Formosan Snow Leopard @formosansnowleopard - Tumblr Blog

I hate Chinese puns

Dominic: We can't meet up with my Chinese friend for New Year's because he's sick, and anyway he says we should spend New Year's Eve together as a couple.

Me: Why?

Dominic: Because tonight is 2013-2014.

Me: ...

Dominic: It's 13-14 (yi san yi si, sounds like the idiom 一生一世 yi sheng yi shi, "together for a lifetime").

Me: >.>

Dominic: ^__^

#chinese idiom

郭靖叫道，“蓉兒，你怕麼？” 黃蓉笑道，“和你在一起，不怕。” Guo Jing called out, "Rong'er, are you scared (of the storm outside)?" Huang Rong laughed, "Whenever I'm with you, I'm not afraid."

I love this book so much. So romaaaaaantic.

#The Eagle Shooting Heroes #Legend of the Condor Heroes #huang rong #guo jing

Didn't think this through

Me: Why does your shirt have your first name in Chinese on the back?

Dominic: Because it's from when I was in the Taiwan army. Everyone's shirt looks the same so we label them.

Me: Why didn't they use last names like Western people- Oh.

#chinese names #dallas

破門而入搶購

The local Chinese newspaper (in Dallas) has translated "doorbusters" as 破門而入搶購: "Break down the door so you can enter for panicked shopping." This may be the best description of Black Friday I have ever seen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

#chinese #translation #dallas

Well played, Jin Yong

Me: So I'm reading "The Eagle-Shooting Heroes" (射雕英雄傳)...

Dominic: Okay

Me: And it says things like "Huang Rong (main female character) happily rode Guo Jing's little red horse."

Dominic: Okay. So?

Me: And I was wondering - do you think that's a euphemism?

Dominic: ...

Me: Because if so, then well played, 1950's Chinese author, for getting that one past the censors. Well played, indeed.

#huang rong #guo jing #legend of the condor heroes #jin yong #the eagle shooting heroes

Fond memories: In a focus group last year, one of the research participants used a "Three Kingdoms" idiom and this was me for the next hour.

#taipei #three kingdoms #chinese #chinese idiom

Visiting Window on China (part 3).

#taipei #taiwan #windowonchina #mini

Visiting Window on China (part 2).

#taipei #taiwan #windowonchina #mini

Visiting Window on China.

#taipei #windowonchina #mini #taiwan

Gratuitously adorable snow leopard clip :D

#snow leopard

Another cute Ghost Month ad from Smart supermarkets - this one probably more familiar to Western audiences.

#taiwan #ghost month #ad #tv #friday the 13th

Cute Ghost Month ad from Smart supermarkets

#taiwan #ghost month #ad #tv

An electric flower car (EFC) at a temple festival in Kaohsiung. This is a Taiwanese folk tradition, very common in the southern part of the island and especially in rural areas: http://io9.com/5819625/in-taiwan-you-can-hire-a-stripper-for-your-funeral. This one in Kaohsiung was part of a procession to honor the City God, but EFCs are also commonly used for funerals or festivals to celebrate good fortune.

#taiwan #taiwanese folk religion #kaohsiung #temple

Dominic liked my Chinese essay!

#chinese #essay #taiwan

An altar to Guan Gong, the Chinese god of war (and business), in Taipei Beer Factory, Taipei, Taiwan. Note the pineapple on the left side. Pineapples often appear in altars set up by businesses in Taiwan because "pineapple" in Hoklo/Taiwanese is "ong lai," which sounds like "wang lai" (prosperity) in Mandarin. It's meant to attract customers and increase prosperity.

There are at least two Taiwanese businesses, however, that do NOT use pineapples in their altars: hospitals and mortuaries. Because no one wants to increase that kind of "prosperity."

#taiwan #taipei #guangong #pineapple #prosperity #altar