#expandyourchinese

[expandyourchinese]

Let’s have a look at Japanese literature... :D :D :D

[expandyourchinese]

Posts about modern chinese written by ExtendUrChinese

Qingnian Wenzhai magazine 青年文摘

The Qingnian Wenzhai magazine (Youth digest) is available at almost every small kiosk in the People’s Republic Of China.

Since we have a lot of access to the classical literature and stories through many different sources, I want to introduce you a medium which is almost forgotten by the youth of modern society.

But not in China: magazines and newspapers are still very popular, with the exception that they won more readers on digital platforms informing theirselves about what’s going on. So let’s try it by ourselves as well! If you visit the PRC I would suggest you to grab a copy of the youth digest and pick out an essay on your own.

Many students of the Chinese language fear to start reading what natives are reading. Often they claim that their vocabulary is lacking many words so they have to study more.

My recommendation: use what you already have, it will be enough.

New Chinese characters can be jumped over or better: read them as you would know the meaning, even if you vaguely have in mind what it might sound like, go for it! It will be of great benefit. Otherwise use Pleco if you look up important words and phrases.

I hope you will enjoy it 🙂

Title of the text: 重要的是内心的诗意

Source: 金羊网

Click here to read the magazine

Have fun and start reading articles in Chinese!

[expandyourchinese]

As you will notice in the following articles, I will use the term ‘classical Chinese’ instead of ‘ancient Chinese’, as I feel more comfortable with the term ‘classical…

The particle 之 in classical (ancient) Chinese

As you will notice in the following articles, I will use the term ‘classical Chinese‘ instead of ‘ancient Chinese‘, as I feel more comfortable with the term ‘classical’.

How come? Possibly since with the term ‘ancient’ I would imply you to think of a language which is ‘that old’ so as to build up a barrier between you and the language, and this is better to avoid, in my personal opinion.

1. The particle 之 can be explained as follows:

As you may know from modern Chinese, the particle 之 is often used as a more literate word for 的 and is expressing an attributive character. In books concerning Chinese grammar is also be found the term subordinating particle. Which by that means that we have a person to whom something or someone belongs – so actually we are coordinating two substantives.

Example:

Modern Chinese: 我的狗 (transl. My dog)

Classical Chinese: 吾之犬 (wu2 instead of wo3/ zhi1 instead of de5/ quan2 instead of gou3)

2. The second- often forgotten or not heard–

but not less important function of 之, especially when it comes down to classical Chinese texts, is the capability of the particle to substitute something (noun or circumstance – expressed as noun phrase NP) or someone (person substantive) and serve as it. It can be quite confusing if more than one Zhi appears in one single sentence. But how not to loose faith? Just have a look at the previous sentence or the beginning of the text you read and you will find a connection. Mostly it will be translated as “It”.

Example:

Classical Chinese: 季文子三思而後行。子聞之，曰：「再，斯可矣。」

Translation: Ji Wen thought thrice, and then acted. When the Master was informed of it, he said, “Twice may do.”

(Example taken from the ancient text of Gongye Chang 20 公冶长. For information and access to the text go to ctext.org or directly to Gongye Chang 20)

I hope this might help you to identify the functions of 之 in a classical or literary text. It is always recommended to have a look before and after the particle to see wether the words are of substantival or verbal character.