Mandarin Monday: How Chinese is Spoken in Diagon Hutong
advertisement
After years of waiting, Beijing Universal Resort finally opened its gates to the public on Sep 20. Tickets for the first few days sold like hotcakes, with visitors flocking not to areas of the park designed for the Beijing park – like Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness – but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, perhaps to be transported to the world they know so well from the popular books and films.
The Wizarding World is sure to do quite well among Beijingers. After all, the city has already opened more than one unofficial Harry Potter-themed bar on its own.
So, we wondered, what would the world of Harry Potter sound like if everyone in it spoke in Beijing dialect?
哈利波特儿与大学士的小石子儿
hālì bōtè'r yǔ dàxué shì dì xiǎo shízǐ'r
Instead of the mundane walnuts, the Beijing wizards are more into glazing the philosopher's stones with their hand grease
Philosopher’s stone is officially translated as 贤者之石 xián zhě zhī shí in Chinese and was translated as 魔法石 mófǎ shí in the title of the first chapter of Harry Potter’s adventures. Speaking of philosophers in Beijing, 大学士 dàxué shì, scholars who worked in 翰林院 hànlín yuàn (the Imperial Academy), shared a similar role to what you'd find in Potter's world as well.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
哈利波特儿与小黑屋
hālì bōtè'r yǔ xiǎo hēi wū
If you think Hogwart's 密室 mìshì (Chamber of Secrets) is horrifying enough, maybe try to imagine the 小黑屋 xiǎo hēi wū (little dark room) parents or teachers put children in long ago if they forgot to complete their homework, skipped their classes or simply talked back. For kids living in the age of no smartphones or modern tech, it must've been a nightmare for sure!
哈利波特儿与炮儿局
hālì bōtè'r yǔ pào'r jú
Beijingers usually refer to the 监狱 jiānyù (jail) as 号子 hào zi or 局子 jú zi, but for some older residents, they might use the word 炮儿局 pào'r jú instead. It's the abbreviation for 炮局胡同 pàojú hútòng, a hutong which was used as a cannon foundry but was converted into a jail around the end of the Qing Dynasty and at the beginning of the Republican Era. Up until 2009, part of the hutong was still used as a detention center by Beijing's Public Security Bureau. You can still see some of the ancient turrets jutting out along this historic hutong.
哈利波特儿与暖水瓶
hālì bōtè'r yǔ nuǎnshuǐpíng
When I was a kid, the electric kettle wasn't a thing, and even if it was, my grandma probably wouldn't have trusted it anyway. A giant thermos topped with a cork was a must-have for all families in Beijing. During winter, it was like a true goblet of fire for the entire household.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
哈利波特儿与合作社
hālì bōtè'r yǔ hézuòshè
Even though the 合作社 hézuòshè (cooperatives) might not be up against the same nefarious plots or powerful villains as the Order of the Phoenix was – unless you consider capitalism to be your archenemy – this kind of community-run financial entity is just as important. While not too common in this day and age, cooperatives such as these could often be found serving the agriculture, delivery service, and other industries, while in cities like Beijing, they still serve as neighborhood grocery stores, especially in hutongs. Next time you step into one, don’t be a muggle, exert your wizarding wit and see what kind of potions they might be brewing behind the checkout counter.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
哈利波特儿与串儿贝勒爷
hālì bōtè'r yǔ chuàn'r bèilè yé
混血王子 hùnxiě wángzǐ (half-blood prince)? That’s way too exotic for Beijing, where 贝勒爷 bèilè yé is a more suitable title. 贝勒爷 or 贝勒, which means "baby" or "prince" in Manchurian, became a noble rank after they took the imperial throne. It usually suggests the owners of these titles are the grandkids of an emperor’s siblings. While 串儿 chuàn'r points out the prince has an interracial family background, it wasn't meant to be respectful.
哈利波特儿与三大件
hālì bōtè'r yǔ sān dà jiàn
In the books, the deathly hallows can grant their owner the capability to beat Lord Voldemort. In China, however, the 三大件 sān dà jiàn (three big pieces) will prove your status as marriage material in the eyes of some. When the market economy took over the country's financial system, financial status began to play a more important role when it came to people tying the knot. In the '70s, the three were a watch, a bicycle, and a sewing machine; in the '80s these became the fridge, the TV, and the washing machine; and today, while the phrase and what it implies might be frowned upon, a house, a car, and money are considered to be the big three pieces.
除你武器
chú nǐ wǔqì
Expelliarmus
Wizard Beijinger:
除您武器 / 没收你丫家伙事儿
chú nín wǔqì / mòshōu nǐ yā jiāhuo shì'r
The official translation was not authentic and polite enough for the local Beijingers. That’s right! Even in a magical duel, the word 您 nín is just as essential as the spells employed by wizards and witches. Only 除您武器 chú nín wǔqì can do justice for Beijingers. But if a Beijing native is really ticked at someone, you may hear them exclaim 没收你丫家伙事儿 mòshōu nǐ yā jiāhuo shì'r instead, which is pretty much equal to "I will confiscate your goddamn weapon now".
昏昏倒地
hūn hūndǎo dì
Stupefy
Wizard Beijinger:
歇菜吧您内
xiē cài ba nín nèi
昏昏倒地 hūn hūndǎo de sounds too much like a lullaby, and straightforward Beijing wand wielders will use their version of stupefy to turn you into 歇菜 xiē cài (rested vegetables) in seconds. If this happens in winter, you may find that you wake up among the Chinese cabbages they stored in the courtyard.
阿瓦达索命
ā wǎ dá suǒ mìng
Avada Kedavra
Wizard Beijinger:
阿瓦达嗝儿屁
ā wǎ dá gé'r pì
Even though this lethal unforgivable curse sounds more like 阿瓦达啃大瓜 ā wǎ dá kěn dà guā (avada bites the big melon) in Chinese, I still think Beijing folks prefer to express their anger in this local rap verse, 嗝儿屁着凉大海棠，脚卜丫子蘸白糖 gé'r pì zháoliáng dà hǎitáng, jiǎo bo yā zi zhàn báitáng (a burp, a fart, now your body is cold and your face looks like a crabapple), while the latter half of this sentence is just there for the rhymes and flow.
Extra beans for the extra flavors
Alright, that's all for today's Harry Potter in Beijing. Before you leave the Hogwarts middle school, feel free to try our signature 比比多味豆汁儿 bǐbǐ duō wèi dòuzhī'r (Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Fermented Soy Milk) at our 小卖部 xiǎomàibù (local convenience store).
Read: Universal Day One Sells Out, Ticket Purchases Unstable
Images: Sina, NetEase, Hpfl, the Beijinger, harrypotter.quora.com, gfycat.com, pinterest.ph
advertisement