First Episode 33: ???

[mr tin]

A part of the Grand First Episode Project (http://www.chinese-forums.com/showth...5212).Overview (http://www.ezhun.com/p/492426/) - youku (http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjM0Nj....html)Language Difficulty Level: Lower IntermediateA popular Taiwanese romance, calibre2001's recommendation.Image: http://news.mdbchina.com/P/2007_9_si...0-02-22304.jpg This is one of the longest shows in Chinese-language television, I think there are several million episodes. It is a classic soap opera involving gangsters and apparently there's a romance that develops, but not in the first episode.The version linked has simplified subtitles (very hard to read in places), if somebody has a link to a clearer version or traditional subs, let me know.--- Plot Summary ---We are following a group of small crooks, ???, ??? and ??, as they steal a bunch of logs from a freight train before jumping off a bridge. This turns out to be a bad idea, as ??? can't swim, and ?? injures himself in the process and almost drowns. Apparently, a girl called ?? is also involved. The guys who were guarding the logs, ?? and ?? report to their boss, ???, who is not happy.??? and others transport the logs, and run into a pretty young teacher with a class full of kids who need transport, so they give them a lift, and ??? has a romantic encounter in the rain, as he helps her off the truck. Then he suggests that they sell the logs to ??? (they refer to him as ???), and the others think this is a bad idea. They end up giving him a cinema ticket and negotiate with him in the cinema. He agrees to buy the wood from them, but later his people storm the cinema while ??? is alone, and torture him into telling them where the wood is.Soon afterwards, ??? (another gang boss) visits ??? (his boss) and suspects that ??? is responsible. Apparently, those logs belonged to him, but ??? stole them (before having them stolen again). ??? wants concrete proof, but will back him up. ??? then goes to a bar where he talks to the boss and gives him a week to find the culprit.??? is in the same bar, unhappy that ?? is not there. ??? and ?? enter, trying to collect the money, but they are unaware that he has regained the logs. ??? steps outside for a while, and the bar owner warns him that ??? is after him and that he is backed by ???. ??? re-enters, and ??? is there waiting for him, and the episode ends with a stand-off.--- Summary End ---?? jué x?n - determination / resolution / determined? d? - to bet / to gamble?? I can't find this one, but it's obviously referring to the logs of wood?? g?u jié - to collude with / to collaborate with?? lì rùn - profits??? I'm guessing backer, someone who finances them, but I'm not sure?? to take part in something, to have a share in something?? y?n s? - to drown? l?o - fish up?? lán jié - to intercept?? w?ng fèi - to waste, to try in vain?? x? sh?ng - sacrifice (one's life etc)?? yu?n wang - hatred / injustice / bad luck?? ch?u j?n - a cramp (in leg, stomach etc) / to pull a tendon?? Yán luó - Yama / king of hell / extremely cruel person?? f? cái - to get rich???? battle-wounds on the face? xiàn - to get stuck ??? xi?o tí qín - fiddle / violin?? mi?n de - so as not to / so as to avoid? lín - to drain / to drench / to drip?? pào ni? - to pick up girls??? sh?u qi?n sh?u - hand-in-hand?? z?ng huò - spoils / booty?? qi?ng sh?u - gunman / sharpshooter?? xiàn shì - county-level town, county-level market?? qì f?n - atmosphere / mood?? p? huò - a batch of goods?? liù zhé - 40% discount?? ch?ng su? - location / place?? w?i q? - to feel wronged / to nurse a grievance?? y?u shì - superior / dominant?? liú máng - gangster?? f?ng sh?ng - rumor / talk / news ?? ch? miàn - act in a (official or personal) capacity?? tuì xi? - retirement?? huí chóng - roundworm?? zh? j? - to know oneself / to be intimate or close / intimate friend?? zhu?ng sh? - to play stupid?? g?u fèi - dog barking?? yùn qi - luck (good or bad)?? zhuó shu? - muddy waters?? hóu lóng throat / larynxI found this OK. A bit of humour, a bit of action, a bit of romance, but still squarely in the soap-opera style. I guess the story develops with time, but this first episode is basically OK, and not more or less. Worth a watch, quite easy to follow (though the subtitles are hard to read), and if you like it, there are several hundred episodes to keep you occupied.