Halo Teman-Teman
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Apr 18 • 53 read
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大家好，我是印尼人。对印尼语有感兴趣的话，就可以随时的发短信给我，我非常乐意帮你们学习印尼语。我喜欢交朋友！希望我们可以加个朋友。谢谢！
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Halo, saya dari Indonesia. Sudah setahun belajar Bahasa Mandarin, dan saat ini saya masih di HSK 3. Mari kita belajar bersama~Chinese Tea House, 茶馆 (Chaguan), a special place for the Chinese to have tea, is very popular in the Yangtze River area; it is mostly called tea house (Chalou) in provinces like Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, and is called tea pavilion (Chating) in Beijing and Tianjin of north China. Historically, there are some other names for it, such as Chaliao, Chafang, Chasi, Chashe, Chayuan, Chawu, and Chashi. Although these names vary, the forms and contents are basically the same.
The tea booth (Chatan) and a small tea house (Chaliao) existed long before in China. During the Song Dynasty, Chasi and Chafang, where tea was sold, were already ubiquitous. The tea shop industry was further developed in the Ming Dynasty.
At the same time, the business of selling big bowls of tea began prosperous in Beijing and was included as a formal industry in 360 industries. During the Qing Dynasty, since the Manchu aristocracy often spent their time in tea houses, they become important activity places for people from all walks of life, such as high officials, merchants, and underlings, there. To the Chinese people, tea houses, similar to the cafes in western countries, are social places where various kinds of social information are gathered and spread and where customers taste them and talk about birds, news, and daily things. In order to attract customers, stages are built in some tea houses to play tom-tom, Storytelling (Pingshu) and Beijing opera, making these tea houses amusement places. The drama Tea House, written by famous Chinese writer Lao She, revealed vividly the unstable society of the last phase of the Qing Dynasty through describing various kinds of people’s words and behaviors in a tea house.
The rise of Tea House is closed related to Chinese tea culture. After several thousand years of development, the Tea House has become a part of life for the Chinese people. Now, people who come to Beijing will be attracted to those famous tea houses to experience Chinese tea culture.Must-Read for the Year of the Snake: Snake-Related Idioms and Stories Packed with Wisdom and Inspiration!
As we approach the Year of the Snake in 2025, we’re gearing up to embrace a year brimming with agility and wisdom. In Chinese culture, the snake has a deep historical significance and rich symbolism, giving rise to many idioms and stories. These idioms not only carry profound wisdom but also offer valuable lessons for modern life. Today, let’s dive into some of these snake-related idioms and the tales behind them.
Adding Legs to a Snake (画蛇添足)
Meaning: Doing something unnecessary that ends up ruining the original effort.
Origin: From *Strategies of the Warring States*. In ancient Chu, after a ritual, the host offered a pot of wine to his guests. Since there wasn’t enough for everyone, they decided to hold a drawing contest: whoever finished drawing a snake first would win the wine. One man finished quickly but, seeing others still working, arrogantly added legs to his snake. By the time he was done, someone else had already won the wine.
Lesson: Know when to stop. Overdoing things can backfire.
Startling the Snake While Beating the Grass (打草惊蛇)
Meaning: Acting carelessly and alerting the opponent, giving them a chance to prepare.
Origin: From *Recent Events of Southern Tang*. During the Tang Dynasty, a corrupt official named Wang Lu was reviewing legal documents when he came across a petition accusing one of his subordinates of misconduct. Panicked, Wang Lu scribbled on the petition: “Though you beat the grass, you’ve startled the snake.” He meant that while the accusation targeted his subordinate, he himself felt threatened—just like how beating the grass would scare a hidden snake.
Lesson: Proceed with caution and avoid tipping your hand too soon.
Mistaking a Bow’s Reflection for a Snake (杯弓蛇影)
Meaning: Being overly suspicious and fearful due to misunderstandings or illusions.
Origin: From *The Book of Jin*. During the Jin Dynasty, a man named Yue Guang hosted a banquet. One guest thought he saw a snake in his wine cup but, not wanting to cause a scene, drank it anyway and left in a hurry. Days later, feeling unwell, he confessed his fear to Yue Guang. Yue Guang realized it was just the reflection of a bow on the wall. He invited the guest back to prove it, and the guest’s fears—and illness—vanished.
Lesson: Stay rational and don’t let illusions cloud your judgment.
Feigning Compliance (虚与委蛇)
Meaning: Pretending to go along with something while being insincere.
Origin: From *Zhuangzi: Responding to Emperors and Kings*. During the Warring States period, Liezi introduced a famous diviner named Ji Xian to his teacher, Huizi. Huizi pretended to show different attitudes each time, making it impossible for Ji Xian to read his true intentions. Eventually, Ji Xian fled in fear. This story illustrates the idea of “feigning compliance”—pretending to cooperate while actually being evasive.
Lesson: While flexibility can be useful, honesty and authenticity are far more important.
Ox Ghosts and Snake Spirits (牛鬼蛇神)
Meaning: Describing people who engage in strange, unethical, or shady behavior.
Origin: Originally referring to mythical monsters, this phrase later came to describe people with questionable morals or dubious actions. It’s often used to criticize negative social phenomena.
Lesson: Be careful who you associate with. Stay away from those with poor character and uphold your integrity.
Even a Strong Dragon Can’t Crush a Local Snake (强龙不压地头蛇)
Meaning: Even the most powerful individuals may struggle against local forces.
Origin: From *Journey to the West*, Chapter 45. When Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived in Chechi Kingdom, they clashed with a fake Taoist priest, Tiger Strength Immortal, who was challenged to summon rain. Sun Wukong, knowing that “even a strong dragon can’t crush a local snake,” let the priest try first. Sun Wukong secretly persuaded the gods to ensure the priest’s failure. This idiom often describes how outsiders may find it hard to overcome local powers in unfamiliar territory.
Lesson: Respect local customs and power dynamics to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
A Snake Trying to Swallow an Elephant (人心不足蛇吞象)
Meaning: Describing insatiable greed and excessive ambition.
Origin: During the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, a poor woodcutter named Wang Wang found an injured snake and nursed it back to health. The snake brought joy to Wang and his elderly mother. Later, when the emperor sought a night pearl, the snake offered one of its eyes as a gift, and Wang was made prime minister. When the princess fell ill and needed the liver of a thousand-year-old python, Wang asked the snake again. Reluctantly, the snake allowed Wang to enter its belly to retrieve the liver, but Wang was swallowed whole. Thus, the saying “a snake trying to swallow an elephant” became a cautionary tale.
Lesson: Contentment is key. Excessive desires can lead to ruin.
Once Bitten by a Snake, You Fear a Rope for Ten Years (一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳)
Meaning: A past trauma can make someone overly cautious or fearful of similar situations.
Origin: This idiom comes from a folk saying. It refers to someone who, after being hurt once, becomes overly fearful of anything resembling the source of their pain. For example, someone bitten by a snake might fear even a rope, mistaking it for a snake.
Lesson: While it’s important to learn from past experiences, don’t let fear of the past dictate your future.
The snake symbolizes wisdom and courage. In the Year of the Snake 2025, let’s take these lessons to heart:
- Know when to stop (Adding Legs to a Snake).
- Act cautiously and avoid revealing your plans (Startling the Snake While Beating the Grass).
- Stay rational and don’t let illusions mislead you (Mistaking a Bow’s Reflection for a Snake).
- Be sincere yet adaptable (Feigning Compliance).
- Be content and avoid excessive ambition (A Snake Trying to Swallow an Elephant).
Wishing everyone a prosperous and successful Year of the Snake!
May the wisdom and courage of the snake guide us to greater achievements and joy in the year ahead!你好，我的第一个朋友。我今天的愉快have fun with kids to learn ChineseGoal: hsk 3 by the end if the yearTop 5 Reasons Why HP LTO 9 Tape is Ideal for Data Backup and ArchivingDiaryFIND CHINESE FRIENDS ON MY ROAD TO HSK5