Learning Mandarin 820107 学习普通话

This lesson # 820107 is for the intermediate level students. There are five passages here on the topic of Empress Dowager Ci Xi during the last years of the twentieth century in China.

本课#820107 适用于中级学生。这里有七篇关于中国二十世纪末期慈禧太后的话题。

Běn kè#820107 shìyòng yú zhōngjí xuéshēng. Zhè li yǒu qī piān guānyú zhōngguó èrshí shìjìmò qí cíxǐ tàihòu de huàtí.

Passage # 1

The conflict between the two parties of the Emperor Guangxu’s and the Empress Dowager Ci Xi ended with the massacre of some of reformists of the Emperor’s. Empress Dowager Ci Xi and her conservative members remained in power. Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned, and his favourite Concubine Zhen was demoted and placed into the “Cold Palace” - a detention palace within the Imperial compound. The most important reform minister was beheaded. One of these ministers, Liang Wenxiu escaped under the strict order of Emperor Guangxu. Empress Dowager hated Liang Wenxiu and made up her mind to have him executed. Liang Wenxiu was prepared to be arrested and he was determined to use his death to awaken the consciousness of the people’s reform to save his precarious country, China.

rare = Xīshǎo. 稀少

smile = Wéixiào. 微笑

Empress Dowager Ci Xi = Cíxǐ tàihòu. 慈禧太后.

帝后两党的冲突终以慈禧党派对以帝党为中心的维新派的屠杀镇压而终。光绪被囚，珍妃被打入冷宫，维新重臣被斩杀于菜市口，独梁文秀在光绪帝的严令下暂行逃脱。慈禧重新揽权，然恨透梁文秀，下定决心要其一死，梁文秀原在家整装待捕，决意以自己的死唤醒百姓维新的意识，以拯救岌岌可危的中国。

Dì hòu liǎng dǎng de chōngtú zhōng yǐ cíxǐ dǎngpài duì yǐ dì dǎng wéi zhōngxīn de wéixīn pài de túshā zhènyā ér zhōng. Guāngxù bèi qiú, zhēn fēi bèi dǎ rù lěnggōng, wéixīn zhòngchén bèi zhǎn shā yú càishì kǒu, dú liáng wénxiù zài guāngxù dì de yánlìng xià zhànxíng táotuō. Cíxǐ chóngxīn lǎn quán, rán hèn tòu liáng wénxiù, xiàdìng juéxīn yào qí yīsǐ, liáng wénxiù yuán zàijiā zhěng zhuāng dài bǔ, juéyì yǐ zìjǐ de sǐ huànxǐng bǎixìng wéixīn de yìshí, yǐ zhěngjiù jíjíkěwéi de zhōngguó.  

Vocabulary # 1

两党 Liǎng dǎng. Two parties.

冲突 Chōngtú. Conflict.

慈禧党派 Cíxǐ dǎngpài. Empress Dowager’s party.

帝党 Dì dǎng. Imperial party.

为中心 Wéi zhōngxīn. As a center.

维新派 Wéixīn pài. Reformers; Reformists.

屠杀 Túshā. Massacre.

镇压而终 Zhènyā ér zhōng. End of suppression. 终 zhōng = end.

光绪被囚 Guāngxù bèi qiú. Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned. 囚 qiú = imprison.

珍妃被打入冷宫 Zhēn fēi bèi dǎ rù lěnggōng. Concubine Zhen was sent into the “Cold Palace”. 打 dǎ = literally means ‘hammer, beat,’ but here it means ‘sent’. 冷宫 lěnggōng = a palace inside the Imperial Palace compound for the imprisonment of disgraced concubines and other disgraced high officials that had to remain confidential to the general public.

维新重臣 Wéixīn zhòngchén. Reformist Ministers (loyal to the Emperor).

被斩杀 Bèi zhǎn shā. Beheaded.

梁文秀 Liáng wénxiù. Name of one of the main characters in the story. He was a young Minister in the Imperial Palace who had passed the Palace examinations with flying colours.

光绪帝 Guāngxù dì. Emperor Guangxu.

慈禧重新揽权 Cíxǐ chóngxīn lǎn quán. Ci Xi regained power. 权 quán = power.

恨透 Hèn tòu. Hate.

下定决心 Xiàdìng juéxīn. Determined.

在家 Zàijiā. At home.

整装待捕 Zhěng zhuāng dài bǔ. Get dressed and be ready to be arrested. 待捕 dài bǔ = to be arrested.

唤醒 Huànxǐng. Wake; awake; awoken.

百姓 Bǎixìng. The citizens; the common people. 百 Bǎi = literary is a hundred. 姓 xìng = literary means surname.

可危 Kě wéi. At risk.

中国 Zhōngguó China. 中 Zhōng = middle (literary) 国 guó = kingdom; country.

education = Jiàoyù. 教育. British = Yīngguó de. 英国的. Beijing = 北京.

Passage # 2

Mrs. Zhang, who was deeply in love with Liang Wenxiu, knew that in a conservative society of China, a widow could not be remarried, especially to an Imperial Minister. However, she tried her best to talk to her mother Empress Dowager Ci Xi to spare Liang Wengxiu, who belonged to the Reformist Party of the Emperor. But Cixi refused. Amidst her disappointment and grief, Mrs. Zhang vowed to help Liang. She called on her foreign relations and friends to help Liang Wenxiu to enter the Japanese Embassy. At the same time, his good friend and God-brother Chun er had also pleaded with Cixi to excuse Liang but to no avail.

深爱梁文秀的张夫人力求慈禧饶他性命，慈禧不依，张夫人在万分失望与悲愤中誓言与慈禧恩断意绝，并调用外国关系将梁文秀送至日本公使馆。另一方面，春儿得之哥哥与慈禧已成水火之势，慈禧难饶文秀，已悄然萌生刺杀慈禧的念头。

Shēn ài liáng wénxiù de zhāng fūrén lìqiú cíxǐ ráo tā xìngmìng, cíxǐ bùyī, zhāng fūrén zài wànfēn shīwàng yǔ bēifèn zhōng shìyán yǔ cíxǐ ēn duàn yì jué, bìng diàoyòng wàiguó guānxì jiāng liáng wénxiù sòng zhì rìběn gōng shǐguǎn. Lìng yī fāngmiàn, chūn er dé zhī gēgē yǔ cíxǐ yǐ chéng shuǐhuǒ zhī shì, cíxǐ nán ráo wénxiù, yǐ qiǎorán méngshēng cìshā cíxǐ de niàntou.  

Liang Wenxiu 梁文秀 Liáng wénxiù. Name of one of the main characters in the story. He was a young Minister in the Imperial Palace who had passed the Palace examinations with flying colours.

Vocabulary # 2

深爱 Shēn ài. Deeply loved. 爱 ài = love.

张夫人 Zhāng fūrén. Mrs. Zang. One of the main characters in the story - one of Empress Dowager’s daughters who was sent out of the Imperial Palace to run a European Pub and Restaurant with the main purpose of being the ears and the eyes of the Empress.

力求 Lìqiú. Strive to.

性命 Xìngmìng. Life.

万分失望 Wànfēn shīwàng. Extremely disappointed. 万 Wàn = ten thousand

悲愤中 Bēifèn zhōng. In grief.

外国关系 Wàiguó guānxì. Foreign relationships.

送至 Sòng zhì. Delivered to.

日本公使馆 Rìběn gōng shǐguǎn. Japanese Embassy. 日本. Rìběn. = Japan.

另一方面 Lìng yī fāngmiàn. On the other hand.

春儿 Chūn er. Another main character of the story. He was a young eunuch who was kind-hearted and he rose to become one of Empress Dowager’s favourite eunuchs.

刺杀 Cìshā. Assassinate.

念头 Niàntou. Idea.

降为杂役太监 Jiàng wèi zá yì tàijiàn. Relegated to a handyman eunuch.

Passage # 3

However, the kind-hearted Chun’er finally could not bear to see his God-brother Liang Wenxiu being punished. He asked to exchange his life for the life of his brother Liang Wenxiu. After hearing Chun’er’s sincere confession, Cixi was angry and sad, and ordered Chun’er to be detained. At that time, Cixi had quietly ordered her military general Yuan Shikai, to encircle the Japanese embassy, and ​​to withdraw the guards at the back door. Mrs. Zhang took this opportunity to rescue Liang Wenxiu and Ling’er together with Master Ze, and sent them on a ship to Japan.

然而，心地善良的春儿最终不忍下手，选择了以自己的生命来换取哥哥梁文秀的生命。慈禧听春儿真心告白后又怒又悲，命人将春儿关押。其时，慈禧已动恻隐之心，悄悄命围监日本公使馆的袁世凯撤走后门卫兵。张夫人趁此机会联合泽公爷救走梁文秀和玲儿，送他们上了去往日本的船只。

Rán’ér, xīndì shànliáng de chūn er zuìzhōng bùrěn xiàshǒu, xuǎnzéle yǐ zìjǐ de shēngmìng lái huànqǔ gēgē liáng wénxiù de shēngmìng. Cíxǐ tīng chūn er zhēnxīn gàobái hòu yòu nù yòu bēi, mìng rén jiāng chūn er guānyā. Qí shí, cíxǐ yǐ dòng cèyǐn zhī xīn, qiāoqiāo mìng wéi jiān rìběn gōng shǐguǎn de yuánshìkǎi chè zǒuhòumén wèibīng. Zhāng fūrén chèn cǐ jīhuì liánhé zé gōng yé jiù zǒu liáng wénxiù hé líng er, sòng tāmen shàngle qù wǎng rìběn de chuánzhī.   

Vocabulary # 3

然而 Rán’ér. However; although; in spite of.

心地善良 Xīndì shànliáng. Kind-hearted.

最终 Zuìzhōng. Finally.

不忍 Bùrěn. Cannot bear (to see the suffering …)

选择 Xuǎnzé. Choose; Choice.

生命 Xìngmìng. Life.

真心 Zhēnxīn. Sincere. 真 Zhēn = Real; True. 心 xīn = Heart.

关押 Guānyā. Imprisoned.

公使馆 Gōng shǐguǎn Embassy.

机会 Jīhuì. Chance; Opportunity.

联合 Liánhé. Joint.

救走 Jiù zǒu. Rescued.

送他们 Sòng tāmen. Sent them.

船 Chuán. Boat; Ferry.

Precious = 宝贵的 Bǎoguì de

Jade Ball = 玉球 Yù qiú

Present = 礼物 Lǐwù

Passage # 4

Chun’er was sad when he was detained. He was concerned about the life of his God-brother Liang Wenxiu and his sister Ling’er. Empress Dowager Ci Xi ordered her chief eunuch Li Lianying to declare the decree for the demotion of Chun’er to a handyman eunuch, transferred him to work at the entrance hall, and worked harder to make atonement. Chun’er accepted this decree in despair. After being punished once before, Chun’er, who was physically exhausted, returned to his simple eunuch’s quarters and fell on his favourite commoner-bed. There he found a dusty stone. Chun’er curiously blew away the dust to reveal a bright crystal-like dragon jade. Chun’er immediately remembered what Lao Dezi had said, and immediately asked to see Empress Dowager Ci Xi, who was moved by the precious stone. “I want to reward Chun’er,” she said to herself. But Chun’er’s request was for the Empress to spare the life of Liang Wenxiu. Empress Ci Xi interrupted and told him in a low voice that he had spared Liang Wenxiu and told Chun’er to think of something else as his reward.

这边春儿在被关押之际无限悲哀，对哥哥和妹妹玲儿的生死牵肠挂肚。慈禧命莲英宣旨，将春儿降为杂役太监，调至堂子，苦工赎罪。春儿绝望中逆来顺受。在一次被罚之后，体力不支的春儿回到简陋的住处栽倒炕上，不想破板乱砖搭起的炕塌了，春儿无奈重新垫转，却意外发现了一块儿拳头大小，裹满灰土的石头，春儿好奇的吹掉尘土，不想露出的是铮亮铮亮的如水晶般的龙玉，春儿立马想起了老德子说过的话，马上求见慈禧…慈禧感动之余，要赏赐春儿，春儿欲言，慈禧打断，低声告诉他，自己已经饶过梁文秀，叫春儿想点别的赏赐。

Zhè biān chūn er zài bèi guānyā zhī jì wúxiàn bēi’āi, duì gēgē hé mèimei líng er de shēngsǐ qiānchángguàdù. Cíxǐ mìng lián yīng xuānzhǐ, jiāng chūn er jiàng wèi zá yì tàijiàn, diào zhì tángzi, kǔgōng shúzuì. Chūn er juéwàng zhōng nìláishùnshòu. Zài yīcì bèi fá zhīhòu, tǐlì bùzhī de chūn er huí dào jiǎnlòu de zhùchù zāi dào kàng shàng, bùxiǎng pò bǎn luàn zhuān dā qǐ de kàng tāle, chūn er wúnài chóngxīn diàn zhuǎn, què yìwài fāxiànle yīkuài er quántóu dàxiǎo, guǒ mǎn huītǔ de shítou, chūn er hàoqí de chuī diào chéntǔ, bùxiǎng lùchū de shì zhēng liàng zhēng liàng de rú shuǐjīng bān de lóng yù, chūn er lìmǎ xiǎngqǐle lǎo dé zi shuōguò dehuà, mǎshàng qiújiàn cíxǐ… Cíxǐ gǎndòng zhī yú, yào shǎngcì chūn er, chūn er yù yán, cíxǐ dǎ duàn, dī shēng gàosù tā, zìjǐ yǐjīng ráoguò liáng wénxiù, jiàochūn er xiǎng diǎn bié de shǎngcì.  

Imperial Officials = 帝国官员. Dìguó guānyuán

Wedding = 婚礼. Hūnlǐ

Celebration = 庆典 Qìngdiǎn

Vocabulary # 4

被关押 Bèi guānyā. Being held.

苦工 Kǔgōng. Hard work.

在一次 Zài yīcì. At one occasion.

体力 Tǐlì. Physical strength.

好奇 Hàoqí. Curious.

立马 Lìmǎ. Immediately.

想起 Xiǎngqǐ. Remember.

赏赐 Shǎngcì. Reward.

打断 Dǎ duàn. Interrupted.

低声 Dī shēng. Whisper. 低. Dī = (literary) low; 声 shēng = (literary) sound.

告诉 Gàosù. Tell; inform.

Passage # 5

Chun’er smiled, and said that he would ask Empress Dowager Ci Xi for grace to forgive her adopted son, the Emperor Guangxu. Cixi groaned, and asked Chun’er to think about the situation for a while. Chun’er said “I really don’t want anything for myself.” Finally, Cixi looked at Chun’er with pity and said. ” I thought I would reward you with something for your loyalty. But, ” she suddenly added with a violent expression, and loudly shouted outside the window, “you think you brought the precious stone and I will spare you. You must be dreaming!” Chun’er was shocked, knelt down on the ground, and looked at Empress Dowager Ci Xi in surprise.

春儿笑笑，说那就再提皇上求个恩典，请作为娘的慈禧原谅自己的儿子。慈禧嗔道，你不会还想提晴雪求个好丈夫吧。要春儿为自己想想，春儿笑说，自个儿还真这么想呢。为自己真没有什么想要的。最后，慈禧怜惜的看着春儿，说：我想到要赏你点什么了。突然声色俱厉，对窗外大声道，你以为你拿来个破石头，就想我饶了你，你做梦！春儿大惊，跪倒地上，诧异的看着慈禧。

Chūn er xiào xiào, shuō nà jiù zài tí huángshàng qiú gè ēndiǎn, qǐng zuòwéi niáng de cíxǐ yuánliàng zìjǐ de érzi. Cíxǐ chēn dào, nǐ bù huì hái xiǎng tí qíng xuě qiú gè hǎo zhàngfū ba. Yào chūn er wèi zìjǐ xiǎng xiǎng, chūn er xiào shuō, zì gě er hái zhēn zhème xiǎng ne. Wèi zìjǐ zhēn méiyǒu shé me xiǎng yào de. Zuìhòu, cíxǐ liánxī de kànzhe chūn er, shuō: Wǒ xiǎngdào yào shǎng nǐ diǎn shénme liǎo. Túrán shēngsèjùlì, duì chuāngwài dàshēng dào, nǐ yǐwéi nǐ ná lái gè pò shítou, jiù xiǎng wǒ ráole nǐ, nǐ zuòmèng! Chūn er dà jīng, guì dǎo dìshàng, chàyì de kànzhe cíxǐ.   

Vocabulary # 5

就再提 Jiù zài tí. Just mention.

恩典 Ēndiǎn. Grace.

原谅 Yuánliàng. Forgive.

还想 Hái xiǎng. Still wants.

自己 Zìjǐ. Own self; oneself.

想想 Xiǎng xiǎng. Think about.

最后 Zuìhòu. Finally; In the end.

我想到要赏你 Wǒ xiǎngdào yào shǎng ni. I want to reward you.

做梦 Zuòmèng. Dreaming; dream.

Practice = Liànxí. 练习

Foreign Press = Wàiguó méitǐ. 外国媒体 Wàiguó (外国) foreign country. Wài = (外) means outside. guó (国) is country.

Daughter = Nǚ’ér. 女儿

Interpreter = Kǒuyì yuán. 口译员. Kǒu (口) is mouth. yì (译) is 翻译. Fānyì. translate.

yuán (员) is member, professional person.

Reporters = 记者 Jìzhě

Prepare = 准备 zhǔnbèi

Press Conference = 新闻发布会 xīnwén fābù huì

Encourage = 鼓励. Gǔlì

Smile = 微笑. Wéixiào

Foreign Press = 外国媒体. Wàiguó méit