Travel in Chinese Lesson 93 Kaer Well

新疆(三)

小杰：哈哈，真好玩儿。爸爸，你的脖子会动吗？

人豪：不行，动不了。

小杰：哈哈，不是这样的。你看这个姐姐，她就会动。（空镜：动脖子或者跳舞）

小杰：漂亮吧。

人豪：那当然了。唉，看来我是赶不上她们了。要知道，维吾尔族可是一个能歌善舞的民族。

小杰：爸爸，你说我要是戴上姐姐的帽子会好看吗？

人豪：好看，要是你把头发也编成像这个姐姐那样的辫子，那你就成了真正的“阿依古丽”了 。

小杰：阿依古丽？这是什么意思？

跳舞人：这是一个维语的名字。“古丽”是花的意思，阿依古丽就是“月亮花”。我们这里有很多女孩都叫这个名字。

小杰：哇，真美。爸爸，我回去也改名叫阿依古丽吧。我还要穿和这个姐姐一模一样的漂亮衣服。爸爸，快点儿带我去买吧。

人豪：好，好，回到乌鲁木齐就给你买。来，咱们吃点儿葡萄，凉快凉快儿！刚才这家的主人跟我说过这些瓜果都是刚用天山流下来的雪水冰过的。很凉的。

小杰：真凉！爸爸，住在这儿真“酷”，连冰箱都不用买了。

人豪：哈哈，你这孩子。

小杰：哎，爸爸，你说，为什么这里那么热，而雪水还是那么凉，一点儿变化也没有呢？

人豪：那是因为这里的雪水都藏在一个特别的井里。

小杰：哦？特别的井，在哪儿？

跳舞人：我知道，我带你们去看看吧。

人豪：好，咱们走吧。

跳舞人：就在前面。

人豪：噢，好的。谢谢，再见1

（坎儿井）

小杰：哇，爸爸，快下来。这里的水真凉。

人豪：小杰，小心啊！

小杰：这就是藏雪水的地方吧，真好玩儿。

人豪：对，这叫坎儿井。小杰，快上来吧。

小杰：坎儿井？好奇怪的名字。

人豪：小杰，我跟你说，在汉语中就是“井穴”的意思。在新疆，你可不能小看了这坎儿井，这可是和万里长城、京杭大运河并称的古代三大工程。

小杰：这么说来，坎儿井在新疆早就有了？

人豪：那当然了，在新疆啊，有绿色的地方就有坎儿井。你想想，要是没有坎儿井，咱们怎么能在葡萄沟吃到那么好吃的葡萄呢？

小杰：爸爸，我觉得这里的人真了不起。哎，爸爸，你说这水能喝吗？

人豪：当然能喝了，而且很甜的。这里的人都喝这种水。我们一块儿喝一喝，尝一尝吧。
 

Translation:

Xiaojie: Haha, it’s so much fun! Dad, can you move your stomach?

Renhao: No, it won’t move.

Xiaojie: Haha, that’s not what I meant. Look at that lady! She can move!

Xiaojie: Isn’t it pretty?

Renhao: Of course! I guess I’ll never be as good as those ladies. You know, the Uighur nationality as a whole is incredibly talented with singing and dancing.

Xiaojie: Dad, if I were to put on the lady’s hat, would that look nice?

Renhao: It would look nice! And if you were to braid your hair into braids like hers, you would become a true “Ayiguli”!

Xiaojie: Ayiguli? What does that mean?

Dancer: It’s a Uighur name. “Guli” means ‘flower,’ and “Ayiguli” means ‘moonlight flower.’ We have a lot of girls here with that name.

Xiaojie: Wow, it’s so pretty. Dad, when we go back, I want to change my name into “Ayiguli,” too. I also want to wear beautiful clothes that are exactly like hers. Hurry up, Dad, take me to buy some!

Renhao: Ok, ok. When we get back to Urumqi, we’ll buy some for you. Come on, let’s eat some grapes and cool off for awhile! Just now, the head of this house was telling me that these melons were chilled used snow meltoff from Heavenly Mountain. They’re so cold!

Renhao: Haha, you…

Xiaojie: Hey! Dad, why do you think it’s so hot right here? And yet the snow meltoff is so cold? It doesn’t change even a little.

Renhao: That’s because the snow meltoff is all hidden inside a special well.

Xiaojie: Oh? A special well? wher is that?

Dancer: I know wher it is. I’ll take you all to see it.

Renhao: Ok, let’s go.

Dancer: It’s up ahead.

Renhao: Oh, ok. Thank you! See you later.

Xiaojie: Wow, Dad! Come quick! The water here is so cold!

Renhao: Xiaojie, be careful!

Xiaojie: This must be the place wher they hide the snow meltoff, right? It’s so interesting!

Renhao: That’s right. This is called an aqueduct. Xiaojie, come up here.

Xiaojie: ‘Kaer’ well? What a strange name!

Renhao: Xiaojie, let me tell you. In Chinese, it means “well tube.” In Xinjiang, you can’t overestimate the importance of this aqueduct. This, along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, was one of the three Great Projects of Old.

Xiaojie: Do you mean Xinjiang has had the aqueducts since ancient times?

Renhao: Of course! In Xinjiang, anywher that it’s green, it’s because there is an aqueduct nearby. Think about it: if there weren’t an aqueduct near the vineyards, how would we be able to get such delicious grapes?

Xiaojie: Dad, I think the people here are just amazing. Hey Dad! Do you think I can drink this water?

Renhao: Of course you can drink it, and it’s quite sweet. All the people here drink this kind of water. Let’s give it a try together.
 

Bookmarks

1、赶不上 not reach or catch up

（例）他的汉语说得那么好，我根本赶不上。

His Chinese is that good. I just can't catch up.

（例）他工作起来非常认真，我一点儿也赶不上。

When he starts working, he is so diligent and serious. I just will never be able to match that.

2、一模一样 exactly the same in appearance

（例）他长得和他爸爸一模一样。

He looks exactly like his father.

（例）我今天穿的衣服和她的一模一样。

The clothing I'm wearing today is exactly the same as hers.

Sign Posts

Land of Song and Dance

Xinjiang is ethnically diverse, being populated by 13 of China's 55 minority nationalities, such as the Uygur, Hui, Mongolian and Manchu ethnic groups. The Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uygurs, making up nearly half the population, is the largest ethnic group in this area.

The Uygurs have a long and rich cultural tradition. The word “Uygur” itself means “unity” or “alliance,” describing the ethnic group’s formation. They speak Uygur, they believe in Islam, and they have very distinctive ethnical costumes and customs.

Xinjiang has had a reputation of the "Land of Song and Dance" since ancient times. Uygur music and dance are a special site to behold. During festive times like weddings, birthdays, harvest festivals and so on you can witness occasions of drinking wine from large bowls, eating large cubes of meat, singing and dancing warmly everywher in Xinjiang. The Uygur people are very hospitable and collective in spirit, and music is seen as a community activity. You will seldom see only a few people enjoying song and dance together. In Xinjiang, if you are invited to dance, it’s important not to refuse. Just follow along, twist your waist and wave your hands. A good time is guaranteed for all.

Substitution and Extension

1、要知道 you should know, it's important to note

（例）要知道，他已经在中国待了十年了，所以他的中文才说得那么地道。

You should know that he has been in China ten years already. That's why his Chinese is so authentic.