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All about the moon

 

Many cultures have historically associated the full moon with a time of abundance. When our satellite is at its fullest, tides rise higher. In the autumn, when it appears closest to the earth, it’s time for the harvest and thanksgiving.

有史以來，不少文化都將滿月和豐收連繫起來。當我們的衛星（月球）最圓滿之時，也是潮漲最高的日子。秋天的時候，月亮最接近地球時，就是收割和感恩之日。

 

1. associate (v.) 把…聯繫起來；與…有關係

e.g., (sbd associates sth with sth.) People usually associate Mid-Autumn Festival with eating mooncake. 提起中秋節，人們通常聯想到吃月餅。

[talk about the origin of mooncake?]

Munching mooncakes  

History tells us that mooncakes were once stuffed with more than just egg yolks and bean paste. One mid-autumn during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), revolutionaries used them to pass secret messages to one another. The rebellion was a success, and its leader, Zhu Yuanzhang, went on to establish the Ming dynasty. They were thereafter eaten during the autumn full moon to commemorate the rebellion.

However, mooncakes were around much earlier than that. Historians say the first mention of the pastries is from the Tang dynasty, but evidence suggests they are even older. Like the moon itself, they represent unity and completeness.

 

e.g., I don't want to be associated with this incident. 我不想捲入這件事。

be associated with an organization = be affiliated with

associate (n.) = colleague

an associate in crime 同謀；共犯

associate (adj.) = 副的; 非正式的 (lower rank)　

e.g. an associate member, associate director

 

2. abundance富足；大量 (n.) = wealth

(an abundance of sth = a large quantity of it)

e.g., We all want to live a life of abundance. 我們都希望活在富足之中。

e.g., Food was in abundance in this island. 島上食物豐富。

 

The Jade Rabbit:

According to one version of the myth, the Jade Emperor came down from heaven in disguise in search of a helper to mix potions. He became hungry and encountered a monkey, a fox and a rabbit. The monkey and fox offered the old man food, but the rabbit had none. So he threw himself into a fire and offered his body for food. For this, the rabbit was made immortal and went to live on the moon, where he can still be seen bent over his pestle and mortar (杵臼), mixing herbs.

根據傳說其中一個版本，玉帝化身下凡，希望找煉藥的幫手。他餓了，遇上猴子、狐狸和兔。猴子和狐狸都說可以把食物分給老人，唯獨是兔子，什麼都沒有。於是牠投入火中，讓老人飽餐一頓。因此，兔子成為不朽，住在月宮，用杵臼搗碎草藥。

3. disguise偽裝

in disguise 化了裝

e.g., The Jade Emperor disguised himself as a commoner (平民).

 

4. immortal (adj.) 永生的；不朽的 (famous and remembered for a long time)

e.g., Shakespeare’s works are immortal. 莎士比亞的作品是不朽的。

(n.) 神 e.g. the immortals 眾神

(n.) 不朽的人物 e.g. immortals of stage and screen 千古留名的舞臺銀幕人物

e.g. Beethoven is one of the immortals. 貝多芬不朽的人物之一。

 

Lanterns

A plain, globe-shaped lantern with a candle inside illuminating the surface resembles the moon. As the festival nears, all districts in Hong Kong erect elaborate, colourfully illuminated displays of stick-framed lanterns.

一個樸素、球狀、中間有蠟燭照明的燈籠，跟月亮一個模樣。節期臨近，香港各區都樹立華麗、色彩繽紛的紮作花燈。

5. A plain, globe-shaped lantern with a candle / stick-framed lanterns

lantern-jawed 下巴瘦長突出的

magic lantern 幻燈；早期放映機

lantern slides 幻燈片

 

6. near

near (prep.) e.g., My home is near the train station.

near (adv.) e.g., He like sitting near to the door.

near (adj.) e.g., Where is the nearest toilet?

near (v.) = approach

e.g. The project is nearing completion. 這個項目快將完成。

e.g. I guess he must be nearing sixty, so he will need to retire soon.

我猜他快六十歲了，所以很快就會退休。

 

7. erect (v.) 豎起 / 建造 / 創立

e.g., He erected himself to full height. 他挺直身子。

e.g. He erected a new theory. 他創立了新的理論。

 

(adj.) 直立的; 豎直的

to hold oneself erect 　挺直身子

with head erect 　昂首

e.g. Soldiers are trained to stand erect. 士兵們被訓練要站得筆直。

 

 

Kevin’s Classroom

How to say the dates in the lunar calendar

Mid-Autumn Festival: The 15th day of the eighth lunar month (X 15th August)

i.e. The nth day of the nth lunar month

e.g. The Chung Yeung Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.

 

Western:

Written: 15th August

Spoken: the 15th of August

 

A Song For You - “The Moon Song” by Karen O

 

Why ‘I wish I knew’…?

e.g. I don’t like my work. I wish I could get a better job.

   
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