Zhou Youguang （周有光）, Co-creator of the Chinese Characters known as the Pinyin (拼音) system dies at 111

Zhou Youguang （周有光）Adieu!

If not for the pinyin system, I would not have been able to learn the Mandarin language to the extent I have. So it is only fitting to pay respects to one of the creator of the system which allowed so many hundreds of million to step into this at times baffling language.

因为是为了拼音我就学了汉语 -今天要请拼音系统之父告别

CCTV 10 Masters Series 大家 - 周有光

"All of me" John Legend - Lyrics in English & Mandarin Chinese

Just sharing this video after a while as I come to appreciate that one of the instruments to increase fluency in Chinese is music -

China Poised to Lead World in Patent Filings -中国有望世界专利申请中的铅

A new study released this week by Thomson Reuters says that by 2011 China will most likely pass the United States and Japan in new patent applications.
一项新的研究发表在本周汤森路透表示，到2011年，中国将极有可能通过新的专利申请在美国和日本
Yī xiàng xīn de yánjiū fābiǎo zài běn zhōutāngsēn lùtòu biǎoshì, dào 2011 nián, zhōngguó jiāng jí yǒu kěnéng tōngguò xīn de zhuānlì shēnqǐng zài měiguó hé rìběn.).

With research and development spending rising here, and Beijing trying to encourage innovation, patent application filings in China are soaring.

与研究和开发支出上升在这里，北京试图鼓励创新，在中国专利申请正在飞涨。
Yǔ yánjiū hé kāifā zhīchū shàngshēng zài zhèlǐ, běijīng shìtú gǔlì chuàngxīn, zài zhōngguó zhuānlì shēnqǐng zhèngzài fēizhàng.

In 2009, China filed about 279,298 patent applications, ranking third behind Japan, which led the world with 357,338, and the United States, which had 321,741 filings, according to Thomson Reuters.

2009年，中国提出的关于279298的专利申请，排名仅次于日本，而导致与357338的世界，美国，其中有321741备案第三，根据汤姆森路透。
2009 Nián, zhōngguó tíchū de guānyú 279298 de zhuānlì shēnqǐng, páimíng jǐn cì yú rìběn, ér dǎozhì yǔ 357338 de shìjiè, měiguó, qízhōng yǒu 321741 bèiàn dì sān, gēnjù tāngmǔ sēn lùtòu.

But the growth of patent filings in Japan and the United States is slowing, while Chinese patent filings are surging in categories as varied as natural products and polymers and digital computers

但是，专利申请在日本和美国经济增长正在放缓，而中国在专利申请类别汹涌如天然产物和各种聚合物和数字计算机
Dànshì, zhuānlì shēnqǐng zài rìběn hé měiguó jīngjì zēngzhǎng zhèngzài fàng huǎn, ér zhōngguó zài zhuānlì shēnqǐng lèibié xiōngyǒng rú tiānrán chǎnwù hé gè zhǒng jùhé wù hé shùzì jìsuànjī

Personal Opinion \ 个人意见 Gèrén yìjiàn
As an inventor with substantial involvement in Intellectual Property issues and as an entrepreneur who has lived nearly four years in China studying chinese language and culture at one of the leading filers of patent applications cited in the study (Tsinghua University), I must say how misleading this statistic is; first a patent application is not a granted application. In China at this time, many of the disclosures that may be claimed as inventions are already in the prior art in the US or Europe. Because of language barriers, awareness on both sides is limited; and there is the issue of how important the scope of the patents filed, even if found allowable, actually cover. A more robust metric would be patents that obtain favorable opinions at the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) level in the form of International Preliminary Examination Reports(IPER). See one of my sample IPER

Vocabulary - 词汇
发明者 Fāmíng zhě:inventor
企业家Qǐyè jiā:entrepreneur
笔者 Bǐzhě: author
专利权[專-權] zhuānlìquán n. patent (rights)
知识产权 zhīshì chǎnquán Intellectual Property
世界知识产权组织 Shìjiè zhīshì chǎnquán zǔzhī: World Intellectual Property Organization
侵权[-權] ¹qīnquán v.o. violate/infringe the rights of ◆n. infringement of rights
侵犯 ¹qīnfàn v. 〈law〉 violate; infringe on (sb.'s rights) | Nǐ zhè shì ¹zài ∼ rénquán. Your action violates human rights.
版权[-權] bǎnquán n.
版权所有 copyright (c), All Rights Reserved
商标[-標] shāngbiāo* n. trademark
trademark ∾n. 牌子 páizi; 牌号[-號] páihào; 品牌 pǐnpái; 商标[-標] shāngbiāo
汤姆森路透 Tāngmǔ sēn lùtòu: Thomson Reuters

http://ip.thomsonreuters.com/chinapatents2010/China_Report_0810.pdf
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/china-poised-to-lead-world-in-patent-filings/?scp=5&sq=china&st=cse

How best to study foreign languages? 学外语什么方法是最好的？

最近我念过几篇报纸文章关于学外语。 我自己很惊讶有这么多科技发达而丰富的资料和服务.大家可以使用帮助既便宜又快学外语的方法。

我喜欢外语。我喜欢了解，分析外语的问题。这次我想跟大家分享我自己发现的资料。

Recently I've read a lot of articles about studying foreign languages. I was surprised by how much new technologies enable even more creative ways of teaching and learning foreign languages. These can help learn quite fast and affordably new languages.I love foreign languages. This time I just want to share some of what I have found.

I like analyzing and understanding questions they raise.

大家跟我念这些，以后我们一起评论：- Please read these and let's have a discussion on their content:

Foreign Language Courses, Brushing Up or Immersion

Does Your Language Shape How You Think?

Learning a Language From an Expert, on the Web


这些文章有多有兴趣的学外语网站。但是本人认为youtube 还是挺不错。 These articles have a lot of information for studying foreign languages, but I still think youtube is not that bad

视频网站 - 在youtube上，有许多不同级别的视频,免费 - On youtube there are a lot of videos of varying levels,free:

苹果深陷“天线门”承认iPhone 4存在问题 - A Defiant Steve Jobs Confronts 'Antennagate'

2010年 07月 17日 苹果深陷“天线门”承认iPhone 4存在问题
近
期，外界对于苹果公司(Apple Inc.)iPhone 4信号接收和天线设计问题的指责一浪高过一浪，苹果公司对此作出了回应。该公司承认，iPhone 4的通话中断问题确实比上一代手机要严重，并表示公司将向用户赠送手机套作为补偿。

苹果公司首席执行长乔布斯(Steve Jobs)在周五召开的新闻发布会上称，苹果公司搞错了手机的信号编码。但他坚持认为，所有智能手机都存在类似的天线问题，并表示，苹果的问题被无限夸大了，这令人难以置信。

乔布斯说，苹果并非完人。




Vocabulary / 词汇 Cíhuì:

苹果公司 Píngguǒ gōngsī:Apple Inc
首席执行长 Shǒuxí zhíxíng zhǎng: CEO Chief Executive Officer
乔布斯 Qiáo bù sī: Steve Jobs
天线门 Tiānxiàn mén: Antennagate
深陷Shēn xiàn: deep
承认 Chéngrèn: acknowledge
苹果并非完人 Píngguǒ Bìngfēi wán rén: Apple is not perfect
信号 Xìnhào: signal
天线 Tiānxiàn: antenna
指责 Zhǐzé: criticism
一浪高过一浪 Yī làng gāo guò yī làng:ever more vociferous/ that kept getting louder
指责一浪高过一浪:increasingly vociferous criticism
智能手机 zhìnéng shǒujī:Smartphones
亮相 Liàngxiàng: appearance;
亮相 liàngxiàng* v.o. ①strike a pose on stage; perform | Zhè wèi gēshǒu dì-yī ¹cì zài wǔtái shang ∼. This is the first time the singer has performed on stage. ②declare one's position; state one's views



References /引用 Yǐnyòng:
English Article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704913304575371131458273498.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_technology
中文新闻文章:
http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20100717/tec092838.asp?source=whatnews

中国央行宣布进一步增强人民币汇率弹性 - China Move to Make RMB Exchange Rate More Flexible

From:http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20100620/bch094955.asp
中国央行周六表示，将采取进一步措施增强人民币汇率弹性，但没有给出更多细节。央行重申了此前有关人民币的声明，包括继续保持参考一篮子货币进行调节、有管理的浮动汇率制度。

公告表示，要进一步推进人民币汇率形成机制改革，增强人民币汇率弹性。 公告称，当前全球经济逐步复苏，中国经济回升向好的基础进一步巩固，经济运行已趋于平稳。

上述公告发布于中国央行网站，公告没有列举将要采取的具体措施，公告表示，当前人民币汇率不存在大幅波动和变化的基础。


Vocabulary

采取[採-] cǎiqǔ* v. take; adopt | ∼ jǐnjí cuòshī ba. Let's take emergency measures.
措施 ¹cuòshī n. measure; step M:³xiàng
弹性[彈-] ¹tánxìng n. elasticity | Zhèxiē guīzhāng zhìdù hěn yǒu ∼. These rules are not strictly imposed.
细节[細節] xìjié* n. details; particulars
重申 chóngshēn v. reaffirm; reiterate; restate | Zhōngguó ∼ yǒngyuǎn bù ³zuò chāojí dàguó. China reaffirms that it will never be a superpower.
声明[聲-] ¹shēngmíng v./n. ①state; announce; make clear | Wǒ ∼ zhè bù shì wǒ gàn de. I want to make it clear that I didn't do it. ②〈trad.〉 Budd. chanting
巩固[鞏-] gǒnggù* v. consolidate; strengthen; solidify
列举[-舉] lièjǔ* v. enumerate; list; cite item by item | Qǐng ²àn shíjiān shùnxù ∼ nǐ de gōngzuò. List your jobs in chronological order.
逐步 ¹zhúbù* adv. step-by-step; progressively | Jīngjì zhèngzài ∼ fāzhǎn. The economy is developing step by step.
大幅 dàfú* adv. to a great extent; substantially; by a wide margin ◆n. a big margin
基础[-礎] ¹jīchǔ* n. base; foundation; basis ◆attr. basic; fundamental
经济复苏 Jīngjì fùsū: economic recovery
CCTV English Announcement:


References:

http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20100620/bch094955.asp

Japan’s Premier Will Quit as Approval Plummets - 鸠山由纪夫因支持率下滑宣布辞职

Article Review: http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20100602/bas091155.asp?source=whatnews
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/asia/02japan.html?hp

Note: In China, Youtube is blocked, so the clips below of the resignation speech and better days may not show.
注：在中国， Youtube 影片被阻止，所以下面的辞职讲话的剪辑和更好的日子可能不会显示。
Zhù: Zài zhōngguó, yǐngpiàn bèi zǔzhǐ, suǒyǐ xiàmiàn de cízhí jiǎnghuà de jiǎnjí hé gèng hǎo de rì zǐ kěnéng bù huì xiǎnshì.


Vocabulary
首相 ¹shǒuxiàng* n. prime minister M:²wèi
含泪[-淚] hánlèi v.o. have tears in one's eyes
鸠 山 由 纪 夫: Hatoyama Yukio
jiūshānyóujìfū
1.鸠 {jiū} cooer
2.山 {shān} hill; mountain; jebel
3.由 {yóu} cause; due to; because of; by; follow; obey; reason; through
4.纪 {jì} age; discipline; epoch; period; record
5.夫 {fū} husband; sister-in-law; goodman

辞职[辭職] cízhí* v.o. resign | 总统辞职了 Zǒngtǒng ∼ le. The president has resigned.
争议[爭議] zhēngyì v./n. dispute; controversy | Zhège wèntí yǒu ∼. There's controversy over this problem.
协议[協議] ¹xiéyì* v. ①agree on ②discuss; negotiate ◆n. agreement | Wǒmen de ∼ sān ge ¹yuè yǒuxiào. Our agreement is valid for three months.
冲绳 chōngshéng： Okinawa
1.冲 {chōng} charge; clash; rinse; rush
2.绳 {shéng} colt; ligature; line; rope; strand; taenia
基地 jīdì* p.w. base
威胁[-脅] wēixié* v. menace; imperil; threaten; intimidate
民意 ¹mínyì n. popular will/ public opinion
许诺[許諾] xǔnuò n./v. promise

Remember when times were better...记住，当次较好(Jì zhù, dāng cì jiào hǎo)...

Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters: A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters

Hiatus in Posts

I have not posted on this blog for a long time now because some of the material I'd like to use is not available here in the US where I am right now. Hopefully, I'll adjust soon. Stay tuned

神探狄仁杰 Shen Tan Di Renjie - 长歌一曲

神探狄仁杰 Shen Tan Di Renjie - 长歌一曲: "Dí Rénjié (Chinese: 狄仁傑) (630-August 15, 700[1]), courtesy name Huaiying (懷英), formally Duke Wenhui of Liang (梁文惠公), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, twice serving as chancellor during her reign. He was one of the most celebrated officials of Wu Zetian's reign and was credited with moderating her reign from being considered one of terror to one of greater efficiency and honesty."

From 2004 to 2007, CCTV Network of China has aired three consecutive drama series based on Di Renjie's detective works, all under the title "Amazing Detective Di Renjie (神探狄仁杰)". The series depicts a cast of slightly fictionalized version of true historical figures, such as Empress Wu and Di Renjie himself. Each series is divided into more than one sub-plots, each of them depicting the solving of one single case (which seems small at the beginning, and will gradually evolve into an unimaginably huge evil plot usually targeting at threatening the empire). These series were first aired on CCTV-8, the "Television Drama Channel". It is currently airing on CCTV 11 as two consecutive episodes from around 11AM to around 1PM


Those who like history and Chinese history in particular would like this Series. However the Chinese spoken often refers to ancient concepts that are no longer part of daily spoken Mandarin. So even if your Chinese is already quite good, you may struggle understanding everything that is going on.

I love in particular the song that goes with the series 长歌一曲 whose lyrics and vocabulary translation I provide below. The song is sang by the famous artist from the Inner Mongolia region 腾格尔(Teng2 ge2 er3).


长歌一曲 Click the link to listen

每次听到你，
总是大风起，
每次看到你，
却又惊雷起，
长烟落日山河壮，
你在飘渺云里 画里，
你在飘渺云里 画里，
长歌一曲，
好风 好梦 好歌 好 意气，
长歌一曲，
好风 好梦 好歌 好 意气，
长歌一曲；
每次想起你，
依稀枕边耳语，
每次见到你，
铁马金戈剑雨，
荡气回肠千山万，
幽幽在我心里梦里，
幽幽在我 心里梦里，

长歌一曲，
好风 好梦 好歌 好 意气，
长歌一曲，
好风 好梦 好歌 好 意气，

长歌一曲
哎
长歌一曲，大风起兮云飞扬……

Vocabulary - 生词

却又[卻-] quèyòu conj. ①(but) again (emphatic) ②then later
惊雷[驚-] jīngléi n. a sudden clap of thunder
意气[-氣] ¹yìqì n. ①temperament; spirit ②impulse | ∼-yòngshì de rén man of moods ③personal feelings
缥缈//飘渺[縹緲//飄-] piāomiǎo* v.p. ①dimly discernible; misty ②lingering softly (said of music) ③difficult to discern
落日 luòrì n. setting sun
依稀 ¹yīxī* v.p. vague; dim | Wǒ ∼ hái jìde yéye de múyàng. I vaguely remember how my grandfather looked. ◆adv. probably; very likely
铁马[鐵馬] tiěmǎ n. ①strong armored cavalry ②bicycle ③tinkling metal strips on the ends of temple roofs ④armored horses
剑(F劍) [jiàn] sword; 宝剑 bǎojiàn double-edged sword
戈 [gē] ancient Chinese weapon
荡(F蕩) [dàng] swing, sway; loaf about; 扫荡 wipe out; 震荡 shake [tāng]
回肠[-腸] huícháng n. ileum ◆v.p. 〈wr.〉 worried; agitated

Michael Jackson(麦克尔.杰克逊),1958年出生2009去世

In honor of the passing of Michael Jackson, I just wanted to share the lyrics of one of the most fitting of his songs in English and Chinese, You are not alone (你不孤独)

You are not alone - 你不孤独

Another day has gone (时间一天又一天的过去)
I'm still all alone (我依然孤身一人)
How could this be (怎么可以...)
You're not here with me (你怎么可以不在我身边)
You never said goodbye (你说过永不分手)
Someone tell me why (谁能告诉我为什么)
Did you have to go (你要离开我)
And leave my world so cold (把我一个人留在这个冷酷的世界)
Everyday I sit and ask myself (每天我都在不断的问自己)
How did love slip away (为什么爱情离我而去)
Something whispers in my ear and says (这时耳边有个声音轻轻对我说)
That you are not alone (其实你并不孤独)
For I am here with you (因为我一直陪在你的身边)
Though you're far away (虽然你离我很远)
I am here to stay (我都会一直在这里等着你)
For You are not alone (你并不孤独)
I am here with you (我会永远陪着你)
Though we're far apart (虽然我们相隔千山万水)
You're always in my heart (但是你永远都在我心里)
And You are not alone (你不孤独)
All alone lone (孤独,孤独)
Why, oh (为什么,oh~~~)
Just the other night (曾经的一个夜晚)
I thought I heard you cry (我仿佛听到你哭着对我说)
Asking me to come (希望我来到你身边)
And hold you in my arms (拥你入怀)
I can hear your prayers (我听到了你的祷告)
Your burdens I will bear (我真的心甘情愿为你承担一切)
But first I need your hand (只要你牢牢抓住我的手)
So forever can begin (我们永远都不要再分开)
Everyday I sit and ask myself (每天我都在不断的问自己)
How did love slip away (为什么爱情离我而去)
Something whispers in my ear and says (这时耳边有个声音轻轻对我说)
That you are not alone (其实你并不孤独)
For I am here with you (因为我一直陪在你的身边)
Though you're far away (虽然你离我很远)
I am here to stay (我都会一直在这里等着你)
For You are not alone (你并不孤独)
I am here with you (我会永远陪着你)
Though we're far apart (虽然我们相隔千山万水)
You're always in my heart (但是你永远都在我心里)
And you are not alone (你不再孤独)
Oh~~~
Whisper three words and I'll come runnin'(只要你轻轻地说那三个字,我就会奔向你)
Fly...(飞快地...(奔向你))
And girl you know that I'll be there (女孩,你要知道我会永远守候着你)
I'll be there (永远....)
And You are not alone (你不孤独)
I am here with you (我会永远陪着你)
Though you're far away (虽然你离我很远)
I am here to stay (我都会一直在这里等着你)
And You are not alone (你不孤独)
I am here with you (我会永远陪着你)
Though we're far apart (虽然我们相隔千山万水)
You're always in my heart (但是你永远都在我心里)
You are not alone(You are not alone) (你不孤独)
For I am here with you(I am here with you) (因为我一直陪在你的身边)
Though you're far away(Though you're far away) (虽然你离我很远)
I am here to stay(And you with me) (我都会一直在这里等着你)
For you are not alone(You're always) (你并不孤独)
In my heart.....For I am here with you (因为我会一直陪在你的身边)
Heart.....Though we're far apart (虽然我们相隔千山万水)
Heart.....You're always in my heart 但是你永远都在我心里)
For You are not alone (你并不孤独)
Not alone (不孤独)
You are not alone, you are not alone...(你不孤独......)
You just reach for me girl (因为你是我的女孩)
In the morning in the evening (无论早晨还是夜晚)
Not alone, not alone (不孤独,你不孤独)
And you with me, not alone (因为有我,你不孤独)



Vocabulary - 生词:

Michael Jackson:麦克尔.杰克逊
Jackson 5:杰克逊五兄弟
You are not alone:你不孤独
Moon Walk Dance: 太空舞步