Sichuan: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Haoran.

1. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)到(dào)家(jiā)啦(la)！成(chéng)都(dū)！我(wǒ)妈(mā)一(yí)见(jiàn)面(miàn)就(jiù)说(shuō)我(wǒ)瘦(shòu)了(le)。

   I'm home! Chengdu! The first thing my mom said when she saw me was that I've lost weight.

2. Haoran

   这(zhè)是(shì)准(zhǔn)备(bèi)去(qù)看(kàn)大(dà)熊(xióng)猫(māo)吗(ma)？

   Are you getting ready to go see the giant pandas?

3. Xiaoyu

   大(dà)熊(xióng)猫(māo)繁(fán)育(yù)研(yán)究(jiū)基(jī)地(dì)就(jiù)在(zài)这(zhè)儿(r)。刚(gāng)才(cái)还(hái)有(yǒu)只(zhī)打(dǎ)了(le)个(gè)喷(pēn)嚏(tì)，我(wǒ)顺(shùn)手(shǒu)画(huà)下(xià)来(lái)了(le)。

   The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is right here. One of them just sneezed a minute ago, so I quickly sketched it.

4. Haoran

   那(nà)必(bì)须(xū)得(děi)设(shè)成(chéng)我(wǒ)的(de)手(shǒu)机(jī)壁(bì)纸(zhǐ)。

   You've got to make that my phone wallpaper.

5. Xiaoyu

   你(nǐ)听(tīng)好(hǎo)咯(ge)，这(zhè)堂(táng)课(kè)你(nǐ)必(bì)须(xū)补(bǔ)上(shàng)。到(dào)底(dǐ)什(shén)么(me)是(shì)麻(má)辣(là)？

   Listen up, you need to catch up on this lesson. What on earth does mala actually mean?

6. Haoran

   不(bú)就(jiù)是(shì)特(tè)别(bié)辣(là)的(de)意(yì)思(si)吗(ma)？

   Isn't it just super spicy?

   1. 错(cuò)：花(huā)椒(jiāo)带(dài)来(lái)麻(má)，辣(là)椒(jiāo)带(dài)来(lái)辣(là) Incorrect: Sichuan peppercorns bring the numbing sensation, and chili peppers bring the heat
   2. 对(duì)：就(jiù)是(shì)很(hěn)辣(là)的(de)意(yì)思(si) Correct: It just means very spicy
   3. 错(cuò)：是(shì)酸(suān)甜(tián)的(de)意(yì)思(si) Incorrect: It means sweet and sour

   Answer

   错(cuò)：花(huā)椒(jiāo)带(dài)来(lái)麻(má)，辣(là)椒(jiāo)带(dài)来(lái)辣(là) Incorrect: Sichuan peppercorns bring the numbing sensation, and chili peppers bring the heat

7. Xiaoyu

   又(yòu)麻(má)又(yòu)辣(là)。花(huā)椒(jiāo)让(ràng)你(nǐ)嘴(zuǐ)唇(chún)发(fā)颤(chàn)，辣(là)椒(jiāo)负(fù)责(zé)火(huǒ)力(lì)全(quán)开(kāi)。

   Numbing and spicy. Sichuan peppercorns make your lips tingle, while the chilis bring the full-on fire.

8. Haoran

   光(guāng)听(tīng)你(nǐ)这(zhè)么(me)说(shuō)，我(wǒ)嘴(zuǐ)唇(chún)都(dōu)快(kuài)麻(má)了(le)。

   Just hearing you describe it is making my lips go numb.

9. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)妈(mā)正(zhèng)在(zài)做(zuò)麻(má)婆(pó)豆(dòu)腐(fu)，用(yòng)的(de)就(jiù)是(shì)正(zhèng)宗(zōng)的(de)郫(pí)县(xiàn)豆(dòu)瓣(bàn)酱(jiàng)。

   My mom is making mapo tofu right now, using authentic Pixian broad bean paste.

10. Haoran

    这(zhè)道(dào)菜(cài)名(míng)字(zi)好(hǎo)像(xiàng)跟(gēn)以(yǐ)前(qián)的(de)一(yí)位(wèi)大(dà)姐(jiě)有(yǒu)关(guān)吧(ba)？

    Isn't the name of this dish tied to some older woman from back in the day?

11. Xiaoyu

    19世(shì)纪(jì)的(de)成(chéng)都(dū)老(lǎo)字(zì)号(hào)。吃(chī)完(wán)我(wǒ)打(dǎ)算(suàn)去(qù)看(kàn)看(kan)乐(lè)山(shān)大(dà)佛(fó)。

    A classic Chengdu institution from the 19th century. Once I'm done eating, I'm planning to go check out the Leshan Giant Buddha.

12. Haoran

    就(jiù)那(nà)个(ge)在(zài)三(sān)江(jiāng)汇(huì)流(liú)处(chù)、凭(píng)崖(yá)凿(záo)出(chu)来(lai)的(de)巨(jù)佛(fó)。

    You mean that giant Buddha carved out of the cliff right where the three rivers meet.

13. Xiaoyu

    它(tā)就(jiù)安(ān)安(ān)稳(wěn)稳(wěn)地(de)坐(zuò)在(zài)那(na)儿(r)，可(kě)比(bǐ)你(nǐ)懂(dǒng)麻(má)辣(là)多(duō)了(le)。

    It just sits there all peaceful and steady. It definitely understands mala way better than you do.

Hear it read aloud in the app