Travel in Chinese Lesson 36 Chinese-style Clothing

雪梅：这个商场不错，东西挺全的。

表姐：对，而且这儿的东西都很适合外国人穿，你可以常来逛逛。

雪梅：我去过琉璃厂。我记得那儿的售货员都会说外语，有的还会好几门呢。买东西特别方便。

表姐：这里也一样，售货员多少都会说点儿外语。

雪梅：太好了，那我一定常来。

表姐：这里啊，中式服装的样式特别多，你看，那件衣服怎么样？

雪梅：我觉得那件领子有点高，穿着可能会不舒服。

表姐：这些都是中式服装的改良版。

雪梅：改良版？

表姐：我给你举个例子吧。你知道中国的旗袍吗？

雪梅：知道，旗袍原来是清代妇女的传统服装。

表姐：对，可现在的旗袍和以前已经大不一样了，袖子、领子、肩、下摆都发生了变化。

雪梅：哦，我明白了。其实随着人们生活的改变，服装的样式也会发生变化。

表姐：你说得太对了。不过不管怎么变，中式服装还是有自己的特点。

雪梅：哎，我觉得这件红色的就挺漂亮的。

表姐：这叫唐装，现在挺流行的。

雪梅（对售货员）：麻烦你把那件红衣服拿来给我看看。

卖衣服的人：您好，这件百分之百的真丝，您需要多大号的？我给您拿一件您试试。

雪梅：中国衣服的号我不太懂，您看着拿吧。

卖衣服人：那你试试这件，我看差不多。

表姐：你还别说，大小还挺合适的。

雪梅：这衣服洗了以后会缩水吗？

卖衣服人：您别担心，在做衣服以前，料子就下过水了，都缩过水了。

表姐：我觉得还是买大一点儿的好。

卖衣服人：那我再给您拿一件大的试试，您自己看看哪件好？

雪梅（试衣服）这件好，这个比那个穿着松快。

表姐：这件衣服还是穿大一号的好看。

雪梅：多少钱？

卖衣服人：320块。

雪梅：给我来一件吧。

卖衣服人：来，给您东西。慢走啊，想买东西再来。
 

Translation:

Xue Mei: This market is great. There’s such a wide rage of items.

Cousin: Yes. Foreigners like the things here very much. You can come often.

Xue Mei: I’ve been to Liulichang. I remember the salespeople there all spoke foreign languages, some could even speak several languages. It makes shopping so much easier.

Cousin: It’s the same here. The salespeople all speak a few foreign words.

Xue Mei: That’s terrific. Then I’ll come here often.

Cousin: There’s a great variety of Chinese style clothing here. Look, what about that jacket?

Xue Mei: I think the collar is a bit high. It might be uncomfortable to wear.

Cousin: These are all improved versions of Chinese style clothing.

Xue Mei: Improved versions?

Cousin: I’ll give you an example. You know the traditional Chinese qipao dress?

Xue Mei: Yes. The qipao used to be the traditional dress of women in the Qing dynasty.

Cousin: Yes, but the qipao of today is far different to the qipao in the past. There have been changes to the sleeves, collar, shoulders, and lower hem.

Xue Mei: Oh, I get it. As people’s lives change, clothing styles change, too.

Cousin: You’re absolutely right. But whatever the changes，Chinese clothing is still unique.

Xue Mei: Hey，I think this red one is pretty.

Cousin: This is called Tang Zhuang or a Chinese style jacket. It’s pretty popular these days.

Xue Mei（to salesperson）: Could you please give me that red jacket so I can have a look.

Clothing vendor: This is 100% silk. What size are you? I’ll get one for you to try on.

Xue Mei: I don’t know that much about clothing sizes in China.You decide.

Clothing Vendor: Then try this one. I think it should be OK.

Cousin: Actually the fit is pretty good.

Xue Mei: Will it shrink in the wash?

Clothing Vendor: Don’t worry about that. The material was pre-shrunk.

Cousin: I still think it would be better to get a larger size.

Clothing Vendor: Then I’ll get you a larger one to try on. Which one do you like?

Xue Mei（tries on jacket）This is good. It’s looser than the other one.

Cousin: This jacket looks better in a bigger size.

Xue Mei: How much is it?

Clothing Vendor: 320 yuan.

Xue Mei: I’ll take one.

Clothing Vendor: Here you are. Take care. Come again.
 

Bookmarks

1）随着following

（例）随着互联网的发展,人们之间的联系更方便了。

Following the development of the Internet, it's much more convenient now for people to contact each other.

（例）随着收入的增长，买汽车的人也越来越多。

As people's income increases, more and more people are buying cars.

Sign Posts

Qi Pao

Today we heard about 旗袍, often just called qipao in English, or sometimes known by the Cantonese word cheongsam. In Mandarin we would say 长衫, long gown. This style of dress actually comes from the Manchu nationality. The rulers of the last dynasty, the Qing, were Manchus, so nobility often wore Manchu style clothing. The qipao is a one-piece dress with a high neck. It is usually fairly tight fitting, with a slit up one or both sides. Of course, there are many variations, but this is a very elegant, feminine gown.

Another style we heard today was 唐装. This is what I'm wearing now. It's a little like a 中山装, a Chinese tunic suit often referred to in English as a Mao suit. 中山装 refers to Sun Yat-sen, in Chinese 孙中山, who founded the Republic of China in 1911. In the west, this suit is perhaps called the Mao suit because it became the most popular form of dress after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. But the 唐装 is slightly different. 唐装 are usually made with silk and have traditional Chinese patterns. They are much more fancy and stylish than the plain 中山装. Again, there are many variations on this style.

When world leaders came to Shanghai for the APEC summit in 2001, they all had a group photo wearing red and blue 唐装. There is a famous photo of US President Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin both wearing 唐装. Many people see this as evidence that traditional Chinese clothing styles have been making a strong comeback in recent years.

Substitution and Extension

1）多少……点儿 at least there is a minimum amount

（例）这件事情我多少知道点儿。

At least I know a little bit about this thing.

2）你看着……吧 it's up to you

（例）我什么都能吃，你看着点吧。

I can eat anything. You pick what you like.