Lesson 4 Hutong

Conversation

珍妮: 卡洛琳, 你 看过 北京的 胡同 吗?

Zhēnnī: Kǎluòlín, nǐ kànguo Běijīngde hútòng ma?

Jenny: Caroline, have you seen Beijing's hutong?

卡洛琳: 胡同 是 什么?

Kǎluòlín: Hútòng shì shénme?

Caroline: What is a hutong?

珍妮: 胡同 是 街区间 的 小巷, 一直 通向 居民区｡

Zhēnnī: Hútòng shì jiēqū jiān de xiǎoxiàng, yìzhí tōngxiàng jūmínqū.

Jenny: Hutong are alleys between blocks that lead to residential areas.

卡洛琳: 它有 很 悠久的 历史 吗?

Kǎluòlín: Tā yǒu hěn yōujiǔde lìshǐ ma?

Caroline: Do they have a long history?

珍妮: 是的｡ 北京的 胡同 起源于 元朝, 明清 两代 也 不断 发展｡ 北京的 胡同 各式各样, 四通八达｡

Zhēnnī: Shìde. Běijīngde hútòng qǐyuányú Yuáncháo, Míng Qīng liǎngdài yě búduàn fāzhǎn. Běijīngde hútòng gèshìgèyàng, sìtōngbādá.

Jenny: Yes. Beijing's hutong were built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and expanded during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Beijing's hutong come in all widths and lengths, and extend in many directions.

卡洛琳: 听起来 很 有意思｡

Kǎluòlín: Tīngqǐlái hěn yǒuyìsi.

Caroline: They sound really interesting.

珍妮: 我 准备 去 什刹海 附近的 胡同 看看, 你 去 吗?

Zhēnnī: Wǒ zhǔnbèi qù Shíchàhǎi fùjìnde hútòng kànkan, nǐ qù ma?

Jenny: I'm going to see some hutong near Shichahai. Are you coming?

卡洛琳: 去｡ 我 听说 什刹海 附近 有 很多 古建筑｡

Kǎluòlín: Qù. Wǒ tīngshuō Shíchàhǎi fùjìn yǒu hěnduō gǔjiànzhù.

Caroline: Yes. I've heard there are lots of old buildings in that area.

珍妮: 没错, 有 四合院､ 王府 , 还有 寺庙｡

Zhēnnī: Méicuò, yǒu sìhéyuàn､ wángfǔ, háiyǒu sìmiào.

Jenny: Indeed. There are quadrangles, prince's mansions and temples.

New Words

1. 胡同 hútòng          hutong

2. 小巷 xiǎoxiàng      alley

3. 元朝 Yuáncháo     Yuan Dynasty

4. 明代 Míngdài        Ming Dynasty

5. 清代 Qīngdài        Qing Dynasty

6. 四合院 sìhéyuàn   courtyard surrounded by buildings in four sides

7. 王府 wángfǔ          prince's mansion

8. 寺庙 sìmiào           temple