LIFE / CULTURE
Learning Chinese
Published: Jul 18, 2022 07:12 PM
Chat attack

diabolo / 空竹 / (kōnɡzhú)

A: Are you holding exercise equipment? It looks really unique.  

你手里拿的是运动器械吗?它看上去真奇特。

(nǐ shǒulǐ náde shì yùndònɡ qìxiè ma? tā kànshànɡqù zhēn qítè.)

B: It is a diabolo, a type of special traditional Chinese exercise equipment. It is named after the hollowed bamboo.     

这是空竹,是一种特别的中国传统运动器械,得名于中空的竹木。

(zhèshì kōnɡzhú, shì yīzhǒnɡ tèbiéde zhōnɡɡuó chuántǒnɡ yùndònɡ qìxiè, démínɡyú zhōnɡkōnɡ de zhúmù.)

A: I want to try it, too. How do you play it? Can you teach me ?

我也想试试。这个器械怎么玩呢?你能教我一下吗?

(wǒyě xiǎnɡ shìshì.zhèɡè qìxiè zěnme wán ne? nǐnénɡ jiàowǒ yīxià ma?) 

B: You use these two handles to throw the diabolo and do numerous tricks. It requires miraculous coordination between your four limbs.  

你要用双手握杆抖动空竹来做出各种动作,它需要四肢的巧妙配合。

(nǐyào yònɡ shuānɡshǒu wòɡǎn dǒudònɡ kōnɡzhú lái zuòchū ɡèzhǒnɡ dònɡzuò, tā xūyào sìzhī de qiǎomiào pèihé.)

A: That's interesting. I've never seen anyone do this exercise.

真有趣,我之前从没见过别人做这项运动。

(zhēn yǒuqù, wǒ zhīqián cónɡméi jiànɡuò biérén zuò zhèxiànɡ yùndònɡ.)

B: You know, this small diabolo is a testament to the development of history and the inheritance of folk culture.

要知道,这小小的空竹可以作为历史发展和民俗文化传承的见证。 

(yào zhīdào, zhè xiǎoxiǎo de kōnɡzhú kěyǐ zuòwéi lìshǐ fāzhǎn hé mínsú wénhuà chuánchénɡ de jiànzhènɡ.)
Illustrations:Liu Rui/GT

Illustrations:Liu Rui/GT