Monday, December 03, 2012
Can I study Literary Chinese online for free?
Yes. You can learn Literary Chinese from an online book entitled, "Introduction to Literary Chinese," by J. Brandt. You can choose to read it online or to download it in a variety of file formats, including Kindle.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Who was Sama Gwang (司馬光)?
Sama Gwang (司馬光) was a historian, scholar, and high chancellor during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). The Chinese pronunciation of his name is Sima Guang. Sama (司馬) was his 2-character family name, and Gwang (光) was his given name. You can read more about Sama Gwang HERE.
The following passage describes something Sama Gwang did as a child that made people realize he was no ordinary child.
The following passage describes something Sama Gwang did as a child that made people realize he was no ordinary child.
司馬光幼 與群兒戲 一兒墜大水甕中已沒 群兒驚走 不能救光取石破甕兒得出 人知其智不凡.
When Sama Gwang (司馬光) was a child (幼), he, with (與) a group of (群) children (兒), was playing (戲) when one (一) child (兒) fell (墜) into (中) a big (大) water (水) jar (甕) and had already (已) sunk below the surface (沒). The group (群) of children (兒) were afraid (驚) and ran away (走), so they could not (不能) save (救) him. Gwang (光) picked up (取) a rock (石) and broke (破) the jar (甕) so the child (兒) could (得) get out (出). People (人) realized (知) his (其) wisdom (智) was not (不) ordinary (凡).
Sunday, November 25, 2012
"The Loss of Dignity," by Gerry Bevers
When a man has lost his dignity
and given up on sobriety,
he tends to lose his ability
and given up on sobriety,
he tends to lose his ability
to function in our society.
He searches for anonymity
in places of ignobility,
hiding from the cruel reality
of society's hostility.
He searches for anonymity
in places of ignobility,
hiding from the cruel reality
of society's hostility.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
How should the 就 in 就必有德 be translated?
I have been translating the old Korean text "Sa Ja So Hak" (四字小學 - 사자소학), which was once used to teach Chinese writing (漢文) to Korean children, when I came upon the following:
In China, they write "that is" as 就是 (취시) or 卽 (즉), which is more evidence that 就 should be translated as "that is" in the above case.
UPDATE: I now think the original Korean translation was correct since the Chinese philosopher Sunja (荀子 - 순자), which the Chinese pronounce as Xun Zi, said something very similar, as is written in the text "Encouraging Learning" (勸學 - 권학).
Notice that I translated the 就 (취) in the final sentence as "that is" (곧), which is one of the meanings of the character. However, Koreans have translated the 就 (취) in this sentence as 나아가다, which means "to go forward" or "to proceed to." That is also a meaning of the character, but it does not really make sense in the sentence here. Here is how Koreans translate the Chinese:
나아갈 때엔 반드시 덕 있는 사람에게 가라
When you approach, be sure to go to people of virtue.I think my translation of 就 (취) is correct. It fact, 就 seems to be a synonym of the character 卽 (즉), which also means 곧 and 나아가다.
In China, they write "that is" as 就是 (취시) or 卽 (즉), which is more evidence that 就 should be translated as "that is" in the above case.
UPDATE: I now think the original Korean translation was correct since the Chinese philosopher Sunja (荀子 - 순자), which the Chinese pronounce as Xun Zi, said something very similar, as is written in the text "Encouraging Learning" (勸學 - 권학).
The 也 (야) character at the end of the above passage marks the end of the sentence, acting as a kind of period.故君子居必擇鄉，遊必就士所以防邪辟而近中正也.
Therefore (故), when a gentleman (君子) takes up residence (居), he must (必) carefully select (擇) the village (鄉), and when he associates (遊), he must (必) approach (就) educated men (士). In this way (所以), he guards against (防) wickedness (邪) and unfairness (辟) and (而) is nearer to (近) balance (中) and correctness (正).
Monday, November 19, 2012
"Faraway," by Gerry Bevers
Sometimes I wanna go faraway,
Not to crowded cities like LA.
But to a place with a quiet, blue bay,
palm trees, sand, and a shady cafe.
Start my mornings with a fish filet,
Coconut juice and a nice fruit tray.
Discuss the politics of the day
Meet and greet and exchange hearsay.
If a cute, young waitress comes my way,
I'll smile and order a fruit frappe.
If she smiles back, winks, then says, "Okay,"
I'll wish I weren't so old and grey.
Not to crowded cities like LA.
But to a place with a quiet, blue bay,
palm trees, sand, and a shady cafe.
Start my mornings with a fish filet,
Coconut juice and a nice fruit tray.
Discuss the politics of the day
Meet and greet and exchange hearsay.
If a cute, young waitress comes my way,
I'll smile and order a fruit frappe.
If she smiles back, winks, then says, "Okay,"
I'll wish I weren't so old and grey.
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
"My Philosophy" by Gerry Bevers
My Philosophy
My goals are truth and fairness.
My motivators ignorance and deceit.
My methods are honesty and directness.
My motto is never retreat.
My motivators ignorance and deceit.
My methods are honesty and directness.
My motto is never retreat.
My agenda is set by the brazenness
Of those who lie through their teeth.
My resolve is tireless pursuit–unless,
I’m tired or want to eat.
Of those who lie through their teeth.
My resolve is tireless pursuit–unless,
I’m tired or want to eat.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Are Fish More Caring than Birds?
I have been studying Classical Chinese using Paul Rouzer’s book, “A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese.” The book is good because Mr. Rouzer explains the grammar very well, but one problem I have with the book is that it is big and unwieldy. It is not something you would want to carry with you on a bus or subway.
Another thing I like about the book is the Translation Exercises from Chinese to English and English to Chinese. One of the reasons I like them is that many of the sentences are unitentionally comical. Here are a few examples from today’s lesson:
Birds build their nests in tall trees because it is safer for them and their offspring, but fish lay their eggs in shallow water, possibly to prevent their eggs from being eaten by big fish. However, by going to shallow water to lay its eggs, a big mother fish risks being caught by an animal or becoming stranded in the shallow water. Therefore, I think the “proverb” meant to say that a fish risks its life for its offspring, but a bird does not.
Another thing I like about the book is the Translation Exercises from Chinese to English and English to Chinese. One of the reasons I like them is that many of the sentences are unitentionally comical. Here are a few examples from today’s lesson:
1) The bird raised its tongue and laughed. The fish was in the water and did not hear.I think Mr. Rouser may have mistranslated Sentence #4. Instead, I think it should be translated as follows:
鳥擧舌而笑. 魚在水而不聞
2) The father wants to leave the house and drink in a tall tree.
其父欲去家而飮於高樹
3) Water that is shallow is not as good as trees that are tall.
水之淺者不如樹之高者
4) The bird roosted in a lofty tree for its own sake, whereas the fish abandoned shallow water for the sake of its children.
鳥爲己宿高樹, 而魚爲其子去淺水
“Birds roost in tall trees for their own sake, but fish go to shallow water for the sake of their offspring.”去(거) can mean “to go," “to leave” or “to abandon.” Mr. Rouzer translated 去(거) as “abandoned,” but I think it should be translated as “go to.”
Birds build their nests in tall trees because it is safer for them and their offspring, but fish lay their eggs in shallow water, possibly to prevent their eggs from being eaten by big fish. However, by going to shallow water to lay its eggs, a big mother fish risks being caught by an animal or becoming stranded in the shallow water. Therefore, I think the “proverb” meant to say that a fish risks its life for its offspring, but a bird does not.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Why does this song make me miss Korea?
I don't know, but it reminds me of the Korea I knew in the 1980s, of which I have very good memories.
The Lyrics:
The Lyrics:
거꾸로 강을 거슬러 오른 저 힘찬 연어들처럼
1 흐르는 강물을 거꾸로 거슬러 오르는 연어들의 도무지
알수 없는 그들만의 신비한 이유처럼 그 언제서 부터인가
걸어걸어걸어 오는 이길 앞으로 얼마나 더많이 가야만 하는지
2 여러 갈래중 만약에 이길이 내가 걸어가고 있는 돌아서
갈 수밖에 없는 꼬부라진 길일지라도 딱딱해진 발바닥
걸어걸어걸어 가다보면 저 넓은 꽃밭에 누워서 난 쉴수 있겠지
3 여러 갈래중 만약에 이길이 내가 걸어가고 있는 막막한
어둠으로 별빛조차 없는 길일 지라도 포기할순 없는거야
걸어걸어걸어 가다보면 뜨겁게 날 위해 부서진 햇살을 보겠지
4 그래도 나에겐 너무나도 많은 축복이란걸 알아 수없이
많은 걸어 가야할 대 앞길이 있지않나 그래 다시 가다보면
걸어걸어걸어 가다보면 어느날 그 모든 일들을 감사해야 하겠지
RAP :
보이지도 않는 끝 지친어깨 떨구고 한숨짓는 그대 두려움 알아요
거꾸로 강을 거슬러 오르는 저 힘찬 연어들 처럼
걸어가다보면 걸어가다보면 걸어가다보면...
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Does Heaven repay those who bury 2-headed snakes?
"The Tale of the Two-headed Snake"
When Son-suk Oh (孫叔敖) was a young child (為嬰兒), he went out to play (出遊), but when he returned (而還), he was upset (憂) and would not eat (而不食). His mother (其母) asked (問) the reason (其故).
While crying (泣而), he answered (對曰),"Today (今日), I saw (吾見) a 2-headed snake (兩頭蛇), so I fear (恐) I have no days left before going to death (去死無日矣).
His mother asked (母曰), "Now (今), where is the snake (蛇安在)?"
Answering (曰), "I heard (吾聞) a person who sees a 2-headed snake (見兩頭蛇者) dies (死). I feared (吾恐) others (他人) would also see (又見), so I have already (已) buried it (埋之矣).
His mother said (母曰), "Don't worry (無憂). You won't die (汝不死). I have heard that (吾聞之) if there are those who do good secretly (有陰德者), Heaven (天) repays them (報) with blessings (以福).
-------------------
孫叔敖為嬰兒出遊而還憂而不食其母問其故泣而對曰今日吾見兩頭蛇恐去死無日矣母曰今蛇安在曰吾聞見兩頭蛇者死吾恐他人又見已埋之矣母曰無憂汝不死吾聞之有陰德者天報以福
When Son-suk Oh (孫叔敖) was a young child (為嬰兒), he went out to play (出遊), but when he returned (而還), he was upset (憂) and would not eat (而不食). His mother (其母) asked (問) the reason (其故).
While crying (泣而), he answered (對曰),"Today (今日), I saw (吾見) a 2-headed snake (兩頭蛇), so I fear (恐) I have no days left before going to death (去死無日矣).
His mother asked (母曰), "Now (今), where is the snake (蛇安在)?"
Answering (曰), "I heard (吾聞) a person who sees a 2-headed snake (見兩頭蛇者) dies (死). I feared (吾恐) others (他人) would also see (又見), so I have already (已) buried it (埋之矣).
His mother said (母曰), "Don't worry (無憂). You won't die (汝不死). I have heard that (吾聞之) if there are those who do good secretly (有陰德者), Heaven (天) repays them (報) with blessings (以福).
-------------------
孫叔敖為嬰兒出遊而還憂而不食其母問其故泣而對曰今日吾見兩頭蛇恐去死無日矣母曰今蛇安在曰吾聞見兩頭蛇者死吾恐他人又見已埋之矣母曰無憂汝不死吾聞之有陰德者天報以福
Friday, July 22, 2011
Is Puberty a Good Time to Start Learning Korean?
A seventh grade girl is attracted to a Korean-American boy and starts learning Korean. Four years later, she becomes the first "non-Korean" to win second place in a Korean speech contest hosted by the U.S. National Association for Korean Schools. Then, after a phone interview with a Korean reporter, the girl is described by the reporter as being able to speak Korean as if it were her mother tongue.
Four years may seem like a long time to learn a language, but when learning Korean, it is not that long, especially if you are trying to learn it outside Korea.
Link to Article
And she is very good.
Four years may seem like a long time to learn a language, but when learning Korean, it is not that long, especially if you are trying to learn it outside Korea.
Link to Article
And she is very good.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
How do Koreans say "to pass the buck"?
The American idiom "to pass the buck" is translated in Korean as 책임을 전가하다. 책임(責任) means "responsibility," and 전가(轉嫁) means "to impute" or "to attribute."
What I find interesting about the Korean expression is that 전가(轉嫁) also means "to remarry" on the part of a woman. The Chinese characters literally mean "transfer the wife's marriage."
Unloading your wife onto the back of another man seems like a perfect example of "passing the buck."
What I find interesting about the Korean expression is that 전가(轉嫁) also means "to remarry" on the part of a woman. The Chinese characters literally mean "transfer the wife's marriage."
Unloading your wife onto the back of another man seems like a perfect example of "passing the buck."
Monday, June 20, 2011
Are you a Hypocrite or a Good Deed Doer?
Confucius wrote:
The answer lies with the Chinese characters for 위. Notice that the Chinese character for the 위(爲) in "good deed doer" is slightly different than the 위(僞) in "hypocrite." 爲(위) means "do," but 僞(위) means "lie, pretend" The other two characters are exactly the same: 善 (선 - good), 者(자 - person). Therefore, the Korean word for "hyprocrite," 위선자(僞善者), literally means "a pretend good person."
The next time someone calls you a 위선자, you can reply, "Really? I guess that means I can expect blessings from Heaven."
Heaven repays a person who does good with blessings and a person who does bad with calamity.
爲善者天報之 以福, 爲不善者天報之 以禍 (위선자천보지이복, 위불선자천보지이화)
爲善者(a do good person) 天報之(Heaven repays him) 以福 (with blessings), 爲不善者(a do no good person) 天報之(Heaven repays him) 以禍 (with calamity).Based on the above Confucian saying, 위선자(爲善者) can be translated as "a good deed doer," so why do modern day Koreans use 위선자(僞善者) to mean "hypocrite"?
The answer lies with the Chinese characters for 위. Notice that the Chinese character for the 위(爲) in "good deed doer" is slightly different than the 위(僞) in "hypocrite." 爲(위) means "do," but 僞(위) means "lie, pretend" The other two characters are exactly the same: 善 (선 - good), 者(자 - person). Therefore, the Korean word for "hyprocrite," 위선자(僞善者), literally means "a pretend good person."
The next time someone calls you a 위선자, you can reply, "Really? I guess that means I can expect blessings from Heaven."
Sunday, June 19, 2011
"The Cycle of Life," by Gerry Bevers
At Seventy-two or fifty-three,
The Angel of Death is eyeing me.
I do not fear him for I know,
Like flowers and trees, we all must go.
Back to the earth from which we came,
Your dirt and my dirt will be the same.
Our lives as humans may come to an end,
But another awaits just ‘round the bend.
I may come back as a tomato plant,
Or if I’m lucky, a giant elephant.
Life eternal would be a bore,
Nature offers much, much more.
The Angel of Death is eyeing me.
I do not fear him for I know,
Like flowers and trees, we all must go.
Back to the earth from which we came,
Your dirt and my dirt will be the same.
Our lives as humans may come to an end,
But another awaits just ‘round the bend.
I may come back as a tomato plant,
Or if I’m lucky, a giant elephant.
Life eternal would be a bore,
Nature offers much, much more.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
How would you translate 란/이란 in English?
란/이란 is a topic marker similar to 은/는 that attaches to nouns, but is more emphatic than 은/는. It is an abbreviation of (이)라는 것은. The marker 란 attaches to nouns that end in a vowel (eg. 친구란), and the marker 이란 attaches to nouns that end in a consonant (eg. 가족이란).
The marker essentially announces that you are about to define or explain the noun to which it is attached, as the following example shows.
Normally, Koreans also pause after the marker 란/이란 before continuing on with the definition or explanation of the word or phrase to which it is attached.
The marker essentially announces that you are about to define or explain the noun to which it is attached, as the following example shows.
친구란 어려울 때 도와줄 수 있는 사람이에요.Dictionaries often show "as for" as an English equivalent of 란/이란, but normally we would not translate it in English. However, in spoken English, we usually show the emphatic nature of the marker by stressing the noun to which 란/이란 is attached and then pausing before continuing on with the definition or explanation of the noun, as demonstrated below:
A friend is someone who helps you in difficult times.
A friend--is someone who helps you in difficult times.In the above example, the boldface type is meant to indicate stress, and the hyphens (dash) are meant to indicate a pause.
Normally, Koreans also pause after the marker 란/이란 before continuing on with the definition or explanation of the word or phrase to which it is attached.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
"Genesis" -- by Gerry Bevers
Our God is the Sun,
the creator of life,
the sustainer of life.
His essence is Hydrogen,
the smallest of seeds,
the source of all matter.
Hydrogen begets Helium,
and Helium begets Carbon,
with whom Hydrogen bonds
to give birth to all living things.
The God of our God is Gravity,
the unseen Force of the universe
that brings it all together.
the creator of life,
the sustainer of life.
His essence is Hydrogen,
the smallest of seeds,
the source of all matter.
Hydrogen begets Helium,
and Helium begets Carbon,
with whom Hydrogen bonds
to give birth to all living things.
The God of our God is Gravity,
the unseen Force of the universe
that brings it all together.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
"Snowy Night" by Gerry Bevers
Just beyond my window pane,
Gently falls white winter rain.
Fluffy flakes floating down,
Softly landing without sound.
As my world waxes winter white
Reflecting stars and soft moonlight,
The silent sadness of the lonely night
Fades away into soft delight.
Gently falls white winter rain.
Fluffy flakes floating down,
Softly landing without sound.
As my world waxes winter white
Reflecting stars and soft moonlight,
The silent sadness of the lonely night
Fades away into soft delight.
Friday, January 28, 2011
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