It's all about Mandarin. And about learning the language through music, movies, and TV serials. I'll have my own personal reviews about new artists and what I'm doing to learn the language. My aim is to post at least once a week and the steps I'm taking to improve my learning. There's no better motivation to learn something than to actually write down your progress. And so, here it is! Mandarin Immersion!
Here's the music video for one of the songs I really like off of her J-Game album (which I recently bought). For some reason, I really like any song that sounds "Chinesey" (I don't think that's a word!). What I mean by that is that I like songs that use classical Chinese instruments...and this song uses them a lot.
I've seen a lot of other Jolin's music videos and I didn't really think she was that hot or pretty (I know, some of you are probably asking me if I'm blind), but after watching the video for this song, I'd have to say that my opinion has changed...all I can say is that she looks real pretty in pink!
I was browsing around and I happen to come across two teaser trailers for two movies...the interesting thing about it was that both happened to have the word "door" in it (門) and I was inspired to look for and post.
The first trailer is for Derek Yee's new film Protege (門徒). It stars Andy Lau, Daniel Wu, Louis Koo and Anita Yuen. This movie has a sort of "Infernal Affairs" feel to it, though you can't really get much out of the trailer. This movie is due out for release in February 2007.
The second trailer is for Li Shaohong's horror flick "The Door" (門). This movie finished filming earlier this year and was released December 1, 2006. There was a fairly hefty budget for this film, but knowing the kind of horror movies that have been coming out of late, I'm not going to be expecting much from this film.
"The Banquet" Will Not Compete At Golden Globe Awards
Zhang Ziyi will not be a nominee for best actress for her role in "The Banquet" for the Golden Globe Awards because the film did not participate in the competition. The distributors for the film were asked why they didn't want to be included in the Golden Globes, but refused to answer. With "The Banquet" out of the running, it makes "Curse Of The Golden Flower" a stronger competitor.
The #1 Chinese celebrity mansion belongs to Jet Li. The mansion is being built near Shanghai, near Jet Li's wife's family and took two years to construct. The mammoth mansion consists of three separate buildings and is close to 54,000 square feet! The property will have underground passages. Story courtesy: CriEnglish: Jet Li's Mansion The Number One In Celebrity World
Top 10 Hottest Females In China
This list was compiled by a newspaper in China. Click on the link to view the complete list. The list includes familiar names such as Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, and Zhao Wei. Also check out what the Chinese people in China have to say about the women on this list.
Joey Yung almost had a large lighting pole strike her on her face while filming an advertisement. While filming on a glass surface, the light pole started coming down and almost hit her face - fortunately crew members were able to catch the pole before any damage was done. Joey shook it off and stated "Before I was tired, but now I'm wide awake!" Story courtesy: CriEnglish: Joey Yung Nearly Disfigured In Accident
Cathy Tsui & Lee Ka Shing To Marry
Actress/model Cathy Tsui will be marrying wealth heir Lee Ka Shing in Australia this year. Not to be confused with Li Ka Shing, Lee Ka Shing will be the successor to the Henderson Land Developement Company. Their relationship has been a high profile one in an on again, off again relationship for the past two years.
Chow Yun-Fat To Play A Role In Upcoming Pirates Of The Caribbean III
Next year in May, the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End will be released. Be on the lookout for Chow Yun-Fat, who will play a Chinese pirate Captain Sao Feng. Keith Richards (from the band Rolling Stones) will also make an appearance in the film.
While filming in Australia, Fiona Leung was injured in a serious car accident that sent her to the ICU. She was in a van carrying film equipment and several of the crew, who were also injured in the accident. As of this writing, Fiona's condition has stabilized.
Lydia Sum Flies Back To Canada To Celebrate Mother's Birthday, Christmas
Lydia Sum has flown back to Canada to be with her mother on her birthday and to celebrate Christmas. Lydia's daughter did not accompany her. Lydia Sum, who is recovering from a serious illness, responded to questions only from TVB's official crew members.
Tony Leung Trying To Pick Up Mandarin For Ang Lee's New Movie
Tony Leung said that he spent 2 months trying to learn the script for Ang Lee's new movie "Lust, Caution", which is all in Mandarin. Tony's native tongue is Cantonese, so he had to spend a significant amount of time trying to memorize and learn Mandarin in the script.
The very first song I learned the lyrics to was S.H.E.'s song 戀人未滿 (Not Yet Lovers) (Lian Ren Wei Man) and it was off of their album "Together" (album cover is at left).
The reason I learned the lyrics to the song was because after hearing this song many times, I just felt compelled to learn what they were singing. I managed to find their lyrics from S.H.E Angelic Fansite. That site has everything you need to know about the group, including lyrics to all of their songs in Chinese, Pin Yin, and English!
This is basically how I'm learning Mandarin - I find songs I like, find the lyrics and try to learn the song. By doing this, I can slowly pick up how to read Chinese characters, learn how to say them (well, sort of), and know the meaning of the words.
And so, below is the video for the song 戀人未滿 (Not Yet Lovers) (Lian Ren Wei Man), which by the way, still remains my favorite Mandarin song. I've also included the lyrics (which can be found at S.H.E. Angelic Fansite) below. These lyrics are part of my big collection of lyrics that I'm constantly adding to.
So go ahead and play the video and follow along with the lyrics below (and hopefully you'll see how I'm learning Mandarin!).
Here is 戀人未滿 (Not Yet Lovers) (Lian Ren Wei Man):
為什麼只 和 你 能聊 一 整夜 wei shen me zhi he ni neng liao yi zheng ye Why is it that I only can talk to you for the whole night
為什 麼才 道別就 又想再見面 wei shen me cai dao bie jiu you xiang zai jian mian why is it that after we leave I feel like meeting you again
在朋友 裡面就數 你 最 特 別 zai peng you li mian, jiu shu ni zui te bie Out of all my friends, you're the most special
總讓我 覺 得 很親很貼 zong rang wo jue de hen qin hen tian I feel that you're the closest to me
為什麼 你 在 意 誰陪我逛街 we shen me ni zai yi shuo pei wo guang jie, Why do you care who I go shopping with,
為什麼 你 擔心誰對我放電 wei shen me ni dan xin shui dui wo fang dian why are you worried that someone would try to seduce me
你 說你 對 我比 別 人多 一 些 ni shuo ni dui wo, bi bie ren duo yi xie, You said you treat me more than others,
卻又不說是多哪 一 些 que you bu shuo shi duo na yi xie but as to where the "more" is, you wouldn't say
友達 以上戀人未滿甜 蜜心 煩 you da yi shang, lian ren wei man, tian mi xin fan, We're more than friends, but not yet lovers,
愉悅混亂我們以 後 yu yue hun luan, wo men yi hou our hearts are sweet and happy. In future,
會變怎樣 hui bian zen yang, What will happen to us,
我 迫 不 及 待想知道答 案 再靠近 一 點點 wo po bu ji dai xiang zhi dao da an, zai kao jin yi dian dian I can't wait for find out the answer. Come closer a little
就讓你牽手再勇敢一點點 jiu rang ni qian shou, zai yong gan yi dian dian, Then I'll let you hold my hand.
我就 跟你 走你 還等什麼 wo jiu gen ni zou, ni hai deng shen me Be braver a little and I'll go with you. What are you waiting for
時間 已經不多再下 去 shi jian yi jing bu duo, zai xia qu, There isn't much time left, if we continue like this
只 好 只做朋友再向前 一點點 zhi hao zhi zuo peng you, zai xiang qian yi dian dian we can only be friends. Come forward a little
我就 會點頭再衝動一點點 wo jiu hui dian tou, zai cong dong yi dian dian, And I'll nod my head, be more pro-active and
我就 不 閃躲不過三個字 wo jiu bu shan duo, bu guo san ge zi I won't hide, it's only three words
別猶豫這麼 久只 要你說出口 bie you yu zhe me jiu, zhi yao ni shuo chu kou, Don't hesitate too long, as long as you can say it,
你 就 能擁有我為什麼 ni jiu neng yong you wo, wei shen me you'll have me. Why is it
你 寂 寞 只 想要我 陪 ni ji mo zhi xiang yao wo pei, That when you're lonely you only want my companion?
為什麼我難過只 肯讓 你 安 慰 wei shen me wo nan guo zhi ken rang ni an wei, Why is it that when I'm sad I'm only willing to have you console me?
我們心 裡面 wo men xin li mian In our hearts
明明都有感覺 ming ming dou you gan jue, There's definitely a feeling,
為什麼不 敢面對為什麼 wei shen me bu gan mian dui, wei shen me why don't we face it.Why is it
你 寂 寞 只 想要我 陪 ni ji mo zhi xiang yao wo pei, That when you're lonely you only want my companion?
為什麼我難過只 肯讓 你 安 慰 wei shen me wo nan guo zhi ken rang ni an wei, Why is it that when I'm sad I'm only willing to have you console me?
我們心 裡面 wo men xin li mian In our hearts
明明都有感覺 ming ming dou you gan jue, There's definitely a feeling,
為什麼不 敢面對 wei shen me bu gan mian dui why don't we face it.
友達 以上戀人未滿甜 蜜心 煩 you da yi shang, lian ren wei man, tian mi xin fan, We're more than friends, but not yet lovers,
愉悅混亂我們以 後 yu yue hun luan, wo men yi hou our hearts are sweet and happy. In future,
會變怎樣 hui bian zen yang, What will happen to us,
我 迫 不 及 待想知道答 案 再靠近 一 點點 wo po bu ji dai xiang zhi dao da an, zai kao jin yi dian dian I can't wait for find out the answer. Come closer a little
就讓你牽手再勇敢一點點 jiu rang ni qian shou, zai yong gan yi dian dian, Then I'll let you hold my hand.
我就 跟你 走你 還等什麼 wo jiu gen ni zou, ni hai deng shen me Be braver a little and I'll go with you. What are you waiting for
時間 已經不多再下 去 shi jian yi jing bu duo, zai xia qu, There isn't much time left, if we continue like this
只 好 只做朋友再向前 一點點 zhi hao zhi zuo peng you, zai xiang qian yi dian dian we can only be friends. Come forward a little
我就 會點頭再衝動一點點 wo jiu hui dian tou, zai cong dong yi dian dian, And I'll nod my head, be more pro-active and
我就 不 閃躲不過三個字 wo jiu bu shan duo, bu guo san ge zi I won't hide, it's only three words
別猶豫這麼 久只 要你說出口 bie you yu zhe me jiu, zhi yao ni shuo chu kou, Don't hesitate too long, as long as you can say it,
你 就 能擁有我 ni jiu neng yong you wo, you'll have me.
我不相信都動 了 感情 wo bu xiang xin, dou dong le gan qing I don't believe, we already touched each others' hearts,
卻到 不 了 que dao bu liao yet it hasn't transformed into
愛 情那 麼貼 心卻 進 不了 ai qing, na me tie xin que jin bu liao, Love, that dedication still cannot enter the
心 底 你能不能快一點決 定 xin di, ni neng bu neng kuai yi dian jue ding bottom of (your) heart, can you quickly decide
對我說我 愛 你 dui wo shuo wo ai ni And tell me "I love you"
再靠近 一 點點 zai kao jin yi dian dian Come closer a little
就讓你牽手再勇敢一點點 jiu rang ni qian shou, zai yong gan yi dian dian, Then I'll let you hold my hand.
我就 跟你 走你 還等什麼 wo jiu gen ni zou, ni hai deng shen me Be braver a little and I'll go with you. What are you waiting for
時間 已經不多再下 去 shi jian yi jing bu duo, zai xia qu, There isn't much time left, if we continue like this
只 好 只做朋友再向前 一點點 zhi hao zhi zuo peng you, zai xiang qian yi dian dian we can only be friends. Come forward a little
我就 會點頭再衝動一點點 wo jiu hui dian tou, zai cong dong yi dian dian, And I'll nod my head, be more pro-active and
我就 不 閃躲不過三個字 wo jiu bu shan duo, bu guo san ge zi I won't hide, it's only three words
別猶豫這麼 久只 要你說出口 bie you yu zhe me jiu, zhi yao ni shuo chu kou, Don't hesitate too long, as long as you can say it,
你 就 能擁有我為什麼 ni jiu neng yong you wo, wei shen me you'll have me. Why is it
只 要你說出口你 就 能擁有我 zhi yao ni shuo chu kou, ni jiu neng yong you wo as long as you can say it, you'll have me.
When I first started listening to F.I.R's album Unlimited (which I bought two weekends ago), I didn't really think much of them. But it seemed like the more I listened to that album, the more I began liking them.
Maybe it was because the first few times I listened to the Unlimited CD, I wasn't really paying attention to it.
Unlike Nan Quan Mama's (南拳媽媽) CD, you can tell that F.I.R's songs are a little more serious in nature. In most of Nan Quan Mama's songs, you can tell they were just having fun and that a lot of their songs were bubbly and happy.
F.I.R.'s songs on the otherhand, seem a little more darker, but I really love the music in their songs. I am now really interested in getting the other two CD's they have out. Their first CD called "Fairlyland In Reality" and their new CD "Flight Tribe" (see album covers at left).
Here are three songs from their album "Unlimited" (which I bought two weekends ago). The last song is another song from F.I.R. that I really like and is from their first CD (which I don't have).
The first song is 刺鳥 (Killing Bird) (Ci Niao):
The next song is 把愛放開 (Let Love Go) (Ba Ai Fang Kai):
The last song from the "Unlimited" album is Love*3:
Another song that I really love that I heard on Mandarin Internet radio was 我們的愛 (Our Love) (Wo Men De Ai). This one is off of their first CD "Fairyland In Reality):
Photographer Leslie Kee has photographed 300 artists, mainly Asian, in a photobook that will be made available for sale. All proceeds go to charity for Tsunami relief and other various charities. Many popular Chinese stars are in the photobook including Aaron Kwok, Cecilia Cheung, Gong Li, Joey Yeung, Jolin Tsai, Sammi Cheng, Tony Leung, Twins and Zhang Ziyi. Most of the photos are close to being adult in nature (i.e. they show a lot of skin, many are topless photos). Click on the link below to see some of the photos.
A Bruce Lee theme park will be built in Shunde, in the Guangdong province of China. It will contain a statue and a memorial for the late action star. It is being built with a $25.5 million budget and is expected to be opened in three years.
Hacken Lee held his wedding earlier in the week and his invitation consisted of a "Treasure Box" that held a cassette tape. Guests were told to bring the invitation, as they were to come away with "Treasure" at the end of the wedding. Click on the link below to read the details and to view photos of the wedding invitations.
On November 28th, Hacken Lee wed his long-time girlfriend Emily Lo in a ceremony that included Andy Lau, Priscilla Chan, Shirley Kwan, Eric Tsang and Nat Chan as guests. Paula Tsui and Jacky Cheung were also reported at attending. The banquet was held at Hotel International for 46 tables. For more photos and information, click on the links below
Zhang Yu Blows Whistle On Those Who Demand Sex For Roles
Actress Zhang Yu blew the whistle on filmmakers, directors and casting agents, who demand sex for roles in dramas and films. Zhang used the Internet to make her message heard and to expose this "hidden rule" that exploits aspiring young actresses. Zhang also reported that all her roles were obtained by sleeping with someone of importance.
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada to parents who can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, and English. As I grew up, my parents spoke mostly Cantonese and I learned to speak a little of it.
I dropped out of Chinese school when my parents sent me when I was younger, but now I regret that I didn't stay. Lately I've been trying to pick up Mandarin through movies, shows and by learning the lyrics to popular Mandarin music.
Here's the music video for one of the songs I really like off of her J-Game album (which I recently bought). For some reason, I really like any song that sounds "Chinesey" (I don't think that's a word!). What I mean by that is that I like songs that use classical Chinese instruments...and this song uses them a lot.
