chinese Kung fu 中国功夫
 
dialogue 1
 
Zbou: Morning, Tom! What are you doing over there? Leaming to dance?
 早啊，汤姆！你在删L干什么呢？学跳舞？
 
To.n: Can't you see? I'm practicing tai chi!
 你没见我在打太极拳么？
 
Z: Oh, my goodness. I'm sorry. But I don't think tai chi is to bc practiccd like that.
 天啊！不好意思，没看出来，可是太极拳育这么打睁
 
T: l'mjust a beginner. Did my poscs make mc the butt ofjokes?
 我只是初学呀．我的姿辨是不是很搞笑啊？
 
Z: Well, tbey just look a bit funny. but far from making a laughing stock out of you.
 我只是初学呀．我的姿辨是不是很搞笑啊？
 
T: So, is there anything wrong with my strokes?
 那你看看，我的动作哪里不对？
 
Z: Tobcgin with. you should keep yourneck erect upward at any time.
 先，不符什么时候．你的脖子应该竖直向上。
 
T: Like this?
 这样对吧？
 
Z: Good! And then, the∞th body. Ncver incline your body forward or backward. Take care to regulate the point of balance. Place it at your waist
 好！还有全身上下，身子不要前倾也不要后倾．注意调节，重心，保持在腰部．
 
T: Did I do it right?
 这样？
 
Z: No! You should avoid sticking out your belly. Kecp your hip steady. Don't swing
 不不不．不要挺肚子，臀部不要晃，要稳．
 
T: What should I do with my legs then?
 那我的腿呢？
 
Z: Oh, yes, things are quite different with tbc limbs. Keep your knceS bent a little. Rightthey sbould be rich in elasticity. Move slowly wben you shifl your centre of gravity from 0nC Ieg to another.
 对一手脚四肢可就不．—样了·膝盖要稍微弯曲一氨不要；有弹性．把重心狄一条腿移到另—条腿上时，要缓慢些
 
T: Fantasticl I guess the same is true with the arms. right?
 好玩儿！我猜，手臂也是这样吧？
 
Z: Exactlyl Move your arms in a rclaxcd manner. Well. don't stretch your行ngcrs stiffly. Just keep them in a natural shape.
 没错儿．手臂移动时耍放松．嗯，手指别伸得那样直，要自然点．
 
dialogue 2
 
Su: now that you have learned Kung fu for a few months, what are your general impression of it?
 你学习中国功夫已经几个月了,有什么印象?
 
Heinz: I think, maybe, it takes a real Kung fu master to give a more fair assessment; meanwhile, I am no more than a beginner. But I really doubt whether kung fu would be of any great help when it comes to defending oneself in real life.
 也许真正的功夫大师才能给出一个公正的评价吧.我可只是个初学者.我怀疑,在现实生活中,功夫的防身作用并没多大.
 
S: you mean, kung fu may not be so powerful as it is imagined? To some extent your idea holds water. Kung fu was originally intended for self-defense, but with time it became something more than defense skills. Now we are apt to treat it as an art.
 你是说,功夫不像想象中那么厉害?可以这么说吧.功夫本来是用来防身的,但是随着时间的推移,他可就不仅仅是打斗技术了.如今我们更爱把它看成一门艺术.
 
H: an art! You have a good point there. So it is called martial arts in English. The Chinese are really capable of doing things nicely. They've been made fighting a great enjoyment, somarvelous and fascinating.
 艺术!对!说得好!在英语里,确实也是叫做”martial arts”.中国人做起事来就爱这样,会把事情弄得很漂亮,连打架都这么有趣,迷人.
 
S: thanks for your compliment! Perhaps the Chinese culture as a whole has a specialinclination towards aesthetics. Do you know Jin Yong?
 谢谢夸奖!大概整个中国文化都比较注重一种审美效果吧.你知道金庸吗?
 
H: I know he is a martial arts fiction writer. But I've read none of his novels.
 我知道他是位武打小说作家,只是还没读过他的作品.
 
S: all of his works have been translated into English. I recommend you to read one or two works of his. You'll get a general glimpse into Chinese kung fu culture. When you go through the pages, you are likely to feel they are not about kung fu alone, but cover all walks of life .
 他的所有作品已经有英文版了.你最好读它一两部,那样就会对中国功夫有一个大体印象.当你读他的作品时,很可能会感觉到,金庸不是仅仅在写怎么打架,而是包罗了生活的方方面面.
 
H: I see. They must have incorporated a series of Chinese cultural elements.
 我明白了.这些小说想必包容了一系列中国文化元素.
 
S: yes, take philosophy, for instance. What makes a true, respectable da xia, or a worrior hero? It's not enough only to be formidable . It also involves a man's character, sense of justice, and values of life.
 对,比如哲学.怎样做一位真正的,受人景仰的大侠?单靠功夫高强可不够,还需要在性格,正义感,价值观等许多方面有一定境界?
 
H: so kung fu is also a means of self-cultivation, isn't it?
 这么说来,功夫还是提高自我修养的一大途径了?
 
S: indeed, you're exactly right!
 说得对!