剪紙藝術the art of paper cutting

哇，好美哦，是誰教你的。
Wow！ they are beautiful！ Who taught you?
是我奶奶教我的。
My grandmother did.
我想認識剪紙藝術，你可以教我嗎？
I want to know more about the art of paper cutting. Can you teach me?
可以呀!剪紙藝術非常巧妙,技巧高明的人能隨心所欲地剪出各種圖案。
Sure! The art of Chinese paper cutting is truly ingenious. Experts can cut out any pattern they wish.
為什麼這些剪紙作品,好像不是紅的就是金的。
It seems that only red and golden papers are used for paper cutting.
這是因為華人的剪紙,主要是用在節日慶典上，所以用紅色、金色增添喜氣。
That is because paper cuttings are used mainly for festival celebration, so red and gold are used because they add an atmosphere of joy.紅色的喜字、壽字，看起來就喜氣洋洋的。
When we see the red characters for happiness and longevity, we feel cheerful and joyful.
從前過新年，家家戶戶都會剪些“春”、“福”的吉祥字貼起來。
Characters for good luck are cut out and pasted up in every house during the New Year season.
這種傳統的民間藝術很值得保存。
This kind of traditional folk Art is worth preserving.

剪紙藝術The art of paper cutting
你看過剪紙作品的展覽嗎？
Have you seen the paper cutting art its bit exhibit？
看過。 剪紙藝術真是巧妙。
Yes, we have seen. The art of Chinese paper cutting is truly ingenious.
技巧高明的人能隨心所欲地剪出各種圖案。
Experts can’t cut out any pattern they wish.
剪紙用的紙好像不是紅的就是金的。
It seems that only red and the golden paper is used for paper cutting.
因為華人的剪紙主要是用在節日慶典上，所以用紅色、金色增添喜氣。
That is because paper cuttings are used mainly for festival celebrations, so red and gold are used because they add an atmosphere of joy.
紅色的喜字、壽字，看起來就是喜氣洋洋的。
When you see the red captures for happiness and longevity, we feel cheerful and joyful.
從前過年新年，家家戶戶都會剪些「春」、「福」
的吉祥字貼起來。
Characters for good luck are used to be cut out and pasted it up in every house during the New Year’s session.
這種傳統的民間藝術很值得保存。
This kind of traditional folk art is worse preserving.

喝茶的藝術（二）The Art Of Tea Dringling （II）
林小姐：中國人喝茶的歷史有多久了？
How long have the Chinese people been drinking tea?
王小姐：大概從唐朝起，茶就是一般人日常的飲料了。
Tea has gradually become a daily beverage probably starting from the Tang dynasty.
林小姐：為什麼茶會變成為華人傳統的飲料呢？
Why has tea become a traditional Chinese beverage?
王小姐：大概跟喝茶有益身體健康有關吧！
It probably has something to do with the fact that they believe drink tea is good for one’s health.
林小姐：現在人們還是按照傳統的方式泡茶嗎？
Do people today still brew tea in the traditional way?
王小姐：為了適應現代生活，泡茶的方式改變了
不少，一切都講求快速簡單。
In order to keep up with the fast pace in of society, tea growing methods have changed a lot. they will emphasize speed and a simplicity.
林小姐：你喜歡用哪一種方式泡茶呢？
What way do you like to make tea?
王小姐：我喜歡用傳統的方式來泡茶。
I prefer to blow tea in the traditional way.

喝茶的藝術（二）The Art Of Tea Drinking （II）

林小姐：中國人喝茶的歷史有多久了？

How long have the Chinese people been drinking tea?

王小姐：大概從唐朝起，茶就是一般人日常的飲料了。

Tea has gradually become a daily beverage probably starting from the Tang dynasty.

林小姐：為什麼茶會變成為華人傳統的飲料呢？

Why has tea become a traditional Chinese beverage?

王小姐：大概跟喝茶有益身體健康有關吧！

It probably has something to do with the fact that they believe drink tea is good for one’s health.

林小姐：現在人們還是按照傳統的方式泡茶嗎？

Do people today still brew tea in the traditional way?

王小姐：為了適應現代生活，泡茶的方式改變了

不少，一切都講求快速簡單。

In order to keep up with the fast pace in of society, tea growing methods have changed a lot.  they will emphasize speed and a simplicity.

林小姐：你喜歡用哪一種方式泡茶呢？

What way do you like to make tea?

王小姐：我喜歡用傳統的方式來泡茶。

I prefer to blow tea in the traditional way.

Continue reading

观赏国剧(二)
自从大年教我欣赏国剧后，我就爱上国剧了
Since Da Nian taught me to appreciate Chinese opera, I love Chinese opera.
我喜欢听西洋歌剧。I like listening to Western operas.
西洋歌剧里有女高音,男高音。国剧里有吗？
In Weston opera they are sopranos and tenors. What are they called in Chinese opera?
有类似的角色。不过不一样。
There are similar roles. But not the same.
国剧里有青衣老生的区别。
They are the qingyi and the laosheng in Chinese opera.
那些脸上画了油彩的演员是小丑吗？
Are these actors with printed faces clown?
不一定，有的是净有的是丑。国剧的脸谱用各种颜色来表示善恶。
Not necessarily, some are pure and some are ugly. The facial makeup of national dramas uses various colors to represent good and evil
No they aren’t. They will call Jing in Chinese opera each kind of face paint represents different kinds of characters from good to evil.
那观众要怎么区分好人还是坏人呢？
So how does the audience differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys?
红脸表示忠义，白脸表示邪恶。
Well, a red face symbolizes loyalty, while a white face symbolized evil.
那就简单多了。That’s much simpler.
国剧很有趣，你要多看才会明白。
Chinese opera are very interesting, you have to watch them to understand.
你对国剧了解的真不少,你一定常去看戏吧?
You know a lot about Chinese opera. You must go to Chinese opera very often.
我是标准的国剧迷。
I regard myself as a big fan in of Chinese opera.

觀賞國劇（二）

西洋歌劇裡有女高音、男高音，國劇裡有嗎？

In Weston opera they are sopranos and tenors. What are they called in Chinese opera?

國劇也有青衣、老生的分別。

They are the qingyi and the laosheng in Chinese opera.

那些臉上畫了油彩的演員，是小丑嗎？

Are these actors with printed faces clown?

不是，是淨。

國劇的臉譜用各種不同的顏色來表示善惡。

No they aren’t. They will call Jing in Chinese opera each kind of face paint represents different kinds of  characters from good to evil.

要怎樣區別好人還是壞人呢？

How do you tell the good guys from the bad?

紅臉表示忠義，白臉表示邪惡。

Well, a red face symbolizes loyalty, while a white face symbolized evil.

你對國劇瞭解得真不少，一定常去看戲吧！

You know a lot about Chinese opera. You must go to Chinese opera very often.

我是標準的國劇迷。

I regard myself as a big fan in of Chinese opera.

觀賞國劇Appreciating Chinese Opera
昨天和朋友一起去看了一出國劇。
Yesterday, I went with a friend to see a Chinese opera.
你覺得怎麼樣？ 喜歡嗎？ What did you think? Did you like it?
我第一次觀賞國劇，根本看不懂。 他們到底在演什麼故事？ It was the first time I watching a Chinese opera. I didn’t understand it at all. What kind of story are they playing?
國劇多半是演歷史上忠、孝、節、義的故事。 如果你不知道中國歷史， 你就不容易看懂。 Chinese opera usually dramatizes Chinese historical stories about loyalty, filial piety, fidelity and the righteousness. If you don’t know Chinese history, it’s not easy for you to understand.
不過，我很喜歡國劇的戲服，那些演員穿的戲服，戴著頭飾都漂亮極了。 However, I really like the costumes of Chinese operas. The costumes and headgear of the actors are very beautiful.
即使跑龍套的戲服也都很華麗。 對吧？
Even the performers in minor roles were in colorful costumes. Right?
沒錯！ 那些演員可以穿那麼多， 還能翻跟鬥，做舞蹈動作，跑來跑去的真厲害！
That’s right! Those actors can wear that much, do somersaults, do dance moves, and run around! 那些演員可是訓練了很多年才能在舞臺上表演呢 Those actors have been trained for years to perform on stage
不過，鑼鼓喧天的聲音我可受不了，太大聲。 …
However, I couldn’t stand the loud guns and drums. it’s too loud.
可是，觀賞國劇的觀眾就喜歡這種熱鬧的氣氛。
Yet, audiences that appreciate Chinese opera love that kind of lively atmosphere.
對呀！ 一邊舞蹈，一邊唱歌演員不會很累嗎？
Yes! Wouldn’t it be tiring for an actor to sing while dancing?
所以要當一個國劇演員就更難了！
So it’s even more difficult to be a Chinese drama actor!
的確，他們太厲害了。Indeed, they are awesome.

觀賞國劇Appreciating Chinese Opera

昨天和朋友一起去看了一齣國劇。

Yesterday, I went with a friend to see a Chinese opera.

你覺得怎麼樣？ 喜歡嗎？

What did you think?  Did you like it?

我第一次觀賞國劇，根本看不懂。

It was the first time I saw a Chinese opera.  I didn’t understand it at all.

國劇多半是演歷史上忠、孝、節、義的故事。

Chinese opera usually dramatizes Chinese historical stories about loyalty, filial piety, fidelity and the right eousness.

那些演員穿的戲服，戴著頭飾都漂亮極了。

The costume and the head dresses worn by the performers were extremely beautiful

即使跑龍套的戲服也都很華麗。

Even the performers in minor roles were in colorful costumes.

不過，鑼鼓喧天的聲音我可受不了。

However, I couldn’t stand the loud guns and drums.

可是，觀賞國劇的觀眾就喜歡這種熱鬧的氣氛。

Yet, audiences that appreciate Chinese opera love that kind of lively atmosphere.