Qingming: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Wanqing and Haoran.

1. Wanqing

   这(zhè)周(zhōu)末(mò)我(wǒ)们(men)得(děi)回(huí)老(lǎo)家(jiā)去(qù)给(gěi)爷(yé)爷(ye)扫(sǎo)墓(mù)。

   We've got to head back home this weekend to sweep Grandpa's grave.

2. Haoran

   我(wǒ)们(men)也(yě)是(shì)，你(nǐ)妈(mā)这(zhè)次(cì)带(dài)花(huā)了(le)吗(ma)？

   Same here. Is your mom bringing flowers this time?

3. Wanqing

   花(huā)和(hé)吃(chī)的(de)都(dōu)带(dài)。老(lǎo)爷(yé)子(zi)生(shēng)前(qián)爱(ài)吃(chī)什(shén)么(me)就(jiù)摆(bǎi)什(shén)么(me)，我(wǒ)妈(mā)还(hái)絮(xù)絮(xu)叨(dāo)叨(dāo)跟(gēn)他(tā)说(shuō)好(hǎo)久(jiǔ)话(huà)。

   We're bringing flowers and food. We just set out whatever he loved eating when he was alive, and my mom always chats away with him for ages.

4. Haoran

   我(wǒ)爸(bà)也(yě)一(yí)样(yàng)，去(qù)跟(gēn)老(lǎo)爷(yé)子(zi)念(niàn)叨(dao)家(jiā)里(lǐ)近(jìn)况(kuàng)，临(lín)了(le)再(zài)烧(shāo)点(diǎn)纸(zhǐ)钱(qián)。

   My dad's the exact same way. He catches his dad up on how everyone's doing, and then we burn some joss paper at the end.

5. Wanqing

   不(bú)过(guò)这(zhè)样(yàng)挺(tǐng)好(hǎo)的(de)，全(quán)当(dāng)去(qù)跟(gēn)长(zhǎng)辈(bèi)报(bào)个(gè)平(píng)安(ān)、聊(liáo)聊(liao)近(jìn)况(kuàng)。

   Honestly, that's really nice. It's basically just checking in with our elders and letting them know we're doing okay.

6. Wanqing

   清(qīng)明(míng)这(zhè)天(tiān)挺(tǐng)矛(máo)盾(dùn)的(de)，既(jì)伤(shāng)感(gǎn)又(yòu)得(děi)顺(shùn)便(biàn)踏(tà)青(qīng)。大(dà)家(jiā)这(zhè)时(shí)候(hou)都(dōu)爱(ài)放(fàng)个(gè)啥(shá)？

   Qingming is such a bittersweet holiday—you're sad, but you're also supposed to get out and enjoy the spring. What does everyone love flying around this time?

   1. 风(fēng)筝(zheng) Kites
   2. 纸(zhǐ)船(chuán) Paper boats
   3. 孔(kǒng)明(míng)灯(dēng) Sky lanterns

   Answer

   风(fēng)筝(zheng) Kites

7. Haoran

   肯(kěn)定(dìng)放(fàng)风(fēng)筝(zheng)啊(a)！扫(sǎo)完(wán)墓(mù)大(dà)家(jiā)就(jiù)去(qù)田(tián)野(yě)里(lǐ)散(sàn)步(bù)踏(tà)青(qīng)。

   Kites, for sure! Once the grave-sweeping's done, everyone heads out to the fields for a walk and some spring air.

8. Wanqing

   我(wǒ)表(biǎo)弟(dì)去(qù)年(nián)放(fàng)风(fēng)筝(zheng)直(zhí)接(jiē)挂(guà)树(shù)上(shàng)去(qù)了(le)，到(dào)现(xiàn)在(zài)都(dōu)下(xià)不(bù)来(lái)。

   My cousin got his kite stuck right in a tree last year, and it's still hanging up there.

9. Haoran

   你(nǐ)们(men)江(jiāng)浙(zhè)那(nà)边(bian)的(de)特(tè)色(sè)青(qīng)团(tuán)，川(chuān)渝(yú)有(yǒu)卖(mài)吗(ma)？

   Do they sell those Jiangnan qingtuan anywhere in Sichuan and Chongqing?

10. Wanqing

    那(nà)是(shi)江(jiāng)南(nán)一(yí)带(dài)的(de)传(chuán)统(tǒng)点(diǎn)心(xin)，用(yòng)艾(ài)草(cǎo)或(huò)者(zhě)麦(mài)苗(miáo)汁(zhī)染(rǎn)绿(lǜ)的(de)。

    Those are a traditional Jiangnan pastry, dyed green with mugwort or wheatgrass juice.

11. Haoran

    我(wǒ)上(shàng)海(hǎi)同(tóng)事(shì)前(qián)几(jǐ)天(tiān)带(dài)了(le)几(jǐ)个(ge)来(lái)，吃(chī)着(zhe)挺(tǐng)清(qīng)甜(tián)，还(hái)带(dài)着(zhe)股(gǔ)草(cǎo)木(mù)香(xiāng)。

    A coworker from Shanghai brought some in the other day. They're lightly sweet with this fresh, grassy scent.

12. Wanqing

    那(nà)你(nǐ)回(huí)头(tóu)也(yě)顺(shùn)便(biàn)带(dài)一(yí)个(ge)给(gěi)我(wǒ)爷(yé)爷(ye)尝(cháng)尝(chang)。

    Well, you can bring one back for my grandpa while you're at it.

13. Haoran

    行(xíng)，我(wǒ)带(dài)两(liǎng)个(gè)，另(lìng)一(yí)个(gè)算(suàn)你(nǐ)的(de)。

    Sure, I'll bring two—the extra one's yours.

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