Shaanxi: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Guoliang.

1. Xiaoyu

   国(guó)良(liáng)，我(wǒ)现(xiàn)在(zài)正(zhèng)站(zhàn)在(zài)一(yì)支(zhī)军(jūn)队(duì)前(qián)面(miàn)。

   Guoliang, I'm standing right in front of an army.

2. Guoliang

   秦(qín)始(shǐ)皇(huáng)的(de)兵(bīng)马(mǎ)俑(yǒng)！

   The Terracotta Army!

3. Xiaoyu

   密(mì)密(mi)麻(má)麻(má)全(quán)是(shì)陶(táo)俑(yǒng)。我(wǒ)刚(gāng)画(huà)完(wán)一(yí)个(ge)将(jiāng)军(jūn)，感(gǎn)觉(jué)他(tā)正(zhèng)盯(dīng)着(zhe)我(wǒ)的(de)线(xiàn)条(tiáo)呢(ne)。

   It's packed with pottery figures. I just finished sketching a general, and it feels like he's staring right at my lines.

4. Guoliang

   你(nǐ)跑(pǎo)西(xī)安(ān)去(qù)了(le)？

   You headed to Xi'an?

5. Xiaoyu

   十(shí)三(sān)朝(cháo)古(gǔ)都(dū)嘛(ma)。来(lái)，考(kǎo)你(nǐ)个(gè)关(guān)于(yú)面(miàn)饼(bǐng)的(de)严(yán)肃(sù)问(wèn)题(tí)。

   Well, it's the capital of thirteen dynasties. Here, let me test you on a serious flatbread question.

6. Xiaoyu

   正(zhèng)宗(zōng)白(bái)吉(jí)馍(mó)上(shàng)面(miàn)有(yǒu)个(gè)标(biāo)志(zhì)，是(shì)什(shén)么(me)样(yàng)的(de)？

   What's the signature mark on an authentic baijimo bun?

   1. 菊(jú)花(huā)心(xīn) chrysanthemum center
   2. 龙(lóng)纹(wén) dragon pattern
   3. 铜(tóng)钱(qián) ancient coin

   Answer

   菊(jú)花(huā)心(xīn) chrysanthemum center

7. Guoliang

   铁(tiě)圈(quān)虎(hǔ)背(bèi)菊(jú)花(huā)心(xīn)啊(ā)。

   Iron rim, tiger back, chrysanthemum center!

8. Xiaoyu

   外(wài)脆(cuì)里(lǐ)嫩(nèn)夹(jiā)着(zhe)腊(là)汁(zhī)肉(ròu)，我(wǒ)可(kě)算(suàn)找(zhǎo)到(dào)知(zhī)音(yīn)了(le)。

   Crispy outside, tender inside, stuffed with braised pork—I've finally found my people.

9. Guoliang

   那(nà)𰻝(biáng)𰻝(biáng)面(miàn)呢(ne)？

   What about biangbiang noodles?

10. Xiaoyu

    宽(kuān)得(de)像(xiàng)裤(kù)带(dài)！师(shī)傅(fu)在(zài)案(àn)板(bǎn)上(shàng)摔(shuāi)得(de)啪(pā)啪(pā)响(xiǎng)，最(zuì)后(hòu)泼(pō)上(shàng)一(yì)勺(sháo)热(rè)油(yóu)。

    They're as wide as a belt! The chef slaps them against the counter with a loud crack, then splashes a ladle of hot oil on top.

11. Guoliang

    这(zhè)字(zì)到(dào)底(dǐ)是(shì)不(bú)是(shì)真(zhēn)的(de)？

    Is that character even real?

12. Xiaoyu

    汉(hàn)字(zì)里(lǐ)最(zuì)复(fù)杂(zá)的(de)之(zhī)一(yī)。我(wǒ)试(shì)着(zhe)画(huà)了(le)一(yí)下(xià)，差(chà)点(diǎn)儿(r)又(yòu)耗(hào)费(fèi)一(yí)页(yè)纸(zhǐ)。

    One of the most complex Chinese characters out there. I tried sketching it and almost burned through another page.

13. Guoliang

    别(bié)忘(wàng)了(le)，这(zhè)儿(r)可(kě)是(shì)丝(sī)绸(chóu)之(zhī)路(lù)的(de)起(qǐ)点(diǎn)。

    Don't forget, this is the starting point of the Silk Road.

14. Xiaoyu

    我(wǒ)知(zhī)道(dào)。从(cóng)这(zhè)儿(r)开(kāi)始(shǐ)，我(wǒ)打(dǎ)算(suàn)一(yí)路(lù)向(xiàng)西(xī)。

    I know. From here, I'm heading all the way west.

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