In this edition: understanding parasocial interaction with Laolei and Afu, exclusive interview with famous Buddhist teacher Agya Hotogtu, discovering China’s most populous city Chongqing and insider tips on how to survive Chinese summer.
阿福离婚了？（拟社会人际互动有点可怕）
German YouTuber Lao Lei comments on recent rumors about fellow-German vlogger Afu’s personal life and explains a thing or two about 拟社会人际互动 or parasocial interaction. This is the term for the kind of virtual interaction we have with 网络红人 (internet celebrities) we follow on social media but typically don’t know in real life. Although we feel we know them, we don’t, let alone that they know us, even if we we couldn’t be more familiar with someone. I think Lao Lei makes this point very well, also calling into question the misplaced entitlement people sometimes feel when commenting (八卦) popular creators’ private affairs.
Difficulty level: HSK 5
| 在我看来整个这件事情其实挺简单的 | Zài wǒ kàn lái zhěnggè zhè jiàn shìqíng qíshí tǐng jiǎndān de | In my opinion, the whole thing is actually quite simple |
| 应该只是网络红人在那儿刷流量 | Yīnggāi zhǐshì wǎngluò hóngrén zài nà’er shuā liúliàng | It is probably just internet celebrities boosting traffic there |
| 我觉得目前为止没有什么好讲的 | Wǒ juéde mùqián wéizhǐ méiyǒu shénme hǎo jiǎng de | I think there’s nothing worth talking about so far |
| 可以借用这个机会去讲一个跟我们所有人有关的话题 | Kěyǐ jièyòng zhège jīhuì qù jiǎng yīgè gēn wǒmen suǒyǒu rén yǒuguān de huàtí | We can take this opportunity to discuss a topic that concerns all of us |
| 拟社会人际互动 | Nǐ shèhuì rénjì hùdòng | Parasocial interactions (Parasocial interaction (PSI) refers to a kind of psychological relationship experienced by an audience in their mediated encounters with performers in the mass media, particularly on television and on online platforms. (Wikipedia)) |
| 我自己傻猜的 | Wǒ zìjǐ shǎ cāi de | I guessed it myself |
| 任何一个人都应该有隐私权 | Rènhé yīgè rén dōu yīnggāi yǒu yǐnsī quán | Everyone should have the right to privacy |
| 很多人觉得自己有管理去挖他们所谓的真相 | 很多人觉得自己有管理去挖他们所谓的真相 | Many people think they have the authority to dig up what they call the truth |
| 你应该有一种职业道德 | Nǐ yīnggāi yǒu yī zhǒng zhíyè dàodé | You should have a sense of professional ethics |
| 你不要参与这种低级八卦 | Nǐ bùyào cānyù zhè zhǒng dījí bāguà | You shouldn’t participate in this kind of low-level gossip |
消失了一个月，我去干嘛了
And speaking of German Chinese-speaking vlogger Afu Thomas, why not listen to what he has to say about the matter. In this video, Afu explains what he has been up to lately and in particular goes into why he has been so silent in the recent period. His quest for self-improvement never stops, as his recent ice bathing adventure serves to illustrate. His biggest achievement: he’s commenting on his personal life without becoming personal. I don’t think he’s obliged to comment, however, it’s obvious he also isn’t free NOT to comment, so I guess he has to share something which he did in this somewhat uncomfortable, pseudo-personal statement.
Difficulty level: HSK 4
| 今天我来回复一下大家的问题 | Jīntiān wǒ lái huífù yīxià dàjiā de wèntí | Today I will answer everyone’s questions. |
| 他们会传达给我社交媒体的评论 | Tāmen huì chuándá gěi wǒ shèjiāo méitǐ de pínglùn | They will convey to me the comments on social media. |
| 而且我发现这些评论确实比较诚恳 | Érqiě wǒ fāxiàn zhèxiē pínglùn quèshí bǐjiào chéngkěn | Moreover, I found that these comments are indeed quite sincere. |
| 我最近个人生活发生的一些变化… | Wǒ zuìjìn gèrén shēnghuó fāshēng de yīxiē biànhuà | The changes that have occurred in my personal life recently. |
| 这些视频都是存货，之前拍的 | Zhèxiē shìpín dōu shì cúnhuò, zhīqián pāi de | These videos are all stock, taken earlier. |
| 我这段时间当然很郁闷 | Wǒ zhè duàn shíjiān dāngrán hěn yùmèn | I have certainly been very depressed during this period. |
| 继续创新，继续学习 | Jìxù chuàngxīn, jìxù xuéxí | Continue to innovate, continue to learn. |
| 无论我遇到多少困难或者难题，我还是坚持每天变成一个更好的人 | Wúlùn wǒ yùdào duōshǎo kùnnán huòzhě nántí, wǒ háishì jiānchí měitiān biàn chéng yī gè gèng hǎo de rén | No matter how many difficulties or problems I encounter, I still insist on becoming a better person every day. |
| 再也不逃避 | Zài yě bù táobì | No more running away. |
| 训练营 | Xùnliànyíng | Training camp |
| 挑战我身体和心理极限 | Tiǎozhàn wǒ shēntǐ hé xīnlǐ jíxiàn | Challenge my physical and mental limits |
阿嘉活佛专访（上）：我见证了班禅转世灵童抽签造假｜局面20240518
Chinese journalist in exile 王志安 held a big interview with Agya Hotogtu, one of the most prominent Buddhist teachers and lamas outside of Tibet. In this first part of the interview, Agya Hotogtu, who resides in the United States, speaks about his youth and experiences in China.
What moved me the most was that the Master talked about very painful things, but he spoke calmly, without any grievances, let alone any hatred. He is really a great monk with high moral character, worthy of respect.
YouTube comment
Difficulty level: HSK 5
| 你要还俗啊 | Nǐ yào huánsú a | You have to return to secular life |
| 还俗种地 | Huánsú zhòng dì | Return to secular life and farm |
| 班禅大师 | Bānchán dàshī | Panchen Lama |
| 半天你可以到寺庙里去念经 | Bàn tiān nǐ kěyǐ dào sìmiào lǐ qù niànjīng | For half a day, you can go to the temple to chant sutras |
| 老的僧人已经进了监狱了 | Lǎo de sēngrén yǐjīng jìnle jiānyù le | The old monks have already been sent to prison |
| 后来就慢慢变成了合作社 | Hòulái jiù mànmàn biàn chéngle hézuòshè | Later, it gradually turned into a cooperative |
| 你不相信就要强行来取强行措施 | Nǐ bù xiāngxìn jiù yào qiángxíng lái qǔ qiángxíng cuòshī | If you don’t believe it, they will take forcible measures |
| 人家拿起枪来抗议 | Rénjiā ná qǐ qiāng lái kàngyì | People took up arms to protest |
| 叛乱的开始 | Pànluàn de kāishǐ | The beginning of the rebellion |
| 平叛 | Píng pàn | Suppress the rebellion |
| 开始批判这个班禅大师了 | Kāishǐ pīpàn zhège Bānchán dàshī le | They started to criticize the Panchen Lama |
| 按照藏传佛教的习俗 | Ànzhào Zàngchuán Fójiào de xísú | According to the customs of Tibetan Buddhism |
I visited the insane “8D” megacity! Chongqing, China’s most populous city
Did you ever visit China’s “8D magic city” Chongqing? I didn’t but after seeing this video I added it to my list. The city is built on multiple levels across a mountainous terrain, leading to a fascinating and sometimes confusing cityscape. In one of her final China adventures, Ella explores Chongqing and eats Chongqing hotpot (“真的是我最后一次吃重庆火锅”) which is known for its numbing and spicy flavors, achieved by using “generous amounts” of Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers.
Difficulty level: HSK 5
| 重庆是一个8D魔幻山城 | Chóngqìng shì yī gè bā D móhuàn shānchéng | Chongqing is an 8D magical mountain city |
| 我本人是有点难以想象的到底什么是8D | Wǒ běnrén shì yǒudiǎn nányǐ xiǎngxiàng de dàodǐ shénme shì bā D | I personally find it a bit hard to imagine what exactly 8D is |
| 不仅魔幻它还很便利 | Bùjǐn móhuàn tā hái hěn biànlì | Not only magical, but it’s also very convenient |
| 重庆火锅刷新了我对火锅的认识 | Chóngqìng huǒguō shuāxīnle wǒ duì huǒguō de rènshí | Chongqing hotpot has changed my perception of hotpot |
| 真的是我最后一次吃重庆火锅 | Zhēn de shì wǒ zuìhòu yī cì chī Chóngqìng huǒguō | This is truly the last time I eat Chongqing hotpot |
| 各种各样的混合的群体 | Gè zhǒng gè yàng de hùnhé de qúntǐ | Various mixed groups |
| 就是一个让你很有新鲜感的地方 | Jiùshì yī gè ràng nǐ hěn yǒu xīnxiāngǎn de dìfāng | It’s a place that makes you feel very fresh |
| 去认识一个城市跟认识一个人一样 | Qù rènshí yī gè chéngshì gēn rènshí yī gè rén yīyàng | Getting to know a city is like getting to know a person |
| 你见它之前只是别人怎么描述它的 | Nǐ jiàn tā zhīqián zhǐ shì biérén zěnme miáoshù tā de | Before you see it, it’s just how others describe it to you |
How to survive summer in China？｜Intermediate Chinese Listening Practice
Shenglan explains how she endures (熬过) Chinese summer temperatures in her 10 m2 apartment in Changsha, using both airco and fan. Lots of useful vocabulary to gain from this ten minutes video that goes beyond just talking about the weather and dives into the energy consumption of cheap air-conditioners (空调).
Difficulty level: HSK 4
| 在中国怎么样熬过夏天 | Zài zhōngguó zěnme yàng áo guò xiàtiān | How to endure summer in China |
| 我住在一个非常小的公寓里面 | Wǒ zhù zài yī gè fēicháng xiǎo de gōngyù lǐmiàn | I live in a very small apartment |
| 这个公寓应该只有十多平米 | Zhège gōngyù yīnggāi zhǐ yǒu shí duō píngmǐ | This apartment is probably only a little over ten square meter |
| 它面积非常小 | Tā miànjī fēicháng xiǎo | Its area is very small |
| 在中国空调的普及率是挺高的 | Zài zhōngguó kōngtiáo de pǔjí lǜ shì tǐng gāo de | The popularity rate of air conditioners in China is quite high |
| 一般人的家里都会安装一个空调 | Yībān rén de jiālǐ dūhuì ānzhuāng yī gè kōngtiáo | Most people have an air conditioner installed in their homes |
| 经常用空调费电 | Jīngcháng yòng kōngtiáo fèi diàn | Using the air conditioner often consumes a lot of electricity |
| 房东为了省钱通常会买特别便宜的空调 | Fángdōng wèile shěng qián tōngcháng huì mǎi tèbié piányí de kōngtiáo | Landlords often buy very cheap air conditioners to save money |
| 我们常见的是那种单独的壁挂式空调 | Wǒmen chángjiàn de shì nà zhǒng dāndú de bìguà shì kōngtiáo | What we often see is that type of individual wall-mounted air conditioner |
| 被房东准备的空调能耗等级特别高 | Bèi fángdōng zhǔnbèi de kōngtiáo nénghào děngjí tèbié gāo | The air conditioners provided by the landlord have particularly high energy consumption ratings |
| 一开始我租房的时候，我完全不会考虑到电器是几级能耗 | Yī kāishǐ wǒ zūfáng de shíhòu, wǒ wánquán bù huì kǎolǜ dào diànqì shì jǐ jí nénghào | When I first rented the apartment, I never considered the energy efficiency rating of the appliances |
That’s it for this edition. Hope you enjoyed it. I’ll be back with more content soon!
Graded Chinese readers
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