Former empire in Eastern Asia, 1368–1644
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In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu covers the increase of PLA naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal in response to US-Philippine joint military exercises, and what this development indicates about China's evolving maritime strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Second, Miles unpacks the decision by the Chinese Football Association to issue 73 lifetime bans to coaches and players for match fixing and details the larger network of corruption across professional sports in China. Finally, Miles reviews the executions of eleven Ming mafia family members related to scam centers based in Myanmar, and what this judicial process reveals about the current state of bilateral relations between China and Myanmar.China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future.
Q's on top of the world, Sage is turning 20, Walt & Git ‘Em have a misunderstanding, Ming loses his tech skills, JTHG is pussified, new game: Con stories or Convention stories. https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/tesd
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
Q's on top of the world, Sage is turning 20, Walt & Git ‘Em have a misunderstanding, Ming loses his tech skills, JTHG is pussified, new game: Con stories or Convention stories. https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/tesd
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Detective Wei and the Lantern Festival Mystery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-30-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 夜晚的雪花在国际寄宿学校的屋顶上悄悄积累,校园里一片宁静,唯有红色的灯笼和春节的装饰给寒冷的冬天增添了一丝暖意。En: On a winter's night, snowflakes quietly accumulated on the rooftops of the international boarding school, and the campus lay in silence, with only the red lanterns and Spring Festival decorations adding a touch of warmth to the cold winter.Zh: 然而,这宁静的夜晚却隐藏着一连串的神秘失窃案。En: However, this calm night concealed a string of mysterious thefts.Zh: 魏是个安静的学生,但他内心深处,对侦探工作充满了好奇。En: Wei was a quiet student, but deep down, he was fascinated by detective work.Zh: 最近,宿舍内接连发生了失窃事件,几位同学的物品不翼而飞,大家人心惶惶。En: Recently, a series of thefts had occurred in the dormitory, with several students' belongings mysteriously disappearing, leaving everyone feeling anxious.Zh: 魏心里想着:“我一定要在春节庆典前解决这个谜团!”En: Wei thought to himself, "I must solve this mystery before the Spring Festival celebrations!"Zh: 他的朋友连是个外向又迷信的人,他相信新年的神灵会帮助他们抓住小偷。En: His friend Lian was an outgoing and superstitious person, believing that the spirits of the New Year would help them catch the thief.Zh: “我们一定要小心,不能得罪神灵!”连总是这样说。En: "We must be careful not to offend the spirits!" Lian would always say.Zh: 明与他们截然不同,他是理智的化身,怀疑一切神秘的事物。En: Ming, on the other hand, was the embodiment of rationality, skeptical of all things mysterious.Zh: 他不相信新年的神灵,却非常关心朋友们的安全。En: He didn't believe in New Year's spirits, but he was very concerned about his friends' safety.Zh: 宿舍里,魏默默观察每一个可疑的线索,连则忙着拜访附近的寺庙,祈求好运。En: In the dormitory, Wei quietly observed every suspicious clue, while Lian was busy visiting nearby temples, praying for good luck.Zh: 明则建议大家从实际证据入手,比如仔细检查宿舍的门锁和窗户。En: Ming suggested that they start with practical evidence, like carefully checking the dormitory's locks and windows.Zh: 很快,春节到了。En: Soon, the Spring Festival arrived.Zh: 学校举办了灯笼节,彩灯在雪地上闪耀,映照出温暖的光芒。En: The school hosted the Lantern Festival, with colorful lights sparkling on the snowy ground, casting a warm glow.Zh: 魏决定抓住最后的机会。En: Wei decided to seize the final opportunity.Zh: 在灯笼节的准备活动中,当人群熙熙攘攘时,他躲在一旁仔细观察。En: During the preparations for the Lantern Festival, as the crowd bustled, he hid aside to observe carefully.Zh: 终于,一个形迹可疑的身影映入眼帘。En: Finally, a suspicious figure caught his eye.Zh: 那是一个陌生的男孩,正在偷偷地翻动一个背包。En: It was an unfamiliar boy, secretly rummaging through a backpack.Zh: 这一幕让魏的心脏剧烈跳动,他镇定下来,示意明和连过来一起观察。En: This scene made Wei's heart race, and he calmed himself, signaling Ming and Lian to join him in observing.Zh: “是他!”魏低声说。En: "It's him!" Wei whispered.Zh: 他们合力抓住了那个男孩。En: Together, they caught the boy.Zh: 经过询问才知道,原来是一个学生的堂弟,趁着春节到学校来玩。En: After questioning, they discovered it was actually a cousin of a student who had come to the school to play during the Spring Festival.Zh: 他觉得恶作剧会很有趣,没想到却引起了如此大的轰动。En: He thought playing a prank would be fun, not realizing it would cause such a stir.Zh: 随着真相的揭开,孩子们都松了口气。En: With the truth revealed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.Zh: 失窃的物品被一一找回,小偷只是个想恶作剧的顽皮孩子而已。En: The stolen items were all recovered, and the thief turned out to be just a mischievous kid looking to play pranks.Zh: 魏也在这次事件中发现了自信,他学会了如何将直觉与逻辑结合起来。En: Wei also gained confidence through this incident, learning how to combine intuition with logic.Zh: 随着新年钟声的敲响,学校沉浸在节日的欢声笑语中。En: With the ringing of the New Year's bell, the school was immersed in festive laughter.Zh: 纸灯笼在空中摇曳,魏、连和明坐在一起,看着绚丽的烟火,心中充满了平和和喜悦。En: Paper lanterns swayed in the sky, and Wei, Lian, and Ming sat together, watching the brilliant fireworks, their hearts filled with peace and joy.Zh: 故事最后,魏对连说:“看来你的迷信也有点用,”连笑着点点头。En: At the story's end, Wei said to Lian, "It seems your superstition was of some use," and Lian nodded with a smile.Zh: 故事虽结束,但他们的友情和在一起解决问题的能力,却在这片雪白的校园中生根发芽。En: Although the story ended, their friendship and ability to solve problems together took root and flourished in the snow-covered campus. Vocabulary Words:snowflakes: 雪花accumulated: 积累boarding school: 寄宿学校rooftops: 屋顶lanterns: 灯笼decorations: 装饰concealed: 隐藏thefts: 失窃案mysterious: 神秘fascinated: 充满好奇belongings: 物品anxious: 人心惶惶superstitious: 迷信spirits: 神灵skeptical: 怀疑evidence: 证据preparations: 准备活动bustled: 熙熙攘攘mischievous: 顽皮intuition: 直觉fireworks: 烟火prank: 恶作剧campus: 校园observe: 观察clues: 线索rummaging: 翻动disappearing: 不翼而飞rationality: 理智revealed: 揭开flourished: 生根发芽
As a bonus episode series for the NüVoices podcast, we have invited three winners of our 2025 NüStories personal essay contest to read out their essays. In this episode, you will hear from Juliette Yu-Ming Lizeray, who won first place for her essay, "You need glasses for Asian faces."Juliette Yu-Ming Lizeray is a writer and comic artist. She won Singapore's 2023 Golden Point Award and co-authored two books on the arts in Singapore, "Semionauts of Tradition" and "Reimagining Singapore."
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Friendship: Ming's Rare Bird Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-27-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个寒冷的冬天,明和同学李、陈一起乘坐校车前往自然保护区。En: On a cold winter's day, Ming and his classmates Li and Chen took the school bus to a nature reserve.Zh: 今天是他们的校外远足活动,他们的目的地是一个迷人的湿地。En: Today was their field trip, and their destination was an enchanting wetland.Zh: 这片湿地被浓雾笼罩,散发着神秘的气息。En: The wetland was shrouded in thick fog, giving off a mysterious aura.Zh: 空气中弥漫着寒气,远处传来模糊的动物声响,仿佛在无声地诉说着这个地方的故事。En: The air was filled with a chill, and there were faint animal sounds in the distance, as if silently telling the story of this place.Zh: 这次远足正值农历新年,虽然周围一片安静,但空气中还能感受到节日的氛围。En: The trip coincided with the Lunar New Year, and although the surroundings were quiet, the festive atmosphere could still be felt in the air.Zh: 明是个好奇心旺盛的学生,他总是喜欢发掘新的事物。En: Ming was a student full of curiosity, always eager to discover new things.Zh: 然而,他常常觉得与同学们的共同话题很少,总是有一种置身事外的感觉。En: However, he often felt that he had few common topics with his classmates and always experienced a sense of being on the outside.Zh: 走在湿地的小路上,明听到关于一种稀有鸟类的传闻。En: Walking on the path through the wetland, Ming heard rumors about a rare bird.Zh: 这种鸟生活在这片迷雾笼罩的沼泽,很多人都未曾真正见过它。En: This bird lived in this fog-covered swamp, and many people had never truly seen it.Zh: 明想,如果他能在这次远足中找到这只鸟,并将照片分享给同学们,也许可以改变他在班级中的融入感。En: Ming thought, if he could find this bird during the field trip and share the photo with his classmates, it might change his feeling of belonging in the class.Zh: 随着他们深入湿地,雾气越来越浓,路也变得难以辨识。En: As they ventured deeper into the wetland, the fog thickened, and the path became difficult to discern.Zh: 明心里挣扎着:是要待在队伍中安全行走,还是依靠耳边传来的鸟鸣声稍微偏离小径?En: Ming struggled inside: should he stay safe with the group, or slightly stray off the path, guided by the birdsong in his ear?Zh: 一边是害怕走失的恐惧,一边是对看到稀有鸟的强烈渴望。En: On one side was the fear of getting lost, and on the other was a strong desire to see the rare bird.Zh: 于是,在听到一声特别的鸟鸣时,明停了下来。En: So, when he heard a particularly distinct birdsong, Ming stopped.Zh: 他悄悄走出小径,朝着声音的方向走去。En: He quietly stepped off the path, walking towards the direction of the sound.Zh: 雾气让他看不太清道路,但他小心翼翼地向前走,每一步都充满了期待和不安。En: The fog made it hard to see the road, but he carefully moved forward, each step filled with anticipation and unease.Zh: 就在他几乎想要放弃时,雾忽然稍微散去了一些。En: Just when he was about to give up, the fog suddenly cleared slightly.Zh: 他抬头,看见一只独特的鸟就栖息在不远处的树枝上。En: He looked up and saw a unique bird perched on a branch not far away.Zh: 那是他梦想中的稀有鸟!En: It was the rare bird he had dreamed of!Zh: 他迅速拿出手机,拍下了它的照片。En: He quickly took out his phone and snapped a photo of it.Zh: 瞬间,鸟儿扇动翅膀消失在雾中。En: In an instant, the bird flapped its wings and disappeared into the fog.Zh: 回到队伍,明迫不及待地向李和陈展示他的发现。En: Back with the group, Ming couldn't wait to show Li and Chen his discovery.Zh: “看!真的有这只鸟!”他说道,兴奋得不得了。En: "Look! The bird really exists!" he exclaimed, overjoyed.Zh: 同学们被他的发现所震惊,纷纷围过来看照片。En: His classmates were amazed by his discovery and gathered around to see the photo.Zh: 大家都被这场惊喜开启了新的一段友情旅程。En: Everyone was thrilled by this surprise, marking the beginning of a new journey of friendship.Zh: 当天的返回途中,明感受到一种前所未有的温暖。En: On the return trip that day, Ming felt a warmth he had never experienced before.Zh: 他不仅实现了自己的小目标,还因此结交了更多的朋友。En: Not only had he achieved his small goal, but he also made more friends because of it.Zh: 原来,只要勇敢迈出一步,和大家分享自己的热爱,就能打破人与人之间的隔墙。En: It turned out, just by bravely taking a step forward and sharing his passion with everyone, he could break down the walls between people.Zh: 这样的明,带着更多的自信和归属感走入了新的一年。En: With more confidence and a sense of belonging, Ming stepped into the new year. Vocabulary Words:enchanting: 迷人的shrouded: 笼罩aura: 气息chill: 寒气faint: 模糊的festive: 节日的curiosity: 好奇心rumors: 传闻rare: 稀有的swamp: 沼泽discern: 辨识struggle: 挣扎venture: 深入distinct: 特别的perched: 栖息exclaimed: 说道(兴奋地)overjoyed: 兴奋的thrilled: 震惊的journey: 旅程warmth: 温暖achieved: 实现belonging: 融入感anticipation: 期待unease: 不安instant: 瞬间flapped: 扇动(翅膀)unique: 独特的fog: 雾气path: 小径expectation: 期望
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
Dan and I discuss the importance of getting the coffee order right, working with a team, creating new tech for F1, Life of Pi, George Lucas in Love, and so much more. Dan's IMDB To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op. Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode. Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud Theme Mix - Charles Papert
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Mystery of the Ming Artifact: A Historian's Quest for Justice Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-25-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 紫禁城的宫墙在冬季的雪中显得格外庄严。En: The palace walls of the Zijin Cheng appeared especially solemn in the winter snow.Zh: 红灯笼高挂,为即将到来的春节增添了喜庆的氛围。En: Red lanterns hung high, adding to the festive atmosphere of the upcoming Chunjie (Spring Festival).Zh: 梅是一位热爱明代艺术品的历史学家,某天,她惊讶地发现展览馆里的一件珍贵艺术品失踪了。En: Mei, a historian passionate about Ming dynasty artifacts, was shocked to discover that a precious artifact had disappeared from the exhibition hall one day.Zh: 展览馆是重重警卫把守的地方,这让梅感到调查的难度增大。En: The exhibition hall was heavily guarded, which made Mei feel the difficulty of the investigation had increased.Zh: 但对此案的好奇和对自己“闪光时刻”的渴望让她无法放弃。En: But her curiosity about the case and her desire for her "shining moment" made it impossible for her to give up.Zh: 她知道,这件失踪的艺术品是她被同行认同的机会。En: She knew that this missing artifact was her opportunity to gain recognition among her peers.Zh: 张伟是梅的同事,他也很想先解决这个谜案。En: Zhang Wei was Mei's colleague, and he was also eager to solve this mystery first.Zh: 张伟有时候不拿梅当回事,始终认为他的能力更强。En: Sometimes Zhang Wei did not take Mei seriously, always believing that his abilities were superior.Zh: 这让梅更加急切地想要成功。En: This only made Mei more eager to succeed.Zh: 梅注意到馆里的锁相当复杂,她觉得必须借助专业人士的帮助,便找到了李华,En: Mei noticed that the locks in the museum were quite complex, and she felt she needed the help of a professional, so she sought out Li Hua.Zh: 令她意外的是,李华一开始拒绝,因为他的过去让他对参与此类事情感到不安。En: To her surprise, Li Hua initially refused because his past made him uneasy about getting involved in such matters.Zh: 可是梅向李华提出合作,她愿意帮助他澄清过去的事情。En: However, Mei proposed cooperation, offering to help him clear up past issues.Zh: 李华同意了,并决心帮助梅。En: Li Hua agreed and was determined to assist Mei.Zh: 经过详细的勘察,他们找到了一条隐藏在展览馆墙壁后的秘密通道。En: After a thorough investigation, they discovered a secret passage hidden behind the walls of the exhibition hall.Zh: 这条通道显然是用来把珍贵物品偷偷运送出去的。En: This passage was clearly intended to secretly transport precious items.Zh: 就在这一瞬间,他们撞见了张伟,正试图从通道里取回失踪的艺术品。En: At that moment, they bumped into Zhang Wei, who was trying to retrieve the missing artifact through the passage.Zh: 原来,张伟计划通过秘密通道将艺术品偷走,以此展示他的“才华”。En: It turned out Zhang Wei planned to steal the artifact using the secret passage to showcase his "talent."Zh: 梅想到了曝光张伟的犯行,最终她成功归还了失踪的艺术品,令在场的所有人刮目相看。En: Mei thought of exposing Zhang Wei's crime, and eventually, she successfully returned the missing artifact, earning the admiration of everyone present.Zh: 此时,梅感受到了尊重与认可。En: At this moment, Mei felt respect and recognition.Zh: 李华的名字也从此清白无瑕,他得以继续从事他的锁匠事业。En: Li Hua's reputation was also cleared, allowing him to continue his career as a locksmith.Zh: 梅不止实现了自己的愿望,她还改变了自己。En: Mei not only achieved her wish but also transformed herself.Zh: 通过此次合作,她懂得了信任与协作的价值,更加自信地继续追求自己的热忱。En: Through this collaboration, she learned the value of trust and cooperation, and more confidently continued pursuing her passion.Zh: 紫禁城的寒风依旧,但此时此刻,梅与李华心中已是春风得意。En: The cold wind of the Zijin Cheng still blew, but at this moment, both Mei and Li Hua were filled with a sense of triumph. Vocabulary Words:solemn: 庄严artifact: 艺术品exhibition: 展览curiosity: 好奇recognition: 认同colleague: 同事retrieve: 取回reputation: 声誉cooperation: 合作passionate: 热爱ambiance: 氛围precious: 珍贵guarded: 把守investigation: 调查complex: 复杂professional: 专业人士determined: 决心passage: 通道secretly: 偷偷expose: 曝光admiration: 刮目相看collaboration: 合作trust: 信任confidence: 自信pursue: 追求historian: 历史学家locksmith: 锁匠clear: 澄清transformed: 改变triumph: 得意
Although some scholars have labeled the early Ming Dynasty as a proto-liberal state, they are mistaken. The Ming governance at that time was weak, not limited by law and ideology.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/weak-states-not-limited-states-early-ming-governance-and-illusion-proto-liberalism
Although some scholars have labeled the early Ming Dynasty as a proto-liberal state, they are mistaken. The Ming governance at that time was weak, not limited by law and ideology.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/weak-states-not-limited-states-early-ming-governance-and-illusion-proto-liberalism
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Ming's Winter: A Journey from Stress to Success Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-20-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的早晨,明早早地走进学校。En: On a winter morning, Ming walked into school early.Zh: 他用力地裹紧自己的围巾,寒冷的风呼啸而过。En: He wrapped his scarf tightly around himself as the cold wind howled past.Zh: 学校的走廊上挂满了红色灯笼和新年的横幅,提醒着大家,春节快到了。En: The hallways of the school were adorned with red lanterns and New Year banners, reminding everyone that the Spring Festival was approaching.Zh: 明是个勤奋的学生,总是希望能在考试中取得好成绩。En: Ming was a diligent student, always hoping to achieve good grades in his exams.Zh: 他的心里充满了对成绩的担忧,因为他希望在新年期间带给家人一个好消息。En: His heart was filled with worry about his grades, as he hoped to bring good news to his family during the New Year.Zh: 可是最近,他却频繁地感到头晕,甚至在课堂上突然晕倒。En: However, recently he frequently felt dizzy and even suddenly fainted in class.Zh: 这让明非常不安,他担心自己不能如愿地保持优异的成绩。En: This made Ming very uneasy; he worried that he might not be able to maintain his excellent performance as he wished.Zh: 李,是明的好朋友。En: Li was Ming's good friend.Zh: 李注意到明的变化,他觉得明看起来很疲惫。En: Li noticed Ming's changes and felt that he looked very tired.Zh: 于是,一个午休时间,李和明坐在操场一角,李轻声问:“明,你最近还好吗?En: So, during one lunch break, Li and Ming sat in a corner of the playground, and Li softly asked, "Ming, have you been okay recently?"Zh: ”明犹豫了一下,终于说:“李,我很担心。En: Ming hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Li, I'm very worried.Zh: 我老是晕倒。En: I keep fainting.Zh: 我怕去看医生会耽误学习。En: I'm afraid going to the doctor will delay my studies."Zh: ”李安慰他说:“健康最重要。En: Li comforted him, saying, "Health is the most important.Zh: 你若不健康,怎么能好好学习呢?En: If you're not healthy, how can you study well?Zh: 我们一起去找医生吧。En: Let's go see a doctor together."Zh: ”在李的建议下,明决定勇敢地去医院检查。En: Following Li's advice, Ming decided to bravely go to the hospital for a check-up.Zh: 几天后,学校正在为春节举办彩排活动,舞台上张灯结彩。En: A few days later, the school was holding rehearsal activities for the Spring Festival, and the stage was festively decorated.Zh: 同学们忙着排练,而明却在紧张的气氛中再次晕倒。En: Students were busy rehearsing, and Ming fainted again amidst the tense atmosphere.Zh: 老师立刻叫了救护车,把明送到医院。En: The teacher immediately called an ambulance and sent Ming to the hospital.Zh: 在医院里,医生仔细检查后告诉明:“你这是压力过大,加上营养不良。En: At the hospital, after a careful examination, the doctor told Ming, "Your problem is excessive stress combined with malnutrition.Zh: 你需要多休息,合理饮食。En: You need to rest more and eat properly."Zh: ”听到这样的诊断,明松了一口气。En: Hearing this diagnosis, Ming breathed a sigh of relief.Zh: 他决定听医生的话,从那天起,他每天都安排时间好好休息和吃饭。En: He decided to follow the doctor's advice; from that day on, he scheduled time for proper rest and meals every day.Zh: 春天的脚步接近了,明的情况逐渐好转。En: As spring approached, Ming's condition gradually improved.Zh: 他在期末考试中取得了优异成绩,这使得他的家人都很高兴。En: He achieved excellent results in his final exams, which made his family very happy.Zh: 明明白到,即使是学习,也必须注重健康,只有强壮的身体才能支撑一颗不断追求上进的心灵。En: Ming realized that even with studying, he must pay attention to health, as only a strong body can support a mind that continually strives for progress.Zh: 新年的钟声敲响,红色的灯笼在风中摇曳。En: As the New Year's bell rang, the red lanterns swayed in the wind.Zh: 李站在一旁,为朋友的改变感到欣慰。En: Li stood by, feeling relieved for his friend's change.Zh: 这个春天,明不仅学会了如何更好地学习,也学会了如何更好地生活。En: This spring, Ming not only learned how to study better but also how to live better. Vocabulary Words:scarf: 围巾howled: 呼啸adorned: 挂满diligent: 勤奋achieve: 取得worry: 担忧dizzy: 头晕faint: 晕倒uneasy: 不安hesitated: 犹豫delay: 耽误comforted: 安慰bravely: 勇敢地rehearsal: 彩排festively: 张灯结彩atmosphere: 气氛ambulance: 救护车examination: 检查malnutrition: 营养不良properly: 合理diagnosis: 诊断breathed a sigh of relief: 松了一口气improved: 好转gradually: 逐渐excellent: 优异realized: 明白到pursue: 追求progress: 上进swayed: 摇曳relieved: 欣慰
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方言 fāngyán – dialect客家話 Kèjiāhuà – Hakka (language)來源 láiyuán – origin; source福建 Fújiàn – Fujian (province in China)閩南語 Mǐnnányǔ – Southern Min (language)省 shěng – province沿海 yánhǎi – coastal; along the coast學者 xuézhě – scholar; researcher上古漢語 shànggǔ Hànyǔ – Old Chinese (ancient Chinese)商朝 Shāngcháo – Shang Dynasty朝代 cháodài – dynasty晉朝 Jìncháo – Jin Dynasty唐朝 Tángcháo – Tang Dynasty中原地區 Zhōngyuán dìqū – Central Plains region of China戰亂 zhànluàn – war and chaos混在一起 hùn zài yìqǐ – to mix together閩語 Mǐnyǔ – Min languages宋朝 Sòngcháo – Song Dynasty泉州 Quánzhōu – Quanzhou (city in Fujian)港口 gǎngkǒu – port; harbor跑船 pǎo chuán – to sail ships; work on ships往外傳 wǎng wài chuán – to spread outward明清時期 Míng Qīng shíqí – Ming and Qing period漳州 Zhāngzhōu – Zhangzhou (city in Fujian)腔 qiāng – accent; pronunciation styleFollow me on Instagram: fangfang.chineselearning !
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Snowflake Letters: Unveiling Artful Secrets in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-14-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的一个寒冷冬夜,飞舞的雪花轻轻飘落,覆盖着整个居民小区。En: On a cold winter night in Beijing, fluttering snowflakes gently fell, covering the entire residential community.Zh: 这个小区安静而祥和,四周围着高大的围墙,像是一个独立的小世界。En: This neighborhood was quiet and peaceful, surrounded by tall walls like a self-contained little world.Zh: 春节就要到了,家家户户都挂上了红色的灯笼和喜庆的饰品。En: With the Spring Festival approaching, every household hung up red lanterns and festive decorations.Zh: 此刻,小区的每个角落都充满了节日的气息。En: At this moment, every corner of the community was filled with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 然而,在这欢乐的氛围中,一件神秘的事情令小区居民们心生忐忑。En: However, amidst this joyful ambiance, a mysterious occurrence made the residents of the community feel uneasy.Zh: 每到夜深人静的时候,会有一封封神秘的信悄悄出现在家门口。En: Late at night, mysterious letters would quietly appear at the doorsteps.Zh: 这些信没有署名,却总是带来不一样的思考与感悟。En: These letters were unsigned, yet they always brought different thoughts and insights.Zh: 居民们纷纷猜测,这些信的背后会是怎样的人呢?En: The residents speculated about what kind of person could be behind these letters, and what their purpose might be.Zh: 而他们的目的又是什么?En: Ming was a middle-aged writer living in the neighborhood.Zh: 明,是小区里的一位中年作家。En: Recently, he had been struggling with writer's block, his words seemed frozen.Zh: 最近,他陷入了写作的困境,笔下的文字如同冻结了一般。En: He was somewhat anxious, hoping that this mystery could bring him inspiration and also prove his worth.Zh: 他略显焦躁,渴望这个谜团能给他带来灵感,同时也是为了证明自己的价值。En: Ming started thinking, deciding to stay alert and secretly observe by the window, hoping to find some clues.Zh: 明开始思索,他决定保持清醒,偷偷留在窗边观察,希望能找到蛛丝马迹。En: Late at night, Ming quietly watched by the window.Zh: 夜深时分,明静静守在窗前。En: The cold wind howled, the street was empty and silent.Zh: 寒风凛冽,街道空旷无声。En: Suddenly, in the faint light of a streetlamp, a small figure appeared.Zh: 忽然,影影绰绰中,一个小小的身影出现在路灯昏暗的光芒下。En: Ming's eyes lit up, and he decided to act.Zh: 明的眼睛一亮,他决定行动。En: He put on his coat and quietly followed the figure, finally discovering the answer at the edge of the community.Zh: 他穿上外套,敛声细步地跟随那身影,终于在小区的尽头发现了答案。En: It turned out the author of these mysterious letters was a small artist in the community named Xiao.Zh: 原来,这些神秘信件的作者是小区中一个名叫肖的小艺术家。En: He used this method to convey his thoughts and artistic inspiration, hoping to bring some beauty to everyone during this holiday.Zh: 他用这种方式传达自己的思考和艺术灵感,希望在这个节日里给大家带来一些美好。En: Ming was moved.Zh: 明心中一动,他突然明白,创作并不一定需要声名远扬,安静的贡献同样有其价值。En: He suddenly understood that creating doesn't always need widespread fame; quiet contributions have their own value.Zh: 他选择保守这个秘密,并帮助肖组织了一次艺术展示,让大家感受到这些作品的美。En: He chose to keep this secret and helped Xiao organize an art exhibition to let everyone feel the beauty of these works.Zh: 在这个特别的春节,小区中的人们互相分享着艺术所带来的欢乐与感动,邻里之间更增添了几分暖意。En: During this special Spring Festival, the people in the community shared the joy and emotion brought by art, and the warmth between neighbors grew.Zh: 明也从中获得了新的创作灵感,不再苦恼于那块“创作瓶颈”。En: Ming also gained new inspiration for his writing and was no longer troubled by the “creative block.” He realized that true value doesn't lie in widespread recognition, but in the heartfelt process of creation.Zh: 他意识到,真正的价值不在于广泛的认同,而在于用心创造的过程。En: The community, under the warm glow of the lights, regained its vitality.Zh: 小区在暖暖的灯光中重新焕发了活力,大家一起迎接着新年的到来,把对未来的期许写在夜空中。En: Everyone welcomed the arrival of the New Year together, writing their hopes for the future across the night sky.Zh: 雪花仍在飘着,但每个人的心中都感受到了一种温暖的平和。En: The snowflakes continued to fall, but a sense of warmth and peace filled every heart. Vocabulary Words:fluttering: 飞舞的snowflakes: 雪花residential: 居民quiet: 安静surrounded: 围着joyful: 欢乐的ambiance: 氛围mysterious: 神秘occurrence: 事情unsign: 没有署名speculated: 猜测purpose: 目的middle-aged: 中年struggling: 挣扎frozen: 冻结anxious: 焦躁inspiration: 灵感alert: 清醒observe: 观察clues: 蛛丝马迹howled: 凛冽streetlamp: 路灯figure: 身影convey: 传达artist: 艺术家exhibition: 展示contributions: 贡献vitality: 活力warmth: 温暖peace: 平和
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Homeward Bound: Ming's Journey and the Gift of Kindness Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-13-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北京首都国际机场灯火辉煌,迎接即将到来的春节。En: Beijing Capital International Airport is brilliantly lit, welcoming the approaching Chinese New Year.Zh: 红色和金色的装饰遍布整个机场,浓浓的节日气氛扑面而来。En: Red and gold decorations are spread throughout the airport, engulfing everyone in a festive atmosphere.Zh: 寒冷的冬季空气和机场内热闹的人群形成鲜明对比,旅客们行色匆匆,期盼着与家人团聚。En: The contrast between the cold winter air and the bustling crowds inside the airport is striking, as travelers move hastily, eager to reunite with their families.Zh: 明是一名年轻女性,一年前搬到了美国。En: Ming is a young woman who moved to the United States a year ago.Zh: 今年春节,她第一次回国,心情既紧张又兴奋。En: This year, she is returning home for the first time for Chinese New Year, feeling both nervous and excited.Zh: 她想念家人,期待着除夕夜的团圆饭。En: She misses her family and looks forward to the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve.Zh: 明拖着行李箱,在人群中穿梭。En: Ming weaves through the crowd, dragging her suitcase behind her.Zh: 然而,空气中弥漫的香水味和紧张的情绪让她感到呼吸困难。En: However, the scent of perfume lingering in the air and her tense emotions make breathing difficult.Zh: 她知道自己的哮喘发作了。En: She realizes her asthma is acting up.Zh: 就在明努力挣扎时,连,一个机场的工作人员,注意到了她的状况。En: As Ming struggles, Lian, an airport staff member, notices her situation.Zh: 连在这个繁忙季节工作时间长,但她非常认真。En: Despite working long hours during this busy season, Lian is very dedicated.Zh: 她看到明逐渐加重的呼吸困难,连忙上前询问:“您好,需要帮助吗?En: Seeing Ming's breathing difficulties worsening, she quickly approaches and asks, "Hello, do you need help?"Zh: ”明用力点头,努力控制自己的呼吸。En: Ming nods vigorously, trying hard to control her breathing.Zh: 连马上带明去找附近的医务室,并帮助她进行快速疗程。En: Lian immediately takes her to the nearby medical room and helps her receive quick treatment.Zh: 时间一分一秒过去了,明担心错过接下来的航班会耽误回家。En: As time ticks by, Ming worries about missing her connecting flight and the delay it might cause in getting home.Zh: 连没有放弃,利用自己的关系,确保明能够快速办理登机手续。En: Lian does not give up, using her connections to ensure Ming can quickly complete her boarding procedures.Zh: 连的努力没有白费。En: Lian's efforts do not go to waste.Zh: 明得到了及时的治疗,感觉好多了。En: Ming receives timely treatment and feels much better.Zh: 她感激地看着连说:“谢谢你,我不知道该怎么办,没有你的帮助。En: Gratefully, she looks at Lian and says, "Thank you, I don't know what I would have done without your help."Zh: ”最终,明顺利登上了飞机。En: In the end, Ming boards the plane smoothly.Zh: 飞机起飞的时候,她透过窗户看着渐渐远去的城市灯光,心里满是感激和温暖。En: As the plane takes off, she gazes out the window at the receding city lights, her heart full of gratitude and warmth.Zh: 她意识到旅途中,陌生人的善意是如此珍贵。En: She realizes how precious the kindness of strangers can be during a journey.Zh: 在进入梦乡前,她想着能够与家人一同庆祝春节,倍感幸福。En: Before drifting into dreams, she thinks about celebrating the Chinese New Year with her family, feeling immensely happy.Zh: 明这一趟旅程,她不仅仅是回家。En: This journey was not just about returning home for Ming.Zh: 她领悟了善良的力量,也更深地感受到了对自己文化传统的珍视。En: She came to understand the power of kindness and felt a deeper appreciation for her cultural traditions.Zh: 在明心中,团圆和家的重要性从未如此清晰。En: In Ming's heart, the importance of reunion and home has never been clearer. Vocabulary Words:capital: 首都brilliantly: 辉煌engulfing: 扑面而来contrast: 对比bustling: 热闹hastily: 匆匆reunion: 团聚dragging: 拖weaves: 穿梭lingering: 弥漫tense: 紧张emotions: 情绪breathing: 呼吸asthma: 哮喘struggles: 挣扎dedicated: 认真worsening: 加重connections: 关系timely: 及时gratefully: 感激smoothly: 顺利receding: 渐渐远去precious: 珍贵dreams: 梦乡celebrating: 庆祝immensely: 倍感appreciation: 珍视importance: 重要性realizes: 意识到understand: 领悟
In this explosive first installment of TESD in 2026, Git ‘em comes back from the brink of death and involuntary urination. Ming joins the boys to explain his apology to Mike. Spoiler alert: It doesn't go well!
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Spicy Dumplings and Snowflakes: A Culinary Challenge Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-11-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的一个早晨,热闹的饺子乐园咖啡馆里,红色的灯笼在微风中轻轻摇曳,空气中飘散着浓郁的饺子香。En: One winter morning, in the bustling Jiaozi Leyuan Café, red lanterns gently swayed in the breeze, and the rich aroma of dumplings filled the air.Zh: 窗外,纷纷扬扬的雪花让这个小城更显得如诗如画。En: Outside, the falling snowflakes made the small town look even more picturesque.Zh: 明和莲在厨房里忙碌着,他们的目标是完成一个网上爆红的饺子挑战。En: Ming and Lian were busy in the kitchen, aiming to complete a dumpling challenge that had gone viral online.Zh: 明非常期待这个挑战,因为他希望能在过年的家宴上展示自己的厨艺。En: Ming was very excited about the challenge because he hoped to showcase his culinary skills at the family banquet during the New Year.Zh: 然而,这个任务远比他想象中的复杂。En: However, the task proved to be far more complicated than he had imagined.Zh: 明一边跟随视频,一边尽力模仿,但饺子皮总是不听使唤,有时太厚,有时又黏在一起。En: As Ming followed the video, trying his best to imitate it, the dumpling wrappers were unruly, sometimes too thick, and sometimes sticking together.Zh: 莲站在旁边,看着明笨手笨脚的样子,不禁轻声笑出了声。En: Lian, standing by, couldn't help but chuckle softly at his clumsy attempts.Zh: “别笑啦!”明故作镇定,“我一定能学会的。”En: "Don't laugh!" Ming pretended to be composed, "I can definitely learn this."Zh: 莲笑着点头,“没关系,我们一起加油。”En: Lian nodded with a smile, "It's okay, let's do our best together."Zh: 接下来的问题更加棘手。En: The next problem was even more tricky.Zh: 厨房里的调料用得差不多了,唯独缺了一项重要的香料。En: Most of the kitchen's spices were nearly used up, except for one important seasoning.Zh: 明皱着眉头,在厨房里左翻右找,En: Ming furrowed his brows and searched around the kitchen.Zh: 终于灵光一闪,发现了一瓶辣椒酱。En: Finally, a light bulb went off in his head when he discovered a bottle of chili sauce.Zh: 他灵机一动:“看来我们得即兴发挥了!”En: He had a brainwave: "Looks like we'll have to improvise!"Zh: 莲狐疑地看着那瓶辣椒酱,“你确定吗?这可是饺子,不是麻辣烫。”En: Lian looked suspiciously at the bottle of chili sauce, "Are you sure? These are dumplings, not malatang."Zh: 明坚定地点头:“试试看!”En: Ming nodded firmly, "Let's give it a try!"Zh: 于是,他们在饺子馅里加入了辣椒酱。En: So, they added the chili sauce to the dumpling filling.Zh: 虽然心中有些紧张,但明和莲怀着期待,将一盘盘饺子送到了门厅的小桌上。En: Though a bit nervous, Ming and Lian were hopeful as they delivered plate after plate of dumplings to the small table in the entrance hall.Zh: 吃饺子的朋友们一开始没有察觉特别之处,但第一口下肚后,立刻引发了一阵意料之外的轰动。En: Their friends, who were eating the dumplings, didn't notice anything special at first, but after the first bite, it caused an unexpected sensation.Zh: 有人吃得辣得面红耳赤,有人则恣意欢笑,纷纷给出好评。En: Some turned red from the spiciness, while others laughed heartily, all giving positive reviews.Zh: 一时间,水杯在桌面上此起彼伏。En: For a moment, water cups rose and fell on the tabletop.Zh: “真有意思的口感!”一位朋友大声称赞,“这种味道从未尝过!”En: "What an interesting taste!" one friend loudly praised, "I've never tasted such a flavor before!"Zh: 经过这场小小的混乱,明和莲偷偷相视一笑。En: After the small chaos, Ming and Lian exchanged a sneaky smile.Zh: 虽然这并不是原始食谱,但他们的创新获得了大家的喜爱。En: Although it wasn't the original recipe, their innovation was loved by everyone.Zh: 明终于意识到,原来创造力和灵活性也能让自己出彩。En: Ming finally realized that creativity and flexibility could also make him stand out.Zh: 后来,这种辣味饺子在当地成为一种新风潮,几个街区以外的人也慕名而来。En: Later, this spicy dumpling became a new trend locally, with people from several blocks away coming to try them.Zh: 在新年夜的家宴上,明骄傲地为家人端上了他的“特别版”饺子。En: At the New Year's Eve family banquet, Ming proudly served his "special edition" dumplings to his family.Zh: 莲一边夹起一个小小的辣饺子,一边开玩笑说:“看来,我们都学到了不少呢。”En: Playfully, Lian picked up a small spicy dumpling and joked, "Looks like we've learned quite a bit!"Zh: 明自信地微笑,而莲则莞尔一笑。En: Ming smiled confidently, while Lian gave a gentle smile in return.Zh: 他们知道,这场饺子挑战不仅带来了欢声笑语,更给他们的新年庆典增添了意外的惊喜。En: They knew that this dumpling challenge brought not only laughter but also an unexpected surprise to their New Year celebration.Zh: 故事,在这快乐与满意中,划下了圆满的句号。En: The story concluded in this joy and satisfaction, drawing a perfect ending. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 热闹的lanterns: 灯笼swayed: 摇曳picturesque: 如诗如画culinary: 厨艺complicated: 复杂unruly: 不听使唤clumsy: 笨手笨脚chuckle: 轻声笑furrowed: 皱起brainwave: 灵光一闪improvise: 即兴发挥suspiciously: 狐疑地malatang: 麻辣烫nervous: 紧张spiciness: 辣得hearty: 恣意欢笑sensation: 轰动creativity: 创造力flexibility: 灵活性innovation: 创新trend: 新风潮proudly: 骄傲地joked: 开玩笑gently: 莞尔surprise: 惊喜concluded: 划下句号satisfaction: 满意challenge: 挑战spices: 香料
On this week's episode of The Business of Watches, we sit down with the principals of Horologer Ming and there is plenty to talk about. Founder and creative head Ming Thein explains his unique design and engineering process, while Chief Executive Officer Praneeth Rajsingh discusses financial challenges and financing solutions the small company has utilized to keep the business humming. We dive deep into the manufacturing process of the titanium, 3D-printed Polymesh bracelet that has the watch world buzzing, get an audio-only sneak peek at an upcoming release, and also hear about plans for a value-priced subsidiary brand they have in the works.We hope you enjoy the conversation. There is a lot to unpack! Be sure to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments section, and we'll do our best to respond.Want to subscribe so you never miss an episode? This new show is being published to the original Hodinkee Podcasts feed, so you can subscribe wherever you find your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or TuneIn.Show Notes4:50 Dubai Watch Week6:47 Ming and the Alternative Horological Alliance10:30 Computer Aided Design12:20 Ming Polymesh 33:20 Apple Watch39:00 Accredited Investor 42:20 Project finance 49:25 Swiss watch CEOs talk about component suppliers54:00 Ming 17.01 (Hodinkee)
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
On this episode, we share something a little different by sharing an installment from The Watches of Podcast, a new series where we step away from industry-wide analysis and focus deeply on individual brands—their history, philosophy, people, and, importantly, their watches. Each episode is designed as a focused, evergreen exploration of a single brand, and here we use that format to zero in on Ming's dive watches, a category that has quietly become one of the most revealing expressions of the brand's identity. We trace how Ming approached the dive watch not as a traditional tool-first object, but as a sculptural, design-led problem to solve. From early experimental concepts to fully realized production models, we talk about how the brand steadily moved away from simply “doing a dive watch” and toward creating dive watches that could only exist as Ming designs. The discussion centers on proportion, restraint, and engineering choices that prioritize wearability and originality without abandoning the functional expectations of the genre. Finally, we focus on the modern era of Ming dive watches, where everything clicks into place: compact dimensions, inventive use of sapphire and rotating dials, thoughtful movement customization, and distinct aesthetic identities across models like the Bluefin and the Uni. We reflect on why these watches resonate so strongly with collectors, why they earned serious recognition within the industry, and why their final re-release feels like the close of a meaningful chapter—one that shows how Ming redefined what a contemporary dive watch can be. We'll be back next week with a new episode of Openwork. In the meantime, enjoy The Dive Watches of Ming. We hope you like it as much as we enjoyed making it. You can find us online at collectivehorology.com. To get in touch with suggestions, feedback or questions, email podcast@collectivehorology.com.
在這個變幻莫測的時代,你是否也感到一種說不出的「灰」?今集 Sparksine 讀書會,我邀請了兩位臨床心理學家 Ming 和 Candy,分享她們的新書《香港失落的一角》。這本書記錄了疫情後幾年香港人的心理狀態,從小朋友沉迷打機、成年人的無力感,到選擇「躺平」的社會現象。我們常以為要消除負面情緒才算健康,但心理學家告訴我們:面對失落,我們需要的不是消除,而是學習如何與它「共處」。無論你是家長、對前路感到迷茫的年輕人,還是身處海外的香港人,這一集都能為你帶來一點啟發與共鳴。
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Snowstorm Serendipity: How Strangers Became Allies Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-03-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在那座大都市的高铁站,冬季的寒风让每位旅客都裹紧了外套。En: At the high-speed train station in that bustling metropolis, the winter wind made every traveler wrap their coats tightly.Zh: 人们在那里交错而过,脸上带着匆忙或无奈的神情。En: People were passing by each other with looks of haste or helplessness on their faces.Zh: 电子屏上的信息不断更新,显示更多的列车延误,这无疑让整个候车厅的气氛都增添了一丝紧张。En: The electronic screen's information constantly updated, showing more train delays, which undoubtedly added a touch of tension to the entire waiting area.Zh: 链是一位有抱负的女商人,她急需赶往另一个城市参加一个重要的商务会议。En: Lian is an ambitious businesswoman who urgently needed to get to another city for an important business meeting.Zh: 在去程的途中,她满心都是即将见到的合作伙伴和即将达成的协议。En: On her way, she was filled with thoughts of the partners she was about to meet and the agreements she was about to finalize.Zh: 可是,意外的暴风雪让她的计划泡汤。En: However, an unexpected snowstorm threw her plans into disarray.Zh: 坐在候车厅的长椅上,链看着不断被取消的列车信息,心里充满着焦急与无奈。En: Sitting on the bench in the waiting hall, Lian watched the endless cancellations of train information, filled with anxiety and helplessness.Zh: 此时,她偶然遇见了明,一个好奇心旺盛的大学生,正在背包旅游。En: At this time, she happened to meet Ming, a curious university student who was backpacking.Zh: 他刚刚在图书馆写完论文,正想着利用假期旅行。En: He had just finished writing a thesis at the library and was thinking of traveling during his vacation.Zh: 和他们同在这长椅上等待的还有卫,一位沉默的艺术家,正在寻找下一个灵感。En: Also waiting on this bench was Wei, a silent artist in search of the next inspiration.Zh: 链感到失落和烦躁,无奈之下主动与明和卫搭话。En: Lian felt lost and irritable, so she took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Ming and Wei.Zh: 她坦言自己的困境,并希望能一起想办法。En: She candidly shared her predicament and hoped they could think of a solution together.Zh: 明被链的故事吸引,兴致勃勃地提出可以一起查看本地交通的其他可能性。En: Ming, intrigued by Lian's story, eagerly suggested that they explore other local transportation options together.Zh: 卫则微笑着点头,他从未想到陌生人间的交流竟也如此有趣。En: Wei smiled and nodded, never having thought that interactions among strangers could be so interesting.Zh: 几人的对话中,暴风雪越发猛烈,广播里很快宣布所有晚间列车全部取消。En: During their conversation, the snowstorm grew fiercer, and the announcement soon declared the cancellation of all evening trains.Zh: 面对这种新情况,他们意识到必须团结合作,寻找其它方案。En: In the face of this new situation, they realized they must unite and cooperate to find alternative solutions.Zh: 经过几番讨论,明提到了一位本地的企业家,他知道对方正计划去链所要去的城市。En: After several discussions, Ming mentioned a local entrepreneur he knew, who was planning to go to the same city as Lian.Zh: 他们设法联系了那位企业家,此人正好有空位,并乐意共享行程。En: They managed to contact the entrepreneur, who happened to have a vacant seat and was willing to share the trip.Zh: 一路上,链得以展示其商业头脑和魅力,与这位企业家建立了良好的关系。En: Along the way, Lian was able to showcase her business acumen and charm, establishing a good relationship with the entrepreneur.Zh: 最后,通过这个意外的旅途,链不但抓住了新的商业机会,也收获了意外的友谊。En: In the end, through this unexpected journey, Lian not only seized new business opportunities but also gained unexpected friendships.Zh: 在这次经历中,她明白了适应与合作的重要性,也体会到了在人生旅途中有时需要敞开心扉,迎接意外的馈赠。En: Through this experience, she understood the importance of adaptability and cooperation, and realized that sometimes in the journey of life, it's necessary to open one's heart and embrace unexpected gifts.Zh: 大都市的高铁站已被抛在身后,链却带上了新的希望继续前行。En: The high-speed train station in the big city was left behind, but Lian carried new hope forward. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 繁忙的metropolis: 大都市helplessness: 无奈unabated: 不减embrace: 迎接entrepreneur: 企业家vacant: 空的predicament: 困境initiative: 主动acumen: 头脑cancellation: 取消disarray: 混乱irritable: 烦躁candidly: 坦言fiercer: 猛烈curious: 好奇thesis: 论文stranger: 陌生人adaptability: 适应cooperation: 合作intently: 认真broadcast: 广播realized: 意识到showcase: 展示establishing: 建立filled: 充满intrigued: 被吸引hastily: 匆忙aspiring: 有抱负unexpected: 意外的
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I tried to send several letters to her Chinese counterpart, the Wan Li Emperor. The letters tried to ask the Ming emperor to conduct trade relations with faraway England; none of the expeditions carrying the letters ever arrived. It's an inauspicious beginning to the four centuries of foreign relations between China and what eventually became Britain, covered by Kerry Brown in his latest book The Great Reversal: Britain, China and the 400-Year Contest for Power (Yale University Press: 2024) Kerry's book covers incidents like the MacCartney embassy, the East India Company, the Anglo-Chinese wars, the Communist takeover in 1949, and the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He is the author of over twenty books on modern Chinese politics, history, and society. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of The Great Reversal. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies
Choose the leader you are becoming, or default to the leader you have been. That is the real decision in front of you as you head into a new year. Most leaders believe change starts with better goals. New priorities. New plans. But if you keep showing up with the same identity, the same emotional patterns, and the same nervous system responses, you will recreate the same year with different tasks. This episode is about breaking that cycle. Episode overview This is Episode 2 of my three-part Design Yourself series on creating the life and leadership you want in 2026. In Episode 1, we focused on self-awareness and uncovering the default stories running your leadership. In this episode, we move from awareness to choice. Because you cannot design a different year if you show up as the same version of yourself. In this conversation, I break down why goals do not create lasting change and why identity does. We explore how identity is formed, how it drives behavior under pressure, and why many high-performing leaders stay stuck by clinging to versions of themselves that once worked but no longer fit. I also share personal stories about releasing old identities and what shifted when I consciously chose who I wanted to become, not someday, but now. Research highlight According to research from the University of Scranton, ninety-two percent of people fail to achieve their goals. One major reason is that they focus on outcomes instead of the identity and systems required to sustain change. Key takeaways • You cannot design a different year if you show up as the same version of yourself. • Identity is not fixed. It is practiced. • Your identity drives your behavior, not the other way around. • Leadership friction is often an identity problem, not a performance problem. • You are designing the experience of you every day. Mic drop moments • Choose the leader you are becoming, or default to the leader you have been. • Goals do not create change. Identity does. • If you do not upgrade your identity, your life will keep bumping up against the same edges. • You are not designing a to-do list for 2026. You are designing the experience of you. If you haven't listened to Episode 1 yet, start there. In Episode 3, we'll talk about how to design a 2026 structure that supports the leader you are becoming, because you don't need a better plan. You need a better practice. If this episode resonated, share it with someone who's ready to stop repeating the same year with different tasks, and subscribe to Reflect Forward wherever you listen. Connect with Kerry Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let's connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok! Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tradition Meets Modernity: Ming's New Year Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-30-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 明静静地走在故宫的雪地上,心中是一片复杂的情感。En: Ming walked quietly on the snowy ground of the Forbidden City, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.Zh: 她刚从海外留学归来,第一次在冬天回到家中。En: She had just returned from studying abroad, visiting home for the first time in winter.Zh: 故宫在冬日的天空下显得更加宏伟,红色的墙壁与白色的雪交相辉映。En: The Forbidden City appeared even more majestic under the winter sky, with the red walls contrasting against the white snow.Zh: 她呼吸着北京冷冽的新鲜空气,心中既兴奋又紧张。En: She breathed in the crisp, cold air of Beijing, feeling both excited and nervous.Zh: 明要回家与家人团圆,迎接即将到来的春节。En: Ming was returning home to reunite with her family and prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival.Zh: 李华奶奶是明最敬佩的人。En: Li Hua Grandma was the person Ming respected the most.Zh: 奶奶喜欢和孙辈们讲述家族的传统和故事。En: Grandma loved to share family traditions and stories with her grandchildren.Zh: 明知道,奶奶希望她能够传承这些珍贵的家族文化。En: Ming knew that Grandma hoped she could carry on these precious family cultures.Zh: 但明内心深处,还有对未来生活的向往,她渴望自由,希望用自己的方式生活。En: However, deep inside, Ming also longed for her future life; she yearned for freedom and wanted to live in her way.Zh: 弟弟金也已经在家等她,他是个不安分的年轻人,总是想要新鲜的冒险。En: Her brother Jin was already waiting for her at home, a restless young man always seeking new adventures.Zh: “明,你回来了!”当明走进家门时,奶奶的脸上绽放出微笑。En: "Ming, you're back!" Grandma's face broke into a smile as Ming walked through the door.Zh: 火炉的温暖驱散了寒冷,屋内挂满了红色的灯笼和对联,春节的气氛浓厚。En: The warmth of the stove dispelled the cold, and the house was filled with red lanterns and couplets, creating a festive atmosphere.Zh: “奶奶,我回来啦!”明笑着回答,但又感到微微紧张。En: "Grandma, I'm back!" Ming replied with a smile, though she felt a bit nervous.Zh: 家人聚在一起享用年夜饭。En: The family gathered for the New Year's Eve dinner.Zh: 奶奶提议明主持今年的拜年仪式。En: Grandma suggested Ming host this year's New Year ceremony.Zh: 明知道这个责任重大,她不想让奶奶失望。En: Ming knew this was a significant responsibility; she didn't want to disappoint Grandma.Zh: 她决定:既然要做,那就大胆创新,加入一些自己在国外学到的元素。En: She decided: if she was going to do it, she would innovate boldly and incorporate some elements she had learned abroad.Zh: “今年我们来试试新的方式。”明说。En: "This year, let's try something new," Ming said.Zh: 全家人都愣住了。En: The entire family was stunned.Zh: 只见明依然尊重着传统的流程,但在每个环节,她加上了自己的解释,以及在国外学习到的文化元素。En: Ming remained respectful of the traditional process, but at each step, she added her explanations and cultural elements she'd learned overseas.Zh: “这很有意思!”金第一个开始鼓掌,打破了寂静。En: "This is interesting!" Jin was the first to start clapping, breaking the silence.Zh: “明,这很独特。”奶奶微笑着,眼神中透出欣赏。En: "Ming, this is very unique," Grandma smiled, her eyes showing admiration.Zh: 就在这一夜,传统和新意碰撞,产生出和谐的火花。En: On this night, tradition and innovation collided, creating harmonious sparks.Zh: 明发现,通过自己的方式,她不仅与家人更加亲近,也使她的家人更了解她在外经历的生活。En: Ming found that by doing things her way, she not only became closer to her family but also helped them understand her experiences abroad.Zh: 随着烟花在夜空中绽放,明在心中决定:她会继续寻找自己在传统和现代之间的平衡。En: As fireworks burst in the night sky, Ming decided in her heart: she would continue to find her balance between tradition and modernity.Zh: 家人因为她的改变而走得更近,她也更加自信地迈向未来。En: Her family came closer together because of her changes, and she moved more confidently toward the future.Zh: 热闹的春节夜渐渐归于宁静,但这个冬天的聚会,给了明和家人永存于心的温暖。En: The lively Spring Festival night gradually returned to tranquility, but this winter gathering gave Ming and her family warmth that would last in their hearts forever.Zh: 明在古老的故宫中,找到了自己的位置,连接了过去与未来的道路。En: In the ancient Forbidden City, Ming found her place and connected the road between past and future. Vocabulary Words:quietly: 静静地emotions: 情感majestic: 宏伟crisp: 冷冽excited: 兴奋reunite: 团圆upcoming: 即将到来的respected: 敬佩share: 讲述precious: 珍贵traditions: 传统yearned: 渴望restless: 不安分stove: 火炉dispelled: 驱散lanterns: 灯笼couplets: 对联significant: 重大innovate: 创新incorporate: 加入stunned: 愣住harmonious: 和谐fireworks: 烟花tranquility: 宁静lively: 热闹warmth: 温暖ancient: 古老connected: 连接balance: 平衡confidence: 自信
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unexpected Stardom: A Night of Joy at Wutuobang Festival Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-30-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 寒冷的冬夜,乌托邦社会文化节上,灯火辉煌,空气中弥漫着烧烤和糖炒栗子的香气,人头攒动,大家都在期待新的一年。En: On the cold winter night at the Wutuobang Cultural Festival, lights were bright, and the air was filled with the aromas of barbecue and candied chestnuts.Zh: 明和静手挽着手,一边欣赏热闹的表演,一边讨论今晚的计划。En: The place was crowded, with everyone looking forward to the new year.Zh: “明,我希望今晚能平静一点,不要再惹麻烦了,”静小声嘟囔。En: Ming and Jing walked hand in hand, enjoying the lively performances as they discussed their plans for the evening.Zh: “放心吧!En: "Ming, I hope tonight can be a bit calmer, without any more trouble," Jing mumbled softly.Zh: 今天是个特殊的夜晚,我保证会让你难以忘怀。En: "Don't worry!Zh: ”明兴奋地说。En: Tonight is a special night, and I promise it will be unforgettable for you," Ming said excitedly.Zh: 他眼中闪烁着冒险的光芒,迫不及待地想要行动。En: His eyes sparkled with a sense of adventure, eager to take action.Zh: 走着走着,他们发现了一条小路,似乎被节日的热闹遮掩了。En: As they walked, they discovered a small path that seemed to be hidden by the festival's bustle.Zh: 好奇心驱使下,他们走了进去,却不知不觉中进入了一个只有表演者才能进入的区。En: Driven by curiosity, they entered, unwittingly stepping into an area meant only for performers.Zh: 那里灯光璀璨,音乐节奏欢快。En: The place was dazzling with lights and lively music.Zh: 忙忙碌碌的人群没有注意到他们的存在。En: The busy crowd didn't notice their presence.Zh: “明,你确定我们能待在这里吗?En: "Ming, are you sure we can be here?"Zh: ”静拉着明的袖子,显得有些担心。En: Jing tugged on Ming's sleeve, appearing a bit worried.Zh: 就在这时,一位组织者误认为他们是下一个节目表演者,催促他们快些准备。En: At that moment, an organizer mistakenly thought they were the next performers and urged them to prepare quickly.Zh: 明犹豫了一秒,乘机拉着静上了舞台。En: Ming hesitated for a second, then seized the opportunity to lead Jing onto the stage.Zh: 他心想,这是一个实现梦想的好机会。En: He thought this was a perfect chance to fulfill his dream.Zh: “明!En: "Ming!Zh: 你在做什么?En: What are you doing?"Zh: ”静急切地低声说道。En: Jing urgently whispered.Zh: “跟着我,静。En: "Follow me, Jing.Zh: 这是个挑战,也是我们的机会。En: It's a challenge and our opportunity," Ming said, showing a determined look of adventure in his eyes.Zh: ”明眼中透露出冒险的决心。En: On stage, Ming and Jing began an impromptu performance.Zh: 舞台上,明和静开始即兴表演。En: Ming cleared his throat and started singing an old song familiar to everyone in the crowd.Zh: 明先清了清嗓子,然后开始唱一首大家耳熟能详的老歌。En: Although his pitch was somewhat off, it brought about laughter and applause.Zh: 虽然音调有些不准,却掀起了全场的笑声和掌声。En: Jing gradually relaxed and began to join in with a dance.Zh: 静慢慢放松下来,开始加入舞蹈,她的动作灵动优美,和明的歌声相得益彰。En: Her movements were graceful and complemented Ming's singing perfectly.Zh: 观众的欢呼和掌声让他们忘却了初来的紧张和不安。En: The cheers and applause from the audience helped them forget their initial nervousness and unease.Zh: 满怀信心,他们完成了整场表演,彼此对视,两人都忍不住笑了。En: Full of confidence, they completed the entire performance, exchanged glances, and both couldn't help but laugh.Zh: 演出结束后,他们悄悄溜下舞台,手心冒汗,心跳加速,但脸上都挂着灿烂的笑容。En: After their performance, they quietly slipped off stage, palms sweaty and hearts racing, but with bright smiles on their faces.Zh: 没人看出破绽,明和静的意外表演带给观众一场欢乐的盛宴。En: No one noticed the mistake, and Ming and Jing's unexpected performance had brought the audience a feast of joy.Zh: 节日的最后一声钟响,代表新的一年已经到来。En: The final bell of the festival rang, marking the arrival of the new year.Zh: 明感到无比自信,他的心愿实现了,而静也发现,偶尔的冒险并不那么糟糕。En: Ming felt incredibly confident, his wish fulfilled, and Jing realized that an occasional adventure wasn't so bad.Zh: 两人携手离开,走进新年的夜空下,畅谈着刚刚过去的奇妙时刻。En: Hand in hand, the two stepped into the new year's night, chatting about the wonderful moments they had just experienced. Vocabulary Words:aromas: 香气barbecue: 烧烤chestnuts: 栗子lively: 热闹的adventure: 冒险bustle: 热闹unwittingly: 不知不觉中performers: 表演者dazzling: 璀璨nervousness: 紧张hesitated: 犹豫opportunity: 机会impromptu: 即兴complimented: 相得益彰applause: 掌声confidence: 信心unforgettable: 难以忘怀tugged: 拉着curiosity: 好奇心glances: 对视feast: 盛宴illumination: 灯火辉煌expressions: 表情spectator: 观众serenity: 平静mistakenly: 误认为graceful: 优美arrival: 到来fulfilled: 实现driven: 驱使下
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Hotpot Mishap: New Year's Eve Adventure in Taipei Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-28-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在台北的冬日夜晚,热闹的火锅店里人声鼎沸,空气中弥漫着汤底浓郁的香气。En: On a winter night in Taipei, a lively hotpot restaurant was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of the broth.Zh: 红灯笼与金色装饰将整个餐厅点缀得温馨而喜庆。En: Red lanterns and golden decorations adorned the entire restaurant, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.Zh: 门旁贴着“新年快乐”,每个人脸上洋溢着期待的笑容。En: A Happy New Year sign was pasted by the door, and everyone's face was beaming with expectant smiles.Zh: 琳娜和她的好友江正围坐在一只咕嘟作响的鸳鸯锅前。En: Lina and her friend Jiang were sitting around a bubbling yuanyang pot.Zh: 琳娜是一名年轻的市场营销专业人员,做事细心却常常健忘。En: Lina, a young marketing professional, did her work carefully but often forgot things.Zh: 此刻,她注意力全在桌上的牛肉片和虾滑之中。En: At that moment, her attention was entirely focused on the beef slices and shrimp paste on the table.Zh: 江则忙着逗趣,给服务员打趣道:“过年不来吃火锅,那还叫什么生活!”En: Jiang, on the other hand, was busy joking with the waiter, saying, 'If you don't have hotpot for the New Year, is that even living!'Zh: 突然,琳娜的手机响了。En: Suddenly, Lina's phone rang.Zh: 她掏出手机,没发现自己的包发生了微妙的变化——一个棕色的皮包,静静地被放在她的位置。En: She took out her phone, not noticing a subtle change with her bag—a brown leather bag was quietly placed in her spot.Zh: 然而,琳娜并没有留意。En: However, Lina didn't pay attention to it.Zh: 不久,一位名叫明的陌生男子经过他们的桌边,走向出口。En: Before long, a stranger named Ming passed by their table, walking towards the exit.Zh: 明也是一名与朋友共度新年的单身汉。然而,明提着一个看似料峭的女士手提包,显然与他不符。En: Ming, also a bachelor spending New Year's with friends, was carrying what appeared to be a delicate women's handbag, clearly not matching his persona.Zh: 时间流转,琳娜终于意识到自己的包被换了。En: Time passed, and Lina finally realized her bag had been switched.Zh: 她脸色微红,紧张地低语:“江,我拿错包了。”En: Her face turned slightly red as she nervously whispered, 'Jiang, I took the wrong bag.'Zh: 考虑到餐厅里的人声和络绎不绝的宾客,琳娜不愿引起注意。En: Considering the bustling restaurant and the stream of guests, Lina didn't want to draw attention.Zh: “我得找回我的包,拜托帮个忙。”她对江说。En: 'I need to get my bag back, please help me,' she said to Jiang.Zh: 于是,这对搭档展开了行动。En: With that, the duo sprang into action.Zh: 江迅速扫视四周,锁定了那位已经快要走出门的明。En: Jiang quickly scanned the area, pinpointing Ming, who was nearly out the door.Zh: 江轻声笑道:“好,咱们来个不显山不露水的包包大作战。”En: Jiang chuckled softly, 'Alright, let's have a stealthy bag operation.'Zh: 两人起身,随着人群挪动,时不时地弯下腰以免引起别人的关注。En: They stood up and moved with the crowd, occasionally bending down to avoid drawing attention.Zh: 明似乎也很快发现了自己的包不对,站在门口有些茫然。En: Ming seemed to have quickly realized his wrong bag as well, standing bewildered at the entrance.Zh: 就在江准备打招呼时,琳娜因避开一位走过的服务员,不小心撞入了热闹的庆祝人群中,大声地喊着“新年快乐!”En: Just as Jiang was about to greet him, Lina, while trying to avoid a passing waiter, accidentally bumped into a lively celebrating crowd, loudly shouting, 'Happy New Year!'Zh: 所有人都跟着举起酒杯欢呼。En: Everyone followed her and raised their glasses in cheer.Zh: 琳娜不得不微笑着加入新年祝酒,满脸通红。En: Lina had no choice but to smile and join the New Year's toast, thoroughly blushing.Zh: 明也被这声势浩大吸引,看到了琳娜的囧境。En: Ming was also drawn by the grand scene and saw Lina's awkward situation.Zh: 几步赶上来,他在琳娜耳边低声说:“看来我们的包发生了小意外。”En: He quickly approached her and whispered, 'It seems our bags had a little mishap.'Zh: “是啊!”琳娜边微笑边说,心里松了一口气。En: 'Yes!' Lina said with a smile, feeling relieved inside.Zh: 在人们的微笑祝福中,他们迅速交换了包,正好赶上新年倒计时。En: Amid the smiles and blessings of the people, they swiftly exchanged bags just in time for the New Year countdown.Zh: 随着钟声敲响,琳娜和明共举杯,笑声混合在烟花的爆响中。En: As the clock struck, Lina and Ming raised their glasses, their laughter mingling with the booming fireworks.Zh: 通过这次意外,琳娜意识到,生活中的小错误并非全都需要那么完美来处置。En: Through this unexpected incident, Lina realized that not all small mistakes in life need to be dealt with perfectly.Zh: 迎着新年的祝福,她向快乐和放松的自己迈了一步。En: Embracing the New Year's blessings, she took a step towards a happier and more relaxed self. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 人声鼎沸adorned: 点缀festive: 喜庆beaming: 洋溢bubbling: 咕嘟作响marketing: 市场营销subtle: 微妙delicate: 料峭pinpointing: 锁定stealthy: 不显山不露水bewildered: 茫然joking: 打趣mishap: 小意外mingling: 混合embracing: 迎着realized: 意识到awkward: 囧境smiles: 微笑swiftly: 迅速cheer: 欢呼shouted: 喊着nervously: 紧张地blessing: 祝福avoiding: 避开crowd: 人群lively: 热闹的bachelor: 单身汉festooned: 装饰persona: 形象relaxed: 放松的
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Snow-Covered Campus: Ming's Journey to Balance Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-28-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 南京大学的校园在冬日里,一片宁静的白雪覆盖着。En: Nanjing University's campus is covered in a serene blanket of white snow during the winter.Zh: 她的校园浑然天成,处处充满了低调的诗意。En: Her campus appears naturally beautiful, filled everywhere with understated poetic charm.Zh: 几束暗黄的路灯把寂寥的街道照亮,温暖而明亮的灯光流泄在一旁的书架上,映照出书本的影子。En: A few dim yellow street lights illuminate the desolate streets, and the warm and bright light spills onto the bookshelves on the side, casting shadows of the books.Zh: 明是这里的一名勤奋大学生,他每天都在努力学习,为了取得优异成绩并获得奖学金。En: Ming is a diligent student here; he studies hard every day to achieve excellent grades and obtain a scholarship.Zh: 这几天,他忙于准备期末考试,一边翻阅着厚厚的课本,一边做着笔记。En: These days, he is busy preparing for his final exams, both perusing thick textbooks and taking notes.Zh: 他的朋友李却截然不同。En: His friend Li, on the other hand, is quite different.Zh: 李总是随性而为,常常招呼明去休息放松。En: Li always goes with the flow, often urging Ming to take a break and relax.Zh: 即将到来的新年夜,是学生们期盼已久的时光。En: The upcoming New Year's Eve is a time long-awaited by the students.Zh: 但对于明来说,这却是一个两难的选择。En: But for Ming, it presents a dilemma.Zh: 他知道很快就必须在欢庆的阵容中抽身而出,继续准备他的重要考试。En: He knows he will soon have to withdraw from the celebratory crowd to continue preparing for his important exam.Zh: 随着时间的流逝,明的压力越来越大,他甚至开始感受到隐约的焦虑。En: As time passes, Ming's stress grows; he even begins to feel a vague anxiety.Zh: 新年夜的喧嚣声似乎也不断刺激着他的神经。En: The sounds of New Year's Eve festivities seem to constantly stimulate his nerves.Zh: 这天晚上,他在书桌前奋战到深夜,疲惫不堪地趴在课本上,却不小心进入梦乡。En: That night, he works at his desk into the late hours, exhaustedly resting his head on his textbook, inadvertently falling asleep.Zh: 当明醒来时,外面传来鞭炮的响声,钟声也在耳边敲响。En: When Ming wakes up, the sound of firecrackers and the ringing of bells reach his ears.Zh: 他惊慌地看着钟表,不知所措。En: He looks at the clock in panic, not knowing what to do.Zh: 是继续留在寝室补习,还是加入李的行列,体验一下新年的狂欢?En: Should he stay in his dorm to continue studying or join Li and experience a bit of New Year's revelry?Zh: 李走进来,微微笑着说:“明,走吧,大家都在等你。”En: Li walks in with a slight smile and says, "Ming, come on, everyone is waiting for you."Zh: 经过一番思索,明决定放下笔,穿上外套,随着李走出寝室。En: After some thought, Ming decides to put down his pen, put on his coat, and follow Li out of the dorm.Zh: 在寒冷的空气中,他忽然感到一阵轻松。En: In the cold air, he suddenly feels a sense of relief.Zh: 他来到校园中心,和朋友们站在一起,看着漫天的烟火,心中渐渐释然。En: He goes to the center of the campus, stands with his friends, watching the fireworks fill the sky, and gradually feels at ease.Zh: 新年钟声敲响,明感受到了一种久违的平和。En: As the New Year's bells toll, Ming experiences a long-lost sense of tranquility.Zh: 他明白,适度的放松有助于缓解压力,让大脑更清晰地去迎接挑战。En: He understands that moderate relaxation can help relieve stress and allow the mind to face challenges more clearly.Zh: 回到书桌前,明的心态变得平稳。En: Returning to his desk, Ming feels calm.Zh: 他学会了在努力学习和自我放松之间寻找平衡,En: He learns to find a balance between hard work and self-relaxation.Zh: 这次新年,他不仅找到了放松的方式,也为来年的挑战储备了新的动力。En: This New Year, he not only found a way to relax but also stored up new energy for the challenges of the coming year.Zh: 通过这种调整,他认识到勤奋固然重要,但明智地放松也是成功不可或缺的一部分。En: Through this adjustment, he realizes that diligence is important, but wise relaxation is also an indispensable part of success. Vocabulary Words:serene: 宁静desolate: 寂寥diligent: 勤奋achieve: 取得scholarship: 奖学金perusing: 翻阅vague: 隐约anxiety: 焦虑inadvertently: 不小心revelry: 狂欢ringing: 敲响panic: 惊慌slight: 微微relief: 轻松tranquility: 平和moderate: 适度的relieve: 缓解adjustment: 调整indispensable: 不可或缺understated: 低调cherish: 期盼dilemma: 两难stimulate: 刺激exhausted: 疲惫不堪festivities: 喧嚣calm: 平稳balance: 平衡wise: 明智extensive: 厚厚的noteworthy: 优异
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Crafting Traditions: Rediscovering Festivity and Heart Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-26-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 商场的灯火通明,红灯笼和金色横幅将整个空间装点得喜气洋洋。En: The shopping mall was brightly lit, with red lanterns and golden banners decorating the entire space joyfully.Zh: 空气中飘荡着悠扬的节日音乐,摊位上挤满了色彩鲜艳的面料和精美的装饰。En: The air was filled with melodious festival music, and stalls were crowded with brightly colored fabrics and exquisite ornaments.Zh: 明走在走廊上,心里盘算着如何在节日中保持一种平衡。En: Ming walked down the corridor, contemplating how to maintain a sense of balance during the festival.Zh: 他想买一些既不昂贵又能体现年味的装饰品和节日衣服。En: He wanted to buy some decorations and festival clothes that were neither expensive nor lacking in festive spirit.Zh: 明从小就对传统有些疏远,但他希望今年能找回这种联系。En: Ming had always been somewhat distanced from tradition since he was young, but he hoped to reconnect this year.Zh: 莲是明的好朋友,她对中国新年充满了热情。En: Lian, who is Ming's good friend, is full of enthusiasm for Chinese New Year.Zh: 旺盛的节日气氛让她兴奋不已。En: The vibrant festive atmosphere excited her immensely.Zh: “明,今年我们得让新年更特别,”莲一边兴奋地选购,一边说。En: "Ming, this year we must make New Year extra special," Lian said excitedly while shopping.Zh: “当然,不过这些都好贵啊。”明看着那些高价的饰品,无奈地叹了口气。En: "Of course, but all of these are so expensive." Ming looked at the high-priced decorations and sighed helplessly.Zh: 他们的朋友伟,是最近刚来中国的。En: Their friend Wei had just recently come to China.Zh: 他对新年的习俗十分好奇,虽然有些不太适应。En: He was very curious about New Year's traditions, though a bit unaccustomed.Zh: “这里的传统很特别,我很想学会如何庆祝,”伟说道。En: "The traditions here are quite special, and I really want to learn how to celebrate," Wei said.Zh: 明感受到价格和传统的压力,又不想让莲和伟失望。En: Ming felt the pressure between prices and tradition and didn't want to disappoint Lian and Wei.Zh: 他灵机一动,决定动手制作一些东西,既省钱又有意义。En: In a moment of inspiration, he decided to make something by hand, which would be both cost-effective and meaningful.Zh: 几个人继续在商场里走着,忽然间,明的目光被一间老旧的小店吸引住了。En: The group continued walking through the mall when Ming's attention was suddenly drawn to an old little shop.Zh: 那家店里,有着传统的手工艺品和一些简便的手工制作材料,价格适中。En: The shop had traditional handicrafts and some simple handcraft materials that were reasonably priced.Zh: “我们可以用这些来做些装饰,”明兴奋地说。En: "We can use these to make some decorations," Ming said excitedly.Zh: 莲和伟也对这个想法感到兴奋,En: Lian and Wei were also excited about the idea.Zh: “这样我们不仅能装饰家,还能度过一个有趣的晚上。”En: "This way we can not only decorate our homes but also have a fun evening," they said.Zh: 最后,明买下了材料,他们回到家后,开始一起制作个性化的装饰品。En: Eventually, Ming bought the materials, and after returning home, they began creating personalized decorations together.Zh: 莲耐心地讲解每一个饰品背后的故事,伟则仔细聆听,沉浸在新年的喜庆氛围中。En: Lian patiently explained the story behind each ornament, while Wei listened carefully, immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year.Zh: 在热闹的节日准备过程中,明感受到原来传统并不一定要一成不变。En: During the lively festival preparations, Ming realized that tradition didn't have to be rigid.Zh: 通过亲手制作,他重新欣赏到了传统的价值,还与朋友共享了这份乐趣。En: By crafting things himself, he rediscovered the value of tradition and shared the joy with his friends.Zh: 这个夜晚,他们不仅装饰了房子,也用心意和创意装点了每个人的心。En: That evening, they not only decorated the house but also adorned each person's heart with sincerity and creativity.Zh: 明意识到,传统可以个性化,这份改变让他倍感欣慰。En: Ming realized that tradition could be personalized, and this change brought him great comfort.Zh: 故事的结局温暖而圆满,明感受到了一种全新的节日氛围。En: The story concluded warmly and perfectly, and Ming felt a brand new festive atmosphere. Vocabulary Words:melodious: 悠扬exquisite: 精美contemplating: 盘算balance: 平衡distant: 疏远enthusiasm: 热情vibrant: 旺盛high-priced: 高价pressure: 压力inspiration: 灵机一动cost-effective: 省钱handicrafts: 手工艺品materials: 材料personalized: 个性化immersed: 沉浸rigid: 一成不变value: 价值sincerity: 心意creativity: 创意festive: 喜气洋洋stall: 摊位corridor: 走廊plentiful: 挤满ornament: 装饰品tradition: 传统astonished: 惊讶adorned: 装点comfort: 欣慰interaction: 互动atmosphere: 气氛
1200 - 1449 - Step into the fourteenth century, a world caught between collapse and rebirth. As the Mongol Empire fractures, new powers rise across Europe, Asia and Africa. From the birth of the Ming dynasty to the brilliance of Mali and the devastation of the Black Death, this episode explores a century that reshaped societies, ignited new dynasties and transformed the course of history.
Merry Christmas and welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! We're back with an episode on Christmas Eve, and we're talking about our favorite Seiko watches of all time. That's a tough mission, but like Santa's job of delivering toys to all the children, we're up to the task! Grab some mulled wine, settle in by the fireplace, and enjoy the banter.Folks, we've been on the road for the last few weeks. America, Japan, and Germany are just some of the places we've been. However, we're back just in time for Christmas, and we're excited to talk about one of our favorite brands. Seiko has an impressive history and has made significant contributions to watchmaking. In this episode, we discuss our six favorite Seiko references. It wasn't easy, but we've somehow whittled it down to a handful and a thumb!HandgelenkskontrolleTo kick things off, we return to sneakers. We've been a little disappointed in the Nike and New Balance releases leading up to the holiday season. Balazs brings up a set of Chicago Bulls championship rings that sold at Sotheby's on December 12th for over $400,000. Mike then discusses the Imperial Fabergé Winter Egg that recently sold for $30.2 million at Christie's. It was on preview at Christie's in London before going under the hammer earlier this month. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his lovely Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675. Mike is still addicted to his Ming 37.11 Odyssey on the Polymesh bracelet.Our favorite Seiko watchesIf you haven't figured it out, Seiko is one of our favorite brands. When reviewing its back catalog, the number of significant references is mind-boggling. There are an incredible number of amazing watches in so many genres. Somehow, we've boiled our list down to six favorites. Some are surprises, and some are not. Still, all are fun and worth mentioning. Our picks are:The 6139-7070, a fantastic reference showcasing Japan's first automatic chronographThe Grand Seiko 44GS, 4420-9000, is one of the most significant designs from the brandA King Seiko 5626-7000, a Hi-Beat legend still available at an amazing priceSeiko's Champion Alpinist J13043, an incredibly distinct model with a stunning dialGrand Seiko's modern collection, one of the most gratifying and well-designed lineups on the market todayThe Seiko 6215-7000, a watch that broke boundaries for the brand and set a design standard that persists to this dayWe hope you enjoy today's episode, and while we expect some controversy from our discussion, we'd love it if you would contribute to the comments section with your favorite Seiko references. Most of all, we wish you a safe and joyous holiday period and thank you for your endless support. We look forward to our next episode!
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Mystic Jade: A Winter Night's Quest at Jiufen Teahouse Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-22-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至节的夜晚,九份的茶馆灯火通明,空气中弥漫着乌龙茶的香气。En: On the night of the Winter Solstice, the Jiufen teahouse was brightly lit, with the aroma of wulongcha wafting through the air.Zh: 九份坐落在山中,街道狭窄,充满了历史的痕迹。En: Jiufen is nestled in the mountains, its streets narrow and filled with traces of history.Zh: 连是个好奇的历史学家,这次她专程来九份体验冬至节,寻找新的写作灵感。En: Lian is a curious historian who came to Jiufen specifically to experience the Winter Solstice and seek new writing inspiration.Zh: 她听说茶馆里藏有一件稀有的文物,于是心中充满了探寻的渴望。En: She heard that the teahouse held a rare artifact, sparking a desire to explore.Zh: 茶馆的主人明以他的故事和收藏闻名,他对这些家族传下来的宝贝有着极大的保护欲。En: The owner of the teahouse, Ming, was renowned for his stories and collection, holding a deep protective desire for these family heirlooms.Zh: 这天晚上,意外的停电让茶馆陷入一片黑暗,连觉得这是一个揭开谜底的好机会。En: That night, an unexpected power outage plunged the teahouse into darkness, and Lian sensed it was a perfect opportunity to unveil the mystery.Zh: 连犹豫了片刻,决定直截了当地告诉明她的来意。En: Lian hesitated for a moment, then decided to be straightforward with Ming about her intentions.Zh: “明先生,”她诚恳地说,“我对你收藏的那件传说中的文物很感兴趣。或许,我们可以一起找到它?”En: "Mr. Ming," she said sincerely, "I'm very interested in the legendary artifact in your collection. Perhaps we can find it together?"Zh: 明微微皱眉,显得有些犹豫但并未直接拒绝。En: Ming frowned slightly, appearing a bit hesitant but did not directly refuse.Zh: “好吧,”他点燃了一根蜡烛,温暖的光芒在黑暗中跳动,“跟我来,看看到底有什么。”En: "Alright," he said, lighting a candle whose warm glow flickered in the darkness, "come with me, let's see what there is."Zh: 他们在茶馆里缓慢而又小心地移动,连看着架子上的每一个角落,心中充满期待。En: They moved slowly and carefully around the teahouse, with Lian examining every corner of the shelves, filled with anticipation.Zh: 明一边走,一边给连讲述这些藏品的故事,从出口处的青花瓷壶到角落里的古书,每一件都有着独特的背景。En: As they walked, Ming recounted stories behind the items in his collection to Lian—from the qinghuaci vase at the exit to the ancient books in the corner, each item had a unique background.Zh: 突然,连在一个隐秘的木箱旁停下。En: Suddenly, Lian stopped by a hidden wooden box.Zh: “就是它!”她的声音中带着一丝激动。En: “This is it!” she exclaimed with a hint of excitement in her voice.Zh: 她轻轻地打开箱子,发现里面是那件传说中的文物—一个精美的玉饰。En: She gently opened the box and discovered the legendary artifact—a beautiful jade ornament.Zh: 是明祖上传下来的,他的眼神中闪过一抹惊讶和自豪。En: It was passed down from Ming's ancestors, and his eyes flashed with surprise and pride.Zh: “这个玉饰我一直以为只是个传说,”明感慨道,“没想到它真存在。”En: "I always thought this jade ornament was just a legend," Ming remarked with emotion, "I never expected it actually existed."Zh: 借着烛光,连和明分享着关于祖辈和传承的故事。En: By candlelight, Lian and Ming shared stories about ancestry and heritage.Zh: 连从明的故事中领悟到,文物的真正价值不仅仅在于它的历史,更在于它所承载的故事。En: Lian realized from Ming's stories that the true value of an artifact lies not only in its history but also in the stories it carries.Zh: 这一刻,连不仅找到了她所要的文物,也从明的故事中获得了为她新书的灵感。En: In that moment, Lian not only found the artifact she was looking for but also drew inspiration from Ming's stories for her new book.Zh: 明则在此过程中,开始欣然接受分享他的家族珍宝。En: In the process, Ming began to willingly share his family treasures.Zh: “或许,珍宝的意义,在于它能让更多人知道它的故事。”明笑着说。En: “Perhaps the significance of a treasure is that it allows more people to know its story,” Ming said with a smile.Zh: 离开九份时,连感受到一种从未有过的满足,En: As she left Jiufen, Lian felt a sense of fulfillment she had never experienced before.Zh: 她知道,这段旅程给她带来了新的视野,也让她交到了一位令人尊敬的朋友。En: She knew that this journey had opened new perspectives for her and allowed her to gain a respected friend. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 至artifact: 文物wulongcha: 乌龙茶waft: 弥漫nestled: 坐落curious: 好奇heirloom: 传家宝outage: 停电plunge: 陷入straightforward: 直截了当sincerely: 诚恳hesitant: 犹豫recount: 讲述anticipation: 期待vase: 青花瓷壶heritage: 传承exclaim: 激动地说ornament: 玉饰ancestry: 祖辈sigificance: 意义perspective: 视野renowned: 闻名protective: 保护欲unexpected: 意外flicker: 跳动legendary: 传说中的background: 背景hidden: 隐秘historians: 历史学家fulfillment: 满足
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Luminous Adventures: Wei's Quest for the Perfect Lantern Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-20-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在冬天的北京,一个热闹的新年集市像都市丛林般充满活力。En: In the winter of Beijing, a lively New Year market is vibrant like an urban jungle.Zh: 街道上熙熙攘攘,彩色的小摊位挤满了每一个角落,浓郁的食物香气在空气中飘荡。En: The streets are bustling; colorful stalls fill every corner, and rich aromas of food waft through the air.Zh: 繁忙的人群来回穿梭,天上的圣诞灯闪烁着,为这个节日增添了一抹光彩。En: Busy crowds weave in and out, while Christmas lights twinkle in the sky, adding a touch of brilliance to the festival.Zh: 魏是个年轻、开朗的人,虽然有点笨手笨脚,但总是充满好奇心。En: Wei is a young, cheerful person, though a bit clumsy, always filled with curiosity.Zh: 他想为他的好朋友李买一盏漂亮的灯笼,作为新年的惊喜礼物。En: He wants to buy a beautiful lantern for his good friend Li as a New Year surprise gift.Zh: 为了他的这个计划,魏走进了集市的喧嚣中。En: For this plan, Wei ventures into the hustle and bustle of the market.Zh: 魏从摊位到摊位,寻找完美的灯笼。En: Wei goes from stall to stall searching for the perfect lantern.Zh: 他常常分心,被各种诱人的小玩意儿吸引。En: He often gets distracted, drawn to various tempting trinkets.Zh: 就在他全神贯注地看一盏飘雪的水晶球时,转身不小心走进了一个圣诞灯的展示区。En: Just as he is intently gazing at a snow globe, he accidentally steps into a Christmas light display area.Zh: 一瞬间,彩灯缠绕在他身上,像是穿上了一件花里胡哨的“衣服”。En: In an instant, colored lights wrap around him like a garish "outfit."Zh: 四周的人纷纷停下来看热闹。En: People around stop to watch the fun.Zh: 魏发现自己被灯光点缀得像一棵行走的圣诞树。他没有生气,反而开心地向周围人挥手,假装这一切都是计划好的,引得人们忍俊不禁。En: Wei, adorned like a walking Christmas tree, doesn't get angry but instead waves to the crowd, pretending it was all planned, provoking chuckles from the onlookers.Zh: 碰巧,一个路过的年轻人名叫明,见状前来帮忙。En: By chance, a passing young man named Ming sees the situation and comes to help.Zh: 他小心翼翼地帮魏解开了那些缠绕的灯,魏对他的帮助表示了由衷的感谢。En: He carefully untangles the lights from Wei, who expresses his heartfelt gratitude for the assistance.Zh: 集市快要结束时,魏心里有些失落。En: As the market is about to end, Wei feels a bit disappointed.Zh: 然而正当他准备放弃的时候,他看到在市场边缘的一个不起眼的小摊里,一盏古色古香的灯笼吸引了他的目光。En: However, just when he's about to give up, he spots an inconspicuous small stall at the edge of the market, where an archaic lantern catches his eye.Zh: 那灯笼是红色的,灯罩上绘着精致的金色龙纹。En: The lantern is red, with a shade intricately painted with golden dragon patterns.Zh: “就是它!这是我要找的,”魏兴奋地自语。En: "This is it! This is what I've been looking for," Wei murmurs excitedly to himself.Zh: 他赶紧走过去,用节省下来的钱买下了灯笼。En: He quickly goes over and uses his saved money to buy the lantern.Zh: 终于,魏带着这份精心挑选的礼物去找李。En: Finally, Wei brings the meticulously chosen gift to Li.Zh: 当他把灯笼递给李时,李的脸上露出了惊喜和感动的笑容。En: When he hands over the lantern, Li's face lights up with a surprised and touched smile.Zh: 经过这一刻,魏也变得更加自信。En: After this moment, Wei becomes more confident.Zh: 他明白,有时候生活中的意外往往会带来更多的快乐和收获,他内心充满了对未来的期待。En: He understands that sometimes the surprises in life often bring more joy and gains, and his heart is filled with anticipation for the future.Zh: 集市的灯光逐渐暗淡,而它点亮的友谊之光却长存心中。En: The market lights gradually dim, but the light of friendship it kindled remains in the heart forever. Vocabulary Words:lively: 热闹的vibrant: 充满活力的bustling: 熙熙攘攘的waft: 飘荡intently: 全神贯注地garish: 花里胡哨的adorned: 点缀provoking: 引发onlookers: 旁观者untangles: 解开heartfelt: 由衷的gratitude: 感谢inconspicuous: 不起眼的archaic: 古色古香的intricately: 精致地meticulously: 精心地anticipation: 期待dim: 暗淡urban: 都市的jungle: 丛林curiosity: 好奇心ventures: 冒险tempting: 诱人的trinkets: 小玩意儿clumsy: 笨手笨脚的weave: 穿梭twinkle: 闪烁brilliance: 光彩surprise gift: 惊喜礼物shades: 灯罩
Säpo varnar för det kinesiska säkerhetshotet på svenska universitet. Men vad riskerar att gå förlorat i jakten på spioner från Kina? Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Medverkande: Elsa Johnsson, student vid Stanforduniversitetet, Gabriel Wernstedt, pressekreterare Säkerhetspolisen, Lotta Edholm, forskningsminister, Mattias O'Nils, professor vid forskningscentret STC i Sundsvall, Cheng Peng, forskare vid universitetet i Sundsvall, Brian Vinter, vice-dekanus på Århus universitet, He Zixuan, kinesisk forskare vid Århus universitet som genomgått deras screening för kinesiska studenter, Mette Thunø, lektor och PhD i Kinastudier på Århus universitet, ”Ming”, kinesisk forskare som doktorerat på Harvard men återvänt till Kina, kinesisk familj i Peking som resonerar kring västs hårda retorik mot kinesiska studenter mflProgramledare: Viktor Löfgrenviktor.m.lofgren@sr.seReportrar: Björn Djurberg och Hanna SahlbergTekniker: Calle Hedlund och Rasmus HåkansProducent: Anja Sahlberganja.sahlberg@sr.se
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unearthing Secrets: The Untold Legacy of Yun Shui Xuan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-18-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 杭州的冬天,寒风萧瑟,但西湖与茶馆的结合却是无比温暖。En: In the winter of Hangzhou, the cold wind was bitter, but the combination of West Lake and the teahouse was immensely warm.Zh: 茶馆名叫“云水轩”,是明先生开的。En: The teahouse was called Yun Shui Xuan, and it was run by Mr. Ming.Zh: 他热爱历史,尤其是那些久远的传统。En: He loved history, especially those age-old traditions.Zh: 每年冬至,人们总是来这里喝杯热茶,享受节日的欢愉。En: Every winter solstice, people would come here to sip on a hot cup of tea and enjoy the festive cheer.Zh: 这天早晨,茶馆内飘散淡淡的茶香。En: That morning, a subtle aroma of tea wafted through the teahouse.Zh: 小雨在柜台后忙碌。En: Xiaoyu was busy behind the counter.Zh: 他是这里的小学徒,总是对一切充满好奇。En: He was a young apprentice here, always full of curiosity about everything.Zh: 客人们渐渐多了起来,李伟先生也像往常一样来到茶馆。En: Gradually, more guests began to arrive, and Mr. Li Wei, as usual, came to the teahouse.Zh: 他是一个学者,经常沉迷于古印章的研究。En: He was a scholar who often immersed himself in the study of ancient seals.Zh: 墙上一幅画后隐藏的书架上,有一本古书。En: On a bookshelf hidden behind a painting on the wall, there was an ancient book.Zh: 书的封面上有一个旧印章,模糊却奥秘。En: On the cover of the book was an old seal, blurry yet mysterious.Zh: 突然,明先生收到了一个包裹,里面有一封信和一个旧印章。En: Suddenly, Mr. Ming received a package, which contained a letter and an old seal.Zh: 令所有人惊讶的是,这个印章与书上的一模一样。En: To everyone's surprise, this seal was identical to the one on the book.Zh: 明先生心中激动,也有几分不安。En: Mr. Ming was excited yet somewhat uneasy.Zh: 这个印章,会不会与茶馆的历史有关?En: Could this seal be related to the history of the teahouse?Zh: 他决定要弄清楚印章的来历,不惜采取非常措施。En: He decided to uncover the origin of the seal, even if it meant taking extraordinary measures.Zh: 他与李伟先生商量,打算去调查古代的档案,尽管这有些冒险。En: He discussed with Mr. Li Wei and planned to investigate ancient archives, despite the risks involved.Zh: 茶馆渐渐安静下来,雪花在窗外轻轻起舞。En: The teahouse gradually quieted down, and snowflakes danced gently outside the windows.Zh: 经过几天的艰苦寻找,明先生、小雨和李伟先生终于找到了线索。En: After a few days of arduous searching, Mr. Ming, Xiaoyu, and Mr. Li Wei finally found a clue.Zh: 茶馆地下似乎有一个隐藏的密室,与古代一个失落的王朝有关。En: There seemed to be a hidden chamber beneath the teahouse, which was connected to a lost dynasty of ancient times.Zh: 他们心跳如雷,打开了密室的门。En: Their hearts were pounding as they opened the door to the secret chamber.Zh: 里面摆满了古代的文物和记载着茶馆起源的历史文献。En: Inside, it was filled with ancient artifacts and historical documents that recorded the origins of the teahouse.Zh: 原来,“云水轩”的来历可以追溯到一个古老的传说,这个传说讲述了一位茶艺大师如何用茶来传递和平与智慧。En: It turned out that the origins of Yun Shui Xuan could be traced back to an old legend that told of a tea master who used tea to convey peace and wisdom.Zh: 经过这次旅程,明先生对传统文化有了更深的理解。En: After this journey, Mr. Ming developed a deeper understanding of traditional culture.Zh: 而小雨,也在这个过程中对历史的保存产生了浓厚的兴趣,未来,他希望能继续这些遗产的保护工作。En: Meanwhile, Xiaoyu grew a keen interest in the preservation of history during this process.Zh: 未来,他希望能继续这些遗产的保护工作。En: In the future, he hoped to continue working on the protection of these legacies.Zh: 在冬至那天,茶馆里的人比平时多了许多。En: On the winter solstice day, there were more people in the teahouse than usual.Zh: 大家围坐在一起,听明先生讲述那个古老而神秘的传说,心中对“云水轩”更增添几分敬仰。En: Everyone sat together, listening to Mr. Ming recount the ancient and mysterious legend, and their admiration for Yun Shui Xuan grew even more.Zh: 茶香依然,传奇继续……En: The aroma of tea lingered on, and the legend continued... Vocabulary Words:bitter: 寒风萧瑟immensely: 无比subtle: 淡淡wafted: 飘散apprentice: 小学徒curiosity: 好奇scholar: 学者immersed: 沉迷ancient: 古seal: 印章mysterious: 奥秘uneasy: 不安origin: 来历extraordinary: 非常archives: 档案arduous: 艰苦clue: 线索chamber: 密室pounding: 心跳如雷artifacts: 文物documents: 文献trace: 追溯legend: 传说convey: 传递wisdom: 智慧preservation: 保存admiration: 敬仰culture: 文化legacy: 遗产lingered: 依然
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
MING's weekly Warmth radio show features the best in today's house and EDM as well as exclusive mixes and interviews from guest artists.MING Stuff >> https://solo.to/mingsmusic1001Tracklists >> https://1001.tl/lbknx3Beatport Track Charts >> https://hoodfamo.us/BPWRMTH
For Ming Min Hui, there's no single "right" path to arts leadership—only the one you build through curiosity, courage, and a willingness to evolve. Her career began far from the stage, in finance and corporate strategy on Wall Street. Today, as Executive Director of Boston Ballet, she sees that wide-ranging experience not as a detour but as the engine behind her leadership. In this episode, Ming reflects on the value of expansive career paths, the power of collaborative problem-solving, and how she uses her business acumen to deepen the relevance of a 400-year-old art form in Boston and beyond. LINKS: Boston Ballet - https://www.bostonballet.org/ NBC Boston | Citydance 30 Documentary - https://www.nbcboston.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/watch-the-boston-ballet-citydance-30-years-of-movement-documentary-saturday/2813042/