Travel in Chinese Lesson 92 Vineyard

新疆（二）

（葡萄沟）

小杰：爸爸，快来看看，这里到处都是葡萄，到处都是绿色，简直是太漂亮了。

人豪：看把你高兴的，要不这儿怎么叫“葡萄沟”呢？

小杰：爸爸，新疆的水果当中，是不是葡萄最出名啊？

人豪：谁说的，新疆的水果种类可多了，而且不同的地方出产不同的水果。俗话说：“吐鲁番的葡萄哈密的瓜，库尔勒的香犁人人夸，叶城的石榴顶呱呱”

小杰：别说了，别说了，我的口水都快流下来了。我们这次在新疆多住几天吧，我一定要把每一样水果都吃一遍。

人豪：哈哈，你啊，小心吃多了闹肚子。在吐鲁番啊，你就踏踏实实地先吃葡萄吧。哎，对了，前边有卖葡萄干的，你想吃吗？我给你买点儿去。

小杰：太好了，我们也给妈妈买点儿回去吧。

（葡萄干铺）

小杰：爸爸，你看，这里有好多种葡萄干呢。尝一个。（递一颗给爸爸）

人豪：好吃，味道一点儿也不比鲜葡萄差。看来吐鲁番又热又干的气侯特别适合种植葡萄和制作葡萄干。

小杰：这还用说，这里这么热，把葡萄放在太阳底下晒晒，很快就变成葡萄干了。

卖葡萄干的人：你说对了一半儿。我们吐鲁番的葡萄有一些是在太阳下晒干的，有一些是在荫房荫干的。

小杰：荫房？那是什么样的房子。

卖葡萄干的人：就是专门风干葡萄的地方，那边就有。

小杰：爸爸，那我们快点过去看看吧。

（荫房门口）

小杰：爸爸，这房子真奇怪。我去问一下这个阿姨吧。

阿姨，这是荫房吗？

当地人：荫房？哦，对这就是荫房，不过我们都管它叫“群兼”。

小杰：爸爸，你看这房子好玩儿，这么多孔。

人豪：看你说的，没那么多孔，葡萄放进去还不坏了吗。当地的人把鲜葡萄一串一串地挂在里边，关上门，四十天以后，葡萄就可以变成葡萄干了。我说的对吗？

当地人：对，就是这样的。

小杰：哦，是吗？爸爸，我们现在也放一串儿葡萄进去吧，我想看看它是怎么变成葡萄干的。

人豪：哈哈，这可来不及了。不过，有一件事是你现在就能干的，跟我来。谢谢你。

当地人：不客气。
 

Translation:

Xiaojie: Dad, come look! There are grapes everywher here! Everything is so green! It’s simply gorgeous.

Renhao: I’m glad you like it. Were it not for the grapes, how could it be a vineyard?

Xiaojie: Dad, aren’t grapes the most famous of all of the fruits that Xinjiang produces?

Renhao: Says who? Xinjiang produces so many different kinds; and different regions are famous for different fruits. There is a saying that goes, “The grapes of Turpan, the cantaloupes of Hami, and the fragrant pears of Korla receive praise far and wide; the guava of Karghilik are equally admired.”

Xiaojie: Enough! Enough! My mouth is watering! Let’s stay a few extra days in Xinjiang this time: I want to make sure I get to try every different fruit.

Renhao: Haha, don’t eat too much: it could upset your stomach! When you’re in Turpan, feel free to have grapes first. Oh, that’s right, there’s a place selling raisins up ahead. Would you like some? I’ll go buy them for you.

Xiaojie: Great! Let’s buy some to take home for Mom, too.

Xiaojie: Dad, look, there are so many different kinds of raisins here. Try one.

Renhao: Delicious! The taste is every bit as good as a fresh grape! It appears that the hot, dry climate of Turpan is perfectly suited to farming grapes and producing raisins.

Xiaojie: That goes without saying! It’s so hot here that all you’d need to do is put the grapes out under the sun, and before too long, they will become raisins!

Seller: You’re half right. Some of the grapes in Turpan are sun-dried, but others are dried in a shade room.

Xiaojie: Shade room? What kind of a room is that?

Seller: It’s a place specially designed for using wind to dry grapes. There’s one right over there.

Xiaojie: Dad, let’s go over and have a look.

Xiaojie: Dad, this room is so strange. I’m going go ask that lady about it.

Ma’am, is this a shade room?

Local: Shade room? Oh, yes, this is a shade room. But, we call it a ‘qunjian.’

Xiaojie: Dad, isn’t this room fun? There are so many openings!

Renhao: Duh! If it weren’t for all the openings, all the grapes would go bad. Locals hang up strands of fresh grapes, one by one, and then close the door. Forty days later, the grapes have become raisins. Is that right?

Local: That’s correct.

Xiaojie: Oh really? Dad, let’s put a strand of grapes in, too. I want to see how they become raisins.

Renhao: Haha, I don’t think we’ll have time for that. Although, there is one thing we can go do right now. Come with me. Thank you!

No problem.
 

Bookmarks

1、不比......差 not any worse than, just as good

（例）这里烤鸭的味道不比全聚德的差。

The taste of roast duck here is just as good as Quan Ju De.

（例）这里的服务不比五星级酒店的服务差。

The service here is just as good as that in a five-star hotel.

Sign Posts

The Special Products of Xinjiang

Looking at the Flaming Mountains in the distance from the city of Turpan, one can see nothing but glowing, barren red sand. But the Grape Valley, not far away, is a world of unique beauty. It makes for a striking contrast with the hot, dry and barren area around.Cushioned by grass and graced with trees, the valley is a world of green with brooks, canals and sparkling springs. There is a poetic flavor to the idyllic beauty of the valley. All kinds of vegetation are scattered throughout the valley, making the valley into what they call a ‘garden of one hundred flowers’ in spring and an ‘orchard of one hundred kinds of fruits’ in summer.

Xinjinag abounds in fruits and melons. Most famous of them are seedless white grapes, Korla fragrant pears and Hami melons. In the past, Hami melons were used as a tribute for the imperial court. Nowadays they are famous around the world for their large size and sweet taste, containing as much as 12 to 14% natural sugars. Seedless white grapes are also noted for their large clusters and small fruit. From these grapes are made Xinjiang Raisins of China, famous both at home and abroad.

Substitution and Extension

1、看你说的....... look what you've said. Disagree

（例）看你说的，要不是他那么不小心，怎么会把钱包丢了呢？

Look what you've said, if it wasn't that he wasn't careful, then how could he have lost his wallet?