Dewey Hammond

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4E)

2012-01-29T00:39:00.000Z

New for me is the adverb, "sometimes."

Sometimes I drink beer, but I don't like to drink a lot of beer.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4D)

2012-01-29T00:36:00.000Z

New for me is this specific use of, "to live," and also "short" and "long" (with regard to time).

I have lived in San Francisco for 12 years.

That is a long time.

No, it is a short time. My friend has lived in San Francisco for 20 years.

Cool.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4C)

2012-01-29T00:32:00.000Z

I intended to say "because," but instead I said "but" by mistake. This is certainly not the first time I have made a mistake trying to speak Chinese. It is the second time.

I never drink beer, (but/because) I don't like beer; however, I like tea. I always drink tea.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4B)

2012-01-29T00:27:00.001Z

New for me is the Chinese word for, "colleague."

Who is your friend?

My friend is a colleague. Later, she will come over with her husband. My colleague always comes over with her husband.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4)

2012-01-29T00:22:00.000Z

One of my Chinese friends abroad asked me why we had not chatted recently, even though it had been only one day since we had last been in touch. I emailed her this video as a response. She responded, "Ur chinese is OK i think."

Because I have a lot of work to do; besides, one day is a short time.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.3C)

2012-01-25T03:34:00.000Z

I find it incredibly difficult to say the Mandarin word for "person," which is necessary if you want to say that someone is Chinese (literally: China person) or American (literally: America person, or even more literally: Beautiful country, person) or any other nationality.

Hello.

Are you acquainted with my friend Jeff?

No, I am not acquainted with your friend, but I am acquainted with his wife.

His wife is Chinese, yeah?

No, his wife is American.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.3B)

2012-01-25T03:20:00.001Z

I made a mistake in this video, but I'm happy with myself for having caught the mistake.

Hello. Do you have a lot of work to do?

Yes, I have a lot of work to do, but right now [I have]* time to drink tea. I always drink tea.

As for me, I always drink wine, but I don't like tea.

*I forgot to say this verb

Mandarin Chinese (#2.3)

2012-01-25T01:45:00.002Z

New for me is the Chinese verb for, "to come over," and also the formal way to ask somebody their family name (which is probably more important in China than in the United States). Despite the importance of family names, I've also learned how to say, "Don't be so formal."

Who is going to come over?

There are three friends coming to see me.

What are their last names (literally, Honorable family name)?

Don't be so formal (literally, Don't stand on ceremony). Their last names are Li, but they call themselves Dragon, Little Dragon, and Big Dragon.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.2C)

2012-01-25T01:40:00.000Z

New for me in this video is the Chinese phrase for being acquainted with someone.

Are you acquainted with Zhou Guangyi?

Yes, I am acquainted with Zhou Guangyi. He is my friend. He is my good friend.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.2B)

2012-01-25T01:39:00.001Z

New for me is the Chinese verb for "have to," as in responsibility, and also the phrase for "excuse myself" (not as in, Excuse me, but as in physically removing yourself from a situation.)

I have to excuse myself.

I have to go to work.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.2)

2012-01-25T01:37:00.000Z

This video deals with names, and it includes one of my Chinese friends, Zhou (family name) Guangyi (first name), who recently moved to America, where he goes by the name Chance.

Who is that person?

That is my friend.

What is his name (literally: she/he, calls, what, name)?

His name is Zhou Guangyi, but in America his name is Chance.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.1C)

2012-01-19T02:21:00.000Z

I've tried to slow down my speech, so that I can focus more on proper tones.

Hello. What did you do today?

Hello. This morning I drank a little tea, then I bought you some things, and then I ate lunch at the Beijing Restaurant with my three children.

Cool. That is a very good restaurant.

I know. It is a very good restaurant.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.1B)

2012-01-19T02:15:00.000Z

I've finally learned how to ask how to say a certain word in Chinese.

How do you say "word" in Chinese?

It is said, _______.

How do you say "hotel" in Chinese?

It is said, _______.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.1)

2012-01-19T02:12:00.000Z

New for me is the word, "yet."

What have you seen in Beijing?

I have not yet seen anything in Beijing.

Mandarin Chinese (#30)

2012-01-14T07:08:00.001Z

I've finished level one of my Mandarin lessons. Now I'll begin level two, which also consists of 30 lessons; after that, it'll be another 30 lessons for level three, at which point I'm sure I'll be named the U.S. ambassador to China, or assistant manager at Panda Express.

When did you both arrive?

My wife and I arrived yesterday morning in Beijing. We arrived together.

How long are you going to stay?

We are going to stay two weeks, or three weeks.

Cool.

Mandarin Chinese (#29E)

2012-01-14T07:01:00.000Z

The negative form of the past tense is different than the positive form of the past tense, and here I explore both together, using the verb, "buy."

Did you buy anything yesterday?

I did not buy anything yesterday.

Mandarin Chinese (#29D)

2012-01-14T06:52:00.000Z

In Chinese, you don't need a measure word when speaking about a number of days, but you do need a measure word when speaking about a number of weeks; in this video, I am using the phrase, "one week," but I failed to use a measure word.

We are going to take a plane to San Francisco, and then we are going to stay in San Francisco for one week.

Mandarin Chinese (#29C)

2012-01-14T06:47:00.000Z

I'm starting to get a grip on the past tense, which fortunately doesn't involve conjugation.

Did you eat?

Yesterday, I didn't eat anything, but today I ate lunch and then I ate dinner.

Mandarin Chinese (#29B)

2012-01-14T06:42:00.000Z

The verb, "see," sounds a lot like the verb, "fuck," a mistake I've made before; hopefully I didn't make the same mistake again. Just another reminder that proper tones are important.

When did you both arrive?

We arrived yesterday, but tomorrow we are going to leave. We are going to take a plane to Hong Kong, and then we are going to see some friends in Hong Kong.

Mandarin Chinese (#29)

2012-01-14T06:37:00.000Z

I'm almost positive that, at least once in this video, my incorrect tones result in me saying, "and," instead of what I was trying to say, which was the verb, "drink," but it's not as egregious as the recent mistake I made, which was to say the verb, "fuck," instead of the verb, "see."

Thanks to my friend, Guangyi, for pointing out my mistake.

Do you want to drink something with me?

Yes, I would like to drink something with you.

Good. I like to drink beer.

But I don't like to drink beer; however, I like to drink tea. How about you?

I don't like to drink tea, but right now I will drink some tea with you.

Thank you.

Mandarin Chinese (#28C)

2012-01-13T01:53:00.000Z

New for me here is the verb, "work." I've also practiced differentiating between using the verbs for "think" and "like," each of which is the same word, with the same pronunciation, and the same tone, distinguished from each other only by context.

I don't think that I am going to work tomorrow.

Why?

Because I don't want to work.

Mandarin Chinese (#28B)

2012-01-13T01:47:00.000Z

I've finally learned how to ask what something means. This will come in handy, often.

What does this mean? It means... (literally, meaning is).

(x3)

Mandarin Chinese (#28)

2012-01-13T01:44:00.000Z

I think the only word that's new for me here is "time." It's also the first time I've used the word "return," but that's a word that I was taught a few months ago while I was in Beijing.

I don't have much confidence in the accuracy of the sentence structure, or the tones.

I want to see a few friends in Beijing, but I cannot see them.

Why?

Because I don't have the time.

How many days are you going to stay in Beijing?

I have been in Beijing for a few days, but tomorrow I return to San Francisco.

Mandarin Chinese (#27C)

2012-01-05T06:11:00.000Z

New for me is the word "alone," which translated literally is two words: "only, one person."

Are you alone?

Yes, I am alone.

Mandarin Chinese (#27B)

2012-01-05T06:07:00.000Z

There is only one new word for me here (the verb, "leave") but the verb is used in different ways depending upon the context, so I explored a couple of different uses.

Do you want to leave now?

Yes, we should leave together.

Mandarin Chinese (#27)

2012-01-05T06:02:00.000Z

New for me is the verb, "stay," as in, to stay located somewhere for a period of time. I'm not at all confident that I have the grammar correct in this video. I'm getting a bit confused by the fact that the verbs for "like" and "think" are the same word, with the same tone. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, but right now it's throwing a wrench in my Chinese gears.

I think I am going to Beijing. I am going to stay there for a few days.

Mandarin Chinese (#26D)

2012-01-05T05:48:00.001Z

New for me in this video is the verb, "think," which I've learned is the same word, the same pronunciation, and even the same tone, as the verb for "like," which could get rather confusing. You can only tell the difference between the words based on the context, or by the occasional supporting word that might tip the scales one way or the other. Here I say what is essentially the same thing twice, back to back, but with slightly different meanings because of one word.

Also new is the verb, "see."

Full disclosure: I might not be getting this correct, but at this point in my learning that de facto applies to pretty much anything I'm saying in Chinese. It might be incorrect. Surprise.

I would like to see some friends. I think I am going to see some friends.

Mandarin Chinese (#26C)

2012-01-05T05:43:00.000Z

New for me: work, maybe (might).

I might do some work here later, but I don't want to work.

Mandarin Chinese (#26B)

2012-01-05T05:28:00.000Z

Only one new phrase for me here: Kings Road.

Hello. Where is Kings Road?

It's over there. Go straight ahead, and then take the road to the left.

Mandarin Chinese (#26)

2012-01-01T04:44:00.000Z

Happy New Year. The new word for me is appropriate to the season: friends.

"Hi. Later tonight, along with a few friends, I will drink some beer. Very well. Goodbye."

Mandarin Chinese (#25B)

2011-12-28T20:11:00.000Z

New for me: "store" (noun), "open" and "closed" (i.e. store hours), "why," and "because."

Hello, is the store open right now?

No, the store is not open right now.

Why?

Because it is too late, but the store will be open tomorrow.

Mandarin Chinese (#25)

2011-12-28T20:07:00.000Z

Brushing up on some old vocabulary, with only one new word: Hong Kong dollars.

I want to buy something, I want to buy anything, but I don't have any money. You should give me a lot of money. You should give me $2,000 Hong Kong dollars ($257).

Mandarin Chinese (#24C)

2011-12-24T02:45:00.000Z

Lots of new words for me here: the measure word for roads, plus "on the right," "on the left," "should," and "then" as it relates to things procedural (e.g. giving directions).

Which road should we take?

You all should take the road on the right.

And then?

And then go straight ahead, and then take the road on the left.

Do you (singular) understand?

I understand. We should take the road to the right, and then go straight ahead, and then take the road to the left. Is that correct?

Correct.

Very good. Thank you.

Goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#24B)

2011-12-24T02:37:00.000Z

New for me are the Chinese word for "thousand," and using the verb "go" as a command.

Can you give me $3,000 USD?

Impossible! I don't have $3,000 for you. Goodbye. Go away!

Mandarin Chinese (#24)

2011-12-23T02:02:00.000Z

One of my first tongue-twisters in Mandarin: The phrase, "It takes 14 hours."

I want to take a plane to Hong Kong. Is taking a plane in China expensive?

It's not expensive. This plane goes to Hong Kong. Go straight ahead.

How long will it take (literally: Going, how many, hours)?

It takes 14 hours.

Mandarin Chinese (#23B)

2011-12-20T04:40:00.000Z

New for me is the Chinese word, "far." I also did some basic practice of the two ways to ask questions in Chinese: via the question word (ma), and using the yes/no approach.

Is Hong Kong very far? / [Said with question-word structure.]

No, Hong Kong is not very far.

Is Hong Kong very far? [Said with yes/no structure.]

Yes, Hong Kong is far. Hong Kong is very far. It is too far.

Mandarin Chinese (#23)

2011-12-16T03:31:00.000Z

New for me are the words for "this flight," "that flight," and "go straight ahead."

Which flight goes to Hong Kong? I would like to take a plane to Hong Kong?

In that case, go straight ahead. This flight goes to Hong Kong.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

Goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#22D)

2011-12-12T06:20:00.000Z

To ask somebody, in Chinese, how long something is going to take, you say, translated literally, "Go (i.e. going to be), how many hours?"

Tomorrow, I will go to the airport, and I will take a plane to Hong Kong.

How long will it take?

It will take nine hours.

Mandarin Chinese (#22C)

2011-12-12T06:14:00.000Z

To ask somebody in Chinese how many people are in their family, you say, translated literally, "You, home, inside, how many people?"

How many people are in your family?

There are four people in my family. How about you (plural)?

Our family is very big. Our family is really very big. We have nine people in our family.

Mandarin Chinese (#22B)

2011-12-12T06:07:00.000Z

New for me is the Chinese phrase for, "Wait a moment."

Can you eat dinner with us now?
Yes, I can eat dinner with you (plural) now, but, wait a moment.

Mandarin Chinese (#22)

2011-12-11T00:42:00.000Z

I recorded this video in the airport, which seems appropriate.

New words for me: airport, airplane, Hong Kong.

Hello. I am Big Dragon (my Chinese name). I am at an airport, and I want to take a plane to Hong Kong, but right now I am going to take a plane to San Francisco.

Mandarin Chinese (#21E)

2011-12-06T04:55:00.000Z

This is my first attempt at using a rhetorical question in Mandarin Chinese (a.k.a. Putonghua).

I didn't learn this from any of my lessons. I just put it together based on what I already know. Grammatically it doesn't make any sense, and I doubt it would be understood the way English speakers would understand the rhetorical phrase, "Don't you know it," but, literally, in Chinese this final phrase translates as, "You don't know, yes or no?"

My wife and I have nine kids. We have daughters, and four sons.

Your family is big. Your family is really very big.

Correct. Don't you know it?!*

Mandarin Chinese (#21D)

2011-12-06T04:53:00.000Z

Two new words for me: family, really.

My wife and I have nine kids. We have seven daughters, and two sons.

Your family is very big.

Our family is really very big.

Mandarin Chinese (#21C)

2011-12-05T02:35:00.002Z

I'm not sure why I'm speaking so slowly and so awkwardly in this video; the only 'new' words for me here are "younger/smaller" and "older/bigger," which for me aren't really new at all, because my Chinese name is Dàlóng [Big Dragon (as in big sibling, i.e. older/bigger)], and my dog's name is Xiǎolóng [Little Dragon (as in younger sibling, i.e. younger/smaller)]. So I should've been able to say all of this with a bit more confidence. But sometimes it's a bit awkward to stare at the webcam, even more so because I don't write anything down beforehand.

Do you know where the children are?

Yes, I do know where the children are: the younger son is here; the older son is here.

What about the younger daughter?

I don't have a younger daughter, but I do have an older daughter; however, I don't know where she is.

Mandarin Chinese (#21B)

2011-12-05T02:29:00.000Z

"Bathroom" is all that's new here.

Excuse me, please let me ask you a question. Where is the bathroom?

The bathroom is not here. The bathroom is over there.

Mandarin Chinese (#21)

2011-12-05T02:28:00.000Z

Recently I learned how to say "we," and "you" (plural); now, I also know "our," and "your."

How many children do you (plural) have?

My wife and I have four children. We have two sons, and two daughters.

Your children, where are they?

Our daughters are here, in America, in San Francisco, but our sons are in China, in Beijing.

Mandarin Chinese (#20B)

2011-12-02T00:16:00.000Z

What I said is technically correct, but awkward, because it's not what I meant to say: I meant to say that "I" live with my wife, not that "we" live with my wife. Not my best work. Sigh.

Hello. Where do you (plural) live?

We live in America, in San Francisco. We live with my wife.

Mandarin Chinese (#20)

2011-12-02T00:15:00.000Z

New Chinese words for me: children, son, daughter, they, "grown up" (literally "big," but in this case, with the "la" ending, it refers only to maturity, not physical size), and "how many" (which in this case refers only to people, whereas other ways of saying "how many" or "how much" refer to other things; e.g. money).

You, and your wife, do you have kids?

Yes, we have kids.

How many kids do you have?

We have two sons and one daughter. How about you?

I have one daughter, but I don't have any sons; but, I don't have a wife. Your children, are they grown up?

They are not grown up.

Mandarin Chinese (#19B)

2011-12-01T02:58:00.000Z

Probably my longest video yet. Lots of new things for me here, and some refreshers too.

Mr. Chen, please come in.

Hello, Mr. Chen.

Hello.

Do you want to drink something with us?

Yes, I would like to drink something with you (plural).

What would you like to drink?

I would like to drink beer. What about you (singular)?

We would like to drink water, or tea, but we don't want to drink beer.

But I want to drink beer.

I want to drink beer - I too want to drink beer, but we don't want to drink beer.

OK. Thank you.

Mandarin Chinese (#19)

2011-12-01T02:56:00.000Z

The new words for me in this video are "live" and "he," the latter of which is also the same word that you'd use for she/it. The words for "Mrs." and "Mr." are the same as those used for wife and husband, respectively, and it just depends on the context.

So, now, if you're ever in China, you can ask where to find Yao Ming's wife.

Where does Mrs. Yao live? I don't know where she lives.

Mandarin Chinese (#18C)

2011-11-29T17:44:00.000Z

The phrase, "with my wife," is fun too say, but only if it's said faster than I say it here.

I am going to drink some beer with my wife. Please give me one bottle of beer; (actually), give me two bottles of beer.

Here you go, two bottles of beer.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

Mandarin Chinese (#18B)

2011-11-29T17:43:00.000Z

I learned in Chinese how to say that one thing is comparatively "more" than another thing.

I also learned how to say 100.

How much is this?

100 元.

That's very expensive. It's too expensive.

It's not too expensive. It's more expensive over there.

Mandarin Chinese (#18)

2011-11-29T17:41:00.000Z

Words in this video that are new for me: husband, wife, water.

Your husband would like to drink water now, but my wife would like to drink water later.

Mandarin Chinese (#17C)

2011-11-28T19:05:00.000Z

More practice using "too" as a modifier. I've also learned the Mandarin word for "expensive."

Hello, how much is that one?

This one is 57 元.

That's too expensive.

It's not too expensive, but, in that case, let's say 51 元?

That's not OK, but I will give you 47 元, OK?

OK. Thank you.

Goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#17B)

2011-11-28T19:02:00.000Z

Practicing the word "fast" in Mandarin Chinese, along with the use of "too" as a modifier.

You speak Mandarin Chinese very well, but you speak too fast.

Thank you, but I do not speak too fast, (and) I do not speak Chinese very well.

Mandarin Chinese (#17)

2011-11-28T19:00:00.000Z

Practicing the phrases "enough" and "not enough" in Mandarin Chinese.

I would like to order 24 bottles of beer, but I have (only) a little money. Is it enough?

You have a lot of money, but it's not enough. I cannot give you 24 bottles of beer. Goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#16B)

2011-11-25T22:32:00.000Z

There are two ways to ask questions in Chinese. The first involves adding the question word ( 吗 : ma) at the end of a declarative statement (e.g. You would like to eat dinner, yes or no?), whereas the second involves using the positive/negative forms of the verb together (e.g. You would like, would not like, to eat dinner = Would you like to eat dinner?), which so far has tended to be my preference. Below I ask the same question in two different ways, before answering it.

[Question word]: Is this for me?

[Positive/negative]: Is this for me?

Yes, that is for you.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

Mandarin Chinese (#16)

2011-11-25T22:25:00.000Z

I recently learned the Chinese words for "too much" and "enough."

Is this too much dinner?

No, it is not too much dinner, but it's enough.

Mandarin Chinese (#15B)

2011-11-22T00:46:00.000Z

I do a terrible job of pronouncing "don't mention it," but next time I'll get it right.

The phrases "for me" and "for you" are also new, for me.

The tea is for me, but the beer is for you.

Thank you.

Don’t mention it.

Mandarin Chinese (#15)

2011-11-22T00:41:00.000Z

This is not my best video for pronunciation ("this evening" and "tomorrow evening" especially), but some of the sentence structures are more complex than I've attempted in the past.

Do you want to eat something with my this evening? Is 9 o’clock OK?

9 o’clock is not OK, but I do want to eat something with you.

When?

Are you able to eat something with me tomorrow evening?

Yes, I am able to eat something with you tomorrow evening.

OK.

OK, goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#14)

2011-11-18T22:29:00.000Z

The Chinese word for "is" (falling tone) is quite similar to the Chinese word for "10" (same sound, but with rising tone), so without the proper tone, the meaning would get lost. Nothing I'm saying here is impressive, but it's good practice for me to differentiate between such similar words.

(The Chinese word for "18" is said by saying the words, "10-8.")

Hello. Is this 18 元?

Yes, this is 18 元.

But I don’t have 18 元.

In that case, let’s say 17 元.

OK.

Mandarin Chinese (#13)

2011-11-09T05:22:00.003Z

I learned a new way to ask questions in Chinese, as opposed to just adding the question word ( 吗 : ma) at the end of a declarative sentence. None of the content here is new for me, but what is new is the manner in which I'm asking the questions.

"Do you want to eat dinner with me now?"
"No, I do not want to eat dinner with you now, but I would like to eat dinner with you later."

"Do you have 15 元?"
"I don't have 15 元, but I have $15 USD."

[I've been told that the form I've used to say "American dollars" is incorrect, and that most Chinese people simply say "dol," appropriated from dollar, as slang for dollars.]

Mandarin Chinese (#12)

2011-10-25T18:13:00.001+01:00

I've been sick, heavily congested, for the past few weeks, making it more difficult to correctly pronounce the four tones necessary for Mandarin. Pronouncing tones correctly while congested is about as difficult as bargaining in local Chinese markets, a tiring and trying process, especially when you've got white skin, which in China equals dollar signs (or more accurately, 元 signs).

How much money does this cost?

It is 18 元 (literally, 18 units of People's Currency).

Are you trying to kill me?* Impossible!

In that case, let's say 17 元.

Thank you, but that's not OK.

In that case, let's say 15 元.

Not OK.

14 元, OK?

OK.

*I learned this phrase in Beijing. As far as I can tell, it's akin to, You've gotta be kidding me, with the more literal translation being, Are you trying to kill me? It may be a local figure of speech.]

Mandarin Chinese (#11C)

2011-10-12T17:39:00.001+01:00

Beijing has its fair share of con artists. They're easy to find. All you have to do is be white, be alone, and spend more than 30 seconds near Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City. The catalyst for the scam almost always involves a Chinese girl inviting you to drink tea.

Here is what you can say (loosely translated): "I know this (scam). I don't want to drink tea with you. I don't want to drink anything with you. Not now, not ever. Goodbye."

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Mausoleum)

2011-10-12T12:31:00.034+01:00

It was only after my fifth attempt that I was able to finally enter Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, located in Tiananmen Square.

My first attempt was a few months ago, when the mausoleum was closed because of either the Dragon Boat Festival or the twenty-second anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre (and Tank Man). My second attempt, last week, it was closed because I arrived too late in the day. My third attempt, it was closed for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China (i.e. Taiwan, not to be confused with the People's Republic of China, i.e. China). My fourth attempt, I was denied because I didn't have my passport. Today I entered, but only after waiting in line for an hour, with thousands and maybe tens of thousands of Chinese citizens waiting to pay tribute to the founding father of the PRC, and the first Chairman of the Communist Party of China.

There are no photographs allowed inside the mausoleum, which is not surprising. Unlike some places where photography is not allowed, I'm relatively certain that using a camera inside the mausoleum would not result in a wag of the finger, but more likely an arrest.

While waiting in line, you're never actually waiting. The line is always moving. When you enter the building, you first enter into a large foyer, where there is a large marble statue of Mao Zedong, with his legs crossed casually, that is surrounded by thousands of poinsettias. Behind him there is a massive, rural landscape portrait. In front of all that, there is a collection of white flowers left by visitors, who can rent the flowers before entering the Memorial Hall. The flowers are three 元 (about fifty cents) and are almost certainly resold until they're dead, or perhaps they're plastic and resold indefinitely. I'm not sure. I wasn't about to buy flowers for Mao.

Mao is lying in repose in a glass box, and under bright lights, his hair badly receded. He is on display wearing the typical Mao suit, a Chinese tunic suit known in China as the Zhongshan suit: drab, grey, too many buttons. Most of his body is covered with a red blanket decorated with the iconic hammer and sickle made famous during the Soviet era. The glass enclosure in which he's kept is decorated with red Chinese stars on the base of each side (i.e. Mao's right and left side), and on the side by Mao's feet there is again the hammer and sickle.

You are not allowed to stop and look. Visitors must always keep moving. From the time you enter the room with Mao, you've got maybe 20 or 30 seconds to stare as you slowly shuffle past, with guards constantly trying to hustle the crowd to move faster to accommodate the thousands of people in queue. You never get closer than about 20 feet. The base of the fourth side of the glass enclosure, the side by Mao's head, has the dates of his birth and death (1893 - 1976).

Mao never wanted to be buried, let alone put on display. He wanted to be cremated. But like Lenin, who wanted to be buried in Saint Petersburg along with his mother, his allure is too great and his influence too strong. He's been dead 35 years, and he'll probably be on display for at least another 35 years. Lenin has been on display in Moscow for nearly 90 years, with no end in sight.

The experience is surreal, not as creepy as I would have expected, and recommended for anyone in Beijing, not only to see Chairman Mao lying in repose but also to view the Chinese people viewing Mao: buying flowers, bowing repeatedly at his statue as though he was Buddha, and generally filling the room with an excitement that rises about the creepy aura of death.

Mandarin Chinese (#11B)

2011-10-12T05:24:00.001+01:00

One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock, five o'clock, six o'clock, seven o'clock, eight o'clock, nine o'clock, ten o'clock, today, tomorrow, this evening, tomorrow evening.

Mandarin Chinese (#11)

2011-10-12T01:02:00.001+01:00

Translation below the video. I did a poor job of pronouncing "in that case" (should be pronounced Nà mà, but I pronounced it more like Nā mā, with high tones instead of falling tones).

I recorded the video on the steps of a pedestrian bridge outside of Dongsi Station in Beijing.

Would you like to eat dinner with me now?

Impossible, it's only 2pm.

In that case, let's say 7pm.

7pm is no good.

In that case, let's say tomorrow evening.

OK.

Mobile gaming in China

2011-10-11T11:31:00.000+01:00

Mobile gaming in China is huge, literally; who needs Angry Birds when you've got this.

Dongsishitiao Street, outside of Zhangzizhonglu Station; Beijing, China.

Trolley in China

2011-10-11T11:19:00.001+01:00

Until today I didn't know there are trolleys in Beijing. Qianmen Street, in Chongwen District.

Ping pong in China

2011-10-10T09:17:00.001+01:00

Chinese people really are good at ping pong. From a public park in Beijing.

Mahjong (Mah Jongg) 麻將

2011-10-10T09:16:00.000+01:00

Mahjong. I have no idea how to play, but I do know that it requires a lot of smoking and gambling.

Dogs in Beijing, China

2011-10-10T08:57:00.000+01:00

Since traveling in China I've had a handful of people crack jokes about eating dog, and although it's true that there are dog restaurants in China, dogs here are more than just food. Many Beijingers have dogs as pets, nearly all of them small dogs, cute but often a bit dirty.

The dog riding the scooter below is probably the largest dog I've seen in China.

Dogs on scooters, a fairly common site in Beijing.

Beijing, China.

"No shit," not just a figure of speech

2011-10-10T07:38:00.001+01:00

As an American it's easy to take plumbing, and Western-style toilets, for granted. Flush away, no problems. But the plumbing in China can be hit or miss, so in at least one restaurant there are house rules, and almost all toilets in China are squatters, which explains why Chinese people are so comfortable squatting while waiting for buses, trains, and traffic lights, etc.

House rules: sign in bathroom at Beijing restaurant.

The Chinese have perfected the art of squatting.

Mandarin Chinese (#10)

2011-10-08T10:11:00.001+01:00

Recorded in Tiananmen Square.

Below the video are two transcripts: one conversational, one literal. Even though the literal transcript sounds broken and strange to native English speakers, it is correct in China.

Translation:
Do you want to eat lunch with me later?

No, I don't want to eat lunch with you later. I want to eat lunch now, but I don't want to eat lunch with you. Goodbye.

Literal translation:
You want, later, along with me, eat lunch, yes or no?

No, I don't want, later, along with you, eat lunch. I want, now, eat lunch, but I don't want, along with you, eat lunch. Goodbye.

National Day of the People's Republic of China

2011-10-08T09:56:00.000+01:00

Last week was the National Day of the People's Republic of China. The PRC was founded on October 1 in 1949, making it exactly the same age as Annie Leibovitz.

In the distance is Tiananmen Gate, and if you look closely you'll see Chairman Mao's portrait. Continue beyond Tiananmen Gate and you'll reach the Forbidden City.

Celebrating the PRC in Tianamen Square.

Summer Palace; Beijing, China

2011-10-08T09:38:00.000+01:00

Much of the Summer Palace was destroyed in 1860 by Anglo-French forces, but that which was destroyed has been rebuilt in its original style. The Summer Palace is on the outskirts of Beijing, in the northwest, by Kunming Lake. There is no shortage of temples, relics or scenic walkways.

Tower of Buddhist Incense (in the distance) at the Summer Palace, and Kunming Lake.

Suzhou Street, at the Summer Palace, is a street built by the water, where empresses and concubines took leisurely walks, and today it is where tourists purchase overpriced souvenirs.

View of Kunming Lake from the top of the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

Tower of Buddhist Incense.

Cloud seeding in China (Ice Cream Cloud Project)

2011-10-08T09:19:00.000+01:00

China is a vocal supporter of cloud seeding and weather modification. It sounds like a fantastic idea to empower governments with the ability to manipulate weather, don't ya think? What are the odds it would be used to reduce famine, as opposed to, say, imposing famine as a weapon of war?

And that's to say nothing of the unforeseeable side effects of weather manipulation.

The Ice Cream Cloud Project, currently on display at the National Museum of China, combines nanotechnology and ice cream to spark conversation about cloud seeding. Basically, the project's goal is to seed the air and make it rain ice cream. That'd be fine if it was vanilla or chocolate or even mint chocolate chip, but what happens when it rains Schweddy Balls?

Cute, but I still don't like the idea of governments controlling the weather.

The Cloud Project; National Museum of China; Beijing International Design Triennial.

Diapers in China, not necessary

2011-10-08T08:54:00.000+01:00

China is a diaper-free nation. Until about the age of four, children are dressed in clothes with slits in the bottom, allowing children to do their business in public, wherever and whenever.

Notice the slit in the back of this kid's pants.

Mandarin Chinese (#9B)

2011-10-08T00:28:00.001+01:00

Mandarin uses a different word for "or" depending on whether it's a question or statement.

At the end of the video, I try a bit of a tongue-twister to practice minor differences in pronunciation. "At what time? One o'clock. Nine o'clock." At first it might all sound the same.

I took this video in one of the hutongs near Zhangzizhonglu Station (張自忠路站).

At what time?
One o'clock. Two o'clock. Eight o'clock. Nine o'clock.

At what time?
One o'clock or two o'clock or eight o'clock or nine o'clock?

At what time?
One o'clock or two o'clock or eight o'clock or nine o'clock.

At what time?
One o'clock. Nine o'clock.

At what time?
One o'clock. Nine o'clock.

At what time?
One o'clock. Nine o'clock.

Mandarin Chinese (#9)

2011-10-08T00:11:00.002+01:00

Learning the word "impossible" has come in handy while bargaining in the markets.

At what time would you like to eat lunch with me?

I don't know. Eight o'clock or nine o'clock?

Impossible.

OK. One o'clock or two o'clock?

[Hello (to curious Chinese passersby).]

Impossible. I want to eat lunch with you now.

Visiting the Beijing Zoo

2011-10-08T00:05:00.000+01:00

The Beijing Zoo is a great place to walk around outside and practice speaking Chinese, even more so because it's only three dollars per visit during peak season (two dollars, all other times).

The Chinese don't really respect the 'no feeding' signs, and there is virtually no staff to keep things under control. The only staff I recall seeing anywhere? Food and souvenir vendors.

So for me, I enjoyed watching the Chinese people more than I did watching the animals, with the lone exception being the panda bears. Watching panda bears tear through bamboo is relatively entertaining, as is watching them clown around and seemingly mug it up for the cameras.

Live turtles used as keychains in China

2011-10-06T06:02:00.000+01:00

If it makes you feel any better, the Chinese hawker promises to donate all proceeds to PETA.

In the first video, he says you can buy two for 10 yuan, about $1.50; in the second video, he claims the bag is designed with nutrients that allow the turtle to live for two months.

Banksy in Beijing, China?

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000+01:00

I wouldn't be too surprised to see a Banksy piece in China, and the 798 Art Zone (i.e. Dashanzi Art District), where I spotted the piece below, makes sense as a canvas, because it's the heart of the progressive contemporary art culture in Beijing; however, from my limited exposure to Banksy, I'd be more inclined to say that this is the work of an imitator. Dozens of Chinese people walked by without notice, but as soon as the white guy started taking photos, a few followed suit.

Banksy lookalike in Beijing?

Perhaps the artist's name is Shuo (painted in blue)?

The Chinese characters: "No painting on this wall, or you'll get your ass kicked!"

Definitely not Banksy, and also not at 798. I spotted this small piece in Beijing, exactly where I don't remember. The Chinese characters are a signature [i.e. Made by (artist's name)].

Chinese Tibetology Research Center in Beijing, China

2011-10-06T05:58:00.001+01:00

Ti·bet·ol·o·gy [ti-bet-ol-uh-jee]

noun

1. The science of eradicating Tibetan culture, especially with regard to language and customs, via the forced assimilation of its people.

Chinese Tibetology Research Center; Beijing, China.

Vegan restaurant in Beijing, China

2011-10-06T05:54:00.000+01:00

I'm not sure I'd trust that it's truly 100% vegan. Typically the same woks are used for vegetables and meat, and the use of eggs is widespread in every kitchen. Tofu is readily available, but it's not seen as a meat alternative; it's simply part of the diet, added for texture. It could also be that the English was mistranslated, and that the original intention was vegetarian.

Vegan restaurant; Beijing, China.

Exploring the outskirts of Beijing

2011-10-06T05:52:00.000+01:00

Here are some photos from Jiuxiangiao Road and the nearby areas, immediately outside of the North Fourth Ring Estate Road in Beijing. One of my favorite parts about exploring Beijing, and China in general, is how safe it is to wander around. Unlike in the United States, where wandering aimlessly can quickly lead to trouble and/or the end of a gun barrel.

Street entrance to typical Beijing neighborhood.

Housing courtyard facing the main road.

The equivalent of a local Chinese corner store.

Afternoon haze and Beijing pollution.

Two things never lie: Advertising and the Internet, so now that this advert is on the Internet you know it's true: The best drugstore in Beijing!

Getting lost in the Beijing hutongs

2011-10-06T05:51:00.000+01:00

Tonight, about six blocks from my destination, I decided to take a detour through the hutongs. So I left the main road and entered the maze of back alleys. I got lost almost immediately, and for two or three hours I just wandered. I could've found my way out much sooner, with a little bit of effort, but I enjoyed being lost. For the most part, there is nothing to do in the hutongs, but when taking the scenic route, doing stuff is not really the point.

Mandarin Chinese (#8B)

2011-10-05T14:00:00.013+01:00

I made a couple of mistakes this video (transcript below video): First, I forgot to include the phrase, Would you like, in the first sentence. And later on, I used the wrong phrase for the word, Or. I didn't learn until after I recorded this video that there is more than one word for "or" in Chinese, depending on whether you're making a statement or asking a question.

I recorded this near the Olympic Green from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I wish the sign on the grass was legible: It says something awkward, like, The grass is smiling at you (i.e. stay off the grass).

What (would you like) to do?

I don't know. How about you?

I don't know right now, but later I would like to go to the Beijing restaurant, or to the hotel restaurant, OK?

OK.

Goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#8)

2011-10-05T13:00:00.022+01:00

One of my first attempts at speaking Chinese, in China.

Would you like to drink something with me?

Would you like to drink tea or beer?

I would like to drink some beer, how about you?

OK, when?

Right now.

OK. Excuse me, I would like to order two glasses of beer.

OK.

Olympic Green + 798 Art District

2011-10-05T12:00:00.003+01:00

During my first visit to Beijing, I skipped all of the Olympic attractions, including the Chinese National Stadium (i.e. Bird's Nest; 鸟巢), mostly because I figured they would be boring. I mean, a stadium is a stadium, right? But the contemporary, infamous, and controversial Chinese artist Ai Weiwei did have a hand in the creation of the Bird's Nest, so I decided to check it out.

I think the Bird's Nest looks better in photographs than it does in person. At night, if it's all lit up, I'm sure it'd look a whole lot better. Or maybe not. Maybe a stadium is just a stadium.

Before walking to the Bird's Nest from the South Gate of Forest Park, I made a quick trip to the China Science and Technology Museum, which was as crowded as any attraction I've seen in China outside of the Forbidden City. I had no idea there were so many science nerds in Beijing.

I'm curious to know what the hammer-and-sickle sign says, because it strikes me as an odd choice for the reception desk of the Science and Technology Museum.

The admission to China Science and Technology Museum was steep by Chinese standards, and I didn't expect it to feature much passable English, if any, so I skipped it. After the Bird's Nest, I wandered around North Third Ring Middle Road and North Fourth Middle Ring Road.

After two or three hours of wandering around, I took a taxi to 798 Art Zone (a.k.a. Dashanzi Art District), and it just so happened to be smack dab in the middle of 798's annual art festival.

Unfortunately the photography gallery I wanted to visit was closed; fortunately it'll reopen before I leave Beijing, so I'll be going back to 798 at least one more time. While there I did enjoy a fantastic collection of photographs from Ren Shulin, who in the 1980s hung around high school students in Beijing, photographing on campuses and in classrooms.

Leonardo DiCaprio in Chinese advert

2011-10-04T13:00:00.024+01:00

I spotted this smartphone advert on the outskirts of Beijing. It's for the Oppo Find, a smartphone made by OPPO Electronics, based in Dongguan, Guangdong, China.

Leonard DiCaprio; Oppo Find, advert in China.

National Art Museum of China + Nanluogu Xiang + Houhai Lake

2011-10-03T12:00:00.002+01:00

Apparently the National Art Museum of China is one of the largest museums in China, but it didn't feel excessive. The exhibitions appeared contemporary in theme but traditional in style, although it's tough to say for sure since there was almost no English anywhere in the museum.

I didn't stay for long, but I'd be interested in going back if I could find a Chinese translator to accompany me. Realistically that won't happen, because Chinese people don't really have what we call free time. They seem to work always, every day, forever, unless they're men, in which case they'll stop working when their hair goes grey, at which point they'll just hang out in the hutongs all day, drinking and smoking and gambling with Chinese board games and cards, while the children too young to work squat alongside the men, watching and presumably waiting.

Afterward, I visited Nanluogu Xiang, one of the more famous (and commercial) hutongs in Beijing. I first visited Nanluogu Xiang a few months ago, but it was early in the morning when the shops were closed and the streets nearly empty. But this time, being the middle of the day during a national holiday, the streets were packed with thousands of people, buying and selling and eating and drinking. It's great people-watching, and once you've grown tired of the shops and shopping, you're nearby the more authentic hutongs, where the people-watching is even better.

At night I visited Houhai Lake. The lake is surrounded by dozens of bars and restaurants. It's probably worth visiting during the day, and I'm sure the lake is beautiful, but I was unimpressed with the nighttime visit. The bars are tacky, the prices inflated, and the footpaths around the lake are full of peddlers, swindlers and con artists. Everybody has their hand halfway down your pocket, and it's nearly impossible to enjoy yourself or relax.

Mandarin Chinese (#7)

2011-10-03T07:32:00.001+01:00

Beer is the only new word for me here.

Do you want to go to my place to drink some beer?

I do not want to go to your place to drink some beer, but I want to drink some beer here; what about you?

I don't know; but, later, OK?

OK.

Traveling in Beijing, China

2011-10-02T12:00:00.121+01:00

I've returned to Beijing, for two weeks. While on the subway en route from the airport, I got to test my Chinese language skills in the wild, for the first time. I said, "Excuse me, may I ask you a question? I speak a little Chinese, but I don't speak Chinese well. Do you speak English?" When he answered my question with, "A little," in Chinese, and I understood him, it felt pretty cool.

I arrived the day after the National Day of the People's Republic of China. The National Day celebration lasts a full week, so even now it's still a bit wild in the city, crowded even by Chinese standards. It's one of the rare times where Chinese people receive paid holiday.

I arrived at my hotel to find that my reservation was not honored, at least not initially. It was growing dark, and having been up all night I was growing tired, and cranky. So I camped out at the hotel where I'd reserved a room, and I did my best impersonation of Tank Man, basically refusing to leave the hotel lobby until they gave me a room.

It took about two hours, but it worked. I'm not exactly sure how the room became available, but I think maybe they booted someone who didn't have a reservation. It wouldn't have been easy to find alternate accommodations; because of the holiday, nearly all of the hotels in Beijing were full. Exacerbating that problem is the fact that some hotels in China won't accept foreigners.

By the time I got settled, it was getting late, and fully dark, so I didn't stray too far from my new home near Gulou and Zhonglou (i.e. Drum Tower, Bell Tower). The two towers were built originally for musical purposes, and were later used to announce the time. The Drum Tower was built about 750 years ago, with 24 drums, of which only one remains. The area is surrounded by ancient Beijing hutongs (alleys), and there is ample opportunity to lose yourself in the maze.

While wandering through the hutongs, I came across a few men trying to move a massive log, maybe seven meters in length and easily weighing hundreds of pounds or maybe a thousand. Like many things in China, manual lab or is truly manual. There is no forklift, no hydraulic help, just elbow grease and strong rope. The men were surprised when out of the blue a white man offered to help. Fortunately we had to move the log only a few feet, and even that was not easy.

Beijing hutong at night.

Mandarin Chinese (#6B)

2011-09-24T21:33:00.002+01:00

This is after my sixth 30-minute audio lesson in Mandarin Chinese. I listen to each lesson at least a few times before advancing. The lessons are listen-and-response with native speakers, but below I translate to Chinese from an index card written in English. I prefer the 100% audio approach.

The English script from which I am reading, as scribbled on two index cards:

Also.
To go.
Located here.
Located over there.
How about you?
Is it here? No, it is not here.
You speak very well.
I don't understand what you are saying.
Would you like to eating something?
No, thank you, but I would like to drink something.
Where would you like to go to eat?
I would like to go to your place to eat.
Me too (i.e. I too would like it.)
Would you like to go to my place to eat?

[↑ : I neglected to include the word necessary to indicate a question, so the meaning was changed to, "You would like to go to my place to eat."]

When?
Now.
I don't know.
When would you like to eat?
I would not like to eat now.

[↑: Because of poor tone and pronunciation, I said, "I would not like to go now."]

I would like to eat later.
I would like to go to your place to eat.
When would you like to drink something? O

[↑: Poor pronunciation, "When."]

I would not like to drink something now. I would like to drink something later.

Mandarin Chinese (#6)

2011-09-24T19:34:00.002+01:00

With each video it's getting more difficult to speak without a script, because by now I've learned to say a dozen or maybe even two dozen phrases in Chinese, with at least some level of tonal success.

My Chinese friends living in China can't access my website because it is blocked by the Chinese government, but I sent two of them my 'Learning to speak Mandarin Chinese (#5)' video via email, and was told, "Hey, da long, i am so glad that you sent the video to me. I watched it this morning , so did my roomates.haha```They all said that you learn quite fast and speak pretty well.Just come on.I Do you know how to speak my name,haha```my name is chen shufei(陈淑斐)."

[Dà lóng (大龍) is my Chinese name. It means Big Dragon.]

Because I'm recalling phrases off the top of my head, they don't always make much sense. I'm trying to avoid reading from a script, but maybe that would make more sense than this:

When would you like to eat something?
Where would you like to go to eat something?
I would like to go to your place to eat something.
Later.
Now.
When?

Mandarin Chinese (#5)

2011-09-16T02:40:00.001+01:00

Today I heard some Chinese tourists shopping in Union Square. Even after five 30-minute lessons, each of which I've listened to three times or more, I'm still not ready to speak with strangers.

I'm not reading from a script. Just having a conversation with myself.

A: Where is Long Peace Street?
B: I don't know, but College Road is located here. Do you want to eat a little something?
A: No, I don't want anything to eat, but I want something to drink, how about you?
B: I don't want anything to drink, but I want something to eat. Thank you. Goodbye.

Mandarin Chinese (#4)

2011-09-06T02:04:00.001+01:00

Trying to teach myself Mandarin makes my thought processes feel as though they're old vinyl records being played at the wrong speed. Minor differences in tone can completely change the meaning of the word. For example, the words Where, There, and Here, all sound quite similar, even more similar than you might think after listening to me butcher their pronunciations. I'm exaggerating the differences in tone because right now it's the only way I can keep them straight. And even if one manages to master the Mandarin tones, it'll only take you so far: There are so many dialects within China that often Chinese people can't even understand each other.

The transcript of what I think I'm saying can be found below the video. I'm not working with a script. I'm choosing words and phrases from what I've listened to today, so there is a method to my learning but no method to the videos, just impromptu attempts at speaking Chinese.

Chinese conversation with myself:

Dewey #1: "Where?"
Dewey #2: "There."
Dewey #1: "Where?"
Dewey #2: "There."
Dewey #1: "Where?"
Dewey #2: "There."
Dewey #1: "Where?"
Dewey #2: "Not here, there."
Dewey #1: "I don't understand what you are saying."

Mandarin Chinese (#3)

2011-09-05T02:10:00.001+01:00

Today I attempt, "Hello, I am Chinese but I can speak a little English. Thank you. Goodbye."

Mandarin Chinese (#2)

2011-09-04T02:06:00.001+01:00

Day two of learning Chinese. I'm using an audio-only approach, without Pinyin, which is the system used to translate Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet. The pronunciation of Pinyin usually isn't intuitive, so having a Pinyin transcript of what's being said might make things more difficult for many speakers. Instead I just listen to audio files of native Chinese speakers.

Here is what I'm trying to say: "I am American. I speak English. I speak English very well. I do not speak Chinese. I speak Chinese, a little. I do not speak well. Goodbye."

As you can see, I'm already a thrilling Chinese conversationalist.