Tianjin: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Zhiyuan.

1. Xiaoyu

   坐(zuò)高(gāo)铁(tiě)半(bàn)小(xiǎo)时(shí)，从(cóng)皇(huáng)城(chéng)根(gēn)儿(r)直(zhí)接(jiē)干(gàn)到(dào)曲(qǔ)艺(yì)之(zhī)乡(xiāng)了(le)。

   Took the high-speed train for half an hour and zoomed straight from the imperial capital to the capital of comedy.

2. Zhiyuan

   天(tiān)津(jīn)！上(shàng)茶(chá)馆(guǎn)儿(r)听(tīng)相(xiàng)声(sheng)去(qù)了(le)吧(ba)？

   Tianjin! Went to a teahouse to catch some crosstalk, huh?

3. Xiaoyu

   俩(liǎ)人(rén)穿(chuān)着(zhe)大(dà)褂(guà)站(zhàn)在(zài)一(yì)张(zhāng)桌(zhuō)子(zi)后(hòu)面(miàn)，台(tái)下(xià)笑(xiào)得(de)前(qián)仰(yǎng)后(hòu)合(hé)的(de)。

   Two guys in traditional long gowns standing behind a table, and the audience was in stitches.

4. Zhiyuan

   相(xiàng)声(sheng)最(zuì)早(zǎo)是(shì)从(cóng)北(běi)京(jīng)天(tiān)桥(qiáo)兴(xīng)起(qǐ)来(lái)的(de)，到(dào)天(tiān)津(jīn)才(cái)真(zhēn)正(zhèng)大(dà)火(huǒ)。

   Crosstalk actually started out in Beijing's Tianqiao area, but it really blew up in Tianjin.

5. Xiaoyu

   台(tái)上(shàng)一(yí)个(gè)劲(jìn)儿(r)砸(zá)挂(guà)对(duì)方(fāng)的(de)手(shǒu)艺(yì)，损(sǔn)得(de)可(kě)真(zhēn)损(sǔn)。

   The guys on stage kept roasting each other's skills. So savage.

6. Zhiyuan

   说(shuō)吧(ba)，早(zǎo)起(qǐ)去(qù)吃(chī)津(jīn)门(mén)特(tè)色(sè)早(zǎo)点(diǎn)了(le)吗(ma)？考(kǎo)考(kao)你(nǐ)最(zuì)出(chū)名(míng)的(de)是(shì)哪(nǎ)个(ge)。

   Go on, then: did you grab some classic Tianjin breakfast this morning? Let me quiz you on the most famous one.

   1. 煎(jiān)饼(bǐng)果(guǒ)子(zi) jianbing guozi
   2. 烤(kǎo)鸭(yā) roast duck
   3. 臭(chòu)豆(dòu)腐(fu) stinky tofu

   Answer

   煎(jiān)饼(bǐng)果(guǒ)子(zi) jianbing guozi

7. Xiaoyu

   煎(jiān)饼(bǐng)果(guǒ)子(zi)。绿(lǜ)豆(dòu)面(miàn)摊(tān)的(de)饼(bǐng)，打(dǎ)了(le)鸡(jī)蛋(dàn)，里(lǐ)头(tou)卷(juǎn)着(zhe)脆(cuì)馃(guǒ)子(zi)。

   Jianbing guozi. A mung bean crepe with an egg cracked on top, rolled up with a crispy guozi inside.

8. Zhiyuan

   拿(ná)在(zài)手(shǒu)里(lǐ)边(biān)走(zǒu)边(biān)吃(chī)，这(zhè)才(cái)叫(jiào)过(guò)日(rì)子(zi)。

   Munching on it while walking down the street, that's what I call living.

9. Xiaoyu

   午(wǔ)饭(fàn)去(qù)吃(chī)了(le)狗(gǒu)不(bù)理(lǐ)包(bāo)子(zi)。我(wǒ)特(tè)意(yì)数(shǔ)了(le)数(shǔ)顶(dǐng)上(shàng)的(de)褶(zhě)儿(r)，正(zhèng)好(hǎo)十(shí)八(bā)个(gè)！

   For lunch, I had Goubuli steamed buns. I actually counted the folds on top, exactly eighteen!

10. Zhiyuan

    你(nǐ)还(hái)真(zhēn)去(qù)数(shǔ)褶(zhě)子(zi)啊(a)？

    You actually counted the folds?

11. Xiaoyu

    我(wǒ)是(shì)画(huà)画(huà)的(de)嘛(ma)，强(qiǎng)迫(pò)症(zhèng)犯(fàn)了(le)，数(shǔ)了(le)两(liǎng)遍(biàn)呢(ne)。

    Occupational hazard, I'm an illustrator. The perfectionist in me made me count twice.

12. Zhiyuan

    回(huí)来(lai)时(shí)记(jì)得(de)带(dài)麻(má)花(huā)，就(jiù)那(nà)种(zhǒng)装(zhuāng)在(zài)盒(hé)子(zi)里(lǐ)的(de)。

    Make sure to bring back some mahua, the kind that comes in a box.

13. Xiaoyu

    又(yòu)酥(sū)又(yòu)脆(cuì)的(de)伴(bàn)手(shǒu)礼(lǐ)，不(bú)过(guò)路(lù)上(shang)我(wǒ)已(yǐ)经(jīng)帮(bāng)你(nǐ)先(xiān)吃(chī)了(le)一(yí)半(bàn)了(le)。

    Flaky, crunchy, the perfect gift. I've kindly eaten half of yours on the way.

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