Teacher Stan's musings

Wasted days

矛 máo：spear; lance; pike，A type of ancient Chinese weapon
盾 dùn：A shield for protecting the body
自相矛盾[zì xiāng máo dùn]：oneself/each other/spear/shield，to contradict oneself 
夸赞kuā zàn：praise;commend 
质问 zhì wèn：query;inter pellate;question;call to account
哑口无言 yǎ kǒu w yán：Have nothing to say for oneself; be dumbfounded

乐读中文 (Lè Dú Zhōngwén) - "Joyful Chinese Stories"

自相矛盾[zì xiāng máo dùn]

Trascrizione

L’etimologia del termine “Carnevale” deriva, con molta probabilità, dal latino “carnem levare” (eliminare la carne). Anticamente infatti l’espressione indicava il banchetto dell’ultimo giorno subito prima della Quaresima cristiana. 

The etymology of the term "Carnival" is most likely derived from the Latin word "carnem levare" (to eliminate the flesh). In fact, in ancient times the expression indicated the banquet on the last day immediately before Christian Lent. 

Coriandoli means “confetti”: sono piccoli pezzi di carta colorata che vengono lanciati durante le feste, come il Carnevale, per celebrare.

Maschera means mask: è un travestimento indossato per nascondere l'identità durante le feste e i balli in maschera.

Sfilata di carri means float parade: è una parata di carri decorati che sfilano per le strade durante il Carnevale, solitamente accompagnati da musica e ballerini.

Ballo in maschera means Masked Ball: è una festa in maschera dove le persone indossano costumi elaborati e ballano insieme nel periodo del Carnevale.

Frittelle Veneziane are typical sweets from Venice: sono dolci tipici del Carnevale di Venezia, fatti di pasta lievitata fritta e zucchero a velo.

Quaresima means Lent: è un periodo di 40 giorni prima di Pasqua, durante il quale i cristiani si preparano per la festa attraverso la preghiera e il digiuno.

Volo dell’angelo literally means Flight of the Angel: è un evento che si svolge durante il Carnevale di Venezia, solo a Venezia, dove una persona vestita da angelo vola dal palazzo Ducale in piazza San Marco, simboleggiando la discesa di un messaggero divino.

3 minutes Italian

Le parole del Carnevale - 3 minutes Italian

Ysidore, le fier
Ysidore, le coq, se prend pour le roi ! Son cocorico réveille tout le monde ! Pendant la journée, il se promène d’un air fier et surveille les poules.
- Poule grise, fais ceci ; poule blanche, ne fait pas cela ! Il donne des ordres sans cesse.
Un jour, toutes les poules ont décidé de se cacher dans la niche du chien.
Ysidore les a cherchées partout. Plus de poules à commander, que faire ?
Alors il a donné un coup de bec à Grognon, le chat, qui dormait au soleil.
- Lève-toi, gros paresseux, dit-il !
Grognon s’est dressé et, d’un coup de patte, lui a arraché la queue !
Honteux, Ysidore s’est caché dans un coin. Depuis, les poules se promènent sans crainte dans la cour de la ferme.

Des Milliers D'histoires

Histoire 7 - Ysidore, le fier

Blabla Chinese 

12. Chinese Variety Shows (Part2) 中国综艺节目（下）

most  最
The best,  最好     
the most beautiful,   最漂亮    
the most liked,   最喜欢     
 the most want to say  最想说
He's my best friend.     他是我最好的朋友。
I like this dress the most.   我最喜欢这件衣服。

HSK vocabulary

HSK vocabulary——最

This story is made from '2000 most common words in English'

The owner spoke, as if he was a host on a TV cooking show. 

“Both these dishes are mighty fine, and soon it will be revealed which will take the title of World’s Best Main Meal.” 

The owner prepared his chopsticks and reached to pick up Little Ball. But then, a mysterious noise sounded, a kind of ring-ring. 

“Ugh, what is it now?” groaned the owner as he returned to the living room. 

Little Ball turned to the serving of shredded, dried kelp. “Did you hear that? World’s Best! That’s us. You’ve got no chance at winning the title.” 

Dried Kelp, who hadn’t made a sound or a movement until now, slowly came to life and said, 
“Whatever, dude, titles are for books…” 

Little Ball whispered to its 5-piece family, “Pfffft, did you hear that? I know Dried Kelp secretly wants the title and we can’t let it win. If it does, then the owner will look down on us, and shame us, and never buy us ever again. We will bring shame to all the unborn octopus balls. No. I won’t allow it. Dried Kelp is the side dish and we’re the main dish.” 

Raising its voice to an intimidating roar, Little Ball, with all of its power, said, “We’re six large balls, but you’re only a few dozen little strips. Good luck beating us!” 

Dried Kelp took a moment to think. “It’s not the amount of pieces that’s important; It’s the owner’s experience that truly matters.” 

Little Ball was confused. Did Dried Kelp just prove my point? We’re less in numbers, but far superior, thought the bite-sized mashed octopus ball. “Exactly, pieces don’t matter—it’s about flavor! And you’re bland!” 

Dried Kelp seemed insulted, or so Little Ball thought. 

Being a Cloud

Little Ball the Octopus Ball 

¿Os gusta la comida española? ¿Habéis oído hablar alguna vez de los paparajotes? ¿Y los michirones? ¿Y el zarangollo? ¿No? Pues escuchad este capítulo y descubriréis qué son estos platos típicos de la cocina de Murcia. ¡Adelante!