I realized, also considering how days are read.
I may change, but I can’t get used to yet.
Chinese used to use elements/planets as well, but they changed. I have never heard of element version, really.
2 Likes
I was trying to watch YouTube on Chinese people in Thailand.
I find this listening too hard, too above my level compared to things I have been watching, but there is CN soft-sub / transcript, so I tried to get Gemini to help. It doesn’t auto extract the already available CN soft-sub, even if it is a Google product. It still cleanly extracts title and description, in any case.
And the sub/transcript is just to easy to copy… so copy+paste to ChatGPT, which I have always find to be smarter. Also, web search on demand – I can’t just take video directly from the video, at least, Thai names, and common knowledge in Thai society, and also ask a little about other countries.
Another takeaway is, it’s indeed possible to ask to explain subtitle line-by-line, but still not too many text. Max 2 mins of transcript at a time is optimal.
In my experience, subtitle files (*.srt) are less problematic to parse, but not copy+paste the text content directly.
3 Likes
I was listening to Why outer/inner Mongolia, which has toggleable CN and EN sub, or all can be turned off.
Listened 3 times. 1st CN sub, but not trying to read much. 2nd EN sub. Before the next re-listen, extract CN+EN transcript, read CN part while aligning CN-EN together (with yt-dlp to a series of screenshot on PowerPoint). 3rd CN sub.
Step 2.5 is so tiring, and this feels so above my level. I have ample time to check Chinese readings with Yomitan on YouTube website transcript at this step. (I have good guess/knowledge generally, but still draw blank sometimes.)
As a matter of fact, there is a native way to show dual sub.
English seems to be machine-translated, but still helped well with English counterpart / romanization of names.
Maybe it’ll get gradually easier on next videos so that I can meaningfully use just CN-EN dual sub (or CN only).
I also want to mention that learning traditional Chinese form is deemed helpful on YouTube and maybe also Wikipedia. (Blocked in mainland China, I think.)
1 Like
I was watching and trying to comprehend this one. Now CN sub only and copy-able. Soft CN sub is easier to hover with Yomitan; also copy and analyze.
Decoding with ChatGPT, line-by-line, might be too overdone, because of English translation. Thai translations of vocab and years in BE when applicable. Anyway, it tells me well that I know nothing about Classical Chinese (seems not too hard, to be learned and get used to later on).
I also noticed that Chinese speakers sometimes have accent… traditional characters, and also southern accent? Pinyin gives leeway.
2 Likes
Q4 2025 Production Challenge 
10月1日（三）
I started today with this reply from WK Community
I would recommend learning basic phrases about who you are, your hobbies, your hometown, your school, your job, etc. So that you can have a basic introductory conversation
Basically I used Pleco to find vocab I am used to, or otherwise, example sentences. I use Wikipedia to find proper names translated to Chinese.
Following the theme, I might use 30 questions from KazuLanguages. Or also, I should make sure I can always answer questions like this off guard.
5 Likes
It’s this 30 questions.
覚えるべきフレーズ30
(友達を作るフレーズや現地に滞在中のフレーズ)
- お名前はなんですか？
- 出身地はどこですか？
- どこに住んでいますか？
- 元気ですか？
- あなたはどうですか？
- はじめまして
- 何をしていますか？
- 〇〇語を話しまか？
- なぜ〇〇語を勉強していますか？
- なぜなら〇〇だからです
- どれくらい〇〇語を学んでいますか？
- 趣味はなんですか？
- 〇〇したことはありますか？
- 〇〇してもいいですか？
- いつ〇〇しましたか？
- 〇〇が好きですか？
- 〇〇はどういう意味ですか？
- 〇〇ができますか？
- 〇〇がありますか？
- もう一度言ってください
- 〇〇はいくらですか？
- 〇〇に行きたいです
- 〇〇まではどうやって行きますか？
- どの〇〇ですか？
- あの方はどなたですか？
- 何時ですか？
- おすすめの料理はなんですか？
- これをください
- お会計をお願いします
- 〇〇していただけますか？
From this clip (and this book/audiobook 【Amazon.co.jp限定】ゼロから12ヵ国語マスターした私の最強の外国語習得法(DL特典:著者書下ろし原稿(日・英)) (SB新書 653) | L26)
1 Like
I translated the 30 questions into Chinese, 10 per day = 3 days. (The [details] earlier can also be put into a translator/AI, but reliability depends.)
Now, picking an old Chinese phrase/vocab survival book. Along the long history of studying the language, I am bound to have a few of them. But… allergy (eyes, nose). Maybe I’ll buy new books. Allergic to anything not brand new.
Maybe it depends on how I use those. Listening a lot + 1 chapter per day or something, for now. vocab / sentences can also be thrown into segmenter / SRS, but not yet…
Some self-production by chapter titles/headers, but not the much still. Maybe I should squeeze harder.
2 Likes
羊，牧羊犬
2 Likes
I was trying to watch and read sub of this one. Apparently I don’t know much about this neighboring country and people, but I have heard it being compared for Chinese migrants. I was also aware of 福建 for some while.
I should learn about neighbors as well. (At least, historically different foreign policies.)
2 Likes
Watching another one of this country 
and also reading CN subs. (yt2pttx, then capture every screenshot with subtitle. vdo is also available offline in the process.)
Apparently the next step of studying could be reading the subs aloud, be aware of Pinyin and tones of every Hanzi. I think there is another component I know barely about, intonation.
Shadowing could have profound effect on learning each Hanzi, in any case.
Or typing with RIME-IME + terra-pinyin would reveal tones on typing. (Like typing out names just now.)
And there is also some degree of 訛り.
Or I could also attend a private class (one-on-one local teacher), to make me able to understand whatever YouTube… (though YouTube is blocked in mainland China).
2 Likes
I was watching 中文怪物, which is introduced in 王先生の毎日中国語・台湾華語 #122. Listened once, then re-watched from the beginning while keeping names (popular figures?) at attention. Luckily, introductions are everywhere, until near the end of the clip too.
Round 1 questions
Mark with correct tones:-
- 飛機即將降落至桃園國際機場
- 歡迎光臨，會員卡累積滿五十點送馬卡龍
- 我的統一編號是95341627
- 後方商品需要加購嗎？比較划算
- 卡比寶寶吃水餃
- 你算老幾？你們年輕人真的不懂事
Someone tried to 口ずさむ in the video. It sounds familiar, and so it is
2 Likes
Continuing from the same channel, I’ve found a relatively short and interesting video. Not too long is very helpful. I watched like 3 times, 2nd with pauses and sub reading.
Vietnamese names in Chinese spellings? And I couldn’t even read English names… I should have searched in Thai (in which spelling uses faithful phonetic transcription).
四駕馬車
| JP | CN | Thai | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lương Cường | ルオン・クオン | 梁强 | เลือง เกื่อง |
| Phạm Minh Chính | ファム・ミン・チン | 范明正 | ฝั่ม มิญ จิ๊ญ |
| Tô Lâm | トー・ラム | 蘇林 | โต เลิม |
| Trần Thanh Mẫn | チャン・タイン・マン | 陳清敏 |
達志影響
| JP | CN | Thai | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Xuân Phúc | グエン・スアン・フック | 阮春福 | เหงียน ซวน ฟุก |
| Võ Văn Thưởng | ヴォー・ヴァン・トゥオン | 武文賞 | หวอ วัน เถือง |
| Vương Đình Huệ | ヴオン・ディン・フエ | 王廷惠 (王庭惠) | |
| Tô Lâm | トー・ラム | 蘇林 | โต เลิม |
| Trần Thanh Mẫn | チャン・タイン・マン | 陳清敏 | |
| Nguyễn Phú Trọng | グエン・フー・チョン | 阮 富仲 | เหงียน ฟู้ จ่อง |
| Lương Cường | ルオン・クオン | 梁强 | เลือง เกื่อง |
2 Likes
Watching another one of 潮汕. To the end first, but now just recapping the prologue.
Cuisines
| EN | TH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 牛肉火锅 | Chaoshan beef hotpot | ||
| 砂锅粥 | Claypot congee | โจ๊กหม้อดิน | |
| 生腌 | Chaoshan raw marinated seafood | ||
| 卤鸡 | Braised chicken | ไก่พะโล้ | In my mind, it has to be duck  |
| 鱼饭 | |||
| 红桃粿 | Red peach cake | Tao kuih | อั่งถ่อก้วย |
Deities
| EN | TH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 妈祖 | Mazu | ม่าจ้อโป๋ (ฮกเกี้ยน: 媽祖婆) ม่าโจ้ว (แต้จิ๋ว: 媽祖) ไฮตังม่า (แต้จิ๋ว: 海東媽) มาจู่ (จีน: 媽祖) เทียนโหวเซี้ยบ้อ |
|
| 双忠 双忠神 双忠公 |
|||
| 城隍爷 | City-God | ||
| 安济圣王 | Ang Chee Sia Ong | อันจี่เซี่ยอ้วง | See 安济圣王庙 |
| 三山国王 | Lords of the Three Mountains | ||
| 玄天上帝 | เจ้าพ่อเสือ |
I also listened to this song cover.
1 Like
Apparently, it’s easy to edit and find references in Google Sheets. As Sheets is in a web browser, text can be selected and right-click to search the web.
Seafood
| Chinese | English | References |
|---|---|---|
| 鲎 | horseshoe crab | 鱟科 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 [1] |
| 章鱼 | octopus | |
| 蒲鱼 | stingray (regional) | 蒲魚 - Wiktionary, the free dictionary |
| 生蚝 | oyster | 牡蠣 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 [2] |
| 扇贝 | scallop |
Traditions, rituals & cultural items
| Chinese | English | Thai | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 英歌舞 | Yingge dance, Yingge, Engor | เอ็งกอ | Yingge dance - Wikipedia |
| 酬神 (酬神戏，做戏,，神功戏，社戏) |
Shen Gong Xi, She Xi | Ritual opera - Wikipedia | |
| 潮汕成人礼 (出花园) | Chu Hua Yuan; Cug Huê Hng | ชุกฮวยฮึ้ง, ออกจากสวน | Chu Hua Yuan - Wikipedia |
| 红木屐 | red clog | [3] | |
| 三山国王 | Lords of the Three Mountains (Kings of the Three Mountains) | Lords of the Three Mountains - Wikipedia [4] |
More traditions
| Chinese | Explanation | References |
|---|---|---|
| 烧塔 | 烧塔，又称“烧宝塔”“烧番塔”“烧瓦子灯”等，是南方诸如广东、福建、江西等地农村在过中秋节时开展的一项民俗活动。烧塔习俗包含垒塔、烧塔、封塔等流程，常伴随舞龙灯、唱山歌等活动。 | https://baike.baidu.com/item/烧塔/5574895 烧塔 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 |
| 烧火龙 | 丰顺埔寨火龙是流传于广东省梅州市丰顺县埔寨镇的传统舞蹈文化活动，作为粤东客家文化的重要组成部分，源自清乾隆六年（1741年）元宵节民俗，由烧火树、烧禹门、烧火龙三部分组成 。 | 舞火龍 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 |
| 跳火堆 | 跳火堆，是每年春节期间广东、闽南一带、青海河湟地区以及甘肃部分地区的传统民俗文化。毎逢农历正月，村民们在祭拜袓先，敬奉神明，游神拜会的同时，举行了跳火堆活动。寄托了中国劳动人民一种消灾免祸、趋吉避凶的美好愿望。 | 跳火堆_百度百科 |
| 营老爷 | 营老爷也称为“游神”、“游老爷”、“圣驾巡游”等，是广泛流传于福建省和广东海陆丰地区和潮汕地区及其周边地区的乡村和城市社区中的一种传统民俗祭祀活动。 | 营老爷_百度百科 |
Persons
| Chinese | English | References |
|---|---|---|
| 韩愈 (退之，韓文公) |
Han Yu, Tuizhi, Han Wengong | Han Yu - Wikipedia |
| 鳄鱼文 | Text for the Crocodiles | 鳄鱼文（韩愈所作散文）_百度百科 |
Places
| Chinese | English | Thai | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 潮汕平原 | Chaoshan Plain | 潮汕平原 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 潮汕平原_百度百科 Chaoshan - Wikipedia |
|
| 潮州 | Chaozhou, Chiuchow, Chaochow, Teochew | แต้จิ๋ว, เฉาโจว | Chaozhou - Wikipedia |
| 汕头 | Shantou, Swatow, Santow | ซัวเถา, ชั่นโถว | Shantou - Wikipedia |
| 揭阳 | Jieyang | เจียหยาง, เก๊กเอี๊ย | Jieyang - Wikipedia |
| 韩江 | Han River | ชาวแต้จิ๋วเรียกแม่น้ำสายนี้ว่า “แม่น้ำแม่” | Han River (Guangdong) - Wikipedia |
| 榕江 | Rong River | Rong River (Guangdong) - Wikipedia | |
| 练江 | Lian River | Lian River (South China Sea) - Wikipedia 练江（南海水系河流（潮汕地区））_百度百科 |
|
| 莲花山 | Lotus Hill | Lotus Hill - Wikipedia | |
| 惠来 | Huilai county | Huilai County - Wikipedia | |
| 南澳岛 | Nan’ao Island | 南澳岛（南海沿岸大陆岛）_百度百科 | |
| 中原 | Central Plain | Zhongyuan - Wikipedia | |
| 笔架山 | Bijia Mountain | Bijia Mountain - Wikipedia | |
| 珠三角 | Pearl River Delta | Pearl River Delta - Wikipedia | |
| 光济桥 (湘子桥) |
Guangji Bridge (Xiangzi Bridge) |
Guangji Bridge (Chaozhou) - Wikipedia |
More places
| Chinese | Explanation | References |
|---|---|---|
| 李望嶂 | 李望嶂位于广东省揭阳市揭西县西北部，海拔1222米，是揭阳市境内海拔最高的山峰。其地理坐标为北纬23°40’，属莲花山脉支脉大北山南麓区域。 | 李望嶂_百度百科 |
| 鸿图嶂 | 鸿图嶂位于广东省梅州市丰顺县八乡山镇与五华县郭田镇交界处，属粤东莲花山脉，海拔1277.4米，是粤东地区第二高峰。 | 鸿图嶂_百度百科 |
| 铜鼓嶂 | 铜鼓嶂位于广东省梅州市丰顺县砂田镇，海拔1559.5米，是粤东第一高峰、莲花山脉主峰，因峰顶平阔似鼓得名。 | 铜鼓嶂_百度百科 |
| 明山嶂 | 明山嶂位于广东省梅州市梅江区西阳镇与大埔县银江镇交界处，呈东北至西南走向，主峰海拔1245米，是梅江区最高峰。山下的嶂下村因毗邻该山得名，可通过水泥国道直达山脚，距梅州市区约30公里。 | 明山嶂_百度百科 |
| 凤凰山 (潮州) | 凤凰山位于广东省潮州市与梅州市交界处，是潮汕地区的屋脊，主峰凤凰髻海拔1497.8米，为潮汕三市最高峰（粤东第一高峰为梅州铜鼓峰）。 | 凤凰山（广东省潮州市凤凰山）_百度百科 |
| 林氏祠堂 | 林氏家庙位于广东省江门市新会区罗坑镇石咀村，始建于清代，2012年被列为广东省第七批文物保护单位。该建筑群由中路主体祠堂与东、西两路附祠及金山祖祠并列组成，总面宽37.52米，占地面积约2500平方米，建筑面积约1867平方米，属四进三路岭南广府风格祠堂，当地俗称“四沓祠堂”。 | 林氏家庙（广东省境内省级重点文物保护单位）_百度百科 |
| 海门祠堂群 (汕头) | 海门董氏祖祠诒燕堂始建清代，位于汕头市潮阳区海门镇北新社区环海路中段南侧。诒燕堂占地面积约1000多平方米，祠堂内设有老人活动中心、农家书屋、文娱活动等，面朝练江出海口，碧海蓝天、船来人往。 | https://www.toutiao.com/article/7116786225322656263/?wid=1761735578487 |
| 华溪村 | 华溪村，隶属于重庆市石柱土家族自治县中益乡。曾经的华溪村是集中连片特困地区武陵山片区典型的贫困村，2014年全村381户1219人中，建档立卡贫困户有69户225人，贫困发生率18.5%。实施脱贫攻坚以来，村里的路修到了5.5米宽，家家户户都接上了自来水、改造了危旧房。2019年年底，全村贫困人口全部实现脱贫。 | 华溪村（重庆市石柱土家族自治县中益乡下辖村）_百度百科 |
| 揭阳学宫 | 揭阳学宫又称“揭阳孔庙”“文庙”“红学”，位于广东省揭阳市榕城区韩祠路口东侧，是广东三大学宫之一，始建于南宋绍兴十年（1140年），清光绪二年（1876年）大规模重修。 | 揭阳学宫_百度百科 |
| 牌坊街 (潮州) | 牌坊街是位于潮州古城中心的集非物质文化遗产、传统工艺、特色小吃等为一体的文化古街。 牌坊街特色建筑是中西合璧的骑楼，矗立的22座中式明清石牌坊与两侧南洋风味的骑楼互为映衬，明末清初引入具有南洋建筑风格的骑楼建筑，形成中西合璧的独特侨乡风貌，骑楼建筑记录着潮州人下南洋的历史往事。 | 牌坊街（中国潮州旅游景点）_百度百科 |
| 樟林港 | 樟林古港，位于广东省汕头市澄海区东里镇，始建于明嘉靖三十五年（1556年），占地2平方千米。樟林古港是历史上粤东第一大港，唐代是个海滨渔村，因樟树成林而得名，几经沉浮。康熙二十三年（1684年），因正式放开海禁，樟林港埠商人纷纷造船出海。 | 樟林古港_百度百科 |
| 道韵楼 (潮州) | 道韵楼，俗称大楼，位于广东省潮州市饶平县北部山区三饶镇南联村，始建于明成化十三年（1477年），万历十五年（1587年）完工，明成化年间因勘舆师数次往返择地得名“倒运”，后谐音称道韵楼。 | 道韵楼_百度百科 |
| 盛安楼 (潮州) | 盛安楼位于汕头市澄海区莲华镇新楼村，是清乾隆癸亥年（1743年）建成的客家围屋，由明末入潮的张氏宗族修建，为汕头地区保存最完好的围寨建筑。 | 盛安楼_百度百科 |
| 资深港 | 资深港位于广东省惠来县东部沿海的优良港口之一，与神泉港、靖海港并称惠来三大中心港口。港口承担渔港功能和海洋文化旅游休闲功能。港区拥有碧海蓝天景观、风车群设施及天然岛礁地貌，设有海钓活动场所和码头基础设施。 | 资深（广东省东部沿海港口名）_百度百科 |
Overseas
| Chinese | English | References |
|---|---|---|
| 文咸西街 | Bonham Strand West | Bonham Strand - Wikipedia |
| 槟城 | Penang | Penang - Wikipedia |
| 牛车水 | Chinatown (Kreta Ayer Road) | Chinatown, Singapore - Wikipedia [5] |
Events
Text extracted with OCR.
| AD | BE | |
|---|---|---|
| 1812 | 2355 | 1812年(嘉庆十七年) 潮州府人口221万 接近清初的4倍 |
| 1800 | 2343 | 19世纪初 潮州乡村裓斗蔚为风俗 大乡欺冹小乡 械斗经历百数十年不停息 |
| 1869 | 2412 | 1869年(同治八年) 朝廷办理抢携械裓斗积案 惩办枪手惯匪3000余名 收缴枪械几千件 抓捕著名土豪80多人 |
| 1852 | 2395 | 1852年至1858年 从汕头掠运出洋的苦力共有4万人 |
| 6年间 妈屿岛就有8000名苦力死亡 弃尸海滩无人过问 占运出苦力总的20% |
(hòu) a rare case that Chinese Wikipedia consistently has ruby text (Furigana) ↩︎
牡蛎，又称蚝（粤拼：hou4，潮拼：o5）、生蚝（广东话，台湾）、蚵仔（台罗：ô-á）、蚵、海蛎子、蛎黄、蚝白、青蚵、牡蛤、蛎蛤、硴等，泛指所有属于牡蛎目牡蛎总科的双壳纲软体动物。在中医药方中的“牡蛎”，指的是牡蛎壳。 ↩︎
In Chao’an District of Chaozhou and Chenghai District of Shantou: children who have their Chu Hua Yuan should use twelve different flower petals soaked in water and wash their body. After that, they should wear a new red dudou that their mothers made for them and put twelve longans and two copper coin in the dudou. Then they should wear new clothes and red clogs given by their grandmothers. ↩︎
- Jin Mountain (巾山) - protected by the Great Lord
- Ming Mountain (明山) - protected by the Second Lord
- Du Mountain (獨山) - protected by the Third Lord
Singapore’s Chinatown is known as Niu che shui in Mandarin, Gû-chia-chúi in Hokkien, and Ngàuh-chē-séui in Cantonese - all of which mean bullock water-cart - and Kreta Ayer in Malay, which means water cart. This is due to the fact that Chinatown’s water supply was principally transported by animal-driven carts in the 19th century. Although these names are sometimes used for referring to Chinatown in general, they actually refer to the area of Kreta Ayer Road. ↩︎
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DuChinese is also a nice way to dig into the language. 
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I’ve tried that, though no longer subscribed for quite a while.
Personally, I would recommend buying graded reader series on Pleco and maybe also buy additional dictionary add-ons and SRS.
Having more clear and detailed dictionary entries feel important to me, just as with English and Japanese.
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I’ve had the app downloaded on my phone for a while. 
Been looking forward to giving it a try!
Oooh, I have the additional dictionary add-ons and SRS in Pleco, but I don’t think I realized they had graded readers as well! Thanks for the tip!
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Watching this one, from the same channel/author (in some playlists).
Honestly, I want to watch and learn more about overseas and outside-mainland Cantonese. VDO and channels with traditional characters could be a better hope (and also for untouchable topics).
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Another nearby country 
I know barely anything about. Also this person.
There is soft EN sub/transcript, but I didn’t turn it on. Just video processing to read all CN sub carefully (yt2pttx). I think I catch most of the message, while looking up very little.
I also tried writing diary entries in Chinese. Making up Chinese phonetic spelling as well, by looking up Pleco for some beautiful Hanzi. Some names would be hard to find Chinese equivalents on the Internet (not to mention even English counterpart). Just spelling anything with phonetic approximation. (And writing ruby text in Thai on top, anyway. Somehow a lot of Talk:Ruby. I have guessed there must be. )
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I was watching and restart-to-pausing to read CN sub of 广州. (Though CN-EN dual hard sub.) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R97QMM3nTMw
Actually there are also Cantonese and English dubbed versions.
YouTube also suggested some Cantonese videos, but they seem inaccessible without knowing Cantonese… (There are ofc English ones too, but not Mandarin.)
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