Travel in Chinese Lesson 84 Lingering Garden

留 园

(堂内)

雪梅：对，我在美国看到的就是这样的厅堂。

同事：这是苏州园林中最大的厅堂。

雪梅：这些家具真是太好了。

同事：这些家具都是楠木的，所以这里也叫楠木厅。

雪梅：这两个房间完全不一样，我的眼睛都不够用了。

同事：雪梅，所以这里叫鸳鸯厅。

雪梅：鸳鸯不是鸟的名字吗? 鸳鸯跟这个厅堂有什么关系?

同事：鸳鸯是一种鸟，不过这里的鸳鸯厅呢，是一对的意思。雪梅，你看，这边是男厅，是专门为招待男客人用的，这边是女厅，当然是为了招待女客人用的了。

雪梅：我明白了。

（堂外）

同事：雪梅，渴了吧，咱们去那边买点儿水吧。

雪梅：妇的。对了，今天我想买点儿苏州特产，你能推荐一下儿么？

同事：要说苏州特产真的挺多的，不过人们常买的也就是苏绣、丝绸和檀香扇这几样。

雪梅：吃的东西有什么特产么？

同事：吃的东西也很多，依我看，你最好走的时候再买吃的。

雪梅：好吧。

:同事：走！

（纪念品商店）

同事：雪梅，你看，这就是苏绣。这面和那面是不是一样的？

雪梅：真的，在这么薄的丝绸上绣出这么好的东西，真棒。我要多买点儿，送给朋友，谁看了谁都会喜欢。

售货员：你们好。你们要买苏绣么？这就是双面绣。

同事：雪梅，双面绣是苏绣中独有的技法。

雪梅：苏绣有多长时间的历史了？

售货员：已经有两千多年的历史了。

雪梅：怪不得，苏州姑娘的衣服那么漂亮呢。

同事：雪梅，苏绣不限于服装，以前还有绣的地图呢。

雪梅：我觉得这里卖丝绸的多，穿丝绸的也不少。

售货员：这里是丝绸的故乡嘛!

同事：苏州从元代开始就有了丝绸厂，几乎有7、8百年的历史了。

雪梅：那我一定要多买一些送给朋友。

同事：哎，雪梅，这儿的湖笔也挺有名的，很多外国人都喜欢买。

雪梅：不光是外国人喜欢。临来时，我丈夫还特地嘱咐过我，要买这种笔。

售货员：我们这儿有卖湖笔的。

雪梅：谢谢！不过我们还是先买苏绣吧。

同事：好。
 

Translation:

Xuemei: Yes, this is just like the pavilion I saw in America.

Colleague: Out of all of Suzhou’s gardens, this is the largest pavilion.

Xuemei: The furniture here is truly amazing.

Colleague: This furniture is all made of cedar, so this is called the Cedar Hall.

Xuemei: The two rooms are completely different; I can’t even take it all in!

Colleague: So, Xuemei, this is called the Mandarin Duck Hall.

Xuemei: ‘Mandarin duck’ refers to a bird though, right? What could a bird have to do with this pavilion?

Colleague: ‘Mandarin duck’ does refer to a bird, but in the context of the ‘Mandarin Duck Pavilion,’ it conjures the idea of ‘a pair.’ Look, Xuemei: this is the men’s side, used for receiving male guests; and this is the women’s side, which, of course, is for receiving female guests.

Xuemei: I get it.

Colleague: Xuemei, let’s go over there to buy some water.

Xuemei: Ok. Oh, by the way, I was hoping to buy something distinctively Suzhou today. Can you recommend anything?

Colleague: Suzhou has a lot of distinctive products, but the most popular would have to be Suzhou embroidery, silk, and sandalwood fans.

Xuemei: Are there any edible souvenirs?

Colleague: There are lots of things you can eat, but I recommend waiting until right before you leave to buy them.

Xuemei: Alright.

Colleague: Look, Xuemei, this is Suzhou embroidery. Do you see how both sides are the same?

Xuemei: It’s true! How amazing that they can embroider such a beautiful picture on such thin silk. I’d like to buy a few extra as gifts for friends…anyone who sees these will want one for sure!

Seller: Hello. Do you all want to buy Suzhou embroidery? These are double-sided embroidery.

Colleague: Xuemei, double-sided embroidery is a technique that is unique to Suzhou.

Xuemei: How long has Suzhou embroidery been around?

Seller: Already more than two thousand years.

Xuemei: No wonder the girls in Suzhou wear such beautiful clothes!

Colleague: Xuemei, Suzhou embroidery is not limited to clothing; in the past, there were also embroidered maps.

Xuemei: It seems like a lot of silk is purchased here, and more than a few people wear it, as well!

Seller: This is no less than the hometown of silk!

Colleague: Silk factories appeared in Suzhou during the Yuan Dynasty, so there is a seven- or eight-hundred-year history of silk here.

Xuemei: Then I definitely want to buy more as gifts for friends.

Colleague: Oh! Xuemei, the Huzhou calligraphy brushes here are also quite famous. A lot of foreigners like to buy them.

Xuemei: Not just foreigners! Right before I came, my husband made a special point to ask me to buy some of these for him.

Seller: We have Huzhou calligraphy brushes for sale here.

Xuemei: Thank you! But I think I want to buy the Suzhou embroidery first.

Colleague: Ok.
 

Bookmarks

1、限于 limited to

（例）参加这次比赛的并不限于本校的学生。

The people who are participating in this competition are not limited to students from this school.

（例）这部电影只限于18岁以上的人观看.

This movie can only be seen by people over 18。

2、特地 specially, make a special point

（例）我昨天特地去找你，结果你却不在家。

I made a special point of going to see you yesterday. But in the end you weren't at home.

（例）为了这件事，他特地去了一趟上海。special trip to Shanghai for this task or issue

He made a special trip to Shanghai for this issue.

Sign Posts

Special Products of Suzhou

Talking about the special products of Suzhou, most Chinese can give you a long list. The most representative of these are embroidery, fans, musical instruments, lanterns, mahogany furniture, jade carving, and silk tapestries. Suzhou’s arts & crafts, marked by exquisite craftsmanship, represent a unique style developed over a thousand years under the influence of generations of artisans.

With a history of over 2,000 years, Suzhou embroidery苏绣is considered the "pearl of oriental art" for its beautiful designs, varied stitches, superb workmanship and elegant colors. Early in the Song Dynasty, it was already described as being "delicate and close in stitch and meticulous and wonderful in color". In the Qing Dynasty, Suzhou embroidery enjoyed a period of great prosperity, as these crafts were highly sought in all parts of China.

One of the unique features of Suzhou embroidery are the tiny embroidery needles developed by generations of artisans. This has lead to a popular saying that "wonder can be made with needle points and spring born under fingers".

Substitution and Extension

谁......谁 whoever, everyone

（例）这个地方很不错，谁去了谁都会喜欢。

This place is really not bad. Whoever comes here will like it.