Xinjiang: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Xiaoyu and Haoran.

1. Xiaoyu

   速(sù)写(xiě)本(běn)最(zuì)后(hòu)一(yí)页(yè)了(le)。我(wǒ)在(zài)新(xīn)疆(jiāng)，地(dì)方(fang)也(yě)太(tài)大(dà)了(le)吧(ba)。

   This is the last page of my sketchbook. I'm in Xinjiang, and this place is just massive.

2. Haoran

   占(zhàn)了(le)全(quán)国(guó)领(lǐng)土(tǔ)大(dà)约(yuē)六(liù)分(fēn)之(zhī)一(yī)呢(ne)。沙(shā)漠(mò)、绿(lǜ)洲(zhōu)、天(tiān)山(shān)，景(jǐng)观(guān)全(quán)齐(qí)。

   It makes up about a sixth of the country's territory. Deserts, oases, the Tianshan mountains—it's got it all.

3. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)打(dǎ)从(cóng)下(xià)火(huǒ)车(chē)起(qǐ)，满(mǎn)鼻(bí)子(zi)就(jiù)全(quán)是(shì)孜(zī)然(rán)味(wèi)儿(r)。

   Ever since I stepped off the train, my nose has been full of the smell of cumin.

4. Haoran

   那(nà)肯(kěn)定(dìng)得(děi)吃(chī)羊(yáng)肉(ròu)串(chuàn)。考(kǎo)考(kao)你(nǐ)，到(dào)底(dǐ)是(shì)用(yòng)什(shén)么(me)烤(kǎo)的(de)？

   You've gotta have mutton skewers then. Quick quiz, what do they grill them with?

   1. 炭(tàn)火(huǒ)烤(kǎo) Charcoal
   2. 热(rè)铁(tiě)板(bǎn) A hot iron plate
   3. 蒸(zhēng)汽(qì)薰(xūn) Steam

   Answer

   炭(tàn)火(huǒ)烤(kǎo) Charcoal

5. Xiaoyu

   炭(tàn)火(huǒ)烤(kǎo)的(de)，撒(sǎ)上(shàng)孜(zī)然(rán)和(hé)辣(là)椒(jiāo)面(miàn)。夜(yè)市(shì)上(shàng)到(dào)处(chù)都(dōu)有(yǒu)，不(bú)过(guò)这(zhè)儿(r)的(de)……

   Over charcoal, dusted with cumin and chili flakes. They're everywhere at the night markets, but the ones here...

6. Haoran

   不(bú)用(yòng)说(shuō)，肯(kěn)定(dìng)更(gèng)好(hǎo)吃(chī)。

   Let me guess, they're even better.

7. Xiaoyu

   我(wǒ)不(bù)说(shuō)话(huà)，我(wǒ)正(zhèng)嚼(jiáo)着(zhe)肉(ròu)呢(ne)。

   I'm not talking, I'm busy chewing.

8. Haoran

   那(nà)大(dà)盘(pán)鸡(jī)呢(ne)？

   What about the big plate chicken?

9. Xiaoyu

   满(mǎn)满(mǎn)一(yí)大(dà)盘(pán)，鸡(jī)肉(ròu)吃(chī)完(wán)了(le)底(dǐ)下(xia)还(hái)铺(pū)着(zhe)宽(kuān)面(miàn)呢(ne)。

   It's a huge plate, and once you finish the chicken, there's wide flat noodles hiding underneath.

10. Haoran

    你(nǐ)这(zhè)一(yí)趟(tàng)可(kě)真(zhēn)够(gòu)享(xiǎng)福(fú)的(de)。

    You're really living it up on this trip.

11. Xiaoyu

    吐(tǔ)鲁(lǔ)番(fān)的(de)葡(pú)萄(tao)吃(chī)过(guò)了(le)，刚(gāng)出(chū)炉(lú)的(de)缸(gāng)炉(lú)馕(náng)也(yě)尝(cháng)了(le)。

    I've already had Turpan grapes, and I just tried some freshly baked ganglu naang.

12. Haoran

    手(shǒu)里(lǐ)拎(līn)着(zhe)的(de)是(shì)葡(pú)萄(tao)干(gān)吧(ba)？

    Are those raisins you're carrying?

13. Xiaoyu

    给(gěi)你(nǐ)的(de)礼(lǐ)物(wù)。从(cóng)全(quán)国(guó)最(zuì)低(dī)最(zuì)热(rè)的(de)地(dì)方(fang)带(dài)出(chu)来(lai)的(de)。

    A present for you. Brought straight from the lowest and hottest place in the country.

14. Haoran

    那(nà)你(nǐ)打(dǎ)算(suàn)什(shén)么(me)时(shí)候(hou)回(huí)来(lai)？

    So when are you planning on coming back?

15. Xiaoyu

    我(wǒ)本(běn)子(zi)用(yòng)完(wán)了(le)。到(dào)车(chē)站(zhàn)接(jiē)我(wǒ)吧(ba)，奶(nǎi)茶(chá)你(nǐ)请(qǐng)客(kè)。

    I'm out of paper. Pick me up at the station, and milk tea's on you.

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