Grammar: How pauses & emphasizes in a sentence lead to different meanings
Language Tips:“句读”in ancient Chinese; Funny jokes raised by pauses in sentences
Story of the Day: Brought the house down 哄堂大笑 hōng táng dà xiào
Dialogue:
A:小明找不到爸爸妈妈很着急 (no pause no emphasis)。
xiǎo míng zhǎo bú dào bà bà mā mā hěn zhāo jí (no pause no emphasis)。
B:谁找不到谁?谁很着急?
shuí zhǎo bú dào shuí ?shuí hěn zhāo jí ?
A:小明找不到爸爸妈妈,很着急。(no emphasis)
xiǎo míng zhǎo bú dào bà bà mā mā ,hěn zhāo jí 。(no emphasis)
B:小明找不到谁?
xiǎo míng zhǎo bú dào shuí ?
A:小明找不到爸爸妈妈(emphasis),很着急。
xiǎo míng zhǎo bú dào bà bà mā mā (emphasis),hěn zhāo jí 。
B:谁找不到爸爸妈妈?
shuí zhǎo bú dào bà bà mā mā ?
A:小明(emphasis)找不到爸爸妈妈,很着急。
xiǎo míng (emphasis)zhǎo bú dào bà bà mā mā ,hěn zhāo jí 。
Words & expressions:
【找】zhǎo:looking for
【找不到】zhǎo bú dào: can’t find
【谁】shuí:who
【着急】zhāo jí:worry; feel anxious
Hosts: Liu Min & Sam Duckett
Programme Editor: Wang Xiaoyu
Producer: Lu Chang