[00:00:19] Speaker A: Why does Chinese New Year change every year?
[00:00:27] Speaker B: How do we compare in Chinese?
[00:00:30] Speaker A: Wow.
Welcome back to.
Long time nothing.
Wow.
Mayo.
Okay.
Oh, Oh. Okay.
Well, we already heard about a dialogue using B and Neo. So let's dive in into the grammar part.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: So let's take a look at today's grammar point.
How do we compare?
So the basic structure is A plus B plus B plus B plus B. And then the adjective. So which means A is more adjective than B?
Yes.
[00:03:48] Speaker A: Let's look at the example from the dialogue.
I finish work a bit later than before. So here we are comparing now versus before for I'm focusing on later.
[00:04:07] Speaker B: Very good. So we have more examples.
The first one is my job is busier than yours. Comparing two people's work today is more tiring than yesterday. Probably for me, for him, for anyone.
[00:04:31] Speaker A: Yes. So now let's move on to another structure saying much more.
When the difference is clear or big, we add two or tuola and the structure is A plus B plus B plus adjective plus two quarter or let's see an example.
The workload is much more than last month.
They are much busier than me.
So here a tip sounds natural in spoken Chinese.
So you can use it when you are comparing.
Yes, making a comparison.
It often shows the speaker feels the feeling or the emphasis.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Very nice.
And then on the opposite, we have the same structure, but at the end we change it to or.
So if the difference is small, we use this structure.
Let's take a look the the one that we used it in the dialogue.
So the pressure is a little bigger than before.
Or.
The cafe. The cafe is a bit quieter than that one.
[00:06:11] Speaker A: Very good. And now let's see how to say not as something something us like using the mayo.
So the structure is A plus mayo plus B plus adjective. So this structure means A is not as the adjective, as B.
[00:06:32] Speaker B: Yes. So we have example here.
My word pressure isn't as big as yours.
This movie isn't as good as the that one.
[00:06:50] Speaker A: So here are some points you have to keep in mind. After mayo, you cannot add.
So it's wrong to say the correct answer is like I'm not as busy as you.
So this is like some tips to remind. B shows difference, Mayo shows lack of difference.
[00:07:24] Speaker B: Exactly. So once you're comfortable with B and meo, you sound more natural when you're talking about daily life.
[00:07:34] Speaker A: Exactly. So now let's practice a little bit. How would you say in Chinese, my work is busier than last year, but the pressure is not as big as my colleagues.
[00:07:48] Speaker B: So Take your time. We'll share one possible answer later in the episode.
[00:07:53] Speaker A: Okay. So while you're thinking, let's review our dialogue.
[00:07:59] Speaker B: So let's get started on our grammar.
[00:08:03] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:08:03] Speaker B: So.
[00:08:11] Speaker A: Lately times feel like. Like it's flying. Are you getting busier too?
[00:08:23] Speaker B: Yes. The workload this month is much more than last month.
[00:08:31] Speaker A: Do you work overtime every day?
Almost.
[00:08:43] Speaker B: I finished work a bit later than before.
[00:08:52] Speaker A: That sounds tough. What about your colleagues?
[00:09:03] Speaker B: They are much busier than me. And their pressure is bigger too.
[00:09:16] Speaker A: Then you're doing.
Then you're not doing too badly. I think my work pressure isn't as big as yours.
[00:09:32] Speaker B: Yeah, but comparing to last year, life is still much busier now.
[00:09:39] Speaker A: Well, have you paid attention to the extractor B and mayo in the dialogue?
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So now let's move on to a very interesting topic. So, we previously talked about the Chinese New Year and late. Well, Chinese New Year is gonna be next week, right, Emily?
[00:10:23] Speaker B: Yes. Yes.
[00:10:29] Speaker A: So we talk about Chinese New Year a lot. But today we are zoom in on something very specific.
[00:10:37] Speaker B: What is so. Yes. Instead of talking about food or travel, How is the Spring Festival actually comes from.
[00:10:54] Speaker A: Yes. Because Chunjie is not just a holiday. It's deeply connected to the Chinese lunar calendar, which we call.
Now this. In the daily life, people use the solar calendar which is known in Western countries, right?
[00:11:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
But for like traditional festival, birthday, birthday of elders, wedding, People still check on the lunar calendar.
[00:11:52] Speaker A: Yes. So is not January 1st. It's the first day of the lunar year.
[00:12:06] Speaker B: So this is something that confused many foreigners. Like why isn't the date the same?
[00:12:12] Speaker A: Yeah. Chinese New Year can be in late January or February.
[00:12:19] Speaker B: Yeah. So that's because of the lunar calendar based on the moon, not the sun.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: Yes. Each lunar month starts with a new moon. So the year is shorter than the solar year.
[00:12:34] Speaker B: So to fix this difference, China's used a leak month.
[00:12:40] Speaker A: Yes. This makes the calendar much natural.
More closely.
[00:12:46] Speaker B: Yes.
So let's talk about the Qiyuan Gusi, the traditional story behind the Spring Festival.
[00:12:55] Speaker A: Yes. Many people know the story of the Nian Shou.
What is.
[00:13:02] Speaker B: Oh yeah, on the screen. So a monster that was said to appear once a year, frightening the villagers.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: Yes. And you know, people discovered that this monster was afraid of red colors, fires and loud sounds.
[00:13:23] Speaker B: Yes. So that's why you'll see a lot of red decorations, firecrackers, and really, really, really loud celebrations.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: Yes. So the point is to keep away the monsters. So that's why we have all these things.
[00:13:38] Speaker B: So. Yes. You throw the firecracker on the street, forest and monsters. Something like that. Although a bit like, I personally think it's a bit too loud.
[00:13:51] Speaker A: Yeah, I know, me too. I think the same. But you know, it's part of the tradition of so celebrating the Chinese New Year.
You might think this is all very traditional, but it's still like very real today.
[00:14:15] Speaker B: True. Many people check on the lunar calendar apps every day.
[00:14:21] Speaker A: Yes. They look at things like, what's good to do today, what's to avoid?
[00:14:29] Speaker B: Yes. So.
So this is something like, even young people sometimes check it before making big decisions.
[00:14:40] Speaker A: Yes. So whenever you have to, you have important dates like weddings or, I don't know, exams, people will check the calendar if it's like, if it's that if that day gonna help them. So that's why when Chinese people talk about time, festival or plants, they're often thinking in two system at once.
[00:15:04] Speaker B: Yes. For example, like, I personally don't look at, I don't check on the lunar calendar now because. Also because of my religion.
But so as you know, I'm a Christian, so I don't check on that. But my parents aren't.
So last year when I was, when I was planning my wedding, like my family and my husband's family, they were all talking about like, oh, we should check the lunar calendar.
And I was like, because I personally, I'm more Western, I would be like, oh, but I want to pick a date that I like.
I wanted to pick our anniversary.
So the funny story is that my parents and his parents were like, oh, but it's September. Do you know what the, what's the problem with September?
[00:15:58] Speaker A: No, well, soon, because it's.
[00:16:03] Speaker B: No, this month is normally like during, during July to August on the lunar calendar. So they would be like, oh, it's the ghost, Ghost month. You shouldn't be getting married. I'm like.
[00:16:21] Speaker A: So at the. But you, you did get married on September, right?
[00:16:26] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. I didn't, I didn't follow the, the tradition at all.
My parents were traditional, of course, but they were also like, they respect the young generation nowadays.
So it really depends, like from family to family.
But of course. So you can see, like it is still a big part of the Chinese culture that not just my family also his family was a bit concerned about the date.
So this is still, this is still something that people do do check on nowadays.
[00:17:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:05] Speaker B: So.
[00:17:07] Speaker A: Well, as you say, it's not just a date.
It's especially in Chinese New Year, it's a whole way of organizing time, you know?
[00:17:17] Speaker B: Yeah. So once like you understand this many conversations that suddenly makes more sense, like, why do people keep changing the day, moving the date?
Why do people do a lot of calculation or even going to see like a master to like to get the date settled? Like, this is all really important in the Chinese culture.
[00:17:45] Speaker A: Yeah. One last thing about Chinese New Year, you know, it's like, like kind of like a week or two of holiday.
Every day of these holidays, they do different things. Like in the calendar, we'll say, oh, you should do this the second day. You should not do this.
Do you know about this, Emily?
[00:18:10] Speaker B: I. I know a little bit. Like for example, of course, the New Year's Eve, the day before a family gather around to have a big dinner and giving the red envelope these kind of traditional. With the kids.
I know, I think, I'm not really sure. Correct me if I'm wrong. I think the first day the mother is not allowed to go back to like their family.
I have this. I have this. I. I'm remembering this because it's always saying the second day, you go back the second day.
And so like early before when I was little, I think what my, My mom wanted to visit my grandma. My grandma was like, no, no, you'll come back the second day. You're not. You don't come back the first day.
It goes with the generation. Like, it's not that serious right now. But I remember when I was young, my background was like, no true or side Hui lie.
[00:19:14] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, so that's why Chinese New Year, like the holidays have itself these rules. Like also I remember that one is like, you can't clean your house during Chinese new year.
[00:19:28] Speaker B: Oh, 9:00pm I heard that. Which day?
[00:19:33] Speaker A: I don't remember actually, but I, I think it's the first couple of days. So that's why people before Chinese New Year start to clean everything and decorate the house. Because after that day, like, you can't clean.
[00:19:51] Speaker B: Yeah. Yes, I remember this one. I do remember this one. So every, every day have like a little rule. So, so this is something that it is interesting.
[00:20:01] Speaker A: Yeah.
Do you know any other rules?
[00:20:06] Speaker B: I know, I think two.
Kai.
No, this is the one that interesting me the most.
So they have, they have. I think it was the fifth or the sixth day that you need to do a huge thing for the God.
And then you have to put on the food and you. Yeah, that's a huge thing for God to. To pray for. Like, oh, I want a good next year. Like to good business year. Right.
So the boss would gather the whole company going back to the company to do the celebration.
Normally like two hours, three hours, not a lot.
But it is during the vacation.
So my previous company, they do that and they were like, it's not mandatory, but if you come, we will give you extra money. But not salary. It's more like a red envelope.
[00:21:19] Speaker A: Wow.
That would be tempting actually.
[00:21:26] Speaker B: Well, I probably was too lazy.
[00:21:31] Speaker A: Well, that's nice.
Some companies still keeping these traditions.
[00:21:36] Speaker B: Yeah. So it depends. But you do have to be there personally. So it depends from company to company.
[00:21:44] Speaker A: Wow.
Well, it was very interesting to know about Chinese New Year traditions and rules. So now let's move on to the answer.
[00:21:57] Speaker B: Yes. So let's quickly check the sentence from earlier.
We asked, how would you say my work is busier than last year, but the pressure is not epic as my colleagues.
[00:22:11] Speaker A: So in Chinese you can say.
[00:22:22] Speaker B: Did you get it right?
[00:22:24] Speaker A: Okay, so now it's your turn.
[00:22:28] Speaker B: So try to make a sentence using B and together.
Yes.
[00:22:35] Speaker A: You can talk about work, study, life, anything.
[00:22:39] Speaker B: Yeah, Write your sentence down in the comment section. It doesn't have to be perfect, but try to do some interesting combined.
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Yes.
[00:23:27] Speaker A: So let's summarize what we learned today. So today we learned how to compare things naturally using bee and mayo.
[00:23:36] Speaker B: So these two structures will help you sound more natural in daily Chinese.
[00:23:43] Speaker A: And next time we'll move on to something very practical, which is.
Yes.
[00:23:49] Speaker B: So in the next episode we will learn.
So this is. This is a structure very, very, very important. Like five stars important.
[00:24:00] Speaker A: Okay, so stay tuned.
Don't forget to give us a like subscribe and. Well, thank you for listening and see you in the next episode.
[00:24:18] Speaker B: Sa.
