Intermediate - Tai Chi (C) A: B: A: B: ââ
Intermediate - Tai Chi A:
(C)
我最近開始練太極拳。這真是一種奇妙的拳術。 ` taij´ ` ıquan. ´ zhe` zhensh` ˇ ` ¯ ¯ ı lian woˇ zu`ıj`ın kaishˇ ı y¯ızhong q´ımiao ´ de quansh u. ` I’ve started to practice Tai chi recently. It’s really an amazing martial art.
B:
太極拳不是老年人的運動嗎？有甚麼奇妙呢？ ` ıquan ´ b`u sh`ı laoni ˇ anr ´ en ´ de yund ` ´ taij´ ma? yˇou shenme ` ong ` ne? q´ımiao Isn’t Tai Chi an exercise for the elderly? What’s amazing about it?
A:
你這可是大錯特錯了。太極拳不僅結合了健身與 搏擊， 還包含了深刻的中國古典哲學。 ` ot ` ecu ` o` le. taij´ ` ıquan ´ b`u jˇın jieh ´ e´ le jiansh ` ¯ nˇı zhe` kˇesh`ı dacu en ´ ı, hai ´ baoh ´ le shenk` ˇ zhexu ´ e. ´ ¯ an ¯ e de Zhonggu ¯ yuˇ boj¯ o´ gudi ˇ an You are seriously mistaken. Tai Chi not only combines exercise and fighting skills, it also contains rich ancient Chinese philosophy.
B:
是嗎？那麼，“太極”這個名字是甚麼意思？ ` ` ı” zhege ` ´ sh`ı ma? name, “ taij´ m´ıngzi sh`ı shenme y`ısi? Does it? So what does the name “Tai Chi” mean?
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
A:
“太極 ”這個詞的意思是絕對、唯一。太極拳不 僅綜合了明代各家拳法，還包含了豐富的中國傳 統文化。 ` ı” zhege ` ´ ı, weiy¯ ´ ı. taij´ ` ıquan ´ b`u jˇın “ taij´ c´ı de y`ısi sh`ı juedu` ` ge` jia¯ quanfˇ ´ a, hai ´ baoh ´ le f¯engfu` de ¯ an z¯onghe´ le M´ıngdai ´ ong ˇ ´ ` ¯ Zhonggu o´ chuant wenhu a. The word “Tai Chi” means absolute and unique. Tai Chi integrates different styles of martial art from the Ming Dynasty with qi gong (a system of deep-breathing exercises), Chinese medicine, and the five elements of yin and yang. Tai Chi is rich with traditional Chinese cultural and philosophical thought.
B:
為甚麼太極拳節奏這麼慢？它到底對人體有甚麼 好處呢？ ` enme ´ ` ıquan ´ jiez` ´ ou zheme ` ` ` ı du`ı rentˇ ´ ı weish taij´ man? ta¯ daodˇ ´ ˇ yˇou shenme haochu ne? Why is tai chi so slow-paced? What good does it do to the body anyways?
A:
太極拳始終處於運動之中，動作連接緊密，流 暢。打太極拳，特別要求心靜。 ` ıquan ´ shˇızhong ` ` ´ ¯ ¯ taij´ chuy zh¯ızhong, dongzu o` lianˇ u´ yund ` ong ` ` ıquan ´ sh´ı, tebi ` e´ y¯aoqiu´ x¯ınj`ıng. jie¯ jˇınm`ı, liuch daˇ taij´ ´ ang.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
Tai Chi is perpetual motion. It’s movements are closely connected and flowing. When practicing Tai Chi it is essential that state of mind, concentration, and breathing be inextricably connected. Tai chi particularly requires feeling and reacting through the body.
B:
噢，聽起來真深奧。太極拳分流派嗎？ ` taij´ ` ıquan ´ f¯en liup ` ma? ¯ shen ¯ ao. o, t¯ıng qˇılai zhen ´ ai Oh, that sounds quite profound. Are there different schools of tai chi?
A:
當然，太極拳有許多流派，不過最主要的是五大 流派。 ´ taij´ ` ıquan ´ yˇou xudu ` b`uguo` zu`ı zhuy` ¯ dangr an, ˇ o¯ liup ´ ai, ˇ ao de ` sh`ı wuˇ da` liup ´ ai. Of course. There are many different schools of tai chi, but the main ones are the five key schools.
Key Vocabulary
練
` lian
to practice
太極拳
` ıquan ´ taij´
Tai Chi
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
奇妙
` q´ımiao
fantastic
大錯特錯
` ot ` ecu ` o` dacu
very serious mistake
結合
´ e´ jieh
to combine
包含
´ ¯ an baoh
to contain
深刻
¯ e shenk`
profound
絕對
´ ı juedu`
absolute
唯一
´ ı weiy¯
only
豐富
f¯engfu`
rich
傳統
´ ong ˇ chuant
traditional
節奏
´ ou jiez`
rhythm
到底
` ı daodˇ
after all
好處
ˇ haochu
benefit
始終
¯ shˇızhong
from start to finish
流派
` liup ´ ai
school of thought
流暢
` liuch ´ ang
fluidity
Supplementary Vocabulary Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
功夫
¯ gongfu
Kung Fu
武術
wush ˇ u`
martial arts
健身操
` ¯ ao ¯ jiansh enc
aeorbics
八卦
¯ a` bagu
the Eight Diagrams
以柔克剛
´ egang ¯ yˇırouk`
to use softness to over come
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
(C)
我最近開始練太極拳。這真是一種奇妙的拳術。 ` taij´ ` ıquan. ´ zhe` zhensh` ˇ ` ¯ ¯ ı lian woˇ zu`ıj`ın kaishˇ ı y¯ızhong q´ımiao ´ de quansh u. ` I’ve started to practice Tai chi recently. It’s really an amazing martial art.
B:
太極拳不是老年人的運動嗎？有甚麼奇妙呢？ ` ıquan ´ b`u sh`ı laoni ˇ anr ´ en ´ de yund ` ´ taij´ ma? yˇou shenme ` ong ` ne? q´ımiao Isn’t Tai Chi an exercise for the elderly? What’s amazing about it?
A:
你這可是大錯特錯了。太極拳不僅結合了健身與 搏擊， 還包含了深刻的中國古典哲學。 ` ot ` ecu ` o` le. taij´ ` ıquan ´ b`u jˇın jieh ´ e´ le jiansh ` ¯ nˇı zhe` kˇesh`ı dacu en ´ ı, hai ´ baoh ´ le shenk` ˇ zhexu ´ e. ´ ¯ an ¯ e de Zhonggu ¯ yuˇ boj¯ o´ gudi ˇ an You are seriously mistaken. Tai Chi not only combines exercise and fighting skills, it also contains rich ancient Chinese philosophy.
B:
是嗎？那麼，“太極”這個名字是甚麼意思？ ` ` ı” zhege ` ´ sh`ı ma? name, “ taij´ m´ıngzi sh`ı shenme y`ısi? Does it? So what does the name “Tai Chi” mean?
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
A:
“太極 ”這個詞的意思是絕對、唯一。太極拳不 僅綜合了明代各家拳法，還包含了豐富的中國傳 統文化。 ` ı” zhege ` ´ ı, weiy¯ ´ ı. taij´ ` ıquan ´ b`u jˇın “ taij´ c´ı de y`ısi sh`ı juedu` ` ge` jia¯ quanfˇ ´ a, hai ´ baoh ´ le f¯engfu` de ¯ an z¯onghe´ le M´ıngdai ´ ong ˇ ´ ` ¯ Zhonggu o´ chuant wenhu a. The word “Tai Chi” means absolute and unique. Tai Chi integrates different styles of martial art from the Ming Dynasty with qi gong (a system of deep-breathing exercises), Chinese medicine, and the five elements of yin and yang. Tai Chi is rich with traditional Chinese cultural and philosophical thought.
B:
為甚麼太極拳節奏這麼慢？它到底對人體有甚麼 好處呢？ ` enme ´ ` ıquan ´ jiez` ´ ou zheme ` ` ` ı du`ı rentˇ ´ ı weish taij´ man? ta¯ daodˇ ´ ˇ yˇou shenme haochu ne? Why is tai chi so slow-paced? What good does it do to the body anyways?
A:
太極拳始終處於運動之中，動作連接緊密，流 暢。打太極拳，特別要求心靜。 ` ıquan ´ shˇızhong ` ` ´ ¯ ¯ taij´ chuy zh¯ızhong, dongzu o` lianˇ u´ yund ` ong ` ` ıquan ´ sh´ı, tebi ` e´ y¯aoqiu´ x¯ınj`ıng. jie¯ jˇınm`ı, liuch daˇ taij´ ´ ang.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
Tai Chi is perpetual motion. It’s movements are closely connected and flowing. When practicing Tai Chi it is essential that state of mind, concentration, and breathing be inextricably connected. Tai chi particularly requires feeling and reacting through the body.
B:
噢，聽起來真深奧。太極拳分流派嗎？ ` taij´ ` ıquan ´ f¯en liup ` ma? ¯ shen ¯ ao. o, t¯ıng qˇılai zhen ´ ai Oh, that sounds quite profound. Are there different schools of tai chi?
A:
當然，太極拳有許多流派，不過最主要的是五大 流派。 ´ taij´ ` ıquan ´ yˇou xudu ` b`uguo` zu`ı zhuy` ¯ dangr an, ˇ o¯ liup ´ ai, ˇ ao de ` sh`ı wuˇ da` liup ´ ai. Of course. There are many different schools of tai chi, but the main ones are the five key schools.
Key Vocabulary
練
` lian
to practice
太極拳
` ıquan ´ taij´
Tai Chi
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
奇妙
` q´ımiao
fantastic
大錯特錯
` ot ` ecu ` o` dacu
very serious mistake
結合
´ e´ jieh
to combine
包含
´ ¯ an baoh
to contain
深刻
¯ e shenk`
profound
絕對
´ ı juedu`
absolute
唯一
´ ı weiy¯
only
豐富
f¯engfu`
rich
傳統
´ ong ˇ chuant
traditional
節奏
´ ou jiez`
rhythm
到底
` ı daodˇ
after all
好處
ˇ haochu
benefit
始終
¯ shˇızhong
from start to finish
流派
` liup ´ ai
school of thought
流暢
` liuch ´ ang
fluidity
Supplementary Vocabulary Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
功夫
¯ gongfu
Kung Fu
武術
wush ˇ u`
martial arts
健身操
` ¯ ao ¯ jiansh enc
aeorbics
八卦
¯ a` bagu
the Eight Diagrams
以柔克剛
´ egang ¯ yˇırouk`
to use softness to over come
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2008 Praxis Language Ltd.
