495th article第495期双语推文
NB: This may not be a word-for-word transcript.
It would be a shortcut to close distance with local people in Zhengzhou if you can say some Zhengzhou dialects or Henan dialects like a native. Henan dialect boasts a long-standing history and profoundness, and it is terse and vigorous, rustic and lively, embodying the simplicity and great momentum of the Yellow River, which are also distinctive characteristics of Henan people. Let's learn Henan dialect as well as stories and culture behind it right now!
来到郑州，如果偶尔来几句地道的郑州话或河南方言，瞬间亲切又接地气。河南话历史悠久，积淀深厚，九曲黄河养育的中原儿女，语言上透着乡土、活泼、大气、亲切、响亮、透着喜气。尝试学说河南话，了解方言背后的故事和文化，变身地道“河南人”。
Many out-of-town friends can say "zhóng bu zhóng (is it all right)" in Henan dialect in a very standard way. It is said that "zhóng" is dated back to ancient times when people, who were lack of knowledge, believed that the sky was round, the earth was square, and it was 30,000 li (1 li equals to 500 meters) long from north to south. At that time, people used the sundial to count a long geographic distance, and "one chi (1/3 meter) of the shadow measured with the 'eight-chi gnomon' represented a distance of one thousand li". Lord Zhou measured that the shadow of the gnomon in Yangcheng, Dengfeng on the summer solstice was one chi and five cun (1/3 decimeter) long, indicating that it sat right in the center of the north-to-south line of the earth. Therefore, he defined this place as the center of the heaven and earth and of the universe. Words like "zhongzhou (central state)", "zhongyuan (central plains)", "zhongyue (mountain in the center)" and "zhongyang (the center)" thus derived. Over time, "hǎo (good)" and "xíng (all right)" are replaced with "zhóng".
很多外地朋友随口就能来一句河南味十足的“中不中”。据说“中”的来源历史悠久，古时，因为认识水平低，人们认为天圆地方，认为大地南北长三万里，与八尺表测量出来的日影长对照，认定“影长一寸，地差千里”，周公以此测量发现登封阳城夏至时表影长一尺五寸，恰在地球南北的中心点上，于是就认定这里为天地、宇宙的中心，就有了中州、中原、中岳、中央等词语。久而久之，人们就把“好”“行”都说成了“中”。
"dài jìn" is an omnipotent phrase appropriate to describe any objects including mankind. For example, people say "dài jìn" when they think highly of a speech or have a dainty repast, or when football players do well on the field; if someone is good-looking, you can also say that his/her appearance is "dài jìn". "bù dài jìn (not very good)" is used when someone feels "under the weather", and he/she may need to see a doctor. Most of the time, "bù dài jìn" is not absolutely antonymous to "dài jìn"; it denotes "not appropriate", moderate in meaning, and could be used when something is not done perfectly.
“得劲”一词可以形容任何事物，包括可以形容人。比如“这话说嘞得劲”“这菜吃嘞得劲”；足球场上表现好，球迷大喊“得劲儿”，形容人漂亮或俊美时，可以说“她长得得劲”。“不得劲”也有形容身体不舒服的意思，比如“我今天浑身不得劲，得看大夫”。大部分时候，“不得劲”并非简单是得劲儿的绝对反义，有不大合适、不大好的意思，语气比较缓和，比如某件事不完美就可以说“这事做得不得劲吧”。
"duī" literally means "colliding" or "hitting against". In Henan dialect, it is almost a powerful universal verb. When you knock into the wall, you can say you "'duī' the wall". It also has many extended meanings such as "doing" or "drinking". For example, "'duī (have)' a bowl of huimian noodles" or "duī yī gè (have a drink)". In all contexts, "duī" reflects the unrestrained and bold personality of Henan people.
“怼”这个字，基本意思是“碰撞”“撞击”，在河南话中，几乎是个万能动词。比如走路不小心撞墙上了，我们叫“怼墙上了”。除基本含义外，它还有很多引申义，比如可作“做”“喝”的意思。比如“刚怼了碗烩面”，意思是刚吃了碗烩面；喝酒的时候说“来，怼一个”，意思是“来，喝一个”。在各种语境下，“怼”代表了河南人风风火火的豪爽劲儿。
It is one of the favorite words of Henan people, regardless of age or gender, to call others with respect. It is used in the same scenario as "shī fu (sir)". For instance, you can say "lāo shír, fetch me a box of candy, please" in a roadside convenience store, or "lāo shír, could you please drive me to the People's Park?" to a taxi driver. Young people may use it to crack a joke: If your friend steps on your feet by accident, you may say "be careful, lāo shír" in a mock-serious tone.
河南人，特别喜欢用“老师儿”这个词，不分性别年龄，向对方表达尊敬的意思，跟“师傅”差不多。比如你去街边小超市，可以说“老师儿，拿盒糖果”；路边拦出租，可以说“老师儿，人民公园走不走？”年轻人偶尔朋友之间会拿这个词来揶揄对方，比如朋友不小心踩了你一脚，你就可以假装正经地说：“你慢点，老师儿！”
It has two pronunciations in Henan dialect. When pronouncing "nèn", it means "nà me (so, very)". "nèn" sounds like the liaison of "nà me". Terms under similar rules are many in Henan dialect, such as "zuò" which refers to "zhè ge (this)" and "nuò" denotes "nà ge (that)". The liaison practices manifest the agility and pithiness of Henan people in personality. Furthermore, the monosyllable has a stronger effect of expression than disyllable. When pronouncing "nēn", it means "you", "your" or "yours". So the phrase "nēn qù nǎ le" means "where have you been/where are you/where did you go".
恁在河南话中是个多音字，念nèn的时候，意思是“那么”。河南话里很多这样的词汇，比如zuò（这个）、nuò（那个），都是一些连音形成的，也体现出河南人简练利索的个性。而且把两个字缩成一个字，气势更强了。恁还能念成nēn，意思是“你们”“你的”“你们的”。比如说，“恁去哪了？”意思是“你们去哪了”。
"guái guai lei" is a modal particle to express one's astonishment, revealing the humor of Henan people in their genes. It is usually used when your friend does something amazing! Apart from that, it also implies dissatisfaction. For example, when your friend drops the glass which is borrowed from you for a magic trick and it smashes, you can say "guái guai lei" to remind him/her to be more careful.
“乖乖嘞”是表示震惊的语气词，证明了河南人性格中透着的幽默因子。比如你的朋友做了很让人吃惊的事情，你就可以说“乖乖嘞，你咋恁能！”除此之外，“乖乖嘞”也有表示不满的意思，比如你的朋友借用你的水杯表演魔术，但他搞砸了，杯子掉地上碎了，这时你就可以说：“乖乖嘞，看给你能的！”
It can be regarded as an entry-level phrase of Henan dialect. Everyone knows you are from Henan if you say "nóng shà lei" in other places. The Chinese character "nóng" means "doing", and it has two pronunciations in Henan language system. Zhengzhou people pronounce it as "nóng", and in some other areas in Henan, it pronounces "nèng". "shà" refers to "what", similar to "Pardon?" in English, which demonstrates the succinctness in the use of word in Henan dialect.
“弄啥嘞”可以算是河南话的入门级了，一句“弄啥嘞”，在外地大家都知道这是河南老乡了。“弄”的意思是“做”，这个字在河南方言中有两个发音，郑州人习惯把它说成nóng，而在河南其他一部分地区都读作nèng。“啥”是“什么”的意思，如果有人问你叫什么，你没听清楚，反问“啥”，就是问对方“你说什么”的意思。河南话用词简洁，可见一斑。
"sháo báo" is an adjective describing a show-off or a person who is greedy for enjoyment regardless of consequences. If someone is ostentatious and always buys famous-brand clothes beyond his/her means, the sentence "kàn nǐ sháo báo lèi bù qīng!" can express your attitude ironically and jokingly.
“烧包”这个词中的“包”不是指包子，也不是背包，而是一个形容词，意思是“有点钱总想花出去”，指人不踏实爱炫耀，也比喻贪图享用不计后果。如果你的朋友特别招摇，明明不是特别有钱，还一定要穿名牌衣服，你就可以用河南话告诉他“看你烧包嘞不轻！”这句话带有一点讽刺，又有一点开玩笑的语气。
This phrase has a simple meaning, "shouting" or "yelling". "bié xiè huò le (stop shouting)!" could effectively quiet people down, because they have felt your irritation and they know it's better to stop making noises. There is little information on the origin of "xiè huò". Someone says that it derives from the pronunciation "xié hu" in Henan dialect. "xié" means "for no reason" or "beyond normality", and "hu" means "bellowing" or "yowling". Over time, they evolved to "xiè huò" we are speaking today.
“挟邩”的意思很简单，就是吆喝或叫嚷。一句“别挟邩了”，能瞬间让吵闹的对方安静下来。因为，对方已在你的表达中听到了你的不耐烦，需要立刻闭嘴了。关于“挟邩”一词的来源资料并不多。有一说是“挟邩”来自于“邪乎”的河南方言音，“没来由”或“超出正常范围”称之为“邪”，“吼叫”或“大声说话”称之为“呼”，通过不断流传就逐渐演变成了今天的“挟邩”。
"huá jiāo" in Chinese refers to a kind of seasoning which tastes numb. In Henan dialect, it conveys different meanings in different contexts. For example, "please don't 'huá jiāo' me" means "no kidding or don't play me around". In fact, using "huá jiāo" in Henan dialect, which is relatively moderate comparing with "ridicule" and "tease", saves face for both speakers, showing the optimism and tolerance of Henan people.
花椒是一种调味料，麻麻的口感。河南话中的“花椒”，在不同语境中，传达着不同的意思。比如“你别花椒我了”，意思有：你别开玩笑了；你别骗我了。用“花椒”一词取代挖苦、调侃、取笑，留几分余地给自己和别人，也显示了河南人的大气和开朗。
Literally, it means the land for planting eggplants, and later is extended to be "in the middle of nowhere" in Henan dialect. In actual life, it is widely used in north China. It is said that the eggplant ground looks barren at first glance because of the low planting density; therefore, taking people to "qiè zì dì" implies taking people to the wasteland, and it is a waste of time. In addition, because eggplant leaves have thorns which itch skin, it also means "making someone uncomfortable on purpose". For example, when a friend drives you to a wrong place, you could say "You've driven me to the 'qiè zì dì'!"
“茄子地”字面意思为种植茄子的菜地，在河南话中引申为迷失方向。不仅仅是河南话，在北方都有着广泛使用。据说因为茄子种植的密度小，一眼望着比较荒芜，把人带“茄子地”寓意把人带到荒地，耽误人的时间。也有说法是因为茄子叶有刺，皮肤接触后会痒，把人带到茄子地，意思就是要他不舒服。比如朋友开车带错了地方，会说：“给带到茄子地里啦！”
Chinese character "有" (pinyin: yǒu; definition: have) has two horizontal strokes in the lower part. If without the two horizontal strokes, it vividly changes to "冇" (pinyin: móu; definition: not have)". Henan people say "shá" for "what", "zá" for "what's wrong" and "móu" for "not have". "Do you have a spoon?" "móu", or "Did you go to your grandpa's house last night?" "móu". It is also widely used in Cantonese.
“有”字中间有两横，而“冇”去掉了这两横，非常形象地表示了“没有”。河南人说 “啥”表示“什么”，说“咋”表示“怎么了”，表示“没有”用一个简单的字“冇”。比如“你有没有勺子？”“冇。”“昨晚去你姥爷家了吗?”“冇。”其实，不仅河南话，在南方广东省，粤语中“没有”也读作“冇”。
Chinese character "伯 (bái)" refers to father's elder brother. However, in some areas in Henan, such as old Zhengzhou, "father" is also called "bái bai", and father's elder brothers are called "dà ye (uncle)" "èr dà ye (younger uncle)" and so on. It is said that "bái" was originated from Song Dynasty in China, and it was still in use in the 1970s and 1980s. In today's southern Fujian province, you can also hear people calling their father "bái bai". The profoundness and continuity of Chinese language and culture is thus self-evident.
汉字“伯”指的是父亲兄长，不过在老郑州等一些河南区域方言中，却把父亲也叫做“伯伯”（bái bai），父亲的兄长则叫“大爷”“二大爷”以此类推。据传，“伯”（bai）原是中国古代宋朝时流传下来，20世纪七八十年代还能听到这样的称呼。在如今的闽南一带，也能听到称呼父亲（bái bai），可见中国语言文化的博大精深和一脉相承。
It refers to a drinking game, which has been widely popular in all kinds of feasts in restaurants, residential houses and food stalls. If you see two Zhengzhou men making gestures at a dining table over drinking in the night market, they are probably playing finger-guessing game. There are many rules. The following one is simple and widely used: the two people reach out fingers (randomly) of one hand at the same time, while saying a number not larger than 10; the one who says the number equaling to the sum of their reach-out fingers will win.
“猜枚”是一种酒令游戏，曾广泛盛行于各类酒桌、饭店、民居、排档，普及率很高。如今你在夜市大排档，看到郑州俩爷们拿着酒杯伸手比画着，那多半是在玩猜枚。“猜枚”的规则很多，常用的这个不难：两人同时伸出一只手5个手指中任意几个，喊出10以内（含10）数字，手到口到，以说中两人手指之和为胜。
Warm tips: The tone of Henan dialects may vary with context. To speak as a native, one rule serves: Practice makes perfect.
特别提醒，河南话的发音声调会根据说话的语境有所变化，想要说得顺溜，还请多多练习。
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