There is such a wide variety of performing arts activities which can be enjoyed in China, such as ballet, opera, theatre—but not everyone likes the same thing; indeed, we all have favourites. Can you talk about your favourites in Mandarin Chinese, but also let other people know which ones you don’t like—and maybe why you don’t like them? You should also be able to ask others what they like too!
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) To talk about which performing arts you like—and why
(i) How to discuss different types of performing arts
Dialogue:
Performing arts are being discussed by two colleagues:
（在街上）
(Zài jiē shàng)
(on the street)
A:我女朋友非要让我带她去看芭蕾。可我真的觉得芭蕾太无聊了，我实在不想去。
A: Wǒ nǚ péng yǒu fēi yào ràng wǒ dài tā qù kàn bā lěi. Kě wǒ zhēn de jué dé bā lěi tài wú liáo le, wǒ shí zài bù xiǎng qù.
My girlfriend insists that I take her to see the ballet. But I think ballet is too boring. I really don’t want to go.
B:那她喜欢听交响乐么？
B: Nà tā xǐ huān tīng jiāo xiǎng yuè me?
Does she like to listen to symphonies?
A:她喜欢，但我觉得那也挺枯燥的。
A: Tā xǐ huān, dàn wǒ jué dé nà yě tǐng kū zào de.
She does. But I think they are not interesting, either.
B:我猜你应该会喜欢音乐剧吧，你女朋友应该也喜欢。
B: Wǒ cāi nǐ yīng gāi huì xǐ huān yīn yuè jù ba, nǐ nǚ péng yǒu yīng gāi yě xǐ huān.
I guess that you should like musicals. Your girlfriend should like them, too.
A:音乐剧我还可以接受。我可以试着建议她去看音乐剧。
A: Yīn yuè jù wǒ hái kě yǐ jiē shòu. Wǒ kě yǐ shì zhe jiàn yì tā qù kàn yīn yuè jù.
Musicals are acceptable. Maybe I can suggest to her to go and see a musical.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
表演艺术：performing arts
歌剧：opera
中国戏曲：Chinese opera
话剧：stage play/drama
交响乐：symphony
芭蕾：ballet
音乐剧：musical
杂技：acrobatics
非要：must want, strongly insist
无聊：boring
觉得：think
枯燥：boring, not interesting, dull and dry
应该：should
接受：accept
能接受：acceptable, not super interested in something
试着：try
建议：suggest
Cultural/Grammar note:
Chinese opera is very popular amongst the older generation. ‘戏’ is the general category for all kinds of Chinese opera.
我奶奶喜欢听戏。
Wǒ nǎi nai xǐ huān tīng xì.
My grandmother loves to listen to Chinese opera.
When you feel like you are forced to do something, you can say:
我实在不想／我实在不愿意做… …
Wǒ shí zài bù xiǎng/ wǒ shí zài bù yuàn yì zuò…
I really don’t want to do something.