Chinese Reality TV

CCTV has finally made a good move! For all of you Chinese speaking Survivor fans, or American Idol Fans CCTV has come through for you.

CCTV announced that they will be hosting a search-not for a singer--no, not even for a winner of a million dollars--they are searching for 2 people out of 1.4 billion to become the hero's of the Beijing Olympics. One lucky male and one lucky female will be chosen to steer the men's and women's teams of eight rowers in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The requirements are a good set of lungs and a great sense of direction. CCTV officials have said they are going to take parts from "Survivor", "The Apprentice" and "American Idol" as ways to sort through the literally billions of people.

Reality TV isn't a new thing is China, they have had their own fair share of spin-offs for a few years now. What CCTV is hoping for though is to use this competition to boost local interest in the Olympics. Last year "Super Female Voice" a TV reality show like American Idol, raked in a whopping 400 million viewers for the finale. I personally doubt that number is true, but even so I bet it beat out American Idol's record breaking 36 million.

The competition will be called "China Olympic Coxswain Competition" and the rowing sport was picked because "This is the only sport in the Olympics in which such a competition could be held. The coxswain position is unique because you don't need great physical strength, just mental strength," says Liu Ai Jie, vice president of the China Water Sports Association. I know you are thinking what I was thinking when I first read the news "How in the world did this fly by so many people and get continuous OK's? Aren't they worried that they will make a fool of themselves once again? Wouldn't these two lucky winners have to train for a long time before they could do this?" The answer is simple when you see what catch line was used: "Chairman Mao is China's Great Helmsman. The position has special meaning. Rowers won't be able to go in the right direction without the leadership and purpose of a good helmsman." No pressure there! I almost feel sorry for the winner now!

The nationwide search starts in September, with 80 contestants selected based on essays and interviews. I am suprised that CCTV didn't make them take a battery of tests, I mean what would a Chinese competition be without a test? The contest will air in prime time in mid-November, when 20 finalists will be voted off by a set of judges and the audience in weekly televised trials that will test their stamina, leadership skills as well as their ability to withstand stress.

China's Best Buy

Best Buy is going to open its first store in Shanghai China and is said to be recruiting 500 people to work the first store. Best Buy hopes to open the store by the end of the year covering 4 floors of the Jiang Shan Building in the Xu Jia Hui commercial district, though top executives were quick to point out that there are not in a race and the store will open when the time is right. There has been speculation of Best Buy trying to buy out some local companies that could pose as future competion. In May Best Buy announced they would pay $180 million for a majority stake in the Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co., which just happens to be one of the top five electronic appliance retailers China.

Robert Willett, chief executive officer of a Best Buy said that they are taking there time with the Chinese market becuase "The Chinese consumer is pretty unforgiving if we get it wrong."He's definitely right about that.

今天的中文量词 - "把"

今天的中文量词 - "把"

There are 6 uses of the measure word "把" . The uses are listed below followed by examples corresponding to each usage.

1. For article of everyday use or instruments with a handle.
2. For a quantity of thins that can be held in one hand.
3. For some abstract nouns such as strength and age, it can one be used with the numeral 一.
4. For some figurative nouns and used only with the numeral 一.
5. For indicating the level of ability or performance in a persons work, especially those with special skills.
6. For actions done with the hand. It is used only with the numeral 一.


Here are the example uses:

For article of everyday use or instruments with a handle.

一把 - yība3
一把叉子 - chāzi - a fork
一把茶壶 - cháhú - a teapot
一把铲子 - chan3zi - a shovel
一把尺子 - chi3zi - a ruler
一把锤子 - chuízi - a hammer
一把大提琴 - dàtíqín - a cello
一把掸子 - dan3zi - a duster
一把刀 - dāo - a knife
一把二胡 - èrhú - a two stringed Chinese bowed instrument
一把斧子 - fu3zi - an axe
一把剪子 - jian3zi - a pair of scissors
一把剑 - jiàn - a sword
一把扫帚 - sàozhou - a broom
一把扇子 - shànzi - a fan
一把勺儿 - sháor - a spoon; ladle
一把手枪 - shou3qiāng - a pistol
一把梳子 - shūzi - a comb
一把刷子 - shuāzi - a brush
一把算盘 - suànpán - an abacus
一把锁 - suo3 - a lock
一把钥匙 - yàoshi - a key
一把椅子 - yi3zi - a chair
一把雨伞 - yu3san3 - an umbrella

For a quantity of things that can be held in one hand.

一把钞票 - chāopiào - a handful of bank notes
一把稻草 - dàocao3 - a bundle of rice straw
一把瓜子 - guāzi - a handful of melon seeds
一把胡子 - húzi - a full beard
一把花生 - huāshēng - a handful of peanuts
一把韭菜 - jiu3cài - a handful of leeks
一把筷子 - kuàizi - a handful of chopsticks
一把米 - mi3 - a handful of rice
一把糖 - táng - a handful of sweets
一把头发 - tóufa - a handful of hair
一把土 - tu3 - a handful of dirt
一把雪 - xuě - a handful of snow

For Some abstract nouns such as strength, age, etc. It is used with the numeral 一 only。

一把劲儿 - jìnr - great strength
一把力气 - lìqi - great strength
一把年纪 - niánjì - advanced age

For some figurative nouns and used only with the numeral 一。

哭得一把鼻涕一把眼泪的
kū de yì ba3 bíti yì ba3 yan3lèi de
to cry tearfully

瘦成一把骨头了
shòu chéng yì ba3 gu3tou le
to become a person of skin and bone

放了一把火
fàngle yì ba3 huo3
to set (a house) on fire

过一把瘾
guò yì ba3 yi3n
to one's heart's content

For indicating the level of ability or performance in a person's work, especially those with special skills。

他真是一把好手。
tā zhēnshì yì ba3 hao3shou3。
He is really a skillful man。

她是一把能手。
tā shì yì ba3 néngshou3。
She is a capable woman。

For actions done with the hand. It is used only with the numeral 一。

洗一把脸
xi3 yì ba3 lian3
to wash ones face

动量词- verb form

帮他一把 - bāng tā yì ba3 - lend a helping hand to him
拉他一把 - lā tā yì ba3 - pull him with a jerk

今天的中文成语 - 茅塞顿开

Have you ever been stuck on a problem and you couldn't seem to understand, then all of a sudden, the light bulb comes on and it makes sense. This Chinese idiom is for you!







茅塞顿开 - máosèdùnkāi

茅 - máo - cogongrass
塞 - sè - to block up
顿 - dùn - suddenly, at once
开 - kāi - to open

Literal Meaning - The way which seemed to be stopped up by cogongrass is suddenly opened。

Metaphorical Meaning - To reach instant enlightenment; suddenly see the light。

This Chinese idiom refers to a teaching and learning situation where one has overcome an inability to understand something; often used in a pivotal structure。

Example Sentences:

这本书我看了好几遍也抓不住要点,您的短短几句话,使我茅塞顿开。

Zhè běnshū w03 kànle hao3ji3biàn yě zhuābuzhù yàodian3, nín de duan3duan3 jī jùhuà, shi3 w03 máosèdùnkāi。

老赵茅塞顿开般地说: "你看,我怎么就没有想到这一层?"

Lao3 Zhào máosèdùnkāi dì shuō: "ní kàn, w03 zěnme jiù méiyou3 xiang3dào zhè yī céng?"

茅塞顿开的小林感激地说:"谢谢, 谢谢!"

máosèdùnkāi de xiao3lín gan3jī dì shuō: "xièxie, xièxie!"