Takeaway Chinese: the Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节

中秋节 Zhōng qiū jié

Conversation

马克: 卡洛琳, 你知道今天是中秋节吗?
Mǎ kè: Kǎ luò lín, nǐ zhī dao jīn tiān shì Zhōng qiū jié ma?
Mark: Caroline, did you know that today is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

卡洛琳: 中秋节是什么?
Kǎ luò lín: Zhōng qiū jié shì shén me?
Caroline: What is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

马克: 中秋节是中国的传统节日, 在每年的农历八月十五日。这是一个团圆的节日。
Mǎ kè: Zhōng qiū jié shì Zhōng guó de chuán tǒng jié rì, zài měi nián de nóng lì bā yuè shí wǔ rì. Zhè shì yī ge tuán yuán de jié rì.
Mark: The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It's a traditional holiday and a time for family reunions.

卡洛琳: 这个节日有什么特别的食品吗?
Kǎ luò lín: Zhè ge jié rì yǒu shén me tè bié de shí pǐn ma?
Caroline: Is there a special type of food associated with this festival?

马克: 中秋节的传统食品是月饼。
Mǎkè: Zhōng qiū jié de chuán tǒng shí pǐn shì yuè bing。
Mark: Mooncakes are the traditional fare at the Mid-Autumn Festival.

卡洛琳: 月饼是什么味道的?
Kǎluòlín: Yuè bing shì shén me wèi dao de?
Caroline: What does a mooncake taste like?

马克: 月饼有种各样的馅儿。有莲蓉的, 有栗子的, 还有很多其他口味的。
Mǎkè: Yuè bing yǒu gè zhǒng gè yàng de xiànr. Yǒu lián róng de, yǒu lì zi de, hái yǒu hěn duō qí tā kǒu wèi de.
Mark: Mooncakes have all kinds of fillings, such as lotus seed paste, chestnuts and many other flavors.

卡洛琳: 太诱人了。 我去买两块月饼尝尝。
Kǎluòlín: Tài yòu rén le. Wǒ qù mǎi liǎng kuài yuè bing cháng chang.
Caroline: Sounds really mouthwatering. I'm going to buy some mooncakes to try for myself.

New Words

1. 中秋节 Zhōng qiū jié The Mid-Autumn Festival
2. 节日 jié rì festival
3. 农历 nóng lì lunar calendar
4. 团圆 tuán yuán reunion
5. 特别 tè bié special
6. 味道 wèi dao flavor
7. 莲蓉 lián róng lotus seed paste
8. 栗子 lì zi chestnut

Source: China Today

Editor: wanwan