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Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Lost and Found: An Unforgettable Adventure in Autumn Woods Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-06-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在秋天的一片密林中，嘉伟和美琳参加了学校组织的露营旅行。En: In an autumn-filled dense forest, Jiawei and Meilin participated in a school-organized camping trip.Zh: 树林里，红黄相间的树叶如同地毯，空气中夹杂着大地的芬芳。En: In the woods, the red and yellow leaves were like carpets, with the fragrance of the earth blending into the air.Zh: 嘉伟是个好奇心很强的学生，他正在为一个学校讲故事比赛做准备。En: Jiawei was a student with a strong curiosity, preparing for a school storytelling competition.Zh: 与他一同露营的美琳则比较谨慎，平常做事总是喜欢提前计划。En: His camping companion, Meilin, was relatively cautious, always preferring to plan things in advance.Zh: 这一天，学校安排大家去森林里探险。En: That day, the school arranged for everyone to go on an adventure in the forest.Zh: 嘉伟想要找到一个隐藏的地点，希望那里能激发他的灵感写出个好故事。En: Jiawei wanted to find a hidden spot, hoping it would inspire him to write a good story.Zh: 然而，随着队伍深入密林，嘉伟和美琳不知不觉中迷失了方向。En: However, as the group delved deeper into the dense forest, Jiawei and Meilin unknowingly lost their way.Zh: 他们跟不上一组，同学们的声音渐渐消失在耳边，只剩下树叶沙沙的声音。En: They couldn't keep up with the group, and their classmates' voices gradually faded, leaving only the rustling sound of leaves.Zh: “嘉伟，我们该回去了。”美琳担心地说。En: "Jiawei, we should go back," Meilin said worriedly.Zh: 嘉伟心里也有些忐忑，但他仍未放弃找到那个理想中的地点。En: Jiawei felt a bit uneasy inside, but he had not given up on finding that ideal spot.Zh: 他犹豫不决，眼前是探险的诱惑，脑子里则是安全的提醒。En: He hesitated, as the temptation of adventure stood before him while safety reminders lingered in his mind.Zh: 就在天色渐渐暗下来时，嘉伟终于发现了一个别致的小空地。En: As the sky gradually darkened, Jiawei finally discovered an exquisite little clearing.Zh: 那儿有一片小湖，湖面上漂浮落叶，周围是一圈高大的古树，En: There was a small lake where leaves floated on the surface, surrounded by a circle of tall ancient trees.Zh: 阳光从树林间斜射下来，让整个地方充满了神秘和安宁。En: Sunlight slanted down through the woods, filling the area with mystery and tranquility.Zh: 这个地方正是嘉伟梦寐以求的地方。En: This was exactly the place Jiawei had dreamed of.Zh: 然而，看着西沉的太阳，嘉伟心中还是闪过一丝不安。En: However, as he watched the sun sink westward, a trace of unease flickered in Jiawei's heart.Zh: 他转头看向美琳，看到她也满脸担忧。En: He turned to Meilin, seeing that she was also full of worry.Zh: 他意识到，或许安全和朋友的陪伴比一个短暂的灵感更为重要。En: He realized that perhaps safety and companionship were more important than a fleeting moment of inspiration.Zh: “我们还是回去吧。”嘉伟终于决定。En: "We should head back," Jiawei finally decided.Zh: 他们用科学课上学到的方向辨认知识，小心翼翼地走出密林。En: They carefully used the direction-finding skills learned in science class to exit the dense forest.Zh: 尽管没能在那儿待多久，但那片隐秘之地的景象和这段旅程已经深深烙在他们心底。En: Although they couldn't stay there for long, the sight of that hidden place and the journey they took were deeply imprinted in their hearts.Zh: 回到营地后，嘉伟在篝火旁向同学们绘声绘色地讲述了自己的冒险经历。En: Back at the campsite, Jiawei vividly recounted his adventure by the campfire to his classmates.Zh: 大家听得入神，而嘉伟也意识到，灵感可以来自于与朋友的共同经历，而非孤独的探险。En: Everyone listened intently, and Jiawei realized that inspiration could come from shared experiences with friends rather than solitary exploration.Zh: 这个中秋，他们没有明月和桂花树，但笼罩在秋风中的温暖友情，成了最令人难忘的记忆。En: This Mid-Autumn Festival, they had no bright moon or osmanthus trees, but the warm friendship enveloped in the autumn breeze became the most unforgettable memory.Zh: 嘉伟和美琳都明白了，故事不只是文字构成，而是人与人之间的温暖连结。En: Both Jiawei and Meilin understood that stories consist not just of words but of the warm connections between people. Vocabulary Words:dense: 密curiosity: 好奇心cautious: 谨慎fragrance: 芬芳camping: 露营unintentionally: 不知不觉中rustling: 沙沙temptation: 诱惑exquisite: 别致traces: 一丝unease: 忐忑tranquility: 安宁companion: 朋友fleeting: 短暂的harmony: 和谐solitary: 孤独的vividly: 绘声绘色地intently: 入神campfire: 篝火imprinted: 烙在心底mystery: 神秘direction-finding: 方向辨认adventure: 冒险inspiration: 灵感festival: 中秋companionship: 陪伴connections: 连结carpets: 地毯hidden: 隐秘autumn breeze: 秋风
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Moonlit Quest: Mei's Journey for the Desert's Silver Bloom Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-05-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 美丽的塔克拉玛干沙漠在秋天显得格外壮丽。En: The beautiful Taklamakan Desert looks extraordinarily magnificent in the autumn.Zh: 阳光将沙丘染成金色，给人一种神秘而宁静的感觉。En: The sunlight dyes the dunes golden, giving a mysterious and tranquil feeling.Zh: 梅，是一位热情的植物学家，正踏上寻找传说中月光下盛开的稀有沙漠花的旅程。En: Mei, an enthusiastic botanist, is embarking on a journey to find the rare desert flower that blooms under the moonlight.Zh: 她的目标不仅是科学上的突破，还希望借此获得升职和更多的科研经费。En: Her goal is not only a scientific breakthrough but also the prospect of a promotion and more research funding.Zh: 梅的同事，小丽和陈，也同她一起前行。En: Mei's colleagues, Xiaoli and Chen, accompany her on the journey.Zh: 陈是一位经验丰富的探险家，一直对梅的研究给予支持。En: Chen is an experienced adventurer who has always supported Mei's research.Zh: 小丽负责照顾营地，并为大家准备食物和水。En: Xiaoli is responsible for taking care of the camp and preparing food and water for everyone.Zh: 中秋节的夜晚来临，一轮明月升起，照亮了广袤的沙漠。En: As the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival arrives, a full moon rises, illuminating the vast desert.Zh: 然而，梅在途中却突然感到身体不适。En: However, Mei suddenly starts feeling unwell along the way.Zh: 炎热和长时间的跋涉让她疲惫不堪，脱水和中暑的症状开始显现。En: The heat and prolonged trekking have left her exhausted, and symptoms of dehydration and heatstroke begin to appear.Zh: 尽管如此，她依然心系着那朵花，没能意识到自己的身体已经到达极限。En: Despite this, her mind is still set on that flower, and she fails to realize that her body has reached its limits.Zh: 梅犹豫着，是否应该返回营地。En: Mei hesitates, questioning whether she should return to the camp.Zh: 陈发现了梅的状态，劝她休息。En: Chen notices Mei's condition and advises her to rest.Zh: 但心中的执念让梅继续坚定地前行。En: But her obsession pushes Mei to continue steadfastly onward.Zh: 没过多久，他们在月光下发现了那朵稀有的花。En: Not long after, under the moonlight, they discover the rare flower.Zh: 银色的花瓣在月光中微微闪烁，仿佛等待着她们的到来。En: Its silver petals shimmer faintly, as if waiting for their arrival.Zh: 梅轻轻地将花采摘下来，但她感到眼前一黑，倒在了沙地上。En: Mei gently picks the flower, but she suddenly blacks out and collapses onto the sand.Zh: 陈迅速上前，用力摇晃她，急切地呼喊：“梅！En: Chen quickly rushes forward, shaking her forcefully and urgently shouting, "Mei!Zh: 坚持住！En: Hold on!"Zh: ”小丽也赶来帮忙。En: Xiaoli also hurries over to help.Zh: 他们合力将梅扶回营地，并给予她水和治疗。En: Together, they assist Mei back to the camp, providing her with water and treatment.Zh: 经过小丽和陈的细心照顾，梅慢慢苏醒过来，脸上恢复了一丝血色。En: Thanks to the meticulous care from Xiaoli and Chen, Mei slowly regains consciousness, with a trace of color returning to her face.Zh: 虽然虚弱，但她心满意足地微笑着，手中紧握着那朵珍贵的花。En: Though weak, she smiles contentedly, tightly clutching the precious flower.Zh: 梅终于明白，追求目标不能以健康为代价，团队合作显得尤为重要。En: Mei finally understands that pursuing a goal should not come at the cost of health, and the importance of teamwork is greater than ever.Zh: 回到大本营，他们详细记录了发现，并提交给研究所。En: Back at the base camp, they meticulously document their discovery and submit it to the research institute.Zh: 不仅是科学的成就，梅收获了更重要的东西——对健康的重视和对朋友的信任。En: Beyond the scientific achievement, Mei gains something even more valuable—an appreciation for health and trust in friends.Zh: 塔克拉玛干的沙漠夜晚在他们心中留下了温馨而深刻的记忆。En: The desert night in Taklamakan leaves them with warm and profound memories.Zh: 这一年的中秋节，对他们来说特别圆满。En: This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is particularly fulfilling for them. Vocabulary Words:magnificent: 壮丽dunes: 沙丘tranquil: 宁静botanist: 植物学家embarking: 踏上prospect: 希望promotion: 升职funding: 经费accompany: 前行experienced: 经验丰富adventurer: 探险家illuminating: 照亮vast: 广袤dehydration: 脱水heatstroke: 中暑obsession: 执念steadfastly: 坚定地shimmer: 闪烁petals: 花瓣collapse: 倒下forcefully: 用力urgent: 急切consciousness: 苏醒contentedly: 心满意足clutching: 紧握pursuing: 追求meticulous: 细心document: 记录achievement: 成就profound: 深刻
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Mystery of the Desert Symbols: An Artful Mid-Autumn Revelation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-05-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 李娟站在内蒙古的红色沙丘上，秋天的风吹过她的头发，带来了一丝凉意。En: Li Juan stood on the red sand dunes of Inner Mongolia, with the autumn wind blowing through her hair, bringing a hint of chill.Zh: 沙子在她脚下细腻地滑动，仿佛沙漠本身在轻声低语。En: The sand slid delicately beneath her feet, as if the desert itself was whispering softly.Zh: 最近，每天早晨，在沙丘的边缘，总能看到一些奇怪的符号，这令她无比着迷。En: Lately, every morning, at the edge of the dunes, some strange symbols could always be seen, which fascinated her immensely.Zh: 为了找出这些符号的来历，她决定在沙漠中待一个晚上，寻找答案。En: To find out the origin of these symbols, she decided to stay out in the desert for a night, seeking answers.Zh: 村子里的其他人都认为这只是某个淘气孩子的恶作剧，风一吹，符号便消失无踪。En: The other villagers thought it was just a prank by some mischievous child, and when the wind blew, the symbols would disappear without a trace.Zh: 然而，李娟不这么认为；她的祖母总是讲一些关于神秘风沙的故事，而李娟心中认为这些符号是某种超自然力量的证据。En: However, Li Juan didn't think so; her grandmother always told stories about mysterious sandstorms, and Li Juan believed these symbols were evidence of some supernatural force.Zh: 于是，她在一个星光灿烂的晚上，带着毯子和手电筒，出发了。En: So, on a starry night, she set out with a blanket and a flashlight.Zh: 夜幕降临，气温骤降，李娟裹紧了毯子。En: As night fell, and the temperature dropped, Li Juan wrapped the blanket tightly around herself.Zh: 她注视着天空中璀璨的星星，想起祖母小时候讲的关于满月下沙漠的神话。En: She gazed at the dazzling stars in the sky, recalling the myths about the desert under the full moon that her grandmother had told her when she was a child.Zh: 渐渐地，李娟的眼皮开始变重，她几乎要入睡时，远处出现了一个人影。En: Gradually, Li Juan's eyelids began to droop, and just as she was about to fall asleep, a figure appeared in the distance.Zh: 她悄悄地靠近，透过微弱的月光，她看到了一个年轻男子在沙中用一根长棍子画着什么。En: She quietly crept closer, and through the faint moonlight, she saw a young man drawing something in the sand with a long stick.Zh: 她心中一紧，是那个神秘的“符号制造者”！En: Her heart tightened—that must be the mysterious "symbol maker"!Zh: “你是谁？”李娟大声问道，声音在沙丘间回荡。En: "Who are you?" Li Juan shouted, her voice echoing among the dunes.Zh: 那男子转头，有些惊讶，但随即笑了，“我叫浩。En: The young man turned around, a bit surprised, but then smiled, "My name is Hao.Zh: 我在旅行时听说了这里的传说。En: I heard about the legends here while traveling.Zh: 我想用古老的符号和艺术表达这些故事。En: I want to express these stories with ancient symbols and art."Zh: “这些是你画的？”李娟指着沙地上的图案，既惊讶又好奇。En: "Did you draw these?" Li Juan pointed to the patterns in the sand, both surprised and curious.Zh: “是的，我对这些传说着迷。En: "Yes, I'm fascinated by these legends.Zh: 希望让大家通过这些符号感受到故事的魅力。”浩解释道。En: I hope to let people feel the charm of the stories through these symbols," Hao explained.Zh: 李娟心中豁然开朗。En: Li Juan's mind suddenly cleared.Zh: 原来这并不是什么超自然现象，而是来自一个同样热爱故事的人。En: It turned out this wasn't some supernatural phenomenon, but from someone who also loved stories.Zh: 她突然产生了一个想法。“我们可以一起合作，用这些符号和故事庆祝中秋节。En: An idea struck her."We can collaborate to use these symbols and stories to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.Zh: 让大家看到它们的美和意义。En: Let everyone see their beauty and significance."Zh: 浩点了点头，“这是个好主意。En: Hao nodded, "That's a great idea.Zh: 我们可以在沙丘上举办一个故事和艺术的晚会。En: We can hold a story and art evening on the dunes."Zh: 于是，在那个特别的秋天夜晚，李娟和浩开始计划如何让村民们在中秋节见证这个奇妙的艺术与故事的结合。En: So, on that special autumn night, Li Juan and Hao began planning how to let the villagers witness this wonderful blend of art and story during the Mid-Autumn Festival.Zh: 李娟不仅找到了符号背后的真相，还在祖母的故事和现实之间架起了一座桥梁。En: Li Juan not only discovered the truth behind the symbols but also built a bridge between her grandmother's tales and reality.Zh: 当中秋节的月亮升起时，红色沙丘被灯笼的光辉点亮，李娟和浩的作品在满月的映照下闪闪发光，吸引了村子里所有人的注意。En: When the Mid-Autumn Festival moon rose, the red dunes were illuminated by the glow of lanterns, and the works of Li Juan and Hao sparkled under the light of the full moon, capturing the attention of everyone in the village.Zh: 故事和艺术、传统和现代交织在一起，在沙漠夜空下呈现出别样的美丽。En: Stories and art, tradition and modernity intertwined, presenting a unique beauty under the desert night sky.Zh: 李娟微笑着，终于找到了让传说和现实相遇的方法。En: Li Juan smiled, having finally found a way to bring legend and reality together. Vocabulary Words:dunes: 沙丘whispering: 低语symbols: 符号fascinated: 着迷mischievous: 淘气prank: 恶作剧disappear: 消失trace: 踪迹evidence: 证据supernatural: 超自然starry: 星光灿烂myths: 神话droop: 变重crept: 靠近faint: 微弱charm: 魅力collaborate: 合作festival: 节glow: 光辉lanterns: 灯笼sparkled: 闪闪发光capturing: 吸引attention: 注意intertwined: 交织unique: 别样illuminated: 点亮tightly: 裹紧figure: 人影express: 表达blend: 结合
Am 30. November entscheidet die Schweizer Stimmbevölkerung über die Erbschaftssteuer-Initiative der Juso: Auf Erbschaften und Schenkungen soll künftig ab einem Freibetrag von 50 Millionen Franken eine Steuer von 50 Prozent erhoben werden. Die Einnahmen sollen in den Klimaschutz investiert werden. Kaum ein Volksbegehren hat bereits vor dem eigentlichen Abstimmungskampf derart für Aufsehen gesorgt wie die Erbschaftssteuer-Initiative der Juso. Befürworterinnen und Gegner streiten über die Folgen der Initiative, welche eine Erbschaftssteuer von 50 Prozent ab einem Freibetrag von 50 Millionen Franken verlangt. Zur Einordnung: Über ein Vermögen von mehr als 50 Millionen Franken verfügen gemäss Botschaft des Bundesrats in der Schweiz etwa 2500 Personen. Die Einnahmen aus der neuen Steuer sollen für die «sozial gerechte Bekämpfung der Klimakrise» verwendet werden. Gerecht oder gefährlich? Die Befürworter betonen, dass mit den reichen Personen die Verantwortlichen zur Kasse gebeten würden: Sie belasteten das Klima stärker als der Durchschnitt, deshalb sei es nur gerecht, wenn diese einen grösseren Beitrag an den Klimaschutz leisten würden. Die Gegnerinnen warnen: Die Initiative würde die stärksten Steuerzahler vertreiben und Familienunternehmen zerstören. Das führe zu Steuerausfällen, die der Mittelstand tragen müsste. Sorgt die Initiative für eine faire und ausreichend finanzierte Klimapolitik? Oder gefährdet sie Schweizer Unternehmen und zerstört Arbeitsplätze? Zu diesen Fragen begrüsst Sandro Brotz am 5. November 2025 als Befürworterinnen und Befürworter der Vorlage: – Mirjam Hostetmann, Präsidentin Juso; – Katharina Prelicz-Huber, Nationalrätin Grüne/ZH; und – David Roth, Vize-Präsident SP. Gegen die Vorlage treten an: – Karin Keller-Sutter, Bundespräsidentin und Vorsteherin EFD; – Peter Spuhler, Verwaltungsratspräsident Stadler Rail; und – Jürg Grossen, Präsident GLP. Politabend mit «Rundschau» und «Arena» SRF macht den Mittwoch ein weiteres Mal zum Politabend. Am 5. November 2025 sendet SRF 1 eine «Abstimmungs-Arena» im Anschluss an die «Rundschau», die sich ebenfalls mit der Erbschaftssteuer-Initiative der Juso befasst. SRF möchte mit diesem Format der Abstimmung noch mehr Sichtbarkeit verschaffen. «Rundschau»: Angriff auf Superreiche – Reportage zur Erbschaftssteuer Selten hat eine Abstimmungsvorlage so polarisiert: die Zukunftsinitiative der Juso. Die «Rundschau» ist unterwegs mit vermögenden Unternehmern und Jungsozialisten. Milliardär Urs Wietlisbach äussert sich erstmals zur Erbschaftssteuer-Initiative der Juso.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: From Classroom Partners to Lifelong Friends: Li & Xiao's Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-04-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的一所公立高中，秋天的晨光透过窗户洒在桌上，学生们穿着整齐的校服在走廊里走动。En: In a public high school in Beijing, the autumn morning light poured through the windows, illuminating the desks, while students dressed neatly in their uniforms moved about the corridors.Zh: 地上铺满了金色的落叶，校园里充满了青春的气息。En: The ground was covered with golden fallen leaves, and the campus was filled with the aura of youth.Zh: 李伟和小明在课堂上第一次被分到了一组。En: Li Wei and Xiao Ming were assigned to a group for the first time in class.Zh: 他们要合作完成一个关于环保的项目。En: They had to collaborate on a project about environmental protection.Zh: 李伟是一个喜欢埋头学习的学生，他总是坐在教室的角落。En: Li Wei was a student who liked to bury his head in his studies, always sitting in the corner of the classroom.Zh: 他不太爱说话，也不太懂得如何与同学相处。En: He wasn't very talkative and didn't quite know how to interact with his classmates.Zh: 而小明正好相反，他聪明活泼，总是被同学们围绕着。En: In contrast, Xiao Ming was smart and lively, always surrounded by classmates.Zh: 但其实，他心里渴望的是真正的朋友，而不是那种表面上的热闹。En: However, deep down, he longed for true friends, rather than superficial buzz.Zh: 项目开始时，李伟有点紧张。En: At the beginning of the project, Li Wei was a bit nervous.Zh: 他怕小明觉得自己无聊。En: He was afraid Xiao Ming would find him boring.Zh: 但小明主动找他，问他一些关于项目的想法。En: But Xiao Ming took the initiative to approach him, asking for his thoughts on the project.Zh: 李伟有些惊讶，但还是慢慢地打开了话匣子。En: Li Wei was somewhat surprised but gradually began to open up.Zh: 他告诉小明自己对环境保护的兴趣，还聊起了家里的宠物猫和周末的爱好。En: He told Xiao Ming about his interest in environmental protection, and chatted about his pet cat and weekend hobbies.Zh: 小明听得很认真，点头表示赞同。En: Xiao Ming listened intently, nodding in agreement.Zh: 他也谈起了自己，谈到自己在学校的压力和对未来的不安。En: He also talked about himself, mentioning the pressure at school and his anxiety about the future.Zh: 李伟耐心地倾听，他们的谈话变得越来越自然。En: Li Wei listened patiently, and their conversation became increasingly natural.Zh: 渐渐地他们发现彼此的很多想法都相似。En: Gradually, they discovered that many of their ideas were similar.Zh: 随着项目的进行，他们的友情也越来越深厚。En: As the project progressed, so did their friendship.Zh: 但有些同学对他们的友谊有些怀疑，认为李伟和小明不可能成为朋友。En: However, some classmates were skeptical of their friendship, believing that Li Wei and Xiao Ming couldn't possibly become friends.Zh: 一次在食堂，几个同学开玩笑嘲笑李伟，小明站出来为他辩护：“李伟很聪明，我很高兴有他这样的朋友。”En: Once in the cafeteria, a few classmates jokingly teased Li Wei, and Xiao Ming stood up to defend him: "Li Wei is very smart, and I'm glad to have a friend like him."Zh: 食堂顿时安静了下来，大家都看着小明。En: The cafeteria suddenly went quiet, everyone watching Xiao Ming.Zh: 李伟感到一阵温暖，他终于感受到了真正的友谊。En: Li Wei felt a wave of warmth; he finally experienced true friendship.Zh: 项目顺利完成，老师给了他们很高的评价。En: The project was successfully completed, and the teacher gave them high praise.Zh: 比赛结束后，他们不仅收获了优秀的成绩，更收获了一段深厚的友情。En: After the competition, they gained not only excellent results but also a deep friendship.Zh: 李伟逐渐变得自信，开始愿意与更多的人交流。En: Li Wei gradually became more confident, starting to engage with more people.Zh: 而小明明白了友情的真正意义，再不是单纯的热闹和表面的幸福。En: Meanwhile, Xiao Ming understood the true meaning of friendship, no longer just seeking lively and superficial happiness.Zh: 他知道，能够遇到李伟这样的朋友，是他最大的幸运。En: He realized that meeting a friend like Li Wei was his greatest fortune.Zh: 秋天的阳光依旧温暖，他们并肩走在校园的操场上，落叶在他们的脚下沙沙作响。En: The autumn sunlight remained warm as they walked side by side on the campus playground, the fallen leaves rustling beneath their feet.Zh: 他们知道，这段友谊在美丽的秋天里种下了根，会在未来更加坚定地成长。En: They knew that this friendship, rooted in the beautiful autumn, would grow stronger in the future. Vocabulary Words:pour: 洒illuminating: 照亮corridors: 走廊aura: 气息collaborate: 合作buried: 埋头interact: 相处superficial: 表面上的initiative: 主动nodding: 点头intently: 认真地skeptical: 怀疑teased: 嘲笑defend: 辩护confidence: 自信engage: 交流fortune: 幸运remain: 依旧playground: 操场rustling: 沙沙作响youth: 青春assigned: 分到anxiety: 不安praise: 评价experienced: 感受lively: 活泼pressure: 压力competition: 比赛gradually: 逐渐meaning: 意义
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Violin's Calling: Li Wei's Journey to Self-Belief Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-04-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 李伟站在学校的走廊上，微风轻轻拂过他的脸。En: Li Wei stood in the school hallway as a gentle breeze brushed against his face.Zh: 他手里握着小提琴，心里却像装着一只快乐的小鸟，总是想飞出去。En: He held a violin in his hand, but in his heart, there was a joyful little bird that always wanted to fly away.Zh: 深秋的校园被五颜六色的树叶装扮得格外美丽。En: The campus in late autumn was extraordinarily beautiful, adorned by colorful leaves.Zh: 晚秋的阳光明媚，但李伟的心情却紧张得像即将到来的暴风雨。En: The late autumn sun shone brightly, but Li Wei's mood was as tense as an impending storm.Zh: 李伟是个腼腆的学生，通常在人群中很少引起注意。En: Li Wei was a shy student, usually not attracting much attention in a crowd.Zh: 他的好朋友小林和明对他即将参加的学校才艺表演充满了期待。En: His close friends, Xiaolin and Ming, were filled with anticipation for his upcoming performance at the school talent show.Zh: 小林总是对李伟的才艺充满信心，但李伟自己却常常感到不安。En: Xiaolin always had confidence in Li Wei's talent, but Li Wei often felt uneasy himself.Zh: 他害怕在舞台上出错，害怕面对台下那么多双期待的眼睛。En: He was afraid of making mistakes on stage, scared of facing so many expectant eyes from the audience.Zh: 距才艺表演还有一星期，李伟在音乐教室练习，小提琴的声音在空气中回旋。En: With a week until the talent show, Li Wei practiced in the music classroom, the sound of the violin resonating through the air.Zh: 他开始犹豫，是坚持下去，还是退出比赛。En: He began to hesitate, unsure whether to persevere or withdraw from the competition.Zh: 就在这时，小林走了进来，她拍拍李伟的肩膀说：“你可以的，我们都相信你。”En: Just then, Xiaolin walked in and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You can do it, we all believe in you."Zh: 明也点头赞同。En: Ming nodded in agreement.Zh: 李伟心里暖暖的，他决定不再逃避。En: Li Wei felt a warmth in his heart and decided not to avoid it anymore.Zh: 他找到了音乐老师，悄悄分享了自己的担心。En: He found the music teacher and quietly shared his worries.Zh: 老师微笑着说：“音乐是从心里演奏出来的，不用害怕，让它自然流淌。”En: The teacher smiled and said, "Music is played from the heart. Don't be afraid, let it flow naturally."Zh: 才艺表演的那天晚上，学校礼堂座无虚席，舞台灯光明亮。En: On the night of the talent show, the school auditorium was packed, and the stage lights were bright.Zh: 李伟穿着整洁的演出服，紧张地站在舞台一侧，他的手心微微出汗。En: Dressed neatly in performance attire, Li Wei stood nervously at one side of the stage, his palms slightly sweaty.Zh: 轮到他上场的时候，所有的灯光都对准了他。En: When it was his turn, all the lights focused on him.Zh: 台下一片安静，李伟却慌了神。En: The audience was silent, but Li Wei felt a wave of panic.Zh: 就在此时，他看见了坐在前排的小林，她正在对他微笑，并给了他一个坚定的点头。En: At that moment, he saw Xiaolin sitting in the front row, smiling at him and giving him a steadfast nod.Zh: 李伟深吸一口气，抚慰自己内心的紧张，慢慢将弓拉过琴弦。En: Li Wei took a deep breath, calming his inner nerves, and slowly drew the bow across the strings.Zh: 悠扬的琴声在寂静的礼堂中荡漾开来。En: The melodious sound of the violin spread throughout the silent auditorium.Zh: 当最后一个音符消散在空气中时，全场爆发出热烈的掌声。En: When the last note faded into the air, the entire hall erupted in enthusiastic applause.Zh: 李伟从未想过自己能得到这样的认可，他的心中涌出一股难以言喻的自豪感。En: Li Wei had never imagined receiving such recognition, and an indescribable sense of pride surged within him.Zh: 经过这次表演，李伟不再只是那个胆小内向的学生。En: After this performance, Li Wei was no longer just the timid and introverted student.Zh: 他发现自己可以在朋友和老师的支持下，面对任何挑战。En: He discovered that with the support of his friends and teachers, he could face any challenge.Zh: 他走下舞台，和小林、明交换了一个胜利的微笑。En: He stepped off the stage and exchanged a victorious smile with Xiaolin and Ming.Zh: 李伟知道，这是一个新的开始。En: Li Wei knew this was a new beginning.Zh: 通过这一次的努力和成功，他明白了一个重要的道理：自信是一点一点积累起来的，只要相信自己，就能创造出奇迹。En: Through his effort and success this time, he understood an important truth: confidence is built up bit by bit, and as long as you believe in yourself, you can create miracles.Zh: 秋天的校园仍然热闹非凡，而李伟的心情，已如同这灿烂的阳光，灿烂而温暖。En: The campus in autumn was still bustling, but Li Wei's mood was now as splendid and warm as the radiant sunlight. Vocabulary Words:hallway: 走廊breeze: 微风brushed: 拂过violin: 小提琴joyful: 快乐adorned: 装扮extraordinarily: 格外tense: 紧张impending: 即将到来的storm: 暴风雨shy: 腼腆anticipation: 期待performance: 表演uneasy: 不安persevere: 坚持withdraw: 退出steadfast: 坚定melodious: 悠扬resonating: 回旋auditorium: 礼堂attire: 服装slightly: 微微sweaty: 出汗panic: 慌了神calm: 抚慰enthusiastic: 热烈recognition: 认可pride: 自豪感victorious: 胜利splendid: 灿烂
This episode we start to get more into the material culture of the period with court fashion, as we look at the court robes that went along with the updated court ranks. Granted, we only have a few resources, but from those it does seem like we can construct at least a plausible idea of what the court may have looked like at this time. For more discussion, check out the blogpost: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-137 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is Episode 137: Courtly Fashion. In the New Year's ceremony, the court officials lined up in front of the Kiyomihara Palace, arranged by their relative court rank, dressed in their assigned court robes. The effect was impressive—the rows of officials painting the courtyard like the bands of color in a rainbow, albeit one with only a couple of hues. The fact that they were all wearing the same style of dress and black, stiffened gauze hats only added to the effect. The individual officers were all but lost in what was, at least in outward form, a single, homogenous machine of government, just waiting for the command of their monarch to attend to the important matters of state. We are covering the reign of Ohoama no Ohokimi, aka Ama no Nunahara oki no mabito no Sumera no Mikoto, aka Temmu Tennou. Last episode we went over the changes he had made to the family titles—the kabane—as well as to the courtly rank system. For the former, he had consolidated the myriad kabane and traditional titles across Yamato into a series of eight—the Yakusa no Kabane. These were, from highest to lowest: Mabito, Asomi, Sukune, Imiki, Michinoshi, Omi, Muraji, and Inaki. By the way, you might notice that "Mabito" actually occurs in Ohoama's posthumous name: Ama no Nunahara oki no mabito, which lends more credence to the idea that that kabane was for those with a special connection to the royal lineage. Besides simplifying and restructuring the kabane, Ohoama also reformed the court rank system. He divided the Princely ranks into two categories: Myou, or Bright, and Jou, or Pure. For the court nobles the categories were: Shou – Upright Jiki – Straight Gon – Diligent Mu – Earnest Tsui – Pursue Shin – Advancement Each category was further divided into four grades (except for the very first princely category, Myou, which was only two). Each grade was then further divided into large, "dai", or broad, "kou". And this brings us to our topic today. Along with this new rank system, Ohoama's administration also instituted a new set of court sumptuary laws. Some are vague in the record—we can just make assumptions for what is going on based on what we know from later fashion choices. Others are a little more clear. We'll take a look at those sumptuary laws, particularly those that were directly associated with the new court rank system, but we'll also look at the clothing styles more generally. To start with, let's talk about what we know about clothing in the archipelago in general. Unfortunately, fabric doesn't tend to survive very well in the generally acidic soils of the Japanese archipelago. Cloth tends to break down pretty quickly. That said, we have fragments here and there and impressions in pottery, so we have some idea that there was some kind of woven fabric from which to make clothing out of. And before I go too far I want to give a shout out to the amazing people at the Kyoto Costume Museum. They have a tremendous website and I will link to it in the comments. While there may be some debate over particular interpretations of historical clothing, it is an excellent resource to get a feel for what we know of the fashion of the various periods. I'll also plug our own website, SengokuDaimyo.com, which has a "Clothing and Accessory" section that, while more geared towards Heian and later periods, may still be of some use in looking up particular terms and getting to know the clothing and outfits. At the farthest reaches of pre-history, we really don't have a lot of information for clothing. There is evidence of woven goods in the Jomon period, and we have Yayoi burials with bits of cloth here and there, but these are all scraps. So at best we have some conjecture as to what people were wearing, and possibly some ability to look across the Korean peninsula and see what people had, there. There are scant to no reliable records from early on in Japanese history, and most of those don't really do a great job of describing the clothing. Even where we do get something, like the Weizhi, one has to wonder given how they tended to crib notes from other entries. There is at least one picture scroll of interest: Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang, or Liáng -Zhígòngtú. It is said to have been painted by Xiao Yi in the early 6th century, and while the original no longer exists there is an 11th century copy from the time of the Song Dynasty. The scroll shows various ambassadors to the Liang court, including one from Wa. The Wa ambassador is shown with what appears to be a wide piece of cloth around his hips and legs, tied in front. His lower legs are covered in what we might call kyahan today: a rather simple wrap around leg from below the knee to the foot. He has another, blue piece of cloth around his shoulders, almost like a shawl, and it is also tied in front. Then there is a cloth wrapped and tied around his head. It's hard to know how much of this depiction is accurate and how much the artist was drawing on memory and descriptions from things like the Weizhi or Wei Chronicles, which stated that the Wa people wore wide cloths wrapped around and seamlessly tied As such, it may be more helpful to look at depictions actually from the archipelago: specifically, some of the human-figured haniwa, those clay cylinders and statues that adorned the burial mounds which gave the kofun period its name. Some of these haniwa are fairly detailed, and we can see ties, collars, and similar features of clothing. These haniwa primarily seem to cluster towards the end of the Kofun period, in the later 6th century, so it is hard to say how much they can be used for earlier periods, though that is exactly what you will typically see for periods where we have little to know evidence. I'm also not sure how regional certain fashions might have been, and we could very much be suffering from survivorship bias—that is we only know what survived and assume that was everything, or even the majority. Still, it is something. Much of what we see in these figures is some kind of upper garment that has relatively tight sleeves, like a modern shirt or jacket might have, with the front pieces overlapping create a V-shaped neckline. The garment hem often hangs down to just above the knee, flaring out away from the body, and it's held closed with ties and some kind of belt, possibly leather in some cases, and in others it looks like a tied loop of cloth. There is evidence of a kind of trouser, with two legs, and we see ties around the knee. In some cases, they even have small bells hanging from the ties. Presumably the trousers might have ties up towards the waist, but we cannot see that in the examples we have. We also see individuals who have no evidence of any kind of bifurcated lower garment. That may indicate an underskirt of some kind, or possibly what's called a "mo"—but it could also be just a simplification for stability, since a haniwa has a cylindrical base anyway. It is not always obvious when you are looking at a haniwa figure whether it depicts a man or woman: in some cases there are two dots on the chest that seem to make it obvious, but the haniwa do come from different artisans in different regions, so there is a lot of variability. We also see evidence of what seem to be decorative sashes that are worn across the body, though not in all cases. There are various types of headgear and hairstyles. Wide-brimmed and domed hats are not uncommon, and we also see combs and elaborate hairstyles depicted. On some occasions we can even see that they had closed toed shoes. For accessories, we see haniwa wearing jewelry, including necklaces (worn by both men and women), bracelets, and earrings. In terms of actual human jewelry, early shell bracelets demonstrate trade routes, and the distinctive magatama, or comma shaped jewel, can be found in the archipelago and on the Korean peninsula, where it is known as "gogok". Based on lines or even colored pigment on the haniwa, it appears that many of these outfits were actually quite heavily decorated. Paint on the outfits is sometimes also placed on the face, suggesting that they either painted or tattooed themselves, something mentioned in the Wei Chronicles. We also have archaeological examples of dyed cloth, so it is interesting that people are often depicted in undyed clothing. There is one haniwa that I find particularly interesting, because they appear to be wearing more of a round-necked garment, and they have a hat that is reminiscent of the phrygian cap: a conical cap with the top bent forward. These are traits common to some of the Sogdians and other Persian merchants along the silk road, raising the possibility that it is meant to depict a foreigner, though it is also possible that it was just another local style. If we compare this to the continent, we can see some immediate difference. In the contemporaneous Sui dynasty, we can see long flowing robes, with large sleeves for men and women. The shoes often had an upturned placket that appears to have been useful to prevent one from tripping on long, flowing garments. Many of these outfits were also of the v-neck variety, with two overlapping pieces, though it is often shown held together with a fabric belt that is tied in front. The hats appear to either be a kind of loose piece of fabric, often described as a turban, wrapped around the head, the ends where it ties together trailing behind, or black lacquered crowns—though there were also some fairly elaborate pieces for the sovereign. As Yamato started to import continental philosophy, governance, and religion, they would also start to pick up on continental fashion. This seems particularly true as they adopted the continental concept of "cap rank" or "kan-i". Let's go over what we know about this system, from its first mention in the Chronicles up to where we are in Ohoama's reign. As a caveat, there is a lot we don't know about the details of these garments, but we can make some guesses. The first twelve cap-ranks, theoretically established in 603, are somewhat questionable in their historicity, as are so many things related to Shotoku Taishi. And their names are clearly based on Confucian values: Virtue, Humanity, Propriety, Faith, Justice, and Wisdom, or Toku, Nin, Rei, Shin, Gi, and Chi. The five values and then just "Virtue", itself. The existence of this system does seem to be confirmed by the Sui Shu, the Book of Sui, which includes a note in the section on the country of Wa that they used a 12 rank system based on the Confucian values, but those values were given in the traditional Confucian order vice the order given in the Nihon Shoki. The rank system of the contemporaneous Sui and Tang dynasties was different from these 12 ranks, suggesting that the Yamato system either came from older dynasties—perhaps from works on the Han dynasty or the Northern and Southern Dynasty, periods—or they got it from their neighbors, Baekje, Silla, and Goguryeo. There does seem to be a common thread, though, that court rank was identifiable in one's clothes. As for the caps themselves, what did they look like? One would assume that the Yamato court just adopted a continental style cap, and yet, which one? It isn't fully described, and there are a number of types of headwear that we see in the various continental courts. Given that, we aren't entirely sure exactly what it looked like, but we do have a couple of sources that we can look at and use to make some assumptions. These sources l ead us to the idea of a round, colored cap made of fabric, around the brim that was probably the fabric or image prescribed for that rank. It is also often depicted with a bulbous top, likely for the wearer's hair, and may have been tied to their top knot. Our main source for this is the Tenjukoku Mandala Embroidery (Tenjukoku-mandara-shuuchou) at Chuuguuji temple, which was a temple built for the mother of Prince Umayado, aka Shotoku Taishi. This embroidery was created in 622, so 19 years after the 12 ranks would have been implemented. It depicts individuals in round-necked jackets that appear to have a part straight down the center. Beneath the jacket one can see a pleated hem, possibly something like a "hirami", a wrapped skirt that is still found in some ceremonial imperial robes. It strikes me that this could also be the hem of something like the hanpi, which was kind of like a vest with a pleated lower edge. Below that we see trousers—hakama—with a red colored hem—at least on one figure that we can see. He also appears to be wearing a kind of slipper-like shoe. As for the women, there are a few that appear to be in the mandala, but it is hard to say for certain as the embroidery has been damaged over the years. That said, from what we can tell, women probably would have worn something similar to the men in terms of the jacket and the pleated under-skirt, but then, instead of hakama, we see a pleated full-length skirt, or mo. We also don't have a lot of evidence for them wearing hats or anything like that. The round necked jacket is interesting as it appears to be similar to the hou that was common from northern China across the Silk Road, especially amongst foreigners. This garment came to displace the traditional robes of the Tang court and would become the basis for much of the court clothing from that period, onwards. The round necked garment had central panels that overlapped, and small ties or fastenings at either side of the neck to allow for an entirely enclosed neckline. This was more intricate than just two, straight collars, and so may have taken time to adopt, fully. The next change to the cap-rank system was made in 647, two years into the Taika Reform. The ranks then were more directly named for the caps, or crowns—kanmuri—and their materials and colors. The ranks translate to Woven, Embroidered, Purple, Brocade, Blue, Black, and finally "Establish Valor" for the entry level rank. The system gets updated two years later, but only slightly. We still see a reference to Woven stuff, Embroidery, and Purple, but then the next several ranks change to Flower, Mountain, and Tiger—or possibly Kingfisher. These were a little more removed from the cap color and material, and may have had something to do with designs that were meant to be embroidered on the cap or on the robes in some way, though that is just speculation based on later Ming and Qing court outfits. Naka no Ohoye then updates it again in 664, but again only a little. He seems to add back in the "brocade" category, swapping out the "flower", and otherwise just adds extra grades within each category to expand to 26 total rank grades. And that brings us to the reforms of 685, mentioned last episode. This new system was built around what appear to be moral exhortations—Upright, Straight, Diligent, Earnest, etc. And that is great and all, but how does that match up with the official robes? What color goes with each rank category? Fortunately, this time around, the Chronicle lays it out for us pretty clearly. First off we are given the color red for the Princely ranks—not purple as one might have thought. Specifically, it is "Vermillion Flower", hanezu-iro, which Bentley translates as the color of the "Oriental bush" or salmon. In the blogpost we'll link to a table of colors that the founder of Sengoku Daimyo, Anthony Bryant, had put together, with some explanation of how to apply it. I would note that there is often no way to know exactly what a given color was like or what shades were considered an acceptable range. Everything was hand-dyed, and leaving fabric in the dye a little longer, changing the proportions, or just fading over time could create slightly different variants in the hue, but we think we can get pretty close. From there we have the six "common" ranks for the nobility. Starting with the first rank, Upright, we have "Dark Purple". Then we have "Light Purple". This pattern continues with Dark and Light Green and then Dark and Light Grape or Lilac. Purple in this case is Murasaki, and green here is specifically Midori, which is more specifically green than the larger category of "Aoi", which covers a spectrum of blue to green. The grape or lilac is specifically "suou", and based on Bentley's colors it would be a kind of purple or violet. The idea is that the official court outfits for each rank would be the proper color. And yes, that means if you get promoted in rank, your first paycheck—or rice stipend—is probably going to pay for a new set of official clothes. Fortunately for the existing court nobles at the time, in the last month of 685, the Queen provided court clothing for 55 Princes and Ministers, so they could all look the part. And the look at court was important. In fact, several of the edicts from this time focus specifically on who was allowed—or expected—to wear what. For instance, in the 4th month of 681, they established 92 articles of the law code, and among those were various sumptuary laws—that is to say, laws as to what you could wear. We are told that they applied to everyone from Princes of the blood down to the common person, and it regulated the wearing of precious metals, pearls, and jewels; the type of fabric one could use, whether purple, brocade, embroidery, or fine silks; and it also regulated woollen carpets, caps, belts, and the colors of various things. And here I'd like to pause and give some brief thought to how this played into the goals of the court, generally, which is to say the goal of creating and establishing this new system of governance in the cultural psyche of the people of the archipelago. From the continental style palaces, to the temples, and right down to the clothing that people were wearing, this was all orchestrated, consciously or otherwise, to emphasize and even normalize the changes that were being introduced. When everything around you is conforming to the new rules, it makes it quite easy for others to get on board. The court had surrounded themselves with monumental architecture that was designed along continental models and could best be explained through continental reasoning. Even if they weren't Confucian or Daoist, those lines of reasoning ran through the various cultural and material changes that they were taking up. Sure, they put their own stamp on it, but at the same time, when everything is right in front of you, it would become that much harder to deny or push back against it. And when you participated in the important rituals of the state, the clothing itself became a part of the pageantry. It reinforced the notion that this was something new and different, and yet also emphasized that pushing against it would be going against the majority. So court uniforms were another arm of the state's propaganda machine, all designed to reinforce the idea that the heavenly sovereign—the Tennou—was the right and just center of political life and deserving of their position. Getting back to the sumptuary laws and rank based regulations: It is unfortunate that the record in the Nihon Shoki doesn't tell us exactly how things were regulated, only that they were, at least in some cases. So for anything more we can only make assumptions based on later rules and traditions. A few things we can see right away, though. First is the restriction of the color purple. Much as in Europe and elsewhere in the world, getting a dark purple was something that was not as easy as one might think, and so it tended to be an expensive dye and thus it would be restricted to the upper classes—in this case the princely and ministerial rank, no doubt. Similarly brocade and fine silks were also expensive items that were likely restricted to people of a particular social station for that reason. The mention of woolen rugs is particularly intriguing. Bentley translates this as woven mattresses, but I think that woolen rugs makes sense, as we do have examples of woolen "rugs" in Japan in at least the 8th century, stored in the famous Shousouin repository at Toudaiji temple, in Nara. These are all imported from the continent and are actually made of felt, rather than woven. As an imported item, out of a material that you could not get in the archipelago, due to a notable lack of sheep, they would have no doubt been expensive. The funny thing is that the carpets in the Shousouin may not have been meant as carpets. For the most part they are of a similar size and rectangular shape, and one could see how they may have been used as sleeping mattresses or floor coverings. However, there is some conjecture that they came from the Silk Road and may have been originally meant as felt doors for the tents used by the nomadic steppe peoples. This is only conjecture, as I do not believe any of these rugs have survived in the lands where they would have been made, but given the size and shape and the modern yurt, it is not hard to see how that may have been the case. Either way, I tend to trust that this could very well have meant woolen rugs, as Aston and the kanji themselves suggest, though I would understand if there was confusion or if it meant something else as wool was not exactly common in the archipelago at that time or in the centuries following. The last section of the regulations talks about the use of caps and belts. The caps here were probably of continental origin: The kanmuri, or official cap of state of the court nobles, or the more relaxed eboshi—though at this time, they were no doubt closely related. In fact, a year later, we have the most specific mention to-date of what people were actually wearing on their heads: there is a mention of men tying up their hair and wearing caps of varnished gauze. Earlier caps related to the cap rank system are often thought to be something like a simple hemisphere that was placed upon the head, with a bulbous top where the wearer's hair could be pulled up as in a bun. The kanmuri seems to have evolved from the soft black headcloth that was worn on the continent, which would have tied around the head, leaving two ends hanging down behind. Hairstyles of the time often meant that men had a small bun or similar gathering of hair towards the back of their head, and tying a cloth around the head gave the effect of a small bump. This is probably what we see in depictions of the early caps of state. Sometimes this topknot could be covered with a small crown or other decoration, or wrapped with a cloth, often referred to as a "Tokin" in Japanese. But over time we see the development of hardened forms to be worn under a hat to provide the appropriate silhouette, whether or not you actually had a topknot (possibly helpful for gentlemen suffering from hair loss). And then the hat becomes less of a piece of cloth and more just a hat of black, lacquered gauze made on a form, which was much easier to wear. At this point in the Chronicle, the cap was likely still somewhat malleable, and would made to tie or be pinned to that bun or queue of hair. This explains the mention of men wearing their hair up. This pin would become important for several different types of headgear, but ties were also used for those who did not have hair to hold the hat on properly. Two years after the edict on hats, we get another edict on clothing, further suggesting that the court were wearing Tang inspired clothing. In 685 we see that individuals are given leave to wear their outer robe either open or tied closed. This is a clue that this outer robe might something akin to the round-necked hou that we see in the Tenjukoku Mandala, where the neck seems to close with a small tie or button. However, we do see some examples, later, of v-necked garments with a tie in the center of the neck, so that may be the reference.. Opening the collar of the formal robes was somewhat akin to loosening a necktie, or unbuttoning the top button of a shirt. It provided a more relaxed and comfortable feeling. It could also be a boon in the warm days of summer. Leaving it closed could create a more formal appearance. The courtiers also had the option of whether or not to wear the "Susotsuki", which Bentley translates as "skirt-band". I believe this refers to the nai'i, or inner garment. This would often have a pleated hem—a suso or ran—which would show below the main robe as just a slight hem. Again, this is something that many would dispense with in the summer, or just when dressing a bit more casually, but it was required at court, as well as making sure that the tassles were tied so that they hung down. This was the uniform of the court. We are also told that they would have trousers that could be tied up, which sounds like later sashinuki, though it may have referred to something slightly different. We are also given some regulations specifically for women, such as the fact that women over 40 years of age were allowed the discretion on whether or not to tie up their hair, as well as whether they would ride horses astride or side-saddle. Presumably, younger women did not get a choice in the matter. Female shrine attendants and functionaries were likewise given some leeway with their hairstyles. A year later, in 686, they do seem to have relaxed the hairstyles a bit more: women were allowed to let their hair down to their backs as they had before, so it seems that, for at least a couple of years, women under the age of 40 were expected to wear their hair tied up in one fashion or another. In that same edict, men were then allowed to wear "habakimo". Aston translates this as "leggings" while Bentley suggests it is a "waist skirt". There are an example of extant habakimo in the Shousouin, once again, and they appear to be wrappings for the lower leg. It actually seems very closely related to the "kyahan" depicted all the way back in the 6th century painting of the Wo ambassador to Liang. Even though these edicts give a lot more references to clothing, there is still plenty that is missing. It isn't like the Chroniclers were giving a red carpet style stitch-by-stitch critique of what was being worn at court. Fortunately, there is a rather remarkable archaeological discovery from about this time. Takamatsuzuka is a kofun, or ancient burial mound, found in Asuka and dated to the late 7th or early 8th century. Compared to the keyhole shaped tombs of previous centuries, this tomb is quite simple: a two-tiered circular tomb nestled in the quiet hills. What makes it remarkable is that the inside of the stone burial chamber was elaborately painted. There are depictions of the four guardian animals, as well as the sun and the moon, as well as common constellations. More importantly, though, are the intricate pictures of men and women dressed in elaborate clothing. The burial chamber of Takamatsuzuka is rectangular in shape. There are images on the four vertical sides as well as on the ceiling. The chamber is oriented north-south, with genbu, the black tortoise, on the north wall and presumably Suzaku, the vermillion bird, on the south wall—though that had been broken at some point and it is hard to make out exactly what is there. The east and west walls are about three times as long as the north and south walls. In the center of each is a guardian animal—byakko, the white tiger, on the west wall and seiryuu, the blue—or green—dragon on the east. All of these images are faded, and since opening of the tomb have faded even more, so while photos can help, it may require a bit more investigation and some extrapolation to understand all of what we are looking at. On the northern side of both the east and west wall we see groups of four women. We can make out green, yellow, and red or vermillion outer robes with thin fabric belt sashes, or obi, tied loosely and low around the waist. There is another, lightly colored—possibly white, cream or pink—that is so faded it is hard to make out, and I don't know if that is the original color. These are v-necked robes, with what appear to be ties at the bottom of the "v". Around the belt-sash we see a strip of white peaking out from between the two sides of the robe—most likely showing the lining on an edge that has turned back slightly. The cuffs of the robe are folded back, showing a contrasting color—either the sleeves of an underrobe or a lining of some kind. Below the outer robe is a white, pleated hem—possibly a hirami or similar, though where we can make it out, it seems to be the same or similar color as the sleeves. Under all of that, they then have a relatively simple mo, or pleated skirt. The ones in the foreground are vertically striped in alternating white, green, red, and blue stripes. There is one that may just be red and blue stripes, but I'm not sure. In the background we see a dark blue—and possibly a dark green—mo. At the base of each mo is a pleated fringe that appears to be connected to the bottom of the skirt. The toe of a shoe seems to peek out from underneath in at least one instance. They don't have any obvious hair ornaments, and their hair appears to be swept back and tied in such a way that it actually comes back up in the back, slightly. They appear to be holding fans and something that might be a fly swatter—a pole with what looks like tassels on the end. In comparison, at the southern end of the tomb we have two groups of men. These are much more damaged and harder to make out clearly. They have robes of green, yellow, grey, blue, and what looks like dark blue, purple, or even black. The neckline appears to be a v-necked, but tied closed, similar to what we see on the women. We also see a contrasting color at the cuff, where it looks like the sleeves have turned back, slightly. They have belt-sashes similar to the women, made of contrasting fabric to the robe itself. Below that we see white trousers, or hakama, and shallow, black shoes. On some of the others it is suggested that maybe they have a kind of woven sandal, but that is hard to make out in the current image. On their heads are hats or headgear of black, stiffened—probably lacquered—gauze. They have a bump in the back, which is probably the wearer's hair, and there is evidence of small ties on top and larger ties in the back, hanging down. Some interpretations also show a couple with chin straps, as well, or at least a black cord that goes down to the chin. They carry a variety of implements, suggesting they are attendants, with an umbrella, a folding chair, a pouch worn around the neck, a pole or cane of some kind, and a bag with some kind of long thing—possibly a sword or similar. The tomb was originally found by farmers in 1962, but wasn't fully examined until 1970, with an excavation starting in 1972. The stone at the entryway was broken, probably from graverobbers, who are thought to have looted the tomb in the Kamakura period. Fortunately, along with the bones of the deceased and a few scattered grave goods that the robbers must have missed, the murals also survived, and somehow they remained largely intact through the centuries. They have not been entirely safe, and many of the images are damaged or faded, but you can still make out a remarkable amount of detail, which is extremely helpful in determining what clothing might have looked like at this time—assuming it is depicting local individuals. And there is the rub, since we don't know exactly whom the tomb was for. Furthermore, in style it has been compared with Goguryeo tombs from the peninsula, much as nearby Kitora kofun is. Kitora had images as well, but just of the guardian animals and the constellations, not of human figures. There are three theories as to who might have been buried at Takamatsuzuka. One theory is that it was one of Ohoama's sons. Prince Osakabe is one theory, based on the time of his death and his age. Others have suggested Prince Takechi. Based on the teeth of the deceased, they were probably in their 40s to 60s when they passed away. Some scholars believe that it may be a later, Nara period vassal—possibly, Isonokami no Maro. That would certainly place it later than the Asuka period. The third theory is that it is the tomb of a member of one of the royal families from the Korean peninsula—possibly someone who had taken up refuge in the archipelago as Silla came to dominate the entire peninsula. This last theory matches with the fact that Takamatsuzuka appears to be similar to tombs found in Goguryeo, though that could just have to do with where the tomb builders were coming from, or what they had learned. That does bring up the question of the figures in the tomb. Were they contemporary figures, indicating people and dress of the court at the time, or were they meant to depict people from the continent? Without any other examples, we may never know, but even if was indicative of continental styles, those were the very styles that Yamato was importing, so it may not matter, in the long run. One other garment that isn't mentioned here is the hire, a scarf that is typically associated with women. It is unclear if it has any relationship to the sashes we see in the Kofun period, though there is at least one mention of a woman with a hire during one of the campaigns on the Korean peninsula. Later we see it depicted as a fairly gauzy piece of silk, that is worn somewhat like a shawl. It is ubiquitous in Sui and Tang paintings of women, indicating a wide-ranging fashion trend. The hire is a fairly simple piece of clothing, and yet it creates a very distinctive look which we certainly see, later. Finally, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that almost everything we have discussed here has to do with the elites of society—the nobles of the court. For most people, working the land, we can assume that they were probably not immediately adopting the latest continental fashions, and they probably weren't dressing in silk very much. Instead, it is likely that they continued to wear some version of the same outfits we see in the haniwa figures of the kofun period. This goes along with the fact that even as the elite are moving into palaces built to stand well above the ground, we still have evidence of common people building and living in pit dwellings, as they had been for centuries. This would eventually change, but overall they stuck around for quite some time. However, farmers and common people are often ignored by various sources—they aren't often written about, they often aren't shown in paintings or statues, and they did often not get specialized burials. Nonetheless, they were the most populous group in the archipelago, supporting all of the rest. And with that, I think we will stop for now. Still plenty more to cover this reign. We are definitely into the more historical period, where we have more faith in the dates—though we should remember that this is also one of the reigns that our sources were specifically designed to prop up, so we can't necessarily take everything without at least a hint of salt and speculation, even if the dates themselves are more likely to be accurate. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Chasing Lanterns and Dreams: Li Wei's Journey of Self-Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-01-07-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 灯笼节的夜晚，市场上人头攒动，五光十色的灯笼把天空照得如同白昼。En: On the evening of the Lantern Festival, the market was crowded with people, and the colorful lanterns lit up the sky as if it were daylight.Zh: 李伟、张美和陈明漫步在热闹的人群中，空气中弥漫着甜甜的糖葫芦和烤鱿鱼的香气。En: Li Wei, Zhang Mei, and Chen Ming strolled through the lively crowd, the air filled with the sweet scent of tanghulu and roasted squid.Zh: 李伟的心情有些沉重。En: Li Wei felt a bit heavy-hearted.Zh: 每每家人聚会，总有人会拿他和表姐张美作比较。En: Every time there was a family gathering, someone would compare him with his cousin Zhang Mei.Zh: 张美在事业上是一个成功人士，家族中人人赞美。En: Zhang Mei was a successful person in her career, admired by everyone in the family.Zh: “伟子，你要加油啊，看看你表姐！”长辈们常常这样说。En: "Wei Zi, you need to work harder, look at your cousin!" the elders would often say.Zh: 李伟知道他们的意思，但他心中有自己的梦想，却一直不敢说出来，怕遭到批评。En: Li Wei understood what they meant, but he had his own dreams in mind, ones he never dared to speak out loud for fear of criticism.Zh: 那天晚上，李伟决定改变。En: That night, Li Wei decided to change.Zh: 他要在这次灯笼节上跟爷爷陈明坦白心事。En: He wanted to confide in his grandfather Chen Ming during the Lantern Festival.Zh: 他深吸一口气，看着爷爷慈祥的面容，内心却是忐忑不安。En: He took a deep breath, looking at his grandfather's kind face, yet he felt anxious inside.Zh: “爷爷，我有件事想告诉您。”李伟终于鼓起勇气。En: "Grandpa, there's something I want to tell you," Li Wei finally mustered the courage to speak.Zh: “哦？伟子，有什么要说的？”陈明和蔼地问，目光投向孙子。En: "Oh? Wei Zi, what do you want to say?" Chen Ming asked kindly, his gaze falling on his grandson.Zh: “爷爷，我想追求自己的梦想。En: "Grandpa, I want to pursue my own dreams.Zh: 我......我不想一直被拿来和表姐比较。En: I... I don't want to always be compared to my cousin.Zh: 我尊敬张美姐姐，但我有自己的路要走。”李伟语气坚定，心跳加速，等待爷爷的回应。En: I respect Zhang Mei too, but I have my own path to follow." Li Wei spoke with determination, his heart racing, as he awaited his grandfather's response.Zh: 陈明默默地听着，然后微微点头。En: Chen Ming listened silently, then nodded slightly.Zh: 他拍拍李伟的肩膀说：“伟子，人生是自己的。En: He patted Li Wei's shoulder and said, "Wei Zi, life is your own.Zh: 你要记住，不要被别人的想法左右，你的路自己走，我相信你。”En: Remember, don't be swayed by others' opinions, walk your own path, I believe in you."Zh: 李伟感觉如释重负，终于听到了他真正向往的话。En: Li Wei felt relieved, finally hearing the words he truly longed for.Zh: 他不禁感到一阵温暖，心中庞大的压力瞬间消散。En: He couldn't help but feel a warm wave, and the great pressure in his heart instantly dissipated.Zh: 他的脸上绽放出轻松的微笑，看着夜空中闪烁的灯笼，仿佛看见了自己的未来。En: A relaxed smile appeared on his face as he looked at the twinkling lanterns in the night sky, as if seeing his own future.Zh: 故事的结尾，李伟牵着爷爷的手，和家人们一起沉浸在灯笼节的欢乐中。En: At the end of the story, Li Wei held his grandfather's hand, immersing in the joy of the Lantern Festival with his family.Zh: 他知道，他再也不会感到孤单，因为家人和梦想始终陪伴在他的身边。En: He knew he would never feel alone again because family and dreams would always be by his side. Vocabulary Words:crowded: 人头攒动colorful: 五光十色strolled: 漫步lively: 热闹scent: 香气heavy-hearted: 沉重gathering: 聚会admired: 赞美confide: 坦白anxious: 忐忑不安mustered: 鼓起courage: 勇气determination: 坚定racing: 加速swayed: 左右relieved: 如释重负pressure: 压力dissipated: 消散twinkling: 闪烁immersing: 沉浸joy: 欢乐future: 未来fear: 怕path: 路opinion: 想法believe: 相信pursue: 追求compare: 比较elders: 长辈kind face: 慈祥的面容
Die Forderung nach einer veganen Mensa erhitzt in Basel die Gemüter. Sie kommt von der Gruppe «Plant Based Universities». Die Gruppe argumentiert, dass auch die Uni Klimaziele habe und man mit veganem Essen Geld sparen könne. Die Forderung stösst aber auf Widerstand. Weitere Themen: (00:01:06) ZH: 20 Jahre E-Voting in der Pioniergemeinde Bülach Bülach war vor 20 Jahren die erste Gemeinde in der Deutschschweiz, die das E-Voting getestet hat. Bülach hat die Stimmberechtigten per SMS über Tempo 30 abstimmen lassen. Diese Weltpremiere sorgte auch im Ausland für Schlagzeilen. (00:06:39) LU: Chauffeurin über das Fahren des oft verspäteten Busses in Luzern Bei der Pünktlichkeit von Bussen im Regionalverkehr belegt der Kanton Luzern im schweizweiten Vergleich den zweitletzten Platz – nur Genf ist schlechter. Zu diesem unrühmlichen Resultat kommt das Bundesamt für Verkehr. Besonders unpünktlich sind die Busse in der Stadt Luzern. Damit nehmen wieder mehr Leute das Auto und verstopfen die Strassen zusätzlich. Nun wollen Bus-Unternehmen das Problem mit einer Plattform angehen. Wir hören eine Buschauffeurin, die von ihrem mühsamen Arbeitsalltag im verspäteten Bus erzählt. (00:09:14) AG: Ein traditionelles Bauernhaus wird gezügelt In Hirschthal stehen noch zwei traditionelle Hochstudhäuser. Diese alten Bauernhäuser, die mehrheitlich aus einem Dach bestehen, sind im Dorf als Wahrzeichen geschützt. Eines der beiden Häuser ist in einem schlechten Zustand und soll einem Bahnausbau weichen. Nun wird das Haus auseinandergenommen und auf einem nahegelegenen Bauernhof im Dorf wieder aufgebaut. Früher war es offenbar gang und gäbe, dass man ganze Häuser zügelte. Die Bauernfamilie möchte das Haus umnutzen. (00:12:05) SG: Zahnarztbus für Seniorinnen und Senioren In Wil und Umgebung fährt ein Zahnarzt neu mit einem Bus von Altersheim zu Pflegeheim. Die Arbeitsatmosphäre sei viel besser, wenn die Betreuerinnen des Heims die Kundinnen und Kunden grad bis auf den Zahnarztstuhl begleiten. So werden Zahnreinigung, Lochflicken oder Gebissanpassen zu einer einfachen Sache. Alle sind begeistert.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Gamble of Trust: A Mystical Night at the Poker Table Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-31-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 秋天的夜晚，灯火辉煌的赌场中，气氛紧张而神秘。En: On an autumn night, within the brightly lit duchang, the atmosphere was tense and mysterious.Zh: 一排排南瓜灯在黑暗中微微闪烁，秋季的落叶香味于空气中若隐若现。En: Rows of jack-o'-lanterns flickered faintly in the darkness, and the scent of autumn leaves lingered in the air.Zh: 李威坐在一张圆桌旁，身着侦探装的他，低调而深沉。En: Li Wei sat at a round table, dressed as a detective, low-key and profound.Zh: 他必须赢得这场高风险的扑克比赛，来帮助一个深陷债务的朋友。En: He had to win this high-stakes poker game to help a friend who was deep in debt.Zh: 他的对手中，有一位特别引人注目的人——景。En: Among his opponents, there was one particularly intriguing person—Jing.Zh: 景穿着1920年代的经典纳西头女郎装，神秘而迷人。En: Jing was dressed as a classic 1920 niandai Naxi tou nulang from the 1920s, mysterious and enchanting.Zh: 每一次她出牌，目光都坚定而自信，让李威不禁对她产生了好奇与警惕。En: Every time she played a card, her eyes were firm and confident, causing Li Wei to feel both curious and wary of her.Zh: “今晚一定要小心，”李威心想，“但景，让人无法不关注。”En: "Tonight, I must be careful," Li Wei thought, "but Jing is impossible to ignore."Zh: 随着游戏的进行，李威越发发现，自己总是分神去注意景的动向。En: As the game progressed, Li Wei increasingly found himself distracted by Jing's moves.Zh: 他知道，这种心不在焉可能带来危险。En: He knew this absent-mindedness could be dangerous.Zh: 可每当景微微一笑，李威又忍不住想，她的微笑背后，是否藏着更深的意图。En: Yet, whenever Jing smiled slightly, he couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper intention behind her smile.Zh: 在紧张对决的间隙，景看向李威，轻声道：“为什么不合作呢？我们可以成为双赢的组合。”En: During a tense break in the duel, Jing looked at Li Wei and softly said, "Why not cooperate? We could form a winning combination."Zh: 李威犹豫片刻，但内心深处，他感受到一种莫名其妙的信任。En: Li Wei hesitated for a moment, but deep inside, he felt an inexplicable trust.Zh: “好吧，”他说，“但如果发现你耍花招，我绝不会留情。”En: "Alright," he said, "but if I find out you're playing tricks, I won't hold back."Zh: 游戏进入最后的白热化阶段。En: The game reached its final, fervent stage.Zh: 他们面临一个艰难的选择：是各自为战，还是联手对抗其余玩家？En: They faced a difficult choice: should they battle individually, or join forces against the other players?Zh: 李威和景对视一眼，决定冒险一搏。En: Li Wei and Jing exchanged a glance and decided to risk everything.Zh: 一个大胆的诈唬，他们将手里的牌桌面朝下，面带自信。En: With a bold bluff, they laid their cards face down on the table, brimming with confidence.Zh: 这一招瞒天过海，最终奇迹般地奏效了。En: This deception succeeded miraculously.Zh: 赢得比赛的欣喜随着一阵秋风而来，带来新的友情与可能性。En: The joy of winning the game came with the autumn breeze, bringing new friendships and possibilities.Zh: 走出赌场时，李威与景并肩而行，秋叶在他们身边舞动。En: As they left the duchang, Li Wei and Jing walked side by side, autumn leaves dancing around them.Zh: 李威意识到，游戏中的合作，不仅仅是为了胜利。En: Li Wei realized that the cooperation in the game was not only for victory.Zh: 某些时候，信任与合作，也可能带来意想不到的温暖。En: Sometimes, trust and cooperation could also bring unexpected warmth.Zh: 他看着身边的景，轻轻说道：“也许，有些风险是值得冒的。”En: He looked at Jing beside him and gently said, "Perhaps, some risks are worth taking."Zh: 景回以微笑。En: Jing returned his smile.Zh: 秋夜静谧，只有两人的心跳在跳动着，诉说着新的开始。En: The autumn night was quiet, with only their heartbeats speaking of a new beginning. Vocabulary Words:duchang: 赌场jack-o'-lantern: 南瓜灯profound: 深沉high-stakes: 高风险intriguing: 引人注目enchanting: 迷人absent-mindedness: 心不在焉deeper: 更深intention: 意图cooperate: 合作hesitated: 犹豫inexplicable: 莫名其妙tricks: 花招fervent: 白热化bold: 大胆bluff: 诈唬brimming: 面带deception: 瞒天过海miraculously: 奇迹般地possibilities: 可能性dancing: 舞动unexpected: 意想不到warmth: 温暖quiet: 静谧heartbeats: 心跳amicable: 和谐glance: 对视risk: 风险stake: 赌注distracted: 分神
Wort zum Tag von Diakon Bernd Siemes, Seelsorge Universitätsspital Zürich, ZH
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Li Ming's Leap: An Artistic Triumph Fueled by Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-26-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 秋天的微风轻轻吹过《自由职业者之家》咖啡馆的窗户，献上一阵阵树叶的沙沙声。En: The autumn breeze gently blew through the windows of the Zìyóu Zhíyèzhě Zhī Jiā café, bringing with it the rustling sound of leaves.Zh: 李明坐在咖啡馆里，手边摆着一杯热咖啡，屏幕上有她正在准备的演讲。En: Li Ming sat inside the café, with a cup of hot coffee beside her and her presentation displayed on the screen.Zh: 温暖的灯光洒在她的画本上，桌子上还放着一些南瓜形状的万圣节装饰。En: Warm light spilled over her sketchbook, and some pumpkin-shaped Halloween decorations were placed on the table.Zh: 李明是一名热爱艺术的高中生。En: Li Ming is a high school student who loves art.Zh: 她一直梦想通过创意来证明自己的价值。En: She has always dreamed of proving her worth through creativity.Zh: 学校即将举行的比赛是她的大好机会。En: The upcoming school competition is her big opportunity.Zh: 然而，现在她的内心充满了压力和焦虑。En: However, now she felt full of pressure and anxiety.Zh: 一想到可能会让父母失望，她就感到无比紧张。En: Just the thought of possibly disappointing her parents made her extremely nervous.Zh: 然后，更糟糕的事情发生了——她的笔记本电脑突然死机。En: Then, something worse happened—her laptop suddenly crashed.Zh: “怎么办？En: "What should I do?"Zh: ”李明轻声自语。En: Li Ming muttered to herself.Zh: 她感到眼泪在眼眶打转，但她深吸一口气，拼命告诉自己要冷静。En: She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she took a deep breath and desperately told herself to stay calm.Zh: 这时，她的好朋友小陈和文杰走了过来。En: At that moment, her good friends Xiao Chen and Wenjie approached.Zh: 看到了李明的烦恼，小陈说：“李明，不用担心！En: Seeing Li Ming's distress, Xiao Chen said, "Don't worry, Li Ming!Zh: 我们可以帮你解决的！En: We can help you solve this!"Zh: ”虽然李明一向喜欢独立，但这次她知道自己需要帮助。En: Although Li Ming usually liked to be independent, she knew she needed help this time.Zh: 她点点头，小声请求道：“谢谢你们，我真的需要帮助。En: She nodded and softly asked, "Thank you, I really need help."Zh: ”小陈立刻开始检查李明的电脑，而文杰则拿出了自己的笔记本电脑，把李明的文件传输过去。En: Xiao Chen immediately began checking Li Ming's computer while Wenjie took out his own laptop and transferred Li Ming's files over.Zh: 在朋友的帮助下，李明的压力稍微减轻了一些。En: With her friends' help, Li Ming's stress eased a bit.Zh: 然而，仍然有些不安，她担心最不擅长的即兴部分。En: However, she still felt uneasy, worried about the impromptu part she was least good at.Zh: 文杰安慰她：“李明，你有才华。En: Wenjie reassured her, "Li Ming, you have talent.Zh: 相信自己！En: Believe in yourself!Zh: 我们会一直支持你的。En: We will always support you."Zh: ”终于，比赛的日子到来了。En: Finally, the day of the competition arrived.Zh: 李明站在台上，台下坐满了师生。En: Li Ming stood on stage, the audience packed with teachers and students.Zh: 开始时一切顺利，可随着节奏推进，李明的心跳加速，手心冒汗。En: Everything went smoothly at the start, but as the pace quickened, Li Ming's heartbeat accelerated, and her palms grew sweaty.Zh: 就在她以为自己要忘词的时候，小陈和文杰在台下默默给她加油。En: Just as she thought she was about to forget her lines, Xiao Chen and Wenjie silently cheered her on from the audience.Zh: 她想起了文杰的话，深吸一口气，开始即兴发挥。En: She remembered Wenjie's words, took a deep breath, and began to improvise.Zh: 她的创意和绘画作品自信地展示在大家面前。En: Her creativity and artwork were confidently displayed before everyone.Zh: 演讲结束后，观众爆发出热烈的掌声。En: After the presentation, the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause.Zh: 李明深深地鞠了一躬，心中的喜悦无法言喻。En: Li Ming bowed deeply, the joy in her heart indescribable.Zh: 她朝着台下的父母走去，他们脸上满是自豪的笑容。En: She walked toward her parents in the audience, who wore proud smiles on their faces.Zh: “我做到了，”李明心里想，“我不再害怕寻求帮助，因为我有朋友在，我知道自己可以更自信。En: "I did it," Li Ming thought to herself, "I'm no longer afraid to seek help because with my friends by my side, I know I can be more confident."Zh: ”经过这次经历，李明不仅赢得了比赛，更重要的是，她学会了信任自己和他人。En: Through this experience, Li Ming not only won the competition but, more importantly, learned to trust herself and others.Zh: 咖啡馆外面，秋叶依旧在风中舞动，而李明心里的阳光，正如同温室里的温暖，熠熠生辉。En: Outside the café, the autumn leaves continued to dance in the wind, and the sunshine in Li Ming's heart shone brightly, like the warm glow of a greenhouse. Vocabulary Words:breeze: 微风rustling: 沙沙声sketchbook: 画本decorations: 装饰creativity: 创意competition: 比赛pressure: 压力anxiety: 焦虑disappointing: 失望nervous: 紧张crashed: 死机desperately: 拼命distress: 烦恼independent: 独立impromptu: 即兴uneasy: 不安reassured: 安慰audience: 观众accelerated: 加速sweaty: 冒汗improvise: 即兴发挥applause: 掌声indescribable: 无法言喻confident: 自信trust: 信任urgency: 紧迫greenhouse: 温室excessive: 过度的artwork: 绘画作品opportunity: 机会
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: From Stage Fright to Standing Ovation: Liu Wei's Musical Leap Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-23-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 秋天，金色的树叶在北京一所高中操场上翩翩起舞。En: In the autumn, golden leaves danced gracefully across the playground of a high school in Beijing.Zh: 中秋节刚刚过去，但学校的走廊里仍挂着纸灯笼，微风中飘荡着月饼的香气。En: The Mid-Autumn Festival had just passed, but paper lanterns still hung in the school corridors, and the scent of mooncakes wafted in the breeze.Zh: 这是一个忙碌的早晨，因为今天是学校的才艺表演比赛。En: It was a busy morning because today was the school's talent show competition.Zh: 刘伟是一个害羞的学生。En: Liu Wei was a shy student.Zh: 他非常喜欢拉二胡，但他对在众人面前表演感到很紧张。En: He really enjoyed playing the erhu, but he felt very nervous about performing in front of others.Zh: 想起之前在台上演奏时的紧张经历，他的心里就发慌。En: Remembering his previous anxious experiences of playing on stage, he felt a flutter of panic.Zh: 可是在班上，他暗暗喜欢的梅玲是一位才华横溢的钢琴家。En: In his class, however, there was Mei Ling, a talented pianist whom he secretly admired.Zh: 他希望能在才艺表演中让梅玲注意到自己。En: He hoped to get her attention during the talent show.Zh: 然而，还有一个让刘伟紧张的人，那就是陈荣。En: There was another person who made Liu Wei nervous, and that was Chen Rong.Zh: 他总是以出色的表现赢得大家的称赞。En: Chen Rong always won everyone's praise for his outstanding performances.Zh: 刘伟心里暗想，如何才能在这个舞台上表现自己呢？En: Liu Wei thought to himself, how could he make his own mark on this stage?Zh: 终于，他鼓起勇气，决定向梅玲请教，希望她能给予一些建议。En: Finally, he gathered the courage to seek advice from Mei Ling, hoping she could offer some guidance.Zh: 一个午后，阳光透过窗户洒在教室里，刘伟找到梅玲，脸红红的。En: One afternoon, with sunlight streaming through the classroom windows, Liu Wei approached Mei Ling, his face flushed.Zh: “梅玲，我...我想请教你一些事情。”他说，声音有些结巴。En: "Mei Ling, I... I'd like to ask you something," he said, his voice a bit stammering.Zh: “当然可以，刘伟。”梅玲微笑着说。“你乐器演奏得很好，我可以帮你。”En: "Of course, Liu Wei," Mei Ling said with a smile. "You play the instrument very well, and I can help you."Zh: 梅玲建议他在表演时集中注意力在音乐上，把心中最想表达的情感传递出来。En: Mei Ling suggested that during his performance, he focus on the music and convey the emotions he most wanted to express.Zh: 她还告诉刘伟，有时候脆弱不是缺点，而是一种能打动人心的力量。En: She also told Liu Wei that sometimes vulnerability wasn't a weakness but a power that could move people's hearts.Zh: 赛前的晚上，刘伟反复练习。En: The night before the competition, Liu Wei practiced repeatedly.Zh: 想到梅玲的话，心里渐渐充满了信心。En: Thinking of Mei Ling's words filled his heart with confidence.Zh: 到了表演那天，礼堂内座无虚席。En: On the day of the performance, the auditorium was packed.Zh: 五光十色的舞台灯光打在刘伟的脸上，他心跳如鼓。En: The colorful stage lights shone on Liu Wei's face, and his heart pounded like a drum.Zh: 就在这时，他瞥见坐在观众席中的梅玲，她向他点头微笑。En: Just then, he spotted Mei Ling in the audience, nodding and smiling at him.Zh: 旋律流淌，刘伟闭上双眼，投入地演奏着。En: The melody flowed, and Liu Wei closed his eyes and played with all his heart.Zh: 他感受到一股力量从指尖流向二胡，激荡起全场观众的心弦。En: He could feel a strength flowing from his fingertips into the erhu, resonating with the audience.Zh: 音乐停下，厅内响起掌声如潮水般的响声。En: When the music stopped, a wave of applause echoed through the hall.Zh: 刘伟感受到了从未有过的自由和轻松。En: Liu Wei had never felt such freedom and ease.Zh: 他终于明白，真正传达自己的情感比赢得比赛更加重要。En: He finally understood that truly conveying his emotions was more important than winning the competition.Zh: 下台后，他对自己多了一份自信。En: After stepping off the stage, he felt more confident.Zh: 他意识到，音乐不仅是他的爱好，更是连接他人与曾经屏障的桥梁。En: He realized that music was not just his hobby, but also a bridge connecting him with others and overcoming barriers.Zh: 刘伟站在后台，心中不再惧怕，带着触动与成长，向未来迈出坚定的步伐。En: Standing backstage, Liu Wei no longer feared, moving forward with determination and growth towards the future. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋天gracefully: 翩翩起舞corridors: 走廊wafted: 飘荡mooncakes: 月饼competition: 比赛shy: 害羞anxious: 紧张admired: 暗暗喜欢outstanding: 出色praise: 称赞courage: 勇气guidance: 建议flushed: 脸红红的stammering: 结巴vulnerability: 脆弱resonating: 激荡applause: 掌声freedom: 自由ease: 轻松overcoming: 克服barriers: 屏障determination: 坚定growth: 成长streaming: 洒melody: 旋律fingertips: 指尖convey: 传达nodding: 点头vulnerability: 脆弱
Wort zum Tag von Diakon Bernd Siemes, Seelsorge Universitätsspital Zürich, ZH
Wir zelebrieren den Herbst Kreativ-Buddy Marco Rota und ich haben uns gedacht: Wenn schon Herbst, dann richtig! Also ab auf den Juckerhof in Pfäffikon ZH. Zwischen Kürbissuppe, prickelndem Kürbis-Secco und sündhaft gutem Apfelstrudel, stellen wir uns einer herbstlichen Challenge-Liste, die verspricht, den Herbst nicht nur zu überstehen, sondern in vollen Zügen zu feiern. Und weil […]
Wort zum Tag von Diakon Bernd Siemes, Seelsorge Universitätsspital Zürich, ZH
國慶日 guóqìngrì – National Day雙十節 shuāngshíjié – Double Tenth Day (Taiwan's National Day)武昌起義 Wǔchāng Qǐyì – Wuchang Uprising湖北省 Húběi Shěng – Hubei Province揭開推翻清朝的序幕 jiēkāi tuīfān Qīngcháo de xùmù – to open the prelude to overthrowing the Qing Dynasty腐敗 fǔbài – corrupt; corruption一連串 yī liánchuàn – a series of; a succession of革命 gémìng – revolution中華民國 Zhōnghuá Mínguó – Republic of China (ROC)隔年 génián – the following year孫中山 Sūn Zhōngshān – Sun Yat-sen臨時大總統 línshí dà zǒngtǒng – provisional president民國元年 Mínguó yuánnián – the first year of the Republic of China升旗典禮 shēngqí diǎnlǐ – flag-raising ceremony藝文表演 yìwén biǎoyǎn – arts and cultural performances盛大 shèngdà – grand; magnificent遊行 yóuxíng – parade列隊行進 lièduì xíngjìn – to march in formation國家認同 guójiā rèntóng – national identityPlanning to travel or move to Taiwan? If you'd like to improve your Chinese before you go, feel free to book a one-on-one lesson with me.I'll help you improve your Chinese so you can settle in more comfortably when you arrive.Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !
Wort zum Tag von Diakon Bernd Siemes, Seelsorge Universitätsspital Zürich, ZH
Did Joseph smith Practice Polygamy? We decided to explore what it would mean if the Polygamy deniers were right… and frankly, if they are right… we have some major problems.Polygamy denialist' “Faith Package”1. Accept the belief JS did not practice plural message.2. Reject, as deceptions, the testimonies of the Church's highest leaders (ERS, ZH, BS, BY, JT, WW, and LS) after 1844 regarding their eyewitness accounts of JS's introduction of the practice of plural marriage. Accept that the Church's highest leaders for 50+ years were deceivers.3. Reject D&C 132 and its teachings, including those describing how JS had authority to create eternal families.4. Reject the temple endowment because nothing concerning it was recorded during Joseph Smith's lifetime. Instead, it represents the 1877 recollection of Joseph Smith's 1843 teachings, recorded by Wilford Woodruff, who also recalled how Joseph practiced plural marriage in 1843.5. Reject President Russell M. Nelson's teachings and the recent post on the Church's website that affirm: “Joseph Smith introduced the practice, not Brigham Young.”Our LinksWebsite: http://thoughtfulfaith.orgInstagram: / thoughtful.faith TikTok: / thoughtful.faith Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1478749DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this video are entirely the opinion of the creator and do not necessarily reflect any officially endorsed positions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or channel sponsors.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Balancing Budget and Joy: A Mid-Autumn Festival Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-02-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 中秋节快到了，北京的市场充满了节日的气息。En: The Zhongqiujie is approaching, and the markets in Beijing are full of festive spirit.Zh: 秋风轻轻拂过，带来了丝丝凉意。En: The autumn breeze gently brushes by, bringing a hint of coolness.Zh: 市场上，摊位林立，红红的灯笼，香甜的月饼，精致的饰品，琳琅满目。En: The market is lined with stalls, filled with red lanterns, sweet yuebing, and exquisite ornaments, all dazzling to the eye.Zh: 美琳和她的弟弟常，在这样的市场中穿梭。En: Meilin and her younger brother, Chang, are weaving through such a market.Zh: 美琳是一位懂得节俭的姐姐，她希望在中秋节为家里添置一些传统的装饰，但不希望超出预算。En: Meilin is a sister who knows how to be frugal; she hopes to add some traditional decorations to their home for the Mid-Autumn Festival without going over budget.Zh: 常则兴高采烈，虽然年轻却充满了对节日的热情。En: Chang, on the other hand, is full of excitement—even though he's young, he is overflowing with enthusiasm for the holiday.Zh: 他对五光十色的装饰品总是流连忘返。En: He is always lingering over the colorful decorations.Zh: “姐姐，你看那个灯笼，好漂亮！买一个吧！”常指着一个巨大的红色灯笼兴奋地说。En: "Sis, look at that lantern; it's so beautiful! Let's buy one!" Chang said excitedly, pointing at a huge red lantern.Zh: 美琳看了看价签，略显犹豫：“这个太贵了，我们还要买其他东西。”En: Meilin glanced at the price tag, hesitating slightly, "It's too expensive, and we have other things to buy."Zh: 常满脸期待地说：“可是中秋节一年只有一次，我们应该好好庆祝啊。”En: Chang said eagerly, "But the Mid-Autumn Festival comes only once a year, and we should celebrate it well."Zh: 他们继续穿过熙熙攘攘的人群。En: They continued through the bustling crowd.Zh: 美琳紧盯着手中的购物清单，而常则不断被新奇的饰物吸引，嘴里不停地赞叹。En: Meilin kept her eyes on the shopping list in her hand, while Chang was constantly drawn to the fascinating ornaments, exclaiming with admiration.Zh: “常，听我说，我们要把钱用在刀刃上。”美琳轻声对弟弟说，希望能让他明白节俭的重要，但不希望他的热情被浇灭。En: "Chang, listen to me, we need to spend our money wisely," Meilin said softly to her brother, hoping to convey the importance of frugality without dampening his enthusiasm.Zh: “姐姐，我知道。但我们也可以买些特别的东西，让节日更快乐。”常认真地说道。En: "Sis, I understand. But we can also buy something special to make the festival more joyful," Chang replied earnestly.Zh: 终于，在一家摊位前，美琳停下了脚步。En: Finally, Meilin stopped in front of a stall.Zh: 那里有一些既传统又实惠的小灯笼和花灯，她挑了几样放进篮子里。En: There were some traditional yet affordable small lanterns and decorative lights; she picked a few and placed them into the basket.Zh: 然后，她看着常，微笑着说：“我们再选一样特别的装饰，好吗？”En: Then, she looked at Chang, smiling, "Shall we pick one special decoration together?"Zh: 常的眼睛一下子亮了起来，他挑选了一个精美的月亮形状的灯笼，上面还有梅花图案，象征着美好的团圆。En: Chang's eyes lit up immediately. He chose a beautiful moon-shaped lantern with plum blossom designs, symbolizing a wonderful reunion.Zh: “这个灯笼不但特别，而且不太贵。”美琳赞同地说。En: "This lantern is not only special but also not too expensive," Meilin agreed.Zh: 他们达成了共识，买到了适合两个人心意的装饰。En: They reached a consensus and bought decorations that suited both of their wishes.Zh: 市场上的欢笑声依旧不绝于耳，灯笼和月饼飘香四溢。En: The sound of laughter still echoed throughout the market, and the aroma of lanterns and mooncakes filled the air.Zh: 美琳和常一起默契地拎着装饰品，愉快地走在回家的路上。En: Meilin and Chang happily carried their decorations home in harmony.Zh: 通过这次购物，美琳意识到，有时候，适当地放下严格的预算，也能为节日带来意想不到的惊喜。En: Through this shopping trip, Meilin realized that sometimes relaxing a strict budget can bring unexpected surprises to the festival.Zh: 而常也学会了在热情和实际之间找到平衡。En: Meanwhile, Chang learned to find a balance between enthusiasm and practicality.Zh: 夕阳的余晖洒在他们身上，市场的热闹渐渐远去。En: The afterglow of the sunset cast upon them, and the hustle and bustle of the market gradually faded away.Zh: 这个中秋节，注定有着特别的温暖和欢笑。En: This Mid-Autumn Festival is destined to be filled with special warmth and laughter. Vocabulary Words:approaching: 快到了festive: 节日的spirit: 气息hint: 丝丝exquisite: 精致的ornaments: 饰品dazzling: 琳琅满目frugal: 节俭的enthusiasm: 热情lingering: 流连忘返hesitating: 略显犹豫admiration: 赞叹frugality: 节俭joyful: 快乐的affordable: 实惠的plum blossom: 梅花symbolizing: 象征着consensus: 共识harmony: 默契unexpected: 意想不到的surprises: 惊喜practicality: 实际afterglow: 余晖destined: 注定warmth: 温暖laughter: 欢笑breeze: 秋风brushed: 拂过bustling: 熙熙攘攘shopping list: 购物清单
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Autumn Pranks and Moonlit Joy: A Tale of Mischief and Reunion Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-02-07-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个被秋天色彩包围的小村庄里，坐落着一个孤儿院。En: In a small village surrounded by the colors of autumn, there was an orphanage.Zh: 院子里落满五颜六色的秋叶，是孩子们玩耍的好地方。En: The courtyard was covered with colorful autumn leaves, making it a perfect place for the children to play.Zh: 在这金秋时节，孩子们正兴致勃勃地玩“捉迷藏”。En: During this golden autumn season, the children were eagerly playing hide and seek.Zh: 小明是个顽皮又聪明的孩子，他总是想着要捉弄他的朋友。En: Xiaoming was a mischievous yet clever child, always thinking of ways to trick his friends.Zh: 今天，他有个特别的计划。En: Today, he had a special plan.Zh: 游戏开始了，小明决定找一个特别的藏身之处。En: The game started, and Xiaoming decided to find a special hiding spot.Zh: 他看到院子角落里有一大堆秋叶，心想：“这可是个完美的藏身点。”En: He saw a large pile of autumn leaves in the corner of the courtyard and thought, "This is a perfect hiding spot."Zh: 他悄悄地钻进叶子堆里，不留下一点痕迹。En: He quietly crawled into the pile of leaves, leaving no trace behind.Zh: 于是，他藏得像是消失了一样。En: Thus, he was hidden as if he had disappeared.Zh: 李伟是个负责的孩子，总是试图让大家保持在正轨上。En: Li Wei was a responsible child, always trying to keep everyone on track.Zh: 他认真地寻找小明，但始终找不到。En: He searched carefully for Xiaoming, but couldn't find him.Zh: 陈琳是个容易被逗乐的孩子，他乐呵呵地跟着李伟到处找。En: Chen Lin was a child who was easily amused, and he followed Li Wei around with a cheerful attitude.Zh: 时间一点一点地过去，小明仍然杳无踪影。En: Time slowly passed, and Xiaoming was still nowhere to be found.Zh: 不知不觉，天色开始变暗，李伟和陈琳渐渐担心起来。En: Before they knew it, it began to get dark, and Li Wei and Chen Lin started to worry.Zh: 他们彼此对视了一下，心里开始想着，或许小明是真的迷路了。En: They exchanged glances, beginning to think perhaps Xiaoming was truly lost.Zh: 这下该怎么办呢？En: What should they do now?Zh: 就在他们要去寻求大人的帮助时，小明突然从那堆秋叶中跳了出来，把李伟和陈琳吓了一跳。En: Just as they were about to seek help from an adult, Xiaoming suddenly jumped out from the pile of autumn leaves, giving Li Wei and Chen Lin a fright.Zh: “哈哈哈，吓到你们了！”小明得意地笑着说。En: "Hahaha, scared you guys!" Xiaoming said proudly with a laugh.Zh: 他们三个人一起大笑起来，李伟和陈琳才明白这是小明的一个恶作剧。En: The three of them laughed together, and Li Wei and Chen Lin realized it was one of Xiaoming's pranks.Zh: 天慢慢黑了下来，是时候回去享受中秋的月饼和赏灯了。En: As night slowly fell, it was time to go back and enjoy the Mid-Autumn festival mooncakes and lanterns.Zh: 孩子们围坐在一起，吃着甜美的月饼，手里提着亮闪闪的灯笼，心里充满了温暖和欢乐。En: The children sat together, eating sweet mooncakes, holding bright lanterns in their hands, their hearts filled with warmth and joy.Zh: 小明望着他的朋友，心里明白了一个道理：虽然把自己藏得很巧妙很有趣，但有时与朋友一起欢声笑语更为快乐。En: Xiaoming looked at his friends and understood a truth: although hiding cleverly and having fun was enjoyable, sometimes sharing laughter with friends is even happier.Zh: 中秋的月亮照耀着大地，好像也在微笑着祝福他们。En: The mid-autumn moon shone on the earth, as if smiling and blessing them.Zh: 这正是一个团圆和美好的夜晚。En: It was indeed a night of reunion and joy. Vocabulary Words:orphanage: 孤儿院courtyard: 院子mischievous: 顽皮eagerly: 兴致勃勃地disappeared: 消失responsible: 负责cheerful: 乐呵呵amused: 逗乐glances: 对视perhaps: 或许suddenly: 突然fright: 吓了一跳pranks: 恶作剧mid-autumn festival: 中秋mooncakes: 月饼lanterns: 灯笼warmth: 温暖reunion: 团圆joy: 欢乐surrounded: 包围trace: 痕迹carefully: 认真地nowhere: 杳无踪影exchanged: 彼此wary: 担心remembrance: 道理cleverly: 巧妙enjoyable: 有趣shone: 照耀blessing: 祝福
Wort zum Tag von Diakon Bernd Siemes, Universitätsspital Zürich, ZH
Conheça, à luz do I Ching (Yì Jīng), como Yin-Yang, os 8 trigramas (Ba Gua) e o centro (Tài Jí) ajudam a compreender 9 tendências de temperamento humano. Falamos de princípios, ciclos da natureza (estações, dia/noite), Cinco Elementos (água, madeira, fogo, terra, metal) e aplicações práticas para o autoconhecimento.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Moonlight Mysteries: Finding Treasure Above Taipei 101 Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-30-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 台北101在秋天的夜色中如灯塔般发光，观景台上熙熙攘攘，人们都在欣赏城市的壮丽景色。En: Taipei 101 glows like a lighthouse in the autumn night, and the observatory is bustling with people admiring the magnificent cityscape.Zh: 空气中弥漫着中秋节月饼的香气，月亮高悬，给这座繁忙的城市披上了一层神秘的色彩。En: The air is filled with the fragrance of Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes, and the moon hangs high, casting a mysterious hue over this busy city.Zh: 明是个业余摄影师，他喜欢拍摄都市景观，渴望通过作品获得他人认可。En: Ming is an amateur photographer who loves capturing urban landscapes, yearning for recognition through his work.Zh: 这一天，他和好友李伟一起来到观景台。En: On this day, he came to the observatory with his friend Li Wei.Zh: 李伟是一位软件开发者，对未解之谜非常感兴趣。En: Li Wei is a software developer with a keen interest in unsolved mysteries.Zh: 他们决定在这里拍些照片，然后去参加晚上的节日庆祝活动。En: They decided to take some photos here before joining the evening festival celebrations.Zh: 明拍摄了一张照片，其中隐藏着一个未被揭示的秘密。En: Ming took a photo that concealed an undisclosed secret.Zh: 照片表面看来是台北101的夜景，但仔细观察可以发现在某个角落透露出另一个世界的踪迹，这是从未见过的。En: At first glance, it appeared to be a night scene of Taipei 101, but upon closer inspection, it revealed traces of another world in a corner—one never seen before.Zh: 就在此时，他们注意到了一位神秘的游客小玲。En: At that moment, they noticed a mysterious tourist, Xiaoling.Zh: 她总是徘徊在附近，似乎对那张照片特别感兴趣。En: She was always lingering nearby, seemingly particularly interested in that photo.Zh: 小玲和他们攀谈，几番试探后，明心中起了疑虑。En: Xiaoling struck up a conversation with them, and after some probing, Ming grew suspicious.Zh: 他向李伟提出，照片里可能有某种重要信息，而小玲似乎知道些什么。En: He suggested to Li Wei that there might be some important information in the photo, and Xiaoling seemed to know something about it.Zh: 李伟也对这个神秘的情节感到好奇，他鼓励明去解开这个谜团。En: Li Wei was also intrigued by this mysterious plot and encouraged Ming to solve the mystery.Zh: 但是，小玲对于照片中的秘密似乎有些讳莫如深。En: However, Xiaoling seemed somewhat reticent about the secret in the photo.Zh: 中秋节的喧闹让城市显得忙碌而拥挤，这使寻找线索变得困难重重。En: The hustle and bustle of the Mid-Autumn Festival made the city busy and crowded, making the search for clues challenging.Zh: 经过几天的探索，明在观景台上再次碰到了小玲。En: After a few days of exploration, Ming encountered Xiaoling again at the observatory.Zh: 他决定是时候问个明白了。En: He decided it was time to get to the bottom of it.Zh: 月亮升起，洒下银白色的光辉，明鼓起勇气与小玲交谈。En: The moon rose, casting a silvery light, and Ming gathered the courage to talk to Xiaoling.Zh: “为什么这张照片对你这么重要？”明问，小玲叹了一口气，显得若有所思。En: "Why is this photo so important to you?" Ming asked.Zh: 小玲叹了一口气，显得若有所思。En: Xiaoling sighed, appearing deep in thought.Zh: “照片里有我一个秘密，”小玲终于开口，“是关于我祖辈的宝藏。En: "The photo holds a secret," Xiaoling finally said, "it's about my ancestors' treasure.Zh: 我一直在寻找，但我需要帮助。”En: I have been searching for it, but I need help."Zh: 明决定信任小玲，他意识到，有时候，信任和耐心比急于成功更重要。En: Ming decided to trust Xiaoling, realizing that sometimes trust and patience are more important than rushing to success.Zh: 于是他们一起揭开了照片线索，找到了一个古老的家庭宝藏。En: Together, they unraveled the clues in the photo and found an ancient family treasure.Zh: 是他们共同的努力让这一切成为可能。En: Their combined efforts made it all possible.Zh: 当明和小玲站在观景台上，城市的灯光映照出他们的笑容，“谢谢你，明。”小玲说。En: As Ming and Xiaoling stood on the observatory, the city lights reflecting their smiles, Xiaoling said, "Thank you, Ming.Zh: “我很高兴能够跟你分享这个秘密。”En: I'm so glad to share this secret with you."Zh: 明笑了：“我也很高兴能够认识你。”En: Ming smiled back, "I'm also very happy to have met you."Zh: 他突然明白，有时候，真正的成功是与他人建立真实的联系，而不仅仅是声望和奖励。En: He suddenly understood that sometimes true success is about building genuine connections with others, not just prestige and rewards.Zh: 他看着城市，渐渐地，感受到了一种从未有过的满足。En: He looked at the city and gradually felt a satisfaction he had never experienced before.Zh: 是家乡的味道，是人情的温暖。En: It was the taste of home, the warmth of human connection.Zh: 他知道，从这里开始，他会用不同的目光去看待这座熟悉的城市。En: He knew that from this point on, he would view this familiar city with different eyes. Vocabulary Words:lighthouse: 灯塔glows: 发光observatory: 观景台bustling: 熙熙攘攘magnificent: 壮丽cityscape: 城市景色fragrance: 香气mysterious: 神秘hue: 色彩amateur: 业余yearning: 渴望recognition: 认可undisclosed: 未被揭示lingering: 徘徊struck up: 攀谈probing: 试探reticent: 讳莫如深hustle: 喧闹clues: 线索exploration: 探索unraveled: 揭开ancestors: 祖辈treasure: 宝藏combined: 共同的genuine: 真实的prestige: 声望gradually: 渐渐地satisfaction: 满足connections: 联系rushing: 急于
„My netvoríme jedno spoločenstvo a nie sme ani suverénne spoločenstvo. Ako spoločnosť sme natoľko rozbití, že nemáme schopnosť a ani potenciál napredovania, pretože sa navzájom likvidujeme,“ hovorí pre Aktuality expremiérka Iveta Radičová. Ako hodnotí vládnu konsolidáciu a prečo podľa nej tento štát už i v tých najkľúčovejších funkciách prestáva fungovať?Upadajúce školstvo, rozpadajúce sa zdravotníctvo, neschopnosť štátu konečne dostavať čo i len diaľnicu z Košíc do Bratislavy na strane jednej, na strane druhej ustavične bobtnajúci verejný sektor, prakticky takmer úplne plošná energopomoc - platená z eurofondov či neadresné trináste dôchodky - tie zasa na dlh a s nemalými úrokmi. I tak dnes vyzerá Slovensko v roku 2025.„Verejné výdavky sa budúci rok zvýšia na takmer 50 percent HDP a zdaňovanie ekonomiky bude najvyššie v histórii,“ odkazuje vláde Rada pre rozpočtovú zodpovednosť. Podľa Rady bude mať po schválení pripravovaného konsolidačného balíčka Slovensko najvyšší podiel príjmov na HDP v našej novodobej histórii.Tento život na dlh je jednoducho dlhodobo neudržateľný a preto vláda pristúpila k ďalšiemu kolu ozdravovania verejných financií. Tentoraz by mal konsolidačný balíček dosiahnuť sumu takmer troch miliárd. Vie však vláda čo robí - keďže ani predchádzajúce uťahovanie opaskov neprinieslo zásadnejšie zníženie rozpočtového deficitu? A ponúka opozícia nejakú ekonomicky zmysluplnú alternatívu ako z tejto dlhovej pasce von? Kam vlastne miznú všetky tie skonsolidované miliardy, keďže ich v lepšej kvalite služieb štátu nie je vôbec vidieť? No a smerujeme týmto vládnym šafárením už naozaj na „grécku cestu“?„Robia si z nás srandu? Zháňajú desiatky miliónov, a pritom stovky miliónov až miliardy - napríklad v zdravotníctve - neriešia?“ pýta sa bývalá premiérka. Podľa nej sú nevyhnutné minimálne tri zásadné reformy: životného minima a naň nadviazaných dávok, zásadná reforma dôchodkov, pretože poistný systém ich už dnes nedokáže zafinancovať, a napokon reforma právneho štátu s reálnou vymožiteľnosťou práva.Počúvate Aktuality Nahlas, dnes s bývalou predsedníčkou vlády Ivetou Radičovou. O vládnej konsolidácií a umení vládnuť, ale hovoriť budeme aj o tom, či sa ešte dokážeme zhodnúť na tom, kde skutočne sme a kam chceme smerovať.Pekný deň a pokoj v duši praje Braňo Dobšinský.
„My netvoríme jedno spoločenstvo a nie sme ani suverénne spoločenstvo. Ako spoločnosť sme natoľko rozbití, že nemáme schopnosť a ani potenciál napredovania, pretože sa navzájom likvidujeme,“ hovorí pre Aktuality expremiérka Iveta Radičová. Ako hodnotí vládnu konsolidáciu a prečo podľa nej tento štát už i v tých najkľúčovejších funkciách prestáva fungovať?Upadajúce školstvo, rozpadajúce sa zdravotníctvo, neschopnosť štátu konečne dostavať čo i len diaľnicu z Košíc do Bratislavy na strane jednej, na strane druhej ustavične bobtnajúci verejný sektor, prakticky takmer úplne plošná energopomoc - platená z eurofondov či neadresné trináste dôchodky - tie zasa na dlh a s nemalými úrokmi. I tak dnes vyzerá Slovensko v roku 2025.„Verejné výdavky sa budúci rok zvýšia na takmer 50 percent HDP a zdaňovanie ekonomiky bude najvyššie v histórii,“ odkazuje vláde Rada pre rozpočtovú zodpovednosť. Podľa Rady bude mať po schválení pripravovaného konsolidačného balíčka Slovensko najvyšší podiel príjmov na HDP v našej novodobej histórii.Tento život na dlh je jednoducho dlhodobo neudržateľný a preto vláda pristúpila k ďalšiemu kolu ozdravovania verejných financií. Tentoraz by mal konsolidačný balíček dosiahnuť sumu takmer troch miliárd. Vie však vláda čo robí - keďže ani predchádzajúce uťahovanie opaskov neprinieslo zásadnejšie zníženie rozpočtového deficitu? A ponúka opozícia nejakú ekonomicky zmysluplnú alternatívu ako z tejto dlhovej pasce von? Kam vlastne miznú všetky tie skonsolidované miliardy, keďže ich v lepšej kvalite služieb štátu nie je vôbec vidieť? No a smerujeme týmto vládnym šafárením už naozaj na „grécku cestu“?„Robia si z nás srandu? Zháňajú desiatky miliónov, a pritom stovky miliónov až miliardy - napríklad v zdravotníctve - neriešia?“ pýta sa bývalá premiérka. Podľa nej sú nevyhnutné minimálne tri zásadné reformy: životného minima a naň nadviazaných dávok, zásadná reforma dôchodkov, pretože poistný systém ich už dnes nedokáže zafinancovať, a napokon reforma právneho štátu s reálnou vymožiteľnosťou práva.Počúvate Aktuality Nahlas, dnes s bývalou predsedníčkou vlády Ivetou Radičovou. O vládnej konsolidácií a umení vládnuť, ale hovoriť budeme aj o tom, či sa ešte dokážeme zhodnúť na tom, kde skutočne sme a kam chceme smerovať.Pekný deň a pokoj v duši praje Braňo Dobšinský.
Wort zum Tag von Pfarrerin Susanna Meyer Kunz, Spitalseelsorge Unispital Zürich, ZH
rWotD Episode 3062: Knights of Valour Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Sunday, 21 September 2025, is Knights of Valour.Knights of Valour (simplified Chinese: 三国战纪; traditional Chinese: 三國戰紀; pinyin: Sān Guó Zhàn Jì) is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game series released by International Games System (IGS). The plot is loosely adapted from the 14th century Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, and features the Five Tiger Generals, Zhuge Liang, Diaochan and others as playable characters. The gameplay involves the use of magical powers that are not featured in other games also based on the novel.The series includes eleven games, including five main titles: Knights of Valour (1999), Knights of Valour 2 (2000), Knights of Valour: The Seven Spirits (2003), Knights of Valour 3 (2011), and the remade Knights of Valour (2015). The original games were developed for arcades and released in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean and English. All but two games in the series ran on the IGS' own PolyGame Master arcade hardware, the exceptions being KOV The Seven Spirits, which was released on Sammy Corporation's Atomiswave (later received a homebrew port for the Dreamcast in 2020), and the Knights of Valour 3D iteration, which was released online for PlayStation 4 and mobile.A 3D installment of Knights of Valour for the PlayStation 4, as a free-to-play game, was originally slated for release in Spring 2015 in Asia and Japan, but was delayed to a summer release. The game is monetized by selling the ability to continue after being defeated and supports up to four players online. A beta version was released for trial for PlayStation Plus subscribers on the PS4. GamesInFlame acquired the rights to publish the game in Europe and Australia.In April 2023, IGS released the IGS Classic Arcade Collection on the Nintendo Switch, a compilation of eight games originally created for the IGS PolyGame Master. Included in the collection are Knights of Valour Plus, Knights of Valour Superheroes and Knights of Valour 2 - Nine Dragons.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:39 UTC on Sunday, 21 September 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Knights of Valour on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Joey.
Im Rahmen des «Dorfplatz» von «SRF Musikwelle» aus Oberägeri ZG nimmt Nicolas Senn die «Potzmusig»-Zuschauer mit auf das Ägerisee-Schiff E-MS. An Bord eingeladen wurden ausschliesslich Musikkapellen aus der Region oder mit Bezug zum Ägerital. Vom Schiff aus sendet die Kapelle Jost Ribary & René Wicky den Zuschauenden daheim «Herzliche Grüsse vom Ägerisee». Der Urgrossvater von Jost Ribary komponierte mit der «Steiner Chilbi» den grössten Ländlerhit. Damals schon mit dabei war Akkordeonist René Wicky. Die Kapelle Gupfbuebä mit Dani Häusler aus Unterägeri ZG und Jörg Wiget aus Hünenberg ZG pflegt den klassischen Innerschweizer-Stil. André Odermatt wohnt in der Stadt Zug. Er liebt und pflegt das Alphornblasen. In passender Kulisse zwischen den Hügeln im Ägerital lässt er sein Alphorn erklingen. Das Trio Örgeliwirbel pflegt eher den Berner Örgelistil. Trotzdem passt die Formation mit dem Musiklehrer Remo Gwerder aus Unterägeri ZG auf das musikalische Ägerisee-Schiff. Kurt Iten ist auch aus Unterägeri ZH und sehr musikalisch. Er war Jahrzehnte mit seinem Unterhaltungsduo unterwegs und ist ein ausgezeichneter Pianist. Die Formation Kipfer-Rogenmoser mit dem Einheimischen Renato Rogenmoser spielt als klassisches Akkordeonduo. Es interpretiert einen Titel der Kapelle Betschart-Rogenmoser, in der der ebenfalls bekannte Musiker Dolfi Rogenmoser aus Oberägeri ZG spielt. Dolfi Rogenmoser hat zwar sein «Örgeli» vor ein paar Jahren an den Nagel gehängt. Dennoch hat er es sich aber nicht nehmen lassen, auf die «Potzmusig»-Rundfahrt mitzukommen und mit Nicolas Senn über das Leben am und mit dem Ägerisee zu plaudern. Wie die Arbeit auf dem See aussieht, durfte Moderator Nicolas Senn auch noch selbst erleben. Er arbeitete einen Tag als Hilfsmatrose auf der E-MS Ägerisee mit. Wie gut er sich dabei angestellt hat, sehen sie in der Sendung vom Ägerisee.
Zum zweiten Mal hat ein Waldrapp-Paar in der Schweiz gebrütet. Damit lässt sich eine seltene Vogelart wieder blicken, die vor 400 Jahren aus unseren Breitengraden verschwunden ist. Die Zuzüger stammen aus einem EU-geförderten Ansiedlungsprojekt, das in der Schweiz auf Kritik und Widerstand stösst. Zwei Waldrapp-Bruten in der Schweiz In der Gewerbezone von Vaulruz FR tauchte im Frühling 2025 ein Waldrapp-Paar auf und baute sich sein Nest in einer Fensternische. Anfang Juni schlüpften dort drei Küken. Schon 2023 gab es in Rümlang ZH eine erfolgreiche Waldrapp-Brut, auch dort in der Gewerbezone. Es war damals wohl das erste Mal seit rund 400 Jahren, dass hierzulande wieder Waldrappe brüteten. Sowohl bei Vaulruz FR wie auch in Rümlang ZH kamen die Elterntiere aus der Kolonie des Waldrapp-Teams im süddeutschen Überlingen. Umstrittene Geschichte Das Ziel des Waldrapp-Teams ist die Wiederansiedlung des Waldrappen als Zugvogel in Europa. Begründet wird das auch mit der Geschichte: so habe der Waldrapp bis ins 17. Jahrhundert an vielen Standorten nördlich der Alpen gebrütet und sei dann durch die Menschen ausgerottet worden. Diese Darstellung ist umstritten: Belegt seien einige wenige Brutstandorte und sein Verschwinden könnte vor allem mit der damals aufgetretenen klimatischen Abkühlung, der sogenannten kleinen Eiszeit, zusammenhängen, sagen Kritiker des Projektes. Keine Wiederansiedlung in der Schweiz Das Bundesamt für Umwelt lehnt eine Wiederansiedlung des Waldrapps in der Schweiz ab. Dabei stützt es sich auf ein internationales Abkommen zum Schutz der Zugvögel. Auch bei der Vogelschutz-Organisation Birdlife Schweiz hält man wenig von einer Wiederansiedlung. «Wir können so das Rad der Zeit nicht 400 Jahre zurückdrehen», sagt Geschäftsführer Raffeael Ayé. «Ob die heutigen Lebensräume in Mitteleuropa und Westeuropa für den Waldrapp überhaupt noch geeignet sind, das steht komplett in den Sternen.» Im Trainingscamp Gründer und Leiter des Waldrapp-Teams ist der österreichische Biologe Johannes Fritz. Er begann vor mehr als 20 Jahren damit, Waldrappküken aus Zoohaltungen aufzuziehen und ihnen mit einem Hängegleiter die Route in ein Wintergebiet in Italien anzutrainieren. Auf dieser Zugroute über die Alpen kam es in den letzten Jahren immer wieder zu Problemen: Verirrte Waldrappe mussten nach Wintereinbruch eingesammelt und betreut werden. Seit zwei Jahren führt die Zugroute von Bayern aus bis in den Süden Spaniens, ein aufwändiges Verfahren für die Aussiedlung von jährlich rund 30 Jungtieren.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Yoga on the Great Wall: A Journey of Balance and Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-17-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 漫步在秋天的长城，微风把黄色和橙色的落叶轻轻吹落在路上，空气中弥漫着浓郁的季节气息。En: Strolling along the Chang Cheng in autumn, the breeze gently blew the yellow and orange fallen leaves onto the path, filling the air with a rich seasonal scent.Zh: 李伟充满期待地踏上了这条古老的石道，En: Li Wei stepped onto this ancient stone path with great anticipation.Zh: 他是个历史迷，认为这次旅行是一场穿越时空的历史重现体验。En: As a history enthusiast, he viewed this trip as a time-traveling historical reenactment experience.Zh: 他希望能在这里找到祖先留下的足迹，感受到血脉的连接。En: He hoped to find traces left by his ancestors here and feel the connection of his bloodline.Zh: 但出发没多久，他突然发现，这竟然是一节瑜伽课堂！En: But shortly after setting out, he suddenly discovered that this was actually a yoga class!Zh: 站在他眼前的是一位活力四射的导游兼瑜伽教练，张敏。En: Standing before him was an energetic guide and yoga instructor, Zhang Min.Zh: 她正带领一群兴高采烈的参与者找到属于自己的一片宁静。En: She was leading a group of enthusiastic participants to find their own piece of tranquility.Zh: 李伟环顾四周，看到另一个徒步者，陈磊，也是一脸困惑。En: Li Wei looked around and saw another hiker, Chen Lei, who also had a look of confusion.Zh: 不过，与李伟不同，陈磊立即接受了这个笑料般的误会，开始尝试各种动作。En: However, unlike Li Wei, Chen Lei immediately embraced this amusing misunderstanding and began trying various poses.Zh: 李伟感到尴尬不已。En: Li Wei felt extremely embarrassed.Zh: 他从未上过瑜伽课，心里担心自己在别人面前出丑。En: He had never attended a yoga class and worried he might embarrass himself in front of others.Zh: 他努力想要逃避这种羞愧，但他又觉得，如果就此退出，不免显得懦弱。En: He desperately wanted to avoid this shame, but he also felt that quitting would seem cowardly.Zh: 更何况，陈磊的欢笑和平和的心态，令他心生仰慕。En: Moreover, Chen Lei's laughter and calm demeanor made him feel a sense of admiration.Zh: 最后，李伟做了个决定。En: In the end, Li Wei made a decision.Zh: 他试图参与其中，跟随张敏的指导，愚钝地模仿各种动作，尤其是陈磊那轻松自若的姿态。En: He attempted to join in, following Zhang Min's guidance, clumsily mimicking various poses, especially Chen Lei's relaxed stance.Zh: 起初，他挣扎不已，手忙脚乱，果真不负众望地成为大家捂嘴偷笑的对象。En: Initially, he struggled greatly, awkwardly flailing, indeed becoming the target of everyone's stifled laughter as expected.Zh: 然而，故事的高潮在他尝试一种叫做“平衡式”的姿势时发生了。En: However, the story reached its climax when he attempted a pose called the “Balance Pose.”Zh: 当他的小腿刚刚蹬出时，脚下的1016号砖头竟然松动了！En: As he just extended his leg, the brick underfoot, labeled 1016, suddenly loosened!Zh: 李伟猛然失去平衡，整个人跌向墙边，En: Li Wei lost his balance abruptly, his body tumbling towards the wall.Zh: 然而，奇迹般的，他以一种看似精确设计的战士姿态稳住了身体。En: Miraculously, he stabilized himself in a seemingly precisely designed warrior pose.Zh: 现场一片寂静，随后，大家爆发出热烈的掌声。En: The scene fell silent, followed by a burst of enthusiastic applause.Zh: 张敏拉起他的手，称赞他为这些动作增添了独特的“创意”。En: Zhang Min pulled him up, praising him for adding unique "creativity" to these movements.Zh: 李伟也开始忍不住大笑。En: Li Wei couldn't help but laugh as well.Zh: 他意识到，有时候，寻根之旅并不一定以传统方式进行，而尝试新事物也可以是一种收获满满的体验。En: He realized that sometimes, a journey to trace one's roots doesn't have to proceed in a traditional manner, and trying new things can also be a richly rewarding experience.Zh: 当课结束后，李伟和陈磊并肩漫步在长城的古道上。En: After the class ended, Li Wei and Chen Lei walked side by side on the ancient path of the Great Wall.Zh: 远方，夕阳亲吻着山峦，长城似乎在这团和日丽的金红色余晖中活了过来。En: In the distance, the sunset kissed the mountains, and the Great Wall seemed to come alive in the golden-red afterglow of this sunny day.Zh: 李伟不再担心自己显得愚笨，他已然学会了享受每一个意外的瞬间。En: Li Wei no longer worried about appearing foolish; he had learned to enjoy every unexpected moment. Vocabulary Words:strolling: 漫步fallen: 落anticipation: 期待enthusiast: 迷reenactment: 重现traces: 足迹bloodline: 血脉energetic: 活力四射participants: 参与者tranquility: 宁静confusion: 困惑embraced: 接受misunderstanding: 误会poses: 姿势embarrassed: 尴尬shame: 羞愧cowardly: 懦弱dilemma: 挣扎admiration: 仰慕mimicking: 模仿awkwardly: 手忙脚乱flailing: 挣扎climax: 高潮abruptly: 猛然stabilized: 稳住warrior pose: 战士姿态creativity: 创意traditional: 传统richly: 满满unexpected: 意外
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rekindling Old Friendships Under Shanghai's Moonlit Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-13-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 晚上，玉兰灯笼在上海的豫园里闪烁着，映照着池塘里的锦鲤。En: In the evening, the yulan lanterns shimmered in Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden, illuminating the pond with koi fish.Zh: 这个夜晚，月亮格外明亮。En: The moon was particularly bright that night.Zh: 梅走在小路上，手心微微出汗，她即将见到久违的童年好友，健和亮。En: Mei walked along the path, her palms slightly sweaty, as she was about to meet her long-lost childhood friends, Jian and Liang.Zh: 梅思绪万千。En: Mei's mind was filled with thoughts.Zh: 许多年前，他们总是一起在这个园子里玩耍，笑声萦绕在每一个角落。En: Many years ago, they would always play together in this garden, their laughter echoing in every corner.Zh: 然而，时间流逝，他们都忙于自己的生活，不再像从前那样密切联系。En: However, as time passed, they all got busy with their own lives and no longer kept in touch as closely as before.Zh: 很快，她看到了健和亮，他们也朝她挥手微笑。En: Soon, she saw Jian and Liang, who waved and smiled at her.Zh: “梅，好久不见！”健说道。En: "Mei, long time no see!" Jian said.Zh: 他仍然如儿时一般，眼里闪烁着光芒。En: He still had that sparkle in his eyes, just like in childhood.Zh: 亮温和地笑着，“我们又见面了。”En: Liang smiled warmly, "We've met again."Zh: 梅微笑着，心底却有些忐忑。En: Mei smiled back, but her heart was a bit anxious.Zh: 夜晚的空气中弥漫着月饼的甜香，En: The sweet aroma of mooncakes filled the night air.Zh: 梅决定借此机会分享内心想法。En: Mei decided to take this opportunity to share her inner thoughts.Zh: 在古老的亭子里，他们坐下，周围是温暖的灯光，氛围宁静而美好。En: In the ancient pavilion, they sat down surrounded by warm lantern light, creating a peaceful and lovely atmosphere.Zh: 梅深呼吸，然后开口：“我很怀念我们小时候的友谊。我希望我们能重新找到那种亲密无间。”En: Mei took a deep breath, then spoke, "I really miss our childhood friendship. I hope we can rekindle that closeness."Zh: 健和亮都安静了一会儿。En: Jian and Liang were quiet for a moment.Zh: 健首先开口：“我也常常想起过去那些快乐的时光。”En: Jian spoke first, "I often think about those happy times of the past too."Zh: 亮点点头，说道：“我们各自忙碌，但这并不意味着我们不能再次亲近。”En: Liang nodded and said, "We've been busy, but that doesn't mean we can't become close again."Zh: 经过一番开诚布公的交流，他们发现彼此心中都有这样的渴望。En: After an open and honest exchange, they found that each of them had this desire in their hearts.Zh: 在皎洁的月光下，仿佛所有残留的隔阂都消失了。En: In the bright moonlight, it seemed as if all the lingering barriers disappeared.Zh: 梅感到一种温馨的慰藉。En: Mei felt a warm sense of comfort.Zh: “我们应该经常聚聚，”亮提议，“可以每月抽出时间，互相拜访或者探索新的地方。”En: "We should meet more often," Liang suggested, "We can set aside time each month to visit each other or explore new places."Zh: 梅和健都赞同这个主意，彼此心里都觉得轻松和愉快。En: Mei and Jian both agreed with this idea, feeling relieved and happy in their hearts.Zh: “我们又找回了亲情，”梅心想。En: "We have regained our bond," Mei thought.Zh: 这个中秋之夜，豫园中有友谊的重温，有月光的见证，En: On this Mid-Autumn night, Yuyuan Garden witnessed the renewal of friendship under the moonlight.Zh: 梅明白了，虽然时间和距离可以改变某些东西，但坦诚的对话和共同的经历永远能够拉近彼此的心。En: Mei understood that although time and distance could change some things, honest conversation and shared experiences could always bring hearts closer.Zh: 在这满月之下，他们再一次许下心愿，愿这份友谊如月光般长久而明亮。En: Under this full moon, they once again made a wish that this friendship would last as long and bright as the moonlight. Vocabulary Words:shimmered: 闪烁着illuminating: 映照着pond: 池塘sweaty: 出汗long-lost: 久违echoing: 萦绕closeness: 亲密无间rekindle: 重新找到anxious: 忐忑pavilion: 亭子peaceful: 宁静lovely: 美好barriers: 隔阂childhood: 童年aroma: 香atmosphere: 氛围glow: 光芒sparkle: 闪烁moonlight: 月光explore: 探索honest: 坦诚exchange: 交流relieved: 轻松comfort: 慰藉witnessed: 见证bond: 亲情renewal: 重温desire: 渴望mid-autumn: 中秋laughter: 笑声
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Amid the Tempest: A Mid-Autumn Shelter Saga Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-12-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 秋风在地面上狂啸，雨水像泼，街道变成了河流。En: The autumn wind howled fiercely across the ground, rain poured like a torrent, and the streets turned into rivers.Zh: 在这样的风雨交加之夜，李明、陈伟、张华三人正蜷缩在一座地下掩体中。En: On this stormy night, Li Ming, Chen Wei, and Zhang Hua were huddled in an underground shelter.Zh: 掩体冰冷昏暗，用钢筋混凝土建成，光线昏暗，几盏微弱的灯光在墙壁上投下长长的影子。En: The shelter was cold and dim, built with reinforced concrete, casting long shadows on the walls with a few weak lights.Zh: 这是中秋节之夜，但在此时，没有灯笼，没有团圆，只有紧张与不安。En: This was the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but at this moment, there were no lanterns, no reunions, only tension and unease.Zh: 李明是个务实的工程师，肩负着全社区的安全，但他心中有一道未解的家事，时时困扰他。En: Li Ming was a pragmatic engineer responsible for the safety of the entire community, but he had unresolved personal matters that constantly troubled him.Zh: 突如其来的暴风雨逼迫他们紧急疏散，全村的人涌入这座地下掩体。En: The sudden storm forced them to evacuate urgently, and the whole village poured into this underground shelter.Zh: 慢慢地，物资开始减少，有限的储备容不得浪费。En: Slowly, supplies began to dwindle, and the limited reserves allowed no waste.Zh: 紧张的气氛弥漫着整个掩体。En: A tense atmosphere permeated the entire shelter.Zh: 张华，一个固执又怀疑的人，对李明的管理颇有微词，“我们的物资撑不了几天，你凭什么保证我们的安全？En: Zhang Hua, a stubborn and skeptical person, had many criticisms of Li Ming's management, "Our supplies won't last for days, how can you guarantee our safety?"Zh: ”他大声质问。En: he loudly questioned.Zh: 李明静静看着张华，为什么他的声音如此尖锐。En: Li Ming quietly watched Zhang Hua, wondering why his voice was so sharp.Zh: 陈伟在旁边轻声道：“这次暴风雨来势凶猛，我们得想办法联系上外界。En: Chen Wei softly said beside him, "This storm is fierce, we have to find a way to contact the outside world."Zh: ”李明决定和陈伟一起，想办法从掩体中走出去，取得与外界的联系。En: Li Ming decided to work with Chen Wei to find a way out of the shelter and establish contact with the outside.Zh: 即使暴风雨仍在肆虐，他们必须冒险。En: Even though the storm still raged, they had to take the risk.Zh: 在出发前，他们看着所有人：“我们去寻找暴风的‘眼'，找到安全的出口。En: Before setting out, they looked at everyone and said, "We're going to find the ‘eye' of the storm, to find a safe exit."Zh: ”尽管面临危险，李明心中坚定，他知道这是他们唯一的机会。En: Despite the looming danger, Li Ming felt determined inside; he knew it was their only chance.Zh: 冒着风雨，他们走进了无边的黑夜。En: Braving the storm, they stepped into the boundless night.Zh: 路上，李明和陈伟齐心协力，在狂风中艰难前进。En: Along the way, Li Ming and Chen Wei worked together, struggling against the fierce winds.Zh: 终于，他们到达了一个高处，李明用卫星设备搜索数据。En: Finally, they reached a higher ground, and Li Ming used satellite equipment to search for data.Zh: 卫星图显示，暴风的中心即将移向西北，这给了他们一个渡过风暴的机会。En: The satellite images showed that the storm's center was about to move northwest, providing them with a chance to weather the storm.Zh: 抓住这个信息，他们返回掩体。En: Grasping this information, they returned to the shelter.Zh: 当李明告诉大家新的计划时，人们眼中重燃希望。En: When Li Ming shared the new plan, hope reignited in people's eyes.Zh: 他们相信他，相信他这次的决定。En: They trusted him and believed in his decision this time.Zh: 在李明的带领下，众人搬迁到了一个更安全的地面避难所。En: Under Li Ming's leadership, everyone relocated to a safer above-ground refuge.Zh: 风暴渐渐过去，月亮从云层中露出脸来，银辉洒在地面上，颇有几分中秋的意境。En: As the storm gradually subsided, the moon emerged from the clouds, spreading silver light across the ground, adding a touch of the Mid-Autumn atmosphere.Zh: 李明望着此时的团聚景象，内心的愧疚和自责悄然消散。En: Li Ming looked at the scene of reunion at this moment, and the guilt and self-reproach in his heart quietly dissipated.Zh: 他明白，承认自身的脆弱，依靠社区，他同样能够成为一位好领导。En: He understood that by acknowledging his vulnerability and relying on the community, he too could become a good leader.Zh: 当夜色渐深，月亮高挂，不远处，孩子们的笑声萦绕。En: As the night deepened, the moon hung high, and not far away, the laughter of children lingered.Zh: 李明与大家挚诚相拥，分享月饼，真正感受到在这风雨之后，团圆和解的珍贵。En: Li Ming embraced everyone sincerely, sharing mooncakes, truly feeling the preciousness of reunion and reconciliation after the storm. Vocabulary Words:howled: 狂啸fiercely: 凶猛torrent: 泼huddled: 蜷缩shelter: 掩体reinforced concrete: 钢筋混凝土dim: 昏暗reunions: 团圆pragmatic: 务实unresolved: 未解evacuate: 疏散dwindle: 减少reserves: 储备tense atmosphere: 紧张的气氛permeated: 弥漫stubborn: 固执skeptical: 怀疑criticisms: 微词sharp: 尖锐contact: 联系raged: 肆虐determined: 坚定boundless: 无边struggling: 艰难satellite equipment: 卫星设备relocated: 搬迁subsided: 过去reunion: 团聚vulnerability: 脆弱reconciliation: 和解
2025年9月8 - 12日的主要新聞：美国右翼活动人士查理·柯克被杀，22岁疑犯落网；分析：“美退中进”，中国塑造新国际秩序的目标是否能实现？联邦部长表示，正在讨论放宽中国电动汽车关税的可能；尼泊尔社媒禁令触发示威致51人死亡，总理辞职；以色列空袭卡塔尔多哈，五名哈马斯成员丧生。 https://www.rcinet.ca/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/09/2025-09-12_ZH_225.mp3
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Bamboo Grove Reconciliation: Healing Old Wounds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-11-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在郁郁葱葱的竹林中，夏季的尾声悄然降临。En: In the lush zhulin, the end of summer arrives quietly.Zh: 阳光透过竹叶，洒下斑驳的光影，大地上弥漫着泥土和新鲜竹子的清香，一切显得格外宁静。En: Sunlight filters through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows, and the earth is filled with the fresh scent of soil and bamboo.Zh: 小辉在竹林里漫步。En: Everything seems exceptionally tranquil.Zh: 他来这里是为了寻求内心的安宁，思考最近生活中的挑战。En: Xiaohui strolls through the bamboo grove.Zh: 他心中似乎总有一个结，关于过去的一段友情——那就是与李伟之间未解开的情结。En: He came here seeking inner peace, pondering the recent challenges in his life.Zh: 那是个意外的相遇。En: It seems there's always a knot in his heart, concerning a past friendship – the unresolved bond with Li Wei.Zh: 在一个阳光明媚的下午，小辉在竹林深处发现了一个熟悉的身影。En: It was an unexpected encounter.Zh: 是李伟。En: On a sunny afternoon, Xiaohui discovered a familiar figure deep in the bamboo grove.Zh: 他在竹林中出现，让小辉感到惊讶。En: It was Li Wei.Zh: 李伟曾是小辉的好友。En: His presence in the grove surprises Xiaohui.Zh: 两人曾经亲密无间，但因为一些误会而疏远。En: Li Wei was once Xiaohui's close friend.Zh: 眼前的李伟，似乎也有很多话想说，却不知如何开口。En: They used to be inseparable but had drifted apart due to some misunderstandings.Zh: 小辉想要结束这种尴尬的沉默。En: The Li Wei before him seemed to have much to say as well, yet didn't know how to start.Zh: 他面临一个抉择：是面对李伟提起往事，解开心结，还是维持来时的宁静，让往事如风随意飘散？En: Xiaohui wanted to end the awkward silence.Zh: 一阵风吹过，竹林发出沙沙的声响，宛如旧时的回忆轻声低语。En: He faced a decision: to bring up the past with Li Wei and unravel the knot, or to maintain the tranquility and let bygones be bygones?Zh: 小辉深吸一口气，走向李伟。En: A breeze passed through, and the bamboo grove rustled, akin to the gentle whispers of old memories.Zh: “李伟，我们需要谈谈。En: Xiaohui took a deep breath and approached Li Wei.Zh: ”小辉的声音温和而坚定。En: "Li Wei, we need to talk."Zh: 李伟抬起头。En: Xiaohui's voice was gentle yet firm.Zh: 他的目光中闪烁着从前的影子和今日的疑惑。En: Li Wei looked up.Zh: 两人对视片刻，过去的误会、不安、以及不曾言明的情感纷纷涌上心头。En: His eyes flickered with shadows of the past and today's doubts.Zh: “很多事我们从未说清楚，”李伟回应道，“或许该是时候坦诚相待了。En: They locked eyes for a moment, and past misunderstandings, unease, and unspoken emotions surged in their hearts.Zh: ”在竹叶的簌簌声中，两人开始倾诉。En: "There are many things we've never clarified," Li Wei replied, "perhaps it's time to be honest with each other."Zh: 言语有时笨拙，情感却真挚。En: Amidst the rustling of the bamboo leaves, the two began to speak.Zh: 他们谈起过往的误解与遗憾，也分享了各自的成长与反思。En: Words were sometimes awkward, but the emotions were sincere.Zh: 不知不觉中，时间已流逝，竹林中弥漫着和解的气息。En: They talked about past misunderstandings and regrets, and shared their own growth and reflections.Zh: 小辉感觉自己心中的结终于解开，一种全新的平和感油然而生。En: Unknowingly, time had passed, and the bamboo grove was filled with the air of reconciliation.Zh: “谢谢你，这一切对我很重要，”小辉说道。En: Xiaohui felt the knot in his heart finally untie, and a new sense of peace emerged naturally.Zh: “我也是，我们都变得更好了。En: "Thank you, this all means a lot to me," Xiaohui said.Zh: ”李伟微笑回应。En: "Me too, we've both become better," Li Wei responded with a smile.Zh: 太阳逐渐西沉，竹林中洒下柔和的暮光。En: The sun gradually set, casting a gentle twilight over the bamboo grove.Zh: 小辉和李伟并肩而行，朝着林外走去。En: Xiaohui and Li Wei walked side by side, heading out of the grove.Zh: 他们已不再是过去的他们，而是找到内心平静的自己。En: They were no longer who they used to be but had found inner peace.Zh: 竹林依旧吟唱着它的诗篇，而他们在这片宁静中互相告别，带着对未来的期盼迈出了新的一步。En: The bamboo grove continued to sing its poetic verses, and in this tranquility, they bade each other farewell, stepping toward the future with hope. Vocabulary Words:lush: 郁郁葱葱的dappled: 斑驳的triviality: 琐事unresolved: 未解开的encounter: 相遇inseparable: 亲密无间的drifted apart: 疏远misunderstanding: 误会awkward: 尴尬的knot: 结tranquility: 宁静whispers: 轻声低语flickered: 闪烁shadows: 影子clarified: 说清楚regrets: 遗憾reflections: 反思unknowingly: 不知不觉中reconciliation: 和解unravel: 解开twilight: 暮光surged: 涌上unspoken: 不曾言明的gentle: 温和的firm: 坚定的farewell: 告别lush: 郁郁葱葱的solitude: 独处bade: 告别testament: 见证
On today's roundup, we have an ASIC market update from Luxor, plus American Bitcoin's debut on public markets and why one investor wants to put the freeze on the Core Scientific-CoreWeave deal. Get the headlines that matter, right when they hit the wire: Join our Telegram group for market moving news on top Bitcoin equities like $MSTR, $MARA, $RIOT, $CLSK, and more: https://t.me/blockspacenews Welcome back to The Mining Pod! Today, Colin and Will with Luxor's ASIC Trading Desk Senior Account Manager Sarah Tang about the ASIC market landscape, including how tariffs are impacting pricing, demand, and futures orders, plus the most popular ASIC models currently. For news, they cover American Bitcoin's volatile Nasdaq debut, JonesResearch pumping the brakes on its IREN rating, and Core Scientific's largest active investors imploring others to vote no on the CoreWeave acquisition. Subscribe to our newsletter! **Notes:** 50 % tariff on Chinese rigs 22 % tariff on SE Asian rigs Difficulty target for 1 ZH/s = 139.7 T hashes Hash price ≈ $53.8 /TH/day American Bitcoin surged to $13/share, fell to $6.38 Timestamps: 00:00 Start 02:17 Difficulty Report by Luxor 04:33 American Bitcoin public listing 07:10 ASIC prices 17:10 Cleanspark 17:39 Jones Research downgrades IREN 22:50 Cry Corner: Two Seas Capital
Get the headlines that matter, right when they hit the wire: Join our Telegram group for market moving news on top Bitcoin equities like $MSTR, $MARA, $RIOT, $CLSK, and more: https://t.me/blockspacenews Welcome back to The Mining Pod! Today, Colin and Will with Luxor's ASIC Trading Desk Senior Account Manager Sarah Tang about the ASIC market landscape, including how tariffs are impacting pricing, demand, and futures orders, plus the most popular ASIC models currently. For news, they cover American Bitcoin's volatile Nasdaq debut, JonesResearch pumping the brakes on its IREN rating, and Core Scientific's largest active investors imploring others to vote no on the CoreWeave acquisition. Subscribe to our newsletter! **Notes:** 50 % tariff on Chinese rigs 22 % tariff on SE Asian rigs Difficulty target for 1 ZH/s = 139.7 T hashes Hash price ≈ $53.8 /TH/day American Bitcoin surged to $13/share, fell to $6.38 Timestamps: 00:00 Start 02:17 Difficulty Report by Luxor 04:33 American Bitcoin public listing 07:10 ASIC prices 17:10 Cleanspark 17:39 Jones Research downgrades IREN 22:50 Cry Corner: Two Seas Capital
中元節 Zhōngyuán Jié – Ghost Festival; Hungry Ghost Festival祭祖 jìzǔ – to offer sacrifices to ancestors道教 Dàojiào – Taoism赦罪日 shèzuì rì – day of pardoning sins超度亡靈 chāodù wánglíng – to perform rituals to help spirits find peace古代帝王 gǔdài dìwáng – ancient emperors穀物 gǔwù – grain; cereals拜祖宗 bài zǔzōng – to worship ancestors地官大帝 Dìguān Dàdì – Emperor of the Earth in Taoist belief人間 rénjiān – the human world; mortal realm地獄 dìyù – hell; underworld目連救母 Mùlián jiù mǔ – the story of Mulian rescuing his mother (a Chinese Buddhist tale)好兄弟 hǎo xiōngdì – “good brothers”; a euphemism for ghosts/spirits靈魂 línghún – soul; spirit普渡 pǔdù – Buddhist/Taoist ritual of offering food to spirits供品 gòngpǐn – offerings (for worship)孤魂野鬼 gūhún yěguǐ – lonely or wandering spirits without descendants to worship them地基主 dìjīzhǔ – guardian deity of a building's foundation放水燈 fàng shuǐdēng – to release floating lanterns on water四面環海 sìmiàn huánhǎi – surrounded by the sea on all sides捕魚 bǔyú – to fish; fishing溺死 nìsǐ – to drown (and die)搶孤 qiǎnggū – a traditional festival event of climbing to grab offerings棚子 péngzi – shed; temporary structure救濟貧窮 jiùjì pínqióng – to provide relief for the poor孝順 xiàoshùn – filial piety; respect and care for one's parents and eldersPlanning to travel or move to Taiwan? If you'd like to improve your Chinese before you go, feel free to book a one-on-one lesson with me.I'll help you improve your Chinese so you can settle in more comfortably when you arrive.Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !
七夕 Qīxì – Qixi Festival; Chinese Valentine's Day上古時代 shànggǔ shídài – ancient times (prehistoric era in China)天上的星宿 tiānshàng de xīngxiù – constellations/stars in the sky傳說 chuánshuō – legend; folklore牛郎 Niúláng – the Cowherd in the Qixi legend織女 Zhīnǚ – the Weaver Girl in the Qixi legend人間 rénjiān – the human world; mortal realm放牛青年 fàngniú qīngnián – young man who herds cattle凡人 fánrén – mortal; ordinary person仙女 xiānnǚ – fairy; celestial maiden巧遇 qiǎoyù – to meet by chance相愛 xiāng'ài – to love each other天條 tiāntiáo – heavenly law; celestial rule喜鵲 xǐquè – magpie橋 qiáo – bridge淒美 qīměi – poignant and beautiful (often describing a love story)乞巧節 qǐqiǎo jié – Qiqiao Festival; traditional women's festival for praying for skill and good marriage祈求 qíqiú – to pray for; to request earnestly手巧 shǒuqiǎo – skillful with one's hands女紅 nǚgōng – traditional female needlework skills好姻緣 hǎo yīnyuán – a good marriage; favorable romantic destiny穿針線 chuān zhēnxiàn – to thread a needle刺繡 cìxiù – embroidery七娘媽 Qīniángmā – Seventh Fairy Goddess in Taiwanese folk belief義子 / 義女 yìzǐ / yìnǚ – godson / goddaughter (in a ceremonial sense)麻油雞 máyóu jī – sesame oil chicken (a traditional dish)燭光晚餐 zhúguāng wǎncān – candlelight dinner情侶對戒 qínglǚ duìjiè – couple's matching rings戒指 jièzhǐ – ring (finger ring)Planning to travel or move to Taiwan? If you'd like to improve your Chinese before you go, feel free to book a one-on-one lesson with me.I'll help you improve your Chinese so you can settle in more comfortably when you arrive.Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !
fWotD Episode 3035: Zhao Chongguo Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 26 August 2025, is Zhao Chongguo.Zhao Chongguo (Chinese: 趙充國; pinyin: Zhào Chōngguó, 137 BCE – 52 BCE) was a Chinese military commander and official during the Western Han dynasty. Born to a family of officials in what is now eastern Gansu, Zhao studied military science in his youth. Around 100 BCE, he joined the Feathered Forest, a recently created elite cavalry unit recruited from the northwestern districts. He joined General Li Guangli's campaign against the Xiongnu confederation the following year, and was severely wounded in combat. Emperor Wu, impressed by Zhao's service, promoted him. He served as chief of staff for the supreme head of cavalry units. In 80 BCE, Zhao was appointed to manage the imperial parks, and also controlled the minting of cash coinage.In 74 BCE, Zhao collaborated with the political leader Huo Guang to depose the newly enthroned emperor Liu He in favor of Emperor Xuan. For this, he was appointed Marquis of Yingping and was promoted to General of the Rear. After participating in conflicts against the Xionggnu, he volunteered to lead a campaign against the Qiang people (in what is now Qinghai) in 62 BCE. Joined by his son, he succeeded in pushing deep into Qiang territory, and exploited tribal divisions by granting amnesty to the Qiang, who defected to the Han forces. Zhao rejected proposals by his fellow generals and the emperor to continue offensive operations, believing that a protracted occupation would subdue the Qiang through attrition. He was able to implement his policy of tuntian (lit. 'farming garrisons'), although the emperor simultaneously approved offensive operations by other generals. Zhao's garrison technique proved successful, gaining him acclaim and influence on later tacticians. He retired in 60 BCE after his son created a scandal and committed suicide. Zhao's life and career is known mainly through a biography in the Book of Han.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:30 UTC on Tuesday, 26 August 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Zhao Chongguo on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kajal.
Bei der Live-Übertragung auf dem Fernsehsender «3+» liess er seinem Ärger am Samstag freien Lauf. «Es ist einfach unfair und zum kotzen.» Meier ist genervt von den Detailhändlern rund ums Festgelände. Diese würden Getränke zu tiefen Preisen verkaufen, aber nichts an die Abfallkosten beisteuern. Weitere Themen: · ZH Volksinitiative für selektionsfreien Sek-Übertritt gescheitert. · ZH 10 Kilogramm Kokain am Flughafen sichergestellt.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unfolding Stories: Rediscovering Friendship in a Tea House Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-08-05-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北京一家热闹的茶馆里，阳光透过竹帘洒在抛光的木桌上。En: In a bustling tea house in Beijing, sunlight filtered through bamboo blinds, casting patterns on polished wooden tables.Zh: 茶香在空气中弥漫，人声鼎沸。En: The fragrance of tea filled the air, and the chatter of voices was lively.Zh: 这里，尘世的喧嚣与茶馆里的宁静形成鲜明对比。En: Here, the clamor of the world outside contrasted sharply with the tranquility inside the tea house.Zh: 连，一个创业者，坐在角落的桌边。En: Lian, an entrepreneur, sat at a corner table.Zh: 她经营着一家小型科技公司，却时常想起无忧无虑的大学时光。En: She ran a small tech company but often reminisced about her carefree university days.Zh: 今天，她心中有些期待又有些不安，因为她即将与旧友相聚。En: Today, she felt a mix of anticipation and unease because she was about to reunite with old friends.Zh: 很快，芝推门而入。En: Soon, Zhi pushed the door open.Zh: 她是位成功的建筑师，刚从国外回来。En: She was a successful architect, having just returned from abroad.Zh: 芝对重聚有些犹豫，担心多年不见的朋友是否还能像以前一样无话不谈。En: Zhi felt a bit hesitant about the reunion, wondering if friends long unseen could still talk as freely as before.Zh: 两人互相打了招呼，开始闲聊。En: The two greeted each other and started to chat.Zh: 这时，美也来了。En: At this moment, Mei also arrived.Zh: 她是一个全职父母，生活中被家庭琐事包围，和事业有成的朋友们相比，总感到一丝格格不入。En: She was a full-time parent, surrounded by family matters, and felt somewhat out of place compared to her accomplished friends.Zh: 坐在一起，三个人有些拘谨。En: Sitting together, the three felt a bit reserved.Zh: 茶水端上来，氤氲的热气如往事般升腾，时光仿佛倒流。En: As the tea was served, the rising steam seemed to bring back memories, and time seemed to rewind.Zh: 连想 rekindle 她们之间的友谊，她却在心中暗自忐忑：他们之间是不是已经走得太远了？En: Lian wanted to rekindle the friendship between them, but she was secretly anxious: Had they drifted apart too far?Zh: 忽然，连放下了茶杯。En: Suddenly, Lian put down her teacup.Zh: 她决定说出自己近期面临的艰辛。En: She decided to share the hardships she had recently faced.Zh: 创业压力大，常常让她力不从心。En: The pressures of entrepreneurship often left her feeling overwhelmed.Zh: 她希望用坦诚打破沉默，为真正的交流打开一扇窗。En: She hoped that honesty could break the silence and open a window for genuine communication.Zh: 连的分享让芝和美都沉默了片刻，茶馆的喧闹似乎也安静下来。En: Lian's sharing left Zhi and Mei silent for a moment, and even the noise of the tea house seemed to quiet down.Zh: 随后，美也打开心扉，诉说着她对家庭与事业无法平衡的烦恼。En: Then, Mei opened up, expressing her struggles to balance family and career.Zh: 芝心中牵动，她也坦言归国的焦虑与期待。En: Zhi was moved, and she too confessed her anxieties and expectations about returning home.Zh: 然而，谈话逐渐转向她们不同生活道路选择上的分歧。En: However, the conversation gradually shifted to their disagreements about the different life paths they had chosen.Zh: 三人间的气氛一时间紧张起来。她们激烈地争论着，过去的温暖似乎被各自的分歧冲淡。En: The atmosphere among the three became tense for a while, as they argued heatedly, and the warmth of the past seemed diluted by their differences.Zh: 就在争执达到顶点时，连冷静地说："我们不必是一样的。每个人都有自己的路。"En: Just as the argument reached its peak, Lian calmly said, "We don't have to be the same. Everyone has their own path."Zh: 她的话让大家冷静下来，彼此对视，心中充满理解。En: Her words brought a sense of calm, and they looked at each other with understanding.Zh: 三人相视而笑，重拾起失去的友情。En: The three smiled at each other, reclaiming their lost friendship.Zh: 美握住连的手，说无论生活将她们带往何处，友谊始终是最珍贵的。En: Mei held Lian's hand and said that no matter where life takes them, their friendship would always be the most precious.Zh: 她们在茶馆里坐了很久，从过去聊到现在，再展望未来。En: They sat in the tea house for a long time, chatting from the past to the present, and then looking forward to the future.Zh: 连这时明白了，过去已逝，重要的是珍惜当下。En: Lian realized that the past is gone, and what matters is cherishing the present.Zh: 而无论再怎么改变，她与芝和美的友谊会更为坚定。En: No matter how things change, her friendship with Zhi and Mei would only grow stronger.Zh: 阳光填满茶馆，增添了几分温暖。En: Sunlight filled the tea house, adding warmth.Zh: 连走出茶馆时，心中对于怀旧的情感已转变为对未来的期待，朋友们的陪伴让她不再感到孤单。En: As Lian left the tea house, her nostalgia had transformed into an anticipation for the future, and the companionship of her friends made her feel less alone.Zh: 茶馆一如既往地热闹，而她的心却因此更加宁静。En: The tea house remained as lively as ever, yet her heart was all the more peaceful for it. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 热闹filtered: 透过fragrance: 茶香clamor: 喧嚣tranquility: 宁静entrepreneur: 创业者reminisce: 想起anticipation: 期待unease: 不安reunite: 相聚hesitant: 犹豫confessed: 坦言anxieties: 焦虑expectations: 期待rekindle: 恢复anxious: 忐忑overwhelmed: 力不从心genuine: 真正harmony: 和谐struggles: 烦恼vulnerable: 脆弱disagree: 分歧heatedly: 激烈地diluted: 冲淡calm: 冷静understanding: 理解cherishing: 珍惜companionship: 陪伴nostalgia: 怀旧peaceful: 宁静
Last time we spoke about the battle along the Wusong Creek. The situation was dire for the Chinese defenders, who faced overwhelming odds. Among them was Ogishima, a Japanese soldier who experienced the brutal reality of war firsthand. Amidst the chaos, battles erupted along the Wusong Creek, where both sides suffered heavy casualties. Chinese forces, despite being greatly outnumbered in terms of tactical superiority, demonstrated extraordinary resilience, fighting bravely even when retreat was necessary. As the battle raged on, tactics evolved; Chinese troops fortified defenses and implemented guerrilla warfare strategies. The soldiers transformed the landscape into a fortification, turning abandoned buildings into strongholds. October brought a fresh wave of violence. The Japanese pressed their attack, unleashing superior firepower that gradually saw them conquer Dachang. #161 The Battle of Shanghai #6: the 800 heroes who defended the Sihang Warehouse Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Before the fall of Dachang, despite the threat of court-martial for anyone abandoning their posts, a general withdrawal of all Chinese forces in the Jiangwan salient was already in progress. As early as the night between October 24 and 25, the divisions within the salient had been ordered to move their baggage trains and support services back southwest across Suzhou Creek, utilizing the Zhongshan Bridge and Jessfield Railway Bridge. As the fighting intensified north of Zhabei in the subsequent days, the flow of soldiers, vehicles, and pack animals continued. By the night between October 26 and 27, the Chinese completely vacated metropolitan Shanghai north of Suzhou Creek. A foreign journalist wrot “The enormous Chinese army simply melted away and at dawn the Japanese found themselves facing empty positions. The two armies were no longer in contact.” During their retreat from Zhabei, the Chinese systematically set fire to thousands of shops and homes, implementing a scorched earth policy. At 7:00 am on October 27, eight narrow columns of smoke cut across the horizon from one end of Zhabei to the other. Two hours later, these columns had transformed into “huge black pillars stretching towards the azure sky.” By afternoon, a massive wall of smoke stretched four miles long, rising thousands of feet into the air. In the words of a German advisor, it was a fire “of unimaginable extent” that raged out of control for several days, repeatedly threatening to spill into the International Settlement. Refugees who had left Zhabei weeks or months earlier, hoping to return now that the fighting seemed to be over, were devastated to see their homes consumed by an immense sea of flames. The Japanese Army, or more specifically the doctrine guiding it in the field, failed in two significant ways by allowing some of China's best divisions to escape the trap they had set for them. First, on the evening of October 26, after taking Dachang, the Japanese columns could have advanced across Zhabei right to the edge of the International Settlement. Instead, they followed orders and ceased their advance at the line they had reached at sunset. German advisor Borchardt wrote “The only explanation for this is the lack of independent thinking among junior Japanese commanders and their fear of deviating even slightly from a meticulously detailed attack plan. Since the Japanese focused on rallying and reorganizing their forces after the fall of Dachang, they missed an opportunity for a victory so decisive that the Chinese would have been forced to give up their continued resistance in Shanghai.” If the Japanese made their first mistake by leaving a door open for the enemy to escape, they committed a second error by failing to notice that the enemy was using that door. Although Japanese reconnaissance planes monitored the two main bridges utilized by the Chinese to retreat and even deployed parachute flares to detect movements at night, they inexplicably failed to observe the Chinese withdrawal. The retreat was executed precisely as planned, with every piece of artillery withdrawn. This allowed the Chinese to occupy prepared positions south of Suzhou Creek and around Nanxiang, enabling them to continue the fight another day. Despite their missteps, the Japanese initially celebrated their conquest of Zhabei as a victory, placing thousands of small Rising Sun flags throughout the district's ruins. Amid this sea of white and red, the only relatively intact structure, the Four Banks' Warehouse, starkly reminded them that the Chinese still maintained a foothold north of Suzhou Creek. Rumors began to circulate that the soldiers inside had vowed to fight to the death. The Japanese came to realize that their triumph in Zhabei would be perceived as flawed and would even resemble a defeat as long as the warehouse remained in Chinese hands. It was back on October 26, Chiang Kai-shek ordered all forces in Shanghai to withdraw to the western rural region. To facilitate a safe retreat, a rearguard was necessary, as is standard in military withdrawals. Chiang issued orders to General Gu Zhutong, the acting commander of the 3rd Military Region, to leave the 88th Division behind, not only to buy time for the retreating forces but also to stage a final grand stand in front of the Shanghai International Settlement. This was a last-ditch effort to gain international support, as the nine Great Powers were set to convene on November 6. However, General Gu Zhutong was personally attached to the 88th Division, and thus reluctant to abandon them. It's worth noting that he was acting commander in this position because his next post was to lead the 88th Division. Therefore, he telegrammed the divisional commander at the time, General Sun Yuanliang, who also opposed the plan to leave the 88th Division behind. While neither Gu Zhutong nor Sun Yuanliang were willing to disobey orders from the Generalissimo, Sun proposed a solution: They could leave a portion of the troops behind, just not the entire 88th Division. In his words, “How many people we sacrifice would not make a difference; it would achieve the same purpose.” Sun suggested leaving behind a single regiment from the 88th Division to defend one or two heavily fortified positions. Gu Zhutong agreed to this plan, and at that time, the 88th Divisional Headquarters was located at the Sihang Warehouse. The Sihang Warehouse is a six-story concrete building situated in the Zhabei district, just north of Suzhou Creek, at the northwestern edge of the New Lese Bridge. The warehouse was constructed collaboratively by four banks, hence the name "Sihang," which translates to "four banks." Directly across Suzhou Creek lies the Shanghai International Settlement, a neutral territory where Western foreigners resided. The fighting would occur literally just across the creek, forcing Western observers to witness the heroic last stand that China would make in Shanghai up close. For those who might not be aware, there is an outstanding film titled “The Eight Hundred.” I even reviewed the movie on my channel, the Pacific War Channel, on YouTube. The film excellently captures the remarkable situation, depicting an extravagant city on one side of a river, filled with entertainment, casinos, bars, and restaurants. The international community enjoys their vibrant lives, full of colors and lights, while on the other side lies a literal warzone. The Sihang Warehouse stands there, bullet-ridden, as the Japanese continuously attempt to storm it against the Chinese defenders. It's a compelling film worth checking out, feel free to take a look at my review as well! Returning to the story, Sun Yuanliang reconsidered and believed that leaving an entire regiment was excessive. Instead, he opted to leave behind an over-strength battalion. The 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment was chosen for this task. A young colonel, Xie Jinyuan, who was also new to the 88th Division, volunteered to lead the battalion. No one who had met Xie Jinyuan could doubt that he was the ideal choice to lead the battalion that would stay behind, holed up inside the Sihang Warehouse in a corner of Zhabei, demonstrating to both the domestic and international audience that China remained resolute in its resistance against Japanese aggression. The 32-year-old graduate of the elite Central Military Academy, who had been stationed in Shanghai with the 88th Division since hostilities began in August, was a soldier to the core. He stood as straight as a bayonet, and according to a foreign correspondent who met him, even while wearing a mask, he was unmistakably a military man. In the correspondent's words, he represented “modern China stripped for action.” Upon receiving his assignment on the night of October 26, Xie Jinyuan went directly to the warehouse and was pleased with what he found. It resembled a virtual fortress. Each of its walls was pockmarked with numerous rifle slots, ensuring that attacking infantry would face a barrage of fire from the building's well-defended positions. It was evident that once the Japanese arrived, they would surround the structure on three sides; however, a link remained to the International Settlement to the south across Lese Bridge. British forward positions were as close as 40 feet away, and with careful maneuvering and a bit of luck, it was likely that the injured could be evacuated under the cover of darkness. From a tactical standpoint, it was an ideal location. Still, improvements were possible, and Xie ordered the soldiers already present to work through the night to enhance their defenses. They had an ample supply of large bags filled with wheat and corn at their disposal, which served as excellent substitutes for sandbags. Xie Jinyuan's first challenge was to rally the soldiers of the 524th Regiment's 1st Battalion to occupy the warehouse positions. This was a complex task, given the short notice, as the companies and platoons were scattered throughout Zhabei, and some had unknowingly begun moving west with the rest of the Chinese Army, unaware of the orders their battalion had received. Throughout the night, Xie and his second-in-command, Yang Ruifu, dispatched orderlies through the blazing streets in search of their men amidst the throng of retreating soldiers. Eventually, their efforts bore fruit. By 9:00 a.m. on October 27, the last remaining soldiers of the battalion arrived at the warehouse. By then, Xie Jinyuan's force consisted of just over 400 officers and soldiers. This was a minuscule number compared to the might of the Japanese military, and they were immediately put to the test. Xie was unfamiliar with the men under his command, effectively being thrown into the deep end, so to speak. The location chosen for their stand was, of course, the Sihang Warehouse. The 1st Battalion originally comprised eight hundred men, but casualties incurred during the Battle of Shanghai had reduced their numbers to just 452 soldiers before the defense of the Sihang Warehouse began. Each soldier was armed with either a Hanyang 88 or Chiang Kai-shek rifle, an 8mm Mauser, grenades, a German M1935 Stahlhelm, a gas mask, and they also had some Czech ZB vz.26 light machine guns, along with four Type 24 Maxim guns. They would face off against the forces of the 3rd IJA Division, commanded by General Iwane Matsui, as well as the 10th Battalion, 8th, and 9th Companies of the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force under Captain Okochi Denshichi. The Japanese forces were further bolstered by approximately 260 sailors from the Yokosuka 2nd Independent SNLF Company and another 200 sailors from the Kure 1st SNLF 2nd Company. Additionally, the 8th and 9th Companies of the Shanghai SNLF, originally attached to the 4th Artillery Battalion, would provide support with howitzers and mountain guns. In total, around 980 infantrymen from the reinforced 10th Battalion of the Shanghai SNLF, along with another 200 artillerymen from the 8th and 9th Companies, were involved in the Japanese assault on the Sihang Warehouse. Xie Jinyuan consolidated his battalion's defenses inside the Sihang Warehouse, believing it would provide his men the highest chance of holding out for as long as possible. He correctly assessed that the Imperial Japanese Army would be unable to use their heaviest artillery, aerial bombardment, gas attacks, or naval guns for fear of accidentally striking the International Settlement. It's important to remember that this was 1937, and the Empire of Japan was not willing to risk open warfare with Western nations until 1941. What the Japanese did have access to were armored vehicles, such as the Type 94 tankettes. The Japanese infantry were equipped with various weapons, including the Arisaka Type 38 rifle, Type 11 and Type 96 light machine guns, the Nambu Type 14 pistol, Type 92 heavy machine gun, Type 97 grenade, Type 89 grenade discharger, and the Type 93 flamethrower. On October 27, various companies of the battalion reached the Sihang Warehouse after a fighting withdrawal. By this point, they numbered 414 men, who essentially volunteered for a suicide mission and were later acknowledged by Chiang Kai-shek for their “exemplary soldierly conduct.” The 1st Battalion was commanded by Army Major Yang Ruifu, and their forces included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies, as well as a Machine Gun Company, totaling 452 men once the remaining soldiers arrived. Due to two months of intense fighting in Shanghai, many of the German-trained elite troops had been killed or wounded, leaving the majority of the reinforcements at the Sihang Warehouse to be garrison troops from the surrounding provinces. Many of these soldiers came from the 5th Regiment of the Hubei Province Garrison, which meant that many were also inexperienced recruits. On October 27, news began to circulate throughout Shanghai that Chinese forces were still resisting the Japanese in the Zhabei district at the Sihang Warehouse. At 4 a.m., a Girl Guide named Yang Huimin approached a British guard at a post at the Chinese end of the New Lese Bridge, where she noticed a British soldier tossing a pack of cigarettes into the warehouse. Yang asked the soldier what he was doing, and he informed her that there was a battalion of Chinese soldiers inside. She then wrote a message and requested that the soldier place it inside a cigarette box and toss it over. Soon, the Chinese tossed back the cigarette box with a message indicating they needed food, ammunition, and lubricant for their weapons. Yang then left the bridge and began pleading for help at the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, but no one believed her story. Xie Jinyuan deployed the 1st Company, led by Captain Tao Xingchun, on the right side of the warehouse along Tibet Road. The 3rd Company, led by Shi Meihao, was stationed on the left across from the Bank of Communications building, while the 2nd Company, commanded by Deng Ying, held the other sides. Two heavy Type 24 Maxim machine guns were mounted on the roof of the Sihang Warehouse, with additional machine guns distributed among each company. A forward platoon from each company was sent out to provide early warning of any enemy attack. Furthermore, Xie ordered his combat engineers to place remote-detonated charges in front of the warehouse. His units were strategically dispersed with rifles and machine guns throughout the warehouse and on the rooftop. They reinforced the building with bags of sand, corn, and beans, and razed surrounding structures to create a deadly killing field. At 7:30 am an advance outpost reported seeing Japanese marines near the North Train Station, and 45 minutes later, it confirmed that the enemy's flag was flying over that building. The Chinese soldiers were ordered to engage the advancing IJA 3rd division, and over the next two hours, they executed a fighting retreat back toward the warehouse. A brief pause ensued, during which the Chinese defenders prepared themselves, with some taking up positions on the various floors of the warehouse and others crouching behind an outer wall surrounding the building. At 1:00 pm a Japanese column approached the warehouse, confidently marching down the middle of the road behind a large Rising Sun banner. It appeared more like a victory parade than a tactical maneuver. Once they were in range, the Chinese officers ordered their men to fire. Five Japanese soldiers fell, causing the rest of the column to scramble for cover. Within an hour, the Japanese had amassed enough troops to attempt a storming assault on the warehouse. A sizable force surrounded the building, unleashing so much firepower that the Chinese were forced to abandon the outer wall and retreat to the warehouse itself. Although the defenses remained solid, the crisis was far from over, and the attackers appeared to have gained dangerous momentum The first bloodshed occurred when ten IJA soldiers were killed while attempting to secure fortifications around the warehouse that had been rigged with explosives. At 2 p.m., a National Revolutionary Army platoon led by Yin Qiucheng exchanged fire with approximately fifty IJA troops. By 3 pm, an IJA company consisting of around 194 men launched an attack on the warehouse from the west. During this engagement, the 3rd Company commander, Shi Meihao, was shot in the face but continued to lead the defense until he was shot again in the leg. Meanwhile, about seventy IJA soldiers took cover in a blind spot just southwest of the warehouse. In response, the NRA climbed to the rooftop and threw grenades at the IJA, killing seven and wounding twenty. The initial assault by the IJA was a failure, prompting them to set fire to the northwestern section of the warehouse, where fuel and lumber were stored. By 5 pm., firefighter efforts had extinguished the blaze, as the IJA were preoccupied with looting the Zhabei area. At this point, Yang Ruifu, the second-in-command, commanded a dozen soldiers to rush to the roof and lob hand grenades at the Japanese forces below. This counterattack halted the Japanese advance. As the Japanese withdrew, they left behind seven dead. Much of the fighting was closely watched by excited Chinese on the other side of the 60-yard Suzhou Creek. Each time news spread of another Japanese soldier being killed, a triumphant cheer erupted from the crowd. At 9 pm, battalion commander Yang Ruifu assessed that there would likely be no further IJA attacks that day and ordered the NRA to repair their fortifications and eat their meals. However, no one slept that night. The NRA suffered two deaths and four wounded, while the IJA reported seventeen dead and twenty wounded. Foreign correspondents witnessed the battle from the safety of Suzhou Creek, enjoying a front-row seat to the harsh reality of urban combat. One reporter observed a small group of Japanese soldiers cautiously approaching the warehouse, navigating through the broken masonry and twisted metal. Crawling from cover to cover, it took them 50 minutes to traverse just 50 yards. The Chinese defenders, watching from concealed vantage points, had been monitoring their movements all along. Once the Japanese party was close enough, the defenders unleashed a barrage of hand grenades. After the dust settled, they used their rifles to finish off anyone still able to move. Several Japanese attempting to rescue their wounded comrades were also killed. It was a war without mercy. Even after darkness fell over the warehouse, there was no time for sleep. The soldiers worked tirelessly to repair damages and reinforce their positions. The next morning, Xie Jinyuan contacted the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce for assistance, having received their phone number from Yang Huimin. At 7 am on October 28, Japanese bombers began to circle the warehouse but refrained from dropping any bombs for fear of hitting the International Settlement. Surrounding the rooftops of nearby buildings was a sea of Rising Sun flags, serving to intimidate the NRA and signal that they were encircled. By 8 am, Xie delivered a pep talk to the defenders and noticed an IJA squad advancing along the Suzhou Creek. According to Yang Ruifu's memoirs, Xie picked up a rifle and shot one of the IJA soldiers from over a kilometer away, halting the squad's advance. At 3 pm, it began to rain as the IJA launched a major attack on the west side of the warehouse, taking control of the Bank of Communications building. From there, they deployed machine guns and cannons to bombard the north face of the warehouse. However, the cannons were unable to significantly damage the six-foot-thick walls, and the Japanese troops in the bank building were easily suppressed by the defenders on the warehouse roof, who enjoyed a superior vantage point. After two hours of fighting, the Japanese gave up on the attack but managed to cut electricity and water to the warehouse. Yang Ruifu ordered strict rationing, with each company placing its water reserves under guard and collecting urine in large barrels for firefighting purposes if necessary. Witnessing the fierce Chinese resistance, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was invigorated, and news of the stand quickly spread via radio. Crowds of 30,000 people gathered along the southern bank of the Suzhou Creek, cheering the defenders on. In response, ten truckloads of aid were donated by Shanghai citizens, making their way over the bridge to the warehouse throughout the night. The defenders received food, fruit, clothing, utensils, and letters of support from the citizens. A few journalists attempted to visit, but due to the commanding officers being busy, they only managed to meet with Lei Xiong, the Machine Gun Company commander. Xie Jinyuan also utilized the same trucks to transport ten wounded men into the International Settlement. During these truck transit actions, three NRA soldiers were killed by Japanese sharpshooters. Yang Huimin courageously ran to the warehouse to personally deliver the Republic of China flag to Xie Jinyuan. Upon receiving the flag, Xie was asked by a reporter about his plans, to which he simply replied, “Defend to the death.” Yang Huimin then requested a list of the soldiers' names to announce to the entire country. However, Xie was reluctant to provide this information, fearing it would reveal his actual numbers and prompt the Japanese to storm the warehouse. Instead, he wrote down 800 names from the original 524th Regiment's roster. Thus, the legend of the “800 Heroes” was born. The next morning, the Republic of China flag was hoisted on a thirteen-foot pole atop the Sihang Warehouse. Since Yang Huimin had only delivered the flag without a pole, the defenders constructed a makeshift pole using two bamboo culms tied together, holding a flag-raising ceremony. Crowds gathered in the International Settlement, reaching up to thirty thousand in number, shouting “Zhōnghuá Mínguó wànsu!” (Long live the Republic of China). Japanese aircraft attempted to destroy the flag with strafing fire but were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat due to anti-aircraft fire. At noon, the IJA launched their largest offensive to date, attacking the warehouse from all directions with Type 94 tankettes and cannons. The 3rd NRA Company was pushed out of their defensive lines to the base of the warehouse and then further into the warehouse itself. The IJA's cannon fire chipped away at the warehouse structure, creating new firing ports on the windowless west wall. The Japanese attempted to scale the walls to the second floor using ladders. Xie Jinyuan was positioned near a window when two IJA soldiers managed to climb into the second floor beside him. He choked the first soldier to death and shot the other while kicking over the ladder they had used. The situation became dire as a platoon of IJA soldiers began placing explosives to breach the west wall. As the battle raged on, the IJA platoon continued planting explosives at the base of the west wall in an effort to breach it. When the Chinese defenders noticed what they were doing, 21-year-old Private Chen Shusheng, armed with a grenade vest, jumped from a second-story window onto the IJA platoon that was planting the explosives. His suicide attack killed himself and twenty Japanese soldiers below. The fighting continued until darkness fell, with waves of IJA soldiers storming the warehouse using armored vehicles. Ultimately, the IJA had to abandon their assault and began digging a tunnel towards the warehouse with an excavator. In response, posters emerged in the International Settlement, showcasing the movement of the IJA to the NRA. At 7 am, on October 30, the IJA recommenced their attacks, this time employing heavy artillery, firing approximately one shell per second throughout the day. The NRA responded by reinforcing the warehouse with additional sandbags. As night approached, the IJA utilized floodlights to illuminate the warehouse, allowing their artillery fire to continue unabated. Despite the overwhelming firepower, the defenders still managed to destroy some of the IJA's armored vehicles. The International Settlement exerted pressure on the IJA to cease the artillery fire, as it was dangerously close to their area. They informed the IJA that they would attempt to persuade the NRA to end their defense. A petition was sent to Chiang Kai-shek to stop the fighting for humanitarian reasons. By this point, the defense of the Sihang Warehouse had accomplished all its objectives. The NRA forces in Shanghai had successfully redeployed to more favorable positions in the rural west. Moreover, the defense of the warehouse had garnered significant attention from the Western world. Consequently, Chiang Kai-shek authorized a retreat. Chiang Kai-shek ordered the battalion to retreat into the foreign concession and to rejoin the 88th Division, which was now fighting in western Shanghai. A meeting was arranged with British General Telfer-Smollet and Yan Hu of the Shanghai Auxiliary Police to facilitate the retreat. The 524th Regiment would retreat to the International Settlement by crossing the New Lese Bridge. The 3rd IJA Division commander, Matsui Iwane, was notified of this plan and agreed, promising to allow the defenders to retreat unharmed, although he would ultimately not fulfill this promise. At midnight on November 1, Xie Jinyuan led the retreat of 376 men out of the warehouse and across the New Lese Bridge into the International Settlement. Ten NRA soldiers had been killed, and twenty-seven were too wounded to move; those soldiers volunteered to stay behind and man the machine guns on the rooftop to provide cover for the retreat. During the crossing, ten additional NRA soldiers were wounded by IJA sharpshooter fire. By 2 a.m. on November 1, the retreat was complete, marking the end of the defense of the Sihang Warehouse. After the battle, Xie Jinyuan reported that more than 100 Japanese troops had been killed by the defenders. General Sun Yuanliang stated, “Enemy corpses in the vicinity of Sihang Warehouse totaled approximately two hundred.” Xie Jimin claimed, “More than 200 enemy troops were killed and countless others were wounded. Two enemy tanks were also destroyed, and two more were damaged. The number of enemies was based on the daily counts obtained by observation posts.” The NRA suffered ten deaths and thirty-seven wounded, while the IJA incurred an estimated two hundred killed, along with several others wounded. However, a Japanese report indicated that after the SNLF 10th Battalion stormed the Sihang Warehouse, they found only 80 Chinese corpses. As of 2022, historians now estimate that 377 Chinese soldiers managed to retreat, suggesting that the actual death toll for the Chinese was likely around 33. The Battle of Shanghai was arguably unwinnable for the Chinese from the outset. It was only a matter of time before the Japanese would gain the upper hand due to their material and technological advantages. As the fighting dragged on, with the Japanese capturing stronghold after stronghold in the countryside surrounding the city, the immense toll exacted on the defenders led a growing number of Chinese generals to question the wisdom of clinging to a city that was ultimately destined to fall. They pushed for a more comprehensive withdrawal rather than the tactical retreat from Zhabei and Jiangwan that had already taken place. Otherwise, thousands more soldiers would die in vain. Moreover, there were serious concerns about morale taking a devastating hit, which could compromise China's ability to continue the fight. This was becoming a pressing issue. Chinese troops, who had initially entered the battle with an upbeat and patriotic spirit, gradually lost their fervor as casualties mounted in a seemingly hopeless battle. Once a division was reduced to one-third of its original strength, it was sent to the rear for reorganization and replenishment before being returned to the frontline. Most soldiers perceived the odds of survival as heavily stacked against them. Despite regular visits to the front, Chiang Kai-shek remained largely unaware of these grim realities. Officers who understood the true conditions in the trenches were also familiar with the supreme commander's stubborn nature and his determination to defend Shanghai to the bitter end. Given the circumstances, they felt it unwise to reveal the full truth to him. This charade could not continue indefinitely. In some units, the situation was deteriorating so rapidly that it became increasingly likely soldiers would simply abandon their positions. With mutiny looming as a possibility, senior commanders sought to persuade Chiang Kai-shek that a complete withdrawal of all Chinese troops from the Shanghai area to a fortified line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, a city about 35 miles to the south, was the only viable option. In early November, General Bai Chongxi informed Chiang that the officers at the front could no longer control their men and that a pullback would serve as a face-saving measure, forestalling potential rebellion within the ranks. However, nothing they said seemed to impress Chiang Kai-shek. General Li Zongren, another officer who had previously attempted to advocate for a retreat, realized that arguing with the man at the top was futile. “War plans were decided by him personally, and no one else was allowed to say anything,” Li noted in his memoirs. Despite this, there were moments when Chiang appeared tantalizingly close to being swayed by the views of his lieutenants. As early as the first days of October, he seemed to favor a withdrawal from the front, only to reverse his decision later. A similar situation arose late in the month when Chiang called a meeting with his frontline commanders in a train carriage at Songjiang Railway Station, southwest of Shanghai. Before his arrival, the generals discussed the battle and concluded they could do little against the enemy's superior firepower. Upon Chiang's arrival, Zhang Fakui, the commander of the troops in Pudong, suggested moving ten divisions to prepared positions further in the rear, where defense would be easier than in Shanghai. The majority agreed with this proposal. At this point, Madame Chiang Kai-shek made her entrance, dressed in an expensive fur coat and fresh from a visit to the Shanghai front. “If we can hold Shanghai for ten more days,” she declared, “China will win international sympathy.” She was vague about the specifics but seemed to be referring to the upcoming Brussels conference. This declaration galvanized Chiang. “Shanghai must be held at all costs,” he asserted with firm conviction, as if that had been his sentiment all along. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As Chinese troops retreated across Suzhou Creek, a small battalion under Colonel Xie Jinyuan held their ground, transforming the warehouse into a fortress. Despite fierce attacks, including artillery and tank assaults, they showcased unparalleled bravery. Reinforced by messages of support from locals, spirits soared. Amidst mounting casualties, they persisted until a strategic retreat was ordered. As dawn broke on November 1, Xie led the remaining troops to safety, leaving behind a legacy of valor that inspired future generations. Thus, the "800 Heroes" legend was born.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Harmony: Balancing Dreams and Family Ties Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-08-03-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 炎炎夏日，知了在树上叫个不停。En: On a scorching summer day, the zhiliao wouldn't stop buzzing in the trees.Zh: 小区里，孩子们在外面玩耍，家人们在门廊上闲聊。En: In the neighborhood, children played outside while families chatted on their porches.Zh: 小区的每个角落都充满了夏天的味道。En: Every corner of the community was filled with the essence of summer.Zh: 莲是个13岁的姑娘，梦想成为一名艺术家。En: Lian was a 13-year-old girl who dreamed of becoming an artist.Zh: 她的家里到处都是她的画作，餐桌上摆满了各种画具。En: Her home was filled with her paintings, and the dining table was covered with various art supplies.Zh: 今年暑假，她有个重要的计划：参加一个本地的艺术比赛。En: This summer, she had an important plan: to participate in a local art competition.Zh: 可是，她的15岁堂兄明有不同的想法。En: However, her 15-year-old cousin Ming had different ideas.Zh: 明特别爱运动，一到夏天就想让莲和他一起到外面玩。En: Ming loved sports, and as soon as summer arrived, he wanted Lian to join him in outdoor activities.Zh: 每当莲专心画画，他就来敲敲门：“莲，快出来打篮球吧！”En: Whenever Lian was focused on her painting, Ming would come knocking: “Lian, come out and play basketball!”Zh: 莲感到为难，她想画画，又不想辜负明。En: Lian felt torn; she wanted to paint but didn't want to let Ming down.Zh: 他们的奶奶震是一位70岁的老人，经常给他们讲过去的故事。En: Their grandmother Zhen, a 70-year-old woman, frequently shared stories from the past and always listened to Lian's concerns with patience.Zh: 一天早上，莲决定：“我可以早上画画，下午和明出去玩。”En: One morning, Lian decided: “I can paint in the morning and play with Ming in the afternoon.”Zh: 她这么计划着，认为这样可以两全其美。En: She planned it this way, thinking it could be the best of both worlds.Zh: 然而，一次小争吵却打破了这种平衡。En: However, a minor argument disrupted this balance.Zh: 有一天，莲因为画的进度不快而紧张。En: One day, Lian became anxious due to her slow progress with a painting.Zh: 明又来邀请她：“快啊，今天我们去游泳吧！”En: Ming came to invite her again: “Come on, let's go swimming today!”Zh: “我不去！”莲一声回绝，“我得画完这幅画。”En: “I'm not going!” Lian replied curtly, “I have to finish this painting.”Zh: “你整天都在画画，难道不觉得无聊吗？”明反驳。En: “You paint all day; don't you find it boring?” Ming retorted.Zh: “但这是我最想做的事！”莲不满地说道。En: “But it's what I love doing the most!” Lian responded discontentedly.Zh: 兄妹俩争执起来，莲甚至开始怀疑自己是否真该参加比赛。En: The siblings argued, and Lian even began to doubt whether she should participate in the competition.Zh: 晚上，奶奶震看出了莲的不安。En: That evening, grandmother Zhen noticed Lian's unease.Zh: 她轻轻拍了拍莲的肩膀，开始讲一个关于坚持的故事。En: She gently patted Lian's shoulder and began to tell a story about perseverance.Zh: 奶奶讲的是她年轻时种稻子的故事，“尽管遇到了大雨、虫灾，但坚持下去，总有收获。”En: Zhen recounted her youth when she grew rice: “Despite heavy rains and pests, by persisting, there was always a harvest.”Zh: “你一定要坚持自己的梦想，同时也别忘了家庭的温暖。”震的故事让莲深受感动。En: “You must persist in your dreams, but also remember the warmth of family.” Zhen's story deeply moved Lian.Zh: 第二天，明走到莲跟前：“对不起，昨天是我太急躁了。En: The next day, Ming approached Lian: “I'm sorry, I was too impatient yesterday.Zh: 我帮你画些背景吧，这样我们可以早点出去玩。”En: I'll help you paint some of the background so we can finish earlier and go out to play.”Zh: 莲笑了，她知道明是真心支持她。En: Lian smiled, knowing that Ming genuinely supported her.Zh: 于是，他们一起努力完成了画作。En: Together, they worked hard to complete the painting.Zh: 这个夏天，莲学会了在追求梦想和家庭生活之间找到平衡。En: This summer, Lian learned to find a balance between pursuing her dreams and family life.Zh: 比赛那天，她信心满满，因为她知道有家人最真诚的支持。En: On the day of the competition, she was full of confidence because she knew she had her family's sincere support.Zh: 虽然输赢未定，但她已经是胜者，因为她学会了自信，还收获了更多亲情。En: Regardless of the outcome, she was already a winner because she learned self-confidence and gained more familial affection.Zh: 夏天的风继续吹过小区，孩子们的笑声伴着蝉鸣，一切都显得那么和谐美好。En: The summer wind continued to blow through the neighborhood, the children's laughter mingled with the chan singing, making everything seem so harmonious and beautiful. Vocabulary Words:scorching: 炎炎buzzing: 叫个不停porches: 门廊上essence: 味道artist: 艺术家competition: 比赛sports: 运动focus: 专心torn: 为难perseverance: 坚持harvest: 收获argument: 争吵anxious: 紧张curtly: 回绝discontentedly: 不满地doubt: 怀疑unease: 不安patience: 耐心persist: 坚持下去balance: 两全其美affection: 亲情harmony: 和谐美好pursuing: 追求sincere: 真诚的familial: 家庭genuine: 真心impatient: 急躁background: 背景confidence: 信心满满self-confidence: 自信
周邊 zhōubiān - surrounding; nearby軍事演習 jūnshì yǎnxí - military exercise針對 zhēnduì - targeted at; aimed at賴清德 Lài Qīngdé - William Lai (current President of Taiwan)境外的敵對勢力 jìngwài de díduì shìlì - external hostile forces挑釁 tiǎoxìn - provoke; provocation懲罰 chéngfá - punish; punishment軍艦 jūnjiàn - warship戰鬥機 zhàndòujī - fighter jet軍方 jūnfāng - military authorities奪取 duóqǔ - seize; capture制空權 zhìkōngquán - air superiority封鎖 fēngsuǒ - blockade海域 hǎiyù - sea area模擬 mónǐ - simulate; simulation軍機 jūnjī - military aircraft無人機 wúrénjī - drone衝突 chōngtú - conflict; clash演練 yǎnliàn - drill; practice火箭 huǒjiàn - rocket港口 gǎngkǒu - port能源 néngyuán - energy resources設施 shèshī - facilities台海 Táihǎi - Taiwan Strait頻繁 pínfán - frequent; frequently打仗 dǎzhàng - go to war; fight a war戰爭的狀態 zhànzhēng de zhuàngtài - state of war軍事競賽 jūnshì jìngsài - arms race武器 wǔqì - weapon訊息戰 xùnxí zhàn - information warfare資訊戰 zīxùn zhàn - cyber warfare / info war強化 qiánghuà - strengthen; enhance反間諜 fǎn jiàndié - counter-espionage國籍 guójí - nationality反滲透 fǎn shèntòu - anti-infiltration措施 cuòshī - measures現役 xiànyì - active duty (military)退役 tuìyì - retired from military service捲入 juǎnrù - get involved in共諜案 gòngdié àn - Chinese espionage case國防部 guófángbù - Ministry of National Defense宣導 xuāndǎo - promote (an idea or policy); advocacy防止 fángzhǐ - prevent中共 Zhōnggòng - Chinese Communist Party (CCP)印太司令 Yìntài sīlìng - Indo-Pacific Commander帕帕羅 Pàpàluó - Samuel John Paparo台海情勢 Táihǎi qíngshì - situation in the Taiwan Strait溫水煮青蛙 wēnshuǐ zhǔ qīngwā - a metaphor: like boiling a frog in warm water (gradual danger)快速沸騰 kuàisù fèiténg - rapidly boiling; escalating quickly開戰 kāizhàn - outbreak of war; start a war首要任務 shǒuyào rènwù - primary mission摧毀 cuīhuǐ - destroy雷達 léidá - radar飛彈系統 fēidàn xìtǒng - missile system製造業 zhìzàoyè - manufacturing industry潛艦 qiánjiàn - submarine時間拖久了 shíjiān tuō jiǔ le - if time drags on不利 bùlì - disadvantageous; unfavorable發動攻擊 fādòng gōngjí - launch an attack評估 pínggū - assess; evaluate關鍵 guānjiàn - critical; key後悔 hòuhuǐ - regretIf you're ready to take your Chinese to the next level, not just memorizing words but actually having meaningful conversations with Taiwanese people about real topics like politics, culture, war, news, economics, and more. I invite you to join a one-on-one trial lesson with me. I'll help you build a clear, personalized plan so you can speak more naturally and truly connect with others in Chinese. Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !
網紅 wǎnghóng – internet celebrity, influencer百靈果 Bǎilíngguǒ – "Bailingguo," a popular Taiwanese podcast主持人 zhǔchírén – host, presenter遊學 yóuxué – study abroad (short-term, often combined with travel)台積電 Táijīdiàn – TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company爆炸 bàozhà – to explode; (here) to spark outrage or heated discussion圖片 túpiàn – image, picture中華文化 Zhōnghuá wénhuà – Chinese culture元素 yuánsù – element, component端午節 Duānwǔjié – Dragon Boat Festival清明節 Qīngmíngjié – Tomb-Sweeping Day忽略 hūlüè – to overlook, to ignore多元性 duōyuánxìng – diversity, multiplicity日本時代 Rìběn shídài – Japanese colonial period in Taiwan (1895–1945)留下來 liúxiàlái – to remain, to be left behind (as a legacy or influence)If you're ready to take your Chinese to the next level, not just memorizing words but actually having meaningful conversations with Taiwanese people about real topics like politics, culture, war, news, economics, and more. I invite you to join a one-on-one trial lesson with me. I'll help you build a clear, personalized plan so you can speak more naturally and truly connect with others in Chinese. Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !
Kaohsiung Beer Rock FestivalEvent Date: 2025-07-04 ~ 2025-07-06Event Location: No. 789 Zhonghua 5th Road (Plaza directly across from Dream Mall, Kaohsiung)高雄啤酒音樂節 Gāo xióng pí jiǔ yīn yuè jié - Kaohsiung Beer Rock Festival夢時代廣場 Mèng shí dài guǎng chǎng - Dream Mall Plaza (a large shopping and event area in Kaohsiung)夏日音樂嘉年華 xià rì yīn yuè jiā nián huá - summer music carnival現場 xiàn chǎng - on-site; live (location of the event or performance)舞台 wǔ tái - stage (for performances)藝人 yì rén - performer; artist (including singers, actors, dancers)爽 shuǎng - awesome; great feeling; satisfying (often used informally)重頭戲 zhòng tóu xì - highlight; main event; main attraction下酒菜料理競賽 xià jiǔ cài liào lǐ jìng sài - appetizer dish competition (for food that pairs with alcohol)在地 zài dì - local; native to the area元素 yuán sù - element; component (used in cultural or creative contexts)電子音樂 diàn zǐ yīn yuè - electronic music盧廣仲 Lú Guǎng Zhòng - Crowd Lu (a popular Taiwanese singer-songwriter)卓文萱 Zhuó Wén Xuān - Genie Chuo (a Taiwanese singer and actress)婁峻碩 Lóu Jùn Shuò - SHOU (a Taiwanese rapper and singer)邱鋒澤 Qiū Fēng Zé - Kenny Khoo (a Taiwanese-Malaysian singer and music producer)告五人 Gào Wǔ Rén - Accusefive (a well-known Taiwanese indie band)娜璉 Nà Lián - IM NAYEON (member of K-pop group TWICE)凱旋站 Kǎi xuán zhàn - Kaisyuan Station (a metro station in Kaohsiung, R6 line)輕軌 qīng guǐ - light rail夢時代站 Mèng shí dài zhàn - Dream Mall Station (C5 station on the Kaohsiung light rail)Planning to travel or move to Taiwan? If you'd like to improve your Chinese before you go, feel free to book a one-on-one lesson with me.I'll help you improve your Chinese so you can settle in more comfortably when you arrive.Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !
Někoho nadchl, jiné naštval. Trumpův rozkaz bombardovat Írán proti sobě postavil jeho dosud věrné stoupence. Zhádají se a rozloučí, nebo si zase brzy padnou kolem ramen? Téma pro Jiřího Pondělíčka, amerikanistu a komentátora serveru Forum 24. Ptá se Matěj Skalický. *** Epizoda vznikla ještě před oznámením Donalda Trumpa, že Írán a Izrael souhlasily s příměřím. ***
Někoho nadchl, jiné naštval. Trumpův rozkaz bombardovat Írán proti sobě postavil jeho dosud věrné stoupence. Zhádají se a rozloučí, nebo si zase brzy padnou kolem ramen? Téma pro Jiřího Pondělíčka, amerikanistu a komentátora serveru Forum 24. Ptá se Matěj Skalický. *** Epizoda vznikla ještě před oznámením Donalda Trumpa, že Írán a Izrael souhlasily s příměřím. ***Všechny díly podcastu Vinohradská 12 můžete pohodlně poslouchat v mobilní aplikaci mujRozhlas pro Android a iOS nebo na webu mujRozhlas.cz.
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