtze and Yellow River
   2. 珠(zhū)江(jiāng)、漓(lí)江(jiāng) Pearl River and Lijiang River
   3. 松(sōng)花(huā)江(jiāng)、嘉(jiā)陵(líng)江(jiāng) Songhua River and Jialing River

   Answer

   长(cháng)江(jiāng)、黄(huáng)河(hé) Yangtze and Yellow River

9. Xiaoyu

   长(cháng)江(jiāng)和(hé)黄(huáng)河(hé)。这(zhè)么(me)说(shuō)我(wǒ)这(zhè)一(yí)路(lù)画(huà)过(guò)来(lái)的(de)水(shuǐ)，源(yuán)头(tóu)都(dōu)在(zài)这(zhè)儿(r)。

   The Yangtze and the Yellow River. So basically all the water I've been sketching along my trip starts right here.

10. Dawa

    合(hé)着(zhe)你(nǐ)是(shì)一(yí)路(lù)逆(nì)流(liú)而(ér)上(shàng)追(zhuī)过(guò)来(lái)的(de)。

    Turns out you've been tracing the current upstream the whole time.

11. Xiaoyu

    然(rán)后(hòu)我(wǒ)就(jiù)吃(chī)上(shàng)了(le)奶(nǎi)皮(pí)酸(suān)奶(nǎi)，碗(wǎn)里(lǐ)头(tou)带(dài)金(jīn)黄(huáng)的(de)皮(pí)，还(hái)撒(sǎ)了(le)把(bǎ)白(bái)糖(táng)。

    And then I tried naipi suannai with that golden skin on top and a spoonful of white sugar sprinkled over it.

12. Dawa

    牦(máo)牛(niú)奶(nǎi)和(hé)黄(huáng)牛(niú)奶(nǎi)混(hùn)合(hé)做(zuò)的(de)吧(ba)？

    Made with a mix of yak and cow milk, right?

13. Xiaoyu

    这(zhè)海(hǎi)拔(bá)能(néng)吃(chī)到(dào)这(zhè)个(ge)，简(jiǎn)直(zhí)绝(jué)了(le)，我(wǒ)觉(jué)得(de)在(zài)哪(nǎ)儿(r)都(dōu)排(pái)得(de)上(shàng)号(hào)。

    Having this at this altitude is mind-blowing, easily top-tier anywhere.

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