depthofyourdreams

[depthofyourdreams]

[depthofyourdreams]

how i'm studying mandarin (in 2024)

as a low-maintenance language learner working a 9-6 office job, i've been muddling around how to improve my mandarin in my free time and keep it fun! And I've found what works for me (thanks to a lot of lurking on here - appreciate all you mandarin langblrs <3), so wanted to share :)

Evening lessons (or italki) - Self studying is great but I do need a kick up the ass sometimes, so these really help. Plus my teacher is great at giving tips here and there which I probably wouldn't pick up on on my own.

ChinesePod - Their podcasts are really well made and accessible, I can't recommend them enough!

HelloChinese - This is my 'I'm bored waiting for my train/bus but I still want to learn Chinese' option that isn't Duolingo. It's not perfect but it has fairly good grammar explanations and native listening segments. You do have to pay a subscription if you're over HSK1 level FYI.

I am an anki hater first and foremost, so here's the vocab learning / dictionary tools I use instead:

TofuLearn - It's straightforward, uses spaced repetition learning AND teaches you stroke order - so ticks all my boxes. Picked it up due to @marilearnsmandarin's posts about it!

Pleco - Obviously, everyone has it downloaded for a reason.

Yabla Chinese Dictionary - Not seen this one talked about so much, but would recommend! It sometimes has video examples of the hanzi in use, which I find helpful.

A big goal for me this year is to consume mandarin content more regularly! It's all well and good watching Peppa Pig, but I need something that I actively want to engage with:

Bilibili Comics - Currently reading 肉店楼上的工作室 and able to understand a fair chunk, so would recommend as a "easier" option.

Mandopop - Not sure how much I'm picking up from listening, especially at my level, but it's fun to jam out to some good tunes. Faves include TIA RAY, Song Qian, Lexie Liu, No Party for Cao Dong & Shi Shi.

Dramas/Movies - Modern chinese dramas are a lot more hit-or-miss for me, especially compared to historical/fantasy. Recent faves include Accidentally in Love & Stay with Me (on Netflix/Viki). Currently watching Reset :) Any other recs, please send my way!

YouTube - I have a separate YT account just to follow Taiwanese/Chinese creators - it takes a bit of searching but you can find some great youtubers who talk about whatever hobby you're into (whether that's cute golden retriever vlogs, travel vlogs or reading vlogs!)

[depthofyourdreams]

chinese art compliments/replies

as a follow up to my post on online drawing vocab, here is a collection of comments you can use to compliment others' art :-)

the basics

喜欢 [xǐhuān] - i like it

好好看 [hǎohǎo kàn] - looks good

厉害 [lìhài] - amazing

好漂亮/帥/美 [piàoliang/shuài/měi] - so pretty/handsome/beautiful

太有才了 [tài yǒu cáile] - so talented (similarily, 画画天才 => drawing genius)

好神 [hǎo shén] - godly

神迹 [shén jī] - miraculous

仙品 [xiān pǐn] - high-quality product

好鮮活 [xiān huó] - vivid/lifelike

it’s cute

可爱晕了 [kě'ài yūnle] - so cute i fainted

可爱死了 [kě'ài sǐle] - so cute I died

可爱鼠了 [kě'ài shǔle] - so cute I died (in a cutesy/meme way)

卡瓦 [kǎ wǎ] - kawaii

好米 [hǎo mǐ] - so cute/beautiful

太萌了 [tài méngle] - so adorable (originating from japanese word moe - 萌え, lots of different meanings, but mostly refers to happiness you feel when you see something really cute), can be used like 萌到我了/被萌晕/心被萌化了

basically any XX死了/XX暈了/XX炸了 comment works

expletives

我去 [wǒ qù] - damn

卧槽/我草/wc [wò cāo] - censored vers of 我操 => oh fuck

牛逼 [niú bī] - (fucking) awesome, usually just use 牛

exclamatives

哇/哇塞 [wasāi] - wow

啊啊啊啊 - aaaaaa

哇啊啊啊 - wahhhh

responding to compliments

被老師跨了，能力暴增 [kuà...bào zēng] - (if responding to commenter who's also an artist) compliments from teacher make my ability surge

爱您主人 - love u op (主人 refers to original commenter), can also just use 愛你

嘿嘿谢谢喜欢 - hehe ty for liking

比心 [bǐ xīn]- finger heart

送愛 [sòng ài] - sending love

亲亲 [qīn qīn] - kiss kiss

questions

可以当头像吗 [tóuxiàng] - can I make it my pfp

可以自印吗 [zì yìn] - can I print it out

可以收集吗 [shōují] - can I save it

求原图 [qiú yuán tú] - original image pls

这么时候接稿 [jiē gǎo]- when will you open commissions

misc.

抱走/拿走 [b��o/ná zǒu] - carrying/taking it away

���蹲 [dūn dūn] - if someone has posted a WIP, waiting (for the finished piece/shop listing), direct trans. = squatting

[depthofyourdreams]

Always at my trustworthy local library 🌟📖

[depthofyourdreams]

[depthofyourdreams]

Hi! I was wondering who do Saturnian nakshatras usually feel attracted to/end up with? Is there some sort of theory for this? 🤔 thanks ❤

Lol no theory but yes, based on obsevations, multiple examples in real life and art and nakshatra yoni pairings(and their positions on the wheel) saturn people are the best match for sun people.

Each saturn nakshatra is opposite a sun nakshatra and two of them are yoni consorts of sun nakshatras, with Uttara Bhadrapada and Uttara Phalguni being both opposite each other and yoni consorts (cow yonis). Krittika is the yoni match for Pushya (sheep/goat yonis), and Anuradha's yoni consort is Jyeshta(rabbit/deer yonis), while Uttara Ashadha (mongoose yoni) has no yoni consort.

All of the saturn and sun nakshatras, except Anuradha are warrior caste, so Anuradha is a bit different in nature, but tbh that does not make much of a difference.

The usual dynamic between them is often very fun to watch cause both of those planets are tough, stubborn and independent but in completely different ways. I have a post on Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Bhadrapada and how it usually plays out, with examples. Some of it is specific to cow yonis but mostly you can apply them to all and any saturn-sun nakshatra pair. With Anuradha, it's interesting that its yoni match Jyeshta is considered very solar and masculine in nature despite being a Mercury-ruled nakshatra, so it is different in Anuradha's case, but not really.

Sun is the natural self-expression of a person and represents the soul, the rational, the cerebral, the individual and the stable, masculine part. Saturn is the rules and the limitations that have to be accepted and followed perfectly that are necessary for life in the material(physical) world. The Sun is exalted in Ashwini, and debilitated in its opposite(and enemy) nakshatra Swati, where Saturn is exalted. Saturn is debilotated in another nakshatra opposite Swati_ Bharani, which comes right after Ashwini. Also, Suna nd Saturn are natural enemies. If you think of them that way, it might appear that all that tension will translate to enmity, and it does happen sometimes, but in the case of nakshatra rulerships, oftentimes Sun and Saturn people get along exeptionally well and have a unique dynamic that makes them a powerful team. One's strengths are the other's weaknesses, they balance each other out and they have a common ground where they both appreciate and respect each other and their boundaries(mostly after some time 😅). There will, almost certainly, always be tension between them but it usually grts channelled productively, and through love. If the Sun is indepedence, and Saturn is restriction and dependence, one cannot exist without the other. We define our individuality through restrictions and rules and we restrict and define(ourselves and others) based on who we are, so it's really a very iconic dynamic you asked about. 😄

Some tropes that their dynamic reminds me of:

Battle couple

Enemies to lovers

Partners in crime to lovers

Rivals to lovers

Thanks for asking! I love their dynamic. In hetero couples its kinda different(EDIT: I meant, it's different based on which planet type is which gender), but the overall vibe and the dynamic stays the same. They(sun and saturn individuals) really seem like opposite people until they actually interact and then they act like two almost identical bickering children while enjoying it 😭 they are very loyal, forgot to mention, probably the most loyal along with venus people, and very defensive. They might get offended if anyone tries to get involved in their "bickering"(flirting), it's just between them. I can confirm all of the above causse I'm a Sun girl(a venus girl, but with uttara phalguni ascendant) 😁

Anyways, glad you asked. If you have similar questions about other nakshatras it always helps to pay attention to little details about them, like, yoni animals, which planets are friends, neutral or enemies, nakshatra caste, planet exaltations and detriments, nakshatra nature, nakshatra placements at the zodiac wheel... and a lot of this comes from observing real life and art through the years, as well as from personal experience. I think you have to filer any information through your own lens and see for yourself, maybe you'll discover something new that others did not catch. I'm basically encouraging you to observe without pressure and have fun, and to fact check what others say for yourself. 🙂

[depthofyourdreams]

The Pisces Quest for Glamour

I had made posts about Rahuvian fashion & style and how Rahuvians seem to prefer a very loud, eclectic, vibrant, mix-matchy style. This is a general pattern and not a strict one that every Rahuvian will relate to. Its possible to be Rahuvian and not fit into this style at all (Margot Robbie, Mila Kunis both Swati Moon, who have a more laidback style come to mind). But for this post, I thought I'd explore Pisces natives (UBP & Revati) and how they seem to often prefer a very old school, glamorous almost old Hollywood-like style. They like timeless, classic pieces and are very sophisticated when it comes to fashion.

Angelina Jolie, Revati Moon

I think "quiet luxury" or "chic" style is exemplified by Pisces natives and tbh no one does this better than Miss Angelina Jolie. She's uber stylish, understated but super cool

Taehyung, Revati Moon

Taehyung has many different styles tbh but he is kind of known for his crisp classic European-esque style, very chic, very 🤌🏼

Pisces fashion can also be very feminine, very girly, very glamorous and here are some examples of that:

Salma Hayek, UBP Moon

Salma is always dressed to the 9s and that is on her UBP Moon.

Mariah Carey, UBP Sun

Miss Ma'am Mariah is known for her love of diamonds and old Hollywood glamour. She's always retained her hyperfeminine glamdoll style regardless of the changing trends.

Janhvi Kapoor, Ketu in UBP

oopsies her head is cut out in some of these pics lol but Janhvi refuses to wear anything that isn't sparkly, shimmery or bodycon lol

its very glamorous in a tacky ish way i guess

Gabi DeMartino, Venus in Revati

Ik she's hella problematic, I'm only including her bc of her girly girl glam style. Venus is creativity/beauty etc so we often channel our Venus when we style ourselves which is why I've included her even tho she does not have big 3 pisces

Anya Taylor Joy, UBP/Revati Moon (Mars & Ketu in Revati)

I'd say Anya is one of the only younger actresses who do glamour well and she has an edgy, avant garde spin on glamour too. And that's on her Pisces stellium<33

Rooney Mara, UBP Moon/Mercury/Venus

Another person who has a very classic, chic style but is more subdued than Anya is Rooney who also has a Pisces stellium.

only 30 images are allowed per post so there will be a part 2 <33

[depthofyourdreams]

cleo de nile's fashion

[depthofyourdreams]

Chinese idioms of the week

时时刻刻 [shíshíkèkè] - constantly; all the time

引经据典 [yǐnjīngj��diǎn] - to quote the classical texts

胡说八道 [húshuōbādào] - to talk nonsense

乱七八糟 [luànqībāzāo] - in a complete mess; at sixes and sevens

不伦不类 [bùlúnbùlèi] - nondescript; neither fish nor fowl

不明不白 [bùmíngbùbái] - unclear, vague, for no reason

大喊大叫 [dàhǎndàjiào] - to scream loudly

日日夜夜 [rìrìyèyè] - day and night; day in, day out

哭哭啼啼 [kūkutítí] - to cry continuously

筋疲力尽 [jīnpílìjìn] - to be exhausted

下定决心 [xiàdìngjuéxīn] - to make a firm resolution

毫无疑问 [háowúyíwèn] - without a doubt; certainly

吞吞吐吐 [tūntūntǔtǔ] - to mutter and mumble

仅此而已 [[jǐncǐéryǐ] - just this and nothing more

一五一十 [yīwǔyīshí] - (of narrating) in full detail

井然有序 [jǐngrányǒuxù] - orderly; in apple-pie order

不好意思 [bùhǎoyìsi] - too embarrassed or shy to do something

无关紧要 [wúguānjǐnyào] - unimportant

日积月累 [rìjīyuèlěi] - to accumulate over a long period

事先通知 [shìxiāntōngzhī] - to announce in advance

夸夸其谈 [kuākuāqítán] - to boast; to talk big

All of these I encountered while reading the book <鞋带> by Domenico Starnone. It's a translation from Italian. I would recommend it for those who have an intermediate level. The language is quite simple and the sentences are short which is good for language learning. The overall story is also engaging.

[depthofyourdreams]

“The one thing you can change is how you treat yourself. And that one thing can change everything.”

— Unknown

[depthofyourdreams]

Who wants to exchange readings ?

Pm me 🌸

[depthofyourdreams]

lalisa 🌺

[depthofyourdreams]

The Lament for Icarus (1898), by Herbert James Draper.

[depthofyourdreams]

a modest book haul

~ or ~

proof that I do, in fact, read books written less than 100 years ago

[depthofyourdreams]

[depthofyourdreams]

“ vindica te tibi „ – and what we should learn from an old stoic like Seneca

if you have ever studied latin or philosophy, you will certainly have stumbled upon Seneca, a very problematic dude who, however, occasionally said the right things.

“ vindica te tibi „ is my all-time-favorite latin quote, it litterally means “ vindicate yourself for yourself „, but we can translate it better with “ take control of yourself „. in order to deeply understand this statement, let's take a look at stoic philosophy.

stoicism [ from latin stōicus and ancient greek Στωϊκός ( stōïkós ) ]: it’s a philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise and – as a result – better people, better parents and better professionals. it is a philosophical and spiritual current with a rational (human rationality is the basis of everything), pantheistic (everything is God, God is everywere, the whole universe is God), deterministic (nothing happens by chance but everything is regulated by precise logical laws), and dogmatic (all that is, as being, is real and concrete) imprint, with a strong ethical and tendentially optimistic orientation. stoicism was founded in Athens around 300 bc by Zeno of Citium and later it was introduced to rome by Panaetius of Rhodes in the 2nd century bc. stoicism is a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom: something one uses to live a great life, rather than some esoteric field of academic inquiry. [ sources wikipedia and dailystoic ]

Seneca was a stoic philosopher who lived in rome in the 1st century ad, and he wrote this quote in a letter addressed to Lucilus, a friend of his much younger than him, interested in philosophy and politics.

in this letter ( the first of his epistolary ) he deals with the theme of time and the brevity of life, a subject that he would often return to in many of his works. basically Seneca claims that life isn't actually that short, as the majority of people complain, we're just very good at waste our time beign slaves of something, instead of using it wisley. there are many ways people waste their time, he calls them " the busy ones ", those people who spend their energies on useless business and relationships, which lead neither to their personal growth nor to an economic, social or psychological advantage, just because they're used to it.

Seneca is saying that we are so used to wasting time, doing certain things just because we have been taught to do so, that we don't realize that we could do much more for ourselves and for our enviroment if we only knew how to use our time correctly.

" vindica te tibi " means that you have to take control of your time, because no one can give it back to you. your future depends on the investment in yourself and in your time, your future and who you are as a person is up to you. take control of yourself.

[depthofyourdreams]

Sir John Soane's Museum by elliedyduch.