Travel in Chinese Lesson 35 Second-hand Market

雪梅：这个地方你来过吗？

表哥：这是第一次，同学给我介绍的。

雪梅：别说，这个旧货市场还挺大的。

表哥：我们那儿有个同学隔一段时间就来这儿看看。

雪梅：那是个花瓶吧？

表哥：像是新的，顶多20年。.

雪梅：20年也好，200年也好，好看就行，我想买回去摆在客厅里 。

表哥：我们可以一会儿再回来买，要不还得拿着，挺沉的。

（逛街，发现一个小柜子）

表哥：这个小柜子是用什么做的？

卖主：红木的，真正的红木，是我们祖上传下来的，少说也得4、5百年了。

表哥：4、5百年？清朝的？

卖主：明代的，你看看这做工，只有明代的家具才这么精细。

表哥：多少钱你能出手？

卖主：十万。

雪梅：太贵了吧。

卖主：这是我们家传下来的宝贝，一直都舍不得卖。

表哥：我们再考虑考虑吧。

雪梅：我看还是去买点小东西，大的太贵了，而且也不容易往回带。

表哥：你以为东西个儿小就便宜呀，有的也贵着呐。

雪梅：这我知道，上次你不是帮我买了个“天价”笔筒吗？白高兴了一场，原来还是个假古董。

表哥：那件事儿你就别提了，不能老往人伤口上撒盐啊。

雪梅：到那边看看吧，那儿都是小东西。

表哥：来这儿的乐趣就是淘宝，挺便宜地买一件东西，回去一鉴定，古董。

雪梅：这可不容易，那得有孙悟空的火眼金睛才行。

表哥：你快看看，那边好像有卖笔筒的。

雪梅：又是笔筒？
 

Translation

Xue Mei: Have you been to this place before?

Cousin: This is the first time. An old school friend told me about it.

Xue Mei: Actually, this secondhand market is quite big.

Cousin: My school friend comes here every once in a while.

Xue Mei: Is that a vase?

Cousin: It looks new, 20 years old at the most.

Xue Mei: 20 years，200 years. As long as it looks good，I want to buy it and put it in my living room.

Cousin: We can come back and buy it later, otherwise we’d have to carry it. It’s pretty heavy.

Cousin: What’s this cabinet made of?

Vendor: Red wood，real red wood. It’s been handed down in the family. It’s at least four or five hundred years old.

Cousin: Four or five hundred years old? Qing dynasty?

Vendor: Ming dynasty. Look at the craftsmanship. only furniture from the Ming dynasty is this well made.

Cousin: How much will you part with it for?

Vendor: One hundred thousand.

Xue Mei: That’s too expensive.

Vendor: It’s a family heirloom. We could never bear to sell it before.

Cousin: We’ll think about it.

Vendor: Sure. The price is still negotiable.

Xue Mei: I think it’s better to buy some little things. The bigger items are too expensive，plus they’ re hard to transport home.

Cousin: You think smaller things cost less? Some are very pricey, too.

Xue Mei: I know. Didn’t you buy a super expensive pen holder for me last time? We got so excited for nothing. It turned out to be a fake antique.

Cousin: Don’t bring that up again. You mustn’t keep rubbing salt into my wounds.

Xue Mei: Have a look over there. It’s all small items over there.

Cousin: One of the fun things about coming here is treasure hunting. You get something cheaply，go home and have it authenticated, and find it’s a real antique.

Xue Mei: But it’s not easy. You need an expert’s eye.

Cousin: Quick, look! There seems to be someone selling pen-holders.

Xue Mei: Pen holders again?
 

Bookmarks

1）舍不得 to be unable to bring oneself to do something

（例）这件衣服我一直舍不得穿。

I've never been able to bring myself to wear this piece of clothing.

（例）他舍不得离开他的中国朋友。

He can't bear to leave his Chinese friends.

Sign Posts

Antique Markets

When you come to China, you have to check out the antique markets. But the most important thing to remember is buyer bewares. Many of the antiques you see may be reproductions. Of course, sometimes there is nothing wrong with buying a reproduction. For example, the real terracotta warrior statues are priceless, and literally are not for sale at any price. Other authentic antiques would not only be incredibly expensive, but in many cases are illegal to buy and sell, and restricted from taking out of the country.

As a general rule, any authentic antique over 100 years old can not be taken out of the country unless it has an official seal of approval from the national government department responsible for cultural artifacts. 古董 are antiques of any kind, 文物 are cultural relics and are protected by law.

But still, there are lots of treasures to be found at an antiques market. For example, you will find many items from the early years of the People's Republic of China, like statues and badges of Chairman Mao. There are also many items from pre-liberation times, 1911 to 1949, like the stamps and currency used during the Republic of China years or even from the time of Yuan Shikai, who tried to establish a new imperial dynasty. These coins are called 袁大头 because they show a large bust of Yuan Shikai. You can also find traditional items like snuff bottles 鼻烟壶. These markets will often have many modern productions of Chinese arts and crafts, like calligraphy 书法 and traditional Chinese painting 国画. These antique markets are one of the best places to pick up souveniers of your China trip.

Substitution and Extension

1）A也好，B也好，…… no matter A or B, something is true

（例）刮风也好，下雨也好，他每天都坚持跑步。

No matter whether it's windy or whether it's raining, he persists with running everyday.

2）只有……，才……

（例）只有到了北京，你才能吃到地道的烤鸭。

You could only have authentic Peking duck if you come to Beijing.

3）白＋V to show that the actions fail

（例）他不在家，看来我们今天白跑一趟。

He's not at home. It appears that we've come in vain.