Podcasts about Li Ming

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Balancing Tradition and Tech at the Beijing Museum's Exhibit Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-04-05-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北京的自然历史博物馆内，春天的气息弥漫，外面樱花盛开。En: In the Beijing Museum of Natural History, the scent of spring permeates, and cherry blossoms are blooming outside.Zh: 博物馆里，李明正忙碌地走来走去。En: Inside the museum, Li Ming is busily walking back and forth.Zh: 他是一位充满热情的策展人，对文化传统充满敬意。En: He is an enthusiastic curator full of respect for cultural traditions.Zh: 他的任务是确保一个关于中国古代文物的重要展览顺利开幕。En: His task is to ensure the successful opening of an important exhibition on ancient Chinese artifacts.Zh: 清明节快到了，李明知道，尊重祖先和文化是这个展览的核心。En: With the Qingming Festival approaching, Li Ming knows that respecting ancestors and culture is the core of this exhibition.Zh: 但就在开幕前几天，送来的关键文物出现了问题，无法按时到达。En: However, just a few days before the opening, a problem arose with the crucial artifacts, and they could not arrive on time.Zh: 陈伟和张兰都是他的团队成员，他们也开始担心起来。En: Chen Wei and Zhang Lan, both members of his team, also began to worry.Zh: 陈伟走到李明身边，说：“李明，我们需要一个计划。En: Chen Wei approached Li Ming and said, "Li Ming, we need a plan.Zh: 我们不能迟疑了。En: We can't hesitate any longer."Zh: ”李明点点头，他知道展览不能取消，但也不能违背传统。En: Li Ming nodded, knowing that the exhibition could not be canceled, but traditions could not be compromised either.Zh: 于是，他决定让全队一起想办法。En: So, he decided to involve the entire team in brainstorming.Zh: 张兰提议，“我们可以利用现代技术，比如做一些互动展示。En: Zhang Lan suggested, "We can use modern technology, like creating some interactive displays."Zh: ”全队开始动脑筋，他们用心设计了一些创新的展览方案，比如利用投影技术展示这些文物的历史故事。En: The whole team began brainstorming, and they meticulously designed some innovative exhibition plans, such as using projection technology to showcase the historical stories of these artifacts.Zh: 李明和他的团队熬夜加班，用新的方式传达文化的深刻意义。En: Li Ming and his team worked overtime, using new methods to convey the profound meaning of culture.Zh: 在开幕当天，尽管部分文物还在路上，展览大厅里依然充满了活力。En: On the opening day, even though some artifacts were still on the way, the exhibition hall was filled with energy.Zh: 参观者被现代科技与古代历史的交融所吸引。En: Visitors were drawn to the fusion of modern technology and ancient history.Zh: 李明看着，感到欣慰。En: Li Ming watched and felt gratified.Zh: 他明白，现代的科技并不会削弱传统，反而可以更好地展示传统的魅力。En: He understood that modern technology does not weaken tradition but can instead better showcase its charm.Zh: 展览成功开幕，李明和团队欣喜不已。En: The exhibition successfully opened, and Li Ming and the team were overjoyed.Zh: 这次经历让他意识到，传统与创新是可以共存的。En: This experience made him realize that tradition and innovation can coexist.Zh: 他学会了在现代需求和传统尊重之间找到平衡。En: He learned how to find a balance between modern needs and respect for tradition.Zh: 在博物馆的外面，樱花在晚风中轻轻摇曳，李明在心中默默感谢这个充满挑战的春天。En: Outside the museum, the cherry blossoms gently swayed in the evening breeze, and Li Ming silently thanked this challenging spring in his heart. Vocabulary Words:permeates: 弥漫curator: 策展人artifacts: 文物exhibition: 展览Qingming Festival: 清明节approaching: 快到ancestors: 祖先core: 核心crucial: 关键hesitate: 迟疑canceled: 取消compromised: 违背brainstorming: 动脑筋interactive: 互动meticulously: 用心innovative: 创新projection: 投影showcase: 展示profound: 深刻gratified: 欣慰weaken: 削弱charm: 魅力overjoyed: 欣喜experience: 经历realize: 意识到coexist: 共存balance: 平衡needs: 需求respect: 尊重swayed: 摇曳

救援队伍和物资紧急驰援缅甸地震灾区 China has ramped up efforts to assist Myanmar in its rescue and relief operations, sending supplies and rescue teams to disaster-affected areas, after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Southeast Asian country on Friday, followed by multiple aftershocks.在上周五7.9级强震和多次余震袭击缅甸后，中国加大对缅甸救灾援助力度，向灾区派出物资和救援队。 President Xi Jinping extended condolences on Saturday to Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing. In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the strong earthquake, which resulted in heavy casualties and extensive loss of property in Myanmar.习近平主席周六向缅甸领导人敏昂莱致慰问电。他表示，惊悉缅甸发生强烈地震，造成重大人员伤亡和大量财产损失。 On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned the deceased, extended sincere condolences to their bereaved families, and offered sincere sympathies to the injured and others affected by the disaster.习近平代表中国政府和人民，对遇难者表示沉痛哀悼，向遇难者家属致以诚挚慰问，向伤者和其他受灾群众致以诚挚慰问。 China and Myanmar are a community of shared future, sharing weal and woe, and the two peoples have a profound fraternal friendship, Xi said, adding that China is ready to provide more assistance and continue to support efforts to help Myanmar overcome the disaster and rebuild homes at an early date.习近平表示，中缅是休戚与共的命运共同体，两国人民情谊深厚。中方愿继续提供更多援助，继续支持缅方战胜灾情、早日重建家园。 Premier Li Qiang also extended his condolences on Saturday to Min Aung Hlaing over the earthquake.国务院总理李强同日也向敏昂莱表示慰问。 As of noon on Sunday, the death toll in Myanmar had climbed to about 1,700, with another 3,400 people injured and 300 missing, according to the country's State Administration Council.据缅甸国家管理委员会称，截至周日中午，缅甸死亡人数已升至约 1700 人，另有 3400 人受伤，300 人失踪。 The areas most severely hit by the earthquake and its aftershocks, including Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, and the country's capital, Nay Pyi Daw, have seen widespread damage to infrastructure, with hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble, according to reports.据报道，地震和余震最严重的地区，包括缅甸第二大城市曼德勒和首都内比都，基础设施遭到大面积破坏，数百栋建筑被夷为平地。 At 7:38 pm on Sunday, a China International Search and Rescue team, comprising 118 personnel and six rescue dogs, departed from Beijing for Nay Pyi Daw to assist in disaster relief efforts, according to the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management.据中国应急管理部称，中国国际救援队于周日19时38分从北京出发前往内比都协助救灾工作。该支救援队由 118 名人员和 6 只搜救犬组成。 The team, equipped with two rescue vehicles and 634 pieces of rescue equipment, as well as medical supplies, is scheduled to head to other areas struck by the earthquake from Nay Pyi Daw.该救援队携带两辆救援车、634 件救援设备以及医疗用品，计划从内比都出发前往其他地震灾区。 On Saturday morning, a 37-member rescue and medical team from China's Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar and was also hit by the earthquake, arrived in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, with emergency relief equipment. It was the first international team to reach Myanmar.周六上午，一支由 37 名成员组成的中国云南省救援和医疗队携带紧急救援设备抵达缅甸最大城市仰光。云南省与缅甸接壤，也遭受了地震袭击。这是首支抵达缅甸的国际救援队。 The team proceeded to Nay Pyi Daw, where it joined rescue operations alongside local emergency responders at 6:30 pm on Saturday. After overnight efforts, at 5 am on Sunday, the team rescued an elderly man who was trapped under the rubble of a local hospital for nearly 40 hours.救援队随后前往内比都，并于于周六18时30分与当地紧急救援人员共同参与救援行动。经过一夜的努力，周日凌晨 5 点，救援队救出了一名被困在当地一家医院废墟下近 40 小时的老人。 Several other groups from China, including an 82-member national team, three civil teams and a team from the Red Cross Society of China, joined the search and rescue operations in Myanmar over the weekend.上周末，中国其他几支救援队也陆续加入了缅甸的搜救行动，包括一支 82 人的国家救援队、三支民间救援队和一支中国红十字会救援队。 On Sunday afternoon, Yunnan sent approximately 7.3 metric tons of daily necessities and rescue supplies, including instant noodles, clothes, medicines and tents, which were transported by air from the provincial capital of Kunming to Yangon.周日下午，云南省向缅甸提供了约7.3吨的生活必需品和救援物资，包括方便面、衣物、药品和帐篷，这些物资已从省会昆明空运至仰光。 Li Ming, spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said on Saturday that the Chinese government has pledged 100 million yuan ($13.77 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to support earthquake relief efforts at the request of Myanmar's government.中国国际发展合作署发言人李明周六表示，应缅甸政府请求，中国政府已承诺提供1亿元人民币（1377万美元）的紧急人道主义援助，以支持缅甸抗震救灾工作。 China will provide urgently needed supplies including tents, blankets, first-aid kits, food and drinking water, which were scheduled for delivery on Monday. Further assistance will be provided based on Myanmar's needs, Li added.中国将提供急需的物资，包括帐篷、毛毯、急救包、食物和饮用水，这些物资计划于周一送达。李明补充说，未来中方将根据缅甸需求提供进一步的援助。 Meanwhile, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Tonga, an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, at 1:18 am on Monday local time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.与此同时，据中国地震台网中心称，北京时间周一凌晨1时18分，西南太平洋岛国汤加发生7.3级地震。 disaster-affected areas灾区aftershock余震condolencen. 慰问bereavedadj. 丧失亲人的share weal and woe休戚与共，福祸相依fraternalAdj. 兄弟般的rubblen. 碎石，瓦砾

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Desert Dilemma: Li Ming's Journey to Self-Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-03-19-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在春天的戈壁沙漠，天地一片开阔，黄沙如海浪翻滚。En: In the springtime, the Gobi Desert stretches out vast and open, with yellow sands rolling like ocean waves.Zh: 李明是一位地质学家，他喜欢探索古老的化石。En: Li Ming is a geologist who loves exploring ancient fossils.Zh: 他总是怀疑自己的能力。En: He often doubts his own abilities.Zh: 和他一起在沙漠探险的还有陈伟和小兰。En: Accompanying him on his desert adventure are Chen Wei and Xiao Lan.Zh: 他们在沙漠的远方寻找古生物的痕迹。En: They are searching for traces of prehistoric life in the far reaches of the desert.Zh: 李明的目标是找到一种罕见的化石。En: Li Ming's goal is to find a rare fossil.Zh: 他希望能证明自己的能力，并在地质学界获得认可。En: He hopes to prove his abilities and gain recognition in the field of geology.Zh: 一天，他们离开营地，踏上了一段新的旅程。En: One day, they leave their camp and set off on a new journey.Zh: 沙漠在春天容易出现沙尘暴，但他们还是决定冒险一试。En: In spring, sandstorms are common in the desert, but they decide to take the risk and try their luck.Zh: 正当太阳在天空中高照时，突然风声大作，沙粒如雨般袭来。En: Just as the sun is high in the sky, suddenly, the wind picks up fiercely, and sand particles rain down like a storm.Zh: 沙尘暴袭击了他们，风暴迅速地包围了四周，视线在瞬间模糊。En: A sandstorm strikes them, quickly surrounding them and obscuring their vision.Zh: 陈伟喊道：“我们必须找到避难所！En: Chen Wei shouts, "We must find shelter!"Zh: ”李明心中纠结，他渴望找到化石，但也知道留在外面会很危险。En: Li Ming is torn, eager to find fossils but aware that staying outside could be dangerous.Zh: 他们试着寻找避难所，却在一片沙丘之间转来转去。En: They attempt to find shelter but find themselves wandering among the dunes.Zh: 就在风沙最猛烈之际，李明隐约看到了地上一块石头，那轮廓像是一块极为罕见的化石。En: Just as the wind and sand reach their peak, Li Ming catches sight of a stone on the ground, vaguely resembling a rare fossil.Zh: 他的心跳加速，手心冒汗。En: His heart races, and his palms become sweaty.Zh: 这是千载难逢的机会，可他也清楚继续留在这里可能意味着生命危险。En: It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet he knows that staying might mean risking their lives.Zh: 思考片刻，他决定放弃化石，带着伙伴迅速撤退。En: After a moment's thought, he decides to abandon the fossil and quickly retreat with his companions.Zh: 他们终于找到了一个临时避难的地方。En: They eventually find a temporary shelter.Zh: 风暴过后，李明望着远方，意识到自己的价值不仅仅是靠发现。En: After the storm, Li Ming gazes into the distance, realizing that his worth is not solely determined by discoveries.Zh: 他明白了生命和安全的重要性。En: He understands the importance of life and safety.Zh: 他们返回营地，彼此都感到轻松许多。En: They return to camp, all feeling much relieved.Zh: 经历这一劫难后，李明不再怀疑自己的决策能力。En: After experiencing this ordeal, Li Ming no longer doubts his decision-making abilities.Zh: 他与陈伟和小兰一起，把这次经历当成一堂宝贵的课，感激自己做出明智的选择。En: Together with Chen Wei and Xiao Lan, he regards this experience as a valuable lesson, grateful for having made a wise choice.Zh: 在戈壁的风沙中，李明学会了相信自己，明白了自我保护胜于外界的认可。En: Amidst the sands of the Gobi, Li Ming learns to trust himself, understanding that self-preservation is more important than external validation. Vocabulary Words:vast: 开阔exploring: 探索fossils: 化石traces: 痕迹prehistoric: 古生物的recognition: 认可sandstorms: 沙尘暴particles: 沙粒obscuring: 模糊shelter: 避难所eager: 渴望resembling: 像sweaty: 冒汗opportunity: 机会retreat: 撤退temporary: 临时ordeal: 劫难trust: 相信self-preservation: 自我保护validation: 认可dunes: 沙丘reaches: 远方journey: 旅程strikes: 袭来fiercely: 大作torn: 纠结vaguely: 隐约abandon: 放弃decision-making: 决策

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Guardians of the Great Wall: Li Ming's Heroic Stand Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-03-17-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 清明节的早晨，长城在春天的阳光下波光粼粼。En: On the morning of the Qingming Festival, the Great Wall shimmered under the spring sunlight.Zh: 李明站在厚重的石头墙上，环视着绿色的山丘和点缀其中的樱花。En: Li Ming stood on the thick stone wall, gazing at the green hills dotted with cherry blossoms.Zh: 风中传来花香，他深吸一口气，觉得自己是帝国的一部分，保护着这片土地。En: The scent of flowers wafted on the breeze, and he took a deep breath, feeling himself to be part of the empire, protecting this land.Zh: 李明是一位忠诚的士兵，负责守卫长城。En: Li Ming was a loyal soldier responsible for guarding the Great Wall.Zh: 他和朋友陈一起站岗。En: He was on duty with his friend Chen.Zh: 陈总是小心翼翼，对周围的一切保持警惕。En: Chen was always cautious, keeping a watchful eye on everything around him.Zh: "李明，那个商人王又来了，他经常带来奇怪的消息。"陈低语道。En: " Li Ming, that merchant Wang is here again, he often brings strange news," Chen whispered.Zh: 李明点点头，继续观察。En: Li Ming nodded and continued to observe.Zh: 王是个聪明但略显狡诈的商人，经常来长城出售物品。En: Wang was a clever but somewhat cunning merchant who frequently came to the Great Wall to sell goods.Zh: 他的举止有时让李明感到不安，但他并未怀疑更多。En: His manner sometimes made Li Ming uneasy, but he did not suspect him further.Zh: 直到有一天，李明发现王和一个陌生人低声交谈，交换信件。En: Until one day, Li Ming discovered Wang speaking in low tones with a stranger, exchanging letters.Zh: 李明心生疑虑，决定采取行动。En: Doubts arose in Li Ming's mind, and he decided to take action.Zh: 他没有告诉任何人，包括他最好的朋友陈，因为他担心这里可能有叛徒。En: He told no one, not even his best friend Chen, because he feared there might be a traitor among them.Zh: 当夜幕降临时，李明悄悄跟踪王，目睹他和外国间谍交接信件。En: As night fell, Li Ming quietly followed Wang, witnessing him exchanging letters with a foreign spy.Zh: 李明果断地走上前，质问王："你在做什么？"En: Li Ming decisively stepped forward and confronted Wang, "What are you doing?"Zh: 王的脸色猛然一变，手足无措。En: Wang's face suddenly changed, and he was at a loss.Zh: 在激烈的对峙中，王承认了对皇帝的阴谋。En: In the intense confrontation, Wang confessed to the plot against the emperor.Zh: 李明用计俘获了王，并收集证据带回去。En: Li Ming cleverly captured Wang and gathered evidence to take back.Zh: 回到军营，李明把事情告诉了上级。En: Back at the military camp, Li Ming reported the matter to his superiors.Zh: 由于他的机智和勇敢，阴谋被成功粉碎。En: Because of his wit and bravery, the conspiracy was successfully thwarted.Zh: 皇帝知道后，大大赞赏李明的忠诚，并给予了他奖赏。En: Upon learning of this, the emperor greatly praised Li Ming's loyalty and rewarded him.Zh: 长城依旧在春风中屹立，樱花依旧在山间绽放。En: The Great Wall continued to stand firm in the spring breeze, and the cherry blossoms continued to bloom among the hills.Zh: 李明不再只是一个普通的卫兵，他成为了帝国的英雄。En: Li Ming was no longer just an ordinary guard; he became a hero of the empire.Zh: 他学会了更加谨慎，并且因表现出的勇气和忠诚而闻名。En: He learned to be more cautious and became renowned for the courage and loyalty he demonstrated.Zh: 从此，李明继续守护着长城，心中充满了对帝国的爱和信仰。En: From then on, Li Ming continued to guard the Great Wall, his heart filled with love and faith for the empire.Zh: 清明节的清晨再临，他知道自己还有很多事情要做，为了帝国的安宁而继续努力。En: As the morning of the Qingming Festival arrived again, he knew there was still much to do, continuing his efforts for the peace of the empire. Vocabulary Words:shimmered: 波光粼粼gazing: 环视blossoms: 樱花scent: 花香breeze: 风中loyal: 忠诚duties: 站岗merchant: 商人cautious: 小心翼翼watchful: 警惕strange: 奇怪suspect: 怀疑plot: 阴谋conspiracy: 阴谋traitor: 叛徒stepped forward: 走上前confronted: 质问witnessing: 目睹capture: 俘获evidence: 证据superiors: 上级wit: 机智thwarted: 粉碎praise: 赞赏rewarded: 奖赏faith: 信仰renowned: 闻名ordinary: 普通efforts: 努力peace: 安宁

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Li Ming's Brushstrokes of Courage: A Tale of Artistic Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-03-08-23-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 国立艺术博物馆宏伟壮观，冬日的阳光透过高高的窗户，将金色光芒洒在馆内的每一处角落。En: The National Art Museum is grand and magnificent, with the winter sunlight streaming through the tall windows, casting golden rays into every corner of the museum.Zh: 这里正举办一场激烈的艺术比赛，吸引了来自各地的艺术爱好者。En: An intense art competition is taking place here, attracting art enthusiasts from all over.Zh: 李明是一位充满梦想的年轻画家，她正在迎来人生中第一次艺术比赛。En: Li Ming is a young painter full of dreams, facing her first art competition in life.Zh: 她站在自己的画作前，感到有些紧张。En: She stands in front of her painting, feeling somewhat nervous.Zh: 她的作品是关于冬季的一个宁静小镇，画中白雪皑皑，屋顶覆盖着厚厚的雪，宛若童话世界。En: Her piece depicts a tranquil winter town, with snow-covered landscape, roofs blanketed in thick snow, reminiscent of a fairy tale world.Zh: 李明希望通过这次比赛向家人证明，艺术并不只是一个不切实际的爱好，而是一种值得追求的生活方式。En: Li Ming hopes to prove to her family through this competition that art is not just an unrealistic hobby, but a way of life worth pursuing.Zh: 然而，周围的竞争对手让李明感到压力。En: However, the surrounding competitors pressure Li Ming.Zh: 尤其是赵雷，他的作品总是充满活力，色彩鲜艳。En: Particularly, Zhao Lei, whose works are always vibrant and colorful.Zh: 他是比赛中备受期待的选手，许多人都认为他会夺得第一。En: He is the contestant highly anticipated to win, and many believe he will take the first prize.Zh: 李明不禁比较自己的画作，觉得自己的作品似乎黯然失色，心里充满了自我怀疑。En: Li Ming can't help but compare her own painting, feeling that her work seems to pale in comparison, filling her heart with self-doubt.Zh: 比赛即将开始，李明站在展厅一角，心中挣扎着。En: As the competition is about to start, Li Ming stands in a corner of the exhibition hall, struggling internally.Zh: 她是否应该改变自己的作品，去模仿赵雷那样成功的风格呢？En: Should she change her work to imitate Zhao Lei's successful style?Zh: 但那样一来，自己的作品就不再是真正的自己了，她犹豫不决。En: But in doing so, her work would no longer be genuinely hers, leaving her undecided.Zh: 决赛日，评委们走进了展厅。En: On the final day, the judges enter the exhibition hall.Zh: 李明深吸一口气，最终决定坚持原作。En: Li Ming takes a deep breath, finally deciding to stick with her original work.Zh: 她相信自己的作品有独特的价值，就算不能赢得比赛，也要让评委看到自己的真诚。En: She believes her piece has unique value, even if it doesn't win the competition, she wants the judges to see her sincerity.Zh: 评审结果揭晓，正如所料，赵雷赢得了比赛。En: The competition results are announced, and as expected, Zhao Lei wins.Zh: 李明虽然略感失落，但欣慰的是她没有违背自己的内心。En: Although Li Ming feels slightly disappointed, she's relieved she didn't betray her own heart.Zh: 在宣布结果后，一位评委单独找到了李明。En: After the results were announced, a judge approached her individually.Zh: 他告诉她，她的画作让他印象深刻，想要邀请她参与一次特别展览。En: He told her that her painting left a strong impression on him and invited her to participate in a special exhibition.Zh: 这个机会令李明惊喜不已，她没想到自己的作品还能得到这样的认可。En: This opportunity delighted Li Ming, surprising her that her work could receive such recognition.Zh: 家人也开始理解她的追求，并为她感到骄傲。En: Her family also began to understand her pursuit and felt proud of her.Zh: 李明明白了，虽然没有赢得比赛，但她赢得了对自我的肯定和对艺术的坚持。En: Li Ming realized that although she didn't win the competition, she gained self-affirmation and persistence in art.Zh: 她学会了，真诚地表达自己，比迎合他人更为重要。En: She learned that expressing oneself truthfully is more important than catering to others.Zh: 比赛的结局，让她更加坚定地走在自己选择的道路上，怀揣对未来的希望，李明重燃热情，走向艺术的更广阔天地。En: The outcome of the competition strengthened her resolve to continue on her chosen path.Zh: 怀揣对未来的希望，李明重燃热情，走向艺术的更广阔天地。En: With hope for the future, Li Ming rekindled her passion and stepped forward into the broader world of art. Vocabulary Words:grand: 宏伟magnificent: 壮观streaming: 洒intense: 激烈competition: 比赛enthusiasts: 爱好者nervous: 紧张tranquil: 宁静landscape: 风景reminiscent: 宛若unrealistic: 不切实际pursuing: 追求pressure: 压力vibrant: 充满活力anticipated: 期待contestant: 选手pale: 黯然失色doubt: 怀疑imitate: 模仿genuinely: 真正sincerity: 真诚announced: 揭晓slightly: 略感opportunity: 机会recognition: 认可affirmation: 肯定persistence: 坚持expressing: 表达catering: 迎合rekindled: 重燃

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Serendipity in Snow: A Photographer's Unexpected Triumph Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-01-17-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 李明站在玉渊潭樱花园里，寒冷的风轻轻地拂过他的脸。En: Li Ming stood in Yuyuantan Cherry Blossom Garden, and the cold wind gently brushed across his face.Zh: 虽然是冬天，这里没有如春天般的樱花，但白雪覆盖的园子显得格外宁静美丽。En: Although it was winter and there were no cherry blossoms like in spring, the garden covered in white snow appeared particularly serene and beautiful.Zh: 春节快到了，园子里到处挂满了红灯笼和彩带，与白色的雪景形成鲜明的对比。En: Spring Festival was approaching, and the garden was filled with red lanterns and streamers, creating a stark contrast with the snowy landscape.Zh: 李明是一名摄影师，他总是很内向，默默地希望自己的作品能被人看到。En: Li Ming is a photographer, always introverted, silently hoping that his work could be seen by others.Zh: 他梦想着能拍下完美的冬日照片，然后投稿给一个著名的摄影比赛。En: He dreamed of capturing the perfect winter photograph and submitting it to a prestigious photography competition.Zh: 他今天特地来这片园子，为了寻找最佳的视角。En: He specifically came to this garden today, searching for the best angle.Zh: 他已经在人群中找到了一个不错的位置，心想：“今天一定要拍出一张杰作。En: He found a good spot amidst the crowd and thought to himself, "Today I must take a masterpiece."Zh: ”就在他寻找完美角度时，麻烦也接踵而至。En: Just as he was searching for the perfect angle, trouble followed.Zh: 游客们成群结队，纷纷挡住了他的镜头。En: Groups of tourists blocked his camera lens.Zh: 他试图耐心地等候，然而每次按下快门，总是会有意外的人影出现。En: He tried to wait patiently, but every time he pressed the shutter, a surprising silhouette would appear.Zh: 正当李明几近绝望时，一个身穿喜羊羊服装的人突然跳进他的画面。En: Just when Li Ming was nearly in despair, a person dressed in a Happy Sheep costume suddenly jumped into his frame.Zh: 那个人是春节的吉祥物，戴着大大的羊角，咧着嘴笑，仿佛是故意要抢镜头。En: This person was a festival mascot, wearing big sheep horns and grinning broadly, seemingly intending to photobomb.Zh: 李明无奈之下按下快门，一张有趣的照片诞生了。En: Reluctantly, Li Ming pressed the shutter, and an amusing photo was born.Zh: 那天晚上，李明查看自己的照片，本打算删掉这张闹剧般的照片，但他想起了好友魏的话：“有时候，意外才能让作品更有生命力。En: That evening, while reviewing his photos, Li Ming originally planned to delete this chaotic photo, but he remembered his friend Wei's words: "Sometimes, surprises can give a work more vitality."Zh: ”于是，李明决定破天荒地将这张照片投稿。En: So, Li Ming decided, incredibly, to submit this photo.Zh: 不久之后，惊喜的消息传来。En: Shortly after, a surprising message arrived.Zh: 李明的照片在网络上爆红，人们纷纷评论称赞：“这张照片太有趣了，完美地捕捉了节日欢乐的精神！En: Li Ming's photo went viral online, with people commenting their praise: "This photo is so interesting, it perfectly captures the joyful spirit of the festival!"Zh: ”组委会也给了他一个特别提名，表彰他捕捉到的“季节精神”。En: The committee also gave him a special nomination, recognizing his capture of the "spirit of the season."Zh: 李明站在颁奖台上，面对闪光灯和掌声，他心里充满了感慨。En: Li Ming stood on the award stage, facing the flashlights and applause, filled with deep emotions.Zh: 他明白了，不仅摄影如此，生活也充满了不可预知的惊喜。En: He understood that not only photography but life too is full of unpredictable surprises.Zh: 而接受这些美好的意外，才是成功的一部分。En: And accepting these beautiful accidents is part of success.Zh: 回过头望向玉渊潭樱花园，那曾许他宁静与梦想的地方，如今带给了他意想不到的成就和更多的可能性。En: Looking back at Yuyuantan Cherry Blossom Garden, the place that once promised him tranquility and dreams now brought him unexpected achievements and more possibilities. Vocabulary Words:serene: 宁静prestigious: 著名mascot: 吉祥物begrudgingly: 无奈unpredictable: 不可预知photobomb: 抢镜头introverted: 内向despair: 绝望sublime: 杰作vitality: 生命力submission: 投稿jumpped: 跳composure: 冷静costume: 服装intentional: 故意amusing: 有趣stark: 鲜明silhouette: 人影composition: 画面reluctantly: 无奈nomination: 提名applause: 掌声sunmitted: 投稿flashlights: 闪光灯possibilities: 可能性scenery: 雪景contemplate: 默想accident: 意外festival: 节日contrast: 对比

Klimatkris, urholkad demokrati och en epidemi av psykisk ohälsa – problemen som tornar upp sig i vår tid är massiva. Men kanske är lösningen enklare än vi tror? Vi måste helt enkelt börja hänga mer: tillbringa tid tillsammans utan större ambitioner än att vara med varandra. Här finns nyckeln till stora samhällsförändringar, därför borde detta vara vårt nyårslöfte: Att börja umgås mer! I boken "Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time" beskriver författaren Sheila Liming hängandets ädla konst och varför det förändrats i vår tid.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tea Tales and Inspiration: Connecting Hearts in Hangzhou Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2024-12-28-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬季的杭州有一种特别的魅力，寒冷的空气让茶馆的暖意更加显得珍贵。En: Winter in Hangzhou has a special charm; the cold air makes the warmth of the tea houses seem even more precious.Zh: 在西湖附近的一间传统茶馆，一场冬至茶会正在进行。En: In a traditional tea house near West Lake, a winter solstice tea party is taking place.Zh: 红灯笼悬挂于门前，朦胧的光线透过花窗洒在屋内，使得这片空间温馨而宁静。En: Red lanterns are hanging at the entrance, and the dim light filters through the flower windows, making the space both cozy and serene.Zh: 丰富的茶香在空气中弥漫，仿佛在邀请每一位客人留下片刻。En: The rich aroma of tea fills the air, as if inviting every guest to linger for a while.Zh: 李明坐在角落，手里捧着茶杯，沉思良久。En: Li Ming sits in a corner, holding a teacup, deep in thought.Zh: 他是一位内向的作家，来到杭州寻求灵感，想要突破写作的瓶颈。En: He is an introverted writer who came to Hangzhou seeking inspiration, hoping to break through a writing block.Zh: 可是，他常因过于专注于自己的世界而不善与人沟通。En: However, he often finds himself too engrossed in his own world to communicate well with others.Zh: 今夜，他答应了朋友金浩的建议，前来参加这场茶会。En: Tonight, he has agreed to his friend Jin Hao's suggestion to attend this tea gathering.Zh: 另一边，岳晨正热情地与邻座的客人交谈。En: On the other side, Yue Chen is enthusiastically chatting with the guests nearby.Zh: 她是社会学的学生，对文化传统情有独钟。En: She is a sociology student with a passion for cultural traditions.Zh: 岳晨在数字化的信息世界中感到有些迷失，所以她渴望真实的交流和理解。En: Yue Chen feels somewhat lost in the digital information age, and craves real communication and understanding.Zh: 尽管每个人都在忙于生活，但她始终在寻找与之分享这种热情的人。En: Despite everyone being busy with life, she is always looking for people who share her enthusiasm.Zh: 金浩是两位的共同朋友，也是这次活动的组织者。En: Jin Hao is a mutual friend of the two and also the organizer of this event.Zh: 他希望通过这样的聚会促进彼此的交流与认识。En: He hopes to promote interaction and acquaintance through such gatherings.Zh: 当他看到李明独自一人坐在角落时，便悄悄地示意岳晨过去。En: When he sees Li Ming sitting alone in a corner, he quietly signals Yue Chen to go over.Zh: 岳晨微笑着走向李明，轻声问：“你也对这些文化活动感兴趣吗？”En: Yue Chen walks to Li Ming with a smile and softly asks, "Are you also interested in these cultural activities?"Zh: 李明抬头，内心的犹豫在她的真诚笑容中逐渐消退。En: Li Ming looks up, and his internal hesitance gradually fades in her sincere smile.Zh: 他点点头，说道：“是的，这里的气氛让我想到了许多故事。”En: He nods and says, "Yes, the atmosphere here has brought many stories to my mind."Zh: 茶会在一片和谐的氛围中进行着，茶香与笑声交织。En: The tea party continues in a harmonious atmosphere, with the scent of tea mingling with laughter.Zh: 岳晨开始分享她家庭的冬至传统，如何一家人团聚，一同包饺子。En: Yue Chen begins to share her family's winter solstice traditions, how they gather to make dumplings together.Zh: 她谈到，小的时候，总是和家里的长辈们一起准备这节日的盛宴。En: She talks about how, when she was young, she always helped her elders prepare the holiday feast.Zh: 在那个时刻，所有人都需停下日常的忙碌，倾听彼此，感受爱与温暖。En: During that time, everyone paused their daily busyness to listen to each other and feel the love and warmth.Zh: 而李明也渐渐放下心中的顾虑，认真的聆听，仿佛从岳晨的故事中找到了小说新篇章的影子。En: Meanwhile, Li Ming gradually lets go of his concerns and listens attentively, finding the shadows of a new chapter for his novel in Yue Chen's stories.Zh: 茶会结束后，李明心中满是灵感，感激地对岳晨说：“谢谢你，我想我找到新的写作方向了。”En: After the tea party, Li Ming is filled with inspiration, gratefully saying to Yue Chen, "Thank you, I think I've found a new direction for my writing."Zh: 岳晨愉快地回应：“我也很高兴能与分享这些故事，我们下次再一起参加这样的活动吧。”En: Yue Chen happily responds, "I'm glad to share these stories with you. Let's attend more of these events together."Zh: 在这次茶会后，李明慢慢学会打开自己的心扉，去欣赏身边人的故事。En: Following this tea gathering, Li Ming slowly learns to open his heart and appreciate the stories of those around him.Zh: 而岳晨则通过与李明的交流，重燃了对文化交流的信心和热情。En: Yue Chen, in turn, rekindles her confidence and passion for cultural exchange through her interactions with Li Ming.Zh: 他们都有了新的改变，在这宁静的冬季晚上一同迎来了希望与启发。En: Both experience changes, greeting hope and inspiration together on this quiet winter evening. Vocabulary Words:charm: 魅力dim: 朦胧entrance: 门前linger: 留下片刻introverted: 内向engrossed: 专注enthusiastically: 热情sociology: 社会学craves: 渴望mutual: 共同signals: 示意hesitance: 犹豫harmonious: 和谐mingle: 交织chapter: 篇章feast: 盛宴pause: 停下attentively: 认真gratefully: 感激rekindle: 重燃acquaintance: 认识solstice: 冬至cozy: 温馨serene: 宁静aroma: 茶香inspiration: 灵感confidence: 信心traditions: 传统gathering: 聚会appreciate: 欣赏

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rainforest Dreams: Unearthing New Passions Among the Trees Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/rainforest-dreams-unearthing-new-passions-among-the-trees Story Transcript:Zh: 在南半球的春天，雨林里充满了新的活力和生机。En: In the springtime of the southern hemisphere, the rainforest is filled with new vitality and life.Zh: 天空时而晴，时而雨，那是个充满生机的季节。En: The sky alternates between clear and rainy, making it a season full of vibrancy.Zh: 李明、晓雨、和伟晨参加了一次学校组织的雨林实地考察。En: Li Ming, Xiaoyu, and Wei Chen participated in a rainforest field study organized by their school.Zh: 李明是个对生物多样性感兴趣的学生。En: Li Ming is a student interested in biodiversity.Zh: 他的家人希望他未来能从事传统的事业，但他心里一直有个梦想——成为一名植物学家。En: His family hopes he will pursue a traditional career in the future, but he has always dreamed of becoming a botanist.Zh: 他想在雨林中发现一种新植物，以此证明自己的热爱是值得的。En: He wants to discover a new plant in the rainforest to prove that his passion is worthwhile.Zh: 雨林里，绿意盎然。En: In the rainforest, the greenery is flourishing.Zh: 高高的树木遮住了阳光，只留下斑斑点点的光斑撒在地面上。En: Tall trees block the sunlight, leaving only specks of light scattered on the ground.Zh: 树上，小鸟欢快地唱歌，昆虫在树丛中飞舞。En: In the trees, birds sing joyfully, and insects fly among the foliage.Zh: 李明好奇地观察周围的一切，双眼闪烁着兴奋的光芒。En: Li Ming curiously observes everything around him, his eyes sparkling with excitement.Zh: 然而，雨林密密麻麻，湿度极高。En: However, the rainforest is dense and extremely humid.Zh: 李明感到走路越来越困难。En: Li Ming finds it increasingly difficult to walk.Zh: 他的朋友们不太关心植物，他们更喜欢观察动物和小溪。En: His friends are not very interested in plants; they prefer observing animals and streams.Zh: 李明心里有些着急，他想要发现不一样的东西。En: Li Ming feels a bit anxious, wanting to discover something different.Zh: 于是，他决定离开小路，深入森林。En: So, he decides to leave the path and venture deeper into the forest.Zh: 他知道这有风险，但他的好奇心战胜了恐惧。En: He knows this is risky, but his curiosity overcomes his fear.Zh: 他心里想着：“也许我会找到一种从未见过的植物。En: He thinks to himself, "Maybe I'll find a plant I've never seen before."Zh: ”不久之后，李明在灌木丛中发现了一株奇怪的植物。En: Before long, Li Ming discovers a strange plant among the bushes.Zh: 叶子鲜嫩，花朵有着独特的颜色。En: Its leaves are fresh, and the flowers have a unique color.Zh: 他感到心跳加速，细心记录下植物的样子。En: His heart races as he carefully documents its appearance.Zh: 他相信，这可能是一项新发现。En: He believes this might be a new discovery.Zh: 李明又兴奋又小心地采下一片叶子。En: Excited yet cautious, Li Ming picks a leaf.Zh: 然后，他返回到队伍中，心里充满信心。En: Then he returns to the group, filled with confidence.Zh: 他向伙伴们展示这片叶子，晓雨和伟晨也被他的兴奋感染了。En: He shows the leaf to his friends, and Xiaoyu and Wei Chen are infected by his excitement.Zh: "这是什么啊？En: "What is this?"Zh: "伟晨好奇地问。En: Wei Chen asks curiously.Zh: "我也不知道，但我想研究一下，"李明答道，脸上满是自信的微笑。En: "I don't know either, but I want to study it," Li Ming replies, a confident smile on his face.Zh: 晓雨和伟晨看了看对方，然后说："我们支持你！En: Xiaoyu and Wei Chen look at each other and then say, "We support you!"Zh: "从那天起，李明下定决心要追求自己的梦想。En: From that day on, Li Ming was determined to pursue his dream.Zh: 他的朋友们也支持他，他感觉自己更加有自信了。En: With his friends' support, he felt more confident.Zh: 他知道，自己的兴趣是值得去追求和珍惜的。En: He knew that his interest was worth pursuing and cherishing.Zh: 雨林里，春天的气息依旧浓郁，而李明，踏上了新的旅程，心中再也不惧怕前路的挑战。En: In the rainforest, the scent of spring remains strong, and Li Ming embarks on a new journey, no longer fearing the challenges ahead. Vocabulary Words:southern hemisphere: 南半球rainforest: 雨林vitality: 活力vibrancy: 生机biodiversity: 生物多样性traditional: 传统pursue: 追求botanist: 植物学家flourishing: 盎然scattered: 撒foliage: 树丛sparkling: 闪烁dense: 密密麻麻humid: 湿度anxious: 着急venture: 深入risky: 风险curiosity: 好奇心bushes: 灌木丛unique: 独特cautious: 小心document: 记录infected: 感染dream: 梦想cherishing: 珍惜scent: 气息embarks: 踏上journey: 旅程challenges: 挑战confident: 自信

Tune in to this week's episode of The Dirt as Mike Howell sits down with Dr. John Jones to discuss his new agronomic role at the University of Illinois and his important research in soil fertility and agronomy.   Take a close look at Dr. Jones' areas of research and the agronomic challenges he is helping producers solve. From the relationship between soil properties and nutrient use efficiency to soil acidity and liming recommendations, we dig into the research and trials that Jones is performing to support farmers across the state.   Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE with Host & America's #1 Take Action Success Coach & Strategist Lori Anne Casdia chats with Tammy Waldron about Your lifelong journey of personal healing and discovery. Pivotal moments stepping into the path of healing. Most common limiting beliefs; breaking free from constraints;  the power of vunerability; the role of theat healing; self-love and authenticity; living in alignmet and more. Tammy Waldron is the heart and soul behind Towanda Wellbeing, a place where vulnerability meets transformation. Adopted and on a lifelong journey of personal healing and discovery, Tammy knows firsthand the power of identifying and changing limiting beliefs and the courage it takes to step into your true self. Her mission? To create spaces where people do the deep work, the real work, that leads to lasting change. Through ThetaHealing, Healing Circles, and transformative workshops, Tammy offers connection, empathy, and a safe space to guides her clients on a path to self-love, authenticity, and freedom emotional burdens. She's here to ask the questions that make you pause, to challenge the stories you tell yourself, and to help you create a life that aligns with who you truly are. In this podcast, Tammy shares her journey, insights, and the magic that happens when you commit to your own healing.To Contact:www.towandawellbeing.com@towandawellbeingSee Coach Lori Anne on her TV show "TAKE ACTION WITH COACH LORI ANNE" - Roku, Amazon Fire, YouTube, Facebook, Linked In, X/Twitter.  Find us on BOLD BRAVE TV "TAKE ACTION WITH COACH LORI ANNE" every Thursday night at 7PM EST. Like and Follow to get announcements and alerts. Join the NEW TAKE ACTION ACADEMY COMMUNITY - FREE for the first 1000 MembersA Gift from Lori Anne: FREE 3 Steps To Cleaning Up Your Opens, Messes & Incompletes➡️ https://cd7d0cbc6a8f7696078f2b4c833d5a05.mykajabi.com/pl/2147660213Here is your access to Coach Lori Anne's Master Class:Vision & Goal Setting Master Class - Every First Friday of JanuaryActivation Board (vision board) Workshop - Every FebruarySpring into Action - Every AprilDream Big - Every NovemberOur Goal at Healthy Lifestyle is to empower minds, educate hearts, inspire action and ignite success so  you can choose to have a fulfilled Healthy, Emotional, Spiritual, and Physical life, to live the life you have always wanted and dreamedAbout Our HostShe's not just your average success guru; oh no, she's the guiding light on your journey to becoming the most vibrant, authentic version of yourself!Coach Lori Anne is America's #1 Take Action Success Coach & Strategist teaching founders and entrepreneurs how to put a sustainable business model under their dream and actualize their vision of success. Coach Lori Anne is a decision partner, delivering strategic distinctions, tailored tactics and key connections."As your coach, I make suggestions, You make decisions" ~ Coach Lori AnneCoach Lori Anne isn't just about boosting profits; she's on a mission to nurture your spirit, fuel your passions, and ignite the flames of growth within your soul. With a heart as expansive as the universe itself, she's dedicated to fostering a culture of love, kindness, and personal empowerment.Imagine a world where every setback is a stepping stone, every challenge a chance for growth, and every dream a seed waiting to bloom. That's the world Coach Lori Anne invites you to inhabit, where self-discovery is celebrated, and every moment is an opportunity to shine becoming the Next Best Version of Yourself.As a result of her work, Coach Lori Anne's clients grow their business anywhere of 75 to 200% over the course of 12-18 months.Through her gentle guidance and unwavering support, Coach Lori Anne helps you peel back the layers of self-doubt, revealing the radiant gem that lies within.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Li Ming's Heartfelt Journey: Blending Work and Tradition Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/li-mings-heartfelt-journey-blending-work-and-tradition Story Transcript:Zh: 秋天的长城，像一条巨龙蜿蜒在连绵起伏的山峦上，五彩斑斓的树叶装饰着它。En: In the autumn, the Great Wall stretches like a giant dragon over the rolling hills, adorned with multicolored leaves.Zh: 空气清新，隐约传来笛声，夹杂在树叶的沙沙声中。En: The air is fresh, with the faint sound of a flute mingling with the rustling of the leaves.Zh: 李明是一位细心的导游,En: Li Ming is a meticulous tour guide.Zh: 今天她要带领一群游客游览长城。En: Today, she is leading a group of tourists to explore the Great Wall.Zh: 她热爱这份工作，喜欢分享历史故事。En: She loves her job and enjoys sharing historical stories.Zh: 但是，心里还藏着一个小秘密——中秋节马上到了，她很想回家和家人团聚。En: However, she harbors a small secret—Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and she longs to return home and reunite with her family.Zh: 这一天的阳光很温暖，李明带领着一群外国游客，En: The sunlight is warm on this day as Li Ming leads a group of foreign tourists.Zh: 他们好奇地打量着这座古老的建筑。En: They are curiously observing this ancient construction.Zh: 张伟是其中一个，他对中国文化充满了浓厚的兴趣。En: Among them is Zhang Wei, who has a deep interest in Chinese culture.Zh: 李明开始介绍长城的历史：“长城是中国古代最伟大的建筑之一，始建于两千多年前……”En: Li Ming begins by introducing the history of the Great Wall: "The Great Wall is one of the greatest ancient constructions in China, built over two thousand years ago..."Zh: 她用生动的语言描述着一个个故事。En: She vividly describes the stories with lively language.Zh: 然而，一到休息时间，李明的脑海中浮现出母亲亲手制作的月饼、餐桌旁温暖的笑声，她难以分心。En: However, during the break, her mother's homemade mooncakes and the warm laughter around the dining table keep surfacing in her mind, making it hard to stay focused.Zh: 中秋节是家人团聚的节日，但她此刻正在这里，无法及时赶回家。En: The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions, yet she is here, unable to return home in time.Zh: 李明意识到，她可以将中秋节的元素融入到她的导游工作中。En: Li Ming realizes she can incorporate elements of the Mid-Autumn Festival into her guiding work.Zh: 于是，她从包里拿出几块月饼，邀请游客们品尝。En: So, she takes out a few mooncakes from her bag and invites the tourists to taste them.Zh: “这是我们中秋节特有的食品——月饼。”她微笑着解释，En: "These are special foods for the Mid-Autumn Festival—mooncakes," she explains with a smile.Zh: “因为它圆圆的，代表团圆。”En: "Because they are round, they symbolize reunion."Zh: 游客们兴奋地尝试着，脸上露出惊喜的表情。En: The tourists eagerly try them, their faces lighting up with surprise.Zh: 李明趁此机会讲起中秋节的传说，与大家分享家人的故事。En: Li Ming takes this opportunity to tell the legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival and shares stories about her family.Zh: 她说：“中秋节这天，人们会一起赏月，盼望家人平安。”En: She says, "On this day, people admire the moon together, hoping for the safety of their loved ones."Zh: 随着她的讲述，她感到内心的隔阂一点点消失。En: As she speaks, she feels the distance within her beginning to dissolve.Zh: 游客们也被她的真诚打动，纷纷分享各自的家庭故事。En: The tourists are touched by her sincerity and start sharing their own family stories.Zh: 终于，游览接近尾声。En: Finally, the tour comes to a close.Zh: 李明心满意足地结束了今天的导游工作。En: Li Ming finishes her guiding duties satisfied.Zh: 游客们对她表示感谢和祝福，特别是张伟，他说：“你让我感受到了节日的氛围，谢谢你！”En: The tourists express their gratitude and good wishes, especially Zhang Wei, who says, "You made me experience the festive atmosphere, thank you!"Zh: 当太阳缓缓落下，李明终于赶上了一趟车，回到家乡。En: As the sun sets slowly, Li Ming manages to catch a ride back to her hometown.Zh: 月亮挂在天上，她的心中泛起温暖的柔光。En: The moon hangs in the sky, casting a warm glow in her heart.Zh: 她的家人站在门前，等着她归来。En: Her family stands at the door, waiting for her return.Zh: 在月光下，李明终于和家人聚在一起。En: Under the moonlight, Li Ming is finally reunited with her family.Zh: 她懂得了工作与生活可以和谐美丽地结合。En: She understands now that work and life can blend harmoniously and beautifully.Zh: 她知道，心中有爱，任何时候，都能感受到家的温暖。En: She knows that with love in her heart, she can always feel the warmth of home. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋天stretches: 蜿蜒rolling: 连绵起伏adorned: 装饰meticulous: 细心harbors: 藏着curiously: 好奇地ancient: 古老construction: 建筑vividly: 生动incorporate: 融入elements: 元素reunion: 团聚sincerity: 真诚flute: 笛rustling: 沙沙mingling: 夹杂multicolored: 五彩斑斓observe: 打量admire: 赏faint: 隐约surface: 浮现dissolve: 消失gratitude: 感谢legend: 传说duties: 工作warm glow: 温暖的柔光safety: 平安blend: 结合harmony: 和谐

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Reuniting Hearts: A Qixi Journey in the Taihang Mountains Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/reuniting-hearts-a-qixi-journey-in-the-taihang-mountains Story Transcript:Zh: 太行山的夏天，绿树成荫，阳光透过叶间洒下一片斑驳的金色。En: In the summer of the Taihang Mountains, lush green trees provide shade, and sunlight filters through the leaves, casting a dappled pattern of golden light.Zh: 山风轻轻吹过，带来一阵清凉，仿佛在欢迎久别重逢的老朋友们。En: A gentle mountain breeze brings with it a refreshing coolness, as if welcoming old friends reunited after a long separation.Zh: 李明、晓伟和家浩三人沿着蜿蜒的小路，向山顶进发。En: Li Ming, Xiao Wei, and Jia Hao were making their way up the winding path toward the mountain peak.Zh: 这一天是七夕节，一个属于朋友和家人的节日。En: It was the Qixi Festival, a day for friends and family.Zh: 李明感慨万千，他用心良苦地安排了这次登山之旅，希望能弥补多年来对朋友的疏忽。En: Li Ming, filled with emotions, had carefully planned this hiking trip, hoping to make up for years of neglect toward his friends.Zh: 在山脚下，三人停下脚步。En: At the foot of the mountain, the three paused.Zh: 李明微笑着说：“感谢你们今天能来。En: Li Ming smiled and said, "Thank you for coming today.Zh: 我知道过去我太忙，错过了很多和你们在一起的时光。En: I know I've been too busy in the past and missed out on a lot of time with you."Zh: ”晓伟抬头看着蓝天，微微一笑，“没关系，我们现在在一起，这是最重要的。En: Xiao Wei looked up at the blue sky and smiled slightly, "It's okay.Zh: ”家浩拍了拍李明的肩膀，点头说道：“对。En: We are together now, and that's what matters."Zh: 我们都是老朋友了，也都明白彼此的不容易。En: Jia Hao patted Li Ming's shoulder, nodding as he spoke, "Right.Zh: ”随着他们一路攀登，阳光越来越烈，汗水不断从额头滑落。En: We've been friends for a long time and understand each other's struggles."Zh: 但心中那份友情的灼热，比阳光更胜一筹。En: As they continued to climb, the sun became more intense, sweat streaming down their foreheads.Zh: 然而，随着他们逐渐靠近山顶，天色突然暗了下来。En: Yet, the warmth of their friendship burned even brighter than the sun.Zh: 黑云聚集，雷声从远方传来，一场暴风雨即将袭来。En: However, as they neared the summit, the sky suddenly darkened.Zh: “快，我们得找个地方避雨！En: Black clouds gathered, distant thunder rumbled, and a storm was imminent.Zh: ”晓伟大声提醒。En: "Quick, we need to find shelter from the rain!"Zh: 三人迅速加快步伐，寻找附近的一个山洞。En: Xiao Wei called out urgently.Zh: 雨点如豆般砸下，三人互相扶持着，终于在雨幕中看到了一个山洞。En: The three of them quickened their pace, searching for a nearby cave.Zh: 坐在山洞中，李明紧张的心情终于舒缓下来。En: Rain poured down in torrents, and supporting each other, they finally spotted a cave through the curtain of rain.Zh: 他看着两位朋友，心中升起一股坚定的信念。En: Inside the cave, Li Ming's tense mood finally relaxed.Zh: 他决定不再逃避。En: Looking at his two friends, a strong sense of determination rose within him.Zh: “过去的我把工作放在了首位，实在对不起。En: He decided to stop avoiding the issue.Zh: ”李明认真地说。En: "In the past, I prioritized work above all else, and I'm truly sorry," Li Ming said earnestly.Zh: 晓伟和家浩对视一眼，微笑着说：“我们理解。En: Xiao Wei and Jia Hao exchanged a glance and smiled, "We understand.Zh: 重要的是你现在在这里，并且愿意改变。En: The important thing is that you're here now and willing to change."Zh: ”暴雨过后，天边泛起彩虹，空气中弥漫着泥土的清新。En: After the downpour, a rainbow appeared on the horizon, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth.Zh: 三人站在洞口，看着不远处的山景。En: The three stood at the cave's entrance, gazing at the mountain scenery not far away.Zh: 李明心中感到从未有过的轻松，他知道未来的日子会有所不同。En: Li Ming felt an unprecedented sense of ease, knowing that the days to come would be different.Zh: “我们应该多聚聚，”李明提议。En: "We should meet up more often," Li Ming suggested.Zh: “当然，”家浩和晓伟同时回答。En: "Absolutely," Jia Hao and Xiao Wei replied in unison.Zh: 三人相视而笑，心中再没有任何芥蒂。En: The three looked at each other and smiled, with no lingering misunderstandings in their hearts.Zh: 他们知道，经过这次相聚，那些年流失的友情重新找到了方向。En: They knew that after this reunion, the friendship lost over the years had found its direction once more.Zh: 在太行山的风景中，他们重新找回了年轻时的那种纯真和快乐。En: Amidst the scenery of the Taihang Mountains, they rediscovered the innocence and joy of their youth.Zh: 李明发誓，这份难得的友情，他将始终珍惜。En: Li Ming vowed to always cherish this rare friendship.Zh: 不仅是一个约定，更是一颗心与心的承诺。En: It was not just a promise but a heartfelt commitment.Zh: 在这个特别的七夕，他们重新开始了新的篇章。En: On this special Qixi, they began a new chapter together. Vocabulary Words:lush: 茂盛的dappled: 斑驳的gentle: 轻轻的breeze: 微风refreshing: 清凉的coolness: 冷静reunited: 重逢的separation: 分离winding: 蜿蜒的peak: 山顶neglect: 疏忽paused: 停下forehead: 额头summit: 顶峰thunder: 雷声shelter: 遮蔽urgent: 紧急的torrents: 倾盆大雨tense: 紧张的determination: 决心earnestly: 认真地distant: 遥远的glance: 瞥见heartfelt: 真诚的rainbow: 彩虹horizon: 地平线fresh: 清新的innocence: 纯真vowed: 发誓commitment: 承诺

Lime for Wheat and Alfalfa Production Kansas Wheat Variety Publications More Corn Silage, Less Alfalfa Hay   00:01:05 – Lime for Wheat and Alfalfa Production: K-State soil fertility specialist, Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, starts today's show with reminders about the importance of liming fields especially for wheat and alfalfa. Liming Soils for Optimum Wheat Production Allow Time for Lime Applicaitons When Planting Alfalfa this Fall   00:12:05 – Kansas Wheat Variety Publications: Kelsey Andersen Onofre, K-State wheat pathologist, and Romulo Lollato, K-State wheat production specialist, keep the show rolling by discussing the Kansas wheat variety guide and other wheat publications. Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2024 Coleoptile Length of Winter Wheat Varieties 2024 Dual-Purpose Wheat Variety Performance   00:23:05 – More Corn Silage, Less Alfalfa Hay: With an abundance of corn silage expected, K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk ends the show saying producers may be able to increase margins by using more corn silage and less alfalfa hay.     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Melodies & High-Wires: A Tale of Courage at the Qixi Festival Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/melodies-high-wires-a-tale-of-courage-at-the-qixi-festival Story Transcript:Zh: 在中国南方的一个风景如画的山区村庄，有一个中世纪主题的庆典。En: In a picturesque mountain village in southern China, there is a medieval-themed celebration taking place.Zh: 小村子古老的石头路旁，五彩缤纷的帐篷和舞台点缀其间，空气中弥漫着香炉的气味，传统音乐声飘扬。En: Colorful tents and stages dot the ancient stone paths of the small village, the air filled with the scent of incense and traditional music wafting through.Zh: 这是七夕节的前夕，一个充满浪漫和节日气氛的夏天。En: It is the eve of the Qixi Festival, a summer evening brimming with romance and festivity.Zh: 年轻的李明是一位才华横溢的琵琶演奏者。En: Young Li Ming is a talented pipa player.Zh: 他常常隐藏在音乐背后，不善与人交流。En: He often hides behind his music, not being good at social interactions.Zh: 他在庆典中表演，但始终没有勇气演奏自己创作的独奏曲。En: Although he performs at the celebration, he has never mustered the courage to play his original solo composition.Zh: 另一个表演者是陈美，她是一个充满自信的杂技演员，经常表演惊险的特技。En: Another performer is Chen Mei, a confident acrobat who often performs thrilling stunts.Zh: 她看似无畏，其实心中有一个巨大的恐惧——她怕高。En: She seems fearless but harbors a significant fear—she is afraid of heights.Zh: 李明和陈美在庆典上第一次见面。En: Li Ming and Chen Mei meet for the first time at the festival.Zh: 李明在帐篷边缘弹琵琶，陈美正在练习她的杂技。En: Li Ming is playing the pipa at the edge of a tent, while Chen Mei is practicing her acrobatics.Zh: 他们都被对方所吸引，却都有着自己的烦恼。En: They are both drawn to each other, but each has their own worries.Zh: 李明希望能在节日的主场演奏他的新曲子，陈美则想要克服恐高，完成高空走钢丝的表演。En: Li Ming hopes to perform his new piece on the festival's main stage, while Chen Mei wants to overcome her fear of heights to complete a high-wire act.Zh: 一天傍晚，李明鼓起勇气，走向正在休息的陈美。En: One evening, Li Ming gathers his courage and walks up to Chen Mei while she is resting.Zh: 他拿出那首自己创作的曲子，递给她，说：“陈美，这是我作的曲子。En: He takes out his composed piece and hands it to her, saying, "Chen Mei, this is a piece I composed.Zh: 我很想在七夕节那天演奏，En: I would really like to perform it on Qixi Festival day.Zh: 你能听一下吗？”En: Could you listen to it?"Zh: 陈美微笑着接过乐谱，开始认真地听。En: Chen Mei smiles, takes the music sheet, and begins to listen attentively.Zh: 她感受到了李明的紧张，决定打开心扉。En: Sensing Li Ming's nervousness, she decides to open up.Zh: 她对李明说：“李明，我一直很怕高。En: She says to Li Ming, "Li Ming, I've always been afraid of heights.Zh: 每当我想尝试走钢丝，我都会害怕得发抖。En: Whenever I try to walk the high wire, I tremble with fear.Zh: 可我又很想克服这个恐惧。”En: But I really want to overcome this fear."Zh: 李明深深地看着陈美，决定支持她。En: Li Ming looks deeply at Chen Mei and decides to support her.Zh: 他说：“那我们一起克服恐惧。En: He says, "Then let's overcome our fears together.Zh: 你在表演时，我为你弹奏我的曲子。En: When you perform, I'll play my piece for you.Zh: 这样你的心中就有音乐陪伴，会忘记害怕。”En: That way, you will have music accompanying you, and you won't feel afraid."Zh: 七夕节那天，庆典到了高潮。En: On the day of the Qixi Festival, the celebration reaches its peak.Zh: 整个村庄的人都聚集在主舞台前，期待着精彩的表演。En: The entire village gathers in front of the main stage, eagerly anticipating the performances.Zh: 陈美站在高高的钢丝一端，手心冒汗，但她心中有了坚定的勇气。En: Chen Mei stands at one end of the high wire, palms sweaty but filled with newfound courage.Zh: 李明在舞台旁，深吸一口气，开始弹奏那首为陈美而作的曲子。En: Li Ming, beside the stage, takes a deep breath and starts to play the piece he composed for Chen Mei.Zh: 随着美妙的琵琶声响起，陈美缓缓地走上了钢丝。En: As the beautiful pipa music resonates, Chen Mei slowly steps onto the wire.Zh: 她感受到音乐在心中回响，变得勇敢而坚定。En: She feels the music echoing in her heart, making her brave and resolute.Zh: 李明的指尖在琴弦上舞动，音乐与陈美的步伐紧密相连，两个年轻人的心灵在这一次表演中融为一体。En: Li Ming's fingers dance on the strings, the music synchronized with Chen Mei's steps, their hearts united in this performance.Zh: 当陈美平安走过钢丝、轻轻跃下地面时，全场爆发出雷鸣般的掌声。En: When Chen Mei safely reaches the other side of the wire and gently jumps to the ground, the crowd erupts in thunderous applause.Zh: 李明和陈美相视而笑，他们知道，他们不仅完成了这场表演，更是在彼此的支持下克服了内心的恐惧。En: Li Ming and Chen Mei exchange smiles, knowing that they have not only completed the performance but also overcome their inner fears with each other's support.Zh: 从那天起，李明找回了自信，不再害怕面对观众，而陈美也不再畏惧高处。En: From that day on, Li Ming regained his confidence and no longer feared facing the audience, while Chen Mei no longer dreaded heights.Zh: 他们明白了信任和支持的力量，也决定在未来的路上继续互相扶持，共同面对生活中的各种挑战。En: They understood the power of trust and support and decided to continue supporting each other in facing the various challenges in life.Zh: 在这个充满古老魅力的小村庄，李明和陈美的故事，成为了人们口中流传的美好传说。En: In this small village filled with ancient charm, the story of Li Ming and Chen Mei became a widely shared tale of beauty and inspiration. Vocabulary Words:picturesque: 风景如画medieval: 中世纪celebration: 庆典scent: 气味incense: 香炉brimming: 充满romance: 浪漫festivity: 节日气氛talented: 才华横溢perform: 表演mustered: 鼓起composition: 乐曲confident: 自信acrobat: 杂技演员thrilling: 惊险stunts: 特技fearless: 无畏harbors: 有significant: 巨大的high-wire: 高空走钢丝gathers: 聚集courage: 勇气nervousness: 紧张attentively: 认真tremble: 发抖overcome: 克服resonates: 回响synchronized: 紧密相连erupts: 爆发applause: 掌声

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Santorini Adventures: Art, History, and Friendship in Harmony Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/santorini-adventures-art-history-and-friendship-in-harmony Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个阳光灿烂的夏日，李明和陈伟站在希腊圣托里尼的市场入口。En: On a sunny summer day, Li Ming and Chen Wei stood at the entrance of the market in Santorini, Greece.Zh: 白色的建筑和蓝色的拱顶在阳光下闪闪发光。En: The white buildings and blue domes sparkled under the sunlight.Zh: 市场里挤满了卖陶瓷、地方葡萄酒、手工首饰和传统希腊雕塑的小摊。En: The market was crowded with stalls selling ceramics, local wines, handmade jewelry, and traditional Greek sculptures.Zh: 李明是一个有抱负的艺术家，他来圣托里尼寻找灵感。En: Li Ming was an aspiring artist who came to Santorini seeking inspiration.Zh: 陈伟是他的好朋友，很务实，他跟随李明来这里，但内心对岛上的历史更感兴趣。En: Chen Wei, his practical-minded good friend, came along but was more interested in the island's history.Zh: “哇，这里真美！”李明兴奋地说。En: “Wow, this place is beautiful!” Li Ming said excitedly.Zh: 他的眼睛在每个摊位上来回看，寻找特别的艺术品。En: His eyes darted back and forth among the stalls, looking for unique pieces of art.Zh: “是啊，但我们要小心预算，”陈伟提醒道。En: “Yes, but we have to be careful with our budget,” Chen Wei reminded him.Zh: 他看了看手表，“而且我们不能错过回程的船。”En: He glanced at his watch, “And we mustn't miss the return boat.”Zh: 李明点点头，但他很快被一个摊位上的雕塑吸引住了。En: Li Ming nodded but was quickly captivated by a sculpture at one of the stalls.Zh: 那是一件昂贵的、独一无二的雕塑。它的线条流畅，充满了动感。En: It was an expensive, one-of-a-kind piece with smooth lines and full of motion.Zh: “这件雕塑真漂亮，我要买下它!” 李明说道。En: “This sculpture is gorgeous; I want to buy it!” Li Ming exclaimed.Zh: “可是，这太贵了，我们的钱不够，”陈伟说道，“而且时间不多了，我们还想看看岛的历史。”En: “But it's too expensive; we don't have enough money,” Chen Wei replied.Zh: “而且时间不多了，我们还想看看岛的历史。”En: “And time is running short. We also want to explore the island's history.”Zh: 李明有点失望，但他还是认真地看着陈伟。En: Li Ming was a little disappointed but looked earnestly at Chen Wei.Zh: “这件雕塑会给我带来巨大的灵感。En: “This sculpture would bring me great inspiration.Zh: 它可以让我创作一幅伟大的画。”En: It could help me create a magnificent painting.”Zh: 陈伟低下头，深思熟虑。En: Chen Wei bowed his head, thinking deeply.Zh: “我懂你的感觉，艺术对你非常重要。En: “I understand how you feel. Art is extremely important to you.Zh: 但我也想了解这个岛的历史，它们对我也很重要。”En: But I also want to learn about this island's history; that's very important to me too.”Zh: 两人沉默了一会儿。En: They were silent for a moment.Zh: 最后，李明微笑着说，“不如我们妥协一下？En: Finally, Li Ming smiled and said, “How about we compromise?Zh: 我们买一个小而负担得起的艺术品，然后请一个当地的导游，快速但深入地了解一下岛的历史。”En: Let's buy a small, affordable piece of art, and then hire a local guide to give us a quick but thorough tour of the island's history.”Zh: 陈伟点头同意，“好主意，En: Chen Wei nodded in agreement, “Good idea.Zh: 这样我们两个都可以得到我们想要的东西。”En: This way, we can both get what we want.”Zh: 于是，他们找到一个小而精致的雕塑，价格划算。En: They found a small, exquisite sculpture at a reasonable price.Zh: 然后，他们聘请了一位热情的当地导游，花了几个小时探索岛上的历史遗迹。En: Then, they hired an enthusiastic local guide and spent several hours exploring the island's historical sites.Zh: 这一天结束时，李明和陈伟坐在海边的长椅上，感受着凉爽的海风。En: By the end of the day, Li Ming and Chen Wei sat on a bench by the sea, enjoying the cool breeze.Zh: 李明说：“今天真不错，我不仅得到了灵感，还学到了很多历史。”En: Li Ming said, “Today was wonderful. I not only gained inspiration but also learned a lot about history.”Zh: 陈伟笑了笑，“是啊，我也更加理解了你的艺术追求。”En: Chen Wei smiled, “Yes, and I also gained a deeper understanding of your artistic pursuits.”Zh: 他们都学会了欣赏彼此的兴趣和需求，En: They both learned to appreciate each other's interests and needs.Zh: 这次圣托里尼之行让他们的友谊更加深厚。En: This trip to Santorini strengthened their friendship.Zh: 太阳渐渐落下，两人带着满意的微笑回到了旅馆。En: As the sun gradually set, they returned to their hotel with satisfied smiles.Zh: 整个市场依旧热闹，但他们心中已经满载而归。En: The market remained bustling, but their hearts were already full. Vocabulary Words:aspiring: 有抱负的practical-minded: 务实entrance: 入口sparkled: 闪闪发光crowded: 挤满ceramics: 陶瓷handmade: 手工jewelry: 首饰traditional: 传统sculptures: 雕塑seeking: 寻找excitedly: 兴奋地darted: 来回看unique: 特别的reminded: 提醒one-of-a-kind: 独一无二smooth: 流畅motion: 动感gorgeous: 漂亮inspiration: 灵感magnificent: 伟大的compromise: 妥协affordable: 负担得起exquisite: 精致enthusiastic: 热情的exploring: 探索appreciate: 欣赏interests: 兴趣needs: 需求strengthened: 加深

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Confessions Beneath the Rain: A Love Story at the Great Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/confessions-beneath-the-rain-a-love-story-at-the-great-wall Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个晴朗的夏日，长城的古老砖石在阳光下闪烁着微光。En: On a clear summer day, the ancient bricks of the Great Wall shimmered faintly under the sunlight.Zh: 李明和张伟步行在这段长城上，身后是连绵起伏的绿色山丘。En: Li Ming and Zhang Wei were walking along this stretch of the Wall, with undulating green hills rolling behind them.Zh: 李明一边走，一边偷偷看着张伟。En: As they walked, Li Ming would sneak glances at Zhang Wei.Zh: 张伟总是充满着活力，对周围的一切都充满好奇。En: Zhang Wei was always full of energy and curious about everything around him.Zh: 今天，李明决定跟张伟一起野餐。En: Today, Li Ming decided to go for a picnic with Zhang Wei.Zh: 这不是普通的野餐，因为李明计划在这里向张伟表白。En: This was no ordinary picnic because Li Ming planned to confess his feelings to Zhang Wei here.Zh: 他事先准备了美味的食物和一条漂亮的毯子。En: He had prepared delicious food and a beautiful blanket in advance.Zh: 他们找到了一块平坦的地方，铺开毯子，开始享受美味的午餐。En: They found a flat spot, spread out the blanket, and began to enjoy a tasty lunch.Zh: 李明坐在张伟对面，心里不断打鼓，担心张伟知道他的心思后会怎么反应。En: Li Ming sat opposite Zhang Wei, his heart beating anxiously, worrying about how Zhang Wei would react once he discovered his intentions.Zh: 张伟一边吃着，一边兴奋地指着远处的一座古塔：“你看，那座塔真漂亮！”En: While eating, Zhang Wei excitedly pointed at an ancient tower in the distance: “Look, that tower is beautiful!”Zh: 张伟全然没有注意到李明的紧张神情。En: Zhang Wei hadn't noticed Li Ming's nervous expression at all.Zh: 李明深吸一口气，想着“我必须在今天告诉他我的心意。”En: Li Ming took a deep breath, thinking, “I must tell him my feelings today.”Zh: 突然，一阵阴云遮住了阳光，天色暗了下来。En: Suddenly, a cloud covered the sun, and the sky darkened.Zh: 两人仰头望去，似乎马上要下雨了。En: They looked up, and it seemed like it was about to rain.Zh: 张伟懊恼地说：“我们得赶紧找地方避雨了！”En: Zhang Wei said regretfully, “We need to find shelter from the rain quickly!”Zh: 就在这时，李明抓住机会，紧张地说：“张伟，我有件事想跟你说。”En: At that moment, Li Ming seized the opportunity and nervously said, “Zhang Wei, there's something I want to tell you.”Zh: 张伟转过头来看着李明，脸上充满了疑惑。En: Zhang Wei turned his head to look at Li Ming, his face full of confusion.Zh: “什么事？”张伟问道，雨点开始落下。En: “What is it?” Zhang Wei asked as raindrops began to fall.Zh: 他们匆忙收拾东西，找了一个靠墙的避雨处。En: They hurriedly packed their things and found a place by the wall to shelter from the rain.Zh: 雨越下越大，滴答滴答地打在地上。En: The rain fell harder and harder, dripping down onto the ground.Zh: 张伟的头发湿了，李明的心也跟着跳得更快了。En: Zhang Wei's hair was getting wet, and Li Ming's heart was pounding even faster.Zh: 李明终于鼓起勇气，大声说道：“张伟，我喜欢你！”En: Li Ming finally mustered the courage and loudly said, “Zhang Wei, I like you!”Zh: 张伟呆住了，眼睛瞪得大大的。En: Zhang Wei was stunned, his eyes wide open.Zh: 李明的心突然沉到了谷底。En: Li Ming's heart suddenly sank to rock bottom.Zh: 他本以为雨声会盖住他的告白，但显然张伟听到了。En: He had hoped the rain would drown out his confession, but it was clear that Zhang Wei had heard him.Zh: 张伟慢慢露出了笑容，说：“你知道吗？我也喜欢你。”En: Zhang Wei slowly started to smile and said, “You know what? I like you too.”Zh: 李明不敢相信自己的耳朵。En: Li Ming couldn't believe his ears.Zh: “真的？”李明问道，脸上绽放出笑容。En: “Really?” he asked, a smile spreading across his face.Zh: 张伟靠近了一步，轻轻地把李明拉进怀里，两人在雨中的长城下分享了他们的第一次亲吻。En: Zhang Wei took a step closer, gently pulling Li Ming into his arms, and the two shared their first kiss beneath the rainy Great Wall.Zh: 雨渐渐停了，天空中露出了一道美丽的彩虹。En: As the rain gradually stopped, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.Zh: 李明感觉自己像是变了一个人，他的脸上带着幸福的光彩，而张伟也有了新的理解和感情。En: Li Ming felt as if he had transformed into a different person, his face glowing with happiness, and Zhang Wei also had a new understanding and feeling.Zh: 从那以后，他们的关系变得更加亲密。En: From then on, their relationship grew closer.Zh: 李明更有自信，张伟也更加体贴。En: Li Ming became more confident, and Zhang Wei more considerate.Zh: 他们知道，无论未来遇到什么，他们都会一起面对，就像今天在长城上的雨中一样。En: They knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together, just like they did today in the rain by the Great Wall. Vocabulary Words:ancient: 古老brick: 砖石shimmered: 闪烁undulating: 连绵起伏glances: 偷偷看picnic: 野餐confess: 表白delicious: 美味blanket: 毯子flat: 平坦tasty: 美味anxiously: 心里不断打鼓excitedly: 兴奋地nervous: 紧张regretfully: 懊恼seized: 抓住must: 必须confusion: 疑惑shelter: 避雨处mustered: 鼓起stunned: 呆住beat faster: 跳得更快pulse: 跳得wide open: 瞪得大大的sank: 沉到rock bottom: 谷底smile: 露出笑容glowing: 带着幸福的光彩transformed: 变了一个人considerate: 体贴

Charles O'Donnell, Louise Hickey and Francess McDonnell n bring you the biggest stories of the week in Irish agriculture from Agriland, which this week includes:EPA report and reactions;Election counts start to wrap up at local and European level;Liming programme extension;TAMS payments commence plus reactions and wrap up on approvals;Danish investment firm to set up AD plants in Ireland;200 year old farm building gets new lease of life.Don't forget to rate, review and follow The Farming Week, Agriland's weekly review of Irish agriculture, and visit Agriland.ie for more.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Family's Unforgettable Spring Day by the Scenic West Lake Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/a-familys-unforgettable-spring-day-by-the-scenic-west-lake Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个温暖的春天周末，太阳高高挂在西湖的天空上，天空湛蓝如洗。En: On a warm spring weekend, the sun hung high above West Lake, the sky was as blue as could be.Zh: 西湖边的柳树抽出了新芽，湖水清澈见底。En: The willow trees around West Lake sprouted new buds, and the water was clear and transparent.Zh: 李明和妻子刘娜，以及儿子张伟，一起决定去西湖郊游。En: Li Ming, his wife Liu Na, and their son Zhang Wei decided to go for a picnic at West Lake.Zh: 李明开着车，他们一路欢声笑语。En: Li Ming drove the car, and they laughed and chatted along the way.Zh: 不一会儿，就到了西湖。En: Soon, they arrived at West Lake.Zh: 他们找了个树下的凉亭，铺上毯子，放下食物。En: They found a gazebo under a tree, laid out a blanket, and set down their food.Zh: 春风拂面，令人心旷神怡。En: The spring breeze brushed their faces, making them feel refreshed and joyful.Zh: “小伟，来看这里！”刘娜指着湖面说，“这里有好多漂亮的小船。”En: "Xiaowei, look over here!" Liu Na pointed to the lake, "There are so many beautiful little boats here."Zh: “妈妈，我可以坐船吗？”张伟兴奋地问。En: "Mom, can I take a boat ride?" Zhang Wei asked excitedly.Zh: 当然可以，李明和刘娜带着张伟去了租船的地方。En: Of course, Li Ming and Liu Na took Zhang Wei to the boat rental place.Zh: 他们租了一艘小船，李明小心翼翼地划开船。En: They rented a small boat, and Li Ming carefully rowed away from the shore.Zh: 张伟兴奋地拿起小网子，准备打捞湖里的鱼。En: Zhang Wei excitedly picked up a small net, ready to scoop fish from the lake.Zh: 小船行驶在湖面上，泛起层层涟漪。En: The boat moved across the water, creating ripples.Zh: “小伟，你看那边有很多鸳鸯。”刘娜指着不远处说。En: "Xiaowei, look over there, there are many mandarin ducks," Liu Na pointed to a spot not far away.Zh: “真的！好漂亮！”张伟欢呼道。En: "Really! So beautiful!" Zhang Wei exclaimed in delight.Zh: 他们在湖上划了一会儿船，享受了美丽的景色。En: They rowed the boat on the lake for a while, enjoying the beautiful scenery.Zh: 然后，他们回到湖边，准备野餐。En: Then, they returned to the shore and prepared for their picnic.Zh: 李明打开了餐篮，里面有三明治，水果和果汁。En: Li Ming opened the picnic basket, which contained sandwiches, fruits, and juice.Zh: 张伟尤其喜欢妈妈做的草莓三明治。En: Zhang Wei particularly enjoyed the strawberry sandwich made by his mother.Zh: 吃过野餐后，他们决定去湖边散步。En: After the picnic, they decided to take a walk by the lake.Zh: 沿着湖边的小道，三个人边走边聊。En: Along the lakeside path, the three of them walked and chatted.Zh: 李明讲了很多关于西湖的故事，有传说中的白蛇传，也有历史人物的故事。En: Li Ming told many stories about West Lake, including the legendary tale of "The Legend of the White Snake" and historical figures' stories.Zh: 张伟听得入迷，不时提出一些问题。En: Zhang Wei listened intently, occasionally asking questions.Zh: 突然，张伟看到前方有一处花坛，里面种满了五彩缤纷的花朵。En: Suddenly, Zhang Wei saw a flower bed ahead, filled with colorful flowers.Zh: 他奔跑过去，停在一朵黄色的大花前，开心地说：“爸爸，妈妈，这花真漂亮！”En: He ran over and stopped in front of a large yellow flower, happily saying, "Dad, Mom, this flower is so beautiful!"Zh: 李明和刘娜走过去，看着张伟开心的样子，也不由得露出了微笑。En: Li Ming and Liu Na walked over, looking at Zhang Wei's happy face, and couldn't help but smile.Zh: 刘娜温柔地摸了摸儿子的头，说：“是啊，西湖的花真美。”En: Liu Na gently patted her son's head and said, “Yes, the flowers at West Lake are truly beautiful.”Zh: 不远处传来了欢快的音乐声。En: In the distance, joyful music could be heard.Zh: 原来是有一群人在湖边跳舞。En: It turned out that there was a group of people dancing by the lake.Zh: 李明提议：“我们也去看看吧。”En: Li Ming suggested, "Let's go take a look too."Zh: 三个人于是走过去，融入了欢快的人群中。En: So, the three of them walked over and joined the cheerful crowd.Zh: 天色渐渐暗了下来，湖边的灯光亮了起来。En: As the sky gradually darkened, the lights along the lake came on.Zh: 李明、刘娜和张伟依依不舍地准备回家。En: Li Ming, Liu Na, and Zhang Wei reluctantly prepared to go home.Zh: 他们收拾好东西，上了车。En: They packed up their things and got into the car.Zh: “今天真是美好的一天。”刘娜坐在车上，轻声说道。En: "Today was truly a wonderful day," Liu Na said softly as she sat in the car.Zh: “是啊，我学到了好多。”张伟笑着回应。En: "Yes, I learned so much," Zhang Wei responded with a smile.Zh: 李明也感叹道：“西湖真是个神奇的地方，让我们全家都度过了一个难忘的周末。”En: Li Ming also sighed, "West Lake is truly a magical place; it gave our family an unforgettable weekend."Zh: 车子慢慢驶离西湖，三个人带着一天的美好回忆，满载而归。En: The car slowly drove away from West Lake, carrying the beautiful memories of the day.Zh: 春天的风温暖地吹过车窗外，仿佛在诉说西湖的美丽故事。En: The warm spring breeze blew outside the car window, as if telling the beautiful story of West Lake. Vocabulary Words:warm: 温暖weekend: 周末sprouted: 抽出transparent: 清澈见底gazebo: 凉亭blanket: 毯子breeze: 春风refreshed: 心旷神怡rowed: 划ripples: 涟漪mandarin ducks: 鸳鸯strawberry: 草莓scenery: 景色legends: 传说historical figures: 历史人物bed: 花坛path: 小道cheerful: 欢快remarkable: 神奇unforgettable: 难忘memories: 回忆refreshing: 舒爽legendary tale: 传说chatted: 欢声笑语picnic: 野餐boats: 船sandwich: 三明治juice: 果汁dancing: 跳舞returned: 回

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Discovering the Forbidden City: A Journey Through History's Heart Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/discovering-the-forbidden-city-a-journey-through-historys-heart Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个阳光明媚的早晨，李明、王芳和张伟来到了北京最著名的景点——故宫。En: On a sunny morning, Li Ming, Wang Fang, and Zhang Wei arrived at Beijing's most famous landmark—the Forbidden City.Zh: 导游小李站在大门口，热情地迎接他们。En: Tour guide Xiao Li stood at the entrance, warmly welcoming them.Zh: “大家好！今天我们一起探访故宫。这是中国最重要的历史建筑之一。”小李的声音很有活力。En: "Hello everyone! Today we will explore the Forbidden City together. It is one of the most significant historical buildings in China," Xiao Li said with great enthusiasm.Zh: 李明兴奋地看着高大的宫墙，心里想着：“这就是古代皇帝住的地方啊！”En: Li Ming excitedly looked at the tall palace walls, thinking to himself, "This is where the ancient emperors lived!"Zh: 小李带着大家进入了太和殿。En: Xiao Li led them into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.Zh: “这里是皇帝举行大典的地方。过去，皇帝在这里进行许多重要的仪式。”小李解释道。En: "This is where the emperor held grand ceremonies. In the past, the emperor performed many important rituals here," Xiao Li explained.Zh: 王芳对这里的一切都感到好奇。她问：“这些柱子为什么这么高？”En: Wang Fang was curious about everything she saw. She asked, "Why are these columns so tall?"Zh: 小李微笑着回答：“这是为了显示皇权的威严。你们看到的所有建筑都是对称的，象征着皇帝的权力和地位。”En: Xiao Li smiled and replied, "This is to display the majesty of imperial power. All the buildings you see are symmetrical, symbolizing the emperor's authority and status."Zh: 接着，他们来到了乾清宫。En: Next, they arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity.Zh: “这是皇帝的寝宫。在这里，皇帝每天处理政务。”小李继续讲解。En: "This is the emperor's sleeping quarters. Here, the emperor handled daily state affairs," Xiao Li continued.Zh: 张伟低声问：“这些宫殿修建有多长时间了？”En: Zhang Wei quietly asked, "How long have these palaces been standing?"Zh: 小李说：“故宫建于明朝的永乐年间，大约有六百年的历史了。每一处建筑都有它自己的故事。”En: Xiao Li replied, "The Forbidden City was built during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, roughly six hundred years ago. Each building has its own story."Zh: 参观了一圈，小李带他们来到了御花园。En: After touring around, Xiao Li led them to the Imperial Garden.Zh: 这里有美丽的花草树木，还有静谧的湖水。大家不由得被这份宁静吸引了。En: There, they found beautiful flowers, trees, and a tranquil lake. Everyone was captivated by the serenity.Zh: 李明说：“这地方真美，像是人间仙境。”En: Li Ming said, "This place is so beautiful, like a fairyland on earth."Zh: 就在这时，天空突然下起了小雨。大家躲在一棵大树下避雨。En: Just then, it began to drizzle. They took shelter under a large tree.Zh: 小雨过后，彩虹出现在天边，给故宫增添了一份神秘感。En: After the rain, a rainbow appeared across the sky, adding a touch of mystery to the Forbidden City.Zh: 小李看着远方的虹，说：“这真是难得的美景。大家可以在这里拍些照片留念。”En: Xiao Li looked at the distant rainbow and said, "This is such a rare and beautiful sight. Feel free to take some memorable photos here."Zh: 最后，参观结束了。En: Finally, the tour came to an end.Zh: 小李问大家：“今天的参观大家觉得如何？”En: Xiao Li asked, "How did everyone find today's tour?"Zh: 王芳笑着说：“非常棒！我学到了很多。”En: Wang Fang smiled and said, "It was fantastic! I learned a lot."Zh: 张伟也点头表示同意：“这是一次难忘的经历。”En: Zhang Wei nodded in agreement, "It was an unforgettable experience."Zh: 李明则兴奋地说：“我一定会再次来这里。”En: Li Ming excitedly said, "I will definitely come back here again."Zh: 李明、王芳和张伟高兴地离开了故宫。En: Li Ming, Wang Fang, and Zhang Wei happily left the Forbidden City.Zh: 尽管天空再次飘起了小雨，但他们的心中充满了对故宫的美好回忆。En: Although the sky began drizzling again, their hearts were filled with wonderful memories of the Forbidden City.Zh: 故事在这里结束。En: The story ends here.Zh: 大家带着对历史的敬意和对未来的期待，走出了古老的宫门，迎接新的旅程。En: With respect for history and anticipation for the future, they walked out of the ancient palace gates, ready to embrace new journeys. Vocabulary Words:sunny: 阳光明媚significant: 重要enthusiasm: 活力emperor: 皇帝ceremonies: 大典rituals: 仪式majesty: 威严imperial: 皇权authority: 权力status: 地位affairs: 政务reign: 年间fairyland: 人间仙境shelter: 躲tranquil: 宁静captivated: 吸引drizzle: 小雨rainbow: 彩虹mystery: 神秘rare: 难得memorable: 留念unforgettable: 难忘fantastic: 非常棒palace: 宫殿landmark: 景点explore: 探访symmetrical: 对称columns: 柱子entrance: 大门口handled: 处理

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Li Ming & Xiao Na's Winter Adventure in a Forgotten Village Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/li-ming-xiao-nas-winter-adventure-in-a-forgotten-village Story Transcript:Zh: 黎明和晓娜是好朋友。En: Li Ming and Xiao Na are good friends.Zh: 他们都喜欢滑雪。En: They both enjoy skiing.Zh: 一个冬天的早晨，他们去了高山滑雪场。En: One winter morning, they went to the alpine ski resort.Zh: 雪很厚，很白。En: The snow was thick and very white.Zh: 太阳照在雪上，闪闪发光。En: The sun shone on the snow, making it glisten.Zh: 黎明和晓娜穿上了滑雪装备。En: Li Ming and Xiao Na put on their skiing gear.Zh: 他们开始滑雪。En: They began to ski.Zh: 他们滑过了一片幽静的树林。En: They skied through a quiet forest.Zh: 突然，黎明停了下来。En: Suddenly, Li Ming stopped.Zh: 他看到一个黑黑的洞口，En: He saw a dark entrance.Zh: “晓娜，快看，那边有一个秘密隧道！”En: "Xiao Na, look quickly, there's a secret tunnel over there!"Zh: 晓娜也停下来说：“我们进去看看吧。”En: Xiao Na also stopped and said, "Let's go inside and take a look."Zh: 他们走进了隧道。En: They walked into the tunnel.Zh: 隧道里很黑，但他们用手机照明。En: It was very dark inside, but they used their phones for light.Zh: 隧道很长，他们手牵着手，一步一步小心地走着。En: The tunnel was very long, and they held hands, walking carefully step by step.Zh: 终于，他们看到了亮光。En: Finally, they saw light.Zh: “我们到了！”黎明说。En: "We're here!" said Li Ming.Zh: 他们走出隧道，发现自己在一个古老的村庄里。En: They walked out of the tunnel and found themselves in an ancient village.Zh: 村庄里有很多老房子，但看起来没有人住过。En: There were many old houses in the village, but it looked like no one had lived there.Zh: 房子的墙上长满了青苔。En: The walls of the houses were covered with moss.Zh: 村庄的每个角落都弥漫着一种神秘的气氛。En: An air of mystery filled every corner of the village.Zh: “这里好像被遗忘了。”晓娜说。En: "It seems like this place has been forgotten," said Xiao Na.Zh: 他们在村庄里走来走去。En: They walked around the village.Zh: 突然，他们听到了流水声。En: Suddenly, they heard the sound of flowing water.Zh: 他们走过去，发现了一条小河。En: They went over and discovered a small river.Zh: 小河边有一个古老的水车。En: By the river, there was an ancient waterwheel.Zh: “这个水车一定有很多年的历史了。”黎明说。En: "This waterwheel must be many years old," said Li Ming.Zh: 他们继续探索村庄。En: They continued to explore the village.Zh: 在一间老房子里，他们发现了一本很旧的日记。En: In an old house, they found a very old journal.Zh: 黎明轻轻地打开了日记，里面写满了这个村庄的故事。En: Li Ming gently opened it, and it was filled with stories about the village.Zh: “原来，这个村庄很久以前很热闹。”日记上这样写道。En: "It turns out that this village was bustling a long time ago," the journal said.Zh: 晓娜说：“村民们为什么离开了这里？”En: Xiao Na asked, "Why did the villagers leave this place?"Zh: 黎明摇摇头说：“日记本没有说。”En: Li Ming shook his head and said, "The journal doesn't say."Zh: 他们决定把这个日记带回去，并告诉别人这个村庄的故事。En: They decided to take the journal back and tell others the story of the village.Zh: 黎明和晓娜走回隧道，再一次手牵着手，回到了高山滑雪场。En: Li Ming and Xiao Na walked back through the tunnel, once again holding hands, and returned to the alpine ski resort.Zh: 太阳已经快要下山了，En: The sun was about to set.Zh: 他们看着远处的山，心里充满了回忆和发现的喜悦。En: They looked at the distant mountains, their hearts full of memories and the joy of discovery.Zh: 黎明说：“今天真是一个神奇的一天！”En: Li Ming said, "Today was truly a magical day!"Zh: 晓娜点点头说：“是的，我们一起发现了一个被遗忘的村庄。”En: Xiao Na nodded and said, "Yes, we discovered a forgotten village together."Zh: 他们虽然离开了那个古老的村庄，但这个冒险已经成为他们心中最珍贵的回忆。En: Although they left that ancient village, this adventure became their most cherished memory.Zh: 故事就这样结束了。En: And so the story ended.Zh: 他们会永远记得这个冬天，那个秘密隧道，还有那个古老的村庄。En: They would always remember this winter, the secret tunnel, and the ancient village. Vocabulary Words:thick: 厚glisten: 闪闪发光gear: 装备forest: 树林entrance: 洞口tunnel: 隧道carefully: 小心地ancient: 古老moss: 青苔mystery: 神秘village: 村庄flowing: 流水river: 小河waterwheel: 水车journal: 日记bustling: 热闹discovered: 发现memories: 回忆joy: 喜悦cherished: 珍贵的secret: 秘密forgotten: 被遗忘quiet: 幽静的shine: 照step: 步hedge: 长满corner: 角落story: 故事adventure: 冒险explore: 探索

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Echoes of Happiness: Finding Passion in Beijing's Night Market Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/echoes-of-happiness-finding-passion-in-beijings-night-market Story Transcript:Zh: 一朵雪白的云，悠然地飘过北京的丽泽商务区，下面，就是熙熙攘攘的夜市。En: A snow-white cloud leisurely drifted across Beijing's Lize Business District, below which was a bustling night market.Zh: 快乐的热闹声，像人们心中的旋律，吹过来，把一天的疲倦全部吹走。En: The cheerful and lively sounds, like melodies in people's hearts, drifted over, blowing away all the fatigue of the day.Zh: 李明迎着微风，沉浸在这样的感觉中。En: Li Ming, facing the gentle breeze, immersed himself in such a feeling.Zh: 李明这是从南方来的大学生，来北京寻找他的朋友赵薇。En: Li Ming, a university student from the south, came to Beijing to look for his friend Zhao Wei.Zh: 他们约定在这个不眠的夜市相见，可李明却在这个陌生的城市迷路了。En: They had agreed to meet at this sleepless night market, but Li Ming got lost in this unfamiliar city.Zh: 他正犹豫是否要给赵薇打电话的时候，夜市的另一端传来了鼓声和铜钹的声音，那是中国传统民间舞蹈“扭秧歌”的节奏。En: Just as he was hesitating whether to call Zhao Wei, the sound of drums and cymbals came from the other end of the night market, the rhythmic beat of the traditional Chinese folk dance "Twisting Yangge."Zh: 李明心里一动，“这不就是我和赵薇在大学时一起学的舞蹈吗？En: Li Ming's heart stirred, "Isn't this the dance that Zhao Wei and I learned together in university?"Zh: ”思绪带着他，跟着音乐一步一步走去。En: With his thoughts, he followed the music step by step.Zh: 他来到一片开阔的地方，看到了一群人在灯光下舞动着，他们的步伐整齐划一，手中艳丽的绸带在空中划出美丽的弧线。En: He arrived at an open area and saw a group of people dancing under the lights, their steps in unison, colorful ribbons drawing beautiful arcs in the air.Zh: 他们正是一个小型的舞蹈团，“北京翘角社”是他们的名字。En: They were a small dance troupe, and their name was "Beijing Rising Angle Society."Zh: 李明看着他们，心里充满了想要参与的冲动。En: Watching them, Li Ming was filled with the urge to participate.Zh: 就在此刻，赵薇来电了，“李明，你在哪里？En: At that moment, Zhao Wei called, "Li Ming, where are you?"Zh: ” 他说：“我在一个舞蹈团前，你能帮我追寻音乐找到我吗？En: He said, "I am in front of a dance troupe, can you help me find me following the music?"Zh: ”赵薇同意了。En: Zhao Wei agreed.Zh: 他们一边通话，一边李明在舞蹈团中间摇摆着步伐。En: While they were on the phone, Li Ming swayed his steps in the midst of the dance troupe.Zh: 李明心生勇气，走上前去，申请加入他们的表演。En: Li Ming gathered courage and approached, applying to join their performance.Zh: 他理直气壮地说：“我和我的朋友赵薇，我们从大学开始就跳这个舞蹈，我们一定能跟得上你们！En: He confidently said, "My friend Zhao Wei and I have been dancing this since university, we can definitely keep up with you!"Zh: ” 舞团一度惊讶，下一刻却热烈地欢迎他加入。En: The dance troupe was surprised for a moment, but the next moment, they warmly welcomed him to join.Zh: 舞蹈开始时，李明确实有点生疏，但很快，他找回了熟悉的旋律和步伐。En: As the dance began, Li Ming was indeed a bit rusty at first, but soon, he found back the familiar melody and steps.Zh: 在他怀揣热忱的舞步中，赵薇如同跟着一条地图般，终于找到了他。En: In his passionate dance steps, Zhao Wei, like following a map, finally found him.Zh: 她看着自豪地舞动的李明，笑了。En: She watched proudly as Li Ming danced, and smiled.Zh: 而李明也看到了赵薇，他们在舞蹈中大声喊着彼此的名字，迈着步伐相向而 去。En: And Li Ming also saw Zhao Wei, they shouted each other's names and moved towards each other in the dance.Zh: 李明表演结束后，他们紧紧相拥，喜悦溢于言表。En: After Li Ming's performance, they embraced tightly, joy overflowing.Zh: 摩天大厦的灯光，在他们密不可分的欢笑声中，亮得更加明亮。En: The lights of the skyscrapers shone brighter in their inseparable laughter.Zh: 最后，他们在熙熙攘攘的夜市中相拥着，留下了一幅美好的画面，他们的笑声在空气中回荡，那是幸福的共鸣。En: Finally, they embraced in the bustling night market, leaving behind a beautiful scene, their laughter echoing in the air, a resonance of happiness.Zh: 他们找到了彼此，也找到了热情，走出了困惑，迎接了希望。En: They found each other, found passion, left confusion behind, and welcomed hope.Zh: 这就是北京，一个让人找到自我，找到激情，找到快乐的城市。En: This is Beijing, a city that allows people to find themselves, find passion, find happiness. Vocabulary Words:Li Ming: 李明Beijing: 北京night market: 夜市dance: 舞蹈Zhao Wei: 赵薇university: 大学skyscraper: 摩天大厦friend: 朋友city: 城市rhythm: 节奏traditional: 传统festival: 节日music: 音乐passionate: 热忱join: 加入steps: 步伐melody: 旋律embrace: 拥抱happiness: 幸福lost: 迷路rusty: 生疏courage: 勇气confusion: 困惑urge: 冲动laughter: 欢笑inseparable: 密不可分cheerful: 快乐beautiful: 美丽resonance: 共鸣immersed: 沉浸

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Night Market's Eternal Bond: A Tale of Friendship and Bargains Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-night-markets-eternal-bond-a-tale-of-friendship-and-bargains Story Transcript:Zh: 在黑沉沉的天空中，一串串明亮的荧光灯光，锦绣地点缀着市场的每个角落。En: In the dark sky, strings of bright fluorescent lights adorned every corner of the market.Zh: 张伟和李明，两位久未谋面的老友，正在此地品味着那世俗的热闹和年代的沉淀。En: Zhang Wei and Li Ming, two long-lost friends, were savoring the hustle and bustle of the secular world and the sediment of the times at this place.Zh: 他们在游走于这繁华夜市的巷弄间，欢笑着，喧闹着，与这夜市的热烈融为一体。En: They wandered through the bustling night market alleyways, laughing and merging with the fervor of the night market.Zh: 在一家古色古香的摊档前，他们的目光被一件骏马纪念品吸引。En: In front of a quaint stall, their eyes were drawn to a horse-themed souvenir.Zh: 这件纪念品细腻逼真，如飞驰而过的骏马，让人看了就忍不住想把它带回家。En: The delicate and lifelike craftsmanship made it look like a galloping horse passing by, tempting people to take it home.Zh: “多少钱？En: "How much?"Zh: ”张伟看着老板，问道。En: Zhang Wei asked the shopkeeper, while Li Ming stood beside with a shrewd smile, being skilled in negotiating.Zh: 李明旁边露出精明的微笑，他善于讨价还价，眼斜斜地看着张伟，眼神里充满戏谑。En: He glanced at Zhang Wei mischievously, his eyes full of playfulness.Zh: “20元。En: "20 yuan," the shopkeeper replied simply, leaving Zhang Wei slightly stunned.Zh: ”老板朴实的回答，让张伟有点愣住。En: Li Ming winked at him and said, "We would like to bargain."Zh: 李明冲他挤挤眼，然后开口道：“我们想讲价。En: But the shopkeeper shook his head, "The price is already fair, I cannot lower it any further."Zh: ”但老板摇摇头说：“这个价格已经很公道了，我不能再降了。En: Zhang Wei and Li Ming exchanged a surprised look.Zh: ”张伟和李明互看一眼，都有些讶异。En: They had expected the souvenir to be expensive due to its exquisite appearance, planning to bargain, but it turned out to be cheaper than they had anticipated.Zh: 他们原本以为这个纪念品会由于外表华丽而贵重，打算开始讲价，没想到却比预期的便宜。En: Li Ming flashed a dazzling smile and said, "Then give us two."Zh: 李明眨眨眩光炯炯的眼睛，笑道：“那就给我们两个吧。En: The packaging of the souvenir was exquisite.Zh: ”纪念品的包装精美，李明拿在手里，把玩着，满意地笑了笑。En: Li Ming held it in his hands, playing with it, and smiled contentedly.Zh: 看着手里的纪念品，他们又想起了一些共同的回忆。En: Looking at the souvenir in his hand, they reminisced about some shared memories.Zh: 那么繁华的夜市，也许只有他们两个人，能拥有如此深厚的友谊。En: In such a bustling night market, perhaps only the two of them could have such a deep friendship.Zh: 小小的纪念品，映照出的却是他们深厚的情谊，讲价的过程虽然少了喧嚣，但在这平淡中更显得友情的可贵。En: The small souvenir reflected their profound bond, and though the bargaining process was less noisy, it highlighted the preciousness of their friendship in this ordinary moment.Zh: 夜市的霓虹灯在他们身后闪烁，夜市的人来人往，他们俩的身影也逐渐消失在热闹的人群中。En: The neon lights of the night market blinked behind them as people came and went, and their figures gradually disappeared into the bustling crowd.Zh: 他们的友情与这纪念品一样，经得起岁月的考验，永不减色。En: Their friendship, like the souvenir, could withstand the test of time and never fade. Vocabulary Words:market: 市场friend: 朋友hustle and bustle: 热闹night market: 夜市alleyways: 巷弄quaint: 古色古香stall: 摊档souvenir: 纪念品craftsmanship: 工艺horse-themed: 骏马tempting: 诱人shopkeeper: 老板negotiating: 讨价还价bargain: 讲价packaging: 包装exquisite: 精美contentedly: 满意地shared memories: 共同回忆profound: 深厚bond: 情谊preciousness: 可贵noisy: 喧嚣neon lights: 霓虹灯test of time: 岁月的考验fade: 减色vanished: 消失figures: 身影withstand: 经得起blinked: 闪烁

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Chopstick Chronicles: Embracing a Culinary Adventure in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/chopstick-chronicles-embracing-a-culinary-adventure-in-beijing Story Transcript:Zh: 在这个大都市的中心，北京，有一个小小的平凡公寓。这正是我们的故事开始的地方。En: In the center of this metropolis, Beijing, there is a small and ordinary apartment. This is where our story begins.Zh: 一天，新来的室友李明站在厨房里，看着桌子上散乱的筷子，显得有些惴惴不安。他来自美国，对中国的饮食文化充满了新奇和好奇，但同时也困扰着他。他眼里闪烁的困惑与无奈引起了张伟和刘英的注意。En: One day, the new roommate Li Ming stood in the kitchen, looking at the scattered chopsticks on the table, appearing somewhat uneasy. He came from America and was full of curiosity and fascination with Chinese food culture, but at the same time troubled by it. The confusion and helplessness in his eyes caught the attention of Zhang Wei and Liu Ying.Zh: 张伟是个乐于助人的人，他站在一旁，看着李明的手在筷子上方飘动。他扬起眉毛，笑道: "你是第一次用筷子吧？"李明点点头，脸上写满了苦恼。张伟笑了出来，"没关系，我们可以教你。"En: Zhang Wei is a helpful person. He stood by and watched as Li Ming's hands hesitantly hovered over the chopsticks. Raising his eyebrows, he chuckled, "Is this your first time using chopsticks?" Li Ming nodded, his face filled with distress. Zhang Wei chuckled, "It's okay, we can teach you."Zh: 刘英则更加主动，毕竟是大家的“厨神”，他抓起一对筷子，拿起一颗葡萄，轻易地放入杯中。李明看着此景，眼睛亮了起来。刘英转向他，将筷子交到他手中，开始认真地示范。En: Liu Ying, being more proactive and the "chef" among them, picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a grape, and effortlessly placed it into a cup. Li Ming watched this scene with bright eyes. Liu Ying turned to him, handed him the chopsticks, and began to demonstrate seriously.Zh: 在接下来的几个小时里，李明尝试了一遍又一遍。张伟和刘英的鼓励与引导，让他的尝试充满着乐趣，他的手越来越稳，筷子在他手中的协调度也逐渐提高。但让刘英和张伟都没想到的是，李明不仅学会了使用筷子，还学会了刘英特制的炒饭。En: Over the next few hours, Li Ming tried again and again. With the encouragement and guidance of Zhang Wei and Liu Ying, his attempts became more enjoyable. His hands became steadier, and the coordination of the chopsticks in his hands gradually improved. However, what surprised both Liu Ying and Zhang Wei was that Li Ming not only learned how to use chopsticks but also how to make Liu Ying's special fried rice.Zh: 冰箱里的蔬菜、肉和饭，经过李明的手后，变成了味美可口的炒饭。张伟和刘英看着面前的炒饭，惊讶但又充满了期待。En: The vegetables, meat, and rice in the fridge, after Li Ming's touch, turned into delicious fried rice. Zhang Wei and Liu Ying looked at the fried rice in front of them, surprised yet filled with anticipation.Zh: 李明举起了筷子，用刚刚学会的技巧，轻松地夹起了一口炒饭。他将食物送到嘴边，面露惊喜的神色。张伟和刘英也夹起炒饭，尝了尝，脸上都露出了满意的微笑。En: Li Ming raised his chopsticks, using the technique he had just learned, effortlessly picking up a bite of fried rice. He brought the food to his mouth, showing a surprised expression. Zhang Wei and Liu Ying also picked up some fried rice, tasted it, and had satisfied smiles on their faces.Zh: “李明，”张伟笑着说, “你不仅学会了用筷子，还成为了我们的新‘厨神'!”En: "Li Ming," Zhang Wei smiled, "You not only learned how to use chopsticks but also became our new 'chef'!"Zh: 这个公寓在北京的中心，看似普通零乱，却充满了新奇和乐趣。或许，这就是生活最美好的样子。En: This apartment in the center of Beijing may seem ordinary and messy but is filled with novelty and fun. Perhaps, this is the most beautiful aspect of life. Vocabulary Words:apartment: 公寓Beijing: 北京chopsticks: 筷子Li Ming: 李明Zhang Wei: 张伟Liu Ying: 刘英roommate: 室友table: 桌子America: 美国curiosity: 好奇心fascination: 着迷troubled: 困扰helplessness: 无奈encouragement: 鼓励guidance: 引导coordination: 协调vegetables: 蔬菜meat: 肉rice: 米饭fridge: 冰箱delicious: 美味technique: 技巧bite: 一口surprised: 惊讶novelty: 新奇fun: 乐趣beautiful: 美好chef: 厨神ordinary: 平凡messy: 零乱

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Innovative Fashion in Beijing: The Chopstick Hairpin Saga Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/innovative-fashion-in-beijing-the-chopstick-hairpin-saga Story Transcript:Zh: 在溢满浓浓玄武门历史气息的北京，有个名叫张伟的人，手中拿着一份旅游地图，像个孩子探索新世界那般兴奋。En: In Beijing, a city filled with the historical essence of Xuanwu Gate, there was a man named Zhang Wei, holding a tourist map in his hand and exploring the new world with excitement like a child.Zh: 他的朋友李明，一只眼睛固定在地图上，一只眼睛却落在张伟的头上，那根形状独特的‘发饰'足够引人笑饭。En: His friend Li Ming had one eye fixed on the map and the other eye on Zhang Wei's head, where a uniquely shaped 'hair ornament' was enough to make people burst into laughter.Zh: "张伟，你的发饰真是……”李明说，却没能再接下去，因为他已经噗嗤笑出声来。En: "Zhang Wei, your hair ornament is really..." Li Ming said, but couldn't continue because he burst into laughter.Zh: 那根究竟是什么呢？En: What exactly was that on his head?Zh: 当离得近了，你会发现，那不是别的，正是张伟餐桌上随意一抓的那双筷子。En: When you get closer, you will find that it's nothing but a pair of chopsticks casually grabbed by Zhang Wei from the dining table.Zh: 见李明笑得前俯后仰，张伟扶住从围脖下滑下来的筷子，皱眉问道：“怎么了？En: Seeing Li Ming laughing uncontrollably, Zhang Wei caught the chopsticks sliding down from his scarf and frowned, asking, "What's wrong?Zh: 我这不是创新吗？En: Isn't this innovative?"Zh: ”李明在笑声中喘着气说：“这不是创新，这是古代女性的发髻好吧？En: Between laughs, Li Ming gasped and said, "This is not innovative, this looks like the ancient hairstyle for women, right?Zh: 而且，我们北京人从来不会……”然而张伟根本没听进去他的话，扶正好像古代钗簪一般的筷子，勇往直前地走进了人群。En: Besides, us Beijing people never..." However, Zhang Wei completely ignored his words, adjusted the chopsticks like an ancient hairpin, and boldly walked into the crowd.Zh: 那天，他们参观了诸多名胜，张伟的筷子引发了许多人的围观与议论。En: That day, they visited many scenic spots, and Zhang Wei's chopsticks attracted a lot of attention and discussions.Zh: 甚至有些人笑他太傻，他却无所谓，只是淡然一笑。En: Some even laughed at him for being silly, but he didn't care, just smiling nonchalantly.Zh: 李明尽管曾试图解释为什么筷子不能当发饰，但是没有影响到张伟。En: Although Li Ming had tried to explain why chopsticks could not be used as a hair ornament, it didn't affect Zhang Wei.Zh: 这就触发了他们的冲突。En: This triggered their conflict.Zh: 李明不希望他的朋友在公众场合出丑，但是张伟在乎的是自己的动力——开心。En: Li Ming didn't want his friend to make a fool of himself in public, but Zhang Wei cared about his own motivation - happiness.Zh: 他在乎的是设置己的风格，即使那是以一种他人看来滑稽的方式。En: He cared about setting his own style, even if it seemed ridiculous to others.Zh: 最后的结局是，一日，他们在西直门的一家餐厅吃饭，突然，一名老太太看着张伟的发饰，赞扬他非常有创意。En: In the end, one day, while dining at a restaurant in Xizhimen, an old lady looked at Zhang Wei's hair ornament and praised him for being very creative.Zh: 张伟笑了，觉得自己的做法得到了认可。En: Zhang Wei smiled, feeling that his actions were being appreciated.Zh: 然后，李明明白了，每个人都有自己的方式，每个人的独特性都应被尊重。En: Then, Li Ming understood - everyone has their own way, and everyone's uniqueness should be respected.Zh: “好，这样，你看起来非常酷。En: "Well, this way, you look really cool."Zh: ”一切都舒适顺利，他们的冲突也因此得以解决。En: Everything became comfortable and smooth, and their conflict was resolved.Zh: 尽管张伟的做法看起来很奇怪，但是只要他开心，那就足够了。En: Although Zhang Wei's actions seemed strange, as long as he was happy, that was enough.Zh: 而李明，也放下了他的忧虑，他们继续前行，继续他们的旅程，一股子无所谓，一股子淡定。En: And Li Ming also let go of his worries as they continued forward, continuing their journey with a mix of nonchalance and composure.Zh: 那就是他们的故事，这就是北京，独一无二的地方。En: That was their story, that was Beijing, a unique place. Vocabulary Words:historical: 历史的gate: 门city: 城市excitement: 兴奋tourist: 旅游者map: 地图friend: 朋友laugh: 笑chopsticks: 筷子hair ornament: 发饰traditional: 传统的table: 餐桌unique: 独特的innovative: 创新的ancient: 古代的style: 风格conflict: 冲突motivation: 动力happiness: 快乐scenic spots: 名胜discussion: 议论public: 公众creative: 有创意的appreciated: 被认可的respect: 尊重uniqueness: 独特性cool: 酷journey: 旅程comfortable: 舒适resolved: 解决

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Noodle Shop Chronicles: Chopstick Challenge Unites Friends Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/noodle-shop-chronicles-chopstick-challenge-unites-friends Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京这座繁华的城市中，有一个古老的街区，餐馆林立，香气四溢。在这个街区中，有一个小小的面馆，打开门，你就能闻到那浓郁的面条香。就在这个小面馆，有三个朋友：张伟、 李明和王芳，他们正在接受一个挑战：第一次尝试用筷子吃面条。En: In the bustling city of Beijing, there is an ancient neighborhood with numerous restaurants emitting fragrant aromas. In this neighborhood, there is a small noodle shop where upon opening the door, you can instantly smell the rich aroma of noodles. In this small shop, there are three friends: Zhang Wei, Li Ming, and Wang Fang, who are taking on a challenge: attempting to eat noodles with chopsticks for the first time.Zh: 张伟，一个从小在美国长大的华裔，他从来没有用过筷子，而对中国的食物十分好奇。李明是他的好友，也是他的向导，引导他理解和体验中国的文化和风俗。王芳是面馆的服务员，也是一个风趣的人，气氛总是在她的笑声中轻松愉快。En: Zhang Wei, a Chinese-American who grew up in the United States, has never used chopsticks before and is very curious about Chinese food. Li Ming is his friend and guide, helping him understand and experience Chinese culture and customs. Wang Fang is a waitress in the noodle shop, with a lively personality that creates a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere with her laughter.Zh: 在北京灯火通明的夜晚，三个人坐在面馆，面前是一碗热气腾腾的面条。李明和王芳正在教张伟如何使用筷子，他显得有些笨拙。筷子在他的手中上下翻滚，面条总是滑落，但是他并没有灰心，他笑着说：“这是一场挑战，我一定要完成”。En: On a brightly lit night in Beijing, the three friends sit in the noodle shop with a steaming bowl of noodles in front of them. Li Ming and Wang Fang are teaching Zhang Wei how to use chopsticks, and he appears a bit clumsy. The chopsticks roll around in his hands, noodles slipping away, but he does not give up, smiling and saying, "This is a challenge, I must complete it."Zh: 时间就这样流逝，张伟的技巧也在慢慢得到提升，他渐渐可以夹住面条，但还未能顺利送入口中。为了鼓励他，李明和王芳不断给他点赞，而周围的人也对这个微笑的外国男孩报以热烈的掌声。En: Time passes, and Zhang Wei's skills gradually improve; he is able to pick up the noodles, but struggles to get them into his mouth smoothly. To encourage him, Li Ming and Wang Fang continue to cheer him on, while the people around also applaud the smiling foreign boy warmly.Zh: 世界像是停止了一般，似乎所有人的关注都集中在张伟的身上。他全神贯注地看着筷子，紧张地挑选一条面条，终于，他成功地将其送入了嘴中。周围爆发出热烈的掌声，人们的脸上都洋溢着喜悦。En: It feels as though the world has paused, with everyone's attention focused on Zhang Wei. He concentrates intently on the chopsticks, nervously selecting a noodle, and finally succeeds in putting it into his mouth. There is a burst of enthusiastic applause, joy evident on everyone's faces.Zh: 那一夜，他们一直忘记了时间，沉醉在这个充满乐趣和挑战的经历中，依依不舍地告别，浓浓的友情和温馨的气氛流淌在这个古老的街区。这就是北京，热情，热闹，又充满了人间烟火的感觉。En: After a night of effort, Zhang Wei successfully completes the challenge. In that moment, his joy surpasses language and cultural barriers, flowing into the hearts of everyone present.Zh: 我们的故事在这里结束，张伟，李明，王芳他们用一碗面条，一个挑战，展现了一份友情，一份热爱生活的态度，让我们在心中留下了深深的烙印。En: That night, they forget about time, immersed in this fun and challenging experience, bidding farewell reluctantly. The deep friendship and warm atmosphere permeate this ancient neighborhood. This is Beijing—warm, lively, and filled with the vibrant feelings of human connection. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 繁华的city: 城市neighborhood: 街区restaurants: 餐馆fragrant: 香气四溢aromas: 香气noodle: 面条shop: 面馆friends: 朋友challenge: 挑战chopsticks: 筷子Chinese food: 中国食物waitress: 服务员lively: 生动atmosphere: 气氛night: 夜晚steaming: 热气腾腾teaching: 教clumsy: 笨拙encourage: 鼓励skills: 技巧nervously: 紧张地success: 成功applause: 掌声effort: 努力joy: 喜悦immersed: 沉浸friendship: 友情atmosphere: 氛围

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Chopstick Challenge: A Tale of Friendship and Perseverance in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-chopstick-challenge-a-tale-of-friendship-and-perseverance-in-beijing Story Transcript:Zh: 当北京的落日金光洒满天空，天安门广场的雕塑披上一层暖黄色的外衣，这就是故事的开始。En: When the golden light of the setting sun filled the sky in Beijing, the sculptures on Tiananmen Square were draped in a warm yellow coat, marking the beginning of the story.Zh: 三位好友张伟、李明、王芳在这座城市中渐渐相识、成长，在公司打工、在茶餐厅喝茶，共享人生中的欢乐和苦难。En: Three good friends, Zhang Wei, Li Ming, and Wang Fang gradually got to know each other and grow in this city, working in the same company, drinking tea at tea houses, sharing the joys and hardships of life together.Zh: 他们三人刚从上海调职过来，想对北京的生活方式有所了解。En: They had just been transferred from Shanghai and wanted to understand the way of life in Beijing.Zh: 他们定下目标：每周都要学习一样新的事物，不论大小，只要在北京流行。En: They set a goal: to learn something new every week, no matter how big or small, as long as it was popular in Beijing.Zh: 一天，他们决定尝试一样对他们来说热门而不易掌握的事物，那就是使用筷子。En: One day, they decided to try something popular but difficult for them – using chopsticks.Zh: 李明是个狂热的美食家，王芳则男友是个卖拉面的师傅，张伟则觉得这是个让人感兴趣的技能。En: Li Ming was a passionate foodie, Wang Fang's boyfriend was a master chef selling noodles, and Zhang Wei found it to be an interesting skill.Zh: 所以，他们决定在北京一家著名的精致餐厅，挑战用筷子夹起一粒米的技巧。En: So, they decided to challenge themselves by practicing the technique of picking up a grain of rice with chopsticks at a famous upscale restaurant in Beijing.Zh: 餐厅位于华贵而古老的王府井大街，他们定了一个角落的桌子，边吃边分享他们的生活琐事。En: The restaurant was located on the luxurious and ancient Wangfujing Street.Zh: 每个人都拿上一双筷子，用尽全力的去练习。En: They reserved a corner table, eating and sharing their daily life anecdotes.Zh: 在他们的笑声和尝试中,一粒米在盘中被推来推去，滚来滚去。En: Each of them took a pair of chopsticks and tried their best to practice.Zh: 它们就像是三个大人在玩决战豌豆的游戏一样，引得周围的人都忍不住笑出声。En: Amid their laughter and attempts, the grain of rice kept rolling around on the plate, like three adults playing a game of pea shooting, making people nearby laugh out loud.Zh: 尝试了几个小时，他们渐渐地感到筋疲力尽，但是一粒米都未夹起来。En: After trying for several hours, they began to feel exhausted, but none of them successfully picked up a grain of rice.Zh: 他们小声嘲笑对方，但心中都知道自己也未成功。En: They quietly mocked each other, but deep down, they knew they hadn't succeeded either.Zh: 然而他们并未放弃，而是持之以恒。En: However, they did not give up but persevered.Zh: 最后，就在他们准备结束挑战时，王芳成功的用筷子稳稳地夹起了一粒米。En: Finally, just as they were about to end the challenge, Wang Fang successfully picked up a grain of rice with the chopsticks.Zh: 他们高兴得像是赢了奥斯卡，看着手中的筷子和粒米热泪盈眶。En: They were overjoyed, as if they had won an Oscar, looking at the chopsticks and the rice in their hands with tears in their eyes.Zh: 这个夜晚，他们学会了更多：不仅仅是如何用筷子夹住一粒米，更是学会了不论面临何种挑战，都要毫不犹豫地接受，并且相信自己总有一天能够成功。En: That night, they learned more than just how to pick up a grain of rice with chopsticks; they learned that no matter what challenges they faced, they should accept them without hesitation and believe that they would eventually succeed.Zh: 北京的夜空寂静无声，只有几颗璀璨的星星在闪烁。En: The night sky in Beijing was silent, with only a few bright stars twinkling.Zh: 那一夜，他们是失败者，但却成了彼此的英雄。En: That night, they may have been losers, but they became heroes to each other.Zh: 坚持、友情、努力，这就是他们的故事，这就是他们在璀璨的北京上演的故事。En: Persistence, friendship, and effort – that was their story, the story they enacted in the radiant Beijing.Zh: 镜头从这粒被成功夹起的稻米上移开，聚焦在他们背影渐行渐远。En: As the camera shifted away from the successfully picked-up grain of rice, focusing on their gradually receding figures, the past failures were merely a driving force for progress.Zh: 过去的失败不过是前进的动力，毕竟，他们已证明，只要有决心，再小的米粒也能被夹起。En: After all, they had proven that with determination, even the smallest grain of rice could be picked up.Zh: 这最后的一幕如诗如画，使整个故事画上了一个完满的句号。En: This final scene was poetic and picturesque, providing a perfect ending to the entire story. Vocabulary Words:sculptures: 雕塑Tiananmen Square: 天安门广场company: 公司tea houses: 茶餐厅hardships: 苦难transferred: 调职goal: 目标chopsticks: 筷子passionate: 热衷foodie: 美食家master chef: 师傅skill: 技能restaurant: 餐厅luxurious: 华贵laughter: 笑声attempts: 尝试challenge: 挑战persevered: 持之以恒overjoyed: 欣喜若狂accept: 接受heroes: 英雄effort: 努力progress: 进步determination: 决心radiant: 璀璨driving force: 动力poetic: 如诗picturesque: 如画focus: 聚焦perfect ending: 完满句号

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Starry Night Market: Lost in Beijing's Glow Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/starry-night-market-lost-in-beijings-glow Story Transcript:Zh: 北京的星光，被城市的霓虹灯掩盖，但在熙熙攘攘的夜市中，两个身影凭着星光微微辨识路。那是张伟和李明，两个来自偏远农村，浓厚乡音调调的年轻人。绕过一道蜿蜒的小巷，他们看见了各种摊位，售卖的物品五颜六色，耀眼夺目。可迷宫般的夜市让他们扭头看看，路可就找不回来了。En: The starlight of Beijing is obscured by the neon lights of the city, but in the bustling night market, two figures rely on the faint starlight to navigate the streets. They are Zhang Wei and Li Ming, two young men from remote rural areas, with a strong countryside accent. Winding through a meandering alley, they see various stalls selling colorful and dazzling items at the lively night market. However, the maze-like market causes them to turn around, feeling lost and unable to find their way back.Zh: 张伟望着十字路口深吸了口气，“明哥，咱们要先向哪个方向走？”他的声音里带着一种朴素的紧张。尽管他们拿着摊位的小吃，但迷路的不安让他们的胃口消退。“让我想想…”李明带着一丝迷惘，他们没有手机，不能用地图来指导他们。En: Zhang Wei looks at the intersection and takes a deep breath, "Ming ge, which direction should we head first?" There is a simple nervousness in his voice. Despite holding snacks from the stalls, their lost anxiety diminishes their appetite. "Let me think..." Li Ming says with a hint of confusion. Without a phone or map to guide them, they are unsure of their way.Zh: 一个迷路的游子，就是最好的诱惑，于是小摊主们纷纷招呼起来。要知道，这两个迷路的人想要问路，用他们那浓重的口音说普通话简直就是一场战斗。他们的长相，他们的衣着，他们的乡音，一切都像是被贴上了标签：“异乡人”。En: A lost traveler is the best lure, so the stall owners start greeting them one after another. It is a struggle for these two lost individuals to ask for directions in Mandarin with their heavy accents. Their appearance, clothing, and accent all seem to be labeled as "foreigners".Zh: 他们试着去沟通，可每次尝试都以失望告终。都说大城市的繁华可以让人眼花缭乱，梦得彩色，他们是有这种体验了，只是特别的痛、特别的绝望。En: They try to communicate, but every attempt ends in disappointment. It is said that the vibrancy of the big city can be dazzling and dreamlike, and they have experienced this, but in a particularly painful and desperate way.Zh: 突然，从人群中走出一个白发苍苍的老人。他用慈祥的目光看着张伟和李明:“小伙子们，需要帮助吗?”老人用普通话慢条斯理的问道。幸福就像一道晨光，从迷雾中射出，那一刻，他们的眼神里闪出了希望的星芒。En: Suddenly, an old man with white hair emerges from the crowd. He looks at Zhang Wei and Li Ming kindly and asks in Mandarin, "Young men, do you need help?" Happiness shines like a morning light breaking through the fog. In that moment, a glimmer of hope appears in their eyes.Zh: 他们跟着老人，穿过了夜市的迷宫，平息了那份迷茫与恐惧，也稀释了那份对北京的陌生。老人像是开启了一扇窗，让他们看到了北京更加人性化的一面，它虽繁华，但每个角落还是充满了温暖的人情。En: They follow the old man, navigating through the maze of the night market, calming their confusion and fear, while also easing their unfamiliarity with Beijing. The old man seemed to open a window for them, showing them a more humane side of Beijing where, despite the prosperity, every corner is filled with warmth and camaraderie.Zh: 查看城市的叮咚声里，路灯为他们照亮了前方。短短的普通话交流也让他们看到了希望。是的，他们是乡下人，是异乡人，但他们还是坚强地生活着。En: In the bustling city's sounds, the streetlights illuminate their path. The brief exchange in Mandarin also gives them hope. Yes, they may be country folk, they may be foreigners, but they are still living strong.Zh: 在这里，他们不仅找到了路，也找到了属于自己的自尊和自信。那个令他们望而生畏的北京夜市，在两人的记忆中，是那么温暖而又充满了友情。大城市的冷漠与热情，在这个夜晚，都被他们深深地感受到了。En: Here, they not only find their way but also discover their own dignity and confidence. The intimidating Beijing night market, in their memories, appears warm and full of friendship. The indifference and warmth of the big city, they deeply experience it on this night.Zh: 年轻的张伟与李明，用他们双脚行走的速度，迈进了北京，他们的故事，却将留在北京这个大城市里，像一颗永恒的星，照亮他们未来的道路。En: With their young feet moving forward at their own pace, Zhang Wei and Li Ming stride into Beijing. Their story, however, will remain in this metropolis, shining like an eternal star, lighting up their future path. Vocabulary Words:starlight: 星光beijing: 北京obscured: 被掩盖neon: 霓虹lights: 灯bustling: 熙熙攘攘navigate: 辨识路figures: 身影remote: 偏远rural: 农村accent: 乡音meandering: 蜿蜒stalls: 摊位colorful: 五颜六色dazzling: 耀眼夺目lively: 热闹maze-like: 迷宫般anxiety: 不安snacks: 小吃nervousness: 紧张disappointment: 失望vibrancy: 繁华dreamlike: 梦幻kindly: 慈祥hope: 希望confusion: 迷茫fear: 恐惧unfamiliarity: 陌生prosperity: 繁荣streetlights: 路灯

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Pajama Diplomacy: The Tale of Two Unforgettable Friends Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/pajama-diplomacy-the-tale-of-two-unforgettable-friends Story Transcript:Zh: 在拥挤而繁华的北京，有两位好朋友，张伟和李明，他们俩都是新一代的青年才俊。张伟，一名充满热情的项目经理，以其高效和谦逊著称。李明，一名侦探式的记者，以敏捷和拼命三郎的形象活跃在北京的各大媒体中。他们生活在北京的中心地带——簋街，一个喧嚣的美食街道，绚丽的霓虹灯与琳琅满目的美食，形成了北京这个城市独特而突出的视觉象征。En: In the crowded and bustling city of Beijing, there were two good friends, Zhang Wei and Li Ming, both of whom were young talents of the new generation. Zhang Wei, a passionate project manager, was renowned for his efficiency and humility. Li Ming, a detective-like journalist, was active in various major media outlets in Beijing with his agile and dashing image. They lived in the central area of Beijing - Gui Street, a vibrant food street where dazzling neon lights and a dazzling array of dishes formed a unique and prominent visual symbol of the city of Beijing.Zh: 然而在一个普通的周五，这两位朋友的平静生活被打乱了。这个晚上，有一个首都雄心壮志的年轻企业家协会举办的晚宴，张伟和李明都受邀参加。然而，如此重要的场合，张伟却发生了一个极其不可思议的小插曲，他竟然不小心穿着睡衣前去参加活动。En: However, on an ordinary Friday, the peaceful lives of these two friends were disrupted. On this evening, there was a grand banquet organized by a young entrepreneur association from the capital, and both Zhang Wei and Li Ming were invited. However, on such an important occasion, Zhang Wei encountered an incredibly unbelievable incident - he accidentally went to the event wearing pajamas.Zh: 多年的友谊让李明立刻意识到张伟出了什么问题，他赶紧拨通了张伟的电话。电话这头，张伟戴着眼镜，一手拿着一杯摩卡，一手翻阅着文件，完全沉浸在工作中，他并未意识到自己误穿了睡衣。当他最终抬起头，看到自己的映像时，他的表情像天人交战一样。En: Years of friendship made Li Ming immediately realize that something was wrong with Zhang Wei, so he quickly called Zhang Wei. On the other end of the phone, Zhang Wei, wearing glasses, holding a cup of mocha in one hand, and flipping through documents in the other, was completely immersed in his work, unaware that he had mistakenly worn pajamas. When he finally looked up and saw his reflection, his expression was like a battle of gods and men.Zh: 他与李明一样，都被自己的着装惊呆了。然而，在这个令他无比尴尬的时刻，他决定接受这个惩罚。En: Just like Li Ming, he was stunned by his outfit. However, in this extremely embarrassing moment, he decided to accept the consequence.Zh: 结果令所有人都感到困惑和惊讶的是，他不仅精神饱满地完成了自己的演讲，而且他的诚实和自然赢得了人们的喝彩。他用简洁的语言讲述了自己的经历，让人们明白了他的睡衣代表他的工作痴迷和专注。而事件的解决使得这个晚宴变得更为难忘。En: To everyone's confusion and astonishment, he not only energetically completed his speech, but his honesty and naturalness won cheers from the audience. He briefly narrated his experience in simple language, helping people understand that his pajamas symbolized his work obsession and dedication. The resolution of the incident made the banquet even more memorable.Zh: 这个有着富有创造性开头的故事，结束于一个令人满意的结论：张伟因为他的率真和聪明，使他在一个复杂的场合中，依然能够如此冷静和从容。而李明的忠诚和敏锐使他在朋友需要的时候，能够及时提供帮助。En: This creatively started story concluded satisfyingly: Zhang Wei's sincerity and intelligence allowed him to remain calm and composed in a complex situation. Li Ming's loyalty and keenness enabled him to provide timely help when his friend needed it.Zh: 这件事情之后，两人的友谊成了北京的一个小传奇，每当有人提起这个故事，总会引起一阵欢笑和钦佩。他们两人的生活再也没有什么可以比这更有趣的事情了。因为，毕竟，这是一个充满了冒险、刺激和欢笑的故事。En: After this incident, the friendship between the two became a small legend in Beijing. Whenever someone mentioned this story, it would always bring about laughter and admiration. There was nothing in their lives that could be more interesting than this. After all, it was a story full of adventure, excitement, and laughter. Vocabulary Words:Zhang Wei: 张伟Li Ming: 李明Beijing: 北京friends: 朋友new generation: 新一代project manager: 项目经理efficiency: 高效humility: 谦逊journalist: 记者media outlets: 媒体central area: 中心地带food street: 美食街道neon lights: 霓虹灯dishes: 美食friendship: 友谊banquet: 晚宴entrepreneur association: 企业家协会incident: 事件pajamas: 睡衣phone call: 电话expression: 表情honesty: 诚实narrated: 讲述obsession: 痴迷dedication: 专注resolution: 解决sincerity: 真诚intelligence: 聪明loyalty: 忠诚legend: 传奇

Doing nothing has become something we just don't do anymore in our over-scheduled, always online world. But the simple act of hanging out with other people could be the solution to the epidemic of loneliness the world is facing says Sheila Liming. She's a professor of literature, media, and writing who says we need to put our phones down and re-learn out to just spend time with people with no set agenda or activity. Her book is called Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Clothed with Confidence: A Tale of Triumph in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/clothed-with-confidence-a-tale-of-triumph-in-beijing Story Transcript:Zh: 在热闹的北京市区，黎明刚破晓，李明已经跃跃欲试，准备出发去参加一场人生中关键的面试。En: In the bustling downtown of Beijing, at daybreak, Li Ming was already eager, preparing to set off for a crucial job interview in his life.Zh: 对于他来说，这个面试可能会改变他的一生，帮助他在这个繁华的都市站稳脚跟。En: For him, this interview could potentially change his life, helping him establish himself in this thriving metropolis.Zh: 刚洗完漱，他走进了衣柜，那是他爆炸式的战场。En: Just after finishing his morning routine, he entered his closet, which was like an explosive battlefield for him.Zh: 他大手一挥，研究着挂在衣架上的西装，琳琅满目的领带和刚从洗衣店取回的蓝色洗衣店。En: With a sweep of his big hand, he surveyed the suits hanging on hangers, the array of ties, and the freshly laundered blue shirt he had just picked up from the dry cleaners.Zh: 又是红色，又是蓝色，他彷徨着，甚至忘了自己是否已经疲惫到无法区分左右。En: Amidst the red and blue options, he hesitated, even forgetting if he was too weary to distinguish left from right.Zh: 最终，他选择了最传统的黑色套装和蓝色领带，给人一种稳重而职业的感觉。En: Eventually, he chose the most traditional black suit and blue tie, exuding a sense of stability and professionalism.Zh: 在路上，他看着手中信封中的面试邀请，映入眼前的是北京现代大厦的地址，他的心跳也加快了节奏。En: On the way, he looked at the interview invitation in his hand, with the address of the modern Beijing building in sight, his heartbeat quickening its pace.Zh: 在寻找着面试地点的过程中，他偶然倒映在橱窗上的影像让他惊愕。En: While searching for the interview location, he was startled by his reflection in a window.Zh: 西装，他竟然把西装穿反了！En: He realized he was actually wearing his suit inside out!Zh: 他努力保持冷静，但内心却无比的窘迫，路人异样的目光让他如芒在背。En: He struggled to stay calm, but felt incredibly embarrassed inside, with the passersby's strange looks making him feel exposed.Zh: 李明闪过了自己折回家换衣服的念头，但时间已经不允许。En: Li Ming entertained the thought of turning back home to change, but time did not allow for it.Zh: 他握紧拳头，深呼吸，决定坦然面对。En: Clenching his fists, taking a deep breath, he resolved to face it bravely.Zh: 面试的地点现代大厦，李明进了大厦的面试房间，被面试官们盯着看，他低下头，心跳却禁不住加速。En: Upon arriving at the modern building for the interview, Li Ming entered the interview room where the interviewers scrutinized him, causing his heart to race despite his attempts to stay composed.Zh: “李明先生，您的西装…”一个面试官开口，李明打断他，绷紧的神情一松，他紧接着说：“我知道，我把它穿反了早上，我没有时间回去换。En: "Mr. Li Ming, your suit..." one interviewer began, but Li Ming cut him off, loosening his tense expression and continued, "I know I wore it inside out this morning, and did not have time to go back and change.Zh: 我想，面试应该是关注我的能力，而不是我的着装。En: I believe the focus of the interview should be on my abilities, not my attire."Zh: ”会议室的空气仿佛凝固了，所有的人也都愣住。En: The atmosphere in the meeting room seemed to freeze, everyone was at a standstill.Zh: 然后，杂乱的声音在李明的心中回响，但他已经说出了自己内心的想法。En: Then, a chaotic silence echoed in Li Ming's mind, but he had already expressed his inner thoughts.Zh: 他开始回答面试官们的问题，尽管他知道他可能已经失去了机会。En: He began answering the interviewers' questions, even though he knew he might have lost the opportunity.Zh: 然而，结果完全出乎意料，李明获得了这份工作。En: Unexpectedly, Li Ming got the job.Zh: 面试官后来告诉他，他们赞赏李明的真诚和自信。En: The interviewers later told him they appreciated his sincerity and confidence.Zh: 尽管穿错了衣服，但他坦然面对，没有找借口。En: Despite wearing the wrong clothes, he faced it calmly without making excuses.Zh: 他以自己的实力去应对面试，而不是依赖华丽的衣服。En: He dealt with the interview based on his merits, rather than relying on fancy clothing.Zh: 刚开始的时候，李明看到自己穿反的衣服是多么的尴尬。En: Initially, Li Ming felt the embarrassment of realizing his clothing mishap.Zh: 然而，最后他明白，有时候，我们可能会遇到一些意想不到的困难，但只要我们以真诚和坚定的态度去面对，我们将会赢得他人的尊重和认可。En: However, in the end, he understood that sometimes we may encounter unexpected challenges, but as long as we face them with sincerity and a firm attitude, we will gain respect and recognition from others.Zh: 这件事情更加坚定了李明的信念，也让他在大北京这个大都市中赢得了属于他的一片天。En: This incident strengthened Li Ming's beliefs and allowed him to carve out his own path in the vast metropolis of Beijing. Vocabulary Words:address: 地址array: 一组attire: 着装battlefield: 战场beliefs: 信念change: 改变chaotic: 杂乱composed: 镇定confidence: 自信crucial: 关键embarrassed: 窘迫establish: 建立exposed: 暴露fancy: 华丽firm: 坚定hesitated: 犹豫inner: 内心invitation: 邀请metropolis: 都市opportunity: 机会potential: 潜力professionalism: 职业精神reflection: 倒映sincerity: 真诚strongly: 稳重unexpected: 意想不到weary: 疲惫yield: 获得scrutinize: 仔细检查

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Stinky Tofu and Sincere Revelations in a Beijing Banquet Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/stinky-tofu-and-sincere-revelations-in-a-beijing-banquet Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的闹市区，灯火辉煌的高楼里，一场商务晚宴正在峰回路转之间。金光闪闪的餐厅，倒映出的是人们紧绷的笑容和微妙的心态。诸如此类的场合，才华横溢的李明总是如鱼得水。一身定制西装，温文尔雅，沉稳内敛。他的朋友张伟，相形见绌，一袭随意打扮，更像是一个情绪的释放者，经常开一些无厘头的玩笑，给那些在形式和面具下窒息的人们带来一丝丝的解厄。En: In the bustling area of Beijing, within the brilliantly lit high-rise buildings, a business banquet is taking place amidst twists and turns. The glistening restaurant reflects the tense smiles and subtle mindsets of the people. In such occasions, the talented Li Ming always feels at ease. Clad in a tailored suit, elegant and composed, he stands out. Compared to him, his friend Zhang Wei, dressed casually, seems more like a liberator of emotions, often cracking nonsensical jokes, bringing a slight sense of relief to those suffocating under formalities and masks.Zh: 在大家还在为了下一步合作方案而步步为营的时候，张伟无视了那些刻板的礼仪，大声跃然出言。"要是现在有个臭豆腐在这就好了。"他的嘴角，还挂着一丝天真的笑意。所有人都愣住了，然后议论纷纷。En: While everyone was cautiously strategizing for the next cooperation plan, Zhang Wei, disregarding the rigid etiquette, suddenly spoke out loud. "If only there was stinky tofu here now." A hint of innocence lingered on his lips. Everyone was stunned, followed by a flurry of discussions.Zh: 李明显然有些讶异与尴尬，但他知道张伟既然说话了，决不会是没有道理的。En: Li Ming appeared surprised and awkward, but he knew that Zhang Wei wouldn't speak without reason.Zh: "为什么会是臭豆腐啊，张伟？"李明微笑着问。En: "Why stinky tofu, Zhang Wei?" Li Ming asked with a smile.Zh: "因为，臭豆腐就像我们这个圈，乍一看太臭了，让人有些接受不了。但是当你深入了解，它的美味，它的纯真，才会显现出来。这就像我们晚宴的气氛，太过紧张，假装优雅，大家都在心里算计。但是，是不是应该放松一下，毕竟，我们这个圈也是需要真诚和深度的。”En: "Because stinky tofu is like our circle: at first glance, it seems too pungent for people to accept. But once you delve deeper, its deliciousness, its purity, will emerge. This is similar to the atmosphere of our banquet – overly tense, pretending to be elegant, everyone calculating in their minds. But shouldn't we relax a bit? After all, our circle also needs sincerity and depth."Zh: 所有人都愣住了，然后齐齐爆发出阵阵笑声，遗忘了刚才的紧张与疏远，只剩下彼此和张伟坦率的话。“这场晚宴以一场玩笑话告终，一种新的开始挥之不去。尤其是李明，他明白，除了这个笑话，更重要的是张伟的真诚态度和坦然姿态。En: Everyone was stunned, then erupted into laughter together, forgetting the earlier tension and alienation, leaving only each other and Zhang Wei's candid words. This banquet ended with a joke, marking a new beginning that couldn't be erased. Especially for Li Ming, he understood that besides the joke, what mattered most was Zhang Wei's sincere attitude and candid demeanor.Zh: 所以，这个故事，不只是关于臭豆腐的笑话，更是关于真诚与坦率的力量。关于如何在看似不可能的环境中，找到最真实，最有价值的东西。只有当我们敢于直面，敢于开口，我们才能找到那份真实的自我，也就能在生活的道路上，找到真实的价值。En: Therefore, this story is not just about the joke of stinky tofu, but also about the power of sincerity and candor. It's about how to find the most genuine and valuable things in seemingly impossible situations. Only when we dare to face truthfully and speak up, can we find our authentic selves and discover true value on the path of life. Vocabulary Words:friend: 朋友joke: 笑话banquet: 宴会tension: 紧张sincere: 真诚deliciousness: 美味awkward: 尴尬relief: 解厄brilliantly: 辉煌地candid: 坦率emotions: 情绪casually: 随意elegant: 优雅strategizing: 策划sincerity: 真诚cooperation: 合作atmosphere: 气氛authentic: 真实的liberator: 解放者subtle: 微妙incredible: 不可思议purity: 纯真composure: 镇定genuine: 真正awkward: 尴尬value: 价值candor: 坦率suffocating: 窒息impossible: 不可能twists: 转折

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Dinner Disaster: Laughter Amidst Chaos Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/dinner-disaster-laughter-amidst-chaos Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的热闹街头，一家名叫“老北京鲜馔”的餐厅里，三个朋友张伟，李明，王晶正在慷慨大方地享用晚饭。En: On the bustling streets of Beijing, in a restaurant named "Old Beijing Delicacies", three friends Zhang Wei, Li Ming, and Wang Jing were generously enjoying their dinner.Zh: "你看，这就是我跟你们说的那个地方！"张伟自豪地说。他的眼睛一瞬不瞬地看着周围的气氛。En: "You see, this is the place I told you guys about!" Zhang Wei proudly exclaimed. His eyes were fixed on the lively atmosphere around him.Zh: 他们不知不觉间掐脖子般地逐渐加大了声音。对于这个，他们并不感到惊讶，因为这里始终都是闹哄哄的。每个人都好像在为即将到来的食物而等待着。En: Unconsciously, they gradually raised their voices, competing with the noise surrounding them. They were not surprised by this, as it was always chaotic here. Everyone seemed to be eagerly waiting for the upcoming food.Zh: "来，上菜了！"等待的人说。他是个骄傲的人，自豪于力气大，浑身是肌肉。他从窗口端出张伟先前要的盘子。En: "Here, the food is served!" the waiter announced. He was a proud man, boasting of his strength and muscular physique. He brought out the plate Zhang Wei had ordered earlier from the window.Zh: "嗯，这是你的鸡肉，张伟们！"他说。En: "Here is your chicken, Zhang Wei!" he said.Zh: 然而，张伟一次试尝，脸色立刻变了，显然味道并不在预期之内。他有点上了火，声音蹦出来了："这不是我要的辣田鸡吗？"En: However, after Zhang Wei took a bite, his expression immediately changed, clearly indicating that the taste was not as expected. Getting a bit annoyed, he burst out: "Isn't this the spicy land chicken I ordered?"Zh: 紧接着的是一阵欢笑。有些人笑着鼓掌，有些人拍着膝盖，有些人直接躺在地板上，大笑不止。En: This was followed by a burst of laughter. Some people clapped, some slapped their knees, and some even fell on the floor, laughing uncontrollably.Zh: 张伟的朋友们也笑了，他们笑得眼泪都出来了，因为这真是个意想不到的笑话。En: Zhang Wei's friends also burst into laughter, tears streaming down their faces, as this unexpected mishap turned into a hilarious joke.Zh: 最后，服务员走过来，淡定地说，“啊，对不起，我们弄错了订单。”En: Finally, the waiter approached them calmly and said, "Ah, I'm sorry, we made a mistake with the order."Zh: 然后，他们改正了错误，把辣田鸡换成了鸡肉。En: They rectified the mistake, exchanging the spicy land chicken with regular chicken.Zh: 始终闹哄哄的餐厅回到了它的原始状态。每个人都像以前一样，得到了他们的食物，每个人都在愉快地吃饭。En: The bustling restaurant returned to its original state. Everyone received their food as before, enjoying their meals happily.Zh: 但这个意外事件给他们带来了一个有趣的经历，张伟和他的朋友们总是笑着回想起那个晚上。En: However, this unexpected incident left them with a memorable experience. Zhang Wei and his friends always laughed when recalling that evening.Zh: 那天晚上，他们不仅品尝了美味的食物，还品味了人生的甜酸苦辣，体验了朋友之间的欢笑和纠纷。这就是生活，尽管有时会有混乱，但总会找到一个令人满意的解决方案。En: That night, they not only savored delicious food but also experienced the ups and downs of life, tasting the laughter and disputes among friends. That's life - despite chaos at times, there's always a satisfactory solution to be found. Vocabulary Words:streets: 街头restaurant: 餐厅friends: 朋友enjoying: 享用dinner: 晚饭place: 地方atmosphere: 气氛voices: 声音chaotic: 闹哄哄waiting: 等待served: 上菜waiter: 服务员announced: 说strength: 力气muscular: 肌肉brought out: 端出ordered: 要bite: 试尝expression: 表情taste: 味道unexpected: 意想不到laughter: 欢笑clapped: 鼓掌slapped: 拍fall: 躺hilarious: 有趣approached: 走过来mistake: 错误rectified: 改正

We had so much to react to, one episode was not enough. Grab your favorite tropical drink and join us for part 2 of sun-soaked episode of Unfiltered Limin, where we're diving into the captivating world of Caribbean vs American culture, mental health, and the wild ride of social media and news outlets. It's all palm trees, and a sprinkle of mental health awareness on this enlightening island getaway.Caribbean News Stories Under the Microscope, from colorful festivals to heartwarming traditions, the Caribbean is a treasure trove of stories. But what happens when the headlines take a serious turn? We're unpacking some recent news stories from the region and sharing our reactions – the good, the bad, and the thought-provoking.Liming by the Mind Shore , the Caribbean is known for its zest for life, but let's peel back the layers. We're chatting about how mental health is making waves within this vibrant culture. Are discussions around mental health breaking through cultural barriers? How are conversations shifting from taboo to "let's talk it out"?Social Media Limbo, Hashtag this, retweet that – social media has become the town square of the 21st century. How can we find our mental safe haven amidst the digital whirlwind?Caribbean Breeze of Hope – Extending a Helping HandIt's not all coconuts and carnival; many individuals in the Caribbean face mental health challenges. How can the community come together to provide a safety net for those navigating choppy mental health waters?So, whether you're lounging on the beach or stuck in a traffic jam, plug in your earbuds and join us as we explore the intersection of Caribbean vs American culture, mental well-being, and the digital era. It's an episode full of laughter, insights, and a whole lot of sunshine – both metaphorical and tropical!C O N N E C T W I T H U S:Instagram: @UnfilteredLiminTwitter: @UnfilteredLiminFacebook: Unfiltered Limin#unfilteredlimin#dLiminCrew

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unforeseen Connections: A Tea Accident that Changed Everything Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/unforeseen-connections-a-tea-accident-that-changed-everything Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京这个包裹着浓厚历史气息又充满着未来科技的城市，剧变正悄然发生。En: In the city of Beijing, a place filled with a rich historical atmosphere and futuristic technology, a drastic change was quietly taking place.Zh: 在国贸大厦的第29层，一场剑拔弩张的商务会议正在进行。En: On the 29th floor of the China World Trade Center, a tense business meeting was underway.Zh: 李明、王伟和张杰——三位商界巨头，坐在同一张大圆桌边，面面相觑。En: Li Ming, Wang Wei, and Zhang Jie - three business giants - sat around the same large round table, exchanging glances.Zh: 李明，著名的食品产业巨头，他个性豪放，心思精细。En: Li Ming, a famous figure in the food industry, had a bold personality and a keen mind.Zh: 今天，他带了他家最顶级的绿茶，准备在商谈中让每个人享受一下不一样的商务体验。En: Today, he brought his top-quality green tea from home, hoping to provide everyone with a unique business experience during the negotiations.Zh: 对面坐着的王伟，对他手中那杯馨香四溢的热茶赞不绝口。En: Wang Wei, sitting across from him, couldn't stop praising the fragrant and delightful hot tea in his hands.Zh: 而张杰，这位始终静如磐石的科技产业领军人，正聚精会神翻阅着厚厚的商务文件。En: Meanwhile, Zhang Jie, an unwavering leader in the technology industry, was engrossed in reading through thick business documents.Zh: 突然，李明手中的茶杯错落，滚烫的茶水朝王伟飞溅过去。En: Suddenly, Li Ming's tea cup slipped from his hand and the scalding tea splashed towards Wang Wei.Zh: 王伟立刻惊叫起来，全身疾退，倾翻桌上的资料本和文具，而这之中还包括张杰正看得聚精会神的文件。En: Wang Wei immediately cried out in surprise, quickly retreating and causing documents and stationery on the table to spill over, including the file that Zhang Jie was focused on.Zh: 惊鹿一般的王伟，与桌子角落相撞，引发了更大的尴尬。En: Startled like a deer, Wang Wei collided with the corner of the table, leading to even more embarrassment.Zh: 他稚嫩的双膝与实木桌面的对抗的激烈瞬间，让会议室更加混乱。En: The intense moment when his tender knees clashed with the solid wooden table surface further added chaos to the meeting room.Zh: 三个人的尴尬瞬间，像三连板的短剧，令人捧腹。En: The awkward moment between the three of them played out like a short comedy, causing laughter to erupt.Zh: 会议室内满是倾翻的文件，杂乱无章，仿如战场。En: The room was filled with overturned files, chaotic and resembling a battlefield.Zh: 接下来的时间里，他们三人心平气和的整理桌面，言笑晏晏地聊着各类趣事，笑得前仰后合。En: In the following moments, the three of them calmly tidied up the table, engaging in friendly conversations and sharing amusing anecdotes, laughing to the point of tears.Zh: 引发笑声的尴尬事情，反倒使三人关系拉近了许多。En: The awkward incident that triggered laughter unexpectedly brought them closer together.Zh: 那天之后，他们三人经历了很多事。En: After that day, the three of them experienced many things.Zh: 他们的合作取得了良好的效果，他们的公司都大获成功。En: Their collaboration yielded fruitful results, and their companies achieved great success.Zh: 可当他们回想起那次会议，他们总是会耸肩示意微笑，并感慨定义万千。En: But whenever they recalled that meeting, they would shrug their shoulders, smile, and reflect on the infinite meanings behind it all.Zh: 李明的茶，尽管烫了王伟，打翻了张杰的文件，但它却在意料之外地穿破了三人之间的冰冷商业气氛，让他们找到了共鸣，向着一个共同的目标前行。En: Li Ming's tea, although scalding Wang Wei and spilling Zhang Jie's documents, unexpectedly broke through the icy business atmosphere between the three individuals, allowing them to find resonance and move towards a common goal.Zh: 这也许就是尴尬，也是人生吧，总是在你最不预料的时刻，带来意想不到的转变。En: Perhaps this is the essence of awkwardness, and also a part of life - always bringing unexpected changes at the most unexpected moments. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京city: 城市historical: 历史atmosphere: 气息futuristic: 未来科技drastic change: 剧变quietly: 悄然taking place: 发生China World Trade Center: 国贸大厦tense: 紧张business meeting: 商务会议business giants: 商界巨头large round table: 大圆桌exchanging glances: 面面相觑famous figure: 著名人物food industry: 食品产业bold personality: 豪放个性keen mind: 心思精细top-quality: 最顶级的green tea: 绿茶negotiations: 商谈fragrant: 馨香delightful: 四溢hot tea: 热茶engrossed: 聚精会神reading through: 翻阅business documents: 商务文件slipped: 错落scalding tea: 滚烫茶水splashed: 飞溅

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Spicy Mishap: A Tale of Friendship and Laughter in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/spicy-mishap-a-tale-of-friendship-and-laughter-in-beijing Story Transcript:Zh: 在烟尘纷飞的首都北京，一个被晚高峰拥挤人群散播出的噪音笼罩的饭店里，李明以及他的老友王伟坐在一条排满了满满当当的地摊街市旁边。En: In the bustling capital city of Beijing, amidst the noise spread by the crowded evening rush hour, Li Ming and his old friend Wang Wei sat beside a street market filled with stalls.Zh: 李明，难得的清闲时刻，配着清冽的空气，处于一种半愉快、半期待的状态。他本人就是个食欲旺盛的男人，特别钟爱各式各样的风味。En: Li Ming, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, accompanied by the crisp air, felt a mixture of partially happiness and anticipation. He was a man with a hearty appetite, particularly fond of various flavors.Zh: 旁边则是王伟，他充满了助人为乐的精神，总是站在友人的旁边，准备援手。他们是北京生活的缩影，充满了活力，富有表达。En: Beside him was Wang Wei, filled with a spirit of helping others, always standing by his friend's side, ready to lend a hand. They were a microcosm of life in Beijing, full of vitality and expressive.Zh: 这天，正在享受美食的李明不小心吃了一口过于火辣的辣椒。他的脸色瞬间涨得通红，像一团燃烧的火炭，他大口大口的吸着气，却没有任何舒解。烈命的辣味如火焰燥热，他的舌头感受着一种它从未有过的疼痛。李明此时只想找到一杯水来浇灭他口中的火焰。En: On this day, while enjoying the delicious food, Li Ming accidentally took a bite of an overly spicy chili. His face instantly turned bright red, like a burning ember, as he gasped for breath, but found no relief. The intense spiciness was like a blazing flame, causing his tongue to experience a pain it had never felt before. All Li Ming wanted at this moment was to find a glass of water to extinguish the fire in his mouth.Zh: 王伟看见这样的情景，心急如焚。他开朗友善，是个乐于助人的人，当然立即动了救援之心。但是，因为过于紧张，以至于他在给李明递水的时候，手一滑，整杯水不幸地泼在了李明的头上。恰似那泼出的水打开了一扇新的大门，为他们带来了一场刻骨铭心的尴尬。En: Upon witnessing this scene, Wang Wei became extremely worried. He was cheerful and friendly, someone who enjoyed helping others, so naturally, he immediately felt the urge to rescue his friend. However, due to his nervousness, when he handed the water to Li Ming, his hand slipped and the entire glass of water unfortunately spilled onto Li Ming's head. It was as if the splashed water opened a new door, bringing them a deeply embarrassing moment.Zh: 水滴从李明头发上滴落，没入他的衣领，落在那张通红的脸上，弥漫出水汽。周围的人纷纷侧目，王伟尴尬的笑了笑，一脸歉意。En: Water droplets dripped from Li Ming's hair, seeping into his collar and falling onto his flushed face, dispersing into vapor. People around them turned their heads, and with an embarrassed smile, Wang Wei apologized profusely.Zh: 然而，李明并没有责怪王伟，反而用力地拍了拍他的肩膀，用力地笑了起来，忽略了自己被人注目的尴尬。这个刻骨铭心的尴尬瞬间，反倒使他们的友谊升华了。他们饮酒畅谈，笑声惊动了整条街，成为了那个街头的一道靓丽风景线。En: However, Li Ming did not blame Wang Wei. Instead, he patted his shoulder vigorously and burst into laughter, ignoring the awkwardness of being stared at. This unforgettable embarrassment instantly deepened their friendship. They drank and talked, their laughter echoing through the street, becoming a beautiful scenery on that street corner.Zh: 故事对中心冲突的解决，表现出友谊的力量和逆转紧张气氛的乐趣，以及对尴尬瞬间的互相理解和相互体谅，使我们感受到心灵的洗礼和温馨的人情味，同时，我们也看到了北京这个大都市的独特生活画面。En: The story resolves the central conflict, showcasing the power of friendship and the joy of reversing a tense atmosphere. It also highlights mutual understanding and empathy during awkward moments, allowing us to experience the baptism of the soul and the heartwarming human touch. At the same time, we also catch a glimpse of the unique urban life in Beijing. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京capital city: 首都noise: 噪音evening rush hour: 晚高峰street market: 地摊街市stalls: 摊位leisure: 清闲crisp air: 清冽的空气happiness: 愉快anticipation: 期待hearty appetite: 食欲旺盛various flavors: 各种风味spirit of helping others: 助人为乐的精神ready to lend a hand: 准备援手microcosm: 缩影vitality: 活力expressive: 富有表达delicious: 美食spicy chili: 辣椒bright red: 通红burning ember: 燃烧的火炭gasped for breath: 喘息不已intense spiciness: 烈命的辣味blazing flame: 火焰燥热pain: 疼痛glass of water: 一杯水witnessing: 见证worried: 忧心忡忡cheerful: 开朗friendly: 友善

Grab your favorite tropical drink and join us for a sun-soaked episode of Unfiltered Limin, where we're diving into the captivating world of Caribbean vs American culture, mental health, and the wild ride of social media and news outlets. It's all palm trees, and a sprinkle of mental health awareness on this enlightening island getaway.Caribbean News Stories Under the Microscope, from colorful festivals to heartwarming traditions, the Caribbean is a treasure trove of stories. But what happens when the headlines take a serious turn? We're unpacking some recent news stories from the region and sharing our reactions – the good, the bad, and the thought-provoking.Liming by the Mind Shore , the Caribbean is known for its zest for life, but let's peel back the layers. We're chatting about how mental health is making waves within this vibrant culture. Are discussions around mental health breaking through cultural barriers? How are conversations shifting from taboo to "let's talk it out"?Social Media Limbo, Hashtag this, retweet that – social media has become the town square of the 21st century. How can we find our mental safe haven amidst the digital whirlwind?Caribbean Breeze of Hope – Extending a Helping HandIt's not all coconuts and carnival; many individuals in the Caribbean face mental health challenges. How can the community come together to provide a safety net for those navigating choppy mental health waters?So, whether you're lounging on the beach or stuck in a traffic jam, plug in your earbuds and join us as we explore the intersection of Caribbean vs American culture, mental well-being, and the digital era. It's an episode full of laughter, insights, and a whole lot of sunshine – both metaphorical and tropical!C O N N E C T W I T H U S:Instagram: @UnfilteredLiminTwitter: @UnfilteredLiminFacebook: Unfiltered Limin#unfilteredlimin#dLiminCrew

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Li Ming's Night Market Fiasco Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/li-mings-night-market-fiasco Story Transcript:Zh: 在繁华的城市中，夜市是熙熙攘攘的，人潮涌动，一片热闹非凡的景象。En: In the bustling city, the night market is crowded with people, bustling with activity and creating an extraordinary scene.Zh: 蜿蜒曲折的道路两旁，摊贩们熙扰不穷，售卖着各式各样的商品。En: Along the winding and meandering roads, vendors are constantly hawking a variety of goods.Zh: 而在这个熟悉且特别的夜晚，一个名叫李明的人马上就要上演一出令人啼笑皆非的闹剧。En: And on this familiar and special night, a man named Li Ming is about to perform a hilarious farce.Zh: 李明，是个在这座城市打拼了好些年的普通劳动者。En: Li Ming is an ordinary worker who has been struggling in this city for many years.Zh: 他身形瘦削，皮肤黝黑，工作期间，他的眉头总是紧紧的皱着，一副认真工作的样子。En: He is skinny with dark skin, and during work, his brows are always tightly furrowed, giving him a serious look.Zh: 然而，今晚他是个世界级的大闹剧主角。En: However, tonight, he becomes the protagonist of a world-class comedy.Zh: 因为一连串的不合时宜，他画出了一幅洪荒之力的画面。En: Due to a series of untimely events, he paints a picture with the power of chaos.Zh: 那晚，彻头疲乏的李明决定在夜市小憩片刻，神街头的各式小摊为引诱。En: That night, Li Ming, feeling exhausted, decides to rest for a while in the night market, enticed by the various small stalls on the street.Zh: 当油炸臭豆腐的诱人香气瞬间冲击着他的味蕾时，他终于忍不住找了个静谧的角落随意坐下，解放了沉重的双脚。En: When the enticing aroma of deep-fried stinky tofu instantly stimulates his taste buds, he can't resist and finds a quiet corner to sit down, relieving his heavy feet.Zh: 几瓶冰凉的啤酒下肚，他忽然感到一种急迫的感觉。En: After downing a few bottles of ice-cold beer, he suddenly feels an urgent need.Zh: 然而，那样繁华的夜市哪里找得到卫生间呢？En: However, how can he find a restroom in such a crowded night market?Zh: 他悻悻的抬头，看到一个十字板凳摆设，周围用帆布圈起的小摊。En: Frustrated, he looks up and sees a bench with a cross placed nearby and small stalls enclosed by canvas.Zh: 一时间迷失方向，以为是公共卫生间。En: For a moment, he loses his sense of direction and thinks it is a public restroom.Zh: 于是，他决定那就是他的解脱之地。En: So, he decides that it will be his sanctuary.Zh: 那泡沫漫溢的啤酒牌，他有些模糊地以为是男女标识。En: Seeing the foamy beer sign, he somewhat blurly thinks it is a male and female symbol.Zh: 他走过去，解放了急迫的心情。En: He walks over and relieves himself with a sense of urgency.Zh: 刚结束这自由而写意的行为，他还没来得及挤出笑意，就听见了一阵尖叫。En: Just as he finishes this liberating and carefree act, he hears a scream.Zh: 跌跌撞撞逃离误入之地的李明，却面临一群群观食小摊的愤怒消费者。En: Li Ming, stumbling and fleeing from this mistaken place, now faces a crowd of angry customers who frequent the stalls.Zh: 他们咆哮着，摆出一副正义感人的模样，愤怒的控诉着李明的不文明行为。En: They roar, putting on a righteous appearance, accusing Li Ming of his uncivilized behavior.Zh: 然而李明，没有任何辩解的余地。En: However, Li Ming has no room for defense.Zh: 口舌无力，让他的尴尬暴露无遗。En: Tongue-tied, his embarrassment is fully exposed.Zh: 这是谁能想象的疯狂事端？En: Who could have imagined such a crazy incident?Zh: 冤枉啊，李明自怄而笑，这一笑极尽尴尬。En: Feeling wronged, Li Ming self-mockingly laughs, a laugh that is full of embarrassment.Zh: 他深知他今晚成了这繁华夜市的“笑话”。En: He knows deeply that tonight he has become a "joke" in this bustling night market.Zh: 但李明并没有被这次闹剧击倒。En: But Li Ming is not defeated by this farce.Zh: 虽然他成了众人的笑柄，虽然那个晚上他丢尽了脸面。但他心底里清楚，每个人都有犯错的时候，重要的是吸取经验教训，尽力避免再犯。En: Although he has become the laughingstock of everyone, although he has lost face that night, deep down, he knows that everyone makes mistakes; what's important is to learn from them and try to avoid making them again.Zh: 他坚定地向自己保证，以后一定要明确标识再行动。En: He firmly reassures himself that he will clearly identify before taking action in the future.Zh: 夜市还是繁华如昔，李明依旧是李明，只是成长多了一份经验，成了这座城市夜市中一个普通却曾被众人记住的角色。En: The night market is still bustling as ever, Li Ming is still Li Ming, but he has gained an experience and has become an ordinary character in this city's night market, one that people remember.Zh: 在繁华喧闹中，每个人都在上演着自己的人生，无论苦涩或甜蜜，这就是属于我们的人生。En: In the hustle and bustle, everyone is performing their own life, whether it's bitter or sweet; this is our life. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 繁华的 (fán huá de)crowded: 拥挤的 (yōng jǐ de)extraordinary: 非凡的 (fēi fán de)vendors: 摊贩们 (tān fàn men)goods: 商品 (shāng pǐn)hilarious: 令人啼笑皆非的 (lìng rén tí xiào jiē fēi de)ordinary: 普通的 (pǔ tōng de)struggling: 打拼 (dǎ pīn)serious: 认真的 (rèn zhēn de)chaos: 混乱 (hún luàn)exhausted: 疲惫的 (pí bèi de)enticing: 引诱的 (yǐn yòu de)aroma: 香气 (xiāng qì)taste buds: 味蕾 (wèi léi)resist: 忍不住 (rěn bú zhù)quiet: 静谧的 (jìng mì de)heavy: 沉重的 (chén zhòng de)restroom: 卫生间 (wèi shēng jiān)frustrated: 懊恼的 (ào nǎo de)direction: 方向 (fāng xiàng)sanctuary: 解脱之地 (jiě tuō zhī dì)symbol: 符号 (fú hào)relieve: 解放 (jiě fàng)urgent: 急迫的 (jí pò de)scream: 尖叫 (jiān jiào)accuse: 控诉 (kòng sù)uncivilized: 不文明 (bù wén míng)defense: 辩解 (biàn jiě)embarrassment: 尴尬 (gān gà)farce: 笑话 (xiào huà)

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Hilarious Chili Pepper Incident: A Heartwarming Friendship in the Capital City Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-hilarious-chili-pepper-incident-a-heartwarming-friendship-in-the-capital-city Story Transcript:Zh: 在中国的首都北京，精彩的事情每天都在发生。En: In the capital city of China, Beijing, exciting things happen every day.Zh: 在北方的这个冬季傍晚，这个繁华的都市让人惊叹不已的景象正上演。En: On a winter evening in this bustling city in the north, a spectacular scene unfolds.Zh: 一个叫李明的年轻男子在全北京最知名的餐馆“金山楼”里做了些啼笑皆非的事情。En: A young man named Li Ming does something hilarious in the most famous restaurant in all of Beijing, the "Golden Mountain Tower".Zh: 他不小心吃了辣椒，那一个震惊人心的反应，令人捧腹大笑，而在场的人都纷纷拍手称赞。En: Accidentally eating a chili pepper, his shocking reaction leaves everyone in stitches, with applause all around.Zh: 最深深地被这一切影响的却是他的好友张伟。En: However, the one most deeply affected by all this is his good friend Zhang Wei.Zh: 平日里，张伟总是看李明开怀大笑，认为这才是人生最美好的一面。En: Usually, Zhang Wei always sees Li Ming laughing heartily and believes that this is the most beautiful aspect of life.Zh: 无论状况多么严重，只要有一个人能引发笑声，那便蕴含着巨大的幸福。En: No matter how serious the situation is, as long as someone can provoke laughter, it contains immense happiness.Zh: 那日，他便看到了一幕让他瞠目结舌的场景。En: On that day, he witnessed a scene that left him dumbfounded.Zh: 李明是张伟的好友，也是他的工作伙伴。En: Li Ming is Zhang Wei's good friend and also his work partner.Zh: 他跟张伟一样喜欢尝试新的食物。En: Like Zhang Wei, he enjoys trying new foods.Zh: 他们会用手机记录每一个地方，每一道菜肴，每一个特别的味道。En: They use their smartphones to record every place, every dish, every special taste.Zh: 而“金山楼”的四川麻辣烫就是他们的新目标，只是李明无意中吃到了鲜艳炽热的辣椒。En: The Sichuan spicy hotpot at "Golden Mountain Tower" is their new target, but Li Ming accidentally ate a bright and hot chili pepper.Zh: 那一刹那，他平静的脸孔迅速聚焦，眼睛瞪大，脸色迅速从皮肤色转为胭脂色，然后发红，最后直接变成了火红。En: In that instant, his calm face quickly becomes focused, his eyes widen, his complexion rapidly changes from skin color to rouge, then turns red, and finally becomes flaming red.Zh: 全身开始颤抖，头上瞬间冒出了大滴大滴的汗珠。En: His whole body starts shaking, large drops of sweat instantly forming on his head.Zh: 他突然翻滚起来，像鱼儿在干燥的沙滩上挣扎一样，全身无力，但表情却非常夸张。En: He suddenly starts rolling around, like a fish struggling on a dry beach, weak all over, but with a very exaggerated expression.Zh: 这一瞬间，整个餐馆的人仿佛静止了，所有的目光都集中在痛苦不堪的李明身上。En: At that moment, everyone in the restaurant seems to freeze, all eyes fixed on Li Ming in agonizing pain.Zh: 然后一阵哄笑，大家捧腹大笑起来，连服务员也停下手中的工作，笑得弯下腰来。En: Then, bursts of laughter fill the air as everyone bursts into fits of laughter, even the servers stop working and bend over laughing.Zh: 最大声的笑，却是从张伟那里传来。En: The loudest laughter comes from Zhang Wei.Zh: 这是他们两人的冒险之旅的一部分，也是他们友谊的一部分。En: This is part of their adventurous journey and also a part of their friendship.Zh: 让他们明白，生活中无论有多少辣椒，他们都能笑对生活。En: It makes them understand that no matter how many chili peppers there are in life, they can laugh at it.Zh: 尽管李明的反应让张伟哈哈大笑，但这也更拉近了他们的关系。En: Although Li Ming's reaction makes Zhang Wei laugh heartily, it also brings them closer together.Zh: 那天晚上，张伟在朋友圈里发了一条:“他们说辣椒烫，我说我朋友烫！En: That night, Zhang Wei posted on his social media: "They say chili burns, I say my friend burns!"Zh: ”配了一张李明满脸通红，满头大汗的照片。En: accompanied by a photo of Li Ming with a red face and drenched in sweat.Zh: 这是他们记忆中的京城，一个充满活力和欢笑的地方。En: This is their memory of the capital city, a place full of vitality and laughter.Zh: 故事的结尾，书写了李明和张伟的深厚友情，也让读者深感欢乐和温暖。En: The conclusion of the story portrays the deep friendship between Li Ming and Zhang Wei, leaving the readers feeling joy and warmth.Zh: 即使生活有时辣得让人痛不欲生，也总有朋友在一旁让你笑到肚子疼。En: Even when life sometimes feels unbearably hot, there will always be a friend by your side to make you laugh until your stomach hurts. Vocabulary Words:Exciting: 精彩的China: 中国Capital city: 首都Beijing: 北京Winter: 冬季Evening: 傍晚Bustling: 繁华的Spectacular: 令人惊叹的Scene: 景象Unfolds: 上演Young man: 年轻男子Hilarious: 啼笑皆非的Restaurant: 餐馆Chili pepper: 辣椒Reaction: 反应Stitches: 捧腹大笑Applause: 拍手称赞Deeply affected: 深深地被影响的Good friend: 好友Laughs heartily: 开怀大笑Beautiful aspect: 最美好的一面Serious: 严重的Provokes laughter: 引发笑声Dumbfounded: 瞠目结舌的Work partner: 工作伙伴Enjoys: 喜欢New foods: 新的食物Smartphones: 手机Record: 记录Dish: 菜肴

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Heatwave Challenge: A Spicy Test of Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-heatwave-challenge-a-spicy-test-of-friendship Story Transcript:Zh: 在繁华喧闹的北京，这个城市的灯光是炙热的，就像那盘子里红通通的川菜。En: In the bustling and lively city of Beijing, the lights are as fiery as the plate of red Sichuan dishes.Zh: “7级辣味，大爷，绝对火辣。En: "Level 7 spiciness, sir, absolutely hot!"Zh: ”菜品的名字正如服务员的描述，叫「火辣热浪」，这是北京最闻名的川菜馆之一的特色招牌菜。En: The name of the dish, "Fiery Heatwave," matches the description of the waiter.Zh: 李明，一个平易近人的南方青年，此刻就被这火辣热浪困扰得五彩斑斓。En: It is the signature dish of one of Beijing's most famous Sichuan restaurants.Zh: 他挤眼儿，冒汗，就连他的舌头也像是被炸了一样，在嘴里嗡嗡作响。En: Li Ming, a friendly young man from the south, is currently being tormented by this fiery heatwave.Zh: 他只是想体验一下北京的地道美食，却不小心就挑战了菜单上的最辣菜品。En: His eyes are teary, he is sweating, and even his tongue is buzzing in his mouth as if it has been fried.Zh: 坐在他对面的，是他的好友，当地人王伟。En: He simply wanted to experience authentic Beijing cuisine, but accidentally challenged the spiciest dish on the menu.Zh: 王伟身体笔直，面无表情地看着他滑稽地挣扎。En: Sitting across from him is his friend, Wang Wei, a local.Zh: 尽管他内心已经笑成一片，但他仍然硬着脸皮，毫无表情的看着李明。En: Wang Wei sits upright, expressionless, watching him struggle in a comical manner.Zh: 王伟是个坚持不笑的人，他的严肃是出了名的，就像他的家乡一样，北京—这个中华的古都，这个庄严肃重的城市。En: Although he is laughing inside, he maintains a straight face, unaffected by Li Ming's situation.Zh: “我明明只是想尝尝北京的美食，没想到会把自己弄成这样。En: Wang Wei is notorious for not laughing and his seriousness, just like his hometown, Beijing - the ancient capital of China, a solemn city.Zh: ”李明口吃地咕哝着，脸上全是汗水，然后他迈开了走向洗手间的步伐。En: "I just wanted to taste Beijing's delicacies, I didn't expect to end up like this," Li Ming stutters, his face covered in sweat, then he gets up and heads towards the restroom.Zh: 这个时候，只听得见店内爆出一阵微微的笑声，王伟终于笑了出来。En: At that moment, a faint laughter erupts in the restaurant, and Wang Wei finally bursts into laughter.Zh: 他看着艰难走向洗手间的李明，心里暗暗地感到满意。En: He watches Li Ming, struggling towards the restroom, feeling satisfied deep within.Zh: “你见识到北京的辣度了吧，南方小伙子？En: "Now you understand the spiciness of Beijing, southern boy," he murmurs to himself with a smile.Zh: ”他微笑地自语道。En: When Li Ming comes back from the restroom, he is revitalized.Zh: 当李明走出洗手间，已经重新焕发了活力。En: He sits back down, looking at the "Fiery Heatwave" on the table, and says firmly, "I accept the challenge, I will finish this dish!"Zh: 他坐回座位，看着桌子上的“火辣热浪”，坚定地说：“我接受挑战，我要把这菜吃完！En: Wang Wei watches Li Ming and nods.Zh: ”王伟看着李明，点了点头。En: The stoic Beijing resident shows a content smile once again.Zh: 那个没笑容的北京人，再次露出了满意的微笑。En: He may not have laughed out loud, but his eyes are filled with laughter.Zh: 他也许没有笑出声，但他的眼睛却是笑意满溢。En: In the spicy waves of Beijing's night, the power of sincere friendship surpasses the heat.Zh: 北京的夜，辣味如热浪，而真挚友情的力量更胜热浪。En: This challenge in the restaurant, though somewhat comical, is also a small test of their friendship.Zh: 这场餐馆里的挑战，虽然有些滑稽，但也是他们友情的一次小小磨练。En: Deep down, they both understand that no matter how many difficulties lie ahead in the future, they will face them without hesitation, just like Li Ming faces the "Fiery Heatwave."Zh: 他们心里明白，无论未来有多少困难，他们都将毫不犹豫地面对，就像李明面对“火辣热浪”般，这就是他们对友情的坚定与承诺。En: This is their unwavering commitment and promise to friendship. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京city: 城市lights: 灯光fiery: 炙热的plate: 盘子Sichuan dishes: 川菜spiciness: 辣味absolutely hot: 绝对火辣Fiery Heatwave: 火辣热浪waiter: 服务员signature dish: 特色招牌菜famous: 闻名restaurant: 餐馆friendly: 平易近人tormented: 困扰teary: 挤眼儿sweating: 冒汗tongue: 舌头fried: 被炸authentic: 地道cuisine: 美食challenged: 挑战了menu: 菜单friend: 好友local: 当地人seriousness: 严肃stoic: 毫无表情capital: 古都solemn: 庄严肃重delicacies: 美食

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Spicy Surprises: A Taste of Beijing Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/spicy-surprises-a-taste-of-beijing-friendship Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京市中心的一家热闹的餐馆里，王伟的面庞像一束火焰，通红而热烈。炽热的刺激像烈火一样爬上他的喉咙，沿着他的脖颈向下蔓延，使他的口腔变得干燥燥。就在此时，李明则坐在对面，笑得像个开心的孩子。En: In a bustling restaurant in the center of Beijing, Wang Wei's face resembled a flame, burning red and passionate. The scorching sensation crawled up his throat like a raging fire, spreading down his neck and leaving his mouth parched. Meanwhile, Li Ming sat across from him, laughing like a joyful child.Zh: 这家餐馆位于北京中心，烹调的是一种地道的川菜。李明作为一个川菜爱好者，特意带着朋友王伟来尝试。王伟，北京人，害怕辣食，那对他来说，就像踏入了一个美味的陷阱。En: The restaurant was located in the heart of Beijing, serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. Li Ming, being a lover of Sichuan food, specifically brought his friend Wang Wei to try it. Wang Wei, a native of Beijing, was afraid of spicy food and stepping into the restaurant felt like walking into a delicious trap.Zh: 餐馆的红色灯笼在夜晚显得格外醒目，繁忙的厨师和侍者在灯火通明的厨房与餐桌间穿梭。餐馆的空气中充满了各种香料和热气的混合香气，这就是李明最爱的气氛。En: The red lanterns of the restaurant stood out prominently in the night, while busy chefs and waiters shuttled between the brightly lit kitchen and dining tables. The air in the restaurant was filled with a mixture of various spices and heat, the atmosphere that Li Ming loved the most.Zh: “你确定这个够不辣吗？”王伟疑惑地问道，指着面前那盘赤红的麻辣鸡。En: "Are you sure this isn't too spicy?" Wang Wei asked in confusion, pointing at the plate of bright red spicy chicken in front of him.Zh: “绝对不辣。”李明嘴角微翘，一副控制了整个世界的样子。En: "It's absolutely not spicy." Li Ming's lips curled up, as if he controlled the whole world.Zh: 李明知道王伟对辣食的免疫力，所以他尽量不让厨师添加太多辣椒。然而不巧的是，厨师可能误解了他的意思，相反地呈上了一盘景象惨烈的火辣麻辣鸡。En: Knowing Wang Wei's intolerance for spicy food, Li Ming had asked the chefs to not add too much chili. Unfortunately, it seemed that the chefs misunderstood him and instead served a plate of intensely spicy and numbingly hot chicken.Zh: 这真是一个悲剧的开始。当王伟吃下第一口后，他彷佛吞下了一块炭火，再也无法动弹。他的脸色如八月的大西瓜，从红到紫，然后又变成了死白。而他的喉咙就像有火焰在跳舞，温度高得惊人。En: It was truly a tragic beginning. When Wang Wei took the first bite, it felt as if he had swallowed a piece of burning charcoal, leaving him unable to move. His face turned from red to purple, like a watermelon in August, before finally becoming pale as if he was deathly ill. His throat felt as if there were flames dancing inside, the heat was astonishing.Zh: 而李明则哈哈大笑，“看你的样子，我想我应该在你面前摆一个‘刺激警告'的牌子！” 随后他还是半推半就的帮王伟点了一份醋溜土豆丝和凉白菜，冰凉清爽的口感让王伟恢复了一些元气。En: Meanwhile, Li Ming burst into laughter. "Look at you, I think I should put up a 'stimulation warning' sign in front of you!" Then, half reluctant, Li Ming ordered a plate of vinegar potatoes and cold cabbage salad for Wang Wei. The cool and refreshing taste helped Wang Wei regain some energy.Zh: 忍受了这场灾难后，王伟看着依然欢快的李明，轻轻咳嗽了一声，然后举起啤酒，“你等着瞧，下次我带你去吃我的家乡菜，确保你也会流泪。”En: After enduring this disaster, Wang Wei looked at Li Ming, who was still cheerful, and coughed softly. Then, raising his beer, he said, "Just you wait, next time I'll take you to eat the cuisine from my hometown. I guarantee it will make you shed tears too."Zh: 风中的年轮在城市上空摇曳，轻轻吟唱着北京的夜。这次吃饭让两人再也没有忘记，成了他们无数回忆中最具独特色彩的一段。他们明白，无论是甜是辣，友谊的味道总能让人回味无穷。En: The rings of time swayed in the wind above the city, gently singing the night of Beijing. This meal became an unforgettable memory for both of them, adding a unique touch to their countless memories. They understood that whether sweet or spicy, the taste of friendship always leaves people yearning for more.Zh: 故事以笑声和承诺结束，和王伟一样辣的夜，和李明一样灿烂的笑，都封存在了这个非凡的北京夜晚。而那个灼热的麻辣鸡，宛如生活中的挑战，给我们带来惊喜也带来泪水，而友情的甘甜总是在最后等待我们。En: The story ended with laughter and a promise. Just as spicy as Wang Wei's night and as radiant as Li Ming's smile, they were both sealed in this extraordinary Beijing night. And that fiery and spicy chicken, like a challenge in life, brought us surprises and tears, but the sweetness of friendship always awaits us in the end. Vocabulary Words:In: 在a: 一家bustling: 热闹的restaurant: 餐馆center: 中心of: 在…里Beijing: 北京Wang Wei's: 王伟的face: 面庞resembled: 像a: 一束flame: 火焰burning: 燃烧的red: 红色and: 和passionate: 热烈的The: 这scorching: 炽热的sensation: 刺激crawled: 爬行up: 向上his: 他的throat: 喉咙like: 像a: 一样raging: 横行的fire: 火spreading: 蔓延down: 向下his: 他的

The Best of 2023 continues with writer, professor and musician Sheila Liming on her recently published book, "Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time." Check out Sheila's book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717263/hanging-out-by-sheila-liming/ Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access weekly bonus episodes by subscribing to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thisishell

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Chopstick Revelation: A Cultural Collision at Dragon Pavilion Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-chopstick-revelation-a-cultural-collision-at-dragon-pavilion Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的一条华丽的街道上，有一家鼎鼎大名的高级餐厅，名叫"龙阁"。在这个故事中，主人公名叫李明，他因为一次匪夷所思的行为，让他在饭局间经历了一场纷乱而又令人难忘的奇遇。En: On a magnificent street in Beijing, there was a renowned high-end restaurant called "Dragon Pavilion". In this story, the protagonist is named Li Ming, and he has an extraordinary and unforgettable encounter during a chaotic dinner party because of a bewildering act.Zh: "龙阁"里弥漫着高雅的氛围，古典的檀香木与莱姆的气息交织，使人瞬间被其华美氛围吸引。李明落座在餐桌旁，面前铺着白色的菜单，上面写着些他刚才在门外仔细观察过的名字。这是第一次他走入这种高级餐厅，也是第一次面对满桌的这么多种形状和颜色的筷子。En: The weathered old Beijing hutongs, the majestic and grand Forbidden City, the majestic Great Wall, and the bustling Wangfujing pedestrian street had all become dim backgrounds for Li Ming. His gaze was fixed on the East Hong Gate of "Dragon Pavilion", where the dancing golden dragon and phoenix patterns seemed unfamiliar yet full of anticipation.Zh: "在中国，我们是用牙签剔牙，但我可以理解你的误会。这一对筷子是手工制造的，独一无二，是我们餐厅的特色。我们恭候您下次再来的时候，可以更好的欣赏和体验它们。"餐厅经理温柔但坚定地说。En: "Dragon Pavilion" was filled with an elegant atmosphere, where the scent of classical sandalwood and lime intertwined, instantly captivating anyone with its splendid ambiance. Li Ming took his seat at the dining table, with a white menu spread out in front of him, displaying the names he had meticulously observed outside the door just moments ago. It was his first time entering such an upscale restaurant, and also his first time facing so many different shapes and colors of chopsticks spread on the table.Zh: 接下来的景象引发了李明心中的疑惑。他的手，怀揣着好奇和尴尬，夹起了一双形状奇特的筷子。他注意到那筷子材质纯粹，线条优雅，像牙签一样细脆，而李明，以为他们是精密的牙签。En: The following scene aroused confusion in Li Ming's mind. With curiosity and embarrassment in his hands, he picked up a pair of peculiar-shaped chopsticks. He noticed that the chopsticks had a pure material and elegant lines, as delicate and crisp as toothpicks. Mistakenly thinking they were precision toothpicks, Li Ming began using the exquisite chopsticks to remove food debris from between his teeth.Zh: 意识到错误后，李明开始思考如何修复局面。他亲自向所有人道歉，并向餐厅经理解释了他的误解。与他的期望相反，经理微笑着向他展示了特制的牙签盒，并表达了对他的理解。En: The perplexed look in his girlfriend's eyes on the other side of the table caused ripples in Li Ming's heart. In an attempt to rectify the situation, he personally apologized to everyone and explained his misunderstanding to the restaurant manager. Contrary to his expectations, the manager smiled and showed him a specially made toothpick case, expressing understanding towards him.Zh: “在中国，我们是用牙签剔牙，但我可以理解你的误会。这一对筷子是手工制造的，独一无二，是我们餐厅的特色。我们恭候您下次再来的时候，可以更好的欣赏和体验它们。”餐厅经理温柔但坚定地说。En: "In China, we use toothpicks for dental hygiene, but I understand your misunderstanding. These pairs of chopsticks are handmade and unique, a specialty of our restaurant. We look forward to your next visit, where you can better appreciate and experience them," the restaurant manager said tenderly but firmly.Zh: 李明感到了释然，他谢过经理，并成功用筷子吃了一顿美好的晚餐。这次经历，让他对中国的餐饮文化有了更深入的理解，也对自己的无知有所警醒。En: Li Ming felt relieved and thanked the manager, successfully enjoying a wonderful dinner with the chopsticks. This experience gave him a deeper understanding of Chinese culinary culture and a wakeup call to his own ignorance.Zh: 李明的晚餐不仅仅是一餐晚饭，更是一次文化的碰撞与理解。他的误解，展示了我们在面对新奇和不熟悉的事物时，需拥有探索和学习的勇气。故事的结束，不仅带给李明满满的收获，也向我们展示了一次对新事物中求索真知的旅程。En: Li Ming's dinner was not just a meal, but a collision and understanding of cultures. His misunderstanding demonstrated the need for courage to explore and learn when faced with novel and unfamiliar things. The end of the story not only brought Li Ming fruitful results but also showcased a journey of seeking true knowledge in new things to us. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京renowned: 鼎鼎大名的high-end: 高级restaurant: 餐厅Dragon Pavilion: 龙阁protagonist: 主人公extraordinary: 异常的unforgettable: 令人难忘的encounter: 遭遇chaotic: 纷乱的dinner party: 饭局bewildering: 匪夷所思的weathered: 斑驳的hutongs: 胡同majestic: 宏伟的Forbidden City: 紫禁城Great Wall: 长城bustling: 热闹的pedestrian street: 步行街dim: 昏暗的backgrounds: 背景gaze: 目光fixed: 锁定patterns: 图案unfamiliar: 生疏的anticipation: 期待elegant: 高雅的atmosphere: 氛围scent: 气息classical: 古典的

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Memorable Mishaps: Unveiling the Surprising Moments in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/memorable-mishaps-unveiling-the-surprising-moments-in-beijing Story Transcript:Zh: 北京，这个古老而繁华的城市，在无数的繁华背后，又有着多少鲜为人知的小故事。在繁忙的南锣鼓巷市场，捧着苹果手机的张伟，正面临着一次尴尬的”计算器误操作“噩梦。En: Beijing, this ancient and bustling city, behind countless splendors, holds numerous little-known stories. In the busy Nanluoguxiang market, Zhang Wei, holding an iPhone, was facing an embarrassing nightmare of a "calculator mishap".Zh: 张伟，是个知名设计师，喜欢寻找独特元素的他，在众多小摊贩中扫来扫去，一个精致的陶瓷瓶引起了他的注意。En: Zhang Wei, a well-known designer who enjoys seeking unique elements, scanned through various small vendors. A delicate ceramic bottle caught his attention.Zh: “老板，这个多少钱？”张伟看着老板李明，举起手机中部的计算器应用，准备跟李明压价。En: "Boss, how much is this?" Zhang Wei looked at the boss, Li Ming, and raised the calculator app on his phone, preparing to negotiate the price with him.Zh: 李明连连摇头，"这位大师，我是实诚人，这东西两百就是两百。"但耐心并不总是有限的，张伟以前从未遇到过如此顽固不化的小贩。En: Li Ming shook his head repeatedly, "Master, I am an honest person. This thing is two hundred, and two hundred it is." But patience is not always unlimited, and Zhang Wei had never encountered such a stubborn vendor before.Zh: 张伟决心以价格占上风，他慎重握着手机，开始在屏幕上操作。然而，这次他在混乱中作出了致命的错误，他拿起了手机而非计算器。En: Determined to have the upper hand in bargaining, Zhang Wei grasped his phone tightly, ready to make calculations on the screen. However, in the chaos, he made a fatal mistake and reached for his phone instead of the calculator.Zh: “150可以吗？”张伟把手机递给李明。李明看了看，发现张伟递过来的是个手机，上面显示的不是价格，而是一个名为“王芳”的来电显示。En: "Can I have it for 150?" Zhang Wei handed the phone to Li Ming. Li Ming looked at it and realized that Zhang Wei had handed him a phone, and on the screen was a caller ID named "Wang Fang," not the price.Zh: “大哥，你的手机响了。”李明尴尬地说道。En: "Brother, your phone is ringing," Li Ming said awkwardly.Zh: 张伟接过手机，发现自己的错误，满脸尴尬，旁边的众人都爆发出了笑声。话说回来，哪有人拿手机而不是计算器摊贩讨价还价呢？En: Zhang Wei took the phone back and discovered his mistake, his face full of embarrassment. The people around them burst into laughter. After all, who negotiates the price with a vendor using a phone instead of a calculator?Zh: 无奈的张伟只好打了个哈哈，"看我这记性，老是做些让人笑话的事。"En: Helpless, Zhang Wei could only laugh it off, saying, "Look at my memory, always doing embarrassing things."Zh: 李明看着尴尬的张伟，笑着说：“这陶瓷瓶，150就给你了！”En: Li Ming looked at the embarrassed Zhang Wei and said with a smile, "I'll give you the ceramic bottle for 150!"Zh: 故事就这样结束了，也许这就是生活，些许尴尬，些许笑声，是我们记忆中独一无二的部分。一个人的生活是多么的丰富和美好，尽管有时会闹出笑话，但也因此而更具人味。En: And so, the story ended. Perhaps this is life, a bit of awkwardness, a bit of laughter, a unique part in our memories. A person's life is so rich and beautiful, even though there are times when funny incidents occur, it makes life more human.Zh: 生活，就是这样，充满了意外，这些意外给予我们惊喜，带给我们尴尬，还为我们的生活增添了许多有趣的瞬间。而这个瞬间，也正是当我们拨开迷雾，真实看到自我时的一种表达。有时，这也恰恰成就了我们的美好生活。En: Life is like that, full of surprises. These surprises bring us joy, cause us embarrassment, and add many interesting moments to our lives. And this moment precisely expresses itself when we unveil the mist and truly see ourselves. Sometimes, it ultimately contributes to our wonderful life. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京ancient: 古老bustling: 繁华city: 城市splendors: 繁华numerous: 多少little-known: 鲜为人知stories: 小故事busy: 繁忙market: 市场embarrassing: 尴尬nightmare: 噩梦calculator: 计算器mishap: 误操作well-known: 知名designer: 设计师unique: 独特elements: 元素vendors: 小贩delicate: 精致ceramic: 陶瓷bottle: 瓶boss: 老板price: 价格negotiate: 压价patient: 耐心stubborn: 顽固vendor: 小贩bargaining: 讨价还价calculations: 计算

A recap of soca hits from 2023. Enjoy!!!Problem Child- HolidayOlatuni- Engine RoomLil Rick x Jus-Jay- Mind OffJus Jay x Leadpipe x Richie-Brain Freeze [Richie's Intro Edit]Lyrikal- Look Back - Muv Keys EditDev- Gal Roll ItShal Marshall- Bacchanal Wine Nessa Preppy Ft. Alison Hinds-Who Ready Shal Marshall- Shell WayPatrice Roberts- Sugar CakeSkinny Fabulous- Behavoiur nothingMachel Montano- SpiritBunji Garlin- UmbrellaKes- Mental DayVoice- Long Live SocaMical Teja- Hall of Fame (Master Mitch-E Riddim Intro)Mical Teja- DNA D Ninja RoadmixSkinny Faboulous- Road TributeKes- Fuh SpitePumpa- The A listCollege Boy Jesse x Yung Bredda- Jook On The Junction (D Ninja Edit)Dev- Doh Bother MePatrice Roberts X Machel Montano - LIKE YUH SELF (Razorshop Roadmix)Machel Montano x Destra - STP Roadmix MasterNailah Blackman x Skinny Fabulous - Come HomeErphaan Alves - SpiritBunji Garlin - Hard Fete (N.M.G Roadmix)4-1 Band - Eat Man Money Road MixBunji Garlin - Entering GreenzlandFay-Ann Lyons - Outside BehaviorShaggy x Kes - MoodViking Ding Dong - DAP (Drink and Party)Fay-Ann Lyons - UpgradeKES - Jub JubPatrice Roberts - Grown Up Erphaan Alves - Lifeline Preedy - Rocket 

The holidays are one of the most social times of the year, filled with parties and family get-togethers. Many of us see friends and loved ones who we barely — or never — saw all year. Maybe we resolve to stay in better touch in the new year. But then somehow, once again, life gets in the way. This is not an accident. More and more people are living lives that feel lonelier and more socially isolated than they want them to be. And that's largely because of social structures we've chosen — wittingly or unwittingly — to build for ourselves.Sheila Liming is an associate professor of communications and creative media at Champlain College and the author of “Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time.” In the book, Liming investigates what she calls the “quiet catastrophe” brewing in our social lives: the devastating fact that we've grown much less likely to simply spend time together outside our partnerships, workplaces and family units. What would it look like to reconfigure our world to make social connection easier for all of us?This conversation was recorded in April 2023. But we wanted to re-air it now, at a moment when many of us are spending more time in the company of people we like and love, and remembering how good that feels (at least some of the time). If you feel motivated to have a more social life next year, hopefully this episode provides a clearer sense of the structures that might be standing in the way, what it would look like to knock a couple down, and what you could build instead.Mentioned:“You'd Be Happier Living Closer to Friends. Why Don't You?” by Anne Helen Petersen“The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake” by David BrooksFull Surrogacy Now by Sophie LewisRegarding the Pain of Others by Susan SontagLetters from Tove by Tove JanssonBook Recommendations:Black Paper by Teju ColeOn the Inconvenience of Other People by Lauren BerlantThe Hare by Melanie FinnThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” is produced by Annie Galvin, with Jeff Geld, Rogé Karma and Kristin Lin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Jeff Geld. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Sonia Herrero and Kristina Samulewski. 

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Chili Sauce Encounter: A Day of Laughter in Ancient Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-chili-sauce-encounter-a-day-of-laughter-in-ancient-beijing Story Transcript:Zh: 在古老繁华的帝都北京，卡通一样的789楼是一种年轻人的象征。En: In ancient and bustling Beijing, the cartoon-like 789 building was a symbol of youth.Zh: 在楼的某个楼层上，三位青年李明，张伟和王健一前一后踏入了一家饺子店。En: On one floor of the building, three young people, Li Ming, Zhang Wei, and Wang Jian, entered a dumpling restaurant one after another.Zh: 这家饺子店毫无特色，甚至可以说有些破烂，但它却是三个人的重要记忆。En: This restaurant had no special features, and some might even call it run-down, but it held important memories for the three of them.Zh: 特别是那架辣椒酱罐，因为正是它，开启了他们那不可思议的一天。En: Especially that jar of chili sauce, because it was this jar that opened up their incredible day.Zh: 李明，是那种满身透出阳光气息的年轻人。他一副毫不在乎的样子，大口地吃着饺子，毫无顾忌地往碗里倒了一大勺辣椒。En: Li Ming was the kind of young person who exuded a sunny aura. He ate the dumplings with an indifferent look on his face, pouring a big spoonful of chili sauce into his bowl without any concern.Zh: 那个红色的诱惑，仿佛在向他示意，注定这顿饭不会如常一般。En: The red temptation seemed to beckon to him, foretelling that this meal would not be ordinary.Zh: 据说那辣椒的"来头"不小，是老板从四川亲自寄过来的。En: It was said that this chili sauce had quite an impressive origin, sent personally by the owner from Sichuan.Zh: 他光着头，围裙下露出破旧的汗衫，平日里笑嘻嘻的，但他亲手做的辣椒，足以让任何人的味蕾因爱而怕。En: With his bald head and his worn-out undershirt peeking out from under his apron, the owner usually had a cheerful smile on his face. But the chili sauce he made was enough to make anyone's taste buds fearfully love it.Zh: 硬邦邦的饺子下肚后，李明觉得喉咙像是火焰在燃烧。他一拍桌子，转瞬间，几乎可以看到他眼中闪烁的惊异。En: After devouring the hard dumplings, Li Ming felt as if his throat was on fire. He slammed the table, and in an instant, you could almost see the astonishment twinkling in his eyes.Zh: 而后，一串打嗝声犹如修罗般撞击在小店内，吸引了所有人的目光。En: Then, a series of burping sounds burst out like demons crashing into the small shop, catching the attention of everyone.Zh: 张伟和王健这两个一直安静的男子，突然间像被要挟的兔子跳了起来，他们手举饺子，眼睛瞪大，嘴巴张开，凝固在那美好瞬间。En: Zhang Wei and Wang Jian, the two usually quiet men, suddenly jumped up like rabbits being threatened. They held their dumplings up in the air, their eyes wide open, their mouths agape, frozen in that beautiful moment.Zh: 他们目睹了李明面部像变色龙般的变化，看着他的眼涙汪汪，怔怔地看着他，然后，他们再也忍不住，拼命地笑了起来，笑声震动了整个店。En: They witnessed Li Ming's face undergo chameleon-like changes, stared at his teary eyes in a daze, and then, they couldn't help but burst into laughter, shaking the entire shop with their laughter.Zh: 他们吃完饭，在笑声中离开。饺子店老板摇头笑道，"这三个，说不定哪天真能成为什么大人物。" 他握着那枚辣椒罐，又倒了一大勺在碗里。En: After finishing the meal, they left amidst the laughter. The dumpling restaurant owner shook his head and smiled, "These three, they might just become someone important one day." He held the chili sauce jar, poured another big spoonful into the bowl.Zh: 在那天笑声中培养出了更深的友谊。En: In that day of laughter, this group of vibrant young people cultivated a deeper friendship.Zh: 在他们的生活中，李明的这场打嗝，成为了让他们抵挡日常烦恼，和不顺心事的笑料。En: In their lives, Li Ming's hiccup became the source of laughter that helped them withstand the daily troubles and frustrations.Zh: 三个人如此简单，朝气，充满活力，正如这短篇小说所带给我们的感觉。En: The three of them were so simple, energetic, and full of vitality, just like the feeling that this short story brings to us. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京cartoon-like: 卡通一样的789 building: 789楼symbol: 象征youth: 年轻人floor: 楼层young people: 青年Li Ming: 李明Zhang Wei: 张伟Wang Jian: 王健dumpling restaurant: 饺子店run-down: 破烂special features: 特色memories: 记忆jar: 罐chili sauce: 辣椒酱incredible: 不可思议aura: 气息indifferent: 毫不在乎temptation: 诱惑ordinary: 如常一般impressive: 来头不小sent personally: 亲自寄过来Sichuan: 四川owner: 老板bald head: 光着头worn-out: 破旧undershirt: 汗衫apron: 围裙cheerful smile: 笑嘻嘻的

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Chili Shoemaker: A Spicy Encounter and a Heartwarming Bond Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-chili-shoemaker-a-spicy-encounter-and-a-heartwarming-bond Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的一家古老的旅馆里，李明看着街头忙碌的人群，不禁微笑。他是一名习惯帮助别人的青年，一个与众不同，内心充满热情的鞋匠。相隔千公里，王芳却在上海的一家辣椒饭店里坐立不安，她对辣椒的热爱，让她饱受欢喜与痛苦的折磨。En: In an old inn in Beijing, Li Ming watched the busy crowd on the street with a smile. He was a young man accustomed to helping others, a shoemaker with an enthusiastic heart. Thousands of kilometers away, Wang Fang sat restlessly in a chili restaurant in Shanghai. Her love for chili brought her both joy and torment.Zh: 某天，一个陌生人匆匆进入李明的店面，散发着浓厚的上海口音，神色紧张请求他快速修好鞋子。李明观察了下这双鞋，脸上露出明显的困惑。那是一双特制的独特鞋子，有点起伏的外形，巧妙设计的鞋带，左右鞋竟然完全相同。在紧张的情绪驱动下，李明赶快修好并放在陌生人的脚边，顺手就给他系好鞋带。陌生人支付了费用，感激地点点头后急速离开。En: One day, a stranger rushed into Li Ming's shop, emanating a strong Shanghai accent and looking anxious. He urgently asked Li Ming to quickly repair his shoes. Li Ming observed the shoes and a clear look of confusion appeared on his face. They were a special pair of unique shoes, with a slightly undulating shape and cleverly designed laces, and the left and right shoes were completely identical. Driven by a nervous mindset, Li Ming quickly repaired the shoes and placed them by the stranger's feet, skillfully tying the laces. The stranger paid the fee, nodded gratefully, and hurriedly left.Zh: 与此同时，王芳又筹算着进入那家辣椒饭店。她坐下，目光热烈的盯着那红色的辣椒图，灵动的目光充满了期待。当服务员将那一碟热辣辣的饭放在她面前时，她几乎无法抑制她的兴奋。她大口吃了起来，食物的热量滚滚而上，犹如一头烈火翻腾的龙，而她是那龙的主人。然而辣味强烈，她的眼睛开始流泪，喉咙也痛得无法言语。她咳嗽起来，仿佛就要喷出火焰。En: At the same time, Wang Fang was making plans to enter the chili restaurant. As she sat down, her eyes fervently focused on the red chili logo, filled with anticipation. When the waiter placed the plate of hot and spicy rice in front of her, she could hardly contain her excitement. She ate greedily, as the heat of the food surged through her, like a roaring, fiery dragon, and she was the master of that dragon. However, the spiciness grew intense, her eyes started to tear up, and her throat became so painful she couldn't speak. She coughed, as if flames were about to burst out.Zh: 几天后，李明看到新闻报道说有个男子在北京街头因为鞋子穿反引发了一场小型事故，那男人竟然是他之前帮助过的那位陌生人，他感到有些内疚。在为他修鞋的日子里，他悄悄去上海寻找王芳，希望能了解她对辣椒的热爱。当他在上海的那家辣椒饭店碰上王芳的时候，他为她擦去了眼泪，温柔地说："既然你这么喜欢辣，那我就陪你吃，我们一起面对它的辣度。"En: A few days later, Li Ming saw a news report about a man causing a minor accident on the streets of Beijing because he had worn his shoes the wrong way. To his surprise, that man turned out to be the stranger he had helped before, leaving Li Ming feeling guilty. During the days of repairing his shoes, he secretly went to Shanghai to find Wang Fang, hoping to understand her love for chili. When he crossed paths with Wang Fang at that chili restaurant in Shanghai, he wiped away her tears and gently said, "Since you love spicy food so much, I'll accompany you in eating it. Let's face the spiciness together."Zh: 故事以这样美好的结局结束，李明的热心帮助总会给他带来生活的惊喜，即使偶尔会有一些小误会，但那也只是生活的调料。而王芳，从此在吃辣椒的道路上，有了李明陪伴，辣椒再辣，也不会一个人独自承受。她们的生活因为这些转折，而变得更加多姿多彩。En: The story ends with such a beautiful resolution. Li Ming's kind-hearted help always brings him delightful surprises in life, even if there are occasional misunderstandings, they are just seasonings of life. As for Wang Fang, she now has Li Ming by her side on her journey of eating chili. No matter how spicy it gets, she won't have to endure it alone. Their lives have become more colorful because of these twists and turns. Vocabulary Words:inn: 古旅馆Beijing: 北京Li Ming: 李明watched: 看着busy: 忙碌的crowd: 人群street: 街头smile: 微笑young man: 青年helping others: 帮助别人shoemaker: 鞋匠enthusiastic: 热情的heart: 内心thousands of kilometers away: 相隔千公里Wang Fang: 王芳restlessly: 坐立不安chili restaurant: 辣椒饭店Shanghai: 上海love: 热爱joy: 欢喜torment: 痛苦的折磨stranger: 陌生人rushed: 匆匆shop: 店面strong: 浓厚的Shanghai accent: 上海口音anxious: 神色紧张urgently: 快速repair: 修好shoes: 鞋子

Host Dominik Hoffmann und Vollbluttouristikerin Sainey Sawaneh sprechen mit Angelika Wegner von tourimax, die im deutschsprachigen Raum für Tobago Tourism zuständig ist. Erholung garantiert. Die Themen: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Karibik on tour; Privatsphäre in Tobago; Robinsón Crusoe Insel; Liming = die Seele baumeln lassen; Tabago passt zweimal in den Bodensee; Ältestes Naturschutzgebiet der Welt; Freundlicher Wettbewerb: Trinidad is nice, Tabago is paradise; Fantastische Strände und Tauchriffe; Direktflug mit Condor ab 12. November; Paare, Senioren und Familien; Tourismus ist Hauptwirtschaftszweig Dir stehen folgende Informationsquellen und Kontaktmöglichkeiten zur Verfügung: https://www.fti.de/service/reisehinweise.html https://www.fti.de/blog/reiseberichte-und-tipps/expertentipps/urlaub-corona-einreisebestimmungen/ Schreib uns deine Fragen, Reiseerlebnisse und Reisetipps an hello@washeldentun.de

It's impossible to deny that the U.S. has a serious loneliness problem. One 2018 report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 22 percent of all adults — almost 60 million Americans — said they often or always felt lonely or socially isolated. That was a full two years before the Covid pandemic. And Americans appear to be getting lonelier over time: From 1990 to 2021, there was a 25 percentage point decrease in the number of Americans who reported having five or more close friends. Young people now report feeling lonelier than the elderly.This widespread loneliness is often analogized to a disease, an epidemic. But that label obscures something important: Loneliness in America isn't merely the result of inevitable or abstract forces, like technological progress; it's the product of social structures we've chosen — wittingly or unwittingly — to build for ourselves.Sheila Liming is an associate professor of communications and creative media at Champlain College and the author of the new book “Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time.” In the book, Liming investigates what she calls the “quiet catastrophe” brewing in our social lives: the devastating fact that we've grown much less likely to simply spend time together outside our partnerships, workplaces and family units. What would it look like to reconfigure our world to make social connection easier for all of us?We discuss how the structures of our lives and physical spaces have made atomization rather than community our society's default setting, the surprising class differences in how far we live from our families, the social costs of wearing headphones and earbuds in public, how technology has enabled us to avoid the social awkwardness and rejection inherent in building community, the fact that the nuclear family is a historical aberration — and maybe a mistake, how texting and “ghosting” affect the resilience of our core relationships, why shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” are entirely built around socializing at the office and what we are losing in an era of increased remote work, why some parents are revolting against their kids having sleepovers and more.Mentioned:“You'd Be Happier Living Closer to Friends. Why Don't You?” by Anne Helen Petersen“The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake” by David BrooksFull Surrogacy Now by Sophie LewisRegarding the Pain of Others by Susan SontagLetters from Tove by Tove JanssonBook Recommendations:Black Paper by Teju ColeOn the Inconvenience of Other People by Lauren BerlantThe Hare by Melanie FinnThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” is produced by Annie Galvin, with Jeff Geld, Rogé Karma and Kristin Lin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Jeff Geld. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Sonia Herrero and Kristina Samulewski.