Daily Chinese Proverb: Growth

Posted by Charlie @ Discovering Mandarin Thursday 1 October 2009 0 comments

This Chinese proverb is quite relevant today I feel for China on National Day. Today's National Day parade is showing the world how China has grown steadily since 1949.

与日俱增
yǔ rì jù zēng
grow day by day; increase steadily


Photo Source:
Flickr

Chinese National Day: 60 Years of Communist Rule

Posted by Charlie @ Discovering Mandarin 2 comments

恭喜!恭喜!! 今天庆祝国庆!
gōngxǐ! gōngxǐ!! jīntiān qìngzhù guóqìng!
Congratulations! Celebrate Chinese National Day Today!

Whilst I was going to write a piece about the huge Chinese National Day parade today, I thought I would link to some other great references that have much better pictures and stories than I do. As it is the largest and biggest parade in the history of well... ever. I think I will let the bigger publications have their time with this one.



One question I have heard a lot from my friends is why celebrate 60 years?
60 is a big number for the Chinese to celebrate because of the 12 year cycles of the Chinese Zodiac. 60 Years marks 5 cycles of the entire zodiac.

Probably the best video of the day here from Dan Chung on vimeo




Also there some amazing Hi Resolution photos here I don't dare take them but well worth a look at the vivid colours, and amazing angles achieved.

Front of todays Chinese Newspapers commereating and celebrating National Day. Worth a look!!!

Photo of a reserve squad marching from CCTV:



Great pictures of the four month long training for the National Day Parade from China SMACK

British Media's coverage of China's National Day : Telegraph, Times Online, BBC, Guardian, Daily Mail,



Photo Source

Interesting Graphic View of China's Improvements in the last 60 years.



A nice video showing some of the procession in what looks like a news report. This is just one of a plethora of online videos (especially on youtube) of todays events.



Some more excellent photos of the 60th Anniversary here.





A moving story from an 85 year old Chinese woman about her experiences of China.

Controversy surrounding the Empire State building turning on Red and Yellow lights for Chinese National Day.


A great report of Chinese National Day and supporting gallery

Some great photos of the firework displays in and around Beijingfoe National Day 2009.







A lovely video of some of the fireworks Celebrating Chinese National Day 2009




A really interesting take on why China didnt have anything to celerbrate.

More to follow.

30 Chinese Proverbs Hath September

Posted by Charlie @ Discovering Mandarin 0 comments

Here are the 30 Daily Chinese Proverbs I published and translated into English, Hanyu Pinyin and Mandarin during September. You may also be interested in the 31 Proverbs from August.


知者不言,言者不知
zhì zhě bù yán, yán zhě bù zhī
He who knows doesnt speak, he who speaks doesnt know

September 2nd
先搶先贏
xiān qiǎng xiān yíng
First come first served

September 3rd
即使再伟岸的大树,也是由小种子成长而来的。
jíshǐ zài wěi àn de dà shù, yě shì yóu xiǎo zhǒngzi chéngzhǎng ér lái de.
The mightiest Oaks [trees] grow form small acorns [seeds]

September 4th
做牛做马
zuò​niú​zuò​mǎ​
lit. to work like an ox, to work like a horse

September 5th
按下葫芦起了瓢。
àn xia húlu qǐ le piáo.
One gourd is pushed under the water, but another floats up.

September 6th
雷声大,雨点小
Léi shēng dà, yǔ diǎn xiǎo.
Thunder is louder than the little rain warrants.

September 7th
各取所需
gè​qǔ​suǒ​xū​
Each takes what he needs

September 8th
天时地利人和
tiān shí dìlì rén hé
The time is right

September 9th
改过自新
gǎi​guò​zì​xīn​
To Change Oneself Anew

September 10th
千里之行,始于足下
qiānlǐ zhīháng, shǐyúzú xià
A thousand-mile journey begins with the first step

September 11th
人不可貌相,海水不可斗量
rén bù kě mào xiāng ,hǎishuǐ bù kě dǒu liàng
You can't judge a person by appearance, just as you can't measure the sea with a pint pot.

September 12th
貓哭老鼠
māo kū lǎoshǔ
the cat weeps for the dead mouse

September 13th
画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
Draw a snake with legs
September 14th
貓鼠同眠
māo shǔ tóng mián
The cat and the rat are asleep together

September 15th
过河拆桥
guò hé chāi qiáo
Cross River, Tear Down Bridge

September 16th
五十步笑一百步
wǔshí bù xiào yī bù
Fifty steps, Laugh at a hundred

September 17th
从一个打击,交流,友谊的增长
cóng yī ge dǎjī, jiāoliú, yǒuyìde zēngzhǎng
From an exchange of blows, friendship grows

September 18th
千里送鵝毛
qiān lǐ sòng ér máo
A goose feather sent from afar

September 19th
走乡随乡
zǒu​xiāng​suí​xiāng​
To follow local customs


September 20th

饮水思源
yǐn ​shuǐ ​sī ​yuán​
When drinking Water, Think Of its Source.

September 21st

你无法阻止鸟儿在你的头顶飞翔,但你可以阻止它们在你的头发上做窝。
nǐ wúfǎ zǔzhǐ niǎoérzài nǐ de tóu dǐng fēixiáng, dàn nǐ kěyǐ zǔzhǐ tāmen zài nǐ de tóufa shàng zuò wō.
You cannot prevent the birds from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
September 22nd
洗耳恭听
xǐ ěr gōng tīng
To listen with respectful attention


September 23rd
自作自受。
zì zuò zì shòu.
As the tree falls, so shall it lie.


September 24th
莫明其妙
mò​ míng​qí​ miào​
No one can explain the mystery (wonder) of it all

September 25th
火上加油 ​
huǒ​ shàng ​jiā ​yóu​
To add oil to the fire

September 26th
狗仗人势 ​
gǒu ​zhàng ​rén shì​
The dog acts fierce when his master is present

September 27th
打草惊蛇 ​ ​ ​
dǎ​ cǎo jīng shé
To beat the grass to frighten the snake


September 28th
全心全意 ​
quán ​xīn quán yì​
Entire heart entire mind

September 29th
以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
To set a good example
September 30th
趁火打劫
chèn ​huǒ​ dǎ​ jié​
to loot a burning house

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