Chapter Four: Recreation and Relaxation
1. KTV-Popular Entertainment in China
If you've been to China before, or just know a lot about modern Chinese culture, then you have probably heard of "K歌 (K gē)" or Karaoke TV, the most popular form of entertainment in China. Maybe you've even gone yourself!
KTV is short for Karaoke TV. In China, friends or colleagues often go to KTV to bond and have fun. And many types of parties will take place at KTV, such as birthday parties, New Year parties and so on.
There’s an expected etiquette at KTV. In general, people will applaud and praise the singer even if he/she is not very skilled. Of course, good singers are recognized and are aptly labeled as "麦霸 (màibà) karaoke master." However, if the "麦霸 (màibà)" sings too often, then this will be seen as offensive, as the "麦霸 (màibà)" should make efforts to ensure everyone gets to enjoy singing.
On the other hand, a person who refuses to sing will also create displeasure. One is expected to lose their inhibitions and just have fun, even if it’s the first time at KTV.
Key Learning Points:
1. K歌 (K gē): v. To sing karaoke.It is composed of the letter K and the Chinese character "歌 (gē) song," and means to sing karaoke. It is now a popular phrase among young people.
Example:
Lǐ Míng: Hāi, Màikè, zhōumò yǒu kòng ma? Yì qǐ qù K gē ba?
李明： 嗨，麦克， 周末 有 空 吗？ 一 起去 K歌 吧？
Li Ming: Hi, Mike, are you free this weekend? Let’s go to karaoke.
Màikè: Hǎo a, méi wèntí.
麦克：好啊， 没 问题。
Mike: Great. No problem.
2. 麦霸 (Màibà): n. Karaoke master.
It is a composite word. "麦 (mài)" is the short form of "麦克风 (màikèfēng) microphone." "霸 (bà)" means to forcibly occupy.
Example:
Wáng Hóng: Nǐ rènshi Zhào Lì ma?
王 红： 你 认识 赵 丽 吗？Wang Hong: Do you know Zhao Li?
Lìshā: Dāngrán le, tā kěshì wǒmen xuéxiào de màibà a.
莉莎：当然 了，她 可是 我们 学校 的 麦霸 啊。
Lisa: Of course, she is the karaoke master of our school.
2. How Do Chinese People Save Money on Movie Tickets?
The American film “Warcraft” did not do well at theaters in the USA. However, in China, “Warcraft” was a huge success. So, why did this film succeed in China but not in America? The movie was a “bomb” at the American box office but a huge success in China.
1. Chinese people are watching films increasingly-at a rate of 50% more per year.
2. It’s becoming cheaper for Chinese filmgoers if they buy their tickets online and go to the theater.
So, how are Chinese filmgoers buying their tickets online?
The process of “电影票团购 (diànyǐngpiào tuángòu)”, or the group-purchasing of movie tickets + the city’s name that you are in (北京 Beijing 、上海 Shanghai, etc.)” through Google or Baidu has become popular. It may save you a lot of money if you’re going to the movies in China.
However, you don’t have to “search” for these discounts! As with everything in China today, there are apps to help you. These are:
美团 (Měituán);百度糯米 (Bǎidù nuòmǐ);大众点评 (Dàzhòng diǎnpíng).
No one likes to go to the movies alone and group purchasing makes it cheap and easy for everyone. In addition to the tickets, you can also buy food and drinks through these apps. Most people in China are using them, so why not?
Mandarin Chinese Language Points:
1. 团购 (Tuángòu): Group purchasing.
Examples:
Wǒmen qù Měituán shàng tuángòu liǎng zhāng diànyǐngpiào ba!
我们 去 美团 上 团购 两 张 电影票 吧！
Let’s buy two tickets through Meituan!
Zài jiā yě néng tuángòu dào diànyǐngpiào, zhēn fāngbiàn！
在 家 也 能 团购 到 电影票， 真 方便！
We can buy movie tickets through online group-buying at home. What a convenience!
2. 购票 (Gòupiào): Booking.
Examples:
Háizǐ men tài xiǎo, búyòng gòupiào.
孩子 们 太 小， 不用 购票。
The children are too young to buy tickets.
Huānyíng shǐyòng wǎngshàng gòupiào fúwù!
欢迎 使用 网上 购票 服务！
Thank you for booking your tickets via Online Ticketing!
3. Let’s Grab a Drink at the Bar!
Beginner Level/初级 (Chūjí) Nĭ tīngshuō méiyǒu, shì zhōngxīn kāi le yì jiā xīn jiŭbā.
A: 你 听说 没有， 市 中心 开 了 一 家 新 酒吧。
You know that a new bar opened in the city center?
Tīngshuō le, hái tĭng búcuò de, zán zhōumò qù qiáoqiao ba.
B: 听说 了，还 挺 不错 的。咱 周末 去 瞧瞧 吧。
I’ve heard it’s pretty nice. Want to go this weekend?
Hǎo ya.
A: 好 呀。
Ok.
生词 (Shēngcí) Vocabulary:
周末 (Zhōumò): n. Weekend.
Intermediate Level/中级 (Zhōngjí)
Zhè jiŭbā hái zhēn búcuò, huánjìng tĭng hǎo.
A: 这 酒吧 还 真 不错， 环境 挺 好。
This bar is pretty good, and the environment is good too.
Jiù shì, jīntiān kě děi hǎohao xiǎngshòu.
B: 就 是，今天 可 得 好好 享受。
Yes, we had better enjoy it fully today.
Xiān lái píng jiŭ ba, nĭ hē shénme.
A: 先 来 瓶 酒 吧，你 喝 什么？
I want to have a bottle of beer. What about you?
Lái píng qīngdǎo píjiŭ ba! Tiān hái tĭng rè, yào bīng de.
B: 来 瓶 青岛 啤酒 吧！天 还 挺 热，要 冰 的。
A bottle of Tsingtao beer! Since the weather is so hot, I’d like it cold.
Nĭ hǎoxiàng tĭng ài hē qīngdǎo píjiŭ, hěn hǎo hē ma?
A: 你 好像 挺 爱 喝 青岛 啤酒，很 好 喝 吗？
It seems that you are fond of Tsingtao beer. How is it?
Nà shì, tā kěshì zhōngguó píjiŭ de jīngdiǎn pĭnpái, xiǎngyù guójì ne.
B: 那 是，它 可是 中国 啤酒 的 经典 品牌， 享誉 国际 呢。
Of course. It is a famous brand in China, known all over the world.
Shì ma? Nà wǒ yě lái yì píng.
A: 是 吗？那 我 也 来 一 瓶。
Really? Then I’ll take a bottle as well.
生词 (Shēngcí) Vocabulary:
环境 (Huánjìng): n. Environment.
享受 (Xiǎngshòu): v. To enjoy.
High level/高级 (Gāojí)
Zhè yīnyuè búcuò, tĭng hǎo tīng de.
A: 这 音乐 不错，挺 好 听 的。
The music here is nice.
Nà shì, zhè shǒu gē jiŭbā lĭ cháng fàng, jiào “Loving You,” yì shǒu hěn bàng
B: 那 是，这 首 歌 酒吧 里 常 放， 叫 Loving You， 一 首 很 棒
de yīngwén gē.
的 英文 歌。
Definitely. This song is always played in bars. “Loving You” is a great English
song.
Shì mɑ? Wǒ huíqù děi xuéxue. Zhè qīngdǎo píjiŭ hái zhēn hǎohē, zài gěi
A: 是 吗？我 回去 得 学学。 这 青岛 啤酒 还 真 好喝， 再 给
wǒ lái yì píng.
我 来 一 瓶。
Really? I will learn to sing the song. This Tsingtao beer is tasty, so I’d like to
have another bottle.
Nĭ kě shǎo hē diǎn, bié xiàng shàngcì hái yào wǒ tái nĭ chū jiŭbā.
B: 你 可 少 喝 点，别 像 上次 还 要 我 抬 你 出 酒吧。
Don’t drink so much that I have to carry you out of the bar like I did last time.
Bié sŭn wǒ le, wǒ jiŭliàng kě méi nàme chàjìn.
A: 别 损 我 了，我 酒量 可 没 那么 差劲。.
Don’t deride me. My capacity for liquor is not so bad.
Nĭ hái bié bù chéngrèn, wàng le wǒ sòng nĭ huíjiā le?
B: 你 还 别 不 承认， 忘 了 我 送 你 回家 了？
You should admit the truth and not forget that I have taken you home last
time.
Ài ya, bié shuō le, hējiŭ hējiŭ, yízuìfāngxiū.
A: 哎呀，别 说 了，喝酒 喝酒，一醉方休。
Don’t say that. Cheers. Let’s get drunk.
Nĭ zhè rén, wǒ kě zhēn shì fú le nĭ le.
B: 你 这 人，我 可 真 是 服 了你 了。
Well, I have to admire you.
生词 (Shēngcí) Vocabulary:
损 (Sŭn): v. To deride or speak sarcastically.
酒量 (Jiŭliàng): n. One’s capacity for liquor.
差劲 (Chàjìn): adj. Bad.一醉方休 (Yízuìfāngxiū): v. To drink until one is drunk.
4. Mahjong: China’s Game of Chess.
It’s very likely you have heard of Mahjong before, you might have even played some version of it on the computer or your phone. Or, perhaps you saw the Chinese mafia in movies playing Mahjong. But, do you know its everyday significance in China?
麻将 (Májiàng) Mahjong.
Note: “将” has 3 different pronunciations: jiàng, qiāng, and jiāng. The different pronunciations give the words different meanings. When speaking of the game Mahjong, you should pronounce “将” as “jiàng.”
Examples:
Zuótiān wǒ zài péi nǎinai dǎ májiàng
昨天 我 在 陪 奶奶 打 麻将！
Yesterday, I played Mahjong with my grandma.
Jenny xǐhuān dǎ májiàng!
Jenny 喜欢 打 麻将！
Jenny likes to play Mahjong!
Mahjong can mean something different to everyone, but to many it carries the feeling of family. In my family, every year when we get together for a family reunion on the Spring Festival, my family and I (Becky Zhang, a teacher at eChineseLearning.com) will play a couple rounds of Mahjong together while surrounded by the happy festive atmosphere of spending a holiday together. You also might see older people gathered together outside playing Mahjong for a whole afternoon with friends.
Mahjong is originally from China and is called “麻雀 (máquè)” in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. It is an ancient strategic game used for entertainment and the pieces are usually made of bamboo, bone or plastic. There are 136 pieces and each is engraved with words or patterns. It is played by four people and is a very popular game.
Mahjong is considered a traditional cultural treasure because of its charm and rich background, as well its unique features such as educational and need of strategy to play the game. By now I am sure you are wondering, so what about the gambling? In reality, there are some people who do not approve of the game because it is also used as a way to gamble. I recommend not using money when playing this game so you don’t develop this bad habit. This game can be played with friends, fellow students and family as a way to spend time together. It doesn’t have to become a way to gamble!
When someone wins the game, he or she may say “我和了(Wǒ hú le)” to tell others that she or he is the winner in this round:
Wǒ hú le.
我 和 了。
I have completed the set. (won the game)
Note: “和” also has many different pronunciations: hé, huò, huó, hè, and hú. Each way gives the word a different meaning, and in the case of Mahjong you should pronounce it as “hú.”