Mandarin Chinese for Beginners. Yi Ren

(from a poem): Even when far from each other, true friends’ deep understanding of each other brings a distant land closer.

      Here is a well-known Tang (618–907) poem. Chinese often cite the last two sentences to encourage young people or friends.

      ASCENDING THE STORK TOWER

       by Wang Zhi Huan

      The dimming sun sags into the far peaks;

      The Yellow River glides into the Bohai Sea. . . .

      I yearn to climb to a higher story, and exhaust my eyes

      In gazing out over a thousand li.*

Dēng guàn què lóu登 鸛 雀 樓
				Wáng Zhī Huàn王 之 渙
Bái	rì	yī	shān	jìn,
白	日	依	山	盡，
huáng	hé	rù	hǎi	liú.
黃	河	入	海	流。
Yù	qióng	qiān	lǐ	mù,
欲	窮	千	里	目，
gèng	shàng	yī	céng	lóu.
更	上	一	層	樓。

      * li = a half kilometer

       Suggestions

      As in most western countries, when people get together or attend a party in China, they often like to share drinks. Long ago, wine wasn’t popular in China. Chinese preferred to drink liquors, normally called 白酒 bái jiǔ in Chinese. But since China opened its doors to the western world, western-style wines, both red and white, have also been welcomed by Chinese, especially by the younger generation. White wine should, strictly speaking, be translated into Chinese as 白葡萄酒 bái pú táo jiǔ. But more often, for convenience, Chinese just use the shortened term “白酒 bái jiǔ” to order white wine, instead of saying 白葡萄酒 bái pú táo jiǔ. As a foreigner in China, you need to know the difference between 白葡萄酒 bái pú táo jiǔ and 白酒 bái jiǔ. If you don’t want to drink Chinese liquor, the literal “白酒 bái jiǔ,” at an event, a party or a restaurant, you need to make sure that your order for wine is clear…it is safest to say “I would like to have a glass of 白葡萄酒 bái pú táo jiǔ.”

      On Chinese New Year (or The Spring Festival, which is the term Chinese people prefer to use), if you are invited to a Chinese friend’s home, you not only need to bring a present to the family, but if you want to follow Chinese tradition you also need to buy some small red envelopes, put some money inside and bring them with you—especially if you’re visiting a household that has young children. This gift is a long-held Chinese tradition, one that’s been passed from generation to generation. At Chinese New Year, parents will give each of their unmarried children a small red envelope with some money. This is called 给红包 gěi hóng bāo. The money itself is called 压岁钱 yā suì qián, and represents parents’ hopes for their children to be happy, healthy, and safe in the upcoming year.

       Do You Know?

      ➊ Who was the first person to sail overseas in Chinese history? And when?

      ➋ Who was the first student from China to graduate from an Ivy League university? When—and which university was it?

       See you later!