Kim Jong-il dies 'of heart attack'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies 'of heart attack'

北韓領導人金正日死於‘心臟病發’

(bei3 han2 ling2 dao3 ren2 jin1 zheng4 ri4 si3 yu2 xin1 zang4 bing4 fa1)


Analysts say that with the process of transition from father to son incomplete, Mr Kim's death could herald "very unstable times" in North Korea (BBC).
分析家指出父子交棒過程不完整，金的逝世可能預示北韓“動蕩時代”的來臨。
(fen1 xi1 jia1 zhi3 chu1 fu4 zi3 jiao1 bang4 guo4 cheng2 bu4 wan2 zheng3, jin1 de shi4 shi4 ke3 neng2 yu4 shi4 bei3 han2 dong4 dang4 shi2 dai4 de lai2 lin2)

北韓 bei3 han2 North Korea

南韓 nan2 han2 South Korea

領導人 ling2 dao3 ren2 (n) leader

金正日 jin1 zheng4 ri4 Kim Jong-il

金正恩 jin1 zheng4 en1 Kim Jong-un

心臟 xin1 zang4 (n) heart

心臟病發 xin1 zang4 bing4 fa1 (ph) heart attack
交棒 jiao1 bang4 (ph) transition
預示 yu4 shi4 (v) herald; forebode

Resources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16239693

A fight between a knight and a patron

Everyone is talking about this on Facebook. The debate between legislative candidates Chen Chi-chung and Kuomintang Legislator Chiu Yi finally took place in Kaohsiung yesterday. It's not only a fight over "wicked hair," it's also "a fight between a knight and a 'Nicole' patron." God, this is hilarious. 
Here are some interesting quotes from press:
1. 邱毅的妮可都是假的，只有假髮是真的。
(Qiu1 Yi4 de Ni2 Ke3 Dou1 Shi4 Jia3 de, Zhi2 You3 Jia2 Fa4 shi4 zhen1 de)
The "Nicole" prostitutes Chiu Yi hired are false. Only his wig is real.
2. 到底你身分證上的照片有沒有戴假髮？
(Dao4 Di3 ni3 shen1 fen4 zheng4 jian4 shang4 de zhao4 pian4 you3 mei2 you3 dai4 jia2 fa3)
Did you wear a wig in your ID photo?
3. 這場辯論是「俠客對嫖客」。
(Zhe4 chang3 bian4 lun4 shi4 xia2 ke4 dui4 piao2 ke4)
This debate is a fight between a knight and a patron.


辯論 bian4 lun4 (n) debate
俠客 xia2 ke4 (n) a hero
嫖客 piao2 ke4 (n) patron of a brothel; sex-buyer


Further readings:
1. About the debate
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2011/12/13/325749/Chen-Shui-bians.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2011/12/14/325861/Son-of.htm
2. Chen Shui-bian's corruption charges
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Shui-bian_corruption_charges
3. Chiu Yi's wig
http://www.neatorama.com/2009/06/09/man-ripped-politicians-wig-off-got-jail-time-for-depriving-his-freedom-to-look-pretty/
4. Nicole
http://www.f-paper.com/?i206903-Chen-Chih-prostitution-market-was-soaring-prostitute-Nicole-back-(Figure)

Syria death toll exceeds 5,000

Syria death toll exceeds 5,000.

敘利亞死亡人數超過5000。(xu4 li4 ya3 si3 wang2 ren2 shu4 chao1 guo4 wu3 qian1)

More than 5,000 people are now believed to have been killed in the uprising in Syria, the UN's top human rights official has said.

聯合國人權事務高級官員表示，敘利亞衝突已造成超過5000人死亡。 (lian2 he2 guo2 ren2 quan2 shi4 wu4 gao1 ji2 guan1 yuan2 biao3 shi4, xu4 li4 ya3 chong1 tu2 yi3 zao4 cheng2 chao1 guo4 wu3 qian1 ren2 si3 wang2)

死亡 si3 wang2 (n) death

死亡人數 si3 wang2 ren2 shu4 (n) death toll

超過 chao1 guo4 (v) exceed 

聯合國 lian2 he2 guo2 (n) the United Nations

人權 ren2 quan2 (n) human rights

官員 guan1 yuan2 (n) official

衝突 chong1 tu2 (n) conflict; contestation; contention

Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16154487

Dog eating poop

It was the most embarrassing moment in my life. I was walking toward the platform, looking chic in my favorite Oxford shoes. I still don't know how it happened, but I tripped and fell face down. That's exactly what people say about dog eating poop.

狗吃屎 /Simp. Ch. 狗吃屎
(Gou3 Chi1 Shi3)
To fall flat on one's face (vulgar).

屎 Shi3 (n) feces
耳屎 er2 Shi3 (n) ear wax
鼻屎 bi2 shi3 (n) mucus

The new won't come if the old doesn't go

There's a Chinese saying that "the new won't come if the old doesn't go." It is so true. I haven't updated my blog in a while, and I think it's about time to make a change. I've deleted my old blah blahs to start all over. Hopefully posts from now on will be more helpful for Chinese learning.

舊的不去，新的不來。/ Simp. Ch: 旧的不去，新的不来。

(jiu4 de bu2 qu4, xin1 de bu4 lai2)

The new won't come if the old doesn't go.

舊的 jiu4 de (adj/n) old; the old

去 qu4 (v) to go; to leave

新的 xin1 de (adj/n) new; the new

來 lai2 (v) to come


Note: Tones are marked by numbers. Here's an article on tones.