Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Uncovering the Mysteries of Beijing's Hutongs
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/uncovering-the-mysteries-of-beijings-hutongs

Story Transcript:

Zh: 在北京的灯火阑珊处，谁说乌龟不能赶上兔子，那么，“张伟追着迷失的路的故事就要开演了。
En: At the dimly lit lights of Beijing, who says that turtles can't catch up to rabbits? And so, the story of Zhang Wei chasing a lost path is about to begin.

Zh: 北京的胡同，象征着古老的文化和历史，一道道回眸的思绪，珠玑般流转在娓娓道来的故事里。张伟，一个年轻的科技工作者，是这座大都市的许多匆匆过客中的一个。今天，他将在这个熟悉而又陌生的胡同里，为我们讲述一段奇特的北京夜。
En: Beijing's hutongs, symbolizing ancient culture and history, are like a series of thoughts flowing through the narrated stories. Zhang Wei, a young tech worker, is one of the many hurried passersby in this metropolis. Today, he will tell us about an extraordinary Beijing night in this familiar yet unfamiliar hutong.

Zh: 那天，张伟在一场商务活动后，决定攀登这座历史的山峰，他从喧闹的大街蜿蜒进入寂静的胡同。然而，北京的胡同如同迷宫般纵横交错，张伟仿佛淹没在这浩渺的历史里，同时，他也感到了迷茫和惶恐。
En: That day, after a business event, Zhang Wei decided to climb this historical peak. He wandered from the bustling main street into the silent hutong. However, Beijing's hutongs are like mazes, and Zhang Wei felt as if he was swallowed by this vast history, feeling lost and anxious.

Zh: 就在他即将绝望时，远处传来了规律而铿锵的声音。随着声音的逼近，一群身穿睡衣的老妇人慢慢走进了他的视线。他们手舞足蹈，全神贯注，仿佛在与不可见的敌人战斗。张伟先是愣了一下，他忍不住笑出声来，他误以为北京的老妇人们在举行一场即兴的户外睡衣派对。他连忙从口袋里摸出了手机，想要把这难得的景象记录下来。
En: Just as he was about to despair, he heard a rhythmic and resounding noise in the distance. As the sound approached, a group of old women in sleepwear slowly came into his sight. They were dancing, fully immersed, as if battling with an invisible enemy. Zhang Wei was bewildered at first, and couldn't help but burst into laughter, thinking that the old women in Beijing were holding an impromptu outdoor pajama party. He quickly took out his phone from his pocket, wanting to capture this rare sight.

Zh: 正当他举起手机时，一阵微风吹过。飘渺的月光照亮了夜色，他看清了老妇人们的意境：那是他从未见过的太极拳。原来，他们是在遨游于动静之间，和周围的世界连接，这是一种文化，一种信念。他的笑容逐渐冻结在脸上。
En: Just as he raised his phone, a breeze blew by. The ethereal moonlight illuminated the night, and he could see the old women's state of mind: it was a tai chi practice that he had never seen before. It turned out that they were flowing between movement and stillness, connecting with the world around them. It was a culture, a belief. His smile gradually froze on his face.

Zh: 之后，他决然将手机放回口袋，而后静静的看着这个美妙的画面。他遗失在胡同里的恐惧烟消云散，取而代之的是深深的震撼和敬佩。他试图向老妇人们请教方向，老妇人们耐心的为他指出了路，他感激的点点头，然后带着新的理解和深深的未解之谜踏上了归途。
En: Afterward, he resolutely put his phone back into his pocket and silently watched this beautiful scene. The fear he had lost in the hutong dissipated, replaced by deep awe and admiration. He tried to ask the old women for directions, and they patiently pointed out the way for him. Grateful, he nodded and set off on his way home with a new understanding and profound mysteries.

Zh: 这就是张伟那天晚上在北京胡同的冒险，一个简单的误解让他找到了新的内心的力量和方向。虽然开始的时候他迷茫和恐惧，但最后，他找到了自己。
En: That was Zhang Wei's adventure in the Beijing hutong that night, a simple misunderstanding allowing him to find new inner strength and direction. Although he was initially confused and fearful, in the end, he found himself.

Zh: “张伟赶着迷失的路，赶过乌龟，赶过兔子，赶过所有的疲倦。”他始终记住这个晚上，那个他误解的即兴户外睡衣派对，因为那些给他指路的老妇人们，帮他找到了更多的信念，更深的文化理解和更广阔的世界认知。
En: "Zhang Wei rushed along the lost path, surpassing the turtle, surpassing the rabbit, surpassing all weariness." He would always remember that night, the impromptu outdoor pajama party he had misunderstood, because those old women who showed him the way helped him find more belief, deeper cultural understanding, and a broader perception of the world.

Zh: 这就是我们张伟的故事，一个背井离乡的年轻人，在北京的胡同，倾听了历史的回音，理解了别人，也理解了自己。
En: This is the story of Zhang Wei, a young person who left their hometown, listened to the echoes of history in Beijing's hutongs, understood others, and ultimately understood themselves.

Zh: 懵懂的张伟，小心翼翼地穿越未知的拐角，耳听那不绝如缕的太极旋律，渐渐地，他开始明白，他未曾迷失，只是路在脚下，他只需要一步一步向前走。
En: The inexperienced Zhang Wei cautiously navigated the unknown corners, listening to the faint melody of tai chi. Gradually, he began to understand that he was never lost, the path was just beneath his feet, and all he needed to do was take one step at a time forward.


Vocabulary Words:

• At: 在
• dimly: 昏暗地
• lit: 点亮
• lights: 灯火
• Beijing: 北京
• turtles: 乌龟
• catch up to: 赶上
• rabbits: 兔子
• story: 故事
• Zhang Wei: 张伟
• chasing: 追着
• lost path: 迷失的路
• Beijing's: 北京的
• hutongs: 胡同
• symbolizing: 象征着
• ancient culture: 古老的文化
• history: 历史
• series: 一道道
• thoughts: 思绪
• flowing: 流转
• narrated: 娓娓道来的
• young: 年轻的
• tech worker: 科技工作者
• hurried: 匆匆
• passersby: 过客
• metropolis: 大都市
• extraordinary: 奇特的
• familiar: 熟悉
• unfamiliar: 陌生
• night: 夜