Yattauh Mouhseui: cannot understand; puzzled, lost (lit. head in the fog) A poet named Hoh Daahm Yuh wrote this couplet:"Which is the highest of the cloudy mountains that surround me?I lost my way in the heavy fog."From then on, yattauh mouhseui became a common expression.Taipei 101 in the mist.I feel like I'm yattauh mouhseui whenever I examine the publishing puzzle. Three options exist: traditional publishing, small press, and self-publishing. (Look here for a great explanation from an … [Read more...]
Mission: Submission
November 5, 2012 2 Comments
Sihdaahn: anything will doAt times, Cantonese phrases get abbreviated. For example, "si-mouh-geih-daahn" means "without restraint of any kind." The shortened term becomes sihdaahn.Please accept my submission. When I think about submissions, I'm in a sihdaahn mode. Any positive response will uplift me. Last month, I participated in Khara House's Submit-O-Rama challenge. For October, I queried three literary magazines a week, for a total of 15 entries.Here are my results: 1 acceptance, 1 … [Read more...]
Writer’s Digest West Conference- 9 Writing Tips
October 29, 2012 2 Comments
Lohksau Da Saamgaang: make mistakes at the beginning of workBefore the invention of clocks, the Chinese used a night watch-man to tell people the time. He struck a gong at specific hours:(1 hit) yatgaang: 7:00-9:00pm(2 hits) yihgaang: 9:00-11:00pm(3 hits) saamgaang: 11:00pm-1:00am(4 hits) seigaang: 1:00-3:00am(5 hits) nghgaang: 3:00-5:00amStriking three times when it was supposed be"yatgaang" meant a mistake (lohksau da saamgaang). We all make errors when starting a career, or even a hobby. … [Read more...]
Filed Under: Cantonese, Chinese, Chinese saying, clock, gong, Nina Amir, Rich Krevolin, Rob Eagar, Robert Lee Brewer, Steven James, tips, Writer's Digest West Conference, writing
Writer’s Digest West Conference- First Impressions
October 22, 2012 4 Comments
Yatlauh: the bestIn China, from the Tang to the Ching dynasty, nine ranks of officials existed. The highest and first level was known as yatlauh. I attended the Writer's Digest West Conference this past Saturday. It was yatlauh, fulfilling and exceeding all my expectations. Let me break down my experience into three parts:1) Jamie Ford, the author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: As a keynote speaker, he discussed being true to yourself and pursuing a story that resonates with … [Read more...]
Being One’s Cup of Tea at a Writer’s Conference
October 15, 2012 8 Comments
Hahpsaai Hohche: meeting people's needs, being one's cup of tea (lit. sing every note right)This expression refers to Chinese music. Hahpsaai means everything is right. When every note is correct and the singers and musicians work well together, people say hahpsaai hohche. *First things first, though: the winner of the photo contest is picture A (you can see it reflected in my profile). It was a close call, though, A edging out picture C by one vote.At the Writer's Digest West conference … [Read more...]
Filed Under: business cards, Cantonese, Chinese saying, pitch slam, Writer's Digest West, writing conference
Photos Revisited
October 9, 2012 4 Comments
Soujausi: troubles left behind/unfinished thingsDuring the Tang dynasty, a poet named Lauh Yuh Sehk (A.D. 772-843) achieved the chisi rank (equal to provincial governor) in Soujau. There he saw a beautiful girl called Douh Waih Leuhng, who was the minister of public works' concubine. He wrote her this poem: She sets her cloudy hair in the most popular style, The songs which she sings are as soft as spring breezes. Minister Leih will take it as a very usual thing since he sees her very … [Read more...]
Our Fears
October 1, 2012 1 Comment
Gengcheng: frightened, scaredThe Chinese use lion dancing to celebrate many special holidays and festivities. Businessmen believe a lion will bring them prosperity, so they hang up a cheng (lit. green), a stalk of vegetable with a red envelope as a prize. With gongs and drums in the background , the lion dancers will reach for the cheng, sometimes with one man standing on the shoulders of the other. The expression gengcheng comes from the spectators being afraid that the dancers will … [Read more...]
Filed Under: 228 Massacre, afraid, Cantonese, Chinese, Chinese saying, fear, Khara House, lion dance, pitch slam, red envelope, scared, submissions, Submit-O-Rama, Taiwan, Writer's Digest West Conference
Once in a Blue Moon in Spain
September 17, 2012 4 Comments
Sahpnihn (Dou) Mfuhng Yatyeuhn: once in a blue moonIn Hong Kong, people use both the solar and lunar calendars. There are ten days fewer in one lunar year than in a solar year, so an extra month (yeuhnyuht) is added every three years to make up the difference. An exaggerated saying rose out of this practice: sahpnihn (dou) mfuhng yatyeuhn, meaning to not have a leap year in ten years, or "once in a blue moon."The highlight of my Spain experience happened on the high-speed train between Madrid … [Read more...]
Filed Under: Cantonese, Catholic, China, Chinese saying, DSM, high-speed train, introvert, Juan Jose Garcia Failde, lunar calendar, once in a blue moon, Spain
It’s All About the Food
September 6, 2012 1 Comment
Sihk Chat Gam Sihk: eat and drink as much as you canIt is believed that seven days after a man dies, his ghost returns to visit his kin. On that day, ritual ceremonies are performed by a monk ("jouh chat"). The routine repeats on each subsequent seven-day cycle until the 49th day when family and friends gather together and eat a vegetarian meal of seven dishes. They can eat and drink as much as possible without paying. This is known as Sihk Chat Gam Sihk. During our recent trip to Spain, my … [Read more...]
Soaking up Spain
August 27, 2012 6 Comments
Paakto: to go out, date The Pearl River runs through the city of Guangdong (previously Canton). Due to its wide banks and its busy water traffic, people use a special way to pull boats through the river. They place two boats side by side and tie them together with ropes. When one of them moves, the other follows. This method is called Paakto, and the term is also used to describe lovers who walk hand in hand.Sun Moon Lake, TaiwanI am proof that you can still paakto after marriage. My … [Read more...]
