Tibet: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Dawa.

1. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)走(zǒu)得(de)很(hěn)慢(màn)，非(fēi)常(cháng)慢(màn)。这(zhè)儿(r)的(de)空(kōng)气(qì)太(tài)稀(xī)薄(bó)了(le)。

   I'm walking super slowly. The air here is so thin.

2. Dawa

   你(nǐ)现(xiàn)在(zài)在(zài)多(duō)高(gāo)的(de)地(dì)方(fang)？

   What's your current altitude?

3. Xiaoyu

   拉(lā)萨(sà)海(hǎi)拔(bá)大(dà)约(yuē)3650米(mǐ)，整(zhěng)个(gè)高(gāo)原(yuán)平(píng)均(jūn)海(hǎi)拔(bá)在(zài)4000米(mǐ)以(yǐ)上(shàng)。我(wǒ)爬(pá)楼(lóu)梯(tī)爬(pá)到(dào)一(yí)半(bàn)，不(bù)得(dé)不(bù)停(tíng)下(xià)来(lái)歇(xiē)会(huì)儿(r)。

   Lhasa is around 3,650 meters, and the whole plateau averages over 4,000 meters. I have to stop and catch my breath halfway up the stairs.

4. Dawa

   刚(gāng)到(dào)可(kě)别(bié)洗(xǐ)热(rè)水(shuǐ)澡(zǎo)，慢(màn)慢(màn)走(zǒu)，多(duō)喝(hē)水(shuǐ)，别(bié)累(lèi)着(zhe)。

   Don't take a hot shower right after arriving. Take it easy, drink plenty of water, and don't overexert yourself.

5. Xiaoyu

   没(méi)事(shì)。刚(gāng)才(cái)有(yǒu)位(wèi)老(lǎo)大(dà)娘(niáng)递(dì)给(gěi)我(wǒ)一(yì)碗(wǎn)酥(sū)油(yóu)茶(chá)，劝(quàn)我(wǒ)坐(zuò)下(xia)缓(huǎn)缓(huǎn)。

   I'm fine. An old lady just handed me a bowl of butter tea and told me to sit down and take a breather.

6. Dawa

   酥(sū)油(yóu)茶(chá)！除(chú)了(le)茶(chá)，里(lǐ)面(miàn)还(hái)加(jiā)了(le)什(shén)么(me)？

   Butter tea! What else goes into it besides tea?

   1. 牦(máo)牛(niú)酥(sū)油(yóu)和(hé)盐(yán) yak butter and salt
   2. 牛(niú)奶(nǎi)和(hé)糖(táng) milk and sugar
   3. 蜂(fēng)蜜(mì)和(hé)姜(jiāng) honey and ginger

   Answer

   牦(máo)牛(niú)酥(sū)油(yóu)和(hé)盐(yán) yak butter and salt

7. Xiaoyu

   牦(máo)牛(niú)酥(sū)油(yóu)和(hé)盐(yán)，是(shì)用(yòng)高(gāo)高(gāo)的(de)木(mù)桶(tǒng)打(dǎ)出(chu)来(lai)的(de)。喝(hē)下(xià)去(qù)全(quán)身(shēn)都(dōu)暖(nuǎn)了(le)。

   Yak butter and salt, churned in a tall wooden barrel. Drinking it warms you right up.

8. Dawa

   布(bù)达(dá)拉(lā)宫(gōng)去(qù)过(guò)了(le)吗(ma)？

   Have you checked out the Potala Palace yet?

9. Xiaoyu

   就(jiù)在(zài)拉(lā)萨(sà)。我(wǒ)在(zài)广(guǎng)场(chǎng)对(duì)面(miàn)画(huà)了(le)整(zhěng)整(zhěng)三(sān)个(gè)小(xiǎo)时(shí)，眼(yǎn)睛(jing)都(dōu)舍(shě)不(bu)得(de)移(yí)开(kāi)。

   It's right here in Lhasa. I spent a full three hours sketching it from across the square and couldn't take my eyes off it.

10. Dawa

    平(píng)时(shí)还(hái)吃(chī)点(diǎn)儿(r)什(shén)么(me)？

    What else have you been eating lately?

11. Xiaoyu

    糌(zān)粑(ba)。也(yě)就(jiù)是(shì)把(bǎ)炒(chǎo)熟(shú)的(de)青(qīng)稞(kē)面(miàn)拌(bàn)进(jìn)茶(chá)里(lǐ)吃(chī)。

    Tsampa. Basically roasted highland barley flour mixed into tea.

12. Dawa

    打(dǎ)算(suàn)去(qù)珠(zhū)峰(fēng)那(nà)边(bian)转(zhuàn)转(zhuan)吗(ma)？

    Planning to head over toward Everest?

13. Xiaoyu

    要(yào)去(qù)看(kàn)看(kan)珠(zhū)峰(fēng)北(běi)坡(pō)。我(wǒ)把(bǎ)带(dài)的(de)白(bái)色(sè)画(huà)铅(qiān)笔(bǐ)全(quán)装(zhuāng)上(shàng)了(le)。

    Yeah, going to check out the north face of Everest. I've packed all my white drawing pencils.

14. Dawa

    安(ān)全(quán)回(huí)来(lai)就(jiù)行(xíng)，别(bié)的(de)不(bú)用(yòng)带(dài)太(tài)多(duō)。

    Just make it back safe, you don't need to lug too much else around.

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