#hanning studies

[hanning-studies]

2020年6月10日

Super late preparations for my final.

[hanning-studies]

Hi + 2021 goals!

Hi everyone! 🌻

I’ve been a little MIA on this blog in the last few months. Covid has been getting to me a lot and it’s been really hard to find motivation to do anything. I barely keep up with my work for uni and posting on here hasn’t really been a priority. I am also in a slump because I want to change my major but I missed the deadline to apply last year, so I’ve been doing some kind of ‘gap year’, only attending a few classes. But with 2021 being here and also my birthday today I decided to actually put some effort into making a few goals I would like to achieve and post them on here so I can keep myself accountable, even if it’s just a little bit. Let’s gooo~

Languages

Mandarin: Mandarin is defintely my number 1 priority this year. My big goal for this year is to pass HSK6. Ideally I would take the test in spring/summer (the first test dates that my city offers this year), but because of covid the test centers might not be open at that time. I’d still be aiming to have most of the vocabulary and grammar covered until then, even if I’m not actually able to take the test. Overall, I want to get to a level I’m comfortable with and that I can easily keep up by watching Chinese shows, talking to my Chinese friend and occasionally reading a book or self-studying a lesson once in a while.

Korean: For Korean, I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on myself but rather make the studying itself fun and enjoyable. It would be nice if at the end of the year, I could achieve a level around A2. My main goal is to be able to understand just a little bit of what my favorite kpop idols are saying and to maybe have small secret conversations with my friend who is also studying Korean.

Cantonese: I don’t have any real goal concerning Cantonese, I mainly think it sounds cool and would be fun to learn. So studying would probably only take place if I’m in the mood for it. But I really want to focus and pronounciation first since it’s pretty different to standard Mandarin and I don’t have any idea right now on how the tones actually work. After that, I’d try to locate more resources and then see from there.

Personal

Health: I’ve been eating pretty bad during the holidays so I hope to change that to a healthier menu with more fruits and vegetables in the future. I’d also like to take up a new sport (dancing?) or at least take more walks during the day. Also, trying to be more consistent with my skincare routine!

Work: I currently have a lot of freetime since I’m not taking too many classes, so I want to spend that time getting some work experience and earning some money. The job search is not going too great right now, but I’ll try and keep it up!

Tumblr: I want to try to be more active on here again. I know I’m not the biggest social media person but I hope I can post here at least once a week + reblog stuff! I also want to update my chinese music recommendations list really bad!

If you have made it this far, I wish you a happy 2021 and hope that this year is not going to be too rough on you. Stay safe and healthy! 💕

[hanning-studies]

2020年3月29日

Staying at home and preparing the next chapter.

[hanning-studies]

Chinese Music Recommendations

Hey everyone! I’ve been getting a lot more into Chinese music lately and I thought I could give you guys some recommendations since I know it can be a bit difficult to find artist if you don’t know where to start looking. I’m gonna give you a brief overview of the artists (and where you might know them from) and a few song recs (I linked all of the artists/songs on Spotifiy!). This is probably gonna be mostly hip hop / pop, so if you’re into that you can check out my post. 🌻

Also, if you have other recommendations or just want to talk about your favorite artist hmu, I really love talking about and finding new music!

陈粒 Chen Li - I don’t really know a lot about her but she mostly does ballads and slower songs, that still are very powerful. One of her songs was performed in QCYN2. Song recs: 易燃易爆炸, 情景剧

陈梓童 Tifa Chen - I recently started listening to her album and it’s absolutely awesome! Her older song focus more on singing while the newer ones combine rap and singing. Overall, she has a more pop kind of vibe but also a ballad here and there. She was the runner up for The Voice of China 2016, appeared in Rap of China 2018 and recently collaborated with Jonas Blue. Song recs: Hustle (this was in QCYN2), 我不需要男朋友

GAI - Honourable mention for GAI. I don’t listen to him a whole lot but he is super important in the Chinese hip hop scene. He was one of the first rappers to combine hip hop and elements of traditional Chinese music. Sometimes, he also raps in his native dialect. He was the winner of Rap of China 2017. Song recs: 火锅底料，虎山行

宫阁 GONG - Literally the cutest lil’ bean! He started out as a composer (eg. for TF Boys) and released his first album in 2016. His music is really creative and every song is different so it’s kinda hard to put him into one genre. There are often rap elements but he also has a lot of ballads (beautiful voice btw) or songs with more of a rock vibe. He appeared in Chao Yin Zhan Ji alongside Jony J. Song recs: My Name Is (put the YouTube video because this perfomance was top-notch), 我想你了, Tokyo

Jony J - He’s probably my favorite Chinese hip hop artists. You might know him from Rap of China 2017, Chao Yin Zhan Ji or from QCYN2 where he is a mentor. His latest album has a very relaxed, easy vibe (good as study music) and I must have listened to it a dozen of times by now. He also has interesting lyrics that are good for studying if you’re at an intermediate level. Song recs: 不用去猜，子弹口水 

Kris Wu - This is Kris Wu, do I even need to say anything about him? I don’t listen to him a lot but he has a few songs that I really like. Song recs: 天地，大碗宽面

Lexie Liu - She covers different genres (trap, pop, dancehall) with her music. The lyrics are often very personal and poetic. Because she studied abroad and is signed with the American label 88Rising, she uses a lot of English in her songs. Also participated in KPOP-Star 2015 and won fourth place in Rap of China 2018. Song recs: Mulan, Sleep Away

乃万 NINEONE - You probably know her from QCYN2 but you should also really check out her album “Dear X”. It’s has a really youthful vibe and is just really fun to listen to. Song recs: SENBEI, 22, Sugar free

VAVA - The Queen of Rap, dare I say. She got a lot of attention for reaching the 4th place of Rap of China 2017 and for her song My New Swag being featured on the Crazy Rich Asians soundtrack. She has incredible rap skills and a very confident, cool attitude. Song recs: Intro, Lie, Life’ s a struggle, 网红

万妮达 Vinida - If you like VAVA, you’re probably also gonna like Vinida since they give off a similar vibe. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I also think she has interesting voice. She participated in Sing! China 2016 as well as Rap of China 2018. Song recs:  Queendom, 场上称霸

威神V Wayv - The Chinese sub unit of NCT, but you probably already knew that, right? They just make really good, catchy C-Pop. The lyrics are kinda hard to translate though. Song recs: Love Talk, Take Off, Moonwalk

[hanning-studies]

Hey! Sorry, you must have been asked this a lot... But could you tell me how you learned chinese? Ypu are so young! Has it been a long time since you've started studying chinese? I'd love if you could give me some advice! Thanks a lot!!!!!!! 😊💜😊💜😊💜

Hey there! 🌻

First, I just wanna say that my Chinese is still nowhere near where I want it to be, so there is still a long way to go. Just to kinda give you something to work with, I started studying Chinese when I entered university 2 1/2 years ago and passed HSK5 after two years. I had four semesters with 8 hours of Chinese class per week and one semester with 20 class hours per week + a whole lot of homework and self-studying on top.

For Chinese especially, if you’re just starting I’d say to focus on all four aspects of the language (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and not to leave one out (I focused more on reading so now I can read quite well but my listening is pretty bad 😅). Also do learn to read characters! It’s really no fun without them and you will be missing out on a lot of content.

For studying characters I’d suggest spaced repition (Anki, Memrise etc.) and a looot of writing. Writing and memorizing characters can be pretty difficult in the beginning but it gets easier the more you learn.

I’d also prioritize vocabulary over grammar. That way, you’ll be able to understand more and you can fill out grammar patterns with different words. Also, don’t worry if you don’t understand a grammar point immediately, it’s probably very different to your native language, so it might take some time. Reading and listening really helps with that! The more you’re exposed to a grammar pattern, the more likely it will be that you know how and when to use it. (Exposure is key!)

Overall, I think the most important thing with Chinese is to just keep going. It’s probably not gonna give you instant results and it’s gonna be a lot of hard work (especially compared to some other languages), but it really is worth it. I’ve been starting to get to a level where I can enjoy more Chinese media, read a (easy) book or understand what my favorite artists are singing, and it makes me super happy to finally see the hard work pay off. I always appreciate these moments and let them serve as motivation to keep studying.

I hope this helped you! Please don’t be discouraged, because Chinese really is a beautiful language and absolutely worth the effort. 加油～

[hanning-studies]

Mandarin Music Monday #1 (WayV - Turn Back Time)

Hey everyone! 🌻 Since I have a little more time at hand right now I decided to start a little series where I translate songs in Mandarin Chinese. If you have questions about the vocabulary / grammar, general recommendations on how I can improve the posts or want to suggest songs to translate just let me know! (otherwise I’m just gonna do the songs that I like 😉 )

First song is gonna be Turn Back Time by WayV since it was their comeback last week and I know ya’ll like them. I put the official lyrics this time and added some vocab help.

光芒不转弯  直线不进则退 (退)  理所不当然 梦想无翼而飞 (起飞)  筑城一个世界  天选之人 (no no)  觉醒在无色间迈向进阶

光芒 guang1mang2 - rays of light 

转弯 zhuan3wan1 - to go around a corner 

则 ze2 - conjunction used to express contrast with previous clause (but, then)

退 tui4 - to retreat,  move back 

理所不当然 from 理所当然 li3suo3dang1ran2 - naturally 

翼 yi4 - wings 

筑城 zhu4cheng2 - fortification  (here: to create) 

天 tian1 - here: God 

之 zhi1 - 的 

觉醒 jue2xing3 - to awaken 

迈向 mai4xiang4 - to stride towards 

进阶 jin4jie1 - advanced

Light doesn’t turn around the corner, straight line turns back when it’s impossible to go forward. It’s only natural but it’s not. Dreams fly high without wings and create a world. The one chosen by the God, No no. Wake up in a transparent space ,go to a higher level.

下一个挑战向着时间行军  请辩论未知的命运定或未定

行军 xing2jun1 - to march 

辩论 bian4lun4 - to argue over

未知 wei4zhi1 - unknown

命运 ming4yun4 - fate, destiny

定 ding4 - to set, decide

The next challenge marches towards time. Argue whether the unknown destiny will be decided.

倒回迟疑一秒  倒回后悔一秒  倒回松懈一秒 Limit, limit 超越野心一秒  超越坚持一秒  超越极限一秒 Get it, get it, uh

倒回 dao4hui2 - back

迟疑 chi2yi2 - to hesitate

一秒 yi1miao3 - one second, in an instant

松懈 song1xie4 - to relax

超越 chao1yue4 - to surpass, transcend

野心 ye3xin1 - ambition, greed

极限 ji2xian4 - limit

In an instant hesitate and go back, in an instant regret and go back, in an instant relax and go back. Limit, limit. In an instant transcend the greed, in an instant endure and go beyond, in an instant transcend the limit. Get it, get it uh.

地无疆  天无界  If we could turn back time  再启程  再回转  旅途名为超时空 回

疆 jiang1 - border, boundaries

界 jie4 - boundary, scope

启程 qi3cheng2 - to set out on a journey

回转 hui2zhuan3 - to turn round

名为 ming2wei2 - to be called

时空 shi2kong1 - time and space

There are no boundaries on the ground and the sky is limitless. If we could turn back time, make a new start and turn back. This journey is called transcending time and space.

Oh 重启自我  Minute by minute  往未来的路覆辙不再  Oh 无色觉醒过来  Turning back time 5-4-3-2

重启 chong2qi3 - to restart

自我 zi4wo3 - ego

覆辙 fu4zhe2 - track of an overturned cart, here: same old road to ruin

Oh start the ego again minute by minute. The path to the future wouldn’t be repeated. Oh my colorless consciousness wakes up turning back time 5432.

Stop rewind, turn back time  Stop rewind, turn back time, 5-4-3-2  Stop (stop) rewind, turn back time (yeah got that)  Stop (stop) rewind, turn back time

回顾那些错过  无数错过  在手中留下未熄的花火  那些循环因果  循环因果  能让懵懂改写为成熟  Yeah I'm a beast, don’t sweat it 

回顾 hui2gu4 - to look back, review

错过 cuo4guo4 - to miss (an opportunity etc)

无数 wu2shu4 - countless

未熄 wei4xi1 - to have yet to be extinguished

循环 xun2huan2 - to cycle, circulate

因果 yin1guo3 - karma, cause and effect

懵懂 meng3dong3 - ignorant, stupid

成熟 cheng2shu2 - mature

Look back on what I’ve lost, countless things I’ve lost. I have flames still alive in my hands. Repeated cause and effects, repeated cause and effects. I rewrite my stupidity into maturity Yeah I’m a beast, don’t sweat it.

我会击败时间, go get it  要继续继续超频揭开秘密  时间的面目若拆穿  I see the face of vision

击败 ji1bai4 - to defeat

超频 chao1pin2 - overclocking

揭开 jie1kai1 - to uncover, open

面目 mian4mu4 - appearance

若 ruo4 - if

拆穿 chai1chuan1 - to expose, unmask

I’ll overcome the time,go get it. I should keep digging into the secret at the speed of Mach. If I notice the truth of time I see the face of vision .

黎明等在更宽阔的舞台  我反省完我渺小就前来 

黎明 li2ming2 - dawn, daybreak

宽阔 kuan1kuo4 - expansive, wide

反省 fan3xing3 -to reflect upon oneself

渺小 miao3xiao3 - insignificant, tiny

前来 qian2lai2 - to come

Early morning is waiting for a bigger stage. If I reflect on my naivety, it will unfold.

Live it up double dose  更多的色彩  我说 no  让我回到无色的我再重头  从过去重新创造  我将再出发觉醒后

重新 chong2xin1 - again, once more

创造 chuang4zao4 - to create

将 jiang1 - here: will

出发 chu1fa1 - to start

Live it up double dose, more colors. I say No. Turn me back to colorless, start over. Create myself again from the past, I’m awake and I’ll make a new start.

地无疆  天无界 If we could turn back time  再启程  再回转  旅途名为超时空 回

Oh 重启自我  Minute by minute  往未来的路覆辙不再  Oh 无色觉醒过来 Turning back time

就像万花筒般诱惑存在  我们盘旋在浑沌地带  请直观无色声香味触法的虚幻  The time is ticking away

万花筒 wan4hua1tong3 - kaleidoscope

般 ban1 - here: like

诱惑 you4huo4 - to lure, seduce

盘旋 pan2xuan2 - to circle, hover

浑沌 hun2dun4 - chaos

地带 di4dai4 - zone

直观 zhi2guan1 - intuitive, directly perceived through the senses

虚幻 xu1huan4 - illusory

Like a kaleidoscope, temptation is everywhere. We’re hovering over the chaotic earth. Look at the colorless sound, scent, flavor, touch, and the law intuitivey. The time is ticking away.

Oh 重启自我  Minute by minute  往未来的路覆辙不再  Oh 无色过来  Turning back time (take it away) 

Oh 改写历史  Minute by minute (if we could turn back time)  从过往的我通往未来  Oh 无色觉醒过来  Turning back time 5-4-3-2

改写 gai3xie3 - to rewrite, edit

过往 guo4wang3 - in the past

通往 tong1wang3 - to lead to

Oh rewrite the history minute by minute, from myself in the past to the future. Oh my colorless consciousness wakes up turning back time 5432.

5-4-3-2 Stop rewind,  turn back time  Stop rewind

[hanning-studies]

2020年4月8日 Quarantine Challenge Week 1

Wed - What’s your favourite study snack?

Right now, I enjoy eating grapes because they’re tasty and you can easily eat them while you study. Other than that, I loooove chocolate but I’m trying not to eat too much of it.

[hanning-studies]

2020年4月11日 Quarantine Challenge Week 1

Sat - Where in your house is your favourite place to study?

There’s not really any other space available to me than my desk, so I always study there. I don’t like it tho :(