#NatlanChineseStudy

This is my attempt at understanding Zhongli’s birthday mail. It was quite difficult to read, but Zhongli belongs to the characters that are the most difficult to understand overall.

There’s the Chinese text followed by some vocab and my very bad attempt at a literal translation, trying to stay close to the Chinese. Then I checked the official English version and added it here as well. It’s beautifully translated

> my bad literal translation.
>> the official English translation.

岁序更新⋯

岁序 suìxù: succession of seasons, sequence of years
更新 gēngxīn: replace, renew

> The renewal of the seasons
>> The Turning of the Seasons.

每逢岁序更新之际，万物诉寒，璃月港却比寻常更添几分热闹。

每逢 měiféng: whenever, every time
诉 sù: I know this word with the meaning “tell”, “relate”, but it also has the meaning of “complain”, “accuse” which makes more sense here.
添: tiān: add, increase, resplenish

> Every time during the coming of a new year, all things suffer from the cold, but Liyue Harbor becomes more lively than usual.

>> With each passing year, as winter deepens and all things grow quiet, Liyue Harbor takes on a livelier spirit than usual.

道途人来客往，或仆仆风尘赶往家舍，或嬉笑漫步赏玩风光，又或往来纷纷采办节礼⋯各从其志，步履不一，皆为团圆二字。

人来客往: rénlái kè wǎng: not in the dictionary, but found a definition in Chinese: 意思指礼节性的应酬往来。也指来往客人很多。
仆仆风尘: púpú fēngchén: have endured the hardships of a long journey
家舍: jiāshè: one’s own abode house
嬉笑: xīxiào: laugh and play
漫步: mànbù: stroll
赏玩: shǎngwán: admire the beauty of sth, delight in
纷纷: fēnfēn: one after another, in succession
采办: cǎibàn: to purchase, to buy on a considerable scale
节礼: jiélǐ: holiday gift
步履: bùlǚ: walk, steps

> There are many people on the roads, either hurrying home worn by a long journey, or strolling around laughing and admiring the beauty of the scenery, or coming and going in succession to buy lots of holiday gifts. They each have their own will, all their paths differ, but they all reunite.

>> On the streets, travelers come and go — some hurrying through the cold toward the warmth of home, some strolling with laughter to savor the festive sights, and others preoccupied with selecting gifts for the season. Each follows their own path, their directions varied, yet all drawn by the same yearning for reunion.

慢煮风花，细炖岁月，饭食最能承载着情感与记忆，也是团圆中必不可少的一环。闲暇时分，不妨回璃月走走。

慢煮风花，细炖岁月: mànzhǔ fēnghuā, xìdùn suìyuè （lit. slowly boiling wind flowers, delicately stewing the years). Like cooking should be done slowly to bring out the flavours, life should be enjoyed as it is, without rushing.
承载: chéngzài: bear the weight of

> Slowly boil wind and flowers as the years are finely stewed, food is the most apt to bear the weight of attachment and memory, and it is an essential part to all gatherings. During leisure time, there’s no harm in returning to Liyue to take a stroll.

>> Slowly steeping the moments, gently simmering the years, food has always been a vessel for emotions and memories, as well as an irreplaceable centerpiece of unity. If time allows, why not return to Liyue?

如我一般，相信还有诸多亲朋都期盼在璃月街头重遇熟悉的身影。

期盼: qīpàn: to expect, to await

> I believe there are a lot of friends who, like me, hope to meet again familiar silhouettes in the streets of Liyue.

>> Like myself, I am certain there are many friends and kin who await the chance to glimpse a familiar face along its bustling streets.

想你奔走四方，也积存了不少拿手菜。若你愿意一展厨艺，这冬日定能愈加圆满。
水已微沸，我们桌边慢叙。

奔走: bēnzǒu: to run, rush about, be on the go
积存: jīcún: to stockpile
拿手菜: náshǒucài: specialty dish
厨艺: chúyì: cooking skills, culinary talent
愈加: yùjiā: all the more, even more
圆满: yuánmǎn: satisfactory, perfect

> As you travel all sides of the world, I think you have stored up a lot of specialty dishes. If you would accept to demonstrate your cooking skills, this winter would be all the more perfect.
The water is already slightly boiling, let’s talk slowly around the table.

>> I imagine that you have gathered a wealth of culinary expertise in your many travels. Should you choose to grace us with a taste of your skills, I have no doubt this winter would feel all the more complete.
The water is on the cusp of boiling. I await your company, where stories and warmth await to be shared.

#NatlanChineseStudy

I have a lot of sympathy for Zicheng. Sometimes you just commit yourself to doing something on a whim, and then bitterly regret it. Although it would be easy to cancel the whole thing and being teased about it or scolded or whatever, you choose to go on with it even if it means the half month vacation you got will be a real nightmare

New words:

- 批假 pījià: approve an application for leave. You can add the length of the vacation between 批 and 假.

然后给我批了半个月的假⋯

“And then he gave me a half month vacation”.

- 打油诗 dǎyóu shī

The name comes from a Tang scholar Zhang Dayou.

From what I understand, it’s a form of poetry that’s basic and simple. It must rhyme and verses are 5 or 7 characters long, but it does not have to follow as many rules as classic poetry. It’s often used to mock or satirise society or as a means of expression in tulmutuous times. It’s easy to create and easy to remember.

#NatlanChineseStudy

The event has a lot of vocabulary related to clairvoyance sessions and Natlan lore, but I also learnt a lot of interesting words and expressions through Ororon and Citlali interactions. Here are some of them.

Ororon about Citlali:

是的，你们知道，奶奶是个天才，天才总会堵住别人的路，让别人绝望。

Yes, you know, Granny is a genius, and geniuses will always block others’ path and lead them to despair.

The word 绝望 juéwàng means “give up all hope”, “despair”.

He also calls her a 拦路虎 lánlùhǔ (lit. a road-blocking tiger) “obstacle”, “hindrance”. (that’s why there’s a discussion about using a lot of metaphors, I don’t know how they translated this one in English…)

Later we hear a sarcastic Citlali ask him: 翅膀硬了啊？

翅膀硬了 chìbǎng yìngle (lit. wings have become strong) means “grown up enough to live an independent life”.

And she adds, “do you think that you can 无法无天 just because you’ve become one of the six heroes?”

无法无天 wúfǎ wútiān (lit. no laws, no heaven): defy laws human and divine, absolutely lawless, run wild.

Citlali calls Ororon “臭小子”.

臭 chòu: smelly, foul, stinking, disgusting, repulsive, loathsome…
As for 小子 it either means “boy” or is a pejorative term for “guy”, “fellow”. It also has an out-dated meaning which is a term of adress used by seniors to juniors.

Used together, 臭小子 is a derogatory term mainly used by elders towards boys or young men. It sounds quite harsh to me, but then I’m not native. I saw someone compare it to クソガキ.

Citlali is then embarrassed that we saw her being 凶巴巴 xiōngbābā (tough, grumpy, harsh).

Later, Ororon tries to smooth her by flattering her, but she says it’s no use to 拍马屁.

拍马屁 pāi mǎpì: (lit. to pat a horse’s buttocks) to flatter, lick sb’s boots.

#NatlanChineseStudy

I’m making a list of Chinese vocab related to Natlan with their English counterpart. It’ll be easier for me to have everything in one place. I’ll edit the list as I progress in the region.
#NatlanChineseStudy

General vocab:
纳塔 nàtǎ Natlan
古名 gǔmíng: Ancient Name
归火圣夜巡礼: guīhuǒ shèngyè xúnlǐ: Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame
巡夜者战争: xúnyè zhě zhànzhēng: Night Warden Wars
大灵 dàlíng : Wayob
燃素 ránsù: phlogiston
燃素刻印碑: ránsù kèyìn bēi: Phlogiston Chiselith
还魂诗: huánhún shī: Ode of Resurrection
角逐之焰 juézhú zhī yàn: Contending Fire
夜神之国 yèshén zhī guó: The Night Kingdom

Tribes:
回声之子 huíshēng zhī zǐ: Children of Echoes
悬木人: xuánmù rén: Scions of the Canopy
流泉之众: liúquán zhī zhòng: People of the Springs
花羽会: huāyǔ huì: Flower Feather Clan
烟谜主: yānmèi zhǔ: Masters of the Night-Wind
沃陆之邦: wòlù zhī bāng: Collective of Plenty

Saurians
嵴锋龙 jífēnglóng:Tepetlisaurus
绒翼龙: róng yìlóng: ?
匿叶龙: nìyè lóng: Yumkasaur

Important persons:
帕加尔 pàjiāěr: Pacal, Chief of the Children of Echoes