AUG.01,2023 | $8.24
THE MIMIR EASY-TO-READ MANDARIN CHINESE
中国古代的福尔摩斯：宋慈
麻婆豆腐
水能知道你的情绪
Song Ci: Chinese Sherlock Holmes | 10
Mapo Tofu | 14
Water Can Perceive Your Emotion | 18
Editor's Note Welcome back to yet another edition of Mimir Magazine! Miss me? I know I miss all of you lovely readers! The weather has been fluctuating like crazy recently, and I’ve been trying my best not to fall sick. I hope you have been taking care of yourselves too! Anyway, we have eight wonderful articles that not only educate but inform you of some interesting things from China! First off, we have the article on how to use chopsticks and the table manners associated with them in “All You Need to Know About Chopsticks”. Next, we have a real-life super detective from Ancient China who can rival the great Sherlock Holmes himself. Read about this interesting officer in “Song Ci: Chinese Sherlock Holmes”. The following story is about a great dish from the Sichuan province. There’s an interesting origin story about this dish, and I think you’d be excited to learn about it in “Mapo Tofu”. Right after, you will get not one, but two easy-to-follow recipes to make fried and boiled eggs… with a twist! Read all about it in “How to Make Soft Eggs”. The story after is something I’ve heard before but never ceases to amaze me. If becoming a real-life waterbender is your thing, you should read “Real Waterbending Trick” (just don’t throw tomatoes at me for my lame joke). Moving on, we have one of the most-asked questions in the science field: is time-travelling possible? And what will you do if you have such a machine? Find out more in “If I Can Make a Time-travelling Machine”. Next, we have the dilemma of women everywhere: getting along with the female in-laws. I guess it’s something Asian women are constantly warned about. If you’ve experienced something similar, you might want to try reading “Dealing with the In-Laws”. Finally, we wrap things up with another lame joke from yours truly—I mean, we have an excellent poem. Read it up in “Short Poem: Birthday”. JK English Editor of TMM Aug.01, 2023
Okay, enough dad jokes for today. I hope you’ll have fun reading all the articles and stories! Till later!
TMM | 01
t e e M itors d
Our E
It all started with a young girl who loved to wonder and make believe a world inside her mind. Decades
Hi! I’m Mr.Zhang Zidong, My MBA graduated from
later, JK finally braved herself to share parts of that
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and
world with clients from all around the globe —
I had studied in University of Toronto, Canada
offering her skills, insights, and creativity not only as
during that time. As a Chinese teacher I got
solutions to a problem, but also means to sound the
Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of
unheard and show the unseen.
Other Language from Center for Language Education And Cooperation China. Currently teaching Chinese in a British international school.
JK is available for freelance writing and editing services. She specializes in game narratives, blogs,
Now I am a professional Mandarin teacher. My
and editorial pieces.
teaching career started from 2016. I have been teaching for over 10,000 hours. I’m experienced with teaching people from many countries with different levels from beginner to advanced, covering beginner course, regular course, oral conversation course, business course, customized course, and HSK&HSKK test course, etc. I’m good at adjusting teaching method according to the student, and making every student their own perfect Mandarin learning plan. I’m funny and outgoing. You will feel interesting and joyful while mastering the Mandarin with me.
TMM | 02
CONTENT ASIAN CULTURE Song Ci: Chinese Sherlock Holmes
10
中国古代的福尔摩斯：宋慈
Things You Must Know Using Chopsticks
你必须知道的筷子的使用方法
06
FOOD IS EVERYTHING Mapo Tofu
麻婆豆腐
How to Make Soft Eggs
14
怎么做流心蛋
23
TRENDS My American Mother In Law
32
中国人眼里的美国的婆媳关系 LIFE & SCIENCE Water Can Perceive Your Emotion
18
水能知道你的情绪
If I Can Make a Time Machine
如果我可以造出一台时间机器
28
SHORT STORY Brithday
生日
37
Click here to listen to audio recordings of this issue on YouTube TMM | 03
C
ESE N I H
RESTAUR
AN
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LEARN CHINESE AND WATCH THEIR JAWS DROP AS YOU EFFORTLESSLY ORDER CHINESE FOOD IN MANDARIN! HTTP://WWW.THEMIMIR.COM
TMM | 04
friends 莉莉
艾米 Amy is a high school exchange student from the U.S. She likes traveling and is curious about ancient cultures. She thinks Dada is very knowledgeable.
Lily is a student in the same high school as Amy. Her mom is Chinese and her Dad is from Ireland. Like her mom, Lily enjoys reading and cooking.
达达
凯文
Dada is a high school straight-A student from China. He loves science, the universe, and everything about aliens.
Kevin is an exchange student from Australia. He likes sports and cars. He thinks Amy is the cutest girl ever.
TMM | 05
ASIAN CULTURE
Intermediate level 6 Mins
THINGS
Ever dream of becoming a chopstick connoisseur or maybe set good examples to your friends?
YOU MUST KNOW
Get your handy tips in this article! I know I can use some of these myself… Editor: JK
USING CHOPSTICKS TMM| 06
吃东西时，要用筷子的哪一边？ Q2: 吃完饭后，筷子在桌子上要怎么放？
ASIAN CULTURE
Q1:
你一定知道，中国人吃饭的时候都用筷子。但是你知道用筷子的时候要注意什么吗？今天 就让我来告诉你吧！ 第一，要先把筷子对齐。每根筷子都有一头是粗一些的、一头是细一些的。你可以拿着筷 子，把它们放在桌子上对齐。让粗的在一边，细的在另一边。对齐以后就可以用了。吃东 西时，记得用细的那边。 第二，不要用筷子敲东西。在中国，如果你用筷子敲东西，别人会觉得你在要钱，是很不 礼貌的。用筷子的时候，最好也不要让筷子跟碗或者盘子发出声音。 第三，在中国，人们会一起吃同一个盘子里的食物。你最好只吃每一盘里你面前的部分。 大家也不要用筷子在菜里找自己想吃的食物。当别人和你想夹的是同一块肉的时候，可以 让他先夹。当然，更不要用你的筷子夹别人的筷子。 第四，别咬或舔筷子。有些人在吃饭的时候喜欢用舌头舔筷子上的菜，或者是咬筷子，这 都是非常不好的，别人看了会很不舒服。 第五，不要用筷子指别人。在中国，用手或者用筷子指别人都是很不礼貌的。 第六，不要用一只筷子插东西吃。如果你用一只筷子插东西吃，别人会觉得他在你心里不 重要，以后就不想和你一起吃饭了。 第七，不要把筷子插在碗里。在中国，给已经死了的人食物时，才会把筷子插在碗里。如 果你这样做，别人可能会觉得你是在诅咒和你一起吃饭的人。 第八，如果你吃完了，请不要把筷子交叉着放在桌子上。如果你那样放，说明你非常不喜 欢和你一起吃饭的人。吃完以后，你把两根筷子对齐放在桌子上就好了。
你必须知道的 筷子的使用方法 现在你知道怎么用筷子了吗？
TMM| 07
作者：一凡
面前
miàn qián in front of / facing
VOCAB!
发出
fā chū to issue (an order, decree etc) / to send out
筷子
礼貌
一头
舒服
盘子
交叉
lǐ mào courtesy / manners
kuài zi chopsticks
yī tóu one end (of a stick) / one side
shū fu comfortable / feeling well
pán zi tray / plate / dish
jiāo chā to cross / to intersect
TEACHER'S NOTE
本文主要讲述了使用筷子时需要注意的一些礼仪和习惯，并列举了8个要点：筷子粗细要对齐，不要用 筷子敲打，吃共享食物时的注意事项，不要咬或舔筷子，不要用筷子指人，不要用一只筷子插东西 吃，不要将筷子插在碗里，吃完后要正确放置筷子。这些是中国使用筷子时的一些文化习俗和社交礼 仪。 文章运用了“ ……的时候，…… ”、“如果……”等中文的常用表达，大家可以仿照文章或例句，多多练习， 更地道地用中文来表达意思。 This article mainly describes some etiquette and habits that need to be paid attention to when using chopsticks, and lists 8 key points: the thickness of chopsticks should be aligned, do not hit with chopsticks, precautions when eating shared food, do not bite or lick chopsticks, do not use Chopsticks point to people, don't eat with one chopstick, don't put the chopsticks in the bowl, and place the chopsticks correctly after eating. These are some cultural customs and social etiquette when using chopsticks in China.
的时候，
、 如果
The article uses common Chinese expressions such as “ …… …… ” “ ……”. You can imitate articles or example sentences, practice a lot, and express meaning in Chinese more authentically. TMM| 08
r e m m gra ew br
语法：“ ……的时候，…… ”
的时候，…… ”是时间表达的一种方式， 强调同时性，相当于英文里的 “when”。
“ ……
“ ……
的 时 候 ， …… ” is a way of expressing time, emphasizing simultaneity,
Equivalent to “when” in English Structure: time-indicating words/phrases +
的时候，⋯⋯
Example: a.
我来的时候，他在看电视。
He was watching TV when I came. b.
妈妈做饭的时候，爸爸回来了。
When mom was cooking, dad came home.
：
Editor Zhang Zidong
TMM| 09
ASIAN CULTURE
SONG CI: CHINESE SHERLOCK HOLMES Almost everyone has heard about the worldrenowned Sherlock Holmes. But how many of you have heard of Song Ci? In this story, you’ll learn exactly why he’s dubbed the “Chinese Sherlock Holmes”. Best of all? He was actually a real person! Editor: JK
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