Many people like to watch the Olympic Games even if they don’t play sports themselves. Some people just like the grandeur of the ceremonies. No matter which part of the Games you like, be sure you can talk about the events now happening, or at least respond to questions about them.
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) To discuss the various events and ceremonies at the Olympic Games
(ii) How to talk generally about the Olympic Games in Brazil
Dialogue:
Two colleagues are talking about the Olympics:
（在街上）
(zài jiē shàng)
(on the street)
A:你早上看奥运会开幕式了么？
Nǐ zǎo shàng kàn ào yùn huì kāi mù shì le me?
Did you watch the Olympic opening ceremony this morning?
B:没有啊。我可起不来。我周末爱睡懒觉。
Méi yǒu a. wǒ kě qǐ bù lái. Wǒ zhōu mò ài shuì lǎn jiào.
No, I didn’t. I couldn’t get up. I like to sleep in on weekends.
A:那你等会儿可以看重播。
Nà nǐ děng huì er kě yǐ kàn chóng bō.
Then you can watch the replay later.
B：对。但要是没有时差，我肯定会看直播的。希望我们中国可以在里约多拿几块奖牌。
Duì. Dàn yào shì méi yǒu shí chā, wǒ kěn dìng huì kàn zhí bō de. Xī wàng wǒ mén Zhōng Guó kě yǐ zài Lǐ Yuē duō ná jǐ kuài jiǎng pái.
Right. But if there was no time difference, I would definitely watch it live. Hope China gets lots of medals in Rio.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
奥运会（奥林匹克运动会）：Olympic Games
开幕式：opening ceremony
睡懒觉：sleep in/get up later than usual
懒：lazy
重播：replay
时差：time difference/jet lag
奖牌：medal
直播：live
里约：Rio
巴西：Brazil
等会儿：a moment later
Cultural/Grammar note:
In Chinese, the country comes first and then the city.
E.g. 巴西里约。
Brazil, Rio.
During the Olympic Games, Chinese team usually wear the same outfit, the red and yellow suits, which are the same colours as our national flag (the Five-Starred Red Flag). Chinese audience actually really hope that they could be more creative on the outfit style, they make fun of the current red-yellow color suit in a friendly way. They name it as ‘西红柿炒鸡蛋’, which is a very common Chinese homemade dish ‘tomato stir-fry eggs’.
Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend:
