Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Laughing at Embarrassment: Zhang Wei's Journey of Self-Acceptance
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Story Transcript:

Zh: 在北京市的一条热闹非凡的小巷里，奇迹和尴尬终于决定了跳舞。这个浑身充满尴尬的舞者就是张伟，一个平常内向的北京居民。
En: In a bustling alley in Beijing, a miracle and embarrassment finally decided to dance. The dancer filled with embarrassment is Zhang Wei, an introverted resident of Beijing.

Zh: 这个有十足都市韵味的小巷子名叫嘻哈巷。这个巷子有一家极其特别的卡拉OK店，叫做"歌声冲破天际"。这家KTV店不止是噪声的来源，还是全北京最大的笑声之源。因为这里有全城最独特的比赛——音痴大战，一个人的演唱技巧差到令人发笑的地步才能赢得免费的卡拉OK套餐。
En: This small alley, full of urban flavor, is called Hip-hop Alley. In this alley, there is a very special karaoke bar called "Breaking the Sky with Song". This KTV bar is not only the source of noise, but also the source of laughter throughout Beijing. This is because there is a unique competition here - the Tone-Deaf Battle, where only those with singing skills so poor that it's laughable can win a free karaoke package.

Zh: 一个周末的夜晚，张伟在熟人的鼓动下，带着半推半就的心态，走进了"歌声冲破天际"。他没有想过自己会走上这个舞台，更没有理由去体验这种尴尬。可是在观众的期盼和朋友的吹胡子瞪眼中，他反而有了一种莫名的悲壮感。
En: One weekend night, persuaded by an acquaintance, Zhang Wei entered "Breaking the Sky with Song" with a reluctant attitude. He never thought he would step onto that stage, nor did he have any reason to experience such embarrassment. But under the anticipation of the audience and the teasing of his friends, he unexpectedly felt a strange sense of grandeur.

Zh: 音乐开始了，张伟开始了他的"表演"。他首先挑选的是《小苹果》，可是他的嘴巴却开始唱起了《青花瓷》的歌词。场地一片寂静，瞬间爆发出耐人寻味的笑声。张伟感到如坠冰窟，他红着脸，手忙脚乱地从舞台上下来，那一刻他只想找个地洞钻进去。
En: The music started, and Zhang Wei began his "performance". He first chose "Little Apple", but his mouth started singing the lyrics of "Blue and White Porcelain". The venue fell silent, then erupted into intriguing laughter. Zhang Wei felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. With a flushed face, he hurriedly got off the stage, in that moment, he just wanted to find a hole to hide in.

Zh: 然而，在他想要退出房间的时候，主持人的话让他愣住了，"恭喜你，张伟，你是今晚音痴大战的冠军，赢得了我们的免费卡拉OK套餐!" 张伟瞪大眼睛，脸色从红变白，然后又从白变红。他看着周围的人纷纷向他表示祝贺，看着他们开怀大笑，他突然感觉自己的内心平静下来。
En: However, when he wanted to leave the room, the host's words stunned him, "Congratulations, Zhang Wei, you are the champion of tonight's Tone-Deaf Battle, and have won our free karaoke package!" Zhang Wei widened his eyes, his face went from red to white, then back to red. He looked at the people around him congratulating him, and saw them laughing heartily. Suddenly, he felt a sense of calmness in his heart.

Zh: 也许，尴尬并不可怕，遭人嘲笑也未必就是丢人，真正丢人的是不敢面对自己的错误和不足。这个晚上，张伟尴尬到了极点，但他也收获了自己的勇气和豁达。
En: Perhaps, embarrassment is not so scary, and being laughed at by others is not necessarily shameful. What's truly shameful is being afraid to face one's own mistakes and shortcomings. That night, Zhang Wei reached the pinnacle of embarrassment, but he also gained his courage and tolerance.

Zh: 至此，他再也不怕任何尴尬的事情发生。他甚至乐在其中，他发现自己可以调侃自己，他可以在尴尬之中找到乐趣。
En: From then on, he was no longer afraid of any embarrassing situations. He even found joy in them. He realized that he could make fun of himself and find pleasure in embarrassment.

Zh: 当然，事情并未就此结束。张伟成了那家卡拉OK店的常客，他用自己的方式诠释了生活的乐趣：笑对尴尬，笑对生活。
En: Of course, the story did not end there. Zhang Wei became a regular customer at that karaoke bar, and he interpreted the joy of life in his own way: laughing in the face of embarrassment, laughing at life.


Vocabulary Words:

• In: 在
• a: 一个
• bustling: 热闹非凡的
• alley: 小巷
• Beijing: 北京市的
• a: 一个
• miracle: 奇迹
• embarrassment: 尴尬
• finally: 终于
• decided: 决定了
• to: 要
• dance: 跳舞
• The: 这个
• dancer: 舞者
• filled: 充满
• with: 有
• is: 就是
• Zhang: 张伟
• Wei: 伟
• an: 一个
• introverted: 内向的
• resident: 居民
• of: 的
• Beijing: 北京
• This: 这个
• small: 小
• alley: 巷子
• full: 充满
• of: 的
• urban: 都市
• flavor: 韵味
• is: 是
• called: 叫做
• Hip-hop: 嘻哈
• Alley: 巷