Hello, language learners! In this video, we're going to take a helpful approach to learning Chinese by using a real post from Weibo. By reading what Chinese people are reading every day, you'll gain valuable insights into Chinese culture and language use that you won't find in a textbook. Get ready to immerse yourself in the language and take your skills to new heights!
This is the post we'll be analyzing together, with a focus on the vocabulary and grammar used.
【#Nǐ de gōngwèi shì shénme fēnggé de#?】 Gōngwèi yě suànshì zìjǐ de yīfāng xiǎo tiāndì
【#你的工位是什么风格的#？】工位也算是自己的一方小天地。
【#What style is your workspace?#】 A workspace is also a small world of your own.
"A 算 B" (A suàn B)
The structure "a 算 b" (a suàn b) means "a counts as b" or "a is considered as b" in English. It indicates that one thing or action can be seen as another. For instance, in the sentence "工位也算是自己的一方小天地" (gōngwèi yě suàn shì zìjǐ de yī fāng xiǎo tiān dì), the word "算" (suàn) is used to convey that a workspace can be seen as one's own little world. The sentence can be translated as "Y #What style is your workspace?#"our workspace is like your own little world.
yǒu wǎngyǒu jiù #bǎ gōngwèi gǎizào chéng le hǎijǐng fáng#.
有网友就#把工位改造成了海景房#。
Some netizens even #transform their workspace into a sea view room#.
"Verb + 成" (v + chéng)
The structure "verb + 成" (v + chéng) is used to indicate a change of state or transformation. It is often used to describe a process of becoming something or reaching a certain state. The word "成" (chéng) means "to become" or "to turn into" in this context.
In the sentence 有网友就#把工位改造成了海景房# (yǒu wǎngyǒu jiù #bǎ gōngwèi gǎizào chéng le hǎijǐng fáng#), "改造成" (gǎizào chéng) is an example of this structure. Here, the verb "改造" (gǎizào) means "to transform" or "to renovate," and the 成 (chéng) indicates the change or transformation that the workspace underwent - from an ordinary workspace to a space that looks like a sea view room. The sentence can be translated as "Some netizens have transformed their workspace into a sea view room."
máopī, līng bāo shàng xià bān, jí jiǎn fēng gé
毛坯，拎包上下班，极简风格
Roughcast, commuting with just a bag, minimalist style.
毛坯，拎包上下班，极简风格 máopī, līng bāo shàng xià bān, jí jiǎn fēng gé
The first word "毛坯" (máopī) means "roughcast" or "bare shell," referring to a newly constructed building or property that has not been decorated or finished.
The phrase "拎包上下班" (līnɡ bāo shànɡ xià bān) means "to commute with just a bag," implying that someone has everything they need in a bag and does not need to have any additional items at work.
The phrase "极简风格" (jí jiǎn fēnggé) means "minimalist style."
Putting these phrases together, It could be describing a minimalist workstation that only includes essential items, making it easy to set up and start working without needing many additional decorations or furnishings.
bā tái píng tì, shéi lái dōu děi bǎi huìr lóng mén zhèn
吧台平替，谁来都得摆会儿龙门阵
My workstation is a bar counter substitute, whoever comes will have a chat.
平替 píng tì \Dupes (product) 摆龙门阵 bǎi lóng mén zhèn Casual conversation or chatting
平替 (píng tì) refers to finding a cheaper substitute for a more expensive brand-name product while maintaining similar quality or experience. It is often used to describe the act of searching for and purchasing cost-effective alternatives to high-end products. The term emphasizes the importance of cost-effectiveness, or getting a product with a good performance-to-price ratio.
"(我的工位是)吧台平替" This could be interpreted as the workspace having a similar functional design or layout as a bar counter, allowing the person to use it in a similar way as they would use a bar counter.This implies that the person has transformed their workspace into a bar-like setting.
摆龙门阵 (bǎi lóng mén zhèn) is a slang term used in the Sichuan and Chongqing regions of China, which refers to chatting or having a casual conversation. The term originated from the habit of locals gathering and chatting under the gate of a courtyard, called "龙门子" (lóng mén zǐ), in their leisure time. As a result, chatting under the "龙门子"(lóng mén zǐ) became known as "摆龙门阵" (bǎi lóng mén zhèn). Over time, the term's meaning has expanded to include any casual conversation or chatting in general.
"谁来都得摆会儿龙门阵"(shéi lái dōu děi bǎi huì er lóng mén zhèn), means that whoever comes to their workstation will have a chat with them.
Lǜzhí lāmǎn, zhěnggè bàngōngshì lǜhuà lǜjìlǜ jiù kào wǒ.
绿植拉满，整个办公室绿化率就靠我
With enough plants in my workspace, the entire office's greenery ratio depends on me
The phrase "拉满" (lā mǎn)
is frequently used in esports to describe reaching the maximum or full potential of a skill, data, or operation, often referred to as a "full pull" or "max out." This term has now extended beyond the esports community and is more widely used in various fields to describe optimizing or maximizing a particular aspect or feature.
The structure "A靠B" (A kào B)
in Chinese can be translated to "A depends on B" or "A relies on B." It suggests that A requires the support or assistance of B in order to achieve a certain goal or outcome.
"绿植拉满，整个办公室绿化率就靠我" means "With enough plants in my workstation, the entire office's greenery ratio depends on me."
bù shì wénjiàn jiù shì biànjiān, yī pài shūxiāng shìjiā
不是文件就是便笺，一派书香世家
either documents or memos, a family of scholars.
不是……就是…… (bù shì... jiù shì...)
is a Chinese structure that means "If it's not... then it's...". It is often used to present two options or possibilities, implying that there are no other alternatives.
不是文件就是便笺 (bù shì wénjiàn jiù shì biànjiān) is a specific example of the "不是……就是……" (If it's not... then it's...) construction. In this context, it means "If it's not a document, then it's a memo."
书香世家 (shū xiāng shì jiā)
is a Chinese idiom that refers to a family of scholars or a household with a strong tradition of learning and scholarship. It can be translated to "a family of scholarly refinement" or "a household of intellectual pursuit."
不是文件就是便笺，一派书香世家
either documents or memos, (my workstation looks like the place of )a family of scholars.
tuō xié rù zi U xíng zhěn, bàn gōng shì jiù shì wǒ de jiā.
拖鞋褥子U型枕，办公室就是我的家
Slippers, a sleeping mat, and a U-shaped pillow - the office is my home.
拖鞋褥子U型枕，办公室就是我的家
In China, a 褥子 (rù zi) is a common type of bedding that provides cushioning and insulation between the body and hard surfaces like beds or floors. It's typically a padded quilt made from cloth and filled with soft materials like down or cotton. It's often used as a sleeping mat.
An U-shaped pillow, known as U型枕 (U xíng zhěn), is designed to provide support and comfort to the neck and head, especially while sitting up or travelling.
The sentence 拖鞋褥子U型枕，办公室就是我的家 “ tuō xié rù zi U xíng zhěn, bàn gōng shì jiù shì wǒ de jiā. means "With slippers, a sleeping mat, and a U-shaped pillow, the office is my home."
cóng zǎo chá dào yè shì, wǒ yǒng bù dǎ yāng.
从早茶到夜市，我永不打烊
From morning tea to night market, I never close
早茶 (zǎo chá) refers to a Cantonese-style morning tea or brunch that is popular in southern China It is a social event where family and friends gather to chat and enjoy a wide variety of dim sum and other small dishes. The dishes are usually served in small portions, making it easy to sample a wide range of flavors. In Hong Kong, many restaurants and tea houses specialize in serving 早茶, and it has become an important part of the city's culinary culture.
夜市 (yè shì) are night markets that are popular in many parts of Asia, They typically open in the evening and feature a wide range of food, drink, and merchandise vendors. Visitors can stroll through the market, try different foods, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. 夜市 are often associated with street food culture and are a great way to sample local cuisine.
The term "打烊" (dǎ yàng) means to close up shop or to stop business operations for the day. It's often used in the context of stores or businesses, particularly those with set opening and closing hours.It can also be used to refer to the act of closing up shop or turning off the lights. In some cultures, such as in Taiwan and Hong Kong, it is customary to use the phrase "打烊" to politely indicate that it is time for customers to finish their transactions and leave the premises.
从早茶到夜市，我永不打烊
From morning tea to night market, I never close
As we come to the end of this lesson, I hope you have enjoyed learning about Chinese vocabulary and culture through an authentic post from Weibo. Remember that language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to fluency. So keep practicing, keep exploring, and keep immersing yourself in the rich world of Chinese language and culture.
As Alice said, "It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then." So embrace your progress and look forward to the exciting possibilities that await you on your language learning journey. Thank you for joining us today, and we look forward to seeing you in the next video.
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