Laowai Chinese 老外中文

Up North Chant

2010 June 1 – 10:17 am | Categories: Child's Play| Leave a comment

In honor of Értóng Jié 儿童节, this is the first post in a series designed to bring us foreigners up to the level of Chinese elementary school children (not including their studies of hanzi, but if you want that, see Randy Alexander’s project).

For those of us who have mild dyslexia, here’s a little kǒujué 口诀 to help you keep the compass points straight:

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Directions Chant (660 hits)

Shàng Běi, Xià Nán, Zuǒ Xī, Yòu Dōng
上北, 下南, 左西, 右东

Translation:

Up North, Down South, Left West, Right East

Of course, if you have no idea where left and right are it’s not going to be that useful.

Anyone else know any children’s chants for remembering things? Please share.

Similar Posts (computer generated):

8 Responses to “Up North Chant”
Chad said:

“红灯停，绿灯行”. My Chinese friend recited this while at a stop light.

Comment date: Jun 1, 2010
John C said:

I know this is a Dumb Question … but I thought I could save time by asking someone who would know thw answer without referring to a 2249-Page document.

When I see the english characters all is fine … But … Where I think the Chinese Characters should appear … all I get are small White “Boxes”, as if they were Place Holders for the Chinese characters that should appear at those locations.

I presume I should load some software program to allow those characters to appear ? When I use the MGBD DIctionary …I do see the appropriate
chinese characters next to each word.

Can you offer some advice ? Thanks very much !

JC

6-1-10, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Comment date: Jun 1, 2010
九九乘法表 said:

“小九九”的由来
 　　《九九乘法歌诀》，又常称为“小九九”。现在学生学的“小九九”口诀，是从“一一得一”开始，到“九九八十一”止，而在古代，却是倒过来，从“九九八十一”起，到“二二得四”止。因为口诀开头两个字是“九九”，所以，人们就把它简称为“九九”。大约到13、14世纪的时候才倒过来像现在这样“一一得一……九九八十一”。　　

中国使用“九九口诀”的时间较早。在《荀子》、《管子》、《淮南子》、《战国策》等书中就能找到“三九二十七”、“六八四十八”、“四八三十二”、“六六三十六”等句子。由此可见，早在“春秋”、“战国”的时候，《九九乘法歌诀》就已经开始流行了。　

　现在人们一般把那些有心计、会算计、善谋划的人形容为心里有“小九九”。

Comment date: Jun 2, 2010
shan said:

haha, my mom taught me that 口诀 when i was really young (and we were still living in china). i still use it today to figure out map directions, despite having grown up in the US and living here for over 20 years now

Comment date: Jun 3, 2010
Andong said:

Haha, I never mix up east or west, but sometimes get confused with left and right. This helps me memorize those two better, hehe!

Comment date: Jun 7, 2010
Charlotte Hughes said:

Tom Cruise have dyslexia and yet he is still a very successful actor.*:;

Comment date: Jul 10, 2010
Jane said:

Great tool to use! Does anyone know where I can find more recorded dialogue to learn with? I’m going to China within the year and would like to know some phrases. Thank you!

Comment date: Jun 26, 2011
Chadwick said:

It was nice to study using your write-up. I just enjoyed the little while i put in reading through it and wanted to leave a comment to say that….All the best

Comment date: Sep 14, 2011