How to play Hanzi Wordle using Pleco

After apparently having lived under a rock, I haved learned about Wordle just recently. Of course, one of my first thoughts about this game was, does it exist in Chinese?? Would be cool!

And yes, Wordle does exist in several languages. I found an article about the 汉子 Wordle on the Ninchanese blog (https://ninchanese.com/blog/2022/01/28/chinese-wordle-play-and-learn-chinese-chengyus/), and thus the game site https://handle.antfu.me/. There, the game is played with four-character 成语 Chengyus (idioms), and then I - didn't get very far. There had to be a way, though.

Fortunately, Pleco offers the Add-On "DGN Chengyu Dictionary". I installed it and asked the support for guidance on how to use it, received a swift reply (thanks, Michael Love 🙏) and almost solved my first 汉子 Wordle 😅 It had gotten too late in the evening, though... and there is always a new Wordle at midnight. Since then, I am cultivating my streak 😊

If you want to solve 汉子 Wordle, be sure to check "sticky search" in the dictionary’s settings, in order to, by default, search the DGN CY instead of all available dictionaries. While searching for words, use * wildcards. 

The DGN CY is very comprehensive but it doesn't contain all possible Chengyus. It has about 9.000, and there are about 20.000 Chengyus, so statistically, you have to second-guess about every second Chengyu... Well, otherwise it might become too easy 😁 E.g. today, I had to substitute one of the four characters, looking for a similar meaning but the same tone, to complete the Chengyu. Now, let's have some fun sorting out the other few thousand 成语 😄 

Heading for HSK4

Well even if I don't post here frequently, I am keeping at it with Chinese, following along my classes, sometimes even doing the homework 🤭

After the setback caused by the 冠状病毒 (guānzhuàng bìngdú, corona virus), which caused a higher workload in my job, as well as setting up some special projects there, I am now determined to finally taking the HSK4 test this year. 

Motivation is key

A nice thing my language teacher does, is handing out little motivating prizes. If you do your homework, win a game or give an extra presentation, you receive points, and they are added up each semester. I don't always manage to to the homework on time, as I normally manage to do it during the classes but once or twice I even won something 🥰

Songtext Translation - Xiao Qing Ge 小情歌 by Sodagreen 蘇打綠

So recently, I went to Taiwan. A fascinating experience, my first trip to Asia. It was a business trip but I also had some free time, and as a member of Rotary International, I was curious to take part in a Rotarian meeting, too. So I visited RC Hualien Elite, a newly founded club in Hualien, the city near the famous Taroko National Park. I was warmly welcomed, and participating in the meeting was very interesting. Of course I didn't understand a lot haha but club member Emily helped me get the gist and we shared some insights about our clubs and countries. One difference is that they sang various songs, e.g. a club hymn, which we don't even have (but of course suggested it once I got back haha!). I mentioned I like singing too, and my favourite Taiwanese band Sodagreen, and Emily suggested I should sing Xiao Qing Ge to the club! Well... What should I say... I wasn't quite prepared to do that haha... At least not without any kind of Karaoke-like background. Next time ;-) Meanwhile, here is the songtext translation. Thanks to my friend J. who helped me discuss the true meaning of the lyrics!

這是一首簡單的小情歌

这是一首简单的小情歌

zhè shì yī shǒu jiǎndān de xiǎo qínggē 

This is just a little love song

唱著人們心腸的曲折

唱著人们心肠的曲折

chàngzhe rénmén xīn cháng de qūzhē 

People express themselves singing

想我很快樂   當有你的溫熱

我想我很快乐   当有你的温热

wǒ xiǎng wǒ hěn kuàilè   dāng yǒu nîde wēnrè 

I think I'm very happy  when I feel your warmth

腳邊 的 空氣 轉了

脚边 的 空气 转了

jiǎobiān de kōngqì zhuǎnle

A breeze is touching my feet 

Chasing the Highscore on Clozemaster

Chasing the Highscore on Clozemaster

The last week of 2017, I mainly spent chasing the highscore(s) on Clozemaster. Had I not decided to finally stop and prepare a salad, I would have made it to #1 of the weekly Highscore (all players, all languages).

Songtext Translation - Oh oh oh oh... by Sodagreen 蘇打綠

This is a song I like for its funny lyrics, the corresponding, upbeat rhythm, and of course the interesting melody. I might have translated some parts too literally, haha, but will eventually improve it when I get round to it.

Oh oh oh oh...  (苏打绿)
by sūdálǜ - Sodagreen

 

你 在 那 窗口 皺 眉頭 談 地 說 天 

你 在 那 窗口 皱 眉头 谈 地 说 天 

nî zài nà chuāngkôu zhòu méitóu tándìshuõtiãn

You are at the window, frowning, chatting

我 這裡 脈 膊 連 傷口 都不好受

我 这里 脉 膊 连 伤口 都不好受

wǒ zhèlǐ màibó lián shāngkǒu dōu bùhǎoshòu 

I am here, bleeding heavily, it is all hard to take

想著 你 說的 和 笑的 會是 哪些 

想着 你 说的 和 笑的 会是 哪些 

xiǎngzhe nǐ shuōde hé xiàode huìshì nǎ xiē   

Imagine what will be said and what will bring joy

在 圖書館 查不到 的 字眼

在 图书馆 查不到 的 字眼

zài túshūguǎn chábùdào de zìyǎn 

These words are not in the library

Are you using Clozemaster yet?

Recently, I heard about mass sentence learning as a very effective method for learning languages. So I researched the internet and found CLOZEMASTER. Highly recommend it!!
What is Clozemaster about? It's simple, you just fill in the blank in a sentence, either by multiple choice or by typing in - which yields twice the points you can get. The first time you see a sentence and get it right, 4 pts are your reward (double, if you type in), 4 pts more the second time, so the maximum achievable pts are 16 (32).