我们都知道，语言只是一个桥梁，帮助我们理解另外一种文化。其中最有趣的恐怕就是不同的思维方式，会让我们换一种方式来看同一个世界。
As we all know, language is a bridge to help us to communicate and understand other cultures. One of the most interesting things when studying a language is to learn about different mindsets which help us to change the ways in which we see the world.
汉语中的方位
Positions in Chinese
« 上 » 和 « 下 »
Up and Down
时间 - Time
时间(time)是从上向下流淌的，就像瀑布一样，呼啸而下，淹没了世间的我们。
In Chinese time runs down like a waterfall, rushing down and submerging us in the world.
从上午11:00到下午1:00之间的时间段就像半腰上一块巨石，我们称之为 « 午 » 。
The period from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is like a boulder at the halfway point, which is called 午.
河流从高的地方流到低的地方，所以有了 « 上游 » 和 « 下游 »。这跟英语一样。
A river runs from above to below, so we call the former upstream, and the latter downstream. This is the same as in English.
上车 / 下车 – Getting In and Out of Vehicles
Although in English you say you “get in” or “get out” of a car, in Chinese, the words are 上 shàng (on) and 下 xià (off) respectively.
- 上 – get on/in
- 下 – get off/out
- 车 – car
- 公交车 – bus
- 地铁 – subway
Example:
- 请在第一站 (上车) , 在第七站 (下车)。Please get on at the first stop, and get off at the seventh stop.
Getting on/off a Boat, Ship, or Vessel
- 船 – boat, ship, or vessel
- 上船 – to go on board, embark
- 下船 – disembark
Example:
- 上船的时间到了。It's time to go on board.
Going to Class, Work, and Other Daily Routines
- 课 – a class or lesson
- 上课 – to begin or to have class
- 下课 – to finish or get out of class
- 上学 – to go to school
- 放学 – to get out of school; school is out
- 上班 – to go on duty or get to work
- 下班 – to get off duty or get off work
Examples:
- 我们下午6:00下班。We get off work at 6:00 p.m.
- 我儿子每周三晚上8:00到9:00上钢琴课。My son has piano class from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
- 我下课后去图书馆。I will go to the library after class.
- 早上7:00, 儿子上学,我太太上班。At 7:00 a.m., my son goes to school and my wife goes to work.
Surfing the Internet
- 上网 – to go online
- 下网 – to go offline
Example:
- 你可以在机场用wifi上网。You can use wifi to surf the internet at the airport.
Dinner Time
- 上菜 – to serve the food (dish up)
- 撤下(不常用) – to clear the table (not often used)
Example:
- 客人都到了, 该上菜了。All the guests have arrived, so it's time to serve dinner.
汉语并非你以为那样难，对吧? 只要掌握了汉语的思维方式, 学习会变得简单而有趣!
Now Mandarin Chinese is not as difficult as you assumed, is it? Once you have mastered the Mandarin Chinese mindset, learning will become more simple and fun!
« 前 » 和 « 后 »
Front and Back
如果时间是一条河，中国人是面对着河流的出现的方向的。换句话说，中国人是面对着历史, 并且尊重传统的。在中国人的眼里，日子好像排着队，先来在前，后来在后，一天一天地流逝。
If we consider time as a river, the Chinese stand facing the direction of the river's flow; in other words, they stand facing the direction of history with the intention of respecting traditions. In the eyes of the Chinese, it seems that the days stand in line, with the earliest days at the front and later days toward the back of the line, passing one by one.
- 前天 – the day before yesterday
- 后天 – the day after tomorrow
- 前年 – the year before last year
- 后年 – the year after next year
- 前人 – predecessors
- 后人 – descendants, offspring
Examples:
- 昨天的昨天是前天, 明天的明天是后天。Yesterday's yesterday is the day before yesterday, and tomorrow's tomorrow is the day after tomorrow.
- 我和男朋友前年去加拿大旅游，准备后年去非洲。My girlfriend and I traveled to Canada the year before last, and plan to go to Africa the year after next year.
前人栽树，后人乘凉。
Predecessors sow the seed [of trees], and the descendants receive the shade. In English, a similar saying is “Walnuts and pears, you plant for your heirs.”
中国人是龙的后人。
Chinese people are the offspring of the Dragon.
« 左 » 和 « 右 »
Left and Right
根据中国传统写作规则，书写是从上到下，从右到左的。
According to the traditional rules of Chinese writing, writing should proceed from up to down and from right to left.
The Position Mindset
在中国人传统地理思维中，东方为左，西方为右。所以，中国人看山河地理时，总是面向南方的。
According to a traditional Chinese geographical mindset, east is left and west is right. So, Chinese people always consider themselves to be facing south when they talk about geography.
- 江左 = 江东
- Left of the river = East of the river
The Power Position Mindset
在传统中国文化中，« 左 » 指违反标准，因此 « 右 » 往往比 « 左 » 更尊贵。« 右丞相 » 比 « 左丞相 » 地位要高， 所以 « 右迁 » 为提升。不过，在现代社会这种差异越来越被淡化。
In traditional Chinese culture, left means breaking the rule or being different with the standard, so right is always more respected than left. The Right Prime Minister's position is higher than the Left Prime Minister's, so “going right” 右迁 means promotion. However, this difference is becoming less important in modern times.
从方位到区间 – From Position to Range
当 « 上 » 和 « 下 » / « 前 » 和 « 后 » / « 左 » 和 « 右 » 合在一起，用在数字后表示数字不确切。
When you combine 上 and 下, 前 and 后, or 左 and 右 together, used behind a number, this shows that the number is not exact.
上下 – About
上下常用于形容年龄。
上下 is often used after stating an age to show this age is not exact.
- 他女儿10岁上下。Her daughter is about 10 years old.
前后 – Around/about
常用于形容时间或某个特定的时间点或时间段。
前后 is often used after a period in time to show this time is not exact.
- 春节前后，我们喜欢吃汤圆。We like to eat rice dumplings around the time of the Spring Festival.
Remark: 春节, the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in Chinese culture.
他是2012年前后结婚的。He got married around 2012.
左右 – Around/about
几乎可以用在所有数字后，形容数字不确切。
This is often be used behind any number to show this number is not exact.
- 吃饭时间是12点左右。Lunch time is around 12:00.
- 那人40岁左右。That man is about 40 years old.
- 我是2011年左右来上海的。I moved to the city of Shanghai around 2011.
- 我弟弟高一米六五左右。My brother is about 1.65m tall.
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