中文挑战

What is 中文挑战? It's a series of challenges designed to test your hard-earned Chinese skills. Reading, listening, and writing skills will all be covered (though not all at the same time). The focus will be on appreciating media intended for native Chinese speakers.

Who is it for? 中文挑战 is intended for intermediate to advanced learners. Certainly not all challenges will be at the same level, but because everyone has their own learning trajectory it will be hard for us to explicitly label something as "easy", "hard", or "insane". But most challenges will be short, so you can quickly assess whether they're appropriate for your level.

How do I participate? Just read the blog and try to beat the challenge. Ask questions if you're not sure about something. Share your solutions by posting them as a comment. Suggest new types of challenges.

How frequently will these challenges come out? Once a week, give or take.

What form will these challenges take? Most challenges will follow the basic media + quiz format. That is, we present some media clip that you read, listen, or watch; after reviewing the clip you answer some questions on a short quiz. Examples of media we'll use are soundbites, videos, comic panels, etc.

Who will be creating the challenges? Regular forum contributors and media junkies Gleaves and feihong.

Below are seven words in English whose Chinese equivalents are loanwords from English. Below that, are the characters for these words all scrambled up. Your assignment, should you be brave enough, is to try to reassemble the Chinese words, based only on their sound. Some loanwords I expect you know, some I hope are more challenging. [Numbers in parentheses are the number of characters.]

blog (2) :

calorie (3):

chocolate (3):

engine (2):

romance (3):

tank (2) [see if you were paying attention last time!]:

vitamin (3):

b: 博

k: 卡 克 客 克

l: 力 路 羅 里

m: 曼 命

q: 巧 擎

s: 史

t: 坦 他

w: 維

y: 引

All words are taken from MDBG; so looking there (or any E->C dictionary) first will give you no honor. Looking up how to pronounce a character that you don't know is, of course, still honorable. [And if you're brave enough, don't check your answers against MDBG before you post -- I'd love to see what people come up with!]

This is another 7句话 word puzzle, only this time the hints are accompanied by photos.

Hints

那颗巨大的•••让两个小孩子很开心 (3 characters)

练••是她最喜欢的活动 (2 characters)

坐在床边，一边看镜子一边••• (3 characters)

躲在树后的三位男人都•••• (4 characters)

这艘船是用••做的 (2 characters)

带着••的女人往上瞧 (2 characters)

男孩躺••••上 (4 characters)

Pool of Characters

纸 皂 样 具 克

在 摸 唇 肥 报

泡 嘴 模 面 一

一 坦 瑜 炮 伽

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Put on your 听力 shoes. This is a clip (1:45) from the audiobook of a horror novel called 《天劫》. Here’s the setup - an older woman (奶奶) and a little girl (小烟) have just bumped into a fortune teller (算命). It's already been hinted at that something is wrong with the girl. See if you can answer these questions without looking at the transcript. The clip alternates between two narrators, but don’t let that throw you.

Cursed Well.mp3

1. Where is the well?

2. What is the fortune teller’s first piece of advice?

3. Why is the woman frightened?

4. The girl shouldn’t leave what place?

Bonus question: Can you guess who the female narrator is? (it is not obvious from the clip, but it is hinted at.)

Transcript

Links: Audiobook on verycd. The transcript for tracks 1 to 28 of the audiobook is below. I’ll update it once I finish parsing out the text for all 74 tracks.

Tianjie transcript 01-28.txt

Point out the errors in the translation.

Mark: AWESOME night. Dry spell = broken.

Mark：这天棒透了。干旱期结束了。

Karen likes this.

Karen觉得这挺赞的。

Mark: MOM WTF

Mark：娘你发疯了吗

Karen: Oops. How do I unclick?

Karen：是故意的。玩得很开心吗？

Melissa: HAHAHAHAHAHA

Melissa：呼呼呼呼呼呼

Source: Awkward Moments in Facebook Likes

雨一直下.mp3

Below are the translated lyrics, except the lines and words within each line are out of order. Fix them.

dreams instant, your in that crumbled

maybe and hate also him

loved resent because deeply you so you him

you deeply so with put his ways you because loved up

you forgotten from innumerable received you wounds have the loving him?

stupid why so the outset? at were you

him thinking leaving you're just about when

words pointless spouting

or if who happy not cares he's

much so of you've your wasted youth

more should no with concern you affairs his yourself

no you him for should fight more

less the harmonious mood than is

feel slowly your you heart changing

today, does he or love who starting worry doesn't about don't

love him you

you're facing with escape a way of precipice no

the same under roof living

so to marry determined him? and

flowers somehow shows with he up

should leave even bear can't you if you it,

falling the rain keeps

scene the awkward even making more

was it playmate to his just along all be

yet let brokenhearted, go you to have

right unbelievable,

You'll probably want to look at the original lyrics unless your listening skills are incredible:

Source: 雨一直下 by 张宇

Put the lines back into their proper order.

机器人在颤抖，发出了呼呼声。

科珀：“我啥也没碰！它自己走起来了，这个舵轮也并不能使用！”

科珀和佛瑞德往前瞪着眼睛（目惊口呆）。

科珀：“咱们进去调查一下吧。”

科珀：“佛瑞德！它自己在动呢！”

科珀：“我觉得它大概听不见你，佛瑞德。”佛瑞德：“你好。”

科珀：“好像没人在家。佛瑞德，去看看这里面是不是空的。”

牌子：“扩音器。”科珀：“做点什么！”

机器人的扩音器：“你好。”机器人撞上了一栋大楼。

哔哔声。

科珀和佛瑞德被惊醒了。科珀伸手，想把闹钟关掉。

牌子：“危险！前面有城市。”科珀：“快！”

科珀和佛瑞德站在大机器人的腿上。佛瑞德：“你好。”

科珀和佛瑞德爬到了入口。

科珀：“我想知道这玩意儿还能使吗。”

Source: Copper by Kazu Kibuishi

1. What does JJ mean?

2. What does 咪咪 mean?

3. What Chinese word does JJ stand for?

Source: 一日一囧四格漫画

The following lyric lines are out of order. Listen to the song from 1:25 to 2:00 and put the lines back into their proper order.

Chuan Qi.mp3

只留下疑问与话题

我们是自己

天都快黑尽

圣人的经书

我们在矛盾里传奇

英雄的尸骨已成烂泥

黄土和坟墓

我们是什么

点燃了指头挥霍自己

后辈人继续

才钻破梦底

前辈人教唆

Source: 传奇, by 春秋乐队

If they ever make a Chinese version of Rock Band and this song isn't on it, I will lose my faith in humanity.

If I Was a Bunny

Unscramble the characters in the following translation.

If I was a bunny

是子假我只兔设

I would get stuff for free just because of my cuteness

为可西我东多因收的会很到免费我的爱

And become a P.E.T.A. activist

子而组且动善待会成活的跃为物织分

I would use the most expensive shampoo to keep my fluffiness

毛洗我蓬柔软的最松露持昂的用发贵我保会

And have a ton of carrots all over my house

到放也许的萝我多胡在要家里处卜

I'd marry a rich young widow with a fixation for bunnies

妇特的结婚兔年喜子寡和会我欢轻

And drive a convertible everywhere

敞着车辆篷以及方去所的一开有地

Then I'd start my own company

己创公自来下接司会我立的

But spend all my money in strip clubs

脱花总夜是舞在会会所有的但钱光衣

Source: Stuff No One Told Me (but I learned anyway)

The following is a line-by-line translation of the lyrics, but the characters are scrambled. Fix them.

I went to a party last Saturday night

六一我参加星了上个场对期派

I didn't get laid, I got in a fight

架找，打我没我了伴然竟个

It ain't no big thing

大不啥的没了

Late for my job and the traffic was bad

通迟很挤到交班了，上

Had to borrow ten bucks from my old man

块爸了不得钱十借老不向

It ain't no big thing

啥大的没不了

I went to a party last Saturday night

个我六参上加派个星期一了对

I told you that story, it'd be alright

事真我你，那的故没过告事个诉

It ain't no big thing

没的啥不了大

But I know what I like

是知什我可道喜么欢我

I know I like dancin' with you

你我道知和喜跳我欢舞

And I know what you like

道也什喜欢你么知我

I know you like dancin' with me

你道我喜知我跳欢和舞

Kiss me once

次吻一我

Kiss me twice

吻次两我

C'mon pretty baby, kiss me deadly

个贝命过，吻来来的宝致

Had a few beers, gettin' high

醉，开几喝啤了了始瓶酒

Sittin', watchin' the time go by

着逝光看，的着时坐去

It ain't no big thing

了的没啥不大

Nothin' to eat and no TV

的视吃有有也，电没没

Lookin' in the mirror don't get it for me

子的镜啥看没玩好

It ain't no big thing

不没的大啥了

Source: Kiss Me Deadly by Lita Ford

Fix the translation of this Godzilla haiku.

http://godzillahaiku.tumblr.com/post/450472124/18

我们永远是朋友

但是这个幸福过去以后

你会成为我的爱人

Here are the original lines:

Source: Godzilla Haiku

jing-guo.mp3

This song called 经过 by 陈楚生 & 何洁 is from the TV series 夫妻那些事. Personally, I think this song (after listening to it a few times) is more catchy than the TV show (I'm currently on chapter 7). Anyways, these lyrics are all messed up and out of order. Please fix them.

种怕我那害坚持

的止无休声

过何流纵泪又眼如

样子原看来看它的一

不说都么什

过经的有曾么怎不都换

式我若你的爱方

开不已始同

折每你幸为运伴有个挫多

觉落散却来从都发没

曾过谁怀不离疑过过相过信待等开

穿被浪月滴漫水石岁

能们我得懂

未你想的我起象和的永是有一来远

命果这如生一如段同程旅

如不我换们下变置位

走整总后要才完过

你默的呀沉

值都过得有

Use Chinese to describe the differences between these two birds.

Sources: jvverde, winnu

Who is this person?

来自特拉华州。

害怕打开自己的邮件。

二十岁时中风发作，在短暂的一段时间里，得了___。

莎朗·斯通劝她别咀嚼自己的头发，不然人们会以为她是___。

Also, fill in the blank on the last two clues.

youtube link

ifeng link

Please listen to this episode of 《锵锵三人行》up to the first commercial break (10:30) and answer the following questions.

Rules:

- This is a listening quiz so please do not search for and use online transcripts.

- Feel free to use a dictionary or search engines to help define terms you don't understand.

- If a question has (# characters), then your answer for that part of the question needs to be in Chinese. Otherwise, feel free to use English.

- All the questions are in order.

1. In the beginning of the show, what does the host (窦文涛) call the guy on the right? (4 characters)

2. According to 窦文涛, what do you get during 婚姻低潮? (2 characters)

3. According to the guy on the right (马家辉), what did Hong Kong people think of Faye Wong (王菲) when she first started performing?

4. According to 马家辉, what do Hong Kong people expect to get from a typical concert in addition to singing?

5. According to 窦文涛, when did Faye Wong's problems begin?

6. According to the girl on the left (竹幼婷), what show is she unable to watch? Why?

7. According to 竹幼婷, what is giving Faye Wong so much pressure to sing accurately?

8. What's the joke with Jay Chou (周杰伦) and his voice?

9. According to 窦文涛, what kind of person does not exist in this world?

- How does he use TV hosts and TV shows to illustrate his point?

- What should we not worship?

- Why did he bring up Whitney Houston?

10. According to 马家辉, what does the audience expect of performers/athletes/singers/hosts/etc. these days?

11. What is 竹幼婷's reasoning for not agreeing with 马家辉 regarding audience expectations?

- What's the difference between Faye Wong and Jeremy Lin (林书豪)?

Point out the errors in the translation.

Matt: Love isn't easy. NOT a good day, I need a drink.

Matt：爱情真不容易。今天不是个好日子，我得干杯。

Geri likes this.

Geri觉得这挺赞的。

Geri: Ruining another relationship? Did NOT see that coming.

Geri：又破坏了一个恋爱关系？这我真的没考虑过。

Kristen: You're just jealous he chose me over your fugly ass.

Kristen：你只是羡慕他选了我，你这个臭婆娘。

Geri: A 26-year-old with no job and a stupid goatee. I don't know how I'll live without him!

Geri：一个26岁的男人，又没有工作，既留着一个愚蠢的绵羊胡子。没有他我真不知道该怎么活下去！

Matt: My goatee isn't stupid.

Matt：我的绵羊胡子才不愚蠢呢。

Source: Awkward Moments in Facebook Likes

1. Why is Doctor Liu's girlfriend upset?

2. How makes this joke work, linguistically speaking?

3. Where's the grammar mistake?

Source: 一日一囧四格漫画

两只蝴蝶.mp3

These lyrics are totally messed up. Fix them.

舞亲跳个的来爱

天的天有爱不会春黑

红越随永飞相这尘

你无陪一也起枯萎悔能

到等秋风起

和你绵绵缠我飞翩翩缠

跟爱我你飞的亲

会香你让风醉花沉中

落叶堆秋成

你一追逐生

你慢的飞爱亲慢

小穿林看过水去丛溪

相红越随这尘永飞

无悔你情爱

绵我飞和你翩缠缠绵翩

爱张你嘴张亲的

柔辜负不的的美情你我

的前刺带玫面瑰心小

Source: 两只蝴蝶 by 廖伟力

This word puzzle is a variation on 7 Little Words. You are given 7 hints which correspond to 7 words/phrases that you must figure out. Each hint contains a bit of text and the number of characters in the given phrase. You are also given a pool of characters from which you must assemble all your answers. Each word in the pool can only be used once, and they must all be used to completely solve the puzzle. Can you deduce all 7 phrases? 加油!

Hints

Cooked dish (2 characters)

An order of dumplings (4 characters)

Numbing spicy soup (3 characters)

Imitation meat (2 characters)

Cook who prepares ingredients (2 characters)

Hot and sour soup (3 characters)

Fast food shop (3 characters)

Pool of Characters

肉 二 快 辣 餐

店 辣 子 一 肴

酸 厨 麻 份 烫

素 汤 菜 饺

Look at the picture and (in Chinese) name as many objects as you can without consulting a dictionary. If you can't name a particular object, try providing a descriptive phrase instead. When you're done, post a comment including how many objects you correctly named, and show us some of the descriptive phrases you used for the objects you couldn't name.

Source: Super Search 60 by KlickTock

Below are 7 random but somewhat related trivia questions. They are related in that the answer to a question contains one of the characters from the answer directly preceding it. To make this harder, I've decided to leave out the questions. Go ahead and search all you want. Good luck!

Edit: As a reminder, this 跳战 is a test of your English / Chinese search engine skills in addition to picture recognition and listening abilities. I've also added hints to some of the questions. I realize that there is a certain rewarding feeling for solving a puzzle without using hints. Therefore, I've structured them such that the answers to the hints are not the answers to the questions. Plus, the hints have additional spoiler tags.

1. (3 characters)

Hint:

2. (4 characters)

Hint:

3. song3.mp3 (5 characters)

4. (4 characters)

Hint:

5. (4 characters)

6. (4 characters)

7. song7.mp3 (3 characters)

Favorite Dance Auditions

Hints

Each hint refers to a particular performer.

[0:00 - 1:10] 这个现代舞蹈家表演时经常会** (2 characters)

[2:10 - 3:15] 这个女人没跳国标舞，但她的动作还有点**** (4 characters)

[3:17 - 4:04] 虽然跳得不太标准，这女孩还算是一个**** (4 characters)

[6:46 - 7:46] 他顺畅地***跟头，表示他体操能力过人 (3 characters)

[7:47 - 8:35] 他太激烈了，甚至把鞋子都**了 (2 characters)

[8:37 - 9:20] 她真的很酷，特别**跳嘻哈舞 (2 characters)

[9:24 - end] 厉害，这男的没把脚****还能作俯卧撑 (4 characters)

Pool of Characters

There are some extra characters in this pool.

上 羊 狗 蕾 挂 擅 风

肉 头 卖 动 跳 几 芭

在 地 长 放 舞 丁 拉

飞 翻 抖 味 了 女

Source: So You Think You Can Dance Canada via MightyGodKing

If I Was a Robot

Below is a translation of the text from the comic. However, the characters on each line have been scrambled. Fix them.

If I was a robot

如果机器人我是个

I would break dance all the time

跳随时我会霹雳舞

And swear in binary

用并且咒骂二进制代码

When I'd get angry, I'd destroy whole cities

我会生气当我整个城市毁灭

And eat people

吃以及人

I'd hang out with Robocop

跟一起机器警察我会出去玩

And date a washing machine

拍拖和一个洗衣机还有

Source: Stuff No One Told Me (but I learned anyway)

challenge-45.mp3

This is a follow up to the music comprehension 挑战#43. The reason why 挑战#43 was pretty much impossible was because it required you to listen, comprehend and translate on the fly just to know the parts that the questions themselves refer to. Here is a new and improved 挑战 that fixes this problem.

I have included the first part of a song by Singaporean singer 林俊杰 (JJ Lin). While most of his songs are of the sentimental type, I've specifically picked one that was not (as sentimental). It's still a ballad which, hopefully, makes it easier on the ears when you might have to listen to it several times.

There are 3 parts to this 挑战. Please do them in order. You can use a dictionary but please don't use a search engine.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3: