The new year has begun and I’m back making my Chinese vocabulary notes. In this edition: the showdown between Thomas Afu and Laolei, caving in China and the state of Chinese masculinity.
阿福不想让你看到的视频 – The Video Thomas Derksen Doesn’t Want You To See
I’ve been following both Thomas Afu and Laolei for years. Who would have thought that Afu would sue his fellow countryman and loudest criticizer? In this 70-minutes masterpiece, Laolei gives his account of the matter in his typical digressing yet structured manner.
Level indication: HSK 5 (with English-Chinese subtitles)
| 所以我就在这儿瞎说了一下呢 | Suǒyǐ wǒ jiù zài zhè’er xiāshuōle yīxià ne | So I just talked nonsense here. |
| 我最近三个星期没录视频 | wǒ zuìjìn sān gè xīngqí méi lù shìpín | I haven’t recorded a video in the past three weeks |
| 我被起诉了 | wǒ bèi qǐsùle | I’ve been sued |
| 我的德国同胞 | wǒ de déguó tóngbāo | my fellow German countryman |
| 外国男的娶中国老婆那种刻板印象 | wàiguó nán de qǔ zhōngguó lǎopó nà zhǒng kèbǎn yìnxiàng | The stereotype of foreign men marrying Chinese wives |
| 专业化 | zhuānyè huà | professionalize |
| 在中国当网红 | zài zhōngguó dāng wǎng hóng | Become an internet celebrity in China |
| 谈政治和社会问题 | tán zhèngzhì hé shèhuì wèntí | Discuss political and social issues |
Laolei finally arrived home safely
Oh and by the way, the same Laolei finally ended his walking journey from China to Germany and shaved of his hair and beard!
Level indication: HSK 5
| 最遥远的路 | zuì yáoyuǎn de lù | the farthest road |
| 也不是说我很郁闷 | yě bùshì shuō wǒ hěn yùmèn | It’s not that I’m depressed |
| 拉拉车 | lā lā chē | pull cart |
| 头发胡子都剪掉了 | tóufǎ húzi dōu jiǎn diàole | Hair and beard cut off |
| 没有那么野蛮了 | méiyǒu nàme yěmánle | Not so barbaric anymore |
| 面具 | miànjù | mask |
| 我到家了是我自己的事 | wǒ dàojiāle shì wǒ zìjǐ de shì | Going home is my own business |
Caving in China | One brave woman is forging the way
Ever went caving in China? Laura made a career out of it and takes us along on a tour. Interesting portrait by the makers of Fragrant Mandarin.
Level indication: HSK 4/5 (with transcript)
| 我的认知里面没有说男的必须要做什么 | Wǒ de rènzhī lǐmiàn méiyǒu shuō nán de bìxū yào zuò shénme | My knowledge does not say what men must do |
| 我完全不会去考虑这个问题 | wǒ wánquán bù huì qù kǎolǜ zhège wèntí | I won’t think about it at all |
| 我很好奇她这两年都经历了什么 | wǒ hěn hàoqí tā zhè liǎng nián dōu jīnglìle shénme | I’m curious about what she has been through in the past two years. |
| 我第一次探洞的时候 | wǒ dì yī cì tàn dòng de shíhòu | When I first went caving |
| 我觉得比来比去没有意义 | wǒ juédé bǐ lái bǐ qù méiyǒu yìyì | I think it’s pointless to compare |
| 我们人类太愚蠢 了，不应该去给它分什么等级 | wǒmen rénlèi tài yú chǔn le, bù yìng gāi qù gěi tā fēn shénme děngjí | We humans are too stupid to grade it |
| 那个真的很治愈 人的 | nàgè zhēn de hěn zhìyù rén de | That one is really healing |
Are Chinese Guys Simps? – Intermediate Chinese – Chinese Audio Podcast
Eileen and her friend Kirk discuss the ‘simp’ or 舔狗 phenomenon in a Chinese context. I have to admit I wasn’t familiar with the term, but I’ve witnessed the thing itself.
Level indication: HSK 5 (with transcript)
| 过度呵护、追随女性 | guòdù hēhù, zhuīsuí nǚxìng | excessively care for and follow women |
| 获取对方注意和认可嘛 | huòqǔ duìfāng zhùyì hé rènkě ma | in order to get their attention |
| 就是那种对人有一种无条件的爱 | jiùshì nàzhǒng duì rén yǒu yīzhǒng wútiáojiàn de ài | that kind of unconditional love towards humans |
| 不管对方怎么对你 | bùguǎn duìfāng zěnme duì nǐ | No matter how the other treats you |
| 我想问一下你自己是… 有没有过舔狗的行为？ | Wǒ xiǎng wèn yīxià nǐ zìjǐ shì… Yǒuméiyǒu guo tiǎngǒu de xíngwéi? | I want to ask if you’re… Have you ever had any “licking dog” behaviors |
| 我个人来说我是没有当过舔狗 | Wǒ gèrén láishuō wǒ shì méiyǒu dāng guo tiǎngǒu | Personally, I have never been a “licking dog” (simp) |
| 备胎 | bèitāi | (spare tire) in Chinese slang, it often refers to a substitute or backup person in a romantic relationship. |
That’s it for January. It’s kind of a short comeback edition after I paused this format for several months. I’ve also been spending more time reading and writing Chinese recently. I’ll be back next month with more fresh content!
Graded Chinese readers
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